The Planet Reigate Podcast
67: 2/4 - The story of Bancroft Road, Reigate 2 - the lido… and more
Fri, 20 Dec 2024
Episode 67: The story of Reigate's lido… and moreFor Saturday 21st 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. 03:20 – Why a replica of Reigate station is being built in the USA. 06:25 – A thank-you to all our supporters this Christmastime. 09:20 - Planet Reigate area news. 29:00 - Planet Reigate area sports. 32:00 – The story of Bancroft Road, Reigate - and the town's lido. Part 2. 39:50 – Planet Reigate Stars: thanking local heroes. This week featuring toilet paper! 41:40 - The Good Time Guide: Local events for this coming week.46:50 – The Sixty-second Soundscape. This week from Mercers Lake. 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 SOUNDSCAPE PolkadotFlowersMusic Item ID: 136304431GUITAR - Frogard Item ID: 114324148INSPIRED - Piano 60sec Inspirational Romantic Background by Viminod ID 069490173CLASSIC - light orch Victorian - by EaRenTech ID 130569703INSPIRATIONAL - Exciting Epic - by SputnikMoment ID 109466766TITANIC - Paradise Waltz Classical Instrumental End - by TitanicRemembered ID 123249849 - 12 seconds Listen: https://linktr.ee/PlanetReigatePodcast Web: www.ThePlanetReigatePodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ThePlanetReigatePodcast Insta: theplanetreigatepodcast X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/PlanetReigateEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is the Planet Reigate podcast.
Hello, this is Peter Stewart. Welcome to your Planet Reigate podcast for Reigate, Redhill and Merstam, Bucklam, Betchworth and Brockham and down to Hookwood and Charlwood and Outwood and Earlswood and all the other woods across the area as well. I'm Peter Stewart and this is how we're reflecting and celebrating our love of life around here this Christmas week.
Well, we continue our four-part miniseries on the intriguing and significant history of Bancroft Road in Reigate. Yeah, back in the day, you could have said it was the home to the area's first, well, what perhaps would be called now, leisure park or entertainment complex. And it was the brainchild of a woman. And it's her that the road is named after, not a man, which is refreshing and fantastic.
This week we continue with the story of what was built there and why and who by. And later on in the series we'll go behind the scenes in a special bonus episode. So that'll be episode four of these short series to see what is left of their legacy today. In the news, could Reigate and Banstead Borough Council be abolished? I'll tell you why that could happen later on in the show.
Linkfield Street and Red Hill could be closed to all traffic. Is that a good idea? Certainly one that's being discussed at the moment. I'll tell you why. An empty office building in Reigate could be turned into flats. I'll tell you where. Concerns from a listener about one of our local post offices. They've been in touch and several other people have been in touch as well.
Thanks from a local charity to a local golf club. More thanks from another local charity to everyone who supported them over 2024. A local pub could close down later on in the show. I'll tell you how you can have your views known about its future. Now recently I told you about a restaurant in Rygate that was closing. A new one has already taken its place. I'll tell you what it is and
where it is and if you're missing the reigate repair cafe another one is being set up locally details on the way i've been asked to publicize a club for the over 50s i'm really pleased to do that the woman behind the unison choir wants your help and support with another project that she's got on the go i'll tell you what nina told me coming up
A community-based nutrition club is being set up in the new year. Again, details on the way. And in sport, we feature the 2025 Local Sports Awards. Nominations are being invited for that already. Plus, of course, we've got the Good Time Guide of events across the area, across the weekend. There are many of them, it does have to be said.
Planet Reigate stars this week and also our 60-second soundscape. Before we go, at the end of the show, natural sounds from a place you know.
This is the Planet Reigate podcast with Peter Stewart. See, touch, smell and try before you buy and speak to real people who can advise you. The Belfry Shopping Centre, Redhill.
Before we crack on with this week's news, I just wanted to bring you this email that came to me in the week from Rory, who says, Hello, Peter. I wanted to share how much I enjoy listening to your podcast. He says, I now live in Charlotte, North Carolina, but I was born and raised in Reigate. I lived on Dudes Park Road for about 25 years before I moved to the U.S.,
and I've got really fond memories of Reigate, and your podcast brings back memories of the names of many places and roads. It's also interesting to hear what is happening in the town, as well as to hear the history of Reigate. He says, I'm a keen amateur historian myself, such as the history of Bancroft Road in your recent episode.
