Jim Al-Khalili to delve into the mysteries of time at Guildford Book Festival
10 October 2026
Acclaimed physicist and broadcaster, Professor Jim Al-Khalili, will join fellow University of Surrey astrophysicist, Dr Noelia Noël, at the Guildford Book Festival for a conversation exploring one of science’s greatest mysteries: the nature of time.
Taking place on Tuesday evening, 13 October, at Guildford Baptist Church, the event will centre on Professor Al-Khalili’s new book, On Time: The Physics That Makes the Universe Tick.
The book explores questions that have puzzled philosophers and scientists for thousands of years, including whether time had a beginning and if it will have an end, why it appears to flow towards the future rather than the past, whether it can be stretched, squeezed or even reversed – and, at the deepest level, whether time itself is real.
In a conversation with host Dr Noël, Professor Al-Khalili will take audiences on a journey through physics, philosophy and cosmology, unpacking what modern science can tell us about something that governs every moment of our lives yet remains mysterious.
Professor Al-Khalili said:
“Time is something we all experience, but the deeper you look, the stranger it becomes. Quantum mechanics, relativity and thermodynamics all give us different ways of understanding what time is and how it works. That’s what makes it such a fascinating mystery – we live our whole lives by it, yet there is still so much we don’t understand.”
Professor Al-Khalili is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics at Surrey, a Fellow of the Royal Society and one of the UK’s best-known science communicators. He has written numerous popular science books, presented television documentaries and is best known for his long-running BBC Radio 4 programme The Life Scientific.
Dr Noelia Noël is a Senior Lecturer in Astrophysics at the University of Surrey’s School of Mathematics and Physics. She has received multiple awards and recognition for her work, including a prestigious 2026 Leadership Fellowship in Public Engagement from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), recognising her contributions to astrophysics and sustainable space research, as well as her commitment to creating more inclusive pathways into science.
Dr Noël said:
“Jim has a wonderful ability to make some of the biggest questions in physics accessible, exciting and relevant to everyone. Time is something we all think we understand because we experience it every day, yet in physics it quickly becomes wonderfully strange. I’m really looking forward to exploring those ideas with Jim and sharing the conversation with audiences here in Guildford.”
The ticketed event, Jim Al-Khalili in conversation with Dr Noelia Noel – On Time, is dedicated to the memory of Patricia Grayburn, in recognition of her strong and lasting connection with the University of Surrey.
Epsom Hospital added to app helping visually impaired bus users
10 October 2026
Epsom Hospital has been added to a Surrey scheme using smartphone technology to help blind and partially sighted people travel more independently by public transport.
Surrey County Council has expanded free access to the Aira Explorer app to 13 hospitals and healthcare sites across the county, including Epsom Hospital.
The move follows earlier stages of the scheme reported by the Epsom & Ewell Times. Surrey became the first UK local authority to introduce the service at bus stations in June 2025, before it was subsequently extended to Epsom Station and other rail and bus interchanges later that year.
A helping eye on the journey
Aira Explorer allows a visually impaired traveller to make a video call from their smartphone to a trained visual interpreter.
The interpreter can see through the phone’s camera and give spoken guidance to the user. At the newly included healthcare locations, the service is intended to help people navigate between nearby bus stops and hospital entrances.
Use of the app at the designated Surrey locations is free, with the scheme funded by Surrey County Council from its allocation under the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Fund.
Alongside Epsom Hospital, the healthcare locations covered are Royal Surrey County Hospital, Frimley Park Hospital, Ashford Hospital, St Peter’s Hospital, East Surrey Hospital, Farnham Hospital, Woking Community Hospital, Molesey Hospital, Walton Community Hospital, Sunbury Health Centre, Leatherhead Community Hospital and Cranleigh Village Hospital.
The app also remains available at major bus stations and interchanges in Guildford, Redhill, Staines and Woking and at bus stops serving railway stations including Epsom, Caterham, Dorking, Oxted, Leatherhead, Reigate and Horley.
