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Winter 2010
Everyone wants a littlepiece of WeybridgeFOR nearly 60
years,Weybridge Society hasrepresented andwatched over the
interests of local residents, sought to safeguard andenhance local
amenities, conveyedmembers’ views to the Boroughand County Councils
and to theMember of Parliament.
Weybridge Society has no political affiliations, or does not
putup candidates for election to theBorough or County Councils.
Ourmotto is ‘Working to KeepWeybridge a Pleasant Place to Live’
In 60 years there has been an enor-mous amount of change. In
thoseearly days Weybridge was more likea village. The transistor
radio had yetto change modern culture. TheSouthampton to London
steam trainswere a common sight at Weybridgestation. James Stewart,
John Wayne,and Marlon Brando were at the peakof their
popularity.
Today we live in far different soci-ety. The internet has
brought aboutan unlimited source of information.We can communicate
freely every-where in the world, even with some-one on a desert
island. We can travelquickly and easily on fast roads andfast
trains.
So what about our modernWeybridge. It’s well connected toLondon
with two fast trains everyhour. It’s conveniently situated
forcommerce, half way between
Heathrow and Gatwick airports andfive minutes from the M25
motor-way. It’s pleasantly situated near theRiver Thames on the
River Wey;where it gets its name; near a host oftourist
attractions; BrooklandsMuseum, Royal HorticulturalSociety Garden at
Wisley andHampton Court to name a few.
It’s little wonder developers areknocking down large houses in
orderto build more flats to meet theincreasing demand of
newcomerswanting to come to our town.
So where does the WeybridgeSociety fit in now? We still have
thesame aim as our predecessors –Keep Weybridge a Pleasant Place
toLive’. Are we doing that for our residents and members
effectivelyand efficiently? Joe HalllWe want to ask you our
members.Are we effective, would we be moreeffective and influence
councils if ourmembership was larger? How should we go about
increasingmembership and welcoming new residents? Are the joining
methodsadequate? Do we communicate effi-ciently with our members?
Do youhave adequate opportunities and plat-forms to debate issues
and have yoursay? Are we addressing the rightissues – we have
mainly focused onplanning and transport issues? Should we be doing
other things?Drop us a line or email us with yourviews.
www.weybridgesociety.org.uk
Your Residents’ Association – Working to keep Weybridge a
pleasant place to live
Weybridge Society
Would you like to join To Join the Weybridge Society?
By joining us you will be able to add your voice and weight
to
our campaigns. The Society has been going for over 50 years
and during that time has gained the respect of borough and
county councillors. We support new initiatives and guard
against inappropriate development. We also work closely with
Neighbourhood Watch and the police to ensure a safe and
secure environment for all who live and work in Weybridge.
Please contact any member listed on Page 2 for details
Hon. Patron - Michael Aspel, OBE
A snapshot of glorious times past. This stunning photograph was
taken recently by Chris Nevard and shows The Cathedrals Express
roaring through Weybridge
www.weybridgesociety.org.ukor write to us at: Weybridge Society,
PO Box 492,
Weybridge, Surrey KT13 8WX
The next meeting of the Weybridge Society will be held on:
Wednesday December 8, 2010
starting at 8pmin the hall of the Catholic Church,
Christ the Prince of Peace, Portmore Park Road,Weybridge
The speaker will be
Helen Millswho will give an illustrated talk entitled
‘Plotting in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force’
Helen Mills was involved with Fighter Command during the
Second World War plotting aircraft movements
In the New Year the first meeting of Weybridge Society will be
held on
Wednesday 19th January, 2011starting at 8pm
in the hall of the Catholic Church,Christ the Prince of Peace,
Portmore Park Road,
WeybridgeThe speaker will be
Jason DebneyCo-ordinator Thames Landscape Strategy
who will give an illustrated presentation entitled
‘The Thames LandscapeStrategy – including possible
effects on the Weybridge area’
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING – SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND RETAILERS,
AND DO YOUR SHOPPING IN WEYBRIDGE – IN THESE HARD TIMES WESHOULD
SUPPORT OUR LOCAL TRADERS – ‘USE THEM, OR LOSE THEM’ – IT WOULD BE
SAD TO SEE WEYBRIDGE WITH MANY EMPTY SHOPS
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2 The Weybridge Society Newsletter – Winter 2010
Obituary:John Bartlett
John Bartlett pictured at the Weybridge Society ‘Splash’ summer
party held in June this year, sittingbetween Jean White, and John
Pennycook. His wife Sheila Bartlett, is sitting opposite with a
plant
Photo Courtesy of Maureen McClean www.maureenmclean.co.uk
Committee members AnneLindsay andAnnette Daviespresented a
chequefor £794 at the lastSociety meeting, toEmma
Cartwright,Assistant Directorof Fundraising forthe Woking andSam
BeareHospices.This money wasraised by our mem-bers at the
SplashSummer party heldin June which wasa great success
Photo:Kevin Walker
The Society website
WEYBRIDGE has lost agreat campaigningchampion in the passing of
John Bartlett,on August 17, 2010,after a long and courageous fight
againstcancer. John was a member of theWeybridge Society, having
served on theCommittee for many years.
