Conquest Art CIO was founded in Cheam in 1978 by artist Ursula Hulme MBE and now has 15 groups throughout England The members have a wide range of health problems and disabilities and they are encouraged to work using their imaginations creatively at their own pace. This helps build self- confidence and enables people to relax and make friends with similar interests within the group. No previous artistic experience is needed to join.
‘Coronation Celebration’ – a picture made as a joint project by the members of the the Stoneleigh Conquest Art Group
In the past an annual exhibition of members’ work has been held at Bourne Hall in Ewell. This year the exhibition was held online and in 2024 there are plans to hold it at the Horton Chapel in Epsom.
Each year an annual meeting (accompanied by an exhibition) is held at St. Paul’s Church, Northey Avenue, Cheam, and the Charity Coordinator is in the process of setting up a series of meetings on Zoom where the leaders of the various groups can discuss common issues together and share ideas.
Three of the groups are in Epsom and Ewell as follows:-
Epsom Methodist Church, Ashley Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5HU ‘phone number 01372 723966. The leader is Christine Loizou. Held on Tuesdays from 2pm – 4pm.
Stoneleigh Methodist Church, Stoneleigh Crescent, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 ORT. ‘phone number 020 8393 4116. The leader is Lesley Lee. Held on Mondays 2pm – 4pm.
Christ Church Ewell, Cheam Road, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 1AD ‘phone number 07500 339 168 The leader is Steve Deal. Held on Mondays from 1pm – 4pm. Currently this group has no vacancies.
Conquest Art is run by volunteers with the exception of the co-ordinator. Anyone who would like to find out about volunteering or who feels inspired to learn more about Conquest is very welcome to come along to one of the groups to see what happens there.
For further information please see the charity website at www.conquestart.org
Top image: Caterpillar draft excluder made by partially sighted and blind members at Epsom from coloured wool pom-poms.
Epsom and Ewell Borough of Sanctuary
Epsom and Ewell is now poised to be a Borough of Sanctuary. Largely due to the extraordinary efforts of Nina Kaye and Jo Sherring of the Epsom and Ewell Refugee Network our Town’s welcome to and support for refugees of all nationalities is recognised by this new status. Tuesday 12th December the Council approved a motion to establish the title of “Borough of Sanctuary.”
Janice Baker leads English classes in central Epsom for refugees of all nationalities.
Proposing the motion Cllr Neil Dallen (RA Town Ward) said: “The Epsom and Ewelll Refugee Network has been now going for over 10 years. 700-plus people have signed up to receive information on a regular basis from the Refugee Network. There are over 200 refugees registered, there’s approximately 40 hours a week given for people whose first language is not English, and there are 85 refugees that take advantage of that. They are part of The Good Company, which is the Food Bank, Epsom Pantry and East Surrey Poverty Truth Commission. These are organizations that are good in their own right. They’re saving the borough money, doing an enormous amount of good work, and providing a humane service to refugees that happen to end up here.”
Cllr Kate Chinn (Labour Court) seconded the motion and said “Everyone deserves a safe place to live where they can thrive, build the life they want, and get the support when they need it. This government is creating a hostile environment for many people living in our communities by pursuing policies that divide and exclude people with migrant and refugee backgrounds.”
“Shouldn’t Epsom be offering a positive vision of a culture of welcome and hospitality to all? Create opportunities for relationships of friendship and solidarity between local people and those seeking sanctuary. Recognize and encourage partnership working and network development across the borough. This government’s policy is to send people who are fleeing persecution and conflict to Rwanda. It says it gave £140 million to Rwanda last year, and on December 7th, the Home Office civil servant said that a further £100 million had been given, with a payment of £50 million anticipated for next year. Today, I hear it’s actually £400 million. Now we hear the Home Office has earmarked at least £700 million to manage the arrival of migrants in small boats.”
