Sunday 15^th May 2022 local music lovers gathered for Epsom Symphony Orchestra’s second concert of the year. Long-standing conductor Darrell Davison introduced the programme with his customary relaxed style. Edward Elgar, the 20^th century’s quintessential English composer, borrowed his 18^th century predecessor, George Handel’s strings and two oboe Overture in D Minor and converted the work for a full symphony orchestra. The unmistakable Elgarian tones overlaid a familiar Handelian form.

Now warmed up ESO’s 52 players embraced Brahms’ violin concerto with gusto and together with young Moldovan violinist Ionel Manciu demonstrated the acoustic prowess of Epsom Playhouse’s main auditorium. Not a single nuanced whisper of Manciu’s strings could be missed from the back of the Hall. As if Manciu’s technical skills had not been demonstrated enough during his improvisations in the 2^nd movement he treated his audience to an encore of Grigora Dinicu’s “The Clock,” where the tick-tock of time was plucked from the neck of his instrument with his left-hand rather that the usual right bow-hand near the bridge.

The concert ended with Dvorak’s next most popular symphony after “The New World” 9^th, namely the 8^th. If there is any doubt about the value for money and time attending your local orchestra performing in a local venue, then the final stupendous bars of the Symphony, being played with an energy and precision equal to anything you might hear in a London concert hall, set those doubts to rest.

ESO’s next concert is on Saturday 15^th October 2022 featuring Nielsen’s Helios Overture, Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Sibelius’s Second Symphony. Visit www.epsomsymphony.co.uk and Epsom Playhouse for tickets. Do support your local orchestra. In particular encourage the Borough’s younger generation to experience the excitement of 54 skilled musicians on stage “rocking” with sounds that only ignorance stands in the way of enjoying.

By our special and independent music correspondent – Lionel Blackman.

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’s House of Fraser is shutting it’s doors for good on June 24th, leaving Epsom residents wondering what shop could take it’s place. There’s been much discussion on the topic of House of Fraser’s succession, so we’ve curated a list of 5 possible shops that could appear after it closes… read on!

Primark

Our first option is quite an obvious one, and there wouldn’t be any surprises if Primark did indeed turn out to fill the vacant spot that House of Fraser is leaving behind. Doubtless it would pump some well-needed life into Epsom’s retail heart, and it’s reasonable prices are something that everyone can agree on.

A well known household brand, it would provide easy access for shopper to come in and pick up essential clothing items, as well as gifts and other items, at a very good price.

READ MORE: Surrey musical quartet to play Jubilee concert to fundraise for their local NHS

H&M

It’s worth noting that there used to be not one but two H&M stores in the Ashley Centre, H&M and H&M Kids, both stores ended up closing their doors. Since then, H&M has opened a successful store in Sutton, could it be time for Epsom to give H&M another chance?

The prices are good, the selection is pretty decent as well, although it’s very unlikely to take House of Fraser’s spot in the Ashley Centre.

Flannels

Could Flannels replace House of Fraser? The high-end streetwear store is doing well in Sutton and other places, so is it so out of the question that the luxury brand could open up a shop in Epsom?

This is very unlikely to happen, all in all, the demand for shops like this in Epsom is low, and it’s hard to imagine such a risky investment paying off, especially considering the luck that some clothes shops (H&M, House of Fraser) have had in the Ashley Centre.

If it does happen though, Epsom will have a new go-to for brands such as OFF-WHITE, Stone Island and Hugo Boss.

UNIQLO

A slightly left of field option, UNIQLO is a Japanese casualwear shop, mostly located in Central London, a UNIQLO store in Epsom could draw shoppers from all over the south to the Ashley Centre, and end up being exactly the kind of retail injection that the town needs.

UNIQLO would be welcomed by fashion enthusiasts and casual alike. With their sleek, elegant designs and futuristic minimalism it would certainly be a breath of fresh air in the Ashley Centre.

However, the prices of some of their items may put shoppers off, they’re hardly comparable to H&M and Primark, but there’s an argument to make that you get what you pay for, quality wise.

Crazy golf

Now for something a little bit different. Why not forgo the retail route and implement some entertainment into the Ashely Centre? It would certainly bring in more families and would get people talking about Epsom!

Crazy golf is normally an outdoor affair, but more and more indoor golf venues are opening up, could Epsom have it’s very own indoor golf course?

What are your thoughts? Please let us know on Twitter @EpsomandET, or email in at admin@epsomandewelltimes.com

For more stories like this, please click here

I am a member of the UK Shareholders’ Association, the main benefit of which is visiting companies to ascertain what their strategy is and to evaluate what the future might hold. Due to Covid, we have been unable to visit companies for the last two years, but our first visit this year was to BP plc on 10 May. As usual, they made us very welcome and provided an excellent lunch. Due to climate change and the need cut emissions the management of BP concluded that demand for their basic products of oil and gas would decline by 50% over 50 years. Because of this, a strategy was devised to transform the company into an integrated energy company. They concluded they would focus on their hydrocarbons business. They would grow their convenience and mobility businesses. Finally, they would build with discipline a low carbon energy business.