From Epsom Station to Epsom Hospital
EET reported in June 2025 on the introduction of Aira at Guildford, Redhill, Staines and Woking bus stations.
The scheme was expanded later in the year, with Epsom Station among the locations added. The latest development therefore extends the same type of assistance to another important destination for local residents.
Cllr Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said the council was aware that using buses and navigating transport facilities could be difficult for people with visual impairments.
He said the hospital expansion was designed to assist passengers travelling by bus for important appointments and added: “We’re keen to make bus travel accessible for everyone and hope this expansion will support people to travel confidently and independently.”
The council says the initiative forms part of wider spending on bus services, including £6.3 million for additional ultra-low and zero-emission community transport minibuses, £9 million for bus priority measures and £1.4 million for improved passenger information at bus stops.
Disability groups welcome expansion
Nikki Roberts, chief executive of Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, welcomed the extension, saying free access to the service at key locations would be “hugely beneficial” to members with sight loss travelling around Surrey.
Dave Smith, Engagement Manager for South East England at sight-loss charity Thomas Pocklington Trust, said the app was particularly useful if a traveller became disorientated or encountered unexpected roadworks or obstructions.
Clare Burgess, chief executive of Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey, also welcomed the expansion, describing Aira as a useful tool for blind and partially sighted people travelling around the county.
Image: Idealised representation of app user at a bus stop near Epsom Hospital
From bikes to bytes: eeCAN puts climate action into practice
10 October 2026
Epsom and Ewell’s local climate action network is stepping up a mixture of practical recycling, sustainable transport, food, gardening and community projects as the latest national figures underline both the progress made in cutting Britain’s carbon emissions and the distance still to travel.
The Epsom and Ewell Climate Action Network – eeCAN – says its trustees applied to the Charity Commission for charitable status on 10 September, a move which, if successful, could help the volunteer organisation develop and fund its growing portfolio of local projects.
Founded in 2024, eeCAN describes its purpose as delivering practical community-led projects addressing climate change, restoring nature and strengthening local resilience. Its activities now range from a Library of Things at Bourne Hall and home energy surveys to community growing, environmental exhibitions, repair projects and the reuse of bicycles and electronic equipment.
Bikes and unwanted technology get a second life
A centrepiece of eeCAN’s October programme is a combined Bike and Tech Amnesty at Epsom Methodist Church Scout Hall, Ashley Road, on Saturday 24 October from 9am to 5pm.
Residents are being invited to bring unwanted bicycles, mobile phones, tablets, laptops and other suitable small electronic devices for reuse or recycling.
The scheme follows eeCAN’s first Bike Amnesty in November 2025, when more than 65 bicycles were donated. The bikes were refurbished through Active Surrey and redistributed within the Surrey community. This year Active Surrey will again handle bikes, while Relove Technology is to deal with electronic devices, including secure removal of personal data before suitable equipment is refurbished and reused.
The emphasis on reuse rather than simply disposal comes against a stubborn national waste picture.
The latest Defra figures, published last month, show that England generated 21.9 million tonnes of household waste in 2024, of which 9.6 million tonnes was recycled. England’s household recycling rate stood at 43.8%, compared with 44% the previous year. Across the UK the rate was 44.5%.
Electronic waste is separately regulated. Environment Agency statistics record electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market and waste electrical equipment collected, with the national dataset most recently updated in September with figures through the second quarter of 2026.
Schemes such as eeCAN’s therefore sit at the smaller, local end of a much larger national attempt to keep usable products in circulation rather than turning them prematurely into waste.
Transport moves up the climate agenda
Transport is also the subject of eeCAN’s next Climate Conversation, run in partnership with Epsom and Ewell U3A. A session on “Transport and Integrated and Sustainable Travel” is scheduled for Monday 12 October at Birchgrove Lower Mill Apartments.
The topic is particularly relevant because transport remains the largest single source of UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions.