“So, they’ve just allocated £700 million to supporting these policies that are hostile, muddled, and expensive, with no benefit for people seeking sanctuary in this country. The Borough can contribute to changing the narrative of this government. The sanctuary movement not only offers a chance for individuals and groups to challenge the way the asylum debate is framed in the UK, but is also concerned with creating a culture in which the virtues of welcome and hospitality are valued and through which asylum seekers and refugees are free to make a full contribution to their cities and to engage with local communities.”
Cllr Clive Woodbridge (RA Ewell Village) said “Last year as mayor, I got some insights into the work of the Epsom and Ewell Refugee Network and our own team, the Community Development Team, in their work with refugees, and I think it was quite inspiring, but also to actually meet some of those refugees and see what we do for them, we the community, and how much it’s appreciated. I think over the last year or so, working together, Epsom and Ewell Council and the Refugee Network have done some exceptional work delivering extremely positive outcomes, helping refugee households settle within our borough.”
The Homes for Ukraine scheme launched in March 2022, and since then, we’ve supported over 160 Ukrainian families. Working together, Epsom Council and the Refugee Network have provided extensive support to those families, some of whom have had very complex needs and have been through some traumatic experiences. There’s no doubt that the consequences of the war in Ukraine triggered a step change in the borough’s requirements to support refugees, which was fairly small-scale when it was limited to Syrian and Afghan families. But collaborative working has been crucial to our ability to scale up our responses and to do some proactive work in sustaining the relationships between hosts and guests, which has had an enormous impact. I think only two or three families are presented as homeless, so that’s a remarkable achievement when you think that Ukrainian families have been living with host families since the onset of the war and it saved us, as well as giving them security, it saved this Council a lot of money.”
Responding to the decision Nina Kaye told the Epsom and Ewell Times: “We support over 200 families with over 400 refugees and EERN provides over 40 hours of English lessons each week.
“We are delighted that Epsom & Ewell Borough Council have overwhelmingly passed a motion pledging to work with us to make Epsom & Ewell a Borough of Sanctuary as part of the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network (https://la.cityofsanctuary.org/). We work closely with EEBC to support refugees and asylum seekers fleeing violence and persecution. We are very pleased that the Council want Epsom & Ewell to be recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary. We feel this reflects the huge support we receive in this area to help those who have been forced to flee their countries and find themselves in our community.”
Christ Church United Football Club is a community club that has been coaching the children of Epsom since the early ’90’s.
The club that’s always welcomed both boys and girls was set up by the Rvd. Clive Potter over 30 years ago. Now Reverend Potter is due to retire and the club want to thank him for leaving a lasting legacy of real community football in the area.
A popular community football club founder is hanging up his cassock after over 30 years at the St John’s Evangelist Church in the Surrey village of Milford. Local Vicar, the Rvd. Clive Potter, also founded the Christ Church United Football Club which has been coaching the children of Epsom since the early ’90’s
Having arrived at the parish, Rvd Clive was looking for somewhere for children to play, but the problem was that youth football traditionally takes place on a Sunday morning and this prompted him to start thinking about starting a club.
Having been involved with football all his life he got the idea during a church service one morning to set up a team. He approached the vicar at Christ Church who initially suggested a cricket club instead. However, being an Eastender by birth, with a working-class background, he felt much more comfortable starting a football team.
Current coach, Paul Wilson, takes up the story: “They started in September 1992 with just 12 kids in the first week. At the end of the first session, he asked all the children to bring a friend the following week, saying that if they did and then they all also brought a friend they would get to about 50 children and that would be enough for a club. And that’s how it began.”
The membership grew to over 100 children, but it wasn’t easy. Getting a pitch was the first task. They played at a local primary school, Stamford Green, before growing out of that and moving to Blenheim High School, where the club remains to this day. Like now, the coaching staff was made up of volunteers and he began convincing people to do coaching courses to take the club to the next level.
Rvd Clive then began the missionary work to take the ideas to others in the community. He became a sports advisor for the diocese and encouraged the setting up of many more clubs. Other clubs bought into the opportunity for competition with a Bishop’s League, a Bishop’s Cup and a Bishop’s Shield.