His great experience gained from hisprofession as an architect
were invaluable to the Society, and his advice and guidance set the
standard for its approach to development applications which
continues today.
Whilst a Committee member, heworked for the granting of Grade II
listed status for the ChurchfieldsInstitute (now the children’s day
nursery), and the gates to the RecreationGrounds, and he was
involved in all the Conservation Areas, Weybridge(Monument Green);
Weybridge TownCentre and River Wey Navigation.
In May 2000 he was elected as a member of Elmbridge Borough
Council,for the St George’s Hill Ward. Thismeant that he had to
give up his place onthe Weybridge Society Committee.However, the
Society’s loss was certainly Elmbridge’s gain. John’s experience
was invaluable in the roleshe undertook including portfolio
holder
for regulatory affairs and membership ofvarious committees,
including, ofcourse, planning. To all these posts hetook his
professional experience andpassion for good design.
John’s charm and friendship will bemissed by everyone who knew
him, andWeybridge Society sent condolences tohis wife, Sheila and
his family.
Many members attended his memorialservice on Thursday, September
9, 2010,in St James Church, Weybridge.
His family requested that tributes toJohn should be recorded by
donations tothe Sam Beare Hospice.
John Bartlett who passed away in August
Committee listChairman: Barry Judd
13 Barham Close KT13 9PR 853895
[email protected]
Vice Chair & Education: Derek Lindfield
17 Marlborough Drive KT13 8PA 849020
[email protected]
Treasurer: Andrew Davis
20 Holstein Avenue KT13 8NX 840888
[email protected]
Secretary: Carolyn Pennycook
Redstairs Brooklands Rd KT13 0QZ 848244
[email protected]
Membership: Maggie Alderman
8 Melrose Road KT13 8UP 843344
[email protected]
Distribution: Anne Lindsay
Splash Wey Meadows KT13 8XY 854204
[email protected]
Planning: Raymond Spary
Shambles Round Oak Rd KT13 8HT 888214
[email protected]
Footpaths: Richard Marshall
12 Churchfields Avenue KT13 9YA 849513
[email protected]
Events: Annette Davies
11 Churchill Drive KT13 9HE 844664
[email protected]
Minutes: Trevor Tarring
Robin Hill Brooks Close KT13 0LX 843428
[email protected]
Transport: Joe Hall
242 Brooklands Road KT13 ORD 859595
[email protected]
Newsletter: Guest Editor, Kevin Walker
07768 930001 [email protected]
Splash Summer party raises cash for Sam Beare
www.weybridgesociety.org.ukWe are always looking to improve our
website
Please log on and take some time to have agood look at the
site.
As well as giving lots of information about theSociety and its
activities it also has informationabout many local organisations
and things ofinterest to residents of Weybridge.