Their 2021 annual report was headed ‘Performing while transforming’. Their main speaker told us that their good performance in 2021 (7.6bn of earnings and $23.6bn of cash inflow from operating activities) was due to their strategy. Of course, their exceptionally good result in 2021 was nothing to do with their strategy, as it was simply a result of windfall profits due to very high prices of oil and gas primarily due to the crisis in Ukraine that is causing so much pain for so many people. In fairness, part of the windfall made up for low prices in 2020 when the company declared a loss of ($20.7bn), compared to a profit of $4.0bn in 2019. Cash flow was also impacted in 2020 as cash inflow was only $12.2bn compared to $25.8bn in 2019.

READ MORE: Epsom’s House of Fraser closing date revealed

The good fortune, in cash terms, continued in the first quarter of 2022 so they were able to reduce debt to $27.5bn. They were swimming in cash. When companies generate a lot of cash but lack a strategy for growth and have no idea what to do with such cash, they resort to share buy-backs. In short, they buy their own shares in the open market and cancel such shares. At the end of the buy-back earnings per share (eps) have automatically increased as the number of issued shares has decreased. We can deduce that BP has no strategy for growth; what they have in a strategy for survival given their main market is contracting. The speaker responsible for transforming the company told the meeting that his task was extremely difficult as it meant negotiating with many countries to get their cooperation. He said the biggest problem was how to reduce the use of aviation fuel.

We were told that BP had committed $18bn of investment to meet their survival strategy and $2.5bn (£2.03bn) for share buybacks. At the current price of 420p per share, they could buy back nearly 500 million shares (the actual number is obviously dependent upon the actual price of the purchases) but as there are 20,778 million shares currently in issue this will have little impact. What this should do though is hold the share price up as the market knows that collectively 2,500 million shares are waiting to be bought. Institutions like the idea as it gives them time to think. Individual investors should think hard as if the oil price falls at the exact time the share buy-back is complete then this share will fall, possibly significantly. When share buy-backs are in progress it is rather like a bubble; knowing when it will burst is key.

The problem with share buy-backs is that it is an artificial mechanism that never benefits shareholders in the long term. Buying shares at the high end of their range is never a good idea. If companies like BP don’t know what to do with their surplus cash, then a windfall tax is definitely justified.

READ MORE: Witness appeal following collision in Ewell

Image: Surrey Police

Were you in the Kingston Road area of Epsom on Monday afternoon (9 May)?

If so, you may be able to help them following the theft of a vehicle from an address on Kingston Road. 

Suspects broke into the property sometime between 1.20 and 2 pm and carried out an untidy search of numerous drawers and cupboards before making off with a grey BMW which was parked on the driveway.

The suspects are believed to have headed off onto the A240.

Surrey Police would like to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and who may have seen anything that could help with their enquiries. 

If you have any information that may be able to help, please contact Surrey Police quoting PR/45220049025 via:

• Webchat on their website https://www.surrey.police.uk/
• Online https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/
• Calling them on 101

If you do not wish to leave your name, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Image: Surrey Police

Surrey Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious collision in Ewell this morning (Thursday, 12 May).

Officers were called to report a collision between a white Honda car and two pedestrians at around 8.25 am on the A24 Ewell By-Pass. The collision occurred on the southbound carriageway near the junction with Castle Avenue.

A child was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the vehicle involved remains at the scene and is assisting officers with their enquiries.

The southbound carriageway of the A24 Ewell By-Pass is currently closed between the junctions with Cheam Road and London Road (Organ Crossroads). It is likely to remain closed for the next few hours.

Surrey police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any dashcam footage, to contact them straightaway quoting reference number P22098231. Please get in touch via:

• Webchat on their website https://www.surrey.police.uk/
• Online https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/
• Calling them on 101

If you do not wish to leave your name, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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

Epsom’s House of Fraser store will be shutting it’s doors for good in a matter of weeks, according to a store employee. The department store has been synonymous with the Ashley Centre for years, and will no doubt be missed by Epsom’s shoppers.

The store was originally slated for closure in 2018 , when the company announced that the Epsom branch would close along with 30 other House of Fraser stores across the country. The fire of hope was brightened in 2020 when a short-term lease extended the lifespan of the store, but it now looks like the shop will be closing indefinitely.

Having already shut their flagship Oxford Street branch earlier this year, it looks like another House of Fraser store has bit the dust. It’s worth mentioning that there are still House of Fraser stores in London, as well as a branch in Guildford and Croydon.

READ MORE: Surrey musical quartet to play Jubilee concert to fundraise for their local NHS

According to SurreyLive, the Epsom store’s final day of trading will be Friday 24th of June, just over a month away.

