The Planet Reigate Podcast

47: AquaSports at Mercers, remembering a local war hero … and more

Episode 47 “AquaSports at Mercers, remembering a local war hero … and more”

For Saturday 3rd August 2024

TIMECODE – so you can go straight to what you want to listen to

00:00 - What’s in this episode

09:30 - The Good Time Guide: Local places to go and things to do this weekend.

13:00 - GUEST: Aqua Sports is a lake-based watersports centre set in the beautiful Mercers Park, on the doorstep of Redhill and Merstham. I’ve been to talk with Operations Manager, Henry.

24:15 - The Planet Reigate area news

46:50 - Planet Reigate area sport

51:40 - Planet Reigate Stars - thanking local heroes. This week from Reigate.

52:30 - The Good Time Guide: Local things to do and places to go this coming week.

1:00:00 – The story of Redhill’s wartime hero

1:06:00 - The 60-second Soundscape. Reigate and the Priory Park fountain (hopefully it’s not too triggering for you!)

If you get value from The Planet Reigate Podcast, please give us value back in return; click here to support us with a small donation: www.buymeacoffee.com/theplanetreigatepodcast or share us with your colleagues.

CREDITS:

The seven-note Planet Reigate Theme is ©Peter Stewart

Other music www.Pond5.com:

GTG - inspiringaudio Item ID: 116855857

NEWS - ThomPie Item ID: 75456323

STARS - jwsaudio Item ID: 073206386

SOUNDSCAPE PolkadotFlowersMusic Item ID: 136304431

GUITAR - Frogard Item ID: 114324148

DRAGON fx https://soundbible.com/

CLASSIC - light orch Victorian - by EaRenTech ID 130569703

SAD - pastoral - by RomanAminov ID 056064549

Listen: https://linktr.ee/PlanetReigatePodcast

Web: www.ThePlanetReigatePodcast.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ThePlanetReigatePodcast

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/PlanetReigate

Email: Hello@ThePlanetReigatePodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:: 1h 7m
Broadcast on:: 02 Aug 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

