Pictured above: Musical artist and former X-Factor UK contestant Souli Roots and her daughter.

Epsom Rotary Club is about community, charity, fun and friendship. They run social events throughout the year and are involved in projects in both the local and international communities. Having been involved in many charitable events across the borough (They donated PPE and a seat to Epsom Hospital in 2020) they’re well known in the borough as a powerful charitable and social force.

They also run the Epsom and Ewell Showcase, which took place in April, featuring a number of performers and raising funds for multiple charities. Featuring artists such as Protogem, Souli Roots and the Epsom & Ewell Silver Band, the showcase is a fantastic event meant to raise money for good causes, and celebrate the local artistic talent in a community-driven way.

Sad you missed it? Fear not, read below a short write-up that the Rotary Club has kindly provided us with…

“Wow! What a great evening. I run a group, can we sign up for next year. Weren’t the Mencap group a joy. Can I get a CD?” These were just some of the comments we got after the hugely successful Epsom and Ewell Showcase which Epsom Rotary Club produced last night. (19 April 2022). It was a truly incredible evening which is what you get when you have performers who love to be on stage supporting a cause which they believe in. It’s just amazing the drive that is shown as everyone wants to do their best. People went home with a spring in their steps. When you saw some of the young dancers you felt that some stars were born last night. Pictures are of Protėgėm dancers and Souli Roots and her daughter arriving for rehearsals.”

Needless to add, all the performers enjoyed their experiences and the Epsom Rotary team achieved a massive sense of pride in being part of the show. The funds were raised for four charities involved, Age Concern, Dyscover, Mid Surrey Mencap and Mary Francis Trust and we were able to raise profits to the tune of approximately £2,400. The lineup was three dance groups – Ambition School of Dance, Bharatha Kalalayam Dance, Protegeim, bands – Badger Set, Epsom & Ewell Silver Band and Low Key Affair, solo artists, Daniel, Cam and Jamie respectively doing sets on vocals and guitar, and keyboard and Leatherhead Link for Mencap and not least duo act Souli Roots and with a tribute to the Queen’s Jubilee – the National Anthem where the audience all joyfully waved flags.

The Rotary Club’s Press officer Maria Antiss told me “Our aspiration for the future is to expand membership so that we can achieve more community work and raise funds for good causes both locally and internationally”

With the Rotary Club’s eye’s set on expansion, now would be a very good time to get involved with a great local organisation.

READ MORE: Council Committees: Everything you need to know

If you are interested in the work that Epsom Rotary Club does, or interested in helping out in their volunteering events, then please get in contact with them via their website or social media channels.

Image: www.visitlondon.com

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is just around the corner, and excitement is growing for the many events being held to commemorate it. A classic staple of the Jubilee is the RAF Flypast that will take place this summer (June 2nd) to close off the Queen’s Birthday parade.

Spectators will be able to witness the stream of red, white and blue smoke as the RAF makes their flyover Surrey, going over Guildford, Reigate, Woking and, of course, Epsom.

READ MORE: Platinum Jubilee: 5 things to do in Epsom!

The timetable for the Platinum Jubilee Flypast shows the approximate timescale of the event and shows you when you will be able to see the event in your area. The jets are expected to be over Surrey between 12.50 pm and 1.30 pm.

Are you planning out looking our for the RAF on June 2nd? Let us know on Twitter: @EpsomandET, and keep checking epsomandewelltimes.com for more jubilee stories!

READ MORE: Epsom Derby: Queen’s horse pulled out of race

Richard Gough, 60, an Epsom taxi-rank licence holder, organiser of Black Taxis for Ukraine and owner of Epsom taxi rental service Eclipse Rent-A-Taxi, is driving his magnificent black taxi from Epsom to Ukraine filled with humanitarian supplies provided by Epsom based Surrey Stands With Ukraine and our generous local citizens. The journey starting 14th May will cross several countries and take two days solid driving to complete. Richard will return to England with Ukrainian refugees in his taxi.

This hero taxi-driver has already driven a refugee family of four Ukrainians after holding out for 13 days at Dunkirk to get their visas, aided by the intervention of Epsom and Ewell M.P. Chris Grayling, battling with a slow and bureaucratic system.

Photo features Richard and a team of volunteers from Epsom based Surrey Stands With Ukraine.

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Epsom & Ewell Times enjoyed spending part of an afternoon at the U3A Open House at Bourne Hall in Ewell. U3A is a non-profit organisation that includes over 1000 charities, encouraging people who can no longer work to come together and learn for fun.

