The Planet Reigate Podcast
48: Our ‘Harlequin’ Q&A, more great stories from local volunteers, the sound of steam on local train tracks… and more
Sat, 10 Aug 2024
Episode 48 “Our ‘Harlequin’ Q&A, more great stories from local volunteers, the sound of a steam train on local tracks… and more”For Saturday 10th August 2024*The original episode of this edition has updated to remove some erroneous information.TIMECODE – so you can go straight to what you want to listen to00:00 - What’s in this episode02:35 – The swimming pool in Bancroft Road06:00 – Thoughts on what could be in Memorial Park08:50 - The Good Time Guide: Local places to go and things to do this weekend13:00 - GUESTS: Hear from four wonderful winners of local volunteer awards32:20 - The Planet Reigate area news including: 33:50 - We answer your questions about the future of The Harlequin ahead of an Extraordinary meeting of the council this coming week 57:25 – The passing of John Shinner, the man who bought Priory Farm in 1957, and developed it to what it is today.1:00:15 - Planet Reigate Stars - thanking local heroes. This week the story of a toy bus1:01:25 – Planet Reigate area sport: featuring judo, football, RunReigate and the Reigate Triathlon1:06:25 - The Good Time Guide: Local things to do and places to go this coming week 1:11:11 - The 60-second Soundscape: this week, the background to the Sunset Steam Express before we hear it steam through Reigate towards RedhillIf you get value from The Planet Reigate Podcast, please give us value back in return; click here to support us with a small donation: www.buymeacoffee.com/theplanetreigatepodcast or share us with your colleagues. 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 SOUNDSCAPE PolkadotFlowersMusic Item ID: 136304431GUITAR - Frogard Item ID: 114324148DRAGON fx https://soundbible.com/ Listen: https://linktr.ee/PlanetReigatePodcastWeb: www.ThePlanetReigatePodcast.comFacebook: www.Facebook.com/ThePlanetReigatePodcastX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/PlanetReigateEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is the Planet Reigate Podcast.
Hello Planeteers, this is Peter Stewart with the show exclusively, uniquely and proudly about the hills, the high streets and the heaths of the Planet Reigate area and it's episode 48 for Saturday the 10th of August 2024 and this week this is how we're reflecting and celebrating our love of life around here. Well, this week we'll hear from four wonderful winners of volunteer awards locally.
Yeah, they give up their free time to help others in our local communities and are all winners of the Reigate and Banstead Borough Council Recognition Certificates. And as well as hearing about what they do and why, surprisingly, there are a few recipe tips in there as well. Intrigued? Stay tuned.
Plus, in our new sequence this week, police investigates an attempted murder in Salfords and a death in a crash on Rygate Hill. We answer your questions about the future of the Harlequin ahead of an extraordinary meeting of the council this coming week. 120 homes are now likely to be built near Hawley. I'll tell you where.
A warning about pollution in the River Mole and rubbish being dumped near Horse Hill. Extra help being given to parents of sick children at the hospital. And also there, a new summer house has been opened for cancer patients. News or more, white lines and yellow lines. Thank you very much. And news of the passing of a local farmer.
You may not have known him, but you will surely know of his work. I'll tell you some of what John Shinner achieved in his long and fruitful life later on in the show. And in sport, we feature judo and football, run Reigate and the Reigate Triathlon. We have the Good Time Guide of events across the area across the week ahead.
Planet Reigate Stars features a lost toy bus and our 60-second soundscape before we go at the end of the show. This week, from a train track in Reigate.
This is the Planet Reigate Podcast with Peter Stewart.
First of all, talking about a few kind of catch-ups and some communications over the last week or so. Now, we've recently been talking, haven't we, about why Paul House in Bancroft Road in Rygate is called Paul House. And I suggested that there used to be a swimming pool there, but it was odd because there was another one just around the corner. opposite the Town Hall in Reigate.
We've had a flurry of stories come in over the last few weeks, but nothing concrete. Now, this week I was sent a link to a social media page. Now, forgive me, I try and be across email and three social media accounts, Facebook and Twitter X and Instagram as well, but... I'm so sorry, I've actually lost who it was that sent me the link to this mention on a group called Memories of Redhill Reigate.
So they said back in 2021 with a picture, this is the pool at Pool House. Babs says, I swam there in the late 1940s, but it was never very popular because there wasn't much sun and the leaves from the trees used to fall in the water. That doesn't sound much fun, does it? I don't know when it was built, but it must have been after Bancroft Road was built in the mid-1930s.
I don't think it lasted after the 1950s. So Babs, who posted that back in 2021, thanks for that. And whoever it was that pointed that post to me...
week or so ago thank you my apologies for misplacing your name i do apologize now i have uncovered some additional information on the pool in bancroft road it was called should i tell you what it was called yeah okay the majestic pool hmm the majestic pool is that ringing a few bells are you tying up a few other things about majestic in in reigate
No, I don't mean the wine warehouse up Bell Street. When I was doing a bit of research, that kept coming up. But it's really interesting. I just need to tie up a few loose ends before I bring you more on that, hopefully in the next few episodes. So listen out for that. It's intriguing. It's fascinating. And I just love relatable local history where you can go... Oh, that's the reason.
Because when you live in an area, it's right, isn't it, that you just take it as that's what happens. That's how Reigate is. That's how Redhill is. That's why that road is called Battlebridge Lane, for example. But you don't necessarily think...
of the reasons behind it but but i have got some fascinating i thought they were fascinating and i hope that you will join me in thinking they were fascinating as well partly because i know that looking at the stats when we do local history they are some of the most listened to features on the show so more on the pool
in Bancroft Road and about Bancroft Road itself because that's quite new isn't it Bancroft Road you know relatively speaking in the next few episodes plus I've uncovered so we've talked about the pool haven't we opposite the town hall we've spoken back in the day
several episodes ago about donnings and why donnings is called donning so you know right here we're not leaving you out when we're talking about swimming pools but there was another swimming pool that i alluded to i think it was last week we've got more on another swimming pool locally uh coming soon as well now last week also mentioned about a consultation by reichert and banstead borough council about parks and open spaces in the area and what you want
Well, Sarah said, talking to a friend this weekend about Memorial Park and how much more could happen there. A community fete, a family festival or the ice skating rink that Reigate didn't want. Yeah, back in the day. A few years ago now, Kerry said there was a really lovely festival. at Memorial Park back in 2019, but nothing since, unfortunately.
And then she went on, there used to also be a Red Hill Beer Festival held in the park, but I think that's the one that now takes place in a hall in Merstham. Michelle said, I believe a lot of these issues are to do with the expense involved in fronting the cost of additional police and licensing that is required to host an event in a public place. And Natty said...