This is the Planet Rigate Podcast. And episode 47 of the aforementioned podcast this week featuring all sorts of things to reflect and celebrate our love of living life around here. Hello, Arvidus Jut, welcome to this week's episode of the Planet Rigate Podcast. My guest, Henry joins me from Aqua Sports at Mercer's Lake, so hear how the group was set up and their big plans for the year ahead, all sorts of water-based sports and Henry's tip for the best sunset view in Surrey. Plus, we have the short story of a proper hero in the very heart of Red Hill, the wartime bravery of Jack Harvey. In the news this week, the location of electric car charging points across the area have been announced. Now you can find out where to get free tap water for your water bottle over the summer. An update from the driving instructor concerned about the road layouts near the aerodrome. Congratulations to a local cricket club for getting hundreds of thousands of pounds from the counter-counsel. Have your say on our local parks and open spaces ahead of a series of council decisions. How you could get to decide on the future of local police officers, who may have been accused of misconduct. How you can help out and build a new shooting range in Rigate. Yeah, why the RSPCA was able to help a fox in a local garden this week, an eight-year-old girl who has all the makings of being an entrepreneur and appearing on TV's The Apprentice Show in the future. Plus, we look at recommendations for shady walks in the area. In sport, we feature a local team after new players and a big open day at a local leisure centre where you can try all sorts of sports in various taster sessions and feature local clubs. Plus, we have the good time guide of events across the area, across the week ahead, Planet Rigate stars from Rigate and our 60-second soundscape before we go at the end of the show. This is the Planet Rigate podcast with Peter Stewart. But first of all, we'll start off as we always do with looking back at some of the correspondence that we've had during the course of the week. And last week, of course, we featured Sean Lambeth, and he was talking about the course of the second annual cyclocross Rigate, which is coming to Priory Park. What next week is Friday, it was the ninth, yeah, this coming week. And he says, thanks so much to the Planet Rigate podcast for inviting us on to your podcast. We had a brilliant time. Also, we had another message from age concern, Mr. Redhill Rigate, who said publicly, "Listen to this great local podcast, we get a couple of mentions." That's indeed, they did last week. The Planet Rigate podcast, of course, covering, yes, Rigate, but also the satellite towns and villages in kind of Rigate's orbits. You get what we kind of go with there. Rigate, Redhill, Merced and Bucklem, Bichworth, Brockham, and yes, I had a chat with someone recently. You said, "Do you cover Lye?" Yes, we do. Do you cover Charles Wood? Yes, we do. Do you cover Hookwood? Yes. It was like a quiz, it really was. And as I often say, we don't do Oxstead or Godstown, we don't do Gatwick and Crawley, we don't do Dawking, we don't even do Bandstead. So, sorry guys, if you're in those areas and you want a similar podcast for you, getting in touch with me, we can perhaps sort something out, but at the moment the Planet Rigate area is, and will always be, Rigate, Redhill, Merced and Bucklem, Bichworth and Brockham. And yes, I know they go over several different boroughs, I get that completely. But you know what, boroughs are just a line on a map, aren't they, and they're different from constituencies, and they're different from water areas, and they're different from postcodes very often, and they're different from telephone codes very often and all sorts of things. So, the Planet Rigate area. One more time, Rigate, Redhill, Merced and Bucklem, Bichworth and Brockham, the towns and villages in the orbit of the borough town, I suppose you would call it, of Rigate, where the Roseroom T-Rums are, who we mentioned last week, because they've moved up the high street, from one end of the high street, essentially to the other end of the high street, just near marks and Spencer's now. Thank you so much for the shout out last week, it's so lovely, please do pop in when we open. They didn't say whether I get a free slice of gluten-free cake, or whether I can bring anyone with me, I don't know, so I'm quite willing enough for paying for that, looks lovely if you've seen their posts on social media, they've changed, they've moved to where the collective was in the rooms just there up by Nando's, up by the Bull's Head, by Marks and Spencer's, you get it just up that end of the high street. Now a few weeks ago, I mentioned about Paul House on Bancroft Road in Rigate, which of course is now reopened after all of their works, which have been going on for about a week, ten days, and I thought I'd record that it was built on the site of a swimming pool, and last week Stuart, Stuart Holmes emailed to say there was a swimming pool opposite the Town Hall, and I mentioned that last week, didn't I, but what about Paul House on Bancroft Road, Stuart got back to me and said I can't see any evidence for a public pool about location, and I don't recall anything from my personal experience either, maybe it had a few Paul tables, is that why it was called Paul House, or maybe he goes on, the business said something to do with Paul's, I think there used to be an outdoor pool in Priory Park, at least that's what I remember, and I do as well, I remember the pool in Priory Park, was it where that really large round flower bed is, but it was certainly up there near the cafe area, wasn't it, and I seem to remember it was fenced off with a low fence, and it was more like a paddling pool, wasn't it, for kids, and then I think after that when they drained it, they just put sand in, and then they created the whole new plate, so my memory goes back, goes back that far of taking the kids for walks in the woods and flying kites and playing balls and so on, in that whole area, and going into that paddling pool and sand pit area there as well, and anyway, Stuart goes on, he says I've seen photos of people bathing in Ulswood Lakes before my time, he says, and there was a gap of a few years between the regape baths closing, and Donning's opening, so we would cycle from wood hatch where we lived to Hawley to go there. Stuart, thank you so much, I really love local history, and where you can look at something and go oh, that is still there, and that's what happened there, or someone lived there, or someone died there, or that was a mystery about it, or whatever, and it has to be said that the episodes of the planet regape podcast in which we feature local history, and we've done quite a bit, one that springs to mind, one of the most listened to couple of episodes, was our history of the man who built Donator House, Donator School is there, but the story of Mr Waterlow, who actually built it, and why did he build it, and who lived there, and what's the whole story behind that estate, and who was Mr Waterlow, what did he go on and do, so search for that in our archive episodes, but if you've got any memories, if you've got any thoughts about history, particularly about Paul House in Bancroft Road, I must get on to Spencer, who I mentioned last week, actually works there at WS Planning and Architecture, do get in touch with me, hello at planet regapepodcast.com, this week I was at the regape and bandstead Borough Council Volunteers Awards, part two at the Town Hall, so here all about that in next week's show, where we hear from a handful of recipients of local volunteer awards. And thank you so much indeed for people who've got in touch, elsewhere, over the past several weeks. Ailsa says, love your podcast, a brilliant idea, Sarah says, I love to be involved please, and Anna says, it looks absolutely fantastic, well done for setting it up, well, it would be nothing without your support, and you can do that if you'd like to become a supporter of the show, your show really, as opposed to the show, certainly not my show, but it's your show, then you can, well, on your phone, if you go to buymeacoffee.com and then slash or search for the planet regape podcast, you can donate the price of a cup of coffee, so three pounds, and then that comes to me, because there's all sorts of things that kind of we pay for, which