Shooting Star shop glitters

Karen Neville

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Godalming

Karen Neville

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Shooting Star Children’s Hospices shop in Godalming is the most-loved charity shop in the South East underlining its warm and welcoming atmosphere and fundraising achievements

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices Godalming shop has taken the title of South East winner in The UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Awards.

The title was awarded in the inaugural search for the UK’s favourite charity shop. The shop was one of 6,500 nominated across the UK and claimed the winning spot in a public vote involving almost 13,000 people.

Joe Tooze, Retail Manager at Shooting Star said: “We are thrilled to be named the South East winner in the UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Award! Our amazing shop manager, Julie, and her dedicated team of staff and volunteers have worked hard to create a store that the local community enjoys visiting. The shop is beautifully arranged with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Located near our hospice, Christopher’s in Guildford, our Godalming shop enjoys tremendous support from customers, volunteers and donors – all of whom we are deeply grateful for, as the funds raised in our shops makes a significant difference to the families we support.”

Shooting Star supports more than 700 children and their families throughout Surrey and across 14 boroughs of London year round who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition or who have been bereaved. Their bespoke support for families includes a comprehensive range of therapies and support groups, specialist nursing care and respite, symptom management, end-of-life care and bereavement support.

Charity shops are an institution in the UK and have seen a rise in popularity in recent years as the public look for more ways to shop sustainably, support good causes and give back to their communities. The awards are the first of their kind and were launched in June to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Charity Retail Association, the membership organisation for charity shops in the UK.

Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, said: “Huge congratulations to Shotting Star Children’s Hospices. This award is a testament to the dedication of the shop’s staff and volunteers, and highlights what this wonderful store means to the local community. We have been overwhelmed by the public’s response to our search for the UK’s Favourite Charity Shop, which celebrates the contribution the sector makes to communities and good causes across the UK”

The overall winner of the UK’s Favourite Charity Shop 2024 will be announced at a special event this month.

The shops are always in need of quality pre-loved items, visit Retail wish list – Shooting Star Children’s Hospices to find out what they’re after

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Carlton Kirby’s Tour de France tales

Liz Nicholls

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Godalming

Liz Nicholls

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On 24th November at Borough Hall in Godalming, let the larger-than-life broadcaster and Eurosport commentator entertain you with the highs and lows of Tour de France

Carlton Kirby, AKA The Voice of Cycling, looks forward to sharing backstage tales at the Borough Hall.

Carlton wonders if he might be the last in the line of a certain style of commentator. Cricket’s Henry Blofeld, F1’s Murray Walker, Darts’ Sid Waddell… there was a time when sport was voiced by real characters bringing an extra sense of colour and context to the bare sporting action on screen. Now, Kirby – Eurosport’s Voice of Cycling – feels like an outlier.

“There has been a big shift towards TV employing former athletes – and often they can be quite straight in their approach,” he reflects. “But even in sports where non-athletes are still allowed in the commentary box, there’s a definite shift towards endless statistics and often quite dry technical analysis. I’m not sure that’s what the audience wants. Often, that sense of the wider occasion, all the emotion and fun and randomness involved – all the reasons people love sport – can get lost. But I want to make sure the audience at home get the full picture – I am compelled to mention, say, a very good local sausage shop, even if I have to get it into a manic sprint finish!”

Kirby is coming to the Borough Hall in Godalming for a show on 24th November, where he will share backstage stories from his years commentating on the Tour de France. His career has coincided with the golden age of British cycling, so, naturally, there will be talk of his dealings with the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish. But the tone of the evening is likely to be set by Kirby’s off-piste experiences, driving round Europe for months on end in the company of terse co-commentator Sean Kelly and getting into scrapes in low-budget hotels.

“I think, even for a lot of cycling fans, covering the Tour de France and other big races seems like some kind of extended holiday. Of course, it IS a magical thing – to be part of the biggest annual sports event on Earth, part of this travelling circus that means so much to everyone at home. But then we are also driving thousands of miles over the three weeks of the race, often late at night, staying in often quite random hotels. It is definitely a job not a holiday. Maybe not a proper job, but a job nonetheless!”