Government provisional figures for 2025 put total UK net greenhouse gas emissions at 366.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, around 54% below their 1990 level. But domestic transport moved in the opposite direction during the year: its emissions rose by 2.3% to 112.9 million tonnes and represented approximately 31% of the UK total.
Cars and vans also continue to dominate personal travel. The Department for Transport’s newly published National Travel Survey for 2025 found that they accounted for 58% of all trips and 76% of the distance travelled in England.
Walking accounted for 29% of journeys and cycling for 2%. Taken together with other active modes, active travel represented 31% of trips. The survey recorded an average 15 cycling trips and 57 cycling miles per person during the year.
The Department has cautioned against reading too much into some year-on-year changes, particularly walking figures, because the introduction of a digital travel diary appears to have affected the recording of shorter journeys.
A summer which broke the record
The unusually hot summer referred to by eeCAN’s October newsletter was not simply a local impression.
The Met Office says summer 2026 was provisionally the hottest UK summer since records began in 1884, with a mean temperature of 16.5C. It estimated that human-induced climate change had made a summer mean temperature of that level around 130 times more likely.
That gives a broader context to another strand of eeCAN’s work.
Trustee and volunteer Deirdre has been taking part in allotment masterclasses at RHS Wisley, with lessons intended to contribute towards eeCAN’s longer-term ambition for a community growing space in Epsom and Ewell.
The group’s newsletter describes the practical effects of this summer’s prolonged heat on the plots: seedlings wilting, greenhouse plants overheating and volunteers establishing watering rotas, while some heat-loving crops, including tomatoes and aubergines, flourished.
The project is as much about acquiring and sharing growing skills as producing food, with eeCAN hoping eventually to establish a community garden in the borough.
Food, students and the next generation
Food and its environmental impact were also prominent when eeCAN attended the Epsom Eco Fair at the Methodist Church on 26 September.
Chair Will and trustee Kristine gave talks on diets intended to be sustainable both for people and the planet. Among those attending the fair were Epsom and Ewell Mayor Cllr Lucie McIntyre and Epsom and Ewell MP Helen Maguire, according to eeCAN.
Earlier in September volunteers attended the University for the Creative Arts Freshers’ Fair in Epsom, seeking student involvement, including contributions towards the group’s planned “Water is Life” community art exhibition in 2027.
The exhibition will follow this year’s “Living Rivers” project, which involved more than 500 exhibits from schools, colleges and community art groups.
Small projects against a very large target
Community projects cannot by themselves determine whether national carbon targets are achieved. The scale of the challenge is evident from the Government’s figures: even after a 54% reduction since 1990, Britain emitted an estimated 367 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2025.
But eeCAN’s programme concentrates largely on areas where households can exercise some direct influence – how people travel, what they buy and discard, how much energy homes consume and whether rarely used goods can be borrowed, repaired or passed on rather than replaced.
Its Bourne Hall Library of Things, for example, allows residents to borrow equipment such as carpet cleaners, pressure washers, hedge trimmers, wallpaper strippers and gazebos without charge rather than each household buying its own. The organisation also supports home energy surveys; its partner scheme says more than 2,000 such surveys have so far been carried out across Surrey.
The network is now seeking volunteers for the Library of Things, its weekly repair service, Eco Schools liaison, nature and community gardening and the 2027 art exhibition.
For a group only established in 2024, the October newsletter suggests eeCAN is moving from climate campaigning in the abstract towards a collection of practical projects in which residents can participate directly.
Whether charitable status follows will be a matter for the Charity Commission. In the meantime, the success of initiatives such as the 24 October Bike and Tech Amnesty will provide a more immediate measure of how far Epsom and Ewell residents are prepared to turn environmental concern into discarded laptops, unwanted bicycles – and practical action.
Music students at Nescot college in Epsom have just launched a brand-new radio station, Nescot Music Radio, allowing them to get practical experience of working in radio and broadcasting.