is really, you know, I'm happy to do, but if you want to send a bit of appreciation my way, that would be absolutely fantastic and be able to support a local initiative, talking about supporting local initiatives, it's what we do each and every week, tell you what's going on across the area, places to go, things to do, people to meet, new discoveries to be made, we call it the good time guide. The good time guide, things to do and places to go on the planet regape podcast. Tell us a couple of weeks in advance if you would like a mention for your event on the good time guide, which comes in two parts, first of all this coming weekend Saturday and Sunday, and then a bit later on the show, a bit later on, in the week Monday through to next Saturday as well, you can fill out the form you'll find at planetrigapepodcast.com and to get a mention, seven days before the events, or to get more mentions and early mentions to get those early ticket sales with one of our Planet Rigate supporters packages, ask me for more information, hello at the planetrigapepodcast.com. Saturday the third of August, Boogie Monsters is back at the Rigate Castle grounds, bring your family, enjoy the fun in interactive pop and rock band for your kids experience, and the tickets are on sale now, 12 and 230 shows, and you can get those via the Harlequin box office online, Harlequin.co.uk, intermediate's crochet workshop for Saturday, 1030 to 1230 at the lovely plow in in Earlswood, at a mention last week, you go along and learn to crochet in the round to make an elephant. That's going to be something to trumpet about, isn't it? You'll leave the class able to make magic rings and make stitches into them and the knowledge to complete your elephant in confidence. Just don't get crumbs on your crochet creations because coffee and pastries are going to be served during the class as well. There's an open day on Sunday featuring yoga in the park, and that's happening at Gatton Park, enjoy 250 acres of Capability Brown Parkland, Edwardian Gardens and refreshments in the T-room. Well being coached to Riza will be offering mindful yoga sessions on the lawn, suitable for beginners and more experienced to enjoy yoga in the beautiful setting. 12 to 5 yoga bookings online, 6lb for adults, guide, price. I'm kind of into that kind of thing at the moment, after a few kind of changes in my lifestyle after over recent months, healthy eating, more exercise, mindfulness, pilates, all sorts of things. Yeah, I'm kind of going through a bit of a transformation. I don't know whether I'll turn out to be a butterfly or slug, I really don't know, but sorry for that rescue service, have a charity car wash. Go along to get your car sparkling clean and help raise funds for the Firefighters 999 project on Sunday the 4th, 10 till 3 at Righate Fire Station. So there we go, places to go and things to do on the Planet Righate podcast, and we've got more of that across the area, across the week from Monday, a little bit later on in the show. Plus of course we've got that 60 second soundscape before we go at the end of the show from Righate. We've got our Planet Righate stars and also we've got our interview with Henry from Mercer's Lake and Aqua Sports there. What's their history? What are they going to go on in the future? And yeah, his top tip for the best location in Surrey to watch the sunset coming up now. Aqua Sports is that lake-based water sports centre in the beautiful Mercer's Park right on the doorstep of Red Hill at Mercer. Founded by John and Martin who are friends and water sport enthusiasts who had a vision to bring the world of water sports to, well, it's a bit of an inland beauty spot, isn't it? To be honest with you and across the time that they've been there, Aqua Sports has taught tens of thousands of young people and adults to sail and wind surf and paddle and all sorts of things. And you know what, they've got big plans for the future too, as we've mentioned previously on the Planet Righate podcast. And as I found out, when I went along and had a chat with Henry down there at the water's edge, we are currently stood down on our main pontoon looking out upon the lake. Axe Sports is based here at Mercer's Park. We've got about a fifth acre lake with a mile give or take walk around the outside. And we're just looking out over all the different kit that we've currently got set up for the day. And it was wet this morning, but it's a beautiful afternoon now. It's a little bit chilly. There's a bit of breeze in the air which hopefully you won't be able to pick up on the microphone. And we've got a little motorboat coming in. Where's this person been out to? So this is Sophie, she's just been out doing some little bits on the water and moving some kit around just because we're coming towards the end of the day, starting to pack some stuff down. Tell me what Mercer's Lake is or what it was more specifically. So Mercer's Lake used to be a old sand quarry. We've got a few of those in this area, haven't we? Very a sand or fillers earth and gravel and all sorts of things going on. Yeah, there's quite a few. We're back just to the north by Mercer's West and then we've got Spines Mere just down the road about half mile away and then over at Homethorpe State there's then the Homethorpe Lakes which are all nature reserves which is really cool. We've been around as Aqua Sports for 31 years now and for about 10 years before that we were here under a different name. Exactly how deep it is depends on who you ask. As far as we're aware, it's around 10 to 15 metres. Because we are an old quarry, the banks are quite steep all the way straight down into the water so even where we are, only 10 metres off the bank, we're already four or five metres deep here. And that means it's going to be very cold even in the height of summer. Yeah, so if you look at some of the other local lakes that are shallower than us, they're already up towards 20 degrees water temperature. At the moment we're still at 16 so it takes us a long time to warm up. That's the history, that's the kind of back story. What is here today as far as Aqua Sports goes? Let's kind of look around. We do kayaking under Paddle UK, which is the new British canoe union. We run paddleboard sessions under British standard paddleboard association. We run wind surf sessions under the Royal Yachting Association. We run dinghy sailing. We run again under the Royal Yachting Association and we run raft build sessions and we've just bought a load of megasubs. So 18 foot long paddleboards that are five foot wide but eight students and an instructor on board. There's nothing quite like us anywhere nearby. You have to go quite a way to find similar. So all of our staff, everyone who works for us, is recognised under their national governing bodies for their sports, their kayak instructors canoe instructors, they're under Paddle UK, they're sailing in the wind surf guys, they're all under the RWA, paddleboarding's British standard paddleboard association. So we're all recognised under our governing bodies. That means that we've all gone through levels of training and tuition to reach that, including pre-assessments, first aids, health and safety as well as week-long courses in how to instruct those sports. You're training all sorts of people from all sorts of ages. How young from? We take students from eight years old. I think the oldest that I've taught here was 91. Fantastic, that's really excellent, isn't it? I watch the most popular of these water sports. So in terms of just numbers and bums on seats, paddleboarding has seen massive exposure over the last few years. The accessibility and kind of the entry-level kit has become quite cheap recently and is really good because we're getting a lot of people that just want to get out on the water and enjoy what we do and it's kind of the easiest, cheapest, best way to get out there and do it. Okay, so I know you're after more stuff as well because sometimes I read out your adverts on the Planet Right Gate podcast so more and more people, because you are expanding, aren't you? Yes, so we've just got a new investor and we're currently expanding the cafe, expanding kind of the food and beverage offering that we have here, but also expanding the number of people that we can get on the water and the number of staff that we need for that. So we've just invested from a water side of it in a new