Tandridge Independent

I recently took the opportunity to meet with Caterham Rotary’s newly elected President Geraint Jenkins. He was born and bred in Ystradgynlais in the Swansea Valley and is a Welsh speaker who continues to be a member and trustee of the Chapel and vice president of the local choir and Drama Group there.

Geraint qualified at Swansea University and initially worked as a teacher with Voluntary Service Overseas at a school in Kimilili, Kenya for over two years. He returned to the UK, and became Head of Geography at the then Eothen Girls’ School in Harestone Hill and then moved to become Head of Geography and Special Needs at de Stafford School where he taught for over 30 years.

During his time at de Stafford School he organised many Working Party Trips from the schools in Caterham and enabled staff and students to experience working on development projects in Kenya and in particular the Kimilili schools and hospital with resources and finances. He was awarded the MBE in 2012 for “Services To Education”.
More locally Geraint has been a Trustee for The Caterham Overseas Aid Trust (C.O.A.T.) and Community Health and Education for the Children of Kimilili (C.H.E.C.K.) since their inauguration and has been a member of Caterham Rotary Club for the last 8 years.

Last month saw the Alzheimer’s Society 2020 National Cupcake Day being celebrated in Old Coulsdon. Local resident Jess Hann supported the charity by setting up a gazebo on her drive and together with fellow neighbours they made and sold a wide variety of cup cakes throughout the afternoon.

Safety measures put into place meant that local residents were able to purchase cakes (which were individually boxed) while adhering to government guidelines. Customers were advised to use hand sanitiser as soon as they arrived and payment for the cakes were made via a charity box so that cash wasn’t passed between hands. At the time of going to press an incredible £412.03 had been raised.

Any further donations to the charity can be made via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jesscupcakeday?fbclid=IwAR1NXXJBLCSt2UYBCDd3pWN6X5IuYdQmvwZwkxi6edDx9n9Aaiy_jgrP1_M

July is traditionally thought of as the height of our British Summer, and for only the first time since the Second World War have some of our traditional Summer events been cancelled. So, this year we’ll all have to have to imagine ourselves at either Wimbledon, Hampton Court Flower Show or The Proms.

You may though prefer to picture yourself in a quintessentially British Summer Garden, and if you do, I bet you see beds of jumbled up Cottage Garden favourites, jostling with each other for space and competing with their colour and scent!

Actually, July in the garden can be somewhat different! It’s a bit of a green month; sometimes providing a bit of a lull between the fresh greens and colours of Spring and the more intense colours that come with those plants flowering in late Summer. So, if you’re feeling a bit jaded in this heat and your garden is too, here are some ideas for planting to pick you up in this July gap!

Lavender – the colour seems more intense than usual this month and I wonder if the wet spell we had has helped to lock in the colour and scent! It typically likes dry conditions. Shear off the flower stems after they have flowered and then shear again in the Spring to keep the bushes compact as they are prone to getting leggy and woody.

After Public Health England advised on the lockdown in the the middle of March, the Coulsdon Osteopathic Clinic adhered to the guidelines and closed its doors.

We recently spoke to Jitendra Vara, Clinic Director and he explained that throughout the lockdown the most common injury were from workers who were normally based in the office. He explained that these workers were now working from a laptop from their sofa and dining table which was causing neck and headaches. Homeschooling and watching excessive amounts of box sets together with a large amount of anxiety as a result of coronavirus pandemic all increased muscular tension during this period.

He also told us that a lot of injuries were also from people who are not used to jogging or running and consequently this has damaged their knees. The increase in gardening activities has also in turn caused lower back problems. The clinic have embraced technology by carrying out consultations via video platforms and over the phone which has in turn resulted in clients not having to suffer at home.

The clinic has now reopened and is operating under the new norm with heightened hygiene and safety precautions. For further information or to book an appointment visit; https://ococ.co.uk

Ingredients:

3 medium oranges
600g orange juice (no added sugar)
185g caster sugar
20g glucose (optional)
30g lemon juice

Method:

1: Place the lolly mould onto a parchment lined tray and place into the freezer.
2: Zest the 3 oranges on the fine side of a grater and place the zest into a pan.
3: Cut the three oranges in half and squeeze the juice into the pan pip’s and all.
4: Add the glucose and sugar and gently heat up to the boil.
5: Simmer gently for 3 minutes to reduce slightly.
6: Add the lemon juice and orange juice and mix together well.
7: Push the mixture through a sieve into a bowl pressing hard.
8: Place the mixture into a jug and fill the moulds about 0.5cm from the tops.
9: Place the lid on top and insert the sticks.
10: Place the mould into the freezer and freeze for at least 4 hours preferably overnight.
11: To demould remove the mould from the freezer and leave out for 5 minutes.

