At a meeting of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee on Thursday 5^th May 2022 Councillors voted for a controversial new £186,000 per annum tree maintenance contract with regular supplier Advanced Tree Services Ltd (ATS).

ATS is a family-owned and run Woking-based business employing in the region of 50 workers. The sole director is Daron Mitchell who has run the company since 1997. Profit and Loss accounts have not been filed with Companies House.

The Council is responsible for trees on its land and an Officer’s report to Councillors stated that there are approximately 32,000 trees within the Borough. The Report is not clear if that is the number of trees on Council land or the Borough as a whole.

The Council is liable to persons injured by trees on its land if trees have not been inspected and maintained. The Council put a three-year contract for the Borough’s tree maintenance out to tender and received four bids.

ATS will undertake the full range of tree inspections and maintenance works. The works are to be performed on trees located within the borough on the Council’s land and co-managed sites – Nonsuch Park and the Downs. The contracted works include a tree inspections programme, tree planting and aftercare, tree maintenance, emergency callouts and Oak Processionary Moth control.

The annual cost of the previous tree contract was £81,000 plus a budget of £5,000 to address Oak Processionary Moth. The cost of the new contract is £185,000 per annum, an increase of £104,000.

Of this £104,000 increase, £59,500 can be linked to industry inflation as the contract has not been re-tendered for a number of years. The remaining £44,500 increase is due to new service requirements

The £185,000 cost of the new contract exceeds the Council’s existing budget by £99,000. Officers proposed that the £59,500 increase due to industry inflation can be funded by the Council’s “budgeted contingency for contract inflation”. However, the unbudgeted £39,500 increase attributable to service enhancements will need to be found within the tree maintenance service’s existing “budget envelope”, or from “alternative service areas”.

Not all Councillors were convinced that this shortfall of £39,500 could be found and questioned the wisdom of proceeding with the contract. Officers appeared “stumped” as to where the money will come from.

The motion was passed with 8 votes for and 1 against.

Read more of our council coverage here

When raising money for charity, some people do bake sales, others go on a sponsored run or maybe organise a benefit concert, but one Epsom resident is doing something a little different.

If you’re in the town centre today, look out for Rob Carin who has popped himself on an exercise bike to cycle the whole distance from Epsom to Ukraine, in order to raise money for the Ukrainian people. Rob Carin is a volunteer for SSWU (Surrey Stands with Ukraine), a wonderful charity we’ve spoken about before, they’re set up in the Ashley Centre, taking donations for much needed medical supplies to send to Ukraine, along with other essentials. SSWU has done amazing work, uniting local people and inspiring charitable spirit for a country in crisis.

Rob tells me that the volunteers take it turns on the bike, and that they average 100KM a day. Collectively, they’re going to cycle the full distance of 2504KM from Epsom to Independence Square in Ukraine.

Go along and donate to him if you can, and support the fantastic work that he and SSWU are doing during this crisis.

To donate to Surrey Stands With Ukraine, please follow the link below:

surreystandswithukraine.org

Read more of our community and volunteer-based coverage here.

We have a blast from the past for today’s chess puzzle on Epsom & Ewell Times!

This game was played in 1909 between Russian-Austrian player Savielly Tartakower and Austrian player Rudolf Spielman.

Spielman defeated Toartakower using his trademark initiative and went on to finish 3rd in the tournament, which was held in St. Petersburg.

Both players were and still are held in very high regard by contemporary scholars and players.

We hope you enjoy today’s puzzles.

If you have any thoughts, ideas or queries on this puzzle or others, please get in contact via email at admin@epsomandewelltimes.com, or contact us on Twitter @EpsomandET

Check out today’s chess puzzle!

The Queen’s racehorse Reach For The Moon has been pulled out of the Classic after failing to recover from an injury in time. The horse was injured late last year.

The horse, trained by father-son duo John and Thady Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, was the 3rd favourite.

The colt was tipped as one of the favourites to win on June 4th after finishing first at the Solario Stakes at Sandown Park last August. He later sustained an injury that was not thought serious enough to rule him out of the Epsom Derby, this was apparently not the case.

John Gosden told the Racing Post he would not contest the Classic at Epsom.

“Following a setback last autumn, Reach For The Moon has been given all the time and care he requires in his training programme,” said Gosden.

“We had planned to run him in the Dante Stakes at York next week. However, in the best interests of the horse, we have decided that this race is coming too soon for him.“

“Consequently, he will not run in the Derby and will be pointed towards Royal Ascot.”