fleet of sit-on-top kites, so we're buying loads of those in at the moment. We've just bought a load of racing paddleboards and racing touring paddleboards as well as the extra large paddleboards to go alongside our normal paddleboard fleet and then we're expanding the powerboat fleet and the dinghy fleet so that we can run more sailing sessions too. So tell me on a typical summer's day at a weekend or in the school holidays, what does this lake look like? How many people are out there? What kind of sports are going on all at the same time? Organized chaos. Organized chaos is probably the phrase. So school holidays, oh we run all of our school camps or all of our kids camps, so we'll have day camps and week camps going on, so that's where kids come down, students come down and they'll do a mix of sports through the day. We do at least two, we try and do three if we can, so that could be any of the sports we offer. If they come down over the whole week then they'll do everything that we offer. So that's normally around 32 kids at a time running that. We'll then have dinghy lessons happening which will have about 16 kids on it, the windsof course which will be happening with another eight on it, the kayak course which will also have eight on it. So 60-70 kids at a time in the middle of the summer on the weekdays gets very busy but all of our instructors as we know are qualified, experienced and they're all over it. I'm very very popular by the sound of it, I guess when people have to have to book up several weeks in advance to later make sure they get a spot on one of these courses. Once we kind of get towards the summer we then try and open a waiting list where we can. What is it about water sports, about sailing and so on, that people are enjoying? There's something just about the water, you know, like you can never, what we want to do is be next to the water. In terms of open spaces and mental health for people, it's really important. There are studies that have come out recently that say blue spaces water is actually three times better for us than green spaces are which makes sense for a lot of us, a lot of the instructors here, very chilled out, very happy people. So for people to be able to get out, get on the water and kind of push their comfort zone a little bit more than respectfully kicking a ball around the park is a really cool thing and a really interesting thing for them to be able to do. And what is your sport of choice? My bread and butter, what I grew up doing is sailing. My whole family sail, I'm originally from Plymouth so I'm down on the coast and then wind surf ended up doing that by accident but really enjoy it. So when there's kind of a nice amount of wind, we're sailing when it's really breeze on, really windy, we go out on a wind surf board and when there's no wind, we go paddle boarding. So is there something in a kind of British psyche perhaps because we're an island nation or is that that doesn't kind of replicate itself as far as skill or interest in water sports and sailing guys? I think there is something about the British people because we are an island but there's something about whatever we do, we end up near the sea near the coast near water so I think it's kind of ingrained in who we are as a people. Tell me how you reckon Aqua sports is going to be growing over the next few years. You've mentioned you've got any more courses on taking on more staff, you're developing the centre which is just behind us here. So how do you see it developing over the next three, four, five years? From an operational point of view, the side that I'm kind of mainly looking at, the things that are happening on the water, we're pushing open water swimming, we started that towards the end of last year and now we're running it more actively, Tuesday's Thursday's Saturday and Sunday mornings. So that's really exciting and a really cool thing to do, again it's a very accessible thing for everyone to be able to get down and do. Alongside that, developing kind of our paddling offering with the racing paddle boards and the touring paddle boards that we've spoken about, investing into the sit on top kayaks so that we can get more people out on the water more easily, safely, is really good. So matched with that is the catering offering, the food and beverage outlet that we've got here. So we're hiring a chef, he started with us recently, his name's Kyle, everyone comes say hi to Kyle. We're doing more cooked food as opposed to the toasties that we used to do in the past. The menu currently is looking like burgers, with chips, there's salads, open earlier in the mornings, open later in the evenings. I always joke that I've got the prettiest and the best office view in the whole of Surrey because I look out for my office and it's the lake. We get gorgeous sunsets here that set up the far end of the lake. That goes all the way, so you're looking over those the transmitters on top of Freige Hill. Just to the left of those transmitters is where the sunset and it goes and it's all very pretty and if you get a really dead flat calm evening you get perfect reflections of the sky and it's just some of the best sunsets I've ever seen. I'm thinking you need to expand your offer to photography evenings or something like that. We've started opening up to fitness instructors this year. In the mornings and through the days we've got a range of different instructors coming in, running family sessions. We've got yoga sessions going on and just general hit and high intensity sessions happening with different instructors. Something that we used to do a few years ago was paddleboard yoga. Oh wow, correct. Yeah, it's really cool. It's not necessarily for me. I'm not that flexible. So you're on your paddleboard doing yoga. So you've got that other element of the board of the ground in verticalness moving as well. So for some people it's great for other people who are struggling with their balance. It's slightly more difficult but we're currently trying to seek a yoga instructor to do paddleboard yoga, which would be really cool. I reckon as you suggested you've got a really good job here. You're going to be here for a few years. Yeah, you want to see all this through? That's the plan. Certainly with all this development that's happening and everything that's going on. It's a really interesting place to be at the moment and a really cool thing just to be invested in and working alongside and seeing where it goes. And it was great to go down to Mercer's Lake and Accra Sports. Henry there, you can find them online. You can see what different courses they've got. And after that interview, Henry said, I tell you what, have you got a few minutes? So we've got half an hour. Yeah, sure. Okay. So we jumped into a boat and obviously put on life jackets and so on. And he took me all around the lake and he was able to point out this is a shall I bear and this is where we saw that animal. And over there we see that nest and you see that that used to be so and so and this is and it was really intriguing. It was a glorious afternoon, a few weeks back. And it was really fantastic just to be on that boat and to have his expertise about the lake, about the history, about the flora and fauna as well. And should have been recording this Henry, you said, you know what, come back another time, we'll do it again. So Henry, I'm going to take you up on that. And if you want to see what the latest is, because they've really, if you haven't been down to down to Mercer's for a year, 18 months or possibly even longer, first of all, why? Secondly, you may want to go down there over the summer, soak up the sun, have a little walk around the lake, little walk. Yes, not that far is it? And and also see what changes they are making and have made already to increase their offer down there. And don't forget, we have many more interviews in our archive shows here about the Open Air Theatre in Righate this summer in episode 32. And Wayne and Beth from Righate Volleyball Club on their love of the sport also in episode 32 as well. And if you'd like to support the Planet Righate podcast, you can do that by me a coffee.com slash the Planet Righate podcast. Sport on the way, but first of all, here's our new sequence of some of the stories, which may have passed you by over the last seven days or so. Local locations for a network of electric vehicle charge points set to be