Use the drop down menus at the top of thepage to look at all the
listings. If you see some-thing missing, out of date information or
wouldjust like to make a comment, then please clickon the following
link to send an email to thewebsite editor at:
[email protected]
Oatlands Avenue closureTWO sections of Oatlands Avenue were
closed onOctober 25th for one week. One section was outside Cleves
School – between BeechwoodAvenue and Sterling Place– and the other
sectionwas at the Queens Road end – from Queens Roadto Woodland Way
– The Society’s websiteannounced this closure before it appeared in
thelocal press, enabling many of our members toavoid congestion and
plan alternative routes.
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The Weybridge Society Newsletter – Winter 2010 3
W ITH THE 70thanniversary of TheBattle of Britain verymuch in
the newsthis year, the following extract fromNeil White’s book
Weybridge Past(published by Phillimore) concern-ing St George’s
Hill Golf Club maybe of interest to members.
Between the two wars the courseachieved its greatest fame and
waspatronised by royalty, with thePrince of Wales accepting
captaincyof the club in 1934-5.
His brother, the Duke of York,later King George VI, was alsofond
of the club. Perhaps the mostinfamous visitor ever to enter
theclubhouse was Nazi ForeignMinister, Von Ribbenthrop, a guestin
1937. He was heavily criticisedin the press for appearing to give
aNazi salute to the crowds watchinghim pass by in his offical motor
carwhen in London.
During the Second World Warthe club continued to play, but
thesecond course (opened in the late1920s) was turned over to
theforces and barrage balloons wereplaced across the site to
preventGerman bombers attacking theVickers aircraft factory
atBrooklands.
Anti-aircraft gun emplacementswere also erected, one being put
onthe seventh green. Troops were billeted at the clubhouse, and
theroof was used as an aircraft observation post by the army. In
the1950s the club slowly recoveredfrom the effects of the war, and
bythe 1960s had regained somethingof its old style. However, as far
asthe social scene was concerned, theheyday for the club was in
the1920s and 30s. l Neil White’s book, full of interesting facts
and stories aboutWeybridge Past is available fromElmbridge Museum,
price £14.99
Carolyn Pennycook, Secretary
Did You Know?Guest speaker Inspector Steve Cheeseman head of the
Surrey PoliceDivision of The South East Air Support Unit
Police matters – the future of policing in Weybridge
IN THE unavoidableabsence of both theSociety’s Chairman,
BarryJudd, and Vice Chairman,Derek Lindfield, CarolynPennycook
introduced InspectorSteve Cheeseman and welcomedmembers and guests
to his fasci-nating talk.
With a career of 22 years inthe police force, many of
themconcerned with the developmentof air support,
InspectorCheeseman explained that fairlyrecently the Surrey Police
AirSupport had been amalgamatedwith that of Sussex andHampshire,
with the reduction inhelicopters from three to two,and the centres
of operationsnow being Odiham andShoreham.
This had not diminished theeffectiveness of the force,
andcoverage and response time toincidents had not been compro-
mised. The service was nowknown as the South East AirSupport
Unit.
Police air support goes back to1923, but not until the 1980swas
there a full time unit set upby the Metropolitan Police. In2004
Surrey set up its own unit,and in 2007 it provided 24 hourcover. In
2009 it moved its heli-copter base to Odiham, follow-ing several
acts of vandalism atits previous base, which hadresulted in
helicopters being putout of service – Odiham is asecure, military
base – thoughnow, since joining with Sussexand Hampshire, the
service is nolonger 24 hours.
Inspector Cheesemandescribed the helicopter used bythe service,
its heat seeking cam-eras, its emergency stretcher,navigation
equipment and itsextremely versatile operationalcapabilities,
enabling it to follow
and seek out suspects and fugi-tives, and guide ground
policeofficers to them.
The pilots are not police offi-cers, but are employed from
aspecialist company, and usuallythere were three people on
boardduring flights – the pilot, andtwo police officers, and there
isone spare passenger seat. Thehelicopter is capable of 2
hoursflying time, at a top speed of150mph.