There used to be a free music festival in the summer. It was a long time ago, but great fun. So great to read all your thoughts and memories about Memorial Park. Now, that does kind of hint, doesn't it, on what other things go on in Red Hill. And we've got a special report a little bit later on. I posted this on Wednesday, in fact, on my Facebook page and a couple of We Love social sites.
about the harlequin now a couple of weeks ago there was a meeting at the town hall about the harlequin a big decision is going to be made this coming week about the harlequin and i've read through the report and i've come up with kind of everything you need to know about the harlequin and its future and the future of arts and provision of creativity and so on across the borough i'll bring you that bit later on in the program this week
However, yeah, what have I been up to this past week? I was beside the train tracks as a steam locomotive came through the area on Tuesday night. I've been on Rygate Heath recording some more about the history of the Heath. And that feature is upcoming. I've stored that. I'm looking at my big board, the big board of scheduling notes and about when different items are going.
And I can see, yeah, that's probably going to be in September and another piece in October. why might I be doing something about Reigate Heath in October, November time? Okay, piece those two ideas together.
And also, on Friday night, after this is actually recorded, because it goes live on Friday morning, but on Friday night, or Friday afternoon, round about 4, half past 4, I'm going to be at Priory Park for the second annual cyclocross event that we featured in episode 46.
The Good Time Guide. Things to do and places to go on the Planet Reigate podcast.
Hearing the stories from some of the area's great volunteers in a few moments' time after part one of The Good Time Guide, don't forget to subscribe to the show on your favourite podcast app. You may have to look for the word follow, and then what that will mean is that every episode is automatically downloaded to your device.
And of course, if you want to mention for your events, get in touch with me. Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com or you can fill out the form you'll find on theplanetrygatepodcast.com. Give me a couple of weeks notice if you could. OK, so Saturday, the Hawley Lions Bookstall is going to be out on the high street from 9am to 1pm.
As well as books, they're also going to have some free children's toys to give away as well. So why don't you pop down there and see them? Summer of Sport Open Days activities on Saturday and this is happening at the Hawley Leisure Centre. So they've got some taster fitness classes, spin, body conditioning, Zumba, Pilates, mindfulness, dance, fitness and power pumping as well.
and also some taster swimming lessons as well. So it's on Saturday, and all the details you can find at better.org.uk slash Hawley. Better is the group, is the company, is the organisation that runs some of our local leisure centres. So better.org.uk slash Hawley. Reigate Caves has another open day on Saturday. You can go to reigatecaves.org.uk to book and also for prices and times as well.
The Archway Theatre in Hawley presents Alive or Living, two one-act plays written and directed by Abigail Field and also by Jenna Simmons-Wood. Each piece provides a window into the effects of depression on both the person directly affected and also the people surrounding them as well. Performances at 7.45 on the 10th, plus a matinee on Saturday at 2 o'clock, so 2 and 7.45.
And interestingly, both Abigail and Jenna were until recently members of the Archway's Young Adults Workshop. So they were performing, and Abigail, I know, has already started her undergraduate drama course at university there. and Jenna has been involved in the stage management of several shows as well. Archwaytheatre.co.uk, and tickets there are £12.
And the Planet Rygate podcast is proud to be official media partner with the Archway Theatre in Hawley. For more information and booking details, go to archwaytheatre.com or phone 0333 666 3366. Now, just mentioning this as it's for Surrey's Air Ambulance, which, of course, is based in the Planet Reigate area at Redhill Aerodrome. There's a Heli Fun Day Surrey on Saturday at Lowsley Park.
That's near Guildford between 11 and 3. You can meet the crew. You can see the helicopter up close as well. Various demonstrations, games and prizes and food stalls as well. Let's move on to Sunday the 11th. Charlotte says we're hosting an open day at our new coaching and healing centre in Reigate, C-O-R Equine Centre.
Charlotte says we're two sisters passionate about bringing the healing power of horses and the outdoors to others. If you're interested in booking a coaching session or a professional passionate about the health and wellbeing of others, She says we'd be really interested in collaborating or simply finding out more about what we do. Then please join us for a free open day. It's between 10 and 2.
That's at Petridge Wood Farm Stables. Now, that's just off Wood Hatch Road, if you can picture it. Yeah. So just beyond the lakes. And if you're going from the lakes over to like the hospital direction, it's up there on the right hand side. But RH150. JJ is what you need to know. Petridge Wood Farm Stables, RH1 5JJ. It's a free open day on Sunday between 10 and 2.
And when you go along, tell them you heard it all about it on the Planet Rygate podcast. We're so lucky, aren't we, in the area because we've got so many people doing great things for other people. I mean, I mention people like this every single week in our Planet Rygate Star feature. Local people who've done something really good.
It's usually just a one-off, but there are some people who dedicate hours of their time every week, over months, over years, sometimes over decades, helping other people. They're running groups, they're giving support, they're Lending their expertise, certainly their time and their experience and their goodwill.
And a few weeks ago, there was a special presentation at Reigate Town Hall for long service volunteers. And we featured those a couple of weeks ago. And more recently, there was another ceremony for people who've been volunteering, but not quite as long as some of those other guys for 40, 50 years, some of them. And this week, we're featuring those other recipients of volunteer awards.
They get a special certificate, they get a badge as well. These are all sorts of people who've given up their free time to help others in our local communities. And we applaud them, quite literally actually, for what they've done to help the Planet Reigate area be an even better place to live.
Mariam Seh Ibrahim. We are the first Muslim scout group in Reigate called Bitlahem. Muslims are a minority in Reigate and Benistead and Christians are a minority in Gaza and Palestine. So we choose Bitlahem so we can make a twinning between our group and scouts in Gaza and Bitlahem as well.
Fantastic. I haven't heard of you before, to my shame. How's it all going? When was it set up?
It was informally set up 18 months from now, formally set up last term. We had a big opening ceremony attended by the Deputy Mayor for Ramadan. And I was amazed that everyone was asking about the fasting, how you break your fast, how you're praying. And the ceremony and the scouting make it easier to invite your friends. And we informed them how we...
breakfast how we do praying how we do this it was interesting for them and it was interesting for us that they don't know about what we're doing and it was really amazing because there's a lot of i guess misinformation through media through social media and so on about about muslims and christians as well it kind of misunderstanding isn't it so getting together and sharing knowledge while you share food or share activities is a great way forward
Absolutely. We share lots of things together. So it was a high value of opportunity, of inclusivity and hearing each other and harmony. And that's what I love about Scout, that we are all one and we are speaking about what's overlapping between our cultures. They loved our food, which is like global food from everywhere.
Our Scout group is very, very, very different than all the Scouts in the area. It's lots of backgrounds. Nigerian, African, Syrian, Palestinian, Egyptian. We have lots of... So when the deputy mayor came and said, this is an international food festival. This is like celebrating culture and this is celebrating diversity in Raighe.
So it's the place that minorities feel home and feel welcomed and feel better for the future and feel that they are here in the United Kingdom, are welcomed, which is very important to feel when the vast majority of our kids, unfortunately, are facing bullying at school. and they have a safe space to speak about it. And absolutely we have to extend the thanks to St.