installed across Surrey have been proposed. So I've looked at the map, I've looked at the list and I can tell you that the government has a set, a target of 300,000 public charge points across the country in the next seven years. And the locations proposed have been selected because someone has requested one in a certain area. In fact, I highlighted that process a few months ago here on the show and I explained how to ask for one of those charging points near where you live. Obviously it has to be a public place, not just for you, but for other people, but of course it'd be really handy for you, maybe where you live, work, exercise, that kind of thing, or because there was no nearby access to a charge point. And an interactive map of the current proposed locations is available on the connected curb website and requests can still be made. More locations will be added, but locally in the Planet Righate area at the moment, Righate, Redhill, Merston, Buckland, Bechworth, Brockham, RH 1, 2 and 3, a little bit of six as well. In Hawley, Chestnut Road, Wipe Bushes, Windborne Avenue, Dover's Green Castle Drive there, and also outside the shops on the parade at Woodhatch, also on Stockton Road, RH2, Blackborough Road, and Homestale Road as well. Righate and Bandsted has become a refill destination and is pledging to help turn the tide on plastic pollution. Yeah, by downloading the free Refill app, you'll be able to easily tap into a network of places where you can refill. So essentially, you can top up a water bottle or you can get a coffee in a reusable cup or even go shopping with less packaging. Refill makes going plastic free easier. If you want details on links or any of these, email me at hello@theplanetrighatepodcast.com. Got an episode from episode 44 now. Remember, I told you about Martin Pitchley, a local driving instructor saying that the roads near the test centre of the aerodrome were too fast, virtues were too overgrown, signs were missing or obscured, there were poor road markings and he said altogether, it's not only unsafe but also pretty unfair on those new drivers being examined. As I say, got an update, Martin wrote to me saying, "I had several developments today which I can only think that your podcast certainly helped happen." Martin, really appreciate that. Thank you. We have a little bit of sway. I've been speaking to several councillors this week, one on the phone and a couple of others, eye to eye, face to face as well. And Martin goes on, "I've been invited to attend a meeting this Friday morning." So this is Friday, the second of August, that is, with an official from Righate Council. And I also received another email this afternoon, which said in part, "Thank you for the detailed information in the letter and the photos provided. I appreciate that the matters you've raised are frustrating and concerning, but I can assure you that we will look into them and will be in contact when we have further information. Thank you for taking the time to contact me, kind of regards the name of the director of highways and transport. And to be fair, as well, they might appreciate people getting in touch, because – and this is in defence of Surrey County Council – because they can't always know where a sign has gotten down. They can't always know where a bush is overgrown or where road markings seem to have disappeared or something like that. They can't know every single square meter of highway as well as they might. So they do rather rely, don't they, on people, on drivers, on pedestrians, particularly if you're a professional driver like Martin is, to contact them, to say, "Hey guys, don't know whether you appreciate it, but," and he kind of links in, doesn't it, to a story we spoke about last week about another school, which is after some bollards and some more signs and lower driving limits, outside one of the schools in South Rygate, you need to tell the people where you think they may have slipped up or something that perhaps they should, in vertical means know about, but don't. Anyway, so that was, I thought, very positive. Not only has he got a meeting, but also he had that letter back from the director of highways and transports. Thought I'd pass that on. Now, he also emailed me again on Thursdays. That's the first of August to say, "I am meeting directly with the council tomorrow. It's going to be 10 a.m. I've been invited to go around with a guy in his van to physically show him all the areas that are very concerning. I'm sure everyone will benefit from the changes. Thank you to the Planet Rygate podcast. Well, Martin, I appreciate the thanks, but thank you for helping to kind of push that through and having those eagle eyes as well and being able to, as I say, contact the people involved, a little bit of media pressure as well than how much sway we had, but as I say, I know that several councillors and people in the council and further afield, decision makers, influencers do listen to the podcast, so hopefully we have been able to make a little bit of difference." Talking of which I mentioned last week about how to get some free money for your group from a fund, that local councillors have to spend in their local community. So, news and congratulations to Sawford's Cricket Club for securing, get this, 431,000 pounds from this fund, which is called Your Fund. Sorry. They say, "Thanks to community efforts, the pavilion now has an accessible meeting space, a volunteer-run coffee shop, a modern accessible changing facilities for women's girls and disability cricket." Now, more on how you can get cash, not necessarily 431,000 pounds, but it will be for your group in last week's show. There's the email address in there, so you will be able to email and get some more information. So, it could just mean that you want a table tennis table for your group or something like that, which could just be £100 or may just be £50 to swell the coffers for maybe a petrol fund to pick up people or to drop them off or whatever it happens to be. I'm suggesting that if you do pick up people, you probably need to drop them off as well. You don't just take them to a community event and then abandon them. You get what I'm talking about. Rigen and Bands did Borough Council, inviting everyone who visits the borough's green spaces to help shape a new strategy that will make sure its parks and open spaces continue to meet the needs of local people and wildlife. You can tell I'm reading that out of a press release, can't you? Help shape a new strategy. Now, essentially, it's called the green spaces strategy and it's going to be looking at what people want out of parks. So, that could be your priory or your memorial, but also your Mirst and Rex or your battle bridges area where they've got the running track and things like that. Now, and also in the future, improving the quality of what is there, the facilities, but also the turf and the paving and the trees and that kind of stuff, and also the accessibility. Can you actually get to it? Is there parking? Is there accessibility for people with additional needs, that kind of thing? And this whole strategy is going to provide a clear and structured approach to managing the borough's green spaces to meet the needs of local people and wildlife. So, it's not just those kind of organised green spaces, but it's some of those other areas which you couldn't call a park, you couldn't call a wreck. But maybe, for example, the triangle of land just at the top of, you know, in Ellsworth, there, just on the corner. Yeah, just on the corner, before you go up the hill and down to, you know where I mean, just opposite the pub there, where the Ellsworth carnival is. Yeah, hasn't got a name? That area there? So, it's that kind of thing as well. Again, the council needs to know what you want them to know so they can do something about it, or not. You know, they've got the final decision, but again, they need to know what you want them to know. And anyone can have their say by completing a short survey about their experiences of the borough's green spaces and how they can be improved online, righaid-banstead.gov.uk/greenspaces-strategy, bit of a mouthful. If you want to know more, get in touch with me and I'll put you in touch with them. Incidentally, best open spaces for shady walks. So, there wouldn't really be open spaces with they, they'd be shaded spaces. For shady walks over the summer months, that