Pictured above provided by The Jockey Club

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are coming up in early June, commemorating 70 years on the throne for her majesty. Events, celebrations and street parties will be held up and down the country in honour of the Queen’s long reign.

Are you at a loss for what to do during this time? Curious about what’s going on here in Epsom? Well look no further, we’ve curated a list of events, parties and celebrations going on right here in Epsom. Read on!…

The Derby Festival – Epsom Downs Racecourse

The Royal world will converge on Epsom Downs as the Queen attends Epsom Derby. A life-long lover of horses and racing, the Queen will be present in the royal box on June 4th as she has been for almost every year since 1946, cheering on her horse. No monarch-owned horse has won the Derby since 1909 when King Edward VII’s horse Minoru took first place. A victory for her majesty would be a wonderful cherry on top of her celebrations.

A world-famous event, undoubtedly the highlight of the jubilee, it’s not one to miss.

Hat Making Workshop – Epsom Square

One for the kids! In celebration of the world’s most famous hat-wearer, “Make Your Jubilee Hat Day” will be held on May 14th in the Atrium, next to Epsom Library at Epsom Square. Kids will be welcome to come along and make their own hats inspired by Her Majesty’s sense of style, to wear around the town at any of the Jubilee events.

The event will be run from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday 14th of May. Free for all.

NHS Staff Benefit jubilee Concert – Epsom Playhouse

Epsom Music presents The Saleri Quartet for a very special Jubilee performance at Epsom Playhouse. The performance is in honour of NHS key workers who work so hard on our behalf.

Free tickets will be allocated for Epsom Hospital staff, all proceeds from other tickets will go to a local NHS staff benevolent fund.

The concert will take place on May 27th at 12noon

Tickets available at www.epsommusic.org

Street Parties

Street parties and royalty go hand in hand, from coronations, marriages, births and jubilees, the British public love an excuse to eat sandwichs on a big union-jack patterned table in the middle of the road. So what better way is there to celebrate Her Majesty’s jubilee then attending or organising a party for your street?

Organising a street party for residents in Epsom is easy, with no need for council permissions or licenses. However, all public health guidance must be followed. If you wish to close your road temporarily you must make an application to Epsom & Ewell Council. Council’s guidance on this can be read here.

Epsom Jazz Club Jubilee Night

Fancy some Jazz and a cheeky jubilee drink? Epsom Jazz Club will be hosting a very special Jubilee themed evening of music, drinks and much more!

Nigel Price and Vasilis Xenopoulos will be performing at Epsom Jazz Club in the Oaks Room of the Conservative Club. Come and celebrate our Queen’s long reign with some tantalising jazz from some of Jazz’s most accomplished musicians.

Tickets £10 (£12 on the door), available from epsomjazzclub.com

READ MORE: Emily Elizabeth Campbell – Horton Cemetery Stories

On Tuesday afternoon, a serious collision took place in Epsom General Hospital’s car park. At 3:07 PM, the driver of a red Kia is believed to have lost control of their vehicle and driven into a passing pedestrian. The pedestrian, who is male, is currently receiving medical attention for his injuries.

The police are appealing for information following the incident. If you have a dashcam or a helmet cam that may have captured what happened, or if you were in the area from 3:00 pm – 3:10 pm, the police urge you to get in contact.

Get in touch with Surrey Police quoting PR/45220046682 via their live webchat or on their online reporting tool.

If you don’t wish to speak with the police, you can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

READ MORE: Idling drivers in Epsom & Ewell face £40 fines

Read more of our news coverage here

Last week, 78 volunteers from Surrey Police and Sussex Police joined Muslim colleagues and communities to show their support and learn more about Islam and observe Ramadhan, as part of a ‘Fasting Collective’ organised by the Force’s Inclusion team.

Ramadhan lasts for 30 days, coming to a close around this Sunday, 1 May with the celebratory day of Eid ul-Fitr on Monday, 2 May. During Ramadhan, Muslims abstain from food and drink, including water, during daylight hours, as a means of strengthening and reflecting on their faith.

The Fasting Collective’s day began shortly after 4 am with a short virtual group meeting and an inspirational welcome from Imam Mansoor Clarke. 

At the end of the experience, at the invitation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, 30 police officers and staff attended Mubarak Mosque in Farnham for Iftar, the breaking of the fast, a tour of the Mosque and an evening meal. 

For those who didn’t attend in person, food parcels were supplied by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organisation for participants to enjoy after sunset. 