Students take on real industry roles, including presenters, DJs, producers, researchers and music curators, developing skills and building professional portfolios as they go. They are involved in every stage of production, from developing the station’s branding and jingles to writing scripts, planning transitions, creating adverts and curating music.
As well as offering music, the station provides a platform for the whole Nescot community, with content including student and staff interviews, artist spotlights, campus news and events, and themed shows. The project also creates opportunities for collaboration between students on different courses.
The first episode, ‘Your campus, Your Sound’, was recorded over the summer as a pilot. Presenters will change from episode to episode, and around 20 students are expected to be involved across the series, with learners from all levels invited to help shape future shows.
Harry Fairclough, Music Lecturer at Nescot said: “This project is all about giving students the opportunity to step into real broadcasting roles and gain practical, hands-on industry experience. There are many different career paths within the music industry, and the radio station is a great way for students to discover the range of creative, technical and production roles that come together to make a radio show.
“It’s been fantastic to see students’ creativity, confidence and skills develop through a project they are driving themselves. I’m incredibly proud of what they have achieved so far, and I’m excited for everyone to hear the first episode.”
Julie Kapsalis MBE, Principal and CEO at Nescot said: “It’s brilliant to hear that Nescot students are now on the airwaves, entertaining students and talking about the issues that matter to them. They’ve done a fantastic job pulling it all together. I’m hoping for a guest spot at some point, so I can have a look behind the scenes at how it all comes together.”
Alongside the radio project, the Nescot music department has also introduced three other weekly industry skills sessions, giving students experience in events, marketing and promotion, running a record label, and studio management. Together, these sessions give students the opportunity to explore different areas of the industry and develop skills beyond their main specialism.
Nescot Music Radio launches with pre-recorded programmes, with ambitions to develop into internal broadcasting and potentially public online radio in the future. The project is built around student voice, creativity, collaboration and employability, and offers another platform to showcase the work happening across Nescot.
Nescot offers a wide range of other courses for school leavers and adults, including Motor Vehicle, Animal Care, Hair & Beauty, Computing and IT, Performing Arts, Childcare and Health & Social Care. To find out more about studying at Nescot call 020 8394 3038, visit www.nescot.ac.uk or emailadviceteam@nescot.ac.uk
Calling Epsom and Ewell’s young musicians: your chance to shine
10 October 2026
Do you know a young singer or instrumentalist who deserves to be heard? Epsom Rotary Club is inviting entries for the local round of the Rotary Young Musician Competition 2026/27.
Returning to Epsom College for the twelth consecutive year, the competition offers young performers an opportunity to share their talent, gain experience on a public stage and receive feedback from professional judges.
There are two categories: Solo Instrumental and Solo Vocal. The competition welcomes amateur young musicians aged 17 or under on 31 August 2026, with classical and modern musical styles welcome.
This year’s local round will take place on Monday 16th November and will be judged by two distinguished musicians:
Natalia Zadorhizna, a graduate of the Glière Kyiv Municipal Academy of Music, is a piano teacher, performer and accompanist.
Dr Graham Jones MBE is the former Senior Director of Music for the Household Division, bringing extensive experience of musical performance and leadership.
Successful entrants selected at the local round can progress through district and cluster finals, with the national final scheduled for Saturday 24 April 2027.
Whether your passion is singing, piano, strings, woodwind, brass or another instrument, this is an opportunity to work towards a performance goal and celebrate your musical achievements.
Parents, schools, music teachers and youth organisations across Epsom, Ewell and the surrounding area are encouraged to spread the word and help young musicians take part.
For local entry details and enquiries, contact Lionel Blackman, Epsom Rotary Club’s local round organiser, atepsommusicsoc@gmail.com.
Bring your talent to the stage — we would love to hear from you.
Epsom Rotary
.