Joseph's Church and we are gifted from St. Joseph's, 17th of Fregate and Chair Tony Brown, the absolute support. We don't have such experienced leaders. I was a scout in my country. I was like a cop and explorer but I haven't been a leader before. 17th of Fregate extended all the training. 5th of Fregate just gave us the campsite
Everyone is welcoming us and everyone is supporting us with facilities, with campsites, with toys, with games, with support, with van riding because we don't have the DL license. No one ever saved any energy or money or anything to support our group. So it's a very welcoming environment and I'm pleased and honored to be in this community.
And congratulations for your award tonight.
Thank you very much. I'm honoured to serve this community. It's amazing to be one of Rege-Bernstein's constituents, really.
My name is Deborah Mead and I volunteer with the Brigitte Trust that has been going for 40 years now. We provide emotional support for people who've received a life-limiting diagnosis. In my present situation, I'm supporting a woman who's had a diagnosis of motor neurone disease and has had to...
manage going from being fully mobile and being able to communicate to having very little movement and very little communication.
You're helping them emotionally to come to terms with their diagnosis but also practically I guess as well with things they might need, paperwork and tying up affairs for want of a better term.
Support for the family as well.
And I guess there's also a lot of people who don't have family. They didn't perhaps marry or their partner has died. Perhaps they didn't have children or they're abroad.
That's specifically why the Trust was set up, to be there, so that nobody really had to endure their final period and chapter in life without some emotional support to deal with the things that we all have to face when that time comes. So it's possibly less relevant to people who have very supportive families, but particularly for people who are isolated...
and maybe have mental health difficulties as well, or don't have a network of support. They may have family a long way away.
It sounds very important, it sounds very serious, but I guess you also have to have a few laughs as well, don't you? It can't just be all very emotional and serious.
That's true, yes. I mean, quite often... The time spent with a client might be revisiting memories or it might be focusing on things which have given them pleasure or made them laugh. With one client I have at the moment, we actually just go back and find old programs on YouTube that...
She particularly enjoyed that we can relive all music that she enjoyed rather than actually exchanging a lot of words because now we've got to the stage where lengthy conversations are just not possible. It's very good for identifying and finding precious moments in that person's life. And you can see in their response what they enjoy or what was meaningful to them and revisit it.
And hopefully that gives them some joy.
I'm Emily. I got the award for a youth cookery course. I came up with the idea about a year ago and Claire, the lady who nominated me, she brought it into reality. I do it because I love cooking and I'm looking to be a chef one day and I did a cookery course when I was younger. My mum run it actually and I just wanted to further that and hopefully inspire another
young child to enthuse them about about your joy of cooking pass that on yeah well it's a very of ages but it's just a group of people around timpoli and the area and what kind of things you are you teaching them i showed them a few techniques recipes and flavors and
Okay, so what kind of flavours? What are you into?
I quite enjoy Asian cuisine. We made things like katsu curry, my favourite dish, and salads and showed them balanced meals.
What is your tip for a great katsu curry then?
Honey.
Oh!
It's a bit, well, no longer a secret, but it makes it sweet and balances the flavours more.
What kind of honey? Because there's honey and there's honey, isn't there? You're not going to say one of these manuka honeys that's £20 a pot?
No, just any generic honey. If you taste it, you can balance it with more salt and it works really well.
That's part of the experience, isn't it? Knowing when you taste something, it needs a little bit more of this or less of that.
Yeah, most of cooking actually is balancing flavours, as my head chef keeps telling me.
So what is it that you want to go on and do? You say you want to be a chef. What kind of place, what kind of restaurant or hotel or abroad? What's your goal?
I want to work in Michelin star restaurants for a while and then learn more skills and move on to maybe owning my own restaurant.
It's a hard life. I've seen Gordon Ramsay. There's a lot of shouting goes on.
It can do, but if you find good restaurants and good team, it's like a family, so there's not that much shouting.
Okay, shouting is probably an example of someone kind of not being able to manage a situation.
Exactly.
So I'm guessing if it runs properly, there should be no shouting. Busy, a bit stressful, but no shouting.
Yes, exactly.
And what have the young people told you when they've been on your course? What kind of feedback have you had?
Some people have researched more and asked to learn more skills. There's been one or two that have been really excited to further their knowledge.
So you may be having some more chefs chasing your tail and coming up a few years behind you.
Yeah, exactly.
Well, congratulations. You must be really pleased and proud to have got the award tonight.
I am a bit shocked. I wasn't really prepared for it, but I'm very happy with it.
My name is Frances Taylor and I work alongside a lovely group of people in Age Concern Merston and also Live at Home or MHA. They're another gorgeous lot of people and I suppose what I get out of it is what you give, I get back. You know, some of the clients at Age Concern They're lonely, so you stop and have a little chat with them.
Or they might have a little worry, and they'll offload it to you. And if you can listen sometimes, that's all what some of these people want, just to listen. The centre manager, she... She just says, can you do this today? We're really short today because we're always short of volunteers. And then the live at home. I'm more of a driver.
My mum was live at home and it used to give me a Wednesday off. And I used to look after my mum full time all the time. So Wednesday off was, I just loved it. So I gave back to live at home by having coffee mornings in my house. And I have at least 25 of the clients now. and I make all the cakes, etc. And then that helped them make money for Live At Home.
So it's another form of me giving back what I received for my mum.
Now, I've been told, as well as cakes, that your sausage rolls are a thing to behold. Now, tell me the story about the sausage rolls that you provide.
I also volunteer up at Gatton Park. So when we had the volunteers party, each one of us would bring something. And there was a gentleman who said, I'm making a sausage meat platter. So I said, oh, good, I quite make those. He said, yeah, but not like mine. And he sort of quoted, oh, I put Worcester sauce in it and I put red onions.
So I said, oh, well, in mine I put... And then I said what I put in. So we almost became a competition. And then it was like whose was best. So he used to win hands down. So I thought, I've got to up my game. So then I put cranberries in because it was Christmas time. Well, that was the deciding factor. So sausage rolls with a few cranberries is what makes it... That's the secret.
Now, we should say that after the presentation of awards tonight, people have had drinks. And also, if we turn round, there's sandwiches. In fact, you've got some here on your plate. And kind of chicken nuggets and cocktail sausages and bits of Rocky Road. I can see some sausage rolls there. Now... They don't look much, do they? They're from a local supermarket in Reigate.
Oh, are they? Gosh. Yes. We'll bypass those, shall we?
They look a little sad. I don't think they've got... They haven't got cranberries in, have they? No. Yes, let's put it this way. I'm guessing the council's money is being well spent, isn't it, by going to a supermarket?
Yes, very. Keeps the local economy up.
Absolutely. Now, I've publicised quite a few things on the podcast with Age Concern. MRR, which is Merstham, Redhill, Reigate. That seems to be quite a thriving organisation, quite a thriving group.
