The Planet Reigate Podcast
66: 1/4 - The story of Bancroft Road, Reigate 1 – the intriguing story of what was built there, why and who by… and more
Fri, 13 Dec 2024
Episode 66 – The story of Bancroft Road, Reigate – the intriguing story of what was built there, why and who by… and more For Saturday 14th December 2024This is how we’re reflecting and celebrating our love of life around here this week:TIMECODE - 00:00 - What’s in this episode. 03:25 - Planet Reigate area news. 24:30 – Happy birthday, Donyngs. 29:40 - Planet Reigate area weather stats. 31:15 – Planet Reigate area travel: the forthcoming closure of Gatton Park Road. 33:55 – When Harry Met Emmy – the story of Reigate’s ‘first leisure centre’ on Bancroft Road. Part 1. 45:10 – Planet Reigate Stars: thanking local heroes. This week from a local park. 46:40 - The Good Time Guide: Local events for this coming week.51:50 – The Sixty-second Soundscape. This week from Reigate Castle. If 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. A list of ‘the best of the guests’, and a link to hear each one, is on this Facebook post: https://tinyurl.com/prpbest*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: 102031400WEATHER - Sasha_Grey Item ID: 025133085SOUNDSCAPE PolkadotFlowersMusic Item ID: 136304431GUITAR - Frogard Item ID: 114324148TITANIC - Paradise Waltz Classical Instrumental End - by TitanicRemembered ID 123249849 - 12 secondsCLASSIC - light orch Victorian - by EaRenTech ID 130569703DARK CLASSICAL - by tralfamadore, from Pond5 ID 108528090MEDIUM - bed - by SergeyWednesday ID 73515488 Listen: https://linktr.ee/PlanetReigatePodcastWeb: www.ThePlanetReigatePodcast.comFacebook: www.Facebook.com/ThePlanetReigatePodcastInsta: theplanetreigatepodcastEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is the Planet Reigate Podcast.
And this is Peter Stewart. Welcome to Episode 66. This is your Planet Reigate Podcast. covering Reigate, Redhill and Merston, Buckland, Betchworth and Brockham, down to Hawley and over to Charleswood and outward as well. And our main feature this week, well, we're starting a mini-series on the intriguing and significant history of one of our local roads.
Now, if you've ever driven in Reigate, you will know this road. It's part of the one-way system, so you can hardly avoid it. And back in the day... You could have said that this road was the home to the area's first, well, what would now be called, leisure park. I've got the details a little bit later on. Elsewhere in the news, possible changes to local school holiday dates.
Empty council buildings in Redhill could be taken over by charities. Our local ambulance service is going to start collaborating with one for Hampshire and Berkshire. I'll tell you why. We've got a lot of local news about some local charities this week. I'll tell you how you can get money to help with essentials if you're struggling to make ends meet at the moment.
Two local charities have funds that you can apply for. Another local charity is inviting you to bid in a silent auction for a helicopter experience over London. Congratulations to another charity who've won a big local award. How a local church is helping you if you work from home and are struggling to meet your fuel bills.
In other local news this week, the local school that's the best in the country, another one that's won another award. How you can have your say on play areas in Hawley. A local cafe is starting to sell hot food for the first time in months. There's a Christmas drinks gathering that you're invited to. A new community initiative at the Belfry, which is free.
Local Christmas services at a Reigate church. The local girl who's appearing in the new Richard Curtis movie. The local author who's ranking number two in Amazon's historical fiction charts. I bring you the sound of the talking bins which are popping up locally. And a very happy birthday of one of our most significant local buildings. Can you name it before I do? And here's a clue.
Can you spell it? Also, we've got the good time guide of events across the area across the week ahead leading up to the big day. Planet Reigate stars this week from a local park. I've got recent weather stats from our very own Professor Weather and also going to be telling you about a big, significant local road closure that starts early 2025 and is going to be going on for weeks.
And our 60-second soundscape before we go at the end of the show. Natural sounds from a place you know this week. from the grounds of one of our local castles.
This is the Planet Reigate podcast with Peter Stewart. And speak to real people who can advise you. The Belfry Shopping Centre, Redhill.
OK, let's go to it. Hope you're well, by the way. Looking forward to the Christmas period, if you're celebrating and marking that. Got another week or so to go, of course. Surrey County Council looking at possible changes to school holidays. That may be affecting you, should it go forward. It would be a switch to a two-week half-term break in the autumn as well.
So about one in ten state-funded schools have already made the switch, creating challenges when term times at different schools aren't aligned. You could have people going to different schools in different boroughs or across county borders, things like that. It could be very, very difficult, couldn't it?
Now, should the change be made, the school year would still be 195 days, including the five inset staff training days. I reckon there could be really strong views on either side of this particular question. There's a survey which is being run by Surrey County Council, and that closes at 5pm on the 31st of December.