Well, Rory, that continues this week and the next two weeks after that as well, over the Christmas and New Year period. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know. Rory goes on, We do have a Reigate Road in Charlotte, which I visited, and he sent me a photograph of that. And there are also Reigate Roads in New Jersey, Virginia, and Ohio.
Hmm, maybe the topic of another podcast series, Reigate Around the World? There's an idea, certainly. Coincidentally, I'm trying to build a replica. I love this. I love this. I'm trying to build a replica of Rygate Railway Station in my garden at the moment. I used to stand on the platform every day on my way to school and then on the work commute.
I've bought a real-time live departures board for Rygate Station, an exact replica, and have a carpenter building and designing the station sign. And I'd also like to build a replica signal box if I can. Thank you.
from Rory Rory I love that email there's so much about it which I'm really really pleased to hear first of all that you love listening to the Planet Reigate podcast it brings back memories of places that you know and places that you used to go to and maybe the odd person as well that you used to interact maybe you in return are listening to this and you know Rory Rory Purcell so if you know Rory I'm sure he would say hello to you he lived in the area for 25 years after all
And I love the idea that you are going to be building a replica of Reinge Railway Station in your backyard, which sounds absolutely fantastic. Yeah, he mentions a real-time live departures board. You can buy these online, and they link in in some way, shape, or form with the departure information, which comes direct from the rail services provider. You can get these anywhere.
It's real-time information. You could have one at home. And you could have it in your office or your kitchen or wherever. By the front door, perhaps, you could see when your train is likely to be arriving or when your other half's train is likely to be coming. So you can, I don't know, sort out dinner for them or whatever it happens to be. You know when to expect that key in the door.
And it's even more fun that he's going to... Put that all together with the station sign and also a replica of the signal box as well. Good stuff. Rory, I really appreciate you getting in touch. Indeed, I really appreciate everyone who's got in touch over the course of 2024. Now, some people have emailed me directly. Some people have approached me on social media.
Thanks very much indeed to you if you've been a guest on the podcast over the course of 2024 as well.
if you've put aside time to be interviewed if you've approached me and said peter i'd love to be on your podcast and you've put yourself up for an interview if you've sent me your your events now going forward into 2025 i'm really going to rely much more on people sending me events to hello at the planet reigate podcast.com so do please continue to do that
Thanks also to our sponsors, the Belfry Shopping Centre in Redhill, Andy Nash there, the Woodlands Lettings Agency in Redhill too, Lucy's Ladle who sponsored the programme for a while too and also our friends at the Redhill Business Guild and RH Networking as well. Also to Rygate and Banstead Borough Council. We have no particular affiliation with Rygate and Banstead Borough Council.
They don't pay for anything for me but they have been helpful on a number of occasions and I have worked closely with them at So I think on occasion being a little critical of them as well. But it's all, you know, above board and we get on well. So I really appreciate their time and help. Also to David over at Reigate.uk, who's mentioned me a few times in that fantastic newsletter.
Our occasional reporter, David King, who's helped me out by going to various events where I've been unable to do so because... As you may know, the Planet Reigate podcast is done on top of my day job and my family commitments too. And also to the administrators on various social media sites, particularly We Love Reigate and We Love Redhill, who have been absolutely superb as well.
But our main thanks this week at the end of 2024 to you for listening. which we post on social media. Or maybe you click through to some of the links that I put on social media as well and just listen to a snippet, maybe a five-minute piece or maybe a particular feature or an interview or one particular item. Maybe you don't listen every week, but maybe it's just occasionally. Hopefully in 2025.
I'll be able to persuade you to listen more often and for longer too. However, that being said, really appreciate you listening to whatever part of the show you have been doing so during 2024. And I wish you and your family well. Happy holidays, and if you celebrate it, a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous 2025. From everyone, that's me.
At the Planet Reigate podcast, thank you for your friendship and support. That being said, let's get on with the show and tell you about a few items which you may have missed over the last seven days or so. Could Reigate and Banstead, Tandridge and Mole Valley councils be abolished and replaced with fewer local authorities or even a single one?
But that's the potential under plans for a major redesign of local government. You may have heard this in a paper published last Monday. So it could mean that, for example, maybe Ryger and Banstead joins with Tandridge and Epsom and Yule to have a single, larger council...
for that whole area or maybe they could do away with local parish councils that's the tier below Reigate and Banstead or to have Surrey County Council which is based in Reigate as you know take over from all of the Surrey local councils
completely and do away with all of them so there is a discussion about this going on at the moment now as you know some decisions are currently taken at parish or borough or county level which leads us to the situation where the county council runs for example red hill library in warwick quadrant And yet the Borough Council runs the Harlequin right next door.