Photo from the 2024 competition. Instrumental winner Satomi Brocklebank with Mayor of Epsom and Ewell Steve Bridger
Epsom students enter the Dragons’ Den and secure Tycoon Competition success
10 October 2026
Four Business students at Nescot College in Epsom recently joined Peter Jones at a charity day, following their success in the national Tycoon Enterprise Competition. As part of their course, the students created a business concept and presented it Dragons’ Den style to five local business leaders. Their product impressed and generated enough income to secure them third place in the national competition.
Students on the Nescot Business and Entrepreneurship course had to create a business, research the market, launch a product and try to make as many sales as possible. The winning students – Reem Abid, Johnny Connolly, Nathan Dean and Mattie Ray – created The WalkBottle, a 3 in 1, double insulated dog water bottle with two detachable bowls for food, water, or to carry treats.
Earlier in the course, a variety of local businesses supported the competition and the college by offering up ‘dragons’, to review each group’s business idea and pitches, giving feedback on each one. Matt Thomas – CEO and Founder of Matthew Thomas Garden Design, Andi Drishi – Director and Owner at HICL Builders, Jon Skinner – CEO and Founder at Glow Homes, Lance Harris – National Sector Lead at Ministry of Justice UK and Vanessa McCormack – Hub Manager at the Epsom and Ewell Hub all gave up their time to help motivate and encourage the students as they competed not just with their coursemates, but also against groups nationwide.
Securing third place in the national Tycoon Enterprise Competition saw the team invited to the Peter Jones Foundation Charity Clay Pigeon Shoot earlier this month at the prestigious Holland & Holland Shooting Grounds. They were able to meet Peter and run a promotional stall during an afternoon showcase, to present their products, branding and entrepreneurial journey to guests.
Julie Kapsalis MBE, CEO and Principal at Nescot College said “I am so proud of our students, who pushed themselves out of their comfort zone and created a credible business, which beat hundreds of others across the country. I want to thank the Peter Jones Foundation and the local businesses who supported them by offering up their experienced, inspiring leaders to act as ‘dragons’ in our Nescot den. Our students learned a huge amount and could absolutely be tycoons of the future. We’ve provided a launchpad and I’m looking forward to seeing them fly.”
Peter Jones CBE said: “My Foundation has been helping to empower young people for over 20 years. With so many challenges facing school leavers, it’s more important than ever to provide young people with support to help them fulfill their potential. Charity days allow us to raise vital funds – every pound raised will support the Foundation’s work to transform the lives of young people and particularly those at disadvantage, giving them the skills, confidence and opportunities to dream big and build brighter futures.”
Samantha Carey, Curriculum Manager for Catering, Business and Travel at Nescot, said: “This was an incredible opportunity for our students, and I’m hugely grateful to the Peter Jones Foundation, as well as the dedicated employers who generously gave their time to support them. Experiences like this not only help students develop their confidence, skills and professionalism, but also provide valuable networking opportunities, enabling them to build connections with industry professionals and gain insight into future career pathways. Seeing our students grow in confidence and realise their potential is incredibly rewarding, and it’s exactly why I chose a career in teaching.”
Students on the business course can now enter the National Entrepreneur of the Year competition, also run by the Peter Jones Foundation, which allows 16 – 21-year-olds to launch or scale a business.
The Business and Entrepreneurship course hones maths skills, teamwork, communication and critical thinking. It also promotes confidence and resilience as students take on the presentations, networking and promotion.
Nescot offers a range of courses for school leavers and adults, including Motor Vehicle, Animal Care, Hair & Beauty, Computing and IT, Performing Arts, Childcare and Health & Social Care. To find out more about studying at Nescot call 020 8394 3038, visit www.nescot.ac.uk or email adviceteam@nescot.ac.uk
Image: Peter Jones, Tom Kerridge and Touker Suleyman show off The Walk Bottle, alongside the student entrepreneurs from Nescot.
Epsom’s Nigel Price celebrates a sold-out home-town jazz night
10 October 2026
Epsom guitarist Nigel Price returned to a sold-out Epsom Jazz Club on Thursday (24 September) with his organ trio, just a week after the same line-up sold out Ronnie Scott’s in London.