With activities such as chess, beer & wine tasting, racket sports, flower arranging and even belly dancing, spoilt-for-choice would be an understatement. With their youngest member being 49, and their eldest being 101, the only requirement to join (on top of the very fair £15/yr. membership fee) is not being in full-time employment.

The atmosphere in the hall was bustling as members (current and prospective alike) browsed the various stalls and chatted with organisers about their preferred activities. Member’s artwork was on display, examples of chess openings were proudly laid out on tables and an assortment of beers and wines (for display purposes only) were presented on the Beer & Wine tasting table. There was truly something for everyone.

READ MORE: Queen misses opening of Parliament – Derby in question?

U3A was initially called the University of The Third Age, the name refers to the phase of life that begins after you retire (The titular third age, the first being education, the second being work and family building) in which you are free to pursue artistic or intellectual interests that you enjoy. U3A looks to act as a guiding hand for people entering this age, to allow them to pursue lifelong hobbies they love or expose them to new ones that they didn’t have time to try before retirement.

Upon speaking with a green-fingered gardening group, I was informed that Epsom, last year, entered Britain in Bloom and took silver. This year, Ewell Village themselves have entered, and are working with the council, focusing on Bourne Hall Park, looking to add even more colour and beauty to the vibrant park.

They also informed me that Gertrude memorial Garden has been neglected for nearly 7 years, and they will be focusing on that too. Friends of Bourne Hall will be planting brand new plants in the garden, working alongside the council. The endeavour will take around 2 years. The project was started as a mix of Local Pride and Horticulture, the volunteers told me that they see this as a big project, members of the group told me that previous experience in project management roles is proving invaluable to the task.

For more information regarding the amazing work that U3A does for people in our community, and up and down the country, please visit their website.

https://www.u3a.org.uk/

Read: Epsom’s House of Fraser closing date revealed

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.

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

Is Horton Cemetery in Epsom about to be condemned for good by the Borough’s own Burial Authority?

In a rushed special meeting of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee on 5th May, Councillors will be asked whether to impose a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) against the private property speculator owner who has totally neglected for 40 years this burial ground of 9000 patients of the former five psychiatric hospitals of Epsom.

In a Council Officers’ Report,  Councillors have been advised that the compensation payable to the owner will be in the region of £1/4 million. The valuation is based on the market value of “woodland”. The Report advises the owner will mount legal challenges against a CPO, leading to more expense for Council taxpayers.

Sheila Berry and Honorary Alderman Alan Carlson, former Mayors of Epsom and Ewell and now trustees of the Friends of Horton Cemetery, a Charity requesting the CPO, in a joint statement said: “If the owner gets the correct compensation a high value does not make it more likely that he will challenge a CPO than a low value.” On the valuation, they state: “We have expert advice from both a chartered surveyor and a lawyer that the comparison with “woodland” values is erroneous. The Cemetery is unique and is subject to a wide range of legal restrictions rendering it virtually worthless as a land asset. There is no development value and no possible income value due to these restrictions. We hope the Councillors on 5th May will not be discouraged by this misleading Report in pursuing a long-overdue intervention. A CPO is necessary to rescue the Cemetery from oblivion and belatedly show respect to 9000 souls who died in our Borough.”

You can attend the Council committee meeting on Thursday 5th May at 7.30 pm in The Town Hall, The Parade, Epsom or online.

UPDATE 6th May 2022: Marked as 4th on the agenda for the Strategy and Resources Committee of the Council on 5th May 2022, the item was declared withdrawn by Chairman Cllr Colin Keane. We understand that the Council will revisit the matter later in the year.

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.”

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!

Would you like to win a family ticket to the Nonsuch Town and Country Show? Read on to find out how!

In order to win the ticket, all you need to do is tell us where in Epsom this photo was taken! The prize will go to the first person to guess the location, if no one guesses, then whoever is closest by Friday (29th April) will be selected as the winner, and have their details given to the event organisers.

Rules:

• You must guess where in Epsom the photo below was taken
• You MUST submit your guess via Twitter, Facebook or via Email (with the subject heading “Nonsuch Competition”).
• The FIRST person to guess correctly will be declared the winner at once, and win the familt ticket to the Nonsuch Town and Country Show.
• Failing that, the CLOSEST person will be declared the winner on Friday.

Where in Epsom/Ewell was this photograph taken?

To submit your answer, tweet us here, send us a Facebook message/comment or email in at admin@epsomandewelltimes.com