Inspector Cheeseman’s talkincluded illustrations, includingvideo
clips of actual pursuits anddescriptions of the effectivenessof the
heat seeking cameras.
After an enthusiastic questionand answer session,
CommitteeMember Richard Marshall pro-posed a vote of thanks
toInspector Cheeseman on behalfof the Society.
Carolyn Pennycook
Unfortunately, the consulta-tion period for future ofpolicing in
Surrey – and ofcourse Weybridge – expiredon November 17, and so
thisnewsletter cannot give members the opportunity tocomment.
However, our secretaryCarolyn and her husbandattended an
‘EngagementMeeting’ on 12 October in StJames’ Church Hall which
had been mentioned in anarticle in the Surrey Herald.
Addressed by InspectorHaycock, the ElmbridgeOfficer for Surrey
Police, itwas explained that to keepfront line services it wouldbe
necessary to make savings elsewhere, and old,under-used and
not-for-pur-pose police stations could beaxed. Inspector
Haycocksaid it cost an incredible £82
for each visitor to a policestation. It was suggested
thatpolicing units should be setup in local authority or
otherbuildings such as libraries,throughout the borough,which would
result in agreater police presence onthe streets. Weybridge was
acentre where InspectorHaycock suggested a centremight be
established, andthis idea was met with
enthusiasm by those present.(Of the six people whoattended the
meeting, onewas a councillor, one theNeighbourhood Watch
co-ordinator with the remainingfour being members of thepublic).
Because the atten-dance was so low, Carolynasked if she could
havesome copies of the question-naire for distribution at
theSociety’s meeting on 13
October when InspectorSteve Cheeseman was toaddress members,
whichInspector Haycock waspleased to provide.
The questionnaires weredistributed at the Octobermeeting, hoping
they wouldbe completed and returned togive a view from
Weybridgeresidents on the future polic-ing of Surrey and in
particular our town.
The meeting at Christ the Prince of Peace hall was very well
attended. Inpector Steve Cheeseman gave an excellentinsight into
the work carried out by The South East Air Support Unit (SEASU) and
its operations over Weybridge
An illustrated slide show and talk showed the Surrey Police
helicopter in action with incidents recorded on the A3 at
Cobham
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6 The Weybridge Society Newsletter – Winter 2010
1. 75 and land to the rear of 75,
St. Mary’s Road (2010/2077)
This application for two pairs
of semi-detached houses was
approved by the Council in
October.
2. 4 Woodland Grove (2010/1695)
This application for two
detached 5-bedroomed hous-
es was refused because of
the massing and bulk of the
proposed buildings and
because it was cramped and
out of character with the
locality. The application is
now under appeal.
3. 1, Oatlands Close (2009/2158)
This application was reported
in the last Newsletter.
It is a proposal to build a
detached house on part of
the garden of 1, Oatlands
Close. The application was
refused by the council in
February and then went to
appeal, which was dismissed
at the end of October
4. The Hall, Vale Road (2010/1854
and 2010/1858)
These two concurrent appli-
cations are for the replace-
ment of a building containing
4 flats by a by either a 4-flat
block(1854) or a 2-flat
block(1858).
Both proposals were refused
by the council in October.
5. 2, Oatlands Avenue
(2010/2183)
This was an application for
the construction of a water
pressure boosting station in
part of the garden of 2,
Oatlands Avenue. This was
requested by the water com-
pany Veolia in order to
improve the water supply to
the St George’s Hill area. The
proposal was refused by the
council as inappropriate in a
residential area because it
would result in an adverse
environmental impact on the
surroundings, including a loss
of amenity for nearby
properties.
Geoff Banks
Planning Focus:Oatlands Park
If you are looking for a greeting card ofWeybridge, then visit
Elmbridge Museum’sshop where there are pictures by localartists
John Pulford and Daphne Clement.Though different in style, both
artists man-age to capture the essence of Weybridge intheir
watercolours, which are reproduced asgreetings cards.