So maybe it will be easier and save money and save time if some of those local council responsibilities are taken away in part or in full and go to another tier. That is being discussed at the moment. And more on this, I'm sure, over the course of 2025. If you want more on this... Go to the BBC website for more information.
Surrey County Council are consulting on proposals for traffic management on Linkfield Street in Redhill. Yeah, we'd see road closures put in place. And the idea is to stop that road being used as a bit of a rat run. Now, there is a consultation which is happening. They're doing all these consultations over the Christmas New Year period, aren't they?
Which I'm not sure is a really good idea because people have perhaps got more downtime because they're not at work. Or it's not a good idea at all because people have got less downtime because they're out partying and organising and travelling and so on. But anyway, there is a consultation which runs until the 27th of January. If you want more information, get in touch with me.
I'll put you in touch with them because it's a long and complicated website address that you need to go to. But if you are concerned or you're happy or you're sad, you're cross, you're overjoyed about the possible closure to traffic of Linkfield Street in Redhill, and get in touch with me, and I'll put you in touch with them.
Now, there seems to be lots of empty office blocks around our town centres, doesn't there? Sometimes you may have noticed what seems to be some empty office blocks just south of the railway station in Rygate, for example.
Well, just over the level crossing on the left-hand side on the southern part of the railway crossing, so going into Rygate once you come down the hill, is a building called Foundation House. It's immediately beside the railway line. There are plans to add an extra fourth floor to that building and create 28 flats made up of 18 one-bed and 10 two-bedroom flats.
I mean, you couldn't get closer to the train station if you tried, could you? And also there's parking on site as well. There's a bus stop there as well. There is a planning application in. More on this story via reigate.uk. Susan got in touch with me direct at hello at theplanetrigatepodcast.com and said, I live near Raffles Bridge post office and I use it daily.
And she says, quote, the adjoining shop, which will be opening the spring, had their alcohol license agreed. But that means apart from the red line opposite, she says there will now be three outlets selling alcohol within 100 yards of each other in that small parade.
It'll very likely mean we'll lose the post office, which can't function without the additional sales of alcohol to help support that business. She says strong arguments and a petition argued against a shop with no parking space remaining open daily until 11 at night. And she's also worried about the disturbance and the rubbish.
She says that already happens and she's concerned that that will increase. Quote, the saddest part is if the post office with its older kind owners does close, it'll affect so many people. The temptation of alcohol. so easily accessible at late hours is also very worrying. And the possible closure of the post office, if they can't pay their way, is a real community issue.
Now, she stresses so far there's no talk of the post office closing, but she's concerned that, quote, it looms greater on the horizon. I wonder what you think of what Sue has told me. If you are intrigued, if you are interested, if you've got a spleen that needs vented, then get in touch with me. Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com.
We have some congratulations in order, and this is coming from the Lucy Rayner Foundation. They say, we're thrilled to extend our heartfelt thanks to Helen and Graham at Bletchingly Golf Club. They're captains for 2024. For their phenomenal support this year, they've raised an outstanding $1,000. £31,329 for us here at the Lucy Rayner Foundation.
They say, your incredible generosity enables us to continue our vital work, providing essential mental health support to young people. Together, we're making a lasting difference. Thank you. To Helen and Graham, a bletchingly golf club. And we've also got a lovely message from Loveworks as well. They say, hello, Planet Rygate podcast. Has to be said that I don't think...
Ever since the podcast set up in September of 2023, we've had so much correspondence come in in one week, which is absolutely fantastic. Hi, the Planet Ryket podcast. 2024 has been another tough year for so many people in our community who are facing food insecurity. The number of individuals and families who without help will be missing meals has sadly not reduced from last year.
Your support makes such a difference to how we can help people and make sure that no one in our local area goes hungry. Thank you for helping us make a difference. Yeah, you know what? We've been pleased and proud. to mention all the various initiatives that Loveworks have been putting on.
They say last year, 2024, with the help of our wonderful supporters and volunteers, Loveworks has handed out over 2,900 food parcels, provided food to feed over 6,000 people, including children, given out 170 Christmas food bags to families highlighted by local schools and to those referred to us with the aim of making Christmas that little bit better.
provided our cooking course to 95 people in addition to our food banks loveworks also run projects that aim to help the community through food our amazing volunteers have produced wonderful fresh food from our two allotments which is available for our beneficiaries at our food banks and we also run bags of taste cooking courses where we help people to make the most of the food that they've got this year 95 people have benefited from those courses the
And they say none of this could have happened without the amazing support that we receive from people like you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the donations that you've made this year, whether it be food, money or time. Please know that you've truly made a difference to those who are finding times pretty tough right now.