The Christ Church United Football Club was then affiliated with the Football Association with an aim to become professional in style if not attitude. The club still holds its affiliation to the FA and coaches benefit from training on many of its Coaching and Safeguarding courses.
Rvd Clive met Ted Powell, the then England U18 Coach, who came to a presentation evening, and they formed a long-lasting friendship. Rvd Clive got involved with organisations like Christians inSport and the British Sports Trust until, in late 1996, he moved to Guildford and repeated the process.
Speaking about his role, Rvd Clive said: “The vision was always to relate the church to the community, to build a good ethos and to develop friendships. I’m delighted to see the club still running after all this time, it’s brilliant for the community.”
Paul added: “He was delighted to hear that today’s Christ Church United Football Club embraces much of that first ethos. The fees are still affordable and the club is open to girls and boys regardless of ability. Some of our current coaches are kids who were once players at the club and the club is also providing support to the Refugee Network with players being drawn from the Ukrainian community in Epsom. We want to thank Rvd Clive for having the foresight and drive to create the club, and we are hoping for another 30 years and beyond of kids (and their families) enjoying the beautiful game. We’re always looking to welcome new members so please get in touch if you are interested.”
The club trains at Blenheim High School every Saturday morning during term time, from 9:00-10:30
Paul Wilson
Dedicated Epsom tree-man
Dedication event at Alexandra Recreation Ground honours local hero Mike Ford Epsom & Ewell, 3rd December 2023. In a heart warming event volunteers from Friends of Alexandra Park and the Epsom & Ewell Tree Advisory Board (EETAB), local councillors Steven McCormick, James Laurence and Bernie Muir, the Epsom & Ewell Tree Officer and the Mayor, Councillor Rob Geleit gathered on December 3rd at Alexander Recreation Ground to pay tribute to a beloved local figure, Mike Ford, affectionately known as ‘Mr. Tree.’
Mr. Ford has been a cornerstone of our community, dedicating countless hours to the preservation and enhancement of our natural environment. His unwavering commitment to the cause of tree conservation and environmental stewardship has left an indelible mark on Epsom & Ewell.
The dedication event served as a poignant moment to recognize and express gratitude for his exceptional contributions.
The event was opened by Howard Gregory the chair of EETAB with words from Kevin Greening and Simon Alford, EETAB members, before introducing the Mayor of Epsom & Ewell. The Epsom and Ewell Tree Officer then presented Mike with a collection of photographs taken when the original copse was planted.
In his speech Mayor Rob Geleit said “Mike is firmly rooted in his conviction that planting a tree today is an investment for the whole community, combating climate change and helping biodiversity as well as a thing of beauty in itself. His and the Epsom & Ewell Tree Advisory Board’s aim is ensure that they pass on to future generations a borough that is at least as leafy as the one we have all inherited.”
As well as speeches, the event included a symbolic tree layout for the planned rejuvenation of the Ford copse, and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to forever mark Mike Ford’s contributions at Alexander Recreation Ground.
The event concluded with a sense of community pride and a commitment to carrying forward Mr. Tree’s legacy.
For further information about Epsom & Ewell Tree Advisory Board: epsomandewelltab@gmail.com www.eetab.org.uk/ Facebook: @EpsomEwellTreeAdvisoryBoard
Well trained Father Xmas coming to Epsom
Epsom Rotary are pleased to confirm the dates for this year’s street collections with Tilly the Train and Father Christmas around Epsom Town and we are excited to confirm we have added new routes this year. Tilly the Train has been a feature of Epsom Rotary Street Collections for a number of years and has brought many smiles on faces over time, along with Father Christmas able to chat to children and bearing a small gift. Christmas is a special time for us all and the monies collected will go to local charities, to include Epsom Pantry and Epsom Girl Guiding, who will also take part in some of the collections. Tilly the train was invented as long ago as 1970 by a group of apprentices from Epsom Coaches and has been the highlight of the Epsom Rotary Christmas Street collections and the approach will be by Christmas music and a band of Christmas elves!