This is the second year Inspector Chris Pike has fasted for the whole of Ramadhan to understand and support some Muslim friends.

Chris says: “I was intrigued by how it feels to fast and what my colleagues and friends experience when they fast. Fasting for Ramadhan last year made me appreciate the things in my life that I take for granted, not just people, but also things like having a roof over my head and the community I live in. I feel that I have been fortunate to learn through my experience of fasting. Ramadhan also helps me consider my lifestyle and re-centre, giving me an opportunity to be healthier.  Also, zakat, the making of donations to charity, is something which is central to the Muslim faith and has highlighted to me how we can make a difference in other people’s lives; not just giving  money, but giving people our time too, to give support and compassion to the people around us.”

Hibat ul Mohsin Abid, Director of Outreach for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association said:

“This is the second year that Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) UK has supported Surrey Police’s Fasting Collective. AMYA is an organisation with a passion to serve the community and being a driver for positive change at its heart. To support this initiative, we were graciously permitted by His Holiness, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the current head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, to hold the Iftar (breaking of fast) at the Mubarak Mosque. The Fasting Collective has been a great source of inspiration for our youth as well, as not only does it provide us with an opportunity to engage with the police, but also we are truly amazed by the positive experiences and warmth shared by the police. The positive feedback that we have received from those who took part in this initiative has been very encouraging and motivating. For this day, everything was done by volunteers, which included activities such as cooking and packing food, delivering food parcels to several police stations and hosting a physical and virtual Iftar. We really hope that the Fasting Collective will have allowed those who took part an opportunity to better understand the importance of Ramadhan and fasting. It has been an absolute pleasure to host Surrey Police and Sussex Police, and we sincerely hope that in the future we are able to continue with such initiatives and more.”

Having taken part herself, Surrey Police’s Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Ali Barlow reflected on her experience: 

“Being one of the 78 officers and staff involved in the Fasting Collective has given me a much better understanding of why there is a fast and what it means to Muslims – a time for reflection, self-restraint and thinking of others less fortunate. On a practical point whilst I was thirsty rather than hungry during the day it really did make me stop, reflect and focus and made me realise just how much time during the working day we spend grazing on food, drinking endless cups of tea or coffee and getting absorbed in the demands of the everyday.  Surrey Police has, through our commitments, promised to be kind, friendly, inclusive and supportive of our police families and to respect and reflect the differences in the communities we serve. We have also committed to valuing and learning from the different perspectives and experiences of others and this is exactly what being involved in the Fasting Collective has helped me to do. It has been an absolute privilege to be involved in the Fasting Collective, to show our support for our Muslim colleagues and communities during the Holy month of Ramadhan, and to experience the fast together. I would like to thank the community for welcoming us so warmly to the beautiful Mubarak Mosque – which has such a sense of peace – and for their generosity, kindness and support today. On behalf of us all, I wish everyone celebrating a wonderful Eid Mubarak.”

Farhan Hayat, Deputy Inclusion Lead and Chair of Surrey Police Association of Culture and Ethnicity (SPACE) said: “As a race and ethnicity staff network, we have been so touched and humbled by the support seen throughout Surrey Police for Muslim colleagues observing the holy month of Ramadhan. 

“For Muslims across the world, Ramadhan is without a doubt one of the most important and holiest months of the year and having the support of colleagues means so much.  By authentically living the experience of others we strengthen both our knowledge and our connection with them, and we’re so pleased that almost eighty colleagues chose to do that.”

Epsom & Ewell Times have had the absolute honour of sitting down with Nigel Price. Epsom born and bred Nigel Price is an award-winning Jazz guitarist whose career has spanned over 25 years, and he kindly agreed to answer some of our questions, read on for more!

How old were you when you first picked up and played a guitar?

I was 11 years old. A bunch of us at St Martin’s school got together and decided to form a band. It was just for fun but it immediately felt right and we rehearsed regularly. Every Sunday between 2 and 6. The music was pretty awful. How much can you do with a drum kit, an air powered keyboard, a mouth organ, a guitar and a boys brigade snare drum? At 6 o’clock on the dot the drummer’s mum used to throw the door open and shout “Right. THAT’S IT!” and chuck us us all out.

Did you teach yourself or did you have years of lessons?

I am pretty much self taught. Once in a while I might have a single lesson with a player I really respect but I figured nearly everything out on my own. They say ‘the greatest encyclopaedia is your record player’.

Where and when did you first play in public?