We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year from everyone at the Loveworks team. You know what, there are so many fantastic charities across the area, but actually giving people food has got to be one of the most basic needs, doesn't it? We went to Loveworks and we spoke to them, had a bit of a tour. You can hear that in episode 52 of the Planet Rygate podcast.
We're always pleased and proud to do our little bit to publicise the good works that our local charities are doing. Alongside, yeah, the local businesses and sports clubs and entertainment areas, all sorts of things going on. But we're really pleased, particularly to help the charities like Loveworks.
Got another message here saying that if action is needed to try and secure the future of the station pub, we will need to make decisions based on what the local community think. Yeah, this is the station pub in South Nutfield. We've mentioned them before about how they potentially could be closing down.
Kathy says, please take a few minutes to complete a short survey that combines a small number of parish council related questions. with a few questions about the future of this building. Everyone over the age of 18 who lives in the parish of Nutfield is encouraged to take part. We need to canvas your views to understand whether there is a future for a pub in South Nutfield.
Again, if you would like the link to that, which is always difficult to read out on a podcast, it does have to be said, get in touch with me. I'll put you in touch with them. Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com. A new restaurant has opened in Reigate. It's Miyoshi at Reigate High Street. So it's a Japanese fusion and cocktail bar. It's at number 88.
And if you're wondering where number 88 is, it's where 88 Burger was until a few months ago when it closed down. Special dragon rolls, particularly caught my eye, prawn tempura, avocado, cucumber and spicy mayo. That sounds good, doesn't it? I'm salivating there.
I always remember a couple of very special meals that I had in Island House restaurant in Reigate on the high street, including a very significant, a very special first date. Let's move on. Happy and fond memories. Jeffrey writes, It teaches people to see their possessions in a new light and appreciate their value.
And at the moment, Jeffrey says, I'm aiming to recruit volunteers who love repairing things, whether that be electrical, mechanical, general, clothing, textiles, computers, IT, bicycles, tool sharpening, etc., plus a few non-repairing volunteers to act as hosts and hostesses, I guess to welcome people and write things on forms and direct people to certain areas and probably put tickets on things, that kind of thing.
So the Repair Cafe is going to be opening up in Hawley on the second Saturday each month, starting January the 11th, 11.30 to 2.30 at St Wilfrid's, Hawley Row in Hawley, RH68DE. Potential volunteers or any general inquiries to HawleyRepairCafe at yahoo.com. Many thanks.
So if you can help them out, if you would like to volunteer your expertise, or maybe you don't have any expertise, but you think it's just a jolly good idea and you'd like to go along there, and help them do a bit of the admin, then you can contact Geoffrey at hawleyrepaircafe at yahoo.com. I have a rather nice clock.
Somebody gave me... I was doing a bit of extra work on the evening when we moved into the year 2000. I was working at a radio station. Got paid a little bit extra that night for working there overnight. And with that money, I bought a rather nice clock. What's happened was battery run that clock and the battery has leaked inside and I can't use the clock anymore. And it's heartbreaking.
I would really love the inside of that clock cleaned up. I've tried to do my bit, but I really haven't been able to do a very good job because the battery corroded inside. So I wonder if I can take that down to the Hawley Repair Cafe when it opens up on January the 11th. Geoffrey, thanks very much indeed for getting in touch.
Hopefully other people will get in touch with you after hearing about it on the Planet Reigate podcast. And maybe I will see you there in the not too distant future. Gemma has written to me. I was wondering if you'd be kind enough to spread the message that we exist. We are open to everyone over 50. And she goes on to say we're a friendly group that makes everyone welcome. It's called High Days.
And if you want to learn a new creative skill or... Want to take part in a variety of activities or meet new people? Then go along to Red Hill Methodist Church, Monday mornings during term times from 10.15 to 1 o'clock. They're small, friendly classes. They do keep fit, cultural interest, creative writing, knitting and nattering, talks and games.
Monday, the 13th of January till the 24th of March is their new kind of term, if you like. Half term, 17th of Feb, £55 a term. And you can go along to their registration coffee morning on Monday the 6th of January between 10.30 and 12 or enrol anytime in term time. Do you want some more information? 01737 277 067 Gemma will likely be on the end of that.