Also available at the museum shop are postcards of Weybridge,
both contempo-
rary and period. Reasonably priced, all these cards, both
greeting and post, are suitable for manyoccasions, even
Christmas! Museum open-ing hours are given on the back page.
Carolyn Pennycook
JOHN PULFORD studiedgraphics and illustration atRichmond upon
ThamesCollege and, after 4 years inthe commercial field,
wasappointed Design and DisplayAssistant at ElmbridgeMuseum in
Weybridge.
In 1988 he joined the staff ofBrooklands Museum as a cura-tor
where he still works today.
He likes to work in a broadrange of media but particularlyin
watercolour, oil or pen andink. Subjects are usually build-ings and
landscapes.
His published work includes,book covers and illustrationsfor
Walton and Weybridgelocal history publications and aseries of
local-view greetingscards which can be found for
sale in local shops. The full range, including
views of the Thames fromWeybridge to Hampton Court-is available
in the ElmbridgeMuseum shop.
He has held two recent exhibitions in Walton andexhibited with
the ChertseyArt Group of which, he is amember.
Local artists: Weybridge has a wealth We are privileged tohave a
host of artists whowork or live in andaround Weybridge. Theessence
of our town andthe surrounding country-side has been captured
on many mediums – oil, pastel, greeting cards andpostcards.
Maybe they are drawnby the close proximity tothe River Thames
wherelight and colours can
change by the hour orday. Here we focus ontwo talented artists
whohave both used the river as inspiration and feature samples
oftheir wonderful work.
The Thames at Hampton Court by John Pulford
Weybridge in view
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING – SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND RETAILERS,
AND SHOP IN
WEYBRIDGE – IN THESE HARD TIMES WE SHOULD SUPPORT OUR LOCAL
TRADERS – ‘USE THEM,
OR LOSE THEM’ – IT WOULD BE SO SAD TO SEE WEYBRIDGE WITH MANY
EMPTY SHOPS
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The Weybridge Society Newsletter – Winter 2010 7
Business Profile:Maurice Jones & SonButchers, Oatlands
VillageAWEYBRIDGE butchers shop in Oatlands village has recently
won the coveted accoladeof the best sausage in London and the
south-east of England.
We all remember Jones the butcher from the classicBBC series
Dad’s Army, but Maurice Jones, is a farcry from the, corporal Jones
character played by CliveDunn. He recently won the South-East star
prize aspart of National Sausage Week, along with his twosons,
thanks to their Oatlands special sausage.
The ‘secret’ recipe was hatched two years ago alongwith son and
business partner Russell Jones.
The winning sausage is based on a traditional porksausage, which
has ben moderately flavoured withfive ‘secret’ herbs and
spices.
Mr Jones said: “We have always made a quality,traditional pork
sausage to a very secret recipe. Weare really pleased to have won
because it is the firsttime we have entered a competition like
this.”
Maurice Jones & Sons is a family firm based inOatlands Drive
and now in it’s third generation andthe only traditional butcher in
Weybridge.
Maurice runs it in partnership with his son Russelland his other
son Lewis also works in the shop.
Russell is the mastermind behind most of the newsausage recipes
– pork and leek, and pork and tomato– and he said he was persuaded
by his loyal cus-tomers that his sausages were worth entering into
theNational Sausage Week competition.
He said: “It was our regular customers who kepttelling us how
nice our sausages were that made ustake part.”
Maurice Jones & Sons won first prize after compet-ing
against 10 other entrants from the southeast.lWe are pleased to
focus again on this traditionalbusiness which brings a friendly
service to the community of Oatlands and who also supplied
theWeybridge Society for our summer party in June.
The only butcher in the village, Maurice Jones with his two
sonsRussell and Lewis display a plate of their award-winning
sausagesalongside the coveted ‘Golden trophy’
Picture: Courtesy of the Surrey Herald
Matthew Wright was bornLondon 1945. He studied atthe Byam Shaw
School ofArt, where he won first prize for draw-ing & painting
and the David MurrayTravelling Scholarship to France.