It's thriving as far as we've got members and we've got some really lovely volunteers. We always need more. Volunteers is our... Because you go out on the bus, you're an escort. And then funding. The money just seems to fly out the door. So to raise the money, we do a once a month charity shop. Everything's hung, everything's beautiful.
The donations that we get, you know, with labels on brand new things. So the last one that we've just had, we managed to make quite a lot of money.
That helps you tick over for a few more weeks.
Yeah, but it's ongoing. We had a couple who were 70 years married. So a beautiful bunch of flowers was bought and Everybody had a glass of wine. But all that has got to come out of the funds.
Where are the sales usually held?
In Weldon Way in Merston, just down from where the Moat House Doctors is. Right near the football club, just to give a few pointers. We do get a good clientele that comes, but obviously we'd like more to come to the charity shop.
And someone said to me recently that the thing is that people forget that old people didn't arrive as old people. They've got a background, they've got a life, they had youth, they had families, they had careers and they did exciting and fantastic things.
You know, there was a lady I was talking to the other day and she was a fisherman. Well, when you saw this lady that struggles to walk and had one or two health problems, and she was so interested in what she caught in the past, where she fished. And they've all got a little story behind them. Another lady she married, got loads of grandchildren now in France, and she names them all.
And she's 100, just coming up to 101 this Christmas. And they've all got a story of their own.
And how they've perhaps lived in the area. Obviously, they may have moved into the area more recently, but perhaps they've seen so many changes in the borough.
Lots of them were the fallout from London, because we used to call that the GLC estate, which is now more or less run by Raven. And so they came down from London when I was just a little girl, and they were the most delightful people. And some of those originals, you know, a top end of the 80s and 90s, but... They're the salt of the earth.
They mingled in what we called was South Merced and it will always be the new estate, 60 years old. But they were just marvellous people. You know, real Londoners, real Cockneys and...
And that generation is slipping away.
Oh, it is now. You've got the new generations and that coming in. Equally, like some of the young people here tonight, they're just wonderful, some of them.
Well, it was fantastic, wasn't it? Their whole breadth of experience and volunteering and dedication and giving time and expertise and differences of ages as well.
They were so young, you know, 17, and the two girls... Well, I don't think they were much more than 17, 18. And to give up all that sort of time. They were smashing. Yeah, really nice.
So it must give you, even though it's perhaps difficult to get volunteers for your group, it must be nice to look around at an event like this and know there's a lot of volunteering and good stuff that goes on in the area.
It's a massive eye-opener, watching what people do, other people do. And, you know, it actually humbles me when they're working with people with learning difficulties. Different skills, you need so many different skills. But, yeah, honestly, it was a wonderful, lovely experience. Yeah, I was very lucky to be here.
Well, congratulations. I'll let you taste one of those sausage rolls.
No, no, it's all right. I'll bypass.
I told you there were going to be a few recipe tips there. And what is fantastic, what really got me is, and I suppose you would expect this from volunteers, and you probably know some volunteers in your area. You probably are a volunteer yourself because I know so many people are. But weren't they all absolutely lovely? Weren't they superb people?
I was going to say young people, not all of them were young. I won't be mentioning that. And so wonderful about each other, as we've just heard, the young people and how other people do volunteering. I don't mind doing my volunteering. My volunteering is much easier than their volunteering over there. Those are the people I really respect. It was heartwarming. It really was.
I hope you got something out of that. I know I certainly did, being there on the evening, well, about 10, 14 days ago now. You can follow all of our features because we split them up and we give links to those so you can hear them individually. If you follow us on social media, we're on Facebook, we're on TwitterX and Instagram as well, so you may want to hear us there.
And what I mean is that if you follow our posts during the course of the week and we put out links, then you can tap on the link and press play and you just hear that particular feature rather than the whole show, because I know we're all kind of tight for time, aren't we?
Alternatively, in our show notes for the actual podcast, got all the timings there so you can scooch through particularly or specifically, I should say, to the feature that you want to hear that particular week. We've got our Planet Rygate stars featuring a bus. We've got our 60-second soundscape featuring a train. But now we've got our news and sports sequence on the Planet Rygate podcast.
Well, first this week, our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the person who died after an incident on Reigate Hill Tuesday afternoon around one o'clock. It's understood involved a pedestrian in his 60s and a car. Three men were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision. Police are appealing for witnesses.
Four teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Salford. Officers were called to an address on Brighton Road early hours of last Thursday morning, the 8th. The victim, a 17-year-old boy taken to hospital with stab wounds. Four people, a 15-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl, have all been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Police now looking to speak to anyone who might have been in the area at the time. So they ask, were you driving through Salfords in the area around Brighton Road between 1am and 1.15am? So again, we're talking about Thursday morning, the 8th. Do you have CCTV, dash cam, helmet cam footage that could help them?
Particularly looking to speak to a taxi driver who police reckon might have witnessed all or part of an incident. If that's you or you know who it might be, please get in touch. Obviously, a lot of taxi drivers in this neck of the woods because obviously not far from Gatwick and also London as well. If you've got any information, please get in touch with police. Okay, let's move on.
To some other stories and the latest on the Harlequin. Your questions answered now. Almost all staff are likely to be laid off at the Harlequin. No Christmas pantomime. And the council says, quote, we do not expect to be able to reopen the theatre in the foreseeable future. Of course, all that after that rack crumbly concrete was found almost a year ago now. Why am I telling you this now?
Well, a report which is going to be discussed by the council this coming week, what's called an extraordinary meeting, shows the impact the closure has had in cultural and financial terms and also sets out the council's plans for the future. So here at the Planet Rygate podcast, I've read the proposals and here's what you need to know. The questions have been voiced by artificial intelligence.
What is the background?
Well, on the 27th of September 2023, following the discovery of RAC, the crumbly concrete, in the Harlequin Theatre's auditorium ceiling and other places as well, the Council immediately closed the building. There was a non-intrusive visual inspection of the site in October 2023.
Instructed by the managing agents of Warwick Quadrant on behalf of the leaseholder of the entire site, the Council's insurers agreed the building should close on health and safety grounds.
Well, not much, to be honest.
That's because other buildings around the country, such as hospitals, schools and police stations, have had priority on the limited expertise available for these kinds of issues. However, a meeting was scheduled on 7 August this year, so just a few days ago, with the leaseholder and the managing agent of the Warwick Quadrant, and with surveyors to plan more detailed survey work.
That will inform decisions regarding the future of the theatre, and we'll hear more about what they discussed at a public meeting this coming week. But it should be noted that a more detailed survey has not actually been done yet.
Why might there have to be staff cuts?
Well, seven options are contained in this report that's going to be discussed at that meeting, but it seems likely that there will be, quote, a substantial reduction in the Harlequin staff team. That's partly because, put simply, money is running out.
The closure has meant there's been none of the regular income from hires of space at the Harlequin, and without that, its council budget that should last until April next year is actually going to run out in early October this year. So for the past six months, some of the staff have been redeployed in other parts of the council, but they've been providing extra help rather than filling vacancies.