Gemma got in touch with me not only for this but also a few weeks ago because I went on and did a little turn for them at High Days. So if you want some more information Gemma 01737 277 067 as well as Gemma. Nina wrote to me this week as well. She leads the Unison Choir, which you may know and heard of because I went down there and I spoke to Nina in episode 20 of the Planet Rygate podcast and
Anyway, she says, I'm the choir leader also of the Missing People Choir, which is made up of people who have missing loved ones, their friends and family, staff and volunteers of the Missing People charity. And we've just released two Christmas singles, which Nina says, I wrote in my bedroom in Reigate and my husband produced in our loft studio, which lots of local singers have sung on.
It's all in support of the choir. So there are a couple of completely local grown tunes. And we're hoping to spread the word about Missing People forever.
350 000 people are reported missing every year in the uk and christmas can be a particularly significant period with a rise in incidents of missing people the charity do invaluable work to help find them and help their families and i have a small favor to ask which shouldn't cost anyone anything if you've got a music streaming app please can you download stream and share our songs wherever you can
They're called This Christmas Day by Thea Hamilton and I'll Be Your Home by Lapsley. You can find them if you search on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. Just ask Alexa. They're also on YouTube to watch and you can buy the MP3s for just 79p at amazon.co.uk or the iTunes app. I have, I'm not going to go into details, but I do have a particular interest in the Missing People's Organisation.
So I'm certainly going to be doing that this Christmas Day and I'll be your home. Nina says and concludes, I'd really appreciate you helping us spread the word. It'll really help give the songs a push. We'd love to have a punt at the national charts for Christmas. We've got an appearance on a BBC documentary coming out over Christmas, and we're singing on ITV's Breakfast Show as well.
So we're getting a wee bit of attention, thankfully. Thanks very much, and have yourself a merry little Christmas. Nina, thanks for all you do, not only with the Missing People's Choir, but also the Unison Choir. And I know you're involved with several other choirs and musical activities locally as well. Thank you for all you do in the community.
And yeah, we, I'm sure, will do our bit to help you help the Missing People's Organisation. Thanks so much indeed. Got another message from Natasha who says, Hey, Peter, exciting news and a bid for help. In January, I'm going to be opening up a community-based nutrition club where I'll be supporting people on a one-to-one basis in a community setting. It'll open 6.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
most days and will provide consistent support and accountability from like-minded people, for any health-related nutrition goal. Yeah, so if you want to drop body fat, increase energy, improve wellness, fuel your fitness within a friendly and supportive community, come and join us at the Pure NRG, NRG, get that? Nutrition Club. Natasha is the woman behind it. 078555.
That's 493-687 if you want some more information on that. Incidentally, you should know that while I'm recording this in my studio, I've got my app open from a well-known delivery site and it says they're four stops away. So I'm keeping an eye on, because obviously with headphones and a closed door in a soundproof room, I may not hear them ring at the door. So they're four stops away.
I'm keeping an eye on that as well. Okay, back to the podcast. The Reigate and Red Hill Festival. They say... Our 2025 syllabus is now live. Now you can hear more about the Reigate and Redhill Music and Drama Festival in episode 21 of the Planet Reigate podcast. Four stops away. They say our 2025 syllabus is now live.
This year's festival includes all of our usual friendly classes for musicians, singers, actors and reciters. as well as a host of special events to celebrate our centenary. Yeah, the Reigate and Redhill Music and Drama Festival is 100 years old. It's fantastic, isn't it, in 2025? They say have a look on our website and start planning which classes you would like to attend.
Festival entries open on January 1st, so the 2025 syllabus is via rrfestival.org slash syllabus if you'd like to get involved with that. And that's our news sequence for this week, episode 67 of the Planet Reigate podcast.
MUSIC
Email hello at theplanetreigatepodcast.com Find out more at theplanetreigatepodcast.com Leave a text or voice message on WhatsApp 07917 874572 and leave a review on your favorite podcast app. Support us at buymeacoffee.com slash theplanetreigatepodcast.