For Price, who has lived in Epsom for 48 years, the concert at the Comrades Club in The Parade was a home-town celebration as well as the opening night of the club’s autumn season. He was joined by Ross Stanley on Hammond organ and Joel Barford on drums.
Price has built a national reputation through decades of performing, recording and touring. His career has taken him from the acid jazz band the Filthy Six to the James Taylor Quartet, while his appearances at Ronnie Scott’s number more than 600. His organ trio won a Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Ensemble in 2010 and a British Jazz Award for Best Small Group in 2016.
The musicians alongside him have substantial careers of their own. Stanley is an acclaimed jazz pianist as well as an organist who has played with artists including Jim Mullen and Jacqui Dankworth. Barford began playing drums at six, joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra as a teenager and has since toured and recorded with Price’s trio.
Their London appearance took place on Thursday 17 September. A review of the sold-out Ronnie Scott’s concert praised the close understanding between the three musicians, built through extensive touring together. Seven days later, Epsom audiences had the chance to hear Price and his trio on their own doorstep.
Epsom Jazz Club’s next concert is on 22 October, featuring vocalist Riketté Genesis. Venue Comrades Club, The Parade in the centre of Epsom
(A director of Epsom and Ewell Times and founder of the Epsom Jazz Club. The Club operates under the charity Epsom Music – 1197449. The charity’s next event is the Ukraine Music Evening 3rd October Epsom Methodist Church.)
Epsom Mental Health Week marks 20 years of local charity
10 October 2026
Epsom Mental Health Week will bring talks, exercise classes, creative activities and opportunities to meet others to venues across the town from Saturday 3 to Sunday 11 October.
The programme celebrates 20 years of Epsom charity Love Me Love My Mind. Working with the White House Wellness and Health Centre and other local organisations, it aims to make conversations about mental health welcoming and accessible to people of different ages and interests.
Events include a free children’s art club, men’s social walks on Epsom Downs, mindful colouring and tea, yoga and fitness classes, and talks on anxiety, burnout and domestic abuse. St Barnabas Church will host peer support sessions, an advice café and a performance by Epsom Male Voice Choir.
On Wednesday 7 October, Epsom Picturehouse will screen Aftersun, followed by a discussion of the film’s themes of grief, memory and mental health. Tickets must be booked through the Picturehouse website.
The week’s main gathering falls on World Mental Health Day, Saturday 10 October. A Wellness Day at Metropolis Epsom, 1 Derby Square, will run from 11am to 4pm, bringing together local support organisations and offering taster sessions. A free children’s art and craft club will run there from 11am to 3pm.
Activities also take place at the White House Wellness and Health Centre in Waterloo Road, the Rainbow Leisure Centre in East Street and St Barnabas Church in Temple Road. The programme says events are free unless a listing states otherwise. Visitors should check individual booking details and contact the organiser about any accessibility requirements.
A further creative session for children aged seven and over is listed for Wednesday 28 October at Epsom and Ewell Family Centre, Riverview Road, West Ewell. Families can ask about that session on 01372 571178 or at epsomewellfamilycentre@barnardos.org.uk.
Could magnesium found in Moon dust help future spacecraft travel further into deep space? A new European Space Agency (ESA)-funded project led by the University of Surrey aims to find out.
Researchers at the prestigious Surrey Space Centre are working with UK propulsion company Eos Space Technology Ltd to investigate whether the metal magnesium can be extracted from lunar regolith (the loose rock and dust covering the Moon) and used as a solid propellant for electric propulsion.
Electric propulsion systems can use gases such as xenon and krypton, but they would need to be transported from Earth. Producing propellant from materials already available on the Moon could reduce this reliance and potentially support future deep space exploration and cislunar commercial activity.
However, using metals such as magnesium in conventional Hall-effect thrusters (a type of electric propulsion system that uses electrically charged particles to generate thrust) presents several challenges, including condensation, unstable plasma and erosion of the channel through which the plasma travels.