So if you have a spare, you know, 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes to look at that survey at the moment, over the next couple of weeks before the end of the 31st of December, you may want to go on and find out a little bit more about that. It seems a funny time to launch a survey, doesn't it? A Christmas New Year time, but maybe you'll have a bit of time off perhaps between the two big days.
Empty council buildings in Redhill could be taken over by charities and pop-ups on a short-term basis. It's been suggested the short term, what they're called meanwhile leases. I suppose it's kind of a lease while something else is being planned. You know, it's empty at the moment. A shop is going to be coming there. But meanwhile, can we put something else in instead?
And it's to combat the nearly £620,000 spent by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council every year on vacant units in the borough. Why £620,000? Well, three quarters of that is actually spent maintaining properties in Redhill, going on things like business rates, insurance and utility bills. So... Yeah, they're called meanwhile leases.
It essentially allows for the temporary occupation of a retail unit, of a shop unit in a town centre, without the lengthy admin and legal process going forward. So it means that non-commercial occupiers, charities, for example, who wouldn't normally be able to afford the rent, can actually take advantage of that site as soon as possible. Let's get someone in. Let's have some lights on.
Let's have some heating on. Let's get maybe a little bit of money. And also what it means is there's a presence on the high street, doesn't it? So that obviously increases footfall and it reduces crime, antisocial behaviour, that kind of thing. And it would mean that some spare space is able to be used by some charities or non-profits until the Harlequin reopens.
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Yes, some of these spaces may not be shops at all, but there may be places for people to meet, there may be rehearsal areas, there may be places for book circles and that kind of group, but maybe the council could be paying for themselves for local interest groups.
You remember in our special edition of the Planet Reigate podcast a couple of weeks ago that this is something exactly that was being proposed by council leader Richard Beaks. And if you want to hear a bit more about what he said about that, listen back to episode 64B and most notably 64C as well, where he said that he was looking at other areas where local groups could meet.
So maybe this is the thinking behind that. The Green Party locally has suggested that multiple empty spaces in the Light Shopping Centre in Redhill could be used for Christmas charity appeals or community groups as well. Two ambulance services facing operation and financial challenges have agreed to collaborate to find a way to work together to drive down costs and improve patient care.
So we have South East Coast Ambulance Service, which always sounds a little bit odd, doesn't it, in Surrey. It covers Kent and... and Surrey and Sussex. Kind of makes sense to have that name for Kent and Sussex. They have a coast. We don't, obviously, in Surrey. But anyway, that's what it's called. CCAM and South Central Ambulance Service.
That's the group that covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire. The Trust would still retain their independence, but they would share things. They haven't explained exactly what they would share, but it's usually things like garages or maintenance or procurement, you know, buying things and things like that, training exercises. There's parts of Surrey and Sussex Police.
who share things as well isn't there for major crimes for example and also police dog training so i guess it would work in a similar respect to that are you struggling at the moment do you need a little bit more money i mean are you seriously in need or maybe you know someone else who is the henry smith charity is based in hawley we've spoken about this on the program before
The charity helps people in Hawley, Salfords, South Earlswood and Sidlow who are facing financial challenges as a result of their social or economic circumstances. Now you can apply for more money. It's for help with what they call home essentials, clothing, student materials, mobility aids and so on.
henrysmithcharityhawley.org.uk or you can call 01293 782 629 so you can get an application form and learn a little bit more about it. Local charities and community groups in Surrey are invited to apply for funding from the Gatwick Airport Community Trust. Now around £250,000 is available. It's entirely funded by Gatwick Airport.
The trust supports initiatives that improve the quality of life for communities around the airport. Applications are open until the 31st of March next year. And it aims to make a positive difference in communities affected by COVID. the airport's operations.
It's been going for about 20 years already and it provides funds for local projects, things like youth programmes, environmental improvements and things like that as well. All sorts of groups have taken advantage so far. Your group can as well. Go to g-a-c-t dot org dot uk. G-A-C-T, Gatwick Airport Community Trust. G-A-C-T dot org dot uk. OK, got another charity story now.
The SASH charity is based at East Surrey Hospital. Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Charity is what it stands for. Your chance to win a helicopter experience and help people with cancer here in Surrey. All you need to do is bid in their silent auction for a 30-minute VIP helicopter experience over London for your chance to create an unforgettable memory with your loved ones.
Yeah, maybe you've got someone in your family... who is really difficult to buy for. And this could be their ticket to something altogether a little bit different. You would leave from Beacon Hill with yourself and three people, so four people in total. Now, the bids close on the 16th of December at 5pm, so not many days to go now. And the winner is announced on, appropriately, Christmas Day.