And thank you again to everyone that goes to buymeacoffee.com slash theplanetreigatepodcast. Recently, Rory mentioned him at the top of the show, has donated, and also Rachel has donated as well, and also Catherine have been very, very kind, very supportive, very generous in their...
kind of tips buy me a coffee you buy me a virtual coffee okay and that that's that's how that works it just pays for you know the various subscriptions and so on i've got so i can carry on and do the podcast it would be particularly welcome at this time of year obviously and it's easy to do so if you do it on your phone then you can press a button it just goes via your your phone banking app as well
Thanks very much indeed in advance. If you have the means and the wherewithal to do that, it would be much appreciated. Yeah, the Reigate and Banstead Sports Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of sports people and sports clubs right across the borough and the invaluable contributions made by volunteers to maintain the sport and physical activity. that we are so justly famous for.
We have so many local sports groups and clubs and events, from young people to senior citizens, and it's absolutely brilliant. And I was really pleased to have been invited to the Sports Awards last year, which actually happened at the Donning Sports Centre, which you'll know from last week's episode celebrates 40 years this month.
And we spoke to so many people who were there and helping grassroots sports activities right across the area. And that was in episode 27 of the Planet Reigate podcast. And would you believe it? Those sports awards have only come round again. Yet 12 award categories and a prestigious ceremony, this time at Reigate Manor. Now, they are looking for sponsorship for the event.
And also, they're looking for people to nominate sporting heroes. Somebody that's going to be given, potentially... An award. So would you like to nominate your local sporting hero? There are 12 award categories this year, including a new one, which is called Sustainability in Sport Award.
And you can nominate them if they have been active in local sport between the 1st of January to the 31st of December 2024. And the awards are going to be given out on Friday, the 11th of April 2025. And nominations are now open through until the 31st of January 2022.
2025 so there's a lot of dates there for you but essentially someone that's been active in the sports community locally over 2024 and you've got until the 31st of january 2025 to nominate them so these are the 12 award categories
There's Volunteer of the Year, Young Volunteer of the Year, the Changing Lives Award, Sportsperson of the Year, Young Sportsperson of the Year, Coach of the Year, Club of the Year, Team of the Year, Junior Team of the Year, Senior Citizen Award, Inclusive Sport Award, and the Sustainability in Sport Award as well.
Now, as I mentioned, if you just want to kind of get a feel about those different categories and the kind of people that were nominated for them and went on to win... Then go back and listen to episode 27 of the Planet Reigate podcast and you will hear all of the details there. So nominees have got to live or be part of a club within the borough of Reigate and Banstead.
Nominations can be in more than one category as long as the nomination actually meets the criteria for that. And the deadline for submitting nominations is Friday the 31st of January 2025. And again, you can find the details via reigate-banstead.gov.uk and then about 500 characters after that. You can look for 2025 award categories and criteria.
Might be a bit tricky, but for more information, get in touch with me and I'll put you in touch with them.
This is the Planet Reigate podcast with Peter Stewart.
I'm here on top of the Bancroft Road car park looking down at Bancroft Road and last week we heard all about the musical double act Harry and Emmy Bancroft who fell in love and married and settled in Reigate after World War I and as theatres were replaced by cinemas they wanted to get in on the act so to speak.
Emmy running the Hippodrome on Bell Street on the site of Wagamama's restaurant today with Harry running a chain of cinemas in East Anglia. At the end of the last episode, Emmy had just heard of a new cinema that was due to open in Redhill, and she was worried again about their livelihood. And so she and Harry hatched a plan. If you can't beat them, join them, and then go on better.
And this week, the story continues of Harry and Emmy Bancroft of Bancroft Road fame. Emmy Bancroft was clearly an astute businesswoman, rightly concerned by the potentially damaging competition of a new Art Deco picture house opening in the other half of the borough, in Redhill, and diverting trade from her in Reigate.
She had an idea, and she got her husband Harry to look both at some back land behind the hippodrome that had formed the gardens belonging to the recently demolished White Hart Hotel in Bell Street, and two shops located immediately to the south of the hippodrome that were due to become empty in 1934.
After lengthy discussions with the local and county council, an outline planning agreement was granted to Harry Bancroft to allow him to demolish the shops in Bell Street and build a cinema with his own cafe along with a swimming pool and put in a brand new approach road from Church Street and Bell Street on this dog-leg site. Music Work moved along apace.
It was agreed that the council would buy a portion of the White Hart Garden, not needed for the cinema development, which could be used as a public car park. It's the site today of the multi-storey. The cinema and swimming pool cost over £60,000 to build. That's over £3 million today, and that's without the cost of the land. We don't know how much that cost at the time.
Too much, of course, for the Bancrofts alone to fund. They went into partnership with a company that ran a large circuit of cinemas, Shipman and King, to cover the development costs, a partnership that survived for the next 30-odd years. And the pool opened on the 10th of August 1935, more than two months before the majestic cinema's doors opened on the 14th of October.