We played at the school in 1982. Blimey. That sounds like a long time ago! There followed many gigs around Epsom. There was a really great music scene for young people back then. Linton’s Lane, The Playhouse, Nescot, Bourne Hall and other places used to put on music nights for local groups and sometimes ‘battle of the bands’ competitions. It’s such a shame that this doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. My first paid gigs were with a reggae/ska band in the early nineties. We toured around Europe, playing clubs and festivals, often supporting the legendary Jamaican band ‘The Skatalites’.

Do you play any other instruments?

No, I don’t. I was always worried that I would end up being a jack of all trades, master of none so I poured all of my practise into the guitar. I did play the bass in a funk band for a while though which was great fun.

Who have been your greatest musical inspirations and why?

As a kid, once I’d devoured all of my dad’s record collection, that was made up of classic sixties pop, Motown, a bit of Queen and everything by the Beatles, I moved on to buying my own records. I was already used to listening to music that had been made decades before so it didn’t feel unusual or wrong in any way to be listening to bands that had gone before, like Led Zeppelin. Of course, Jimmy Page (the guitarist from Led Zep) is an Epsom boy and actually used to sit next to one of my mate’s dads when he was at school. Epsom High I think. I think having the notion that it was possible to ‘make it’ really spurred me on and I was convinced I was going to be a pop star! Of course, that never really worked out but I think I’ve ultimately ended up doing something much more fulfilling through a life in jazz.

There was a natural progression to jazz via the blues that I’d heard in bands like Led Zep, AC/DC and Thin Lizzy. My elder brother was a mod and listened to a lot of proper blues too, like John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters etc, so that was filtering through too. I eventually bought some actual jazz records and I was completely blown away by hearing Art Pepper, Miles Davis, Eddie Harris and several other horn players. I made a concerted effort to seek out jazz guitar players and it didn’t take too long to bump into Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery and George Benson. There’s a whole lot of music to listen to with just those three. I made it my business to check out as many guitarist as I possibly could. I remember thinking that perhaps it was a rabbit hole I would go down for a couple of years but I actually never made it out!

What’s the size of the biggest audience you’ve played and where was that?

It was a festival in Holland. Nijmegen I think. We played right after ‘Supergrass’. There were about 20,000 people in front of us and I was nervous as hell! There was a cameraman on stage. He ran up to me at one point while I was soloing, I remember taking my eye off the guitar, looking at the camera and then making a big howling mistake, right there on live tv! Ha ha!

Do you have any favourite jazz composers?

Not really. Although sometimes you end up playing tunes not knowing who they’re composed by and then you often find that the same names pop up. Duke Ellington is obviously the don, along with Billy Strayhorn. Some of Benny Golson’s compositions are absolutely great, as are Kurt Weill’s. Actually, there is such a huge volume of repertoire that it would be impossible to name a favourite. If you asked me the same question tomorrow I may have given you three different answers!

Who are the most famous artists you’ve played for?

I guess Van Morrison would be the most famous. Recording on his album ‘Keep me singing’ was an unforgettable experience for sure! It was an honour to back Dame Cleo Laine on her ninetieth birthday bash at Birmingham town hall too. I spend most of my time playing with figures in the jazz world which, well, let’s just say they wouldn’t be considered ‘household names’ but within our scene there are many who I personally consider to be legends! Invariably, this is where the best music happens…

How did Covid impact on your work?

I’m not sure if I can even talk about it. To lose everything for such a long time was really mentally damaging. I love to work and I love to work hard. I’ve been playing 300+ gigs a year for two decades so I was utterly lost for a while.

How are things today?

To my surprise, things bounced back very quickly and I’ve been chockablock all year so far. A bit too busy actually!

Who is your favourite classical composer?

You’ve got me. I’m not really a classical music fan and I don’t listen to it very often. Having said that, there are a lot of jazz sensibilities in Bach’s music but I’ll freely admit to never really having studied it in any great depth. Sometimes I hear something from the classical world that sounds amazing but I guess I just always find toward improvised music. I find the idea of spontaneous composition much more exciting.

You can hear Nigel Price play at the Epsom Jazz Club on 2nd June and 7th July. See www.epsomjazzclub.com

Read more of our Arts coverage here!

The competition is officially over! Delighted to announce that Lee Richards correctly guessed the location! It was the pathway along the side of St. Martin’s Church! Well done Lee, your details have been passed on to the event organisers.

They will be getting in contact with you to set up your free family ticket for the Nonsuch Town and Country Show, enjoy it!

b.1871-d.1953

Research and story provided to us by hortoncemetery.org

Pauline Powell, Emily’s great-niece, researched, wrote and supplied the trace material for the story and from whom we have permission to publish the story.