You can email sash.charity at nhs.net, so S-A-S-H. dot charity at nhs.net and every bid supports the sash cancer fund helping improve care at surrey and sussex healthcare nhs trust essentially that's the surrey hospital more details sash charity dot org slash appeals slash helicopter
Well, a round of applause is in order for the winner of the Surrey County Council Make It Happen Community Award, sponsored by Connect2Surrey. Yeah, congratulations to the Lucy Rayner Foundation, who work to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of depression in young people.
from Stripey Stork they've got some amazing news as well they've reached their match funding target of £80,000 they say they're really grateful to every individual business and community group that donated they say you've amazed us once again Team Stork is simply the best
And it's because of that support they go into 2025 with the confidence that they have the resources to meet the growing demand for safer places to sleep. They say it's not uncommon for them to support 300 households each week. So every donation made recently will continue to make a real impact, helping Stripey Stork provide the essential items that make a difference to families across Surrey.
Stripey Stork, of course, based in Reigate. Yeah, there's another round of applause for our friends over include.org because they have hit a target as well. They are so grateful. A huge thank you, they say, to all of their 210 donors recently. Huge amount of support for their Christmas challenge. We spoke about this in the program a couple of weeks ago with their Christmas chain appeal.
They say thanks to everyone who shared our campaign with other people as well. amazing members and support workers, volunteers, staff and wonderful reps and thank you to the local organisations for their support as well. Congratulations to you too if you helped them reach their target. Do you work from home? Do you avoid putting the heating on just for you?
Well, come to our warm working space, says St Wilfrid's Church Hall, Hawley Row in Hawley, RH6. Work from Wilfs is the name they've given it. Wednesdays, 10 till 2, a warm space, hot drinks, cake, co-workers and free Wi-Fi as well. That sounds pretty good, doesn't it? We've got some great news from Reigate Grammar School. They say they have been named School of the Year 2025 by the Sunday Times.
In fact, they secured two awards, Independent Secondary School of the Year 2025 and School of the Year Southeast 2025. They say these prestigious accolades, part of the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, reflect RGS's holistic approach to education, encompassing academic excellence, pastoral care, community engagement and a commitment to providing opportunities through bursaries as well.
The headmaster says in a quote, "...this recognition celebrates the extraordinary support of our staff, students and families in making RGS such a special place for our students. It strengthens the profile of their education for university applications." to employers and attracting and retaining the very best teachers.
I don't think I've played our round of applause so often in a single episode before, but got another one for them. And also, let's carry that on for the Federation of Earlswood Schools, who are thrilled to announce that they've achieved Level 3 RHS School Gardening Award.
A huge thank you to Mandy, they say, for her incredible dedication, and to the children, staff and community for all their hard work in making our outdoor areas flourish. Here's to growing even more together. Growing together. I like that. Good phrase.
Right go to Banstead Borough Council together with Hawley Town Council want to hear views to help improve sport, exercise and play facilities in open spaces. That links in, doesn't it, with the growing together in Hawley. By taking part, you could be in with a chance to win a £100 shopping voucher.
So the councils want to hear what you think about Hawley's current open spaces and facilities, how you use them and your ideas about how they could be improved as well. It's all to shape the Borough Council's future plans to make major investment in Hawley's open spaces future.
to improve facilities for sport and exercise children's play things to do they're particularly interested to know from parents and teenagers about what teenagers actually want in the area because let's let's be totally honest i don't think it would be a great surprise to learn that the people at the town hall are a little bit older And they don't necessarily know what teenagers want.
Can you let them know? Yeah, you can. Jolly good. Get in touch with them. As I always say, for more information, get in touch with me. I'll put you in touch with them. That survey closes 9 a.m. 20th of January next year. They're going to analyze the results. Work it all out. Tell us what they found in the spring and hopefully it'll make a difference.
But it can only make a difference and you'll only get what you want if you tell them what you want ahead of time. We've spoken before, haven't we, several months ago about the Hangar 9 cafe over at the Aerodrome. And they took over from the previous cafe that was there. But people kind of said, well, hold on. You've only got sandwiches and tea and coffee. You haven't got much going on here.
We are pleased to announce... that at last, on Monday, December the 16th, they're going to start their new menu, which will, ladies and gentlemen, include hot dishes, including breakfast and burgers and pastas, as well as the sandwiches and kid-friendly options as well. Yes, the Hangar 9 Cafe is doing hot food once again. The Redhill Business Guild have been in touch.
They say join us for the final gathering of the year. It's Christmas drinks on Wednesday, the 18th of December at the Junction from half past five. They say no need to book. Just turn up, network and enjoy some Christmas cheer. We hope to see you there. Hopefully they don't mind me mentioning. that particular time and place and location on the Planet Reigate podcast because it is open to everyone.
They may suggest that you become a member as well, as indeed I am. So maybe you're interested in what goes on in Red Hill and what the plans are for the future of the town. Maybe you are involved in a local business or you're involved in a local charity, club or society or group or team or squad.
or association, organization, institution, whatever it is, get yourself down there, do a bit of networking, and perhaps you'll join us at Red Hill Business Guild in the new year as well. Let's stay with Redhill. Did you know that the Belfry has created a small performance space? Now, the small stage is on the lower level.