The advertisements for the event indicated the incompleteness of the development at that time, quote, "...the pool will be open before the new road is finished, so we trust our patrons will overlook this pending completion." So picture the scene, the open-air pool, on the site of which is now, appropriately, Pool House, just near the library.
The Majestic Cinema was opposite, and the Hippodrome Cinema was just around the corner in Bell Street. Taken together, you could say they provided Reigate with its first and only leisure centre. The ceremony at the oval-shaped pool on that sunny afternoon nearly 90 years ago was well attended.
The audience was entertained in the opening programme by Olive Bartle, winner of a bronze swimming medal in the British Empire Games at Wembley in 1934, and fellow members of the Kingston Ladies Swimming Club, who entered the pool in Victorian-style costumes. Rather unusually, this display was followed by a lecture on the history of swimming, given by a Mr Percy Eames from Kingston,
Delivered from within the water of the pool, he demonstrated the development of strokes and style and entertained onlookers with a verse of a popular song performed underwater with the novelty of an iron bucket on his head. Refreshments for spectators were provided at the poolside.
After the war, prices rose to one shilling and sixpence, or seven and a halfp for bathers, and ninepence, or fourp in modern money, for non-bathers and without any allowance made for children. Light refreshments were available all day from the pool cafe, or you could save yourself up for the full afternoon tea. from 3 o'clock in the afternoon, served poolside.
Opening times originally advertised as daily from 7.30 in the morning through till midnight, but they were later modified to a 10am start through until dusk. A year later, in 1936, the pool opened at the end of May and swimmers could luxuriate for the first time in heated water.
Apart from a report in the Surrey Mirror recording that on Sunday 13th June 1937 the Reigate Town Silver Prize Band played on the lawns of the majestic swimming pool, which may have been a belated celebration of the coronation in May, there's very little more information on the pre-war pool or its operation.
It seems that the majestic swimming pool closed at the beginning of the Second World War and didn't open again until peacetime, maybe as late as 1947. Next week, the story continues on the Planet Reigate podcast as the majestic swimming pool is joined by the opening of the sumptuous and luxurious Majestic Cinema over the road.
And our thanks to Sean Hawkins for much of the research for this series. Now, you can hear several other stories of local history and the notable and famous people who've lived in what we call the Planet Reigate area. Why is Donnings called Donnings? The story behind the leisure centre's unusual name in episodes 23 and 24. The story of the Reigate Hill plane crash.
Our expert guest, Tadworth-based military historian Tim Richardson... We spoke with on top of Reigate Hill about the wartime plane crash there. Episodes 25, 26, 27. Talking about Reigate Hill, do you remember the incident that Kevin Keegan had on Reigate Hill back in the day? Well, it was the anniversary of the curious case of what happened and we reported on that. in episode 30.
In fact, we split that over two different features within that same episode, episode 30. And Karen is the Betchworth Village Archivist, and she brought us a couple of stories of those buried in St Michael's Churchyard in episode 30 as well.
Just some of the features about local history, some of the local personalities, some of the local events which have happened across what we call the Planet Reigate area in years gone by. Reigate, Redhill, Merstham, Buckland, Bechworth, Brockham, down to Hookwood and Charlwood, and outward as well, it is the Planet Reigate area.
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.
I'm Peter Stewart. Now, do you run a group or a business? Do you ever need a host for an event, an awards ceremony perhaps, maybe a concert, maybe somebody to interview somebody on stage, something like that? Get in touch if you do. I'll be happy to meet and discuss how I may be able to help. I'm Peter Stewart. Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com is how you can get in touch with me.
Now, this week's Planet Rygate Star Award concerns toilet paper. Bear with me. Veronica writes, it's a big shout out for Morrison's. I managed to walk off without a pack of loo paper I bought. I went back down for something else and mentioned it to the chap on customer services and the young woman on the self-service. And I went and got another pack and bits and pieces and paid for them.
And as I left, the young woman called me over to her manager and they reimbursed me for the loo paper. It was very kind and unexpected and has made my day. You know as well as I do that sometimes Morrisons gets a bit of a bad rap. But I hope on this occasion they take pleasure in being the worthy recipient of a Planet Reigate Star Award for reimbursing the cost of some lube over.
The Good Time Guide. Things to do and places to go on the Planet Reigate Podcast.