The nine-month MAGPIE project (MAGnesium Propulsion from In-Situ Extraction on the Moon) aims to tackle these barriers by testing a novel Hall thruster design and assessing, from extraction through to propulsion, whether lunar-sourced magnesium could become a viable propellant for future spacecraft.
Dr Sungwoo Lim, Principal Investigator of MAGPIE, and Senior Lecturer in Space Applications, Exploration and Instrumentation at the Surrey Space Centre, University of Surrey, said:
“The exciting question behind MAGPIE is whether spacecraft could one day use a resource that is already available on the Moon instead of having to carry all of their propellant from Earth.
“We are proposing to melt the regolith and dust to see if it is possible to extract usable magnesium on the Moon’s surface. Using the specialist facilities here at Surrey Space Centre, we will confirm the effect of changes on how thrusters perform and will develop a way of feeding in magnesium.”
The research team will assess how much magnesium could be obtained from different types of lunar regolith, test ways of extracting it and develop a system for feeding the metal into an electric thruster. They will then test how the thruster performs with different propellants and how tolerant it is to impurities in the magnesium.
Dr Szymon Dworski, CEO and Co-Founder at Eos Space, said:
“We will provide the first dataset grounded in actual experimentation which links lunar extraction pathways to a functional thruster architecture. We hope to define the feasibility envelope for metallic-propellant electric propulsion, which will enable future lunar mobility and orbital logistics concepts that do not rely on propellants that are launched from Earth.”
Running from September 2026 to May 2027, the MAGPIE project is backed by £112,795 in funding through the European Space Agency’s Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP), which supports novel ideas for new space technologies and applications.
Dorking’s wartime refugee committee records go online for the first time
10 October 2026
Rich historical records of how the small town of Dorking sheltered people fleeing Nazi persecution during World War Two are now fully searchable and publicly accessible online, thanks to a partnership between the University of Surrey and Dorking Museum.
Formally launched today (24 September), dorkingrefugeearchive.org digitises the papers of the Dorking and District Refugee Committee – a group of volunteers who were able to find housing, work and medical care for refugees arriving in the Surrey town between 1938 and 1949. Until now, the records, which are frequently requested by researchers, have only existed in paper form at the Dorking Museum.
The website organises the committee’s work into five themes – solidarity, caring for refugees, children, the post-war years and the people involved.
In collaboration with the history department at Dorking’s Ashcombe School, the project has also produced teaching resources, which are freely available to other schools, researchers and community groups.
Professor Constance Bantman, co-project lead and Head of Literature and Languages at the University of Surrey, said:
“Making this archive accessible means the stories held in these records, of both the refugees and the people of Dorking who supported them, can finally reach the audience they deserve. It is a resource for researchers, but just as importantly, it’s a resource for the town itself.”
Surrey first announced the project in May 2026, sharing individual stories held within the collection, including that of Sir Erich Reich, who arrived in Britain on a Kindertransport in 1939. Ralph Vaughan Williams (the composer) personally brought the four-year-old to safety in Dorking.
Dr Beth Palmer, co-project lead from the University of Surrey, said:
“These remarkable papers hold enormous detail, individual cases, letters, decisions that changed lives. Dorking’s history as a place of welcome and support is genuinely remarkable, and until now, only a small number of people knew about it. Putting the archive online, alongside resources for schools, means this chapter of Surrey’s history can be taught, studied and understood well beyond the archive’s four walls.”
Kathy Atherton, Chairman of the Dorking Museum, said:
“The Refugee Committee papers are among the archive’s most frequently requested resources. Digitisation not only opens them up to a far wider audience but also protects the physical fabric of the collection from over-handling by researchers.”
Former Epsom Glyn pupil not tyred of flipping in world-record bid
10 October 2026
A former Glyn School head boy is preparing to flip a 100kg tractor tyre continuously for 24 hours in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record and raise £20,000 for his old school.
Professional trainer and fitness instructor James Farmer will begin the challenge at midday on Sunday 25 October, finishing at midday on Monday.