It's for local community groups and bands, comedians, choirs, theatre groups, singers, almost any local group, really. And during the day, the performance area is free for the public. But after six o'clock, they actually got the option. This is really good idea.
screening the area off for anyone who wants to hold a ticketed event or maybe a rehearsal space if you want a meeting if you've got a speaker if you've got a book group something like that so if you'd like to find out more about using that space you can get in touch with reception at the hyphen belfry.co.uk and i love this there's no charge for using the space but if you can afford a donation to their christmas charity which is homestart east surrey it would be greatly received and
And if you ever need somebody to host something or introduce or to do an interview or a fireside chat or anything like that, emcee an event, get in touch with me as well. Hello at theplanetrigatepodcast.com. I may be able to help you out. So two emails addressed there.
reception at the-belfry.co.uk if you want to know more about that area there, that mini stage that they've got on the ground floor. And if you'd like somebody to help you host an event, hello at theplanetridegatepodcast.com. Now, a couple of weeks ago, we mentioned some of the Christmas events which are happening at one local church.
And now we've got some details of what's happening at St Mary's in Reigate. There's carols by Candlelight on the 15th at 5 and 7 o'clock. Contemporary carols on the 22nd at 6.30. Christmas Eve Christingle service at 3 and 5 o'clock on the 24th. They say, bring your own orange and come dressed in a nativity costume, please. On the 24th, their midnight communion starts at 11 p.m.
On the 25th, they've got communion at 8.30 and Christmas morning celebrations at 10.30. And they also, of course, run the Heath Church. On the 15th, they've got the Heath Church carols at 10.30 a.m. On the 25th, Christmas communion at 10.30 as well. And you can join them for their Alpha course, which starts on the 14th of January. So maryrygate.org
If you want some more information on any or all of those. Got some good news from Kate on Facebook. Kate, hi, you DM'd me. Thank you so much indeed for that. Proud mom moment. She says, thought you might like to share some news about my daughter. Ava, who's voiced character in the new Richard Curtis movie, That Christmas, which has dropped on Netflix. Ava is 11.
She actually plays Scarlet in the film. That Christmas is all about Christmas for the people of Wellington-on-Sea, when the worst snowstorm in history alters everyone's plans, including Santa's. And the cast includes Jodie Whittaker, Bill Nye and Brian Cox from Succession as well.
We couldn't actually clear a clip of Ava to play you, but you try and listen out for Ava if you're going to be watching that on Netflix and listen out for Scarlet if you're, as I say, going to be watching that Christmas on Netflix over this Christmas. Now, Ava's also been in a TV series called Chip and Potato about Chip, a four-year-old pug puppy, and a secret friend, Potato, who's a mouse.
She's also been in Plebs about three desperate young men from the suburbs as they try to hold down jobs and climb the social ladder in the big city. And that happens to be ancient Rome. So a bit of fun going on there. And she played alongside Maureen Lipman and Line of Duty's Adrian Scarborough.
And also she's featured in Trying about Jason and Nicky, a couple who decide to adopt, playing alongside...
Imelda Staunton so congratulations to Ava she's a name to be watching out for isn't she over the coming years congratulations and thanks very much indeed mum Kate for letting us know all about it also been in contact by Hannah who says hi Peter don't know if this is of interest at all but RH1 has its very own author my husband's novel Leaving Fatherland was just published
She says, as you might expect. And Hannah, well done for doing so. The book makes an excellent Christmas present. Obviously, I would say that. But it is ranking number two in Amazon's historical fiction chart in both the US and UK. And reviews are great as well. Four and a half stars out of five on Amazon. So what is it all about?
Growing up a misfit in Nazi Germany, a victim of his father's beatings, Oskar's love of books is a constant comfort in a world turned upside down by violence. As a student, as a pilot in the brutal Luftwaffe during the Second World War, in an unhappy marriage to an English bride, he finds himself returning over and over to the circumstances of his childhood.
What was the source and cause of his father's abuse? Could there have been more to it than he'd once believed? Little did Oscar know that his first lecture at university would ultimately lead to the end of a lifetime of searching and finally reveal the figure who had been controlling his life from a distance. That sounds good, doesn't it?
So if you want some more details on that, then check out your local bookstore. I know we've got a Waterstones in Reigate and another one in Redhill as well. And the book you're looking for is Leaving Fatherland. And the surname, actually, I don't have a full name. I'm going to live, while we do this, get on and look up Leaving Fatherland and see what comes up so I can give you the full details.
It's Matt Graydon, G-R-A-Y-D-O-N. Check it out. And if you can support a local independent bookstore, then please do that. I'm sure they'll be really appreciative. Now, a few weeks ago, we reported about the new solar-powered bins across Reigate and Banstead Borough, didn't we? And we also said that some of them talk. I thought you'd like to hear how some of them talk, like this one right here.