Emily Elizabeth Campbell was my great aunt, my Grandmother’s elder sister, born on 13th December 1871 in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. She was the daughter of Henry John and Fanny Campbell, formerly Cox.

I am 99% convinced that this is Emily.

1881

Emily appears in the 1881 census with her family at 13 Railway Place, High Wycombe as Emma Campbell age 9.

1891

In the 1891 Census, she is a housemaid aged 21 living in East Pallant House, Chichester West Sussex, born in Ilsden (Hillesden most likely), Buckinghamshire.

I can’t find her in the 1901 census.

1911

I believe I have found her in the 1911 Census living at 61 Coleherne Court, Kensington recorded as age 36 single, a domestic servant born in Hillesden, Bucks. It states that she is of Scottish nationality (why?), with an English speaking mother.

Princess Diana lived at number 60 Coleherne Court between 1979 and 1981. Today the building has a Blue Plaque.

1921

In the 1921 Census Emily was living at 159 Coleherne Court, Kensington, London and Middlesex, a servant aged 49.

The head of the household was Alice Anne Read aged 71. Emily’s not very well transcribed birthplace is Buckinghamshire, Hillsdenson. More likely Buckinghamshire, Hillesden. Hillesden is a village near Preston Bissett (where her grandmother Mary Cox came from) and Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. 

Mary Cox had given birth out of wedlock to four girls, Maria, Ann, Eliza and Fanny (Emily’s Mother). She had married (as a widow) in 1874 to William Stuchberry, in Hillesden parish Church Buckinghamshire. In the 1841 and 1851 Censuses, she was living and working in Buckingham Union Workhouse.

Emily is diagnosed

Emily had a history of mental illness and spent the last 29 years of her life in mental hospitals. She was certified on 12 June 1924, aged 53, as “a person of unsound mind” and admitted to London County Mental Hospital, Hanwell. Her employer’s address in 1924 is given as 159 Coleherne Court, Kensington, telephone Kensington 3919. A widow called Alice Anne Read died there on 13 July 1924, who was Emily’s employer.

Emily was diagnosed initially as possible “nervous breakdown” but later was diagnosed as having Non Systematised Delusional Insanity.

On examination, Emily Elizabeth Campbell was “depressed and imagines she cannot do any more work. She cries (sic) when spoken to, her conversation was rambling and incoherent and she thinks people are persecuting her”.

Annie Powell, 33 Filmer Road, her sister and my grandmother, says EEC has behaved strangely for the past three weeks; she imagines people are talking about and coming after her. She hears voices talking to her.

Transfer to St. Ebba’s, Epsom

Emily later transferred to St Ebba’s Hospital in Epsom:

Admitted: to St Ebba’s on 25 May 1927
Informant: Mother, Fanny Campbell
Education: Elementary

Not married, one pregnancy 28 years ago, brought up by mother
Rheumatic fever when 14

Occupation: Housekeeper
Alcohol: not known but mistress took spirits to excess
Temperament: very reserved

Suggested causes: “nervous breakdown”

History: One month ago, the mistress phoned her sister, and said she was depressed and crying a lot. Three weeks ago visited by relatives, they found her very depressed and crying and afraid she couldn’t do her work.

12 months ago relatives noticed that she rambled in her speech, imagines things, delusions of persecution, improved later.

Family History: parents married; mother 18; father 20; not related. Father died in paralysis, in stroke.

Height – 5’ 0.5”
Weight – 10st 13lbs
Hair – greyish-black
Dentures
Eyes – hazel
Hearing – fair
Diagnosis – Non Systematised Delusional Insanity.

Transfer to Long Grove

Emily was transferred to Long Grove Hospital, Epsom on 29 March 1938, to Area 6, Ward A1, Hospital Number 5811, as “not improved”. 

She is recorded in the 1939 Register in Long Grove Hospital, Horton Lane, Epsom, Surrey.

Emily died on 7 March 1953 in The Grove, (Long Grove Hospital) Horton Lane, Epsom, aged 82 of senility and cardiovascular degeneration. The record notes that he was formerly a housekeeper.

Emily never married. She was the mother of Harry Mitchell Campbell, born on 15 December 1896, when she was 26.

Emily was buried in Horton Estate Cemetery, Epsom on 14 March 1953 in grave number 3151b. The superscript b (apparently) means furthest away from the footpath. The cemetery is now covered in trees, bushes and bramble patches and is completely neglected.

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