There will be nine street collections this year from Sunday, 09 December to Sunday, 17 December 2023 as well as some collections at the Ashley Centre with carols by various local schools and local choir group.
Dates for the Ashley Centre Carols/by the Clock Tower are:
Wed, 06 Dec 2023 – from 10.30am with Stamford Green School and 2.00-3.00pm with Rosebery School – Ashley Centre
Thurs, 07 Dec 2023 – from 20.30am – 12.30pm With Epsom Choral Society, 1,00 -2,200pm with The Vale School and 2.00-3.00pm with Meadow Primary School – Ashley Centre
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 – 1.00-2.00pm with St Martins Junior School – The Clock Tower Epsom
Tilly the Train and Father Christmas Street Collections are:
Sun, 10 Dec 2023 – from 4.30pm – Hazon Way and Miles Road and area
Mon, 11 Dec 2023 – from 4.30pm – Parklawn Avenue and area
Tues, 12 Dec 2023 – from 4.30pm – Langley Vale and area
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 – from 4.30pm – Hookfield area
Thurs, 14 Dec 2023 – from 4.30pm – Woodcoote area
Fri, 15 Dec 2023 – from 4.30pm – Mopsey Crescent and area
Sat, 16 Dec 2023 – from 4.30pm – Horton & Manor Park area,
Sunday, 17 Dec 2023 – from 4.30 – College Ward area
We hope to see many wonderful people along the way and thank you for supporting.
Maria Anstiss – Epsom Rotary
Image: Rotarian Elves welcome the arrival of Father Christmas to the Tilly Train garage(early hours 25th December 2022).
Don’t wait for the Feast of St Stephen
For the seventh year running, Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (CAEE) has teamed up with the Rotary Clubs of Epsom and Ewell to bring much needed support to those in the borough in need of help with paying fuel bills this winter.
Project Wenceslas enables those who receive, but do not need, the Government’s Winter Fuel Payment to donate it to either Rotary Club of Epsom or Rotary Club of Ewell. This money will be distributed to people in critical need of assistance with energy bills, much needed during the Cost of Living crisis. All monies donated are redistributed 100% without any deductions for costs or expenses.
Lisa Davis, CEO, Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell, said: “With energy bills still the biggest cost-of- living worry for many individuals and families across the country, this fund is a crucial support for those in our borough. Please get in touch if either you want to donate your Winter Fuel Payment, or you are in need of support.”
Since January 2018, CAEE has received nearly £15,000 in donations and made over 170 payments to families in Epsom & Ewell suffering from fuel poverty.
If you would like to know more about donating your Winter Fuel Payment, please contact via the websites epsomrotary.uk or ewellrotaryclub.org.uk and search for Project Wenceslas.
If you are struggling with fuel bills, then contact Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell on 0808 278 7963 (Mon-Fri, 10am – 4pm) or see our website : www.caee.org.uk https://www.caee.org.uk/
St Stephen’s Day (the first Christian Martyr) is 26th December in Western Christianity.
Local community gathered at Horton Cemetery
On World Mental Health Day 10th October on a working and un-seasonally hot day, young and old gathered in commemoration of the 9000 patients buried in Epsom’s abandoned Cemetery.
The events were the climax to a year long project of The Friends of Horton Cemetery, supported by Kings College and Dr Alana Harris, local resident and Reader in History at the University. Entitled “Out of Sight, Out of Mind”, the project raised awareness throughout the Borough of the lives of 9000 patients buried between 1899 and 1955. In their memory nearly 1600 ceramic flowers were uniquely painted by hundreds of concerned citizens as they contemplated the stories and photographs of individual patients.