The absence of House of Fraser from the Ashley Centre will undoubtedly leave a big retail hole in Epsom, leaving residents curious about what shop could step up to take its place in the shopping centre…

To read more stories like this, click here.

Epsom Music Charity will host an NHS Staff Benefit concert, featuring the Salieri Quartet, as part of local Jubilee celebrations on Friday 27 May at midday at the Epsom Playhouse in the presence of Councillor Clive Woodbridge, Mayor Elect of Epsom and Ewell.

The long established and experienced Salieri Quartet, whose members have played with orchestras across Europe and worked on West End shows, will treat the audience to a relaxing hour of classical favourites such as the Pachelbel Canon along with works from famous and familiar composers like Bach and Mozart to name but a few. The quartet will then ‘string out’ the entertainment by setting up in Market Square to entertain shoppers and businesses with a more contemporary programme, ranging from Beyoncé to Game of Thrones, and where donations will also be gratefully received!

READ MORE: Police appeal for witnesses after assault on Waterloo Road, Epsom

Simon Littlefield, Chief Nurse of the Trust, who will be attending the event said: “A huge thank you to Epsom Music and the Salieri Quartet for dedicating their time to organise this event to support our charity; our people and the NHS. We are very grateful for the effort that has been put into this and would encourage people to come along and support this special day-time musical interlude.”

Lionel Blackman, Trustee of Epsom Music, said: “Our charity supports the education and performance of all music throughout Epsom and Ewell. Many in the music community were sadly affected by Covid in one way or another, and now that events can once again take place, we wanted to take the opportunity to show our immense gratitude to our local NHS. We are honoured the Mayor Elect can attend, and we hope other people can show their support by getting a ticket and coming along!”

The concert will be for one hour and start at midday on Friday 27 May. A minimum donation of £10 per ticket is requested which can be made online at www.epsommusic.org and all funds raised will go to Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity.

READ MORE: Enter the Dojo of the Code Ninjas

A brand new coding school has opened in Epsom, teaching kids how to create programs, build robots and code video games.

Code Ninjas is a brilliant school whose Epsom branch has recently been set up by Lee Richards, a former English teacher and tech worker, that focuses on teaching young kids (aged 5-15) how to code and make their own video games. I was lucky enough to be invited to their grand opening at St. Martin’s Church on Saturday to check out their set-up and have a chat with some of the organisers, and I was far from disappointed.

While working from home at the start of the pandemic, Lee reflected on both his 9 years of teaching English and the time he spent working online game development in Sweden and thought to himself, is there a more effective way to teach? Can I merge these careers together? Armed with a Masters in Philosophy and a post-graduate degree in teaching, Lee decided to open Code Ninjas Epsom.

In the basement of St Martin’s Church, walls adorned with detailed whiteboards and gaming paraphernalia surround 10 or so hard-working pre-teens, some are coding their own games, designing art assets to be used in said games, and some are using programmable toys. One thing they all have in common is they’re clearly having a blast. With computers spread out across the rooms, and “Code sensei’s” on hand to help the kids out, they couldn’t have been in better hands. Their whiteboards are covered in plans, designs and diagrams informing the kids’ coding decisions. Level names, level structure and other design plans are scattered over the board, between cute doodles of popular gaming characters.

Much like a regular dojo, the kids track their coding progress through “belts”, with different colours awarded for different levels of proficiency.

READ: Meet the man cycling to Ukraine for charity

“We’re agnostic about languages”, Lee tells me when I ask about which coding languages they focus on. “Most expect to be using Python”, (Python is commonly used for amateur video game development), Lee gets the kids started on C#, which is a more versatile language that is quite similar to Python but allows you to do more.

Even the mayor, Pete Donovan, was getting in on the fun, checking out the kids’ projects and congratulating the little Ninjas for getting their belts. Upon speaking with me, he cheerily recounts his brother’s youthful obsession with Sega games that used to keep him up at night.

Also on display at the church is an entire room dedicated to retro gaming, featuring consoles that are years older than me and decades older than the kids who were so gleefully using them. A ZX Spectrum, a Commodore 64, classic Nintendo consoles (NES and SNES) along with more modern consoles capable of 3D Graphics (Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, PlayStation 1 and an original X-Box).

Coding, being so versatile and used for so many useful things, is commonly associated with the design and creation of video games. Through piquing the curiosity of the kids through their love of gaming, Lee is nurturing what could be a lifelong interest, or even career, for his Ninjas. It’s not just about careers for Lee, Lee believes that a digitally-literate generation of kids would be nothing but beneficial to humanity, and hopes to help forge these Ninjas into the digital pioneers of tomorrow.

If you think your child would like to become a Code Ninjas, have a look a their website for all the information you need: https://www.codeninjas.co.uk/epsom-sry-uk

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