Thank you for keeping the play area clean for all of us to enjoy.
Now, a bit later on in the show, I'm going to be bringing you the story about Reigate's very first swimming pool and where that was and the whole story behind it. And it's a bigger story than you might imagine. And I'm going to be stripping that story over the next few weeks here on the Planet Reigate podcast. But while we're talking about swimming pools, happy birthday to Donnings.
Yeah, Donnings was opened in December 1984. So that makes it... at 40 years old and this is from the Reigate Society as it was called at the time it's now the Reigate and Red Hill Society and their summary of the period and obviously this was written several years ago
Early 1983 saw the start of the new Recreation Centre at Donnings Place, which is roughly on the boundary between Redhill and Reigate. Here at last was a determined effort by the Borough Council, albeit in a time of financial stringency, to provide a much needed modern local amenity. The move towards speedy implementation of the plan was warmly supported by this society.
The Council's method of inviting the public to hear of the alternative proposals almost as soon as they had been received by the Council by means of short presentations by each of the contractors who had responded to the official inquiry document proved, at least for the Society, an admirable method of conducting the opening phase of such a scheme.
In a remarkably short time, Condor Southern had been selected and a letter of intent issued to enable extensive foundation work to proceed that summer
in fair weather the recreation center at donning's place was open to the public in december 1984. it's worth recalling that the society was pleased to welcome the contractors team to a meeting held on the 30th of june 1983 when a full exposition of the scheme was made by team leaders
It is to be hoped that this centre, the new Redhill Shopping Centre, the modernised Redhill Railway Station, now planned, and other developments will do much to restore pride in the Redhill area after a long period of deterioration. A further Redhill amenity is the creation of a much-needed town park on the site of the old football ground.
The society made a substantial donation towards the cost of the trees which were planted there in November 1984. Isn't it interesting that, as I say, that was written several years ago in the 80s. I think it's a summary of what had happened in the town in the 80s. But it's interesting that so many of those issues are still pertinent today.
First of all, the financial stringency of the council is mentioned. Also about the new Redhill Shopping Centre, which was really interesting because I don't think that opened for another 10 years or so, did it? Because I was there actually at the opening of that as a cub reporter for Radio Mercury. And I remember interviewing Joanna Lumley.
So, and I'm pretty sure that was several years later, thinking about my CV and so on. The modernised Red Hill railway station, which was planned at that stage, and I suppose looking at it now, that front area, the ticket hall and so on, was probably quite modern in its day. For what would that be? The late 80s, early 90s, even recently modernised.
There has been a lot of talk about the modernisation of that with the potential of tower blocks and changing the entrance and putting some shop units there as well. And, of course, we know that just over the road, the new building's there. And other developments will do much to restore pride in the Redhill area after a long period of deterioration. Well, I'm a big fan of Redhill.
As you know, it's where I first lived. when I moved to the area. But, as they say, plus ça change. Some things don't change, they just come round and round again. Back to Donnings, though.
2011, it had an extensive £4.1 million refurbishment programme, quite significant back in the day, and a new fitness suite, which included 100 pieces of life fitness equipment, a youth gym for 11 to 16-year-olds was also created, and also the creation of a new soft play area in the old gym space, and the upgrade of a fitness and dance studio as well.
So I posed the question at the start of the show, why is Donnings called Donnings, and can you spell it? Well, D-O-N-Y-N-G-S. It's an unusual name, and we looked at the story behind the leisure centre's unusual name in episodes 23 and 24. of the Planet Reigate podcast.
So if you've got a bit of time over Christmas, New Year, and you want to go back and listen to those episodes 23 and 24, Why is Donnings called Donnings?
had a bit of investigation into that in those episodes still to come before we go at the end of the show natural sounds were a place you know from one of our local castles also we got planet reigate stars from a local park celebrating local heroes and also the first part of our story about Reigate's first swimming pool and also a super luxury cinema, which opened back in the day.
You may know some of the story. I'm going to be filling in the gaps in your knowledge that maybe you didn't know over the next few weeks on the Planet Reigate podcast. We are indebted to Professor Weather Andy Herrod for providing us with some local weather stats. And you can follow Andy on Blue Sky. Blue Sky, it's a social media platform that's similar but kinder than Twitter.
And also, Andy is on Insta as well. We are on Twitter and Blue Sky. And also Facebook and Insta too, by the way. So it's been windy, hasn't it? Boy, oh boy, of course we had the storm, didn't we, recently? Saturday the 7th of December, Andy tells us, was the windiest December day he'd ever recorded and the second windiest day ever recorded.
So the windiest December day and the second windiest day ever with wind gusts of 44.9 miles an hour. Boy, oh boy, it was certainly windy, wasn't it? Hopefully your garden and anything left outside, like your roof and fence, for example, didn't come too much of a cropper.