Hardy poem reading
Faith leaders read a committal together
The celebration started in a private field provided for the day by local farmer Mr Seymour Bourne and located right next to the five acre Cemetery. The largest asylum cemetery in Europe. Under a blazing Autumn sun the gathering was addressed by the charity’s secretary Mr Lionel Blackman, who called for a rejection of a local council categorisation of the Cemetery as “amenity woodland”. The Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, Cllr Robert Geleit (Labour Court Ward) spoke of Epsom’s historic connection to the five psychiatric hospitals in the Borough.
Patron of the charity, Chris Grayling MP sent a message, read by Horton Ward Cllr Kieran Persand: “It’s easy not to realise, as you drive past, the piece of history that lies behind the fence. Thousands of people lived in the old hospitals, lived and died mostly anonymously. They have no gravestones to mark their final resting place. And disgracefully the cemetery has been allowed to rot by its current owners. It is a credit to the work of the Friends, and of people like Alan Carlson who raised the money for a memorial, that their memory has not been lost. I hope one day that the cemetery can be taken back, and turned into a real garden of remembrance for those who passed so much of their lives here.“
Theresa Keneflick, a trustee of the charity and head of St Josephs Primary School spoke and brought a school choir who sang “True Colours” by Cindy Lauper.
The following each read a verse from Thomas Hardy’s ‘Voices from Things Growing in a Churchyard’:
Rosie Spence, relative, on behalf of her great, great, great grandfather. Allen Price from Love Me Love My Mind. Carmen Nel, NHS Clinical Practitioner. Audrey Ardern-Jones, local poet and project volunteer. Charles Wood, former Nurse at Manor Hospital and Horton Hospital. Kevin McDonnell, Friends of Horton Cemetery Trustee and lead researcher of the lives. Timothy Folkard, project volunteer.
Then voices from the Cemetery were spoken by Epsom Players representing the lives of Enid Barnet and Richard Waterer.
Dr Alana Harris explained the symbolism of the ribbons everyone had tied for the day to the fence near the Cemetery.
Rev Nick Parish and Judith Mitchell (St Martin’s Church of England); Fr Stephen O’Brien (St Joseph’s Catholic Church); Pastor Josh Selfe (Epsom Methodist Church); Clerk Frances Touch (Epsom Quakers) said in unison:
“We are gathered to remember these 9000 souls who lived and died in Epsom – to remember them and to make representations that they might have dignity and rest in their death.
To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose on earth. A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up.
We affirm our mutual commitment to honour the residents of Horton Cemetery and to work for their memorialisation. Amen.”
Finally a trumpet solo ‘Marking the Unmarked’ – was performed by its composer Erin Symonds.
The gathering then followed Scots Piper Bob Ash to the former Horton Chapel where a Memorial Garden of the ceramic flowers was unveiled. The audience was addressed by Patron of The Friends of Horton Cemetery, Baroness Sheila Hollins, who once worked in the St Ebbas Hospital in Hook Road, Epsom. Dr Harris concluded speeches with an overview of the project and its significance and meaning.
‘In Memoriam’ a film created by Cameron Cook, Jack Daly and Mica Schlosser of Kings College simply rolled the 9000 names to suitable music. The audience was spellbound.
Company Concentric performed a dance ‘Garden Unlocked’ and led the audience to the Memorial Garden unveiling. This involved the planting of final flowers within the Forget Me Not installation by Sue Littleboy planting for James Poppelwell (great grandad, 1867-1914, d.Long Grove, grave b977); Nari Fairbanks (by proxy as resident in NT, Australia) – planting for Charles Holdgate (great, great, great uncle, 1854-1932, d. Long Grove, grave 1105a); Iveta Goddard – creator of the ceramic flowers used in the memorial garden and Lauren of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School.
Joining the 200-odd strong audience beside Horton Cemetery were Liberal Democrat PPC Helen Maguire, Chair of Epsom and Ewell Labour Party Mark Todd and Gina Miller the True and Fair Party PPC for the constituency. And as ever on her push-bike, Cllr. Alison Kelly (LibDem Stamford) and Janice Baker a leader of the local Green Party. Two Residents Association Councillors appeared including Cllr Phil Neale (Cuddington Ward) and another.