In 1966 he won a place at the RoyalAcademy Schools where he
studied for4 years graduating in 1969 when hewon First Landseer
Prize and SilverMedal for 3 drawings of the head.
In the early seventies Matthewlaunched his career by selling
printsand drawings to outlets and galleriesin Hampstead,
Kensington, Chelseaand Camden Town. Then onto looser,freer forms in
Oil, Watercolour andPastel, depicting scenes of his river-side home
in Surrey and of warm sum-mers spent in a remote Pyrenean vil-lage
in Southern France where hebegan selling pictures from his easelon
the beach at Collioure and endedup converting a small barn and
settingup his own Atelier.
Fired by the need to support himselfand his family and by his
own passionand dedication to his work Matthewhas become the artist
he is today. Fromstill-life to landscapes he is able toexpress
himself in a multiplicity offorms, techniques and subject matter,he
continues to sell prints and supplylocal shops and newsagents with
greet-ing cards using his pictures to dipictlocal scenes and
landmarks throughoutSurrey and around Weybridge.
He takes on private commissionsand still spends much of his
timepainting in the South of France andshowing his work from his
home andAtelier in the old town of Ceret inFrance where he also
runs a summerGallery.
For more information on commis-sioning Matthew or purchasing any
ofhis pictures, contact him on: 01932 566 080 or e-mail;
[email protected] or you can visit his web-site at:
www.thewrightgallery.co.uk.
The Iron Bridge, Weybridge by Matthew Wright
Weybridge Society gives two prizes eachyear to Heathside School
– one for History,awarded in the lower school, and one forServices
to the Community awarded in the6th form.
Our Chairman, Barry Judd attended thePresentation Evening on
behalf of theSociety, and said he was very impressedwith the
academic achievements of thestudents in both GCSE and A level
grades.
The Guest of Honour was MP PhilipHammond, and the event chaired
by chairof governors, County Councillor Ian Lake.
The Society’s award for Sixth FormContributions to the Community
went toDavid Binge. David is a keen rugby playerand has completed
his Silver Duke of
Edinburgh Award. As part of his award,David helped out at a
local Cub Scoutpack for two years.
David achieved 3 As and 1C at A level,and is now off to study
History atLeicester University.
The Society’s award for History went toAndrew French. Andrew has
been an out-standingly thoughtful and hardworkingstudent throughout
the 2 years of theGCSE course. He impressed his teacherwith the
depth of his understanding andhis determination to succeed.
He read widely around the topics ofstudy and was always
inquisitive andcurious, gaining a well deserved ‘A’ inHistory.
Heathside school prizes
of artistic people – we focus on two
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8 The Weybridge Society Newsletter – Winter 2010
THROUGHOUT history, manypeople have believed in a god,many gods,
a guru, nature,humanity, science, or the self.Belief was, and
continues to be,important to most people.
Elmbridge Museum, inChurch Street, Weybridge, iscurrently
presenting a new exhibition exploring religiousbelief and its
eternal effect onElmbridge. Devotion: Belief in aChanging Borough
runs untilJanuary 12, 2011.
Take a journey through the
Borough’s dramatic religiouspast. The exhibition charts
how Elmbridge witnessed theReformation, radical diggers
andreligious tensions.
Then discover our increasing-ly diverse and harmonious pres-ent.
See how Judaism,
Buddhism, Zoroastrianism anda host of other forms of religionnow
flourish in the Borough.
Admire and investigate a hugeselection of artifacts as youwander
around the exhibition.See ancient funerary urns, abbey
fragments used to buildOatlands Palace and books fromthe Baha’i
faith.
Councillor Jan Fuller,Portfolio Holder for Leisure andCultural
Services said: “Faith
touches us all personally, andto consider its role in communi-ty
life is absorbingly relevant.This exhibition reveals faithsyou may
never have heard of,and uncovers Elmbridge’s event-ful, religious
past. Most enlightening!”