Got a bit of travel news for you that perhaps you should be aware of, which is going to be happening in the first few days of the brand new year. SES Water have told us of their plans for the Gatton Park Road Mains Replacement Programme. Yeah, they're going to be replacing more than 800 metres of the 20-inch and 7-inch main that run along Gatton Park Road.
The new mains will be laid from the junction of Colesmead Road with Gatton Park Road to just beyond West Lodge. So, as I say, that's 800 metres. Teams are going to be on site from, here are the dates, Monday 2nd January with full road closures of Gatton Park Road from 6th January. They're going to be working 7 in the morning till 5 at night, Monday to Saturday, weather permitting.
from the 6th of January until late May. So that little cheeky cut-through that you may have is going to be out of bounds, essentially, for several months. You heard about it on the Planet Rygate podcast. Now, when you have your neighbours round for Christmas drinks, swapping parcels or whatever it is you happen to do, why don't you tell them about the Planet Reigate podcast?
It'll be a really great opportunity and I'll be really appreciative of you doing that on my behalf. We'd love them if you told them all about the show, the kind of features we've got, how you stay up to date with what's going on in what we call the Planet Reigate area of, all together now...
Rygate, Redhill, Merston, Buckland, Bechworth and Brockham, down to Hawley and over to Charlewood and outward as well. It's all about essentially where they live, where they work, what is going on in the area, places to go to, things to do. And it keeps them updated with the news, with the weather, a little bit of travel and so on and hearing about interesting people.
And also, let me remind you that you can hear all of our past episodes via our website, which is theplanetreigatepodcast.com. The last five episodes are on there. Plus, there are links to all of the other episodes going back to even before episode one, if you can work that out. And also, there's a page of all the links.
So if you want to hear some of our previous interviews, there's a page there where you can just read a one-line description, a couple of lines description, and then hit the link and it'll take you straight to that interview.
So again, if you've got a little bit of downtime, you've got some time off, and you're fed up with Netflix and BBC One, then why don't you go to theplanetreigatepodcast.com and listen back to some of our previous episodes and the best of our guests.
The Planet Reigate Podcast. Great stories from Reigate.
Hello, I'm Peter Stewart. Our main feature this week, we start a mini-series on the intriguing and significant history of one of our local roads. If you've ever driven in Reigate, you will know it. It's part of the one-way system, so you can hardly avoid it. And back in the day, you could have said it was the home to the area's first, well, what would now be called, leisure park.
And it was the brainchild of a local woman. And it's her that our road is named after. Over the next few weeks, across the Christmas and New Year period and starting today, hear the story of Bancroft Road. What was built there? And why and who by? And we go behind the scenes in a special bonus episode to see what is left of their legacy today.
This week, we start the miniseries with the episode we've entitled When Harry Met Emmy. It's a breezy afternoon, as you might be able to hear on the microphone, and I'm probably at one of the highest points in Reigate Town Centre. Where am I? I'm at the top of the town's only multi-storey car park. Why? Well...
I want to tell you about Harry and Emmy Bancroft and the story of Reigate's open-air swimming pool and the story of one of Reigate's cinemas as well. They're all intertwined. And why have I come up here? Well, because I'm now looking over Bancroft Road. And Bancroft Road wasn't always here.
I mean, no, local roads were always here, of course, but Bancroft is a relatively new addition to Reigate, coming long after Bell Street and the High Street and Church Street, which it turns off from. And it owes itself and its name to Harry Bancroft and his wife, Emmy, a one-time music hall double act.
who fell in love and became local entrepreneurs, creating not only the road, but also an outdoor swimming pool and a cinema as well. Yeah, Bancroft Road used to have the majestic Lido. It's where Paul House is now, opposite the cinema. And the cinema is where the cinema used to be. The majestic. The majestic Lido and the majestic cinema, together... Owned, run, operated by the Bancroft couple.
Hear their story over the next few weeks on the Planet Reigate podcast. Now, Bancroft Road is not actually really named after someone called Harry Bancroft, because Harry Bancroft didn't actually exist. At least, that wasn't his original name. He was actually born Henry Abraham in around 1873 into a Jewish family living in Whitechapel.
Harry had a quick wit and a good voice, and from the age of 15 in the late 1880s, he trod the stage of many a London and suburban music hall as an entertainer in a double act with his sister Fanny, who actually used the name Rosa on the stage, and they called themselves the Bancrofts. OK, so why did they actually change their name?
Well, despite never actually using Abraham on the stage, Harry and his siblings didn't legally become Bancroft until the mid-1930s, with the rise of fascism across Europe. Yeah, think about it. Abraham, 1930s, you know what was just around the corner. Anyway, back to our story. Now, Fanny married in 1902, and so she retired as his partner.