list coming up in a few minutes time. Tim emails me, Tim Bellers, he says, "Hi, Peter, a few months ago, you featured me via my very good friend Dave Setters, who suffers from motor neurons disease." Yeah, I remember this. And Dave is an avid campaigner for MNDA. It's another one of those really horrific conditions, isn't it? I was speaking to somebody about this at the town hall a couple of days ago. Anyway, on Saturday the 20th of July says Tim, "I completed my seventh marathon," actually happened to be in Germany. "A seventh marathon in seven months in seven countries." It was a whole challenge for MNDA. I remember mentioning this, Tim. And he says, "I've just passed the £4,000 mark and would appreciate any publicity to push the total nearer to £5,000." Boy, oh boy. £4,000 is a terrific sum, but when you compare that with an ROI, return on investment of running seven marathons in seven months in seven countries, it doesn't really seem enough, does it? So Tim says, as I say, "I'd really appreciate any publicity to push the total nearer to £5,000." I said to Tim, "Can people take your email address, Tim?" And he said, "Yes, of course they can." So here it is, Tim Bellers, B-E-L-L-A-R-S at yahoo.co.uk. Tim, I really appreciate what you are going through to raise money and to raise awareness for people with motor-neuron disease and really appreciate you getting in touch and asking me to pass on your thanks and also your email address one more time. Tim Bellers at yahoo.co.uk deserves more than a yahoo for all of that, doesn't he? Do you have experience of leadership, a commitment to openness and the passion to make a difference in our communities? Well, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey says, "We're seeking skilled individuals to join our joint audit committee." And this may be particularly interesting. Actors, independent panel members in police misconduct hearings in Surrey. Now, they are few and far between, but they do come around occasionally and you don't necessarily hear about all of them because some of them are just kind of low level. They're not necessarily going to hit the headlines, but it may be something where a police officer is stepped out of line and needs to be reminded and needs to be referred upwards. Anyway, you get the idea. Both positions are vital to maintaining public trust in Surrey police, which of course is something we all want, and offer a unique and rewarding way to play a role in policing our county. This may be something that you're particularly interested in. So, you can join their joint audit committee or be an independent panel member. Now, you can learn more at, well, it's another complicated website address, but get in touch with me and I'll put you in touch with them if you want to know anything more about that. Here's another really interesting thing. Do you want to help build a new shooting range in Rygate? Yeah, it's at the Jordan Heights campsite up there on the hill. They say we really need you. A work party at Jordan Heights on Sunday the 18th of August, 10 till 4. Not only to build a new shooting range, but also build and move the pioneering store to finish the campfire circle, general maintenance of the site as well, and tidy it all up. I can't help thinking that if, possibly perhaps, if you're nice enough to give them a few hours of your time in helping to build a new shooting range, then you could be a bit cheeky and say, when it's open, I couldn't come down here and fire a few bullets and experience it for myself. That sounds interesting, doesn't it? So, if you're interested in that at the Jordan Heights Rygate campsite, again, get in touch with me and I'll put you in touch with them. Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com. A Fox Cub has been rescued after it got stuck in a wooden garden chair in Rygate. The female cub was freed by the RSPCA after officers from the charity were called to a garden in green haze close, are you? And we'll rescue Officer Chloe Wilson, said the distressed Fox Club had both front paws caught between the slats of the chair. It's the back slats. They were, I think, perhaps trying to climb up and their feet, their paws, got within the slats and then, of course, they couldn't push themselves up where the holes were wider, to ease themselves out. So, they were just literally left hanging. Chloe is quoted by the BBC saying, when I arrived, the young female Fox had cuts on her legs where she'd been pulling and tugging to try and free herself. Another Fox Cub was hiding nearby. Quote, "So, I suspect they've been playing on the furniture when she somehow managed to get herself trapped. I've put on some thick gloves and approached the vixen slowly and, thankfully, was slowly able to lift her up and free her paws." The cub was taken to the Wildlife Aid Foundation. That's over a leatherhead, isn't it? For treatment and rehabilitation, as I say, more on that story and pictures on the BBC website Search for Surrey. I'm loving this story from the Parrish Pump magazine, which is for Charles Wood Hookwood, Norwood Hill and Cidlow Bridge. If you want a copy of this, as I do, as I get, editorial@parrishpump@gmail.com, I'm going to read this out for you from the August edition, inspired fundraising from a young resident. Quote, "That this is being written by Kitty, aged eight. The school lost if we could raise some money for the PTA. I started with a pound to see how I could make more money for the school. I thought of an idea to make plants in pots with faces and give them all names for them to fit in. Then I went to Hobbycraft to collect the cups and the googly eyes. We put soil in the cups. Their mere mummy took cuttings from our favourite big plant at home. When we stuck the plants in the soil, then of course, we put water on the plant so they could grow and be happy. I thought of names for each one of them. Mummy told people in Charles Wood when I was doing to see if they wanted to buy any. So when I got home from school that day, I got the best news of my life. Someone had ordered Daily Dot. I'm guessing that would be a daylier. It might be money. I was so happy I screamed with excitement. Lots of orders came after that and we matched the plants to the people. Of course, the plant called Noah went to Reverend Sue. I like that. I was very busy making more pots every day, every day. In total, I raised how much do you reckon? Kitty aged eight started off with one pound and then in total, quote, I raised 115 pounds for the score. I'm very, very, very happy as well. You might be kitty aged eight. What an entrepreneur there. How absolutely fantastic. As I said at the start of the show, I can see Kitty being on being on the apprentice in years to come, can't you? Editorial dot parish pump at gmail dot com. If you would like a copy of that e newsletter sent to you every month, and I should also say that the Nutfield area magazine is called the Nutfield link as you probably know. It's been going for 599 editions after all, 599. Well, it's full of local news and information for that area available on subscription as a hard copy for five pounds a year. And this month, the August edition actually features an article on the Planet Brigade podcast. Yeah, feature on page 30, thanks to editor Phil for the coverage. And actually, you're going to hear more about Phil in a few weeks time on the podcast, bit of a quid pro quote. Contact him for more information on the Nutfield link at editor at nutfieldlink.co.uk. We've got sport in a few moments time. And also, I'm going to be telling you about that post on social this week, which asked, does anyone have any recommendations for a nice shaded walk in the area, even better if a pub is involved? Thank you in advance. And I'll tell you what people came up with in a few moments time right here on the Planet Brigade podcast. The Belfry shopping center, Red Hill, ditch the click for hassle-free local shopping in a welcoming environment. See, touch, smell and try before you buy and speak to real people who can advise you. The Belfry shopping center, Red Hill. Woodlands Letting's connecting landlords with tenants for over 20 years. If you have a property to let, pop into our office on station road by the Belfry main entrance for a coffee and a chat. Or call 01737 372 797. From Righate and Red Hill, Buckland, Bechwith and Brockham, great stories from places you love and people you know. This