And the report says, quote, it is considered unreasonable to continue to maintain a full workforce while being unable to provide the full community benefit. And so there could be a cut of the Harlequin team to two or maybe three staff.
So how many staff might lose their jobs?
Well, currently there are 17 members of contracted staff, although not all of them are full-time. There are about 25 what they call casual staff and six vacancies. Now, cuts in this kind of situation are usually calculated after considering total number of hours worked rather than actual posts. Staff and unions are already being consulted and retraining and other support will be offered.
Our thoughts, obviously. go out to those affected at this difficult time.
But won't making people redundant actually cost the council money?
Well, yes, and not only those costs, but also the costs of stopping contracts with companies the Harlequin has been working with. But those unexpected costs are all being factored in.
What will the staff that stay actually be doing?
Well, they'll be focusing on delivering a business case for a medium-term cultural offer for Redhill for 25-26.
OK, so the theatre remains closed, but what about a pantomime in Memorial Park again this year?
There'll be no big Christmas event this year, similar to the big top panto in Memorial Park last year. The report says that that event, quote, did require the council to incur substantial unbudgeted costs.
Now, the council report says, quote, it's not feasible to deliver a pantomime show in 2024 due to the costs and logistical challenges of delivery without a theatre venue, along with the risk of low ticket sales, making the show financially unviable.
Apparently, the possibility of a smaller-scale Christmas show has been explored, but it would, they say, quote, present significant operational challenges and an additional budget requirement. So it seems unlikely.
What about the pop-up in the Belfry? Will that carry on?
But of course, since the closure, the Harlequin team has had a space in the Belfry for some live performances and meetings, but the council's short-term agreement for that space is expected to end within the next few months.
What about the events at Castle Grounds this summer? Surely they've brought in some cash?
Well, not enough cash has been brought in from those, it seems. The report says, quote, it provides a positive cultural offering, but alone is not a sufficient harlequin offering in terms of cultural variety or financial viability.
Is Redhill guaranteed to be at the heart of the borough's arts and culture while the harlequin is closed, or into the future?
Well, no, not necessarily. The report just says it's looking at a business case for a medium-term cultural offering for the borough, quote, based in Redhill if possible, unquote, and that it will be, quote, no longer be based in Warwick Quadrant.
Over the next several months, staff will be looking to find what they call, quote, a venue for a cabaret-style performance space or possibly a partnership with a local school.
It looks as though we might lose all sorts of culture locally.
Well, undoubtedly, there will be a reduction in culture and arts offered locally. But it should be remembered that legally, under the Local Government Act of 2000, the Council has a duty to promote the social, economic and environmental well-being of its area, and that includes some cultural activities.
And the council says, quote, in the longer term, the ambition will be to have a cultural offering which is at least cost neutral or indeed surplus generating, as originally planned for the Harlequin. Councillor Nadine Moses, executive member for sustainability and leisure, is quoted as saying, quote,
Our commitment to providing an arts and cultural offer in the medium and long term remains strong. However, while the theatre is closed, we need to rationalise our costs and focus our efforts on delivering future options. The council says it cannot at this time commit to retaining the Harlequin as a cultural centre for the arts in the heart of the borough,
mainly because it doesn't have the full information on the extent of that rack or the feasibility, timescale or costs of any repair. That meeting we've mentioned already that has already happened on the 7th of August should make things clearer, but again it was only to discuss plans for more detailed survey work somewhere down the line. We'll hear more next week.
I have an opinion on all this. How can I be involved in decisions?
Well, the council has said, we propose to engage with local stakeholders, including existing and potential users of art and cultural spaces, residents, customers and others in developing the offer. Now, an action group of concerned residents has also been set up and East Surrey Performing Arts have also been very keen to have their voice heard on the plans.
You have mentioned a council meeting when all this will be discussed.
More discussions will be had and decisions will be made at a council meeting at 6.30pm Thursday 15th August at the Town Hall. You can be there in person or watch online. Now the public gallery was full last time, the Harlequin was discussed, so you may want to watch online instead. And you can watch the webcast via the link which you will find on the council website.
Or you can contact me at hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com for that link. And if you want to read the report in full, again, contact me if you can't find that on the Rygot and Banstead Borough Council website. Well, I hope that was of use and of interest ahead of the council decision this coming week, so you know the background to that.
And certainly people on social media have said that it was useful to see it kind of broken down in that way. If you want to read that, check out the post that I put up on Wednesday afternoon on my page, the Planet Reigate podcast on Facebook. Outline planning permission for a new 120-home development at the edge of Hawley has been granted by the local council.
The 12.5-hectare site next to Smallfield, north of Plough Road and east of Meadow View, is currently deemed agricultural land. So give you some idea of where that is. Heading out of Redhill, down to Salford's, left on Honeycrock Lane, under the motorway, turn right down to Smallfield. And the land we're talking about is just opposite Smallfield Football Club.
The decision comes a year and a half after an application was first received and despite more than 100 letters of objection. Now, there's been a number of conditions that have been applied to the content, which must be met at a later stage. It includes reference to the site's appearance, scale, layout, drainage and other ecological safeguarding considerations.
And chief among concerns raised by local residents and those connected to the area were issues related to school, doctor, dentist and nursery places, as well as the loss of green space and the risk of flooding as well. You can read more about that on Get Surrey. A local water expert has warned people to stay out of the River Mole after recording high levels of pollution.
Dr Jess Newman is an expert in flooding and hydrology at the University of Reading. She's done water readings and said the levels of phosphates are, quote, off the scale and, quote, it's really not a very good place to be hanging around or swimming in.
Thames Water say although all storm discharges were unacceptable, the sewage system was historically designed to work in this way to prevent sewage backing up into people's homes. But Dr. Jess Newman says also high levels of coliforms That's bacteria which can include E. coli. She is warning people to avoid getting in the water, certainly avoid getting water in their mouths to clean any wounds.
Thames Water says, quote, we have clear and deliverable plans to upgrade 250 of our sites across the region to increase treatment capacity and reduce the number of storm discharges. And it also goes on to say in a statement, farming industry, road runoff, wildlife and increasingly extreme weather also plays a role in river health.
If only there was a group, an organisation that kind of had an overview of water. There is. It's called the Environment Agency. It said regulation of the water industry to protect the environment is one of its top priorities and explained that it's recruiting more staff and using data driven analytics.
to map discharges so it can quickly direct specialist officers and water company inspections will be increased as well. OK, spotted on social this week, waste being dumped in a field called Crosswinds. It's on the border of Reigate and Banstead between Horse Hill and Colandine Lane. And the claim of, quote,
systematic illegal dumping of rubbish heavy duty machines and endless loaded lorries according to that site on social media i should also say that the person who posted that on social media anonymously has also contacted me here at the podcast independently um
The location just up the road from that controversial oil site in Horse Hill and that poster saying residents have repeatedly reported it over a period of a month. So I got in touch with Rygate and Badstead Borough Council and they told me, quote, the Borough Council is aware of the situation at this site and we're liaising with relevant partners.