As you can imagine, it's a little bit scant this week. Oh, and don't forget, slight change next year. You will have to write in to hello at theplanetrigatepodcast.com to get your event mentioned. Me mentioning that again, of course, in 2025.
But to this week and Saturday, Saturday the 21st, Santa is going to be around the North Merstam area from 4 o'clock and Tuesday the 24th in the Lesborne Road area from 4 in the afternoon. And you... Keep a lookout for him and make sure you're videoing. There was a story, wasn't there, on social media this week on one of the local sites.
Someone that said, oh, I was trying to film Santa coming down my road and giving a message to my little boy and my phone stopped recording. Has anyone else got a recording of what he was saying that I can have from you? Oh, how terrible. But I'm sure there'll be other opportunities to meet Santa. over the next few days ahead of the big day itself.
But good luck if you're going to be seeing him at one of those two locations. Sunday the 22nd of December, Oldswood Christmas Farmers Market may see you there, where Fresh Meats Local, Marquess of Granby Pub, Hooley Lane in Oldswood. Sunday the 22nd, as I say, between 10 and 2.
So your almost last-minute chance to get yummy stocking fillers, sourcing delicious hamper products or stocking up on nibbles for the festive period, you're all welcome. And the idea is that every stall is packed full of local produce. They won't be packed full by the end of it, come 2 o'clock, because everything will have gone. and local that is based within a 20-mile radius of Earlswood.
So go along, enjoy some festive cheer, put your hand in your pocket as well, and also don't forget to step into the pub to thaw out in front of their roaring fire as well. Apparently they've got mulled wine and mince pies on the go on Sunday morning.
So the Earlswood Farmers Market is powered by our friends over at Eco Earlswood, and you can usually find them at the Marquess of Granby on the last Sunday of every month from February 2025 onwards. Parking is limited. They say if you can walk or cycle or, I don't know, dance your way to the event, then please do that. It would help them, and also it would help the environment as well, of course.
Now, just around the corner... In fact, it's not really round the corner, it's just up the road, isn't it? The Garibaldi and our friends there, they've got a Christmas raffle. Join in the festive fun at the Christmas party. Raffle tickets on sale at the bar, drawn by Head Elf after the Secret Santa. It's all happening Sunday the 22nd of December at five in the afternoon.
They've got a kids' Christmas workshop Monday the 23rd, singing, dancing, crafts and more. And that's at Merston Village Hall, RH13ED. So if you need some child-free time just ahead of Christmas, so you can do some rapping or some cooking or whatever it happens to be, Monday 23rd from 9.30 to 2.30, £30 a child. EGADance.co.uk for more information on that.
Now, there'll be Christmas and New Year 5K park runs in Reigate Priory Park on Wednesday the 25th of December. Yeah, the big day itself. And also the 1st of January. Guys, why do you do this to yourselves? But I'm sure it's going to be great fun and you're going to be dressed up for that. And obviously it only goes ahead if there are...
the right number of volunteers and obviously weather permitting as well. Snow attracts a lot of sledges to the park and obviously they can't kind of safely coexist with them. But that is going to be happening. The Christmas Reigate Priory Park Run on the 25th and also the 1st of January, so Christmas Day and New Year's Day itself.
Let's look ahead briefly to New Year's Day or New Year's Eve, certainly. They've got a party going on at the Redline and Cellar Room at Betchworth, a beautiful candlelit pub, house curry and a DJ. Doors open from 7, £10 on the night, includes entry and food. Booking essential, 01737 843336 if you want to get involved with that one.
And the Garibaldi again, our friends there, you're invited to a New Year's Eve pyjama party, karaoke and disco. 31st of December, free entry, 8 o'clock till late, no entry after 10 for, I guess, kind of security reasons. Wear your favourite PJs, grab a mic and join us for a night of musical fun, laughter and maybe a few dance moves as well.
So as I say, if you have been involved with the Good Time Guide over 2024, make sure you're involved again over 2025. Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com and tell us about your band, your charity, your choir club or society, group, team or squad, association, organisation, institution.
Your launch or your match or your show or your concert, display, exhibition, performance, recital, review, event, fair or festival, hello at the... I think we've got all bases covered there. Hello at theplanetrigatepodcast.com.
The 60-second soundscape. Local natural sounds uninterrupted.
Before we go, at the end of the show, natural sounds from a place you know. And Mercer's Lake Park this week. Here, reed warbler, chiff chaff, blackbird, blue tit, robin and wren.
The Planet Reigate podcast was produced and presented by Peter Stewart.