is the Planet Righate podcast. So, as I said a few moments ago, that post on social media over the course of the past week, when it was really hot, wasn't it? It was lovely. And that was asking, can people recommend please some local shady places that like when I say shady places, I think what they really meant was places with some shade, not shady places that it'll be dubious. You wouldn't want to walk there alone at night, you know, that kind of thing. Carol said, what about felland cops near Oldswood Lakes? Laura Louise said, "Through pryry woods up to the Skimmington castle." Yeah, that's another good one, isn't it? Lots of tree cover there. Yeah, you don't want to go on that kind of more open land there, particularly we get towards the Heath and so on. But yeah, keep the tree cover. Michelle pryry woods to Skimmington castle. Again, Oldswood Lakes come out by the plow pub that the theme here is obviously a watering hole slash drinking establishment, right gate hill walk along. And that's that's that shady, isn't it, for the first for the first part of it before you get up to the up to the memorial, certainly. And then to Moggodor, to the sportsman, being to the sportsman. Yeah, that's been there for a while. But yeah, yeah, the sportsman. The dog and duck outward has walked right next to the pub as well, not been there for a long time. So that's reminded me as Jenna has to get down there. Another vote for Moggodor and the sportsman pub. Leanne says, "If you go on to the dog and duck website, there's actually a list of circular walks you can do parking in their car park and ending back at the pub." That's good marketing, isn't it? Well done to the dog and duck for doing that. I think the skimm does something on that as well, doesn't it? "Non such park, not too close, but really good, a whole shaded woodland with a long walk." I'm going to come back to that in a second. "Buckland to righate Heath and go in the windmill church." Yeah, the heath can be shady, but also can be quite exposed as well alongside the the golf course there. I hear my report from righate Heath in last week's episode of the show. "Brockham across the fields to Bechworth. Again, I know that walk there's quite a bit open there and a homewood common in dawking is very shaded and keeps cool all day there as well." "Yeah, non such park. Do you know non such park?" I was brought up near non such park. It straddles the border of Epsomeneul and Sutton and Cheam. And it's right on that border. So if you go up righate Heath and I'm just thinking of the best way to kind of get there. If you go up to and just carry on going, essentially, as though you're going up to Banstead, and if you go left at the Azta down to Berheath and then down to the petrol station, are you following me? It's probably going to be easier to look up non such park, but it's huge. If you're familiar with Richmond park, it's a little like that, but without the deer, it is huge. It's kind of festivals there and open air concerts and things like that. Plus in the middle, there's an old, it kind of looks like a castle and it's got grounds. It's got garden grounds that you can go in which are kind of manicured and there's a lawn there and there's a little tea shop and so on. It's a kind of safe space. There's a lovely hill for kids to roll down as I've done several occasions. Sometimes quite recently, it has to be said, there's a sundial, there's a fish pond and that kind of thing. There's a woody area for them to explore and play things. So as I say, that's in the middle at the castle area, but also there's a huge area where you can take the dog and you're never going to walk on the same path twice. Non such park, check that out. It's, as I say, in Epsilon, you'll border with Sutton. Oh my gosh, you know what I've just done? I've just spent a while talking about somewhere that's not it. Yeah, yeah, so if you go to non such, just watch out for the dragons. But I thought it was worth mentioning. Okay, here we go. It's, it's, it is the Planet Right Gate podcast. I'm Peter Stewart. Let's move on to sport and a few things to mention this week. First of all, Dan got in touch to say Hawley United FC under 12's team are looking for two to three additional players to join the team for the coming season. Yeah, Dan goes on to say if you've got a player that's got some experience playing for a club, perhaps was part of a team last season, but didn't get much match time, then consider joining us. We've got a smaller squad size and that makes it more likely they're going to get more match time. Players must be going into year seven school in September. Training is twice a week. Match day is Sundays and you can check out the club at Hawley United FC dot club. So if you're interested in that or maybe because sometimes people go to clubs, don't they? They just don't fit in. Perhaps they're not getting the matches as Dan said, but also maybe you don't work together with other people in the team. Maybe you're, you're not quite gelling with the coach or something like that or maybe it's a little bit out of the way and you've got to drive some distance or maybe there's a date clash with when they're training and match days are, that kind of thing. You may want to check out Hawley United FC dot club from our friend Dan Reynolds. We've spoken on the show before because he is the guy between behind our age networking, which we often mention on the show. And that is a service and organizational group where you can get together if you are involved in business locally. So you can network with other people and swap ideas and expertise and so on. Got another mention here. I believe you've been kind enough to mention our events in the past, but just wanted to let you know about the open day we're hosting at Hawley Leisure Center on August the 10th. So this is going to be next Saturday. There are a taste of fitness classes and swimming lessons as well as free swimming and gym sessions. Plus we'll have some local businesses, food and drink and more, something for the whole family and the chance to find out more about what the center offers. Yes, you may not have thought to go down to the Hawley Leisure Center, maybe you're up near Rigate Red Hill Mercer, man. You're naturally perhaps more joined to Donning's and perhaps you go there very often, but maybe you've thought to yourself, I'll be really good if Donning's did this and they don't and maybe an occur to you to perhaps try out Hawley. So this is an opportunity for you to do just that. Saturday the 10th of August, they've got Taster Fitness classes from 8.30 in the morning through to 2.30 in the afternoon. Very a session, spin, body conditioning, zumba, I've done a bit of zumba, I know. Pilates mindfulness, this is me, isn't it? Pilates and mindfulness, dance sessions and a power pump and a taste of swimming sessions between 9 and 12 foundation for four plus, swimbies for the four years, for three months to four years, foundation, development, 25 metres and academy for advanced and a swim doctor as well. Plus more, you can get on to the website, better.org.uk/Hawley. If you want to find out more about that, it's a day of fun, food and free activities, open to all ages and interests, you'll find more ways to play at Hawley Leisure Center is what they say. Let's turn to lacrosse, Rygate lacrosse are running fun weekly sessions this summer, every Wednesday evening from 7 to half eight, a free trial session for new players, five pound a session after that, 50 pound for the whole summer, probably a bit of a discount as we're several weeks into it now. All abilities welcome from complete beginners to experienced players, more information, women's Rygate LAX. It sounds like a song, doesn't it, LAX there on the end, women's Rygate LAX at Outlook.com. And if Von Philip says from those first kicks to scoring hat tricks, nice line, little kickers are with you every step of the journey, our classes are running throughout the summer without a break. So if you like to grab an opportunity to try class for free and beat the autumn rush, then get in touch, East Surrey at littlekickers.co.uk and they've got sessions in Red Hill and Rygate as well. We've featured them on the programme before. If you want to know more about that, essentially it's a fun way to do sport, particularly kind of with a football bent, but also you're learning colours and numbers and teamwork and