Kirby’s CV also includes an unusually broad range of broadcast gigs, from the Le Mans 24 Hour Race to speed skating and, in the early days of Eurosport, both the Eskimo Olympics and the Rock/Paper, Scissors World Championships. Along with stints on breakfast TV, as a nightclub promoter and on the ‘…and finally’ quirky-news slot on local TV in East Anglia – not to mention a failed audition to present Blue Peter -, it has been a unique path to his current position.

“I do love it. I feel privileged to have called home Mark Cavendish on so many of his record-breaking 35 stage wins at the Tour; to have been involved when British riders have dominated both the Tour and the Olympics.  

“At the show at Godalming, we will celebrate the magic of the Tour and of those British riders but also all the strangeness that comes with it. Wherever we go with the live show, it feels like a gathering of the clans – all the serious bike riders come out but also people who just enjoy looking at the French landscape while snacking on their sofa. All these hundreds of people who have fallen in love with the Tour for different reasons getting together. I can’t wait!” 

Tickets from Radio Days Events.

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A real quacker in Godalming

Round & About

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The great Godalming duck race and fair takes place along the river Wey on Saturday, 7th September, one of the traditional ways the Rotary clubs in Godalming raise funds for Rotary causes

Don’t worry, your eyes aren’t deceiving you if you see 300 yellow plastic ducks floating along the Wey, it’s just the annual Rotary duck race down the river.

Each ticket sold buys a duck for one race, provides entertainment for the ticket folder, money for charity and may even win you some money!

Rotary members are selling tickets in local pubs now and they will also be available at the Richmond Arms and the Sun Inn in Godalming town centre and at Daisy Sandwiches at Godalming Station.

There will be a fun fair, a bar and stalls and food outlets from 11am until 3.30pm and the first duck race will start at noon, with heats every 20 minutes from then until the Grand Final for all the heat winners. Heat winners will win £20 with prizes of £250, £100 and £50 for the first three places in the Grand Final.

Following the Duck Races, there is a musical evening of Proms In The Park between 5pm and 7pm. The fun fair together with the bar and many of the stalls and food outlets will remain onsite until the end of the Proms In The Park.

We are very grateful to the directors of Seymours estate agents for their continued support of Rotary’s events this year.

Rotary has flourished in Godalming for more than 80 years and the community work of the Rotary Clubs is an integral part of life in the town. Rotary in Godalming welcome men and women who share the same common desire to do something worthwhile in the community, with a priority being community service and the support of local charities.

During the past few years Rotary in Godalming have raised and donated over £125,000 / £150,000 most notable locally to Godalming foodbank; the Godalming Community store; Phyllis Tuckwell; Skillway; ShelterBox and Broadwater Youth Centre’s wellbeing garden project.

More recently, Rotary clubs across Surrey and Sussex have partnered with Royal Surrey hospital to transform cancer care across Surrey, Sussex and beyond. The Cut Out Cancer campaign aims to raise funds for crucial high-tech equipment to allow more accurate surgeries to take place and improve recovery times for patients.

Rotary in Godalming also supports vital humanitarian work including Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign. Thanks to Rotary’s eradication work there are only 34 new cases of Polio reported this year, and we are ‘this close’ to total eradication.

For more information on the above and other Rotary activities, please visit their website Rotary Club of Godalming – welcome. (rotary-ribi.org)

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Godalming Photographic Club exhibition

Round & About

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Featured image by: Mark Rolfe

Godalming Photographic Club are holding their annual summer exhibition at Godalming Museum, July 9th to 27th, showcasing members’ printed and digital images. Mark Rolfe tells us more

Photography has changed dramatically since Godalming Photographic Club was founded in March 1980, but what hasn’t changed over the decades is the friendly, supportive atmosphere aimed at inspiring, informing and involving members.

A group of friends got together more than 40 years ago in the Borough Hall explaining their hopes and intentions. By the end of the evening 30 people had joined. Meetings were held once a month, but this was soon increased to three a month before becoming weekly.