And for a while, our hero Harry worked as a solo comic, actor, singer, until teaming up with an already successful music hall artiste and pantomime performer, glorious and glamorous Emmy Ames. who he actually went on to marry. Now, until World War I, they travelled the length and breadth of Britain very successfully with their double act. But they were getting increasingly worried.
Music halls were dying out because of the rise in popularity of the cinema, and they could see their income drying up, unless they, as we might say today, diversified or pivoted. Now, Reigate had a cinema, the Hippodrome in Bell Street, which had been opened in 1911. Originally, it was called the Palace Picture Drome. And in 1916, Harry and Emmy came to Reigate, saw it and took it over.
And at the Priory sale in 1922, we've spoken about this before on the podcast, it was a time when an awful lot of land and buildings, which had been owned by Lady Summers, including Priory Park and Priory House, that whole private estate, and many other buildings around the town, they were sold off, as I say, in 1922. And Harry and Emmy got the freehold of the Palace Picture Drome, for £1,500.
That's about £7,000 in today's money. The cinema on the site of, well, where Wagamama's is today, had seating for 750 people, and the hall had a sloping floor. and enough room to house an entire orchestra. So what more do we know about Emmy? Well, she seems to have been an extraordinary woman.
The looks and talents to be on stage, and the business brain behind the development of this part of Reigate. Emmy Ames, as was, had been a singer and actor who established quite a name for herself in both the music halls and in pantomime, excelling in what were then known as trouser roles, which allowed glamorous women to show off their legs. Rather scandalous at the time.
And it was while touring that Emmy met Harry, and they formed a partnership on stage, in business, and in life as well. Now, the cinema business was not quite the end of Emmy's career as an entertainer on stage. The Hippodrome on Bell Street, like most cinemas before the talkies arrived, frequently alternated the programme of mostly short, silent films with live comic or musical acts –
And several times a week, Emmy took her place on the small stage in front of the screen and did her bit, serenading the audience with selections from her repertoire of romantic, sentimental and humorous songs, and until the end of the war in 1918, always finished with patriotic songs with rousing choruses in which everyone could join in.
The Bancrofts, Harry and Emmy, did their real best to improve the Hippodrome. They introduced more comfortable seating and also, get this, a roof that could be raised to ventilate the auditorium.
As much a necessity in those pre-bathroom days when the only full wash was taken by most people once a week in a galvanised bath in front of the fire at home as it was to clear the smoky fog produced by the patrons' numerous pipes and cigarettes. So, Emmy was the manager of the Hippodrome and renamed it the Premier Picture Theatre of Surrey. It's a great name, isn't it?
And her husband, Harry, acquired or built several other cinemas, but all the way over in Cambridgeshire and the East Midlands. Anyway, by the 1920s, he'd left much of the day-to-day management of the Reigate Hippodrome, or I should say the premier picture theatre of Surrey in the hands of his wife.
By the mid-thirties, though, it was a little bit dated, and as well as competing with several existing picture houses in Red Hill, there was the strong rumour that the Odeon Company had plans to build a large Art Deco cinema there as well. they were about to face some stiff competition.
But Emmy had a brainwave, and you can hear more about that in our next episode, as the story of Harry and Emmy continues on the Planet Reigate podcast. And we're deeply indebted to Sean Hawkins for his original research. Now, you can hear several other stories of local history and the notable and famous people who've lived in the Planet Reigate area in several of our previous episodes.
Episode T-3, so that's before Episode 1, before we actually launched. featured a short history of Redhill, Brockham, Betchworth and Buckland. Hear about the Battle of Redhill, Redhill's original train problems and why it wasn't the best place to build a town. Plus the local village green where WG Grace is said to have played cricket. The local castle bought for just one pound.
and the legend of the Buckland Shag as well. That's all in episode T-3. In episode T-4, we had a short look at Reigate from the Stone Age communities, the monks of the Augustinian Priory, and the Earl of Surrey, William de Warren, to the trade in Reigate, the transport links, the coming of the railways and expansion of the town. and several historic facts that maybe you didn't know.
Episode T-4, before I launch. Get the naming system there. And also, why is Carrington School called Carrington? A special report on the career and curious death of local celebrity astronomical scientist Richard Carrington was in episode 20. And the story of Bancroft Road continues next week on the Planet Reigate podcast.
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. Planet Reigate Stars. Thanking local heroes who are out of this world.
Now, have you ever thought about a podcast for your charity or cause or business or interest? You know, podcasts don't have to be public. You can have them secure so they're only heard by your staff or your subscribers. So it could be an alternative to a staff newsletter. one in which your colleagues actually hear managers or co-workers being interviewed.
Perhaps they listen to the show at their desk or on their commute. My audio and production and presentation experience may be able to help you. So get in touch if you'd like to talk to me about podcast production. Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com. OK, let's move on to this week's Planet Reigate Star Awards, and it's to a young person who lives in our community.