He will flip the tyre around a marked course within the Epsom school’s grounds, continuing throughout the night under the observation of independent witnesses.
The current Guinness World Record for the greatest distance covered by tyre flipping in 24 hours stands at 11.21km. James hopes to exceed 15km.
Money raised will contribute towards a new sports pavilion at Glyn School, which is part of the 43-school GLF Schools trust.
The proposed pavilion would provide improved facilities for physical education, competitive fixtures and after-school sport. It would also offer opportunities for use by the wider community.
James has worked in health and wellbeing for more than 20 years, training athletes and Olympians and appearing on ITV as a fitness expert. He credits Glyn with setting him on the path to his career.
He said: “I owe Glyn a debt of gratitude for providing the foundation upon which I built my entire career.
“Twenty-four hours of flipping a tyre is a hard way to say thank you. But if it puts a pavilion on those playing fields, it will have been worth every hour.”
Glyn headteacher Jo Garrod said: “James left here in 1999 and he has never really left us behind, which says something about Glyn, and James as a person.
“What he is taking on is extraordinary, and the pavilion he is raising money for will be used by our pupils every week for decades. We will be out there cheering him on through the night.”
The challenge comes as Glyn prepares to celebrate its centenary in 2027. James hopes the new pavilion will honour the school’s history while supporting its ambitions for the future.
Spectators are welcome to attend and encourage James during the challenge. Local businesses interested in sponsoring his attempt can contact the school.
Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (CAEE) has published its Annual Report for 2025/26 following its annual general meeting.
During the year, the charity helped 3,861 people across the Borough of Epsom and Ewell, addressing 11,312 issues.
A team of more than 50 volunteers, supported by 16 paid members of staff, provides the skills and knowledge needed to solve problems, offer reassurance, create stability and help clients towards independent lives.
Lisa Davis, chief executive of Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell, said: “Behind each of these numbers is a real person: someone struggling with energy debts whilst managing serious health conditions, someone rebuilding their life after domestic abuse, or someone working through decades of accumulated hardship.
“It is a privilege to stand alongside people at their most vulnerable and help them find a way forward.”
Linda’s story
Linda approached CAEE with a large energy debt after being unable to communicate with her energy company to resolve the problem.
She had experienced several health conditions over recent years, including cancer, diabetes, a stroke and mobility difficulties. These had affected her mental health and ability to work, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.
A CAEE energy adviser clarified the situation with the energy company and advised Linda on managing her Unreal finances and minimising her energy use. Linda now feels better able to cope in the future.
Fazia’s story
Fazia moved to the UK with her husband on a spousal visa with no recourse to public funds.
After experiencing domestic abuse, her husband was removed from the home by the police and she separated from him.
Fazia instructed a firm of solicitors to apply on her behalf for an independent visa and access to public funds under the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse concession. After receiving no response from the solicitors despite contacting them repeatedly, she approached CAEE.
The charity applied on her behalf and her application was resolved within a week.
An adviser also helped Fazia claim benefits, as she had been without funds for many months, and provided foodbank and Household Support Fund vouchers until she received her first Universal Credit payment.
Fazia is now working towards independently supporting herself and her child.
Clive’s story
Clive’s story is one of many missed opportunities to prevent someone falling into serious debt.
After losing his wife a few years ago, Clive struggled with bereavement and lost his well-paid job. While trying to provide for his children, he began accumulating credit card debt.
His life became harder still when he was the victim of a hit-and-run road accident and lost his son to Covid-19.
By the time he approached CAEE, he was living in his daughter’s flat with several significant health conditions, poor mental health and debts totalling more than £40,000 across nine financial institutions.
More than 12 months later, CAEE is still working with Clive to alleviate his circumstances. With considerable perseverance by both parties, most of his debt has been written off and Clive is on track to live an independent life, financially in control and debt-free.
Lisa Davis added: “CAEE gives people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are and whatever the problem.”