The matter comes under Surrey County Council's jurisdiction as it's a waste transfer activity. And the County Council served enforcement notices on this land back in 2021 and has been notified of this additional activity. Quote, we understand the Environment Agency and Surrey Police have also been made aware.
Parents of children admitted to East Surrey Hospital are going to be given access to hot, nutritious meals. Yeah, but up until now, if you take your child into hospital and they are given a meal, you've got to sit there going hungry or nip up to the cafe or the stall there and get yourself some sandwiches.
But now, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital in Redhill, is one of 15 hospitals to roll out a programme by NHS England and the Sophie's Legacy charity. That pilot project has been made possible through a £5,000 grant from the charity.
Tina Hetherington is chief nurse at the trust and said the initiative would improve the overall hospital experience for families during what can be a challenging time. And a new summer house has been opened in the garden of East Surrey Hospital, Macmillan Cancer Centre, funded by donations to the SASH Cancer Fund. SASH is Surrey and Sussex Healthcare, yeah?
So for East Surrey and also some other health provisions which go into Sussex as well. It's a quiet space to sit for people who need to stay out of direct sunlight. Yeah, good point. We just need a quiet, sheltered way to enjoy the Cancer Centre garden. It was a real team effort, apparently, from Cancer Centre users, businesses and individuals who raised or donated the money.
Let's hear from Nikki Vanner. She's lead cancer nurse at the hospital, chatting to the head of the SASH charity, Andrew Bickerdike.
Hello Planet Reigate. So it's Andrew here at SASH Charity at East Surrey Hospital and we're at the opening of the Cancer Centre Summer House in the garden of the East Surrey Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre. I'm just chatting to Nicky who is our lead cancer nurse and we thought we'd say hello to Planet Reigate.
Hello Planet Reigate.
So Nicky can you tell us a bit about what the Summer House is all about?
Yes, so this all came about following the opening of our Macmillan Centre and we realised with all these patients that were coming through the door, actually we were really keen to utilise the outdoor space a little bit more.
We've got this most amazing garden and we realised with our cancer patients, the treatments that they have, they have to be very careful to protect themselves from the sun and things and with our increasingly hot summers, we really wanted a space where they could sit, enjoy the space and just have some time to themselves and appreciate where we are.
We've had grants from people like Gatwick Airport, for example, and also from Macmillan. And then there's just people that have done the most incredible things to raise money for this.
It is phenomenal and it is quite mind-blowing in some ways. And it's lovely to know that the work that we do is appreciated. But to have a summer house provided, fully funded, and just hearing what people have done. So going on triathlons, I've just met the lady who's done this triathlon. And she was blushing almost.
They don't want any acknowledgement really, but they just wanted to do something as a thank you. I've met a husband of a wife who was diagnosed and treated with us. He wrote a book, half his therapy for him to help him sort of get through, you know, the journey that they were on and then has donated, you know, money from that to us. And we just, I can't tell you how grateful we are.
Thanks so much, Nikki. Yeah, we really are. So thank you, Planet Rygate. We just wanted to say hello. If anyone would like to know more about what we're up to at the hospital, do have a look at sashcharity.org. We're the hospital charity up here at East Surrey and we'd love to hear from you.
Andrew, thank you very much indeed and congratulations to everyone who's been involved with that new summer house at East Surrey Hospital. Nearly £2 million is going to be spent this year on improving road markings across the county. Surrey County Council at Woodhatch saying over 100 roads will be improved to help prevent potholes.
And the programme of work will see white and yellow road markings refreshed on roads across the county with busy roads and those most in need of refreshing being prioritised. So which ones are local to us? Well, it's going to include the major motorway junctions, Junction 8 at Rye Gate, Junction 9 at Leatherhead and Junction 6 at Godstone as well.
Let's continue talking about roads and update from episode 44 and last week as well. Member Martin Pitchley is a local driving instructor saying that the roads near the test centre at the aerodrome were too fast. Verges were too overgrown, signs were missing or obscured, poor road markings and he just felt it was unsafe and certainly unfair on drivers being examined.
Now as I say, an update, Martin wrote to me saying that he went around with a council worker last Friday and has got back to me in the past week saying... My meeting went very well, and most of the issues were agreed with the council, apart from a few, but I'm going to persist in chasing those.
And he went on, although it is up to the council to be notified by people to make them aware of problems, a lot of these problems have existed for over six months. And the other matter I would just like the speed reduced on that sharp dangerous bend in that area but he says one step at a time but progress is good.
And Martin went on to say I'm still very grateful to you in covering such an important issue on your show all these matters are so important to keep them in the limelight. Your show is a great one. I heard about it from some of my students and I passed it on to everyone. And some didn't know either. So, Martin, thank you very much indeed. Thanks for spreading the word.
And I wondered why there was a particular spike recently in my listening numbers. So, Martin, really appreciate for spreading the word and for doing what you're doing to help keep our roads safer. The installation of a new junior football pitch at Battlebridge Rec in Merstham is now complete. The disused bowling green has been converted and extended to create a pitch for the under 9s and 10s.
Grass has been reseeded and the establishment will continue over the summer. in readiness to be enjoyed next football season. Yeah, I was there a few weeks ago and I thought, what's going on here? And then I put two and two together. Yeah, Peter, you have actually been mentioning this on the show. So it's really good to see that coming to fruition.
And there's been good progress on the project to upgrade Merstam Rec as well. Over the last few weeks, if you've been down there, you'll have seen the pavilion foundations being excavated and the concrete being poured for its base. the installation of curbs to the new play area and paths as well, and more excavation works to create drainage ditches.
And over the next few weeks, the contractors will put in the pavilion floor, the surface entrances and drainage, start building the pavilion walls, continue with the footpath and the construction of those drainage ditches. I think they're called swales, aren't they? Something I only learned recently. And you You can kind of watch the progress as all that takes shape over the next few weeks.
So that's what's happening at Battlebridge Lane and Merstham as well. To Hawley. Hawley Town Council saying the majority of the playground refurb works have been completed at Michael Crescent Playground. The new playground was made possible by a grant from Reichen and Banstead Council. They say we're going to be having an official opening in a couple of weeks' time.
But for now, the park is open for everyone to enjoy yourselves over the summer. OK, mentioned the Belfry, didn't we, a few minutes ago with the closure of the Marks and Spencers. Reigate Photographic Society have got a new exhibition of the Belfry. It's their side entrance. It's been changed. It's going to be up there for the next six months. So feel free to take a look next time you're there.
They say we also meet at the community center in Reigate every Monday night at eight o'clock from September to May. All photographers old and new are always welcome. Reigatephotosoc.com. reigatephotosoc.com if you want to learn more. And if you want to hear more about the Society, you can do that by going all the way back to episode 9 of the Planet Reigate podcast.