Helen says, if you have an older teenage son called Alfie... wearing a white t-shirt. He spent well over an hour helping my eight-year-old at the park's skate ramps recently. He was so kind and patient and has taught him how to do loads of things he's been trying to do for ages. I hope his parents know you have raised a very lovely son. So, to those parents, but most of all to Alfie, thank you.
From Helen, and please accept our Planet Reigate Star Award.
The Good Time Guide. Things to do and places to go on the Planet Reigate podcast.
Yeah, don't forget that if you would like a mention in the Good Time Guide, you have to let us know about it. Now, in the new year, this is going to be particularly important because we're refreshing things a little bit on the podcast. So, again, if you would like a mention for your charity or non-profit event, please let us know.
You can do that via the form you'll find at theplanetrygatepodcast.com or, again, you can write to me, hello, at theplanetrygatepodcast.com. Please give at least two weeks' notice. Here we go with the events that are happening across the area, across the week ahead. And we're going to start off with Santa, who may be visiting your road.
These are the dates that the Roundtable has organised, the big man himself, to do just that. Friday the 13th is going to be in the Gatton area, various roads, but that Gatton area itself. Saturday the 14th from 4 o'clock, French's Road. Incidentally, all the other timings are around about 6.30, so Gatton on Friday at 6.30. French's Road, Saturday at 4 o'clock.
Monday the 16th, South Park around 6.30. Tuesday 17th, Meadvale. 6.30 or so, or from 6.30 through to about 8.45. Thursday the 19th, the Rushits Farm area. Friday the 20th, the Raglan Road area. And Saturday the 21st, a little bit earlier, as I say, from 4 o'clock in the North Merstam area. And Tuesday the 24th in the Lesborne Road area as well.
So obviously it's going to take a while for him to go down the roads to do all that waving and so on. If you are going to hang out of a window, hold on tight, first of all, or be at a front door, wave like your very Christmas depends on it. Saturday, the 14th of December, also Children's Christmas Concert, which is happening between two and half three at St John the Evangelist Church in Redhill.
Everyone's welcome to join us for a family festive treat, listening to all the Christmas favourites. Adults £5, children for free. It's all put on by the Band of the Surrey Yeomanry. Carol singing with Include Choir at the Gary Baldy on Saturday at 6.30pm. There's a Christmas tree event which is happening at St Nicholas Church in Charlewood. Two till four on Saturday. £3.50 a child.
How big is the tree? Essentially, I guess the height contest. You can help them decorate the tree. There's going to be various activity stalls, candle decorations, make boo-boos, decorate biscuits and more and more and more. And also you can have some hot chocolate mince pies. And Christmas fairy cakes will be served as well. All the family is welcome.
Another mention for the Garibaldi, they've got a Christmas market on Saturday. That's between 12 and 6. Enjoy a warm festive drink and pick up some open-air Christmas shopping with stalls from local makers and artisans. There's a children's Christmas concert at St John's Church in Redhill. Adults £5, children for free. That's from 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Sunday is the YMCA Santa Run at 10.30 in Priory Park. Santas of all ages and abilities are invited to spread some festive cheer. Run or walk one or three miles to raise money for YMCA East Surrey. Carol singing at the Belfry, Sunday between 3 and 4. Monday the 16th, Christmas wrapping. Take the stress out of Christmas and go along and get your presents wrapped for a small donation.
Again, it's happening at the Belfry, Monday and Tuesday the 16th and the 17th.
10 a.m to 4 p.m wednesday the 18th we've mentioned this a few times various other locations across the planet reigate area tree planting again in reigate 10 a.m can't tell you where it is because i don't know you'll find out once you register you do that via a complicated eventbrite link for more information get in touch with me i'll put you in touch with them
Friday the 20th of December at the Gary Baldy Christmas Singalong with Nicky Franklin from 6.30pm. A week ahead, Saturday the 21st of December, there's going to be an event which is going to be happening at St John's Community Centre in Redhill. So this is going to be happening on Saturday the 21st between 10 and 10.45pm.
for children in preschool and reception £7.50 and Monday the 23rd between 9 and 12 for children in years 1 to 6 £20 so this is various events which are happening if you've got the kids on your hand at the start of the school Christmas holidays Rihanna at kicksdance.co.uk or 07954785064 if you would like to book your place for that.
And we'll be back with some more events over the Christmas period next week and also, of course, it's going to be part two of our story of Bancroft Road on the Planet Rygate podcast.
Planet Rygate is... the castle at Betchworth and the castle in Reigate. And this is the Planet Reigate podcast. The 60-second soundscape. Local natural sounds uninterrupted.
Before we go, at the end of the show, natural sounds from a place you know. This week, to the castle in Reigate. Hear Chiff Chaff, Blackbird, Thrush, Wren, Robin, Blue Tit and Crow.
The Planet Reigate podcast was produced and presented by Peter Stewart.