Image by: Brian Houghton

Image by: David Hughes

The new club joined the Surrey Photographic Federation (later to become the Surrey Photographic Association or SPA) and entered its inter-club competitions.

Competitions were seen as a way to increase skills and several trophies were soon provided as awards for the best work. The founding group paid for the Founders’ Plate, awarded to the winner of the series of internal print competitions, and the Woolwich Building Society donated a trophy for the best print at the annual exhibition.

Since its foundation, the club has more than held its own among its peers in the SPA and has won both Open and Nature sections of the annual inter-club competition. The club has also represented the SPA at national inter-club championships organised by The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB).

With a subscription income, the club continues to have outside judges for its competitions and expert speakers on a broad range of subjects. Practical workshops, technical sessions and discussion of different aspects of photography are featured. Other events include photographic trips, a Christmas dinner and a summer party.

Members primarily use digital cameras and smartphones and competitions are divided into Print and Projected images, covering themes from Open (any content) to Nature, Landscape, Monochrome, Street and fun topics, such as ‘Match the style of a famous photographer’. Competitions are split into three groups, so everyone can compete at their own level.

GPC meets each Wednesday evening from September to May at Shackleford Village Hall. Come along and experience a meeting with no obligation or contact us for more details via our website. New members are always welcome. For enquiries, see Godalming Photographic Club, Facebook, or Godalming Photographic Club (@gofocal). The exhibition runs Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm at Godalming Museum. Entry free. Some of the photographs will be on sale at modest prices. You can vote for your favourite image.

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Having a blast in Godalming

Round & About

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Godalming

June 8th is set to be a super singing Saturday when vocalists of all ages come together for a mass charity event in Godlaming

Let the music you when ChoirBlast explodes into Godalming on June 8th for an exciting day-to-evening event for music lovers, featuring 50 nationwide choirs in a fusion of singing and community.

The family-friendly event features seven simultaneous stages at The Burys Field, the Bandstand and Cloisters and is a not-for-profit festival, with craft stalls, children’s activities, food and lots of fabulous singing from 11am.

ChoirBlast is a celebration of contemporary choirs from around the country and the festival presents a unique opportunity to experience the joy and power of harmony music. Among the local choirs taking part this year are Music by Motivation Contemporary Gospel Choirs comprising members from Guildford Rock Choir; Farncombe Jazz Choir know for their acapella arrangements; the Halow Project who are one of the charities to benefit from this year’s event as are The Meath Backstage Choir; Guildford Jazz Choir bring together the old and new with jazz classics and contemporary hits; Godalming Jazz Choir is a friendly place for people to sing together that has been running for 10 years; born out of friendship and love Little Town Choir from Petersfield provide a ‘musical sanctuary’; Godalming-based Music Kids for five to teens; Guildford Vox Community Choir have a repertoire consisting of contemporary and traditional songs from the British Isles; Godalming Community Gospel Choir; ladies a capella group In Accord from Guildford; Wholenotes Community Choirs for those with social anxiety and / or learning disabilities based in Guildford and Camberley and many more from around the country.

ChoirBlast supports the local halow project and Meath charities, for adults with epilepsy and complex needs. In the spirit of the festival, admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

Make a day of it enjoying the sweet sounds on offer alongside the food and drink from the Serious Rum Bar, street food from Cara Gorda Cantina, seasonal flavours from Dylan’s Ice Cream, South African flame grilled steaks and burgers from Bring & Braai, wood fired pizza from Belle Buono, Sri Lankan street food from Kothu Truck, Daisy’s Sandwiches, ice coffee and cake from The Journalist and serving up much-needed coffee will be Bean & Gone.

Visit choirblast.com for details of all the choirs taking part. 

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Surrey Police Band concert for ABF

Round & About

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Support a real force for good – the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) thanks a concert Surrey Police Band will give on Sunday, 18th June, in Godalming

Surrey Police Band is a self-supporting organisation funded by its members. As members of the group, established in 2007, serve on shift patterns, the band was designed to have a flexible rehearsal schedule.