Yes, so if you, it's on the ground floor, go right to the very end and then hang a left and it's up there. It's up the, is there a bit of a slope? There are certainly some steps, aren't there? You go up the side entrance. Well worth looking at.
Maybe you're waiting for somebody to finish their shopping, or maybe you've got a cup of coffee or a sandwich or something, or maybe you've got a bit of time to kill in a lunch break. Well worth taking a look at that. Now, talking of which, sales going on at the Belfry at the moment. I've had a little look. You may be able to save yourself some money. New look. Have a sale. Up to 60% off.
Benson's for beds. have up to 50% off event. Tappy Carpets, 50% off carpets there. H&M have got a summer sale. And Trespass have got 60% off all stock there as well. Now, you know about BBC Radio 4 Any Questions? It's coming to Salford's. Yeah, Salford's and Sidlow Parish Council are going to be hosting. It's going to be at Salford's Village Hall on Honeycrock Lane.
The panel's going to be discussing current affairs and hot topics. So that's going to be interesting. If you're thinking, well, hold on, weren't they there recently? Peter, I remember you telling me about this. A couple of three months ago. Yeah, it was put on hold, wasn't it? Because of the general election.
But if you want to be part of broadcasting history, the first broadcast of any questions goes back to 1948. They visit different parts of the country each week. They've got a panel of four speakers. There's usually someone local, isn't there?
And then a couple of people, national politicians, and then someone perhaps from a university or a commentator, in some way a policymaker or a writer, something like that. And it's broadcast live on BBC Radio 4. You can bring along a question, you submit it to the panel on the night. So the doors open from 6.30 and it goes live at 8 o'clock, Friday the 27th of September.
So what's that, about six or seven weeks away now. The event is free, but you do need a ticket. You can't just rock up there on the night. You've got to pre-book a ticket. They're going to be available. Well, now, frankly, on a first-come, first-served basis. So you can apply for those. If you want to apply, you can contact Salford's and Sidlow Parish Council.
If you can't get through to them, get in touch with me, and I'll put you in touch with them. OK, finally, I wanted to tell you about the news of the passing of John Shinner. Now, who was John? John was the guy behind Priory Farm. He's died earlier this summer, we're hearing this week, at the age of 94.
Now, John, along with his wife, Wendy, bought Priory Farm back in 1957 and was instrumental in its development over the past decade.
67 years they say his vision dedication and tireless efforts have shaped Priory Farm into the thriving business it is today John was more than just our founder they say he was a visionary a leader and a mentor to many his tireless efforts and passion have been the cornerstone of Priory Farm's success His spirit and values will continue to inspire us in all the years to come.
Yeah, you can explore more about John's remarkable legacy, his work, and explore the first 50 years of Priory Farm by going to the history pages on their website, prioryfarm.co.uk. Some great pictures and stories there. I was looking a little bit earlier on today. You know what? They were one of the first farms in the UK to diversify back in the 1960s.
In the 1970s, they were selling pick-your-own strawberries for 10p a pound. Then, of course, the gradual decline of pick-your-own, and then the rise instead of the farm shop and the cafe there. You can see the picture of the marriage of Pumpkin Man and Pumpkin Lady on site. And at one stage, apparently, they were growing 25 different crops.
And also, you can learn about the start of the Farm Shop Food Festival there. Yeah, prioryfarm.co.uk. Them and us paying tribute to the life and the career of John Shinner, who sadly died early this summer at the grand old age of 94. This is the Planet Reigate podcast.
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 372 797. Planet Reigate Stars, thanking local heroes who are out of this world.
And this week from Reigate, incidentally, if you would like to talk to me about voiceovers or emceeing or hosting, maybe to be a facilitator or a judge, then get in touch. Hello at theplanetreigatepodcast.com. So Natalie wrote on socials, Hello, we lost a small metal bus, around 20 centimetres long, in Priory Park playground. If anyone finds it, can you let me know please?
Little one currently obsessed with his new bus, many thanks. And we spotted that Lily replied, Ah, we saw it. We left it on the little slope behind the xylophone. And Natalie replied again, thank you. I went back this afternoon and I have found it. I now have a very happy little person at home. So Lily, you're the recipient of this week's Planet Reigate Sprinkle of Stardust.
And in sports this week, the Magira Tani Judo Club says, has watching the 2024 Paris Olympic Games so far inspired you or someone you know to try out an Olympic sport? Have a go and try judo. Yeah, to book a free trial with that club, which is governed by the British Judo Association, you can go to magiratanijudo.com slash trial. Let me spell that for you. M-O-G-E-R-A-T-A-N-I and then J-U-D-O.
Now, their sessions are held on Wednesdays at Live Village Hall. Run series has some kids races, yet they say we encourage our young runners to complete a cumulative half marathon, so 13.1 miles in total. It means they can complete 12 miles in advance of the event day. In their own time, broken down as much as they like, they can finish on the event day with the final 1.1 miles completed.
completing their own cumulative half marathon and claiming a well-earned medal. So you can sign up and you can download and print out a tracker to add up those miles before. The big day of Run Reigate, 22nd of September, runseries.co.uk and then search for Run Reigate. As they say, 13.1 miles or 1.1 miles, do it your own way.
The Rygate Triathlon is Sunday the 8th of September over at Buckland Park. So if you've signed up for the try, or maybe you're thinking of doing so, why not join, they say, our swim training sessions. They'll take place in the lagoon and the big lake and utilise the swim route, giving you first-hand experience ahead of the event.
So they'll cover things like getting into the water, how you do that. For me, that would be slowly. And the start of the race, buoy turns, which strokes to use, how to transition between them, and tips on dealing with nerves as well. Now, the sessions are led by various coaches and organisers who will be able to answer your questions. Limited places available for the sessions, 7pm to 8pm.
Let's look at some of these dates for you. Monday 12th August, Wednesday 28th and Wednesday 4th September. More details at theshac.co.uk. And congratulations to Merston Football Club, who were playing Wick Football Club last weekend. And they actually won 7-0, ladies and gentlemen. 7-0, which is absolutely fantastic.
Let's hope that that is going to be replicated over the course of the rest of the season.
Planet Reigate is the North Downs Way and the Pilgrims Way. And this is the Planet Reigate podcast.
Just before we get into the Good Time Guide, let me remind you that in last week's episode, we heard from Henry down at Mercer's Lake and Aqua Sports there. Just to let you know, some of their regular sessions that they run in the water down at Mercer's Lake, they have the fantastically named Ladies Who Launch. which, as you might expect, is dinghy sailing.
Tuesdays, Thursdays, 12 till 2 for happy hour prices. They also have open water swim sessions there. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Various timings for that one. A kids club, Saturday mornings between 9.30 and 11.30 for 8 to 13-year-olds who have at least a Level 1 qualification in sailing, windsurfing or paddling. Also, own equipment launch.