Visit Devotion: Belief in a
changing borough and challengeyour beliefs about Elmbridge!l
Elmbridge Museum, locatedin the heart of Weybridge, is afascinating
source of localknowledge and entertainment,combining the rich
history ofElmbridge Borough with a greatseries of contemporary
everchanging exhibitions. For moreinformation call: 01932 843573or
E-mail: [email protected] or check outthe website at:
www.elmbridge.gov.uk/museum
Devotion: Belief in a changing borough
Profile: Helen Mills – our next guest speaker
THE LOCAL Government BoundaryCommission for England has
formal-ly commenced an electoral review inSurrey County
Council.
Information and Guidance on electoral reviews can be found
atwww.lgbce.org.uk. The review aims tomake sure as far as possible
thatevery councillor in each division ofthe county represents the
samenumber of electors.
The review will also take intoaccount the identities and
interests
of local communities in the area.Although the closing date for
sub-
missions was November 22, 2010,enquiries can be made to
SaraMurphy, Review Officer, on 020 76648528, or
[email protected].
Once all representations havebeen considered, a provisional
decision on council size will betaken and a public consultation
ondivision boundaries will commence.It is anticipated this
consultation will
run from January 11, 2011, until April3, 2011, After this the
Commissionexpects to formulate draft recommendations, which
theyexpect to publish in July 2011. Thena 12 week public
consultation willfollow, when views are again invited.
The Commission will then formu-late final recommendations,
andthese will be published in early 2012.l This information taken
from a letterdated October 12, 2010, from LGBCEto Secretary,
Weybridge Society.
Carolyn Pennycook
Electorial review of Surrey
Open weekdays from 11am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm
and 2pm to 5pm. We are closed on Thursdays, Sundays and Bank
Holidays.
HELEN MILLS will be ourguest speaker on December 8.Here is a
brief profile of herfascinating life.
Helen was born at No. 2Bowes Road, Walton.
Her father was a civil Servantwith the Inland Revenue, shehad a
sister Betty who was eightyears older. She went to schoolat
Westward Preparatory schoolin Hersham Road and then toWimbledon
High School in1934 and to which she travelledall through the
bombing from1939 to 1942 when she joinedthe WAAF – having
previouslybeen a member of the Women92s Junior Air Corp –
fromBridgenorth, being kitted up,then Morecambe, where she didbasic
training, she was thenposted to Hornchurch, a FighterCommand
Station within 11Group. Here she learnt how tobe a plotter – known
as – Clerk,Special Duties. She mostlybecame a Radio
DirectionFinding plotter (RDF) which
required quickness of uptakeamongst other requirements.
She found herself billeted inthe old airmen’s 92 marriedquarters
on the camp and bussedinto Romford to the Operations
Room, a requisitioned MasonicHall, which for security reasonshad
been removed from the airfield.
In late 1943 she was posted toUxbridge, the Headquarters of
11 Group. Here the Ops roomwas, and still is, 60 feet
under-ground reached by 76 concretesteps, no lift even for the
King,Churchill, Eisenhower or any ofthe bigwigs! Known
affectional-ly as scrambled eggs
On the evening of 5th June1944 – D DAY – she went onduty and the
ops room map wasmarked out with the landingareas Utah, Omaha, Gold,
Junoand Sword. she also did duty ina special Ops Room in whichshe
monitored high-flying longdistance reconnaissance aircraft.
After VE Day she was postedto Innsworth near Gloucesterwhere we
she was employed inthe RAF records office responsi-ble for
demobbing personnel.l DIARY DATE: Helen will beour guest speaker at
the nextWeybridge Society meeting onto be held on,
Wednesday,December 8, at Christ thePrince of Peace Church
hall,Portmore Park Road,Weybridge.
The Ops room at Uxbridge, where Helen worked 60 ft undergound,
often under thewatchful eye of Winston Churchill and top brass
known as ‘Scrambled eggs”
REMEMBER! SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND RETAILERS THIS
CHRISTMAS AND SHOP IN WEYBRIDGE –DON’T FORGET ‘USE THEM, OR LOSE
THEM’ – IT WOULD BE SAD TO SEE WEYBRIDGE WITH MANY EMPTY SHOPS