The lollies should ease out of the moulds with a gentle squeeze.

Nice easy one this month and hopefully a cooling refresher just right for the weather. If you don’t have silicone lolly moulds normal ones will do just be careful how you insert the sticks and make sure they are in the middle of the lollies. If you do not have any moulds freeze the mix in a shallow tray and freeze then roughly mash with a fork every two hours to make an orange granita

Annes Walk residents fear their community will be destroyed if plans to use their street in Caterham as an access route for a housing estate goes ahead.

Residents, Tandridge district council (TDC) and developers Shanly Homes have been in discussions about using 172 Whyteleafe Road, owned by Shanly, as an alternative for access.
The developers have said that access to the land via the Whyteleafe Road entrance has no planning permission granted as yet and they are still awaiting this decision.

TDC said: “Shanly Homes is currently pursuing an alternative proposal for access to the site, which would provide access from Whyteleafe Road via the site at No. 172.
“This planning application is currently being considered and will be taken to a future Planning Committee for a decision. We’re currently in discussions with both developers (Shanly and Chartwell) on the issue of shared access.”

Over the past month the Government has been relaxing social distancing measures as the number of new COVID-19 infections fall.

I am sure many of you will be as delighted as I am with the news that from the fourth of July the UK will be opening-up with the new safety guidance.
This is great news particularly for families who can now reunite and for many local businesses that will be allowed to open.

Hotels, campsites, restaurants, pubs, outdoor gyms and hairdressers will be allowed to open but must follow the relevant safety guidance to protect staff and customers. Social distancing should now be maintained at 1m where 2m is not feasible.

Children's playgrounds are also opening. This is a very welcome development because interacting with other children is a key part of any child's development and these playgrounds are so important for people who don't have gardens.

The 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which took place from July to October 1940, is particularly meaningful for the Kenley Airfield Friends Group (KAFG).
One of three strategically important airfields tasked with defending London during World War II (the others being Croydon and Biggin Hill), RAF Kenley played a vital role in protecting the south-east of England from German Luftwaffe attacks.

The KAFG have spent the last few years restoring the airfield, through their Kenley Revival Project. Despite being the best-preserved Battle of Britain fighter station in the UK, lack of attention over the decades had left it at great risk of dilapidation. The KAFG are determined to protect this important space and ensure that its future can tell the story of its past.

The Beginning

Originally a golf course and common, Kenley was transformed into a military airfield in 1917 by the Royal Flying Corps, the air arm of the British Army, under the ‘Defence of the Realm Act’. It was used as No. 7 Aircraft Acceptance Park, where aircraft parts would be delivered, assembled and tested, before being flown out to France by the Royal Flying Corps. In 1918 the RFC merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to become the Royal Air Force, remaining on site at Kenley.

The Coronavirus Response Fund, established by The Community Foundation for Surrey was set up in 2005 to enable local charities, situated across 11 Surrey boroughs quickly and efficiently during the pandemic. The foundation is part of a national network of 46 Community Foundations and includes money raised from the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Public Appeal.

The Community Foundation works with donors and voluntary groups by providing vital services for local people and disadvantaged individuals. Since being established it has awarded grants in excess of £12 million. To date, a total of £66,945 (across 14 grants) has been distributed to charities and voluntary groups within the borough of Tandridge.

The concept is to bring together local donors to provide positive solutions to the issues facing Surrey. They aim to do this by working closely together with organisations across the county to identify crucial areas where the support from our community will be most needed.

John Isner's name can be found on a plaque outside Wimbledon's Court 18. The player won against Nicolas Mahut after playing the longest tennis match ever played. They played 5 sets which lasted 11 hours 5 minutes spread over three days in June 2010.

This year on the 10th anniversary of the match, 7 year old Lucius (from Caterham) who had heard about the match while on a tour of the stadium, decided that he would like to participate in his very own tennis-athon! The talented youngster, who has been playing tennis since he was 4 and trains regularly at Reedham Tennis Club with Cooper Tennis, decided that he would like to raise money for Caterham Foodbank by completing the challenge. Caterham Foodbank provide emergency food and support to local residents suffering as a result of the crisis.