things like that at the same time, littlekickers.co.uk if you're interested in that. And we mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, Rygate Business Guild says they've got a golf day, Thursday 26th of September at Betchworth Park Golf Club. Join us for a fun day and evening, help raise money for Rygate's Christmas lights. And if you want some more information to get involved with that, then get in touch with me, I'll put you in touch with them and they also say non-golfers are also invited to attend the evening as well. Planet Rygate stars thanking local heroes out of this world. Follow us on social media and also subscribe to the show, maybe called follow wherever you get your podcasts. The name is always the same the Planet Rygate podcast. Okay, let's sprinkle a bit of star dust on a local hero. And this week from Rygate quote, this may seem silly, but just to quickly shout out the motor cyclist who stopped on Bancroft Road around 7.30 at night to rescue a squirrel out of the road. I hope the poor thing was okay. And thank you to the gentleman for rescuing it. We need more people like you. We do indeed. And that's why we are giving him a Planet Rygate Star award this week. The good time guide. Things to do and places to go on the Planet Rygate podcast. The story of Red Hill's hero, Solja. Coming soon, before we go at the end of the show, also we have our 60 second soundscape from the Borough Town of Rygate. But first of all, here's the second part of our good time guide. Not being told anything that's happening in the area on Monday. So let's skip forward to Tuesday. Now, over the past several weeks we've been talking about various holiday camps. Now, I've decided not to mention them every single day there on, because obviously you would have need to have booked up and I have covered them over at the past several weeks. So just going to be talking about the new ones which are starting this coming week. And on Tuesday, some holiday camps for children in Rygate, Red Hill and Merstham, total of 12 days to choose from. The children age between 4 and 10. From indoor full day musical theatre and dance camps to outdoor classes in Priory Park, more information Rygate School of Ballet.com and it is all there August 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 dance, drama, singing and crafts. They call themselves Rygate's most popular performing holiday camps. So let's move on and tell you about some other things which are happening across the area. Priory Park summer dance classes here. It's also by Rygate School of Ballet. So it's a little bit more information. Little Boogies 2 to 4, 10 to half 10. Mini Boogies aged 5 to 7, 10 35 to 11 oh 5, 5 pounder class. And if the weather is poor, the class moves to the community centre behind Morissons. To Thursday then, Thursday the 8th Athletics Academy via Athletics Kids. There's summer camps for ages 3 to 6 and 7 to 10. It's between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. all happening at St Beed School. Thursday the 8th, Monday the 12th, Tuesday the 20th of August. Various prices and times. Book now they say. And you need to search for, it's always an awkward one isn't it with this particular group. Athletics with an X on the end and Kids with a Z on the end. So if you check out their website you'll find some more details there. I always like talking about this. There's summer workshops for aerial work, aerial workshops. Great fun it sounds doesn't it? Red Hill studio based. They're talking about aerial hoop sling, silks, trapeze, dancing and singing, arts and crafts, energetic fun and unique they say. The 6th, 7th, 8th, 12th and 13th of August between 9 in the morning. Three in the afternoon, spaces are limited. It's a very awkward booking form number to give you and I say number because it's got about 20 digits in. So again as I always say the more information get in touch with me. I'll put you in touch with them. Hello at theplanetrighgatepodcast.com. Wednesday the 7th let's move on to the Merstrom Youth Project. Every Wednesday the 7th, 14th, 21st of August. 315 to 445 and then it goes into September 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 4, 30 to 6 a clock experience youth workers and they will be able to essentially look over what it is that's being done and to help you and invite you to play different activities and so on. Playplace.org. If you want some more information on that it's the Merstrom Youth Project at various locations for young people aged 8 and over. Friday the 9th of August really looking forward to this spoke about it in last week's show. It is the big event. It's the second annual cyclocross righgate which is happening so you can either go along and take part or go along and watch. Friday night food and drink bring your noise so it could be a cowbell, it could be a horn, it could be just your vocal cords and it's happening from late afternoon priori park and they say after the success of righgates inaugural non-ranking standalone trophy CX event CX is what us people in the know called cyclocross don't you know. Last year 2024 is going to be bigger and better than ever. New additions to the course racing in the under 12s, youths, juniors, seniors and vets in the open and women's only categories and opportunity to race as a team in the senior events. If you want to participate hopefully you've signed up already. Food and drink available bring your own noise enjoy the racing and there's also going to be an after party at the Pilgrin Brewery tap room after racing and the podiums every competitor over 18 getting a free pint of local beer. Now more information on the times the best place is to go what you need to take and so on so forth and such like cyclocross righgate.com and we always look ahead to the saturday as well just so you can get things sorted out for the following weekend and it goes like this. It's Surrey's Air Ambulance I'm mentioning this because even though it's going to be happening outside the area the Surrey Air Ambulance of course is based at Red Hill Aerodrome so it's Helly Funday Surrey so for at Loesley Park which is not a million miles away from Guilford meet the crew see our helicopter and yeah I know I mentioned Guilford watch out for the dragons once you go over that. CPR demonstrations games and prizes food stalls face painting and glitter stalls and as I say you'll actually be able to see the helicopter subject to emergencies plus book your tickets now but it's all free so mentioning that because it is the Surrey Air Ambulance that we share with Sussex that we share with the county of Kent as well and of course it is based in our neck of the woods in the planet righgate area in Red Hill Aerodrome so it's interesting if you go down to the Hangar 9 cafe what is called nowadays and as well as the Air Ambulance which flies from there also the BBC News helicopter flies from there as well I don't know whether they share that they share that with Skye and ITN ITV as well I'm not entirely sure but certainly it's the news helicopter and usually there's only one up at the at a time because usually you're following perhaps a prime ministerial car going to a palace or a funeral courtage or things like that so obviously they don't want too many up at the same time because they are literally need to be want to be in exactly the same place but anyway what am I saying in a long winded way as is my won't that it's always good to go to the aerodrome sit outside with a cool drink and see the various things as they take off okay this is the planet righgate podcast I'm Peter Stewart that's the good time guide and I'm back in a few moments time with the story of Red Hill's hero soldier planet righgate is the indoor pool at Donning's and the watersports lake at Mercer's and this is the planet righgate podcast so the next story comes courtesy of Graham on social media and I spotted this post a couple of weeks ago and I was waiting for just the right time to bring it to you Graham Norris wrote morning or little follow up on a previous post that I shared about local D.A.V. volunteers who now look after the Commonwealth war graves at redstone cemetery well that's already piqued my interest first of all do you know where redstone cemetery is where it's just off it's just up there off philanthropic road isn't it and I didn't realize that D.A.V. volunteers did that kind of work but anyway he goes on there