For sail sports and paddle sports, daily bookings for anyone level one and equivalent to go down and launch your own equipment. Everyone is welcome to take part in that, obviously considering those stipulations. Henry last week said it was a fantastic place, his office overlooking the lake, to see a sunset. Well, there's a sunrise, sup and paddle sports event.
Tuesdays to Saturdays, 7.30pm to 9pm. And Sundays, a little bit later, a bit of a lie-in on a Sunday, 8pm to 9.30pm. Sunset happy hours, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 6pm to 8pm. Hire or launch your own craft.
at happy hour prices, and open tasters, two hour, two sport open tasters, perfect for individuals, couples, friends, and families, and suitable for anyone aged eight plus, so if you've got a family, if you've got some friends, if you're part of a couple, Or maybe you're an individual. Yeah, maybe you're an individual. You can go along there and have those open taster sessions.
Two hours, two sports, open taster sessions at Aqua Sports Company down at Mercer's Lake.
The Good Time Guide. Things to do and places to go on the Planet Reigate podcast.
You can get a mention seven days before the event or you can 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. Join the fun at the SCTA Theatre Academy's Musical Theatre Summer Holiday Camp.
And it's the 12th to the 16th of August at St John's Primary Schools for four to 13-year-olds. Singing, dancing, acting and making new friends. Daily workshops, fun games and activities, arts and crafts sessions and all materials are provided. Bit of an awkward one to get details. It's forms.gle and then a whole load of numbers and letters attached.
But I tell you what, for more information, get in touch with me and I'll put you in touch with them. Or you can go to info at sctatheatreacademy.co.uk. Tuesday the 13th, Art Sparks Summer Holiday Art Club with a Treasure Island theme. Thursday, 14th and 15th of August, 21st and 22nd of August as well. A watercolour community space, £35 a day, 9 till 3. Kim Venter at gmail.com.
K-I-M-V-E-N-T-E-R at gmail.com for more information on that. Camp Marshall X have a kids' multi-sport summer camp going on for ages 4 to 14. Basketball, dodgeball, football... Arts and crafts, cricket, martial arts, archery, tennis, rounders and so much more as well. Office at campmartialx.co.uk.
It's happening at Reigate Priory Junior School on Bell Street if you're interested in taking part with that. Also on Tuesday, 10.15 to 11.15 at the Posadero Lounge in Redhill opposite the Belfry. Go along and meet new people, have a chat, teas and coffees available, CDs, jigsaw puzzle swap, book swap as well. You go along and you take away. It's all been organised by the U3A.
It's to get people along to meet other people, learn, laugh and have fun. and learn more about their activities as well. U3A is the University of the Third Age. And for more information on that, go to rrudigit3a.org.uk. Rygate, Redhill. university3h, yeah, rru3a.org.uk. Would it be controversial to suggest that it's not Reigate Redhill for RR, it's Redhill Reigate? I don't know, just a thought.
Friday the 16th of August. There's a day, Friday the 16th of August. It's one I always remember. The Surrey Hills National Landscape and Surrey Wildlife Trust have got a free event for local horse owners. Pasture management principles for large or small horses. And it's all sorts of things about maintaining good ground cover, reducing erosion.
reducing the worm parasite burden of horses, controlling weeds, all sorts of things as well. And a light lunch will be provided too. The East Surrey workshop is the 16th of August, 9.30 to 3.30. They call it East Surrey, it actually happens. Hold on, hold on. It actually happens at Box Hill Village.
So horses you're going to talk about, dragons you're going to dodge, and it's at Box Hill Village Hall... 16th of August, 9.30 to 3.30, FIPL at surreycc.gov.uk if you've got any questions on that one. OK, let's move forward to next Saturday, Saturday the 17th. Join us for a night of nostalgia, delicious food and dancing till the early hours. It's a naughty night.
Yeah, it's been 24 years since Brittany did it again. The real Slim Shady was asked to stand up and Craig David shared what he got up to over the last seven days. Love that. So dust off that velour tracksuit and that unnecessarily large belt and grab your naughtiest night tickets at reigatemanor.co.uk for details on that one.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes our Good Time Guide on the Planet Reigate podcast for this week. One more thing to do before we go at the end. Well, hold on. I've got to play the jingle first.
The 60 Second Soundscape. Local natural sounds uninterrupted.
Before we go at the end of the show, let me take you back to Tuesday night on a bridge over a railway track in Reigate.
Just before nine o'clock. on the evening of Tuesday the 6th of August, just by Reigate Lawn Tennis Club, off Manor Road.
I'm waiting for the 7,000 Britannia to come through the area, hauling the Sunset Steam Express. So it left Victoria at 1816 and then steamed through the London suburbs of West Brompton, Shepherd's Bush, Brentford, Feltham, and then beginning a steep climb through the Surrey Hills as the sun set. Chertsey around half seven, Woking 8.15.
Now it's on its way from Gomshall, due in Redhill, round about nine o'clock, before onward travel to Purley, East Croydon, Streatham Common, Clapham Junction, and reaching London, Victoria again at ten tonight. So I'm I'm on that kind of pedestrian bridge. It's actually a bit of a road bridge just here. And half a dozen other people here waiting as well, waiting for the scene.
This is apparently a good place to come. A couple of other bridges either side. And of course, the main Reigate station footbridge as well. I'm also thinking that maybe Betchworth station might be a good place as well. to watch this train come through.
The website blurb for the journey says, "...often described as one of England's finest landscapes, the Surrey Hills stretch across the chalk north downs. The grandeur and beauty of these hills embrace an amazing variety of countryside, from rolling chalk downs and flower-rich grasslands to acid heaths and woodlands. Bask in the sun-kissed beauty of these glorious surroundings."
while indulging in a harmonious blend of the finest champagne and fine dining, or indulge in drinks and snacks from our cocktail bar or buffet car. So that's what's happening on the train at the moment as it heads towards us here. The 7000 Britannia is a British Railways Standard Class 7 engine.
alternatively known as the Britannia Class, and the first of 55 to be built by British Railways in Crewe back in 1951. Built mainly as an express passenger service between London and Norwich, it can reach speeds up to 100 miles an hour. And for many years, this is something you need to look out for if you see the train come through the area again, either this summer or or in subsequent years.
The cab roof is painted white, and it's to commemorate her pulling the funeral train of King George VI from Sandringham to London back in 1952. And then after 15 years of service, in May 1966, Britannia was retired and spent some time at preserved railways, then returned to the national network between 1991-1997. and then the locomotive was withdrawn for a complete overhaul.
And then in 2010, Britannia was steamed once more, and 2011 marked the locomotive's return to the main line after a 14-year absence. In one of her most important roles, Britannia hauled the Royal Train from Preston to Wakefield in January 2012.
One of the people here waiting on the bridge got an app which shows whereabouts the Britannia is at the moment, just past Dorking Deep Dean apparently, so it won't be long. I hope he gives us a whistle, let's see.
The Planet Reigate podcast was produced and presented by Peter Stewart.