As Major (Retd) Ian W Wadley VR, Honorary Secretary of the Surrey Committee explains: “This flexible ethos towards attendance has subsequently attracted people from many walks of life including the police, military, civil service & wider civilian community.”

You’re all invited to book your tickets to enjoy an evening of music to suit all tastes by the Surrey Police Band and support The ABF – The Soldiers’ Charity – at the same time. The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the Army’s national charity, supporting soldiers, past and present, and their families for life. You can find out more about the great work the charity does at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Doors open at 6.30pm for the concert on 18th June at Waverly Borough Hall, GU7 1HR, and the band will play 7-9pm. Free parking is available and there will be a licensed bar and a raffle.

Tickets are £15. For more details about the concert & to book please visit Surrey Police Band Concert – The Soldiers’ Charity (soldierscharity.org).

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Green dream

Liz Nicholls

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Godalming

The Green Hub in Milford, which has just had its first birthday, offers a vital support space for teenagers struggling with their mental health

Just one year ago you‘d find the Green Hub Project for Teens on Facebook looking for local folk to join a DIY SOS-style weekend, to transform their tranquil garden in Milford. This month the garden celebrates its first birthday.

Over its first year Green Hub Project for Teens has transformed from an idea in its embryonic stage into a confident adolescent.

The garden is the vision of local chiropractor Tone Tellefsen Hughes. “I’ve seen so much trauma through my clinic in recent years,” she says. “But since Covid, it’s become unimaginably bad, so many young people experiencing a tough time – it’s heart-breaking. This is why we are reaching out to families with teens struggling with low to moderate social anxiety, stress and overwhelm.”

Tone’s co-chair, local business coach Vanessa Lanham-Day, has been instrumental in creating the momentum behind the project. “The garden and teen volunteering is such a simple concept – it’s all about providing time out in nature and calm.

But, for the teens to benefit from time spent in the garden, there has been a whole machine that needed to be created. We have been busy spreading the word as well as building relationships with GPs, schools and youth organisations – but the most passionate requests come from parents themselves.

Teens spend up to 12 weeks becoming garden volunteers, under the guidance of adult leaders – there are morning and afternoon sessions (all free) each Saturday for up to eight teens. The process isn’t “therapy” problems aren’t discussed, and no advice is given – but the process is undoubtedly therapeutic.

Tone adds: “Science shows that being in nature allows the brain to calm down and settle a little, like a busy snow globe when the snow falls. When you immerse yourself in an activity – especially in nature – your brain is unable to do anything else and this gives the busy teenage brain a chance to rest and make sense of what’s been going on in their world. There are long term benefits after a garden session, as well as finding a connection which has been so sorely missed since the pandemic for so many.”

Tone and Vanessa would also like to find other garden spaces to extend the programme.

Parents who want to refer a teen to the project should visit greenhub.org.uk/parent-refer

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Running, for good elf

Round & About

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Godalming

Take part in the Santa & Elf fun runs in Hindhead, Godalming and Farnborough this month to raise money for a life-changing charity.

Phyllis Tuckwell’s Santa & Elf Fun Runs are the perfect way to get all the family in the festive spirit this Christmas.

The charity has three events to choose from: the first on Sunday, 1st December, at the picturesque Devil’s Punch Bowl in Hindhead, then The Pepperpot in Godalming for a 4k route on Saturday 14th December and lastly at The Wavell School in Farnborough on Sunday, 15th December.

“This year we’re celebrating 40 years of hospice care,” says fundraising manager Gemma Jones, “so asking everyone who registers to raise just £40 to mark our special ruby anniversary!

“We rely heavily on the support of our community to continue providing our services across west Surrey and north-east Hampshire. We have to raise over £20,000 every day to do this and events like this make a real difference; helping us to raise some of the funds we need. Come along and support Phyllis Tuckwell this Christmas.

More info

Registration is £16 for adults and £9 for children (under 14) and all who register will receive a Santa suit for adults and an elf hat for children. Register in advance as fees will be higher on the day. To register your place visit…

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