Lease reprieve for Langley Village Hall
Langley Vale Village Hall was under the threat of closure but due to the hard work of the Langley Vale Village Hall Association and local residents a new 10 year lease has been negotiated.
The Hall, situated at 47 Rosebery Rd, Epsom, is the heart of community life in the somewhat otherwise isolated housing estate over the Downs. The freeholder of the hall is THE GUILDFORD DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE, a company limited by guarantee and not-for-profit.
Nevertheless, it is reported to have been been a trying and difficult year dealing with the lease renewal.
Sharon Watkinson, a long standing resident of Langley Vale, witnessed the signatures of the trustees of the Association on the new lease.
The new lease includes a guaranteed option to add a further 5 years to take the Hall safely through to 2038.
The renewal allows the Association to apply for grants for the Village Hall for some much-needed maintenance works and possible eco friendly upgrades to the heating and also the windows.
The Hall was the venue for a highly successful Kings Coronation Street Party, “the best party the Village has seen” said Sean Porter, Chairman of the Langley Vale Village Hall Association.
You are invited to commemorate the 9000 souls in Epsom’s forgotten cemetery
9000 patients of Epsom’s cluster of now closed psychiatric hospitals were buried between 1899 and 1955 in a now abandoned Cemetery. The Friends of Horton Cemetery are writing their life stories and seeking to reclaim the five neglected acres from a property speculator.
The Horton Cemetery is located between Horton Lane and Hook Road, Epsom.
On 10th October 2023 from 1.00pm The Mayor Cllr Robert Geleit (Labour Court Ward) and Mayoress of Epsom and Ewell will lead councillors, Aldermen of the Borough and the public in commemorating the lives of the 9000.
Baroness Sheila Hollins, a Patron of the Friends of Horton Cemetery will be in attendance and Alderman Alan Carlson will address the gathering. St Josephs Primary School pupils will sing and others will recite poetry. A “committal prayer” will be spoken on behalf of faith leaders of Epsom and Ewell. The ceremony will end with a Scots Piper leading the gathering to the former Horton Chapel that is now the Horton Arts Centre in Haven Way.
This venue will be host to further performances and speeches and the opening of a Memorial Garden in tribute to the 9000.
900 ceramic flowers painted by many people across the Borough over the last year will be planted.
This is the culmination of a year long project of the Friends of Horton Cemetery known as “Out of Sight, Out of Mind“, led by the charity’s history consultant, Dr Alana Harris, local resident and Reader in Modern British Social, Cultural and Gender History at Kings College. The Project is supported by Historic England.
Lionel Blackman, founder and director of The Friends of Horton Cemetery, said “All are welcome to this significant event taking place on World Mental Health Day. Demonstrating widespread public support for the return of the Horton Cemetery for the public and relatives of the deceased, is essential in correcting an unconscionable decision of the NHS in 1983 to sell the land to a property speculator”.
If you intend to attend the event you are requested to complete this simple online RSVP form.
If you are attending you should read the advice of The Friends of Horton Cemetery on the ground conditions and lengths of walks involved. Click HERE.
Loneliness is something that people of all ages can feel, but it is older people who perhaps feel this more acutely. Our Volunteer Befrienders visit an older person on a regular basis to offer a supportive and reliable relationship to our clients who may be socially isolated to provide companionship and support.
If you have an hour or two a week to spare, it would be great if you could consider becoming a Volunteer Befriender for Age Concern Epsom and Ewell. No specific qualifications are required, just good listening skills, reliability, an interest in older people and a sense of humour.
We will ensure you receive the necessary training before you start your befriending journey and will provide ongoing support. If you would like to know more, please contact Jane Hodgson, Volunteer Co-ordinator on jane.hodgson@ageconcernepsom.org.uk or by telephone on 01372 732456.
