Every December, I like to look back through each issue of that year’s paper. We work at such a fast pace, no sooner finishing one edition than starting the next, that it’s easy to lose track of everything I’ve done. It’s good then, to remind myself of the people I’ve met, places I’ve been and experiences I’ve had as part of the Tandridge Independent. And 2024 has been a busy one!
I’m proud of the story I wrote in February, about the rats infesting a block of flats in Whyteleafe. The residents were living in fear and felt they were being ignored by their housing association. Our front page story certainly got the company’s attention and, along with some assistance from Claire Coutinho MP, kickstarted the residents getting the help they needed.
It was also great to speak to Dame Kelly Holmes in March, when she opened the new sports centre at Caterham School. Her views on young people and sport were really interesting and the students were definitely inspired by her visit.
Interviewing Kelly Waters, manager of newly-formed AFC Whyteleafe, in June was a treat too. His passion for his club is evident, and it’s brilliant to see how well they have done in such a short space of time. Up the Leafe!
I always enjoy learning about the discoveries the team of historians at Hever Castle has made about its past, but July’s unveiling was particularly fascinating. Standing in the refurbished Boleyn rooms gave me a proper understanding of what their lives would have been like there: I was almost expecting Anne herself to round the corner and say hello!
But the best part of my job is meeting and supporting the people from Tandridge who are making real changes in our community and beyond.
I was delighted to hear that Charlotte Dyer and Patrick Jones hit their £200k fundraising milestone for Ruben’s Fund in June. To focus their energy into raising money for research to help other babies, after going through something as traumatic as losing their own child, shows true courage, strength and selflessness.
Another fantastic project I was pleased to help promote is Sal’s Shoes, the brainchild of Oxted’s CJ Bowry OBE, which takes preloved shoes and redestributes them around the world. Visiting her storage facility in Edenbridge in June confirmed just how hard she has worked to grow her charity to the size it is now.
I have been a massive fan of Abi Chapman and her social enterprise Accessify (formerly The Accessibility Project) since I first met her in 2022. I’m in awe of her drive and enthusiasm, and was really pleased to be at Accessify’s launch in October. I can’t wait to see what she achieves next!
So that’s it for 2024. Thank you to everyone who has picked up the paper, written something for us, commented on a story or supported us with advertising in the past 12 months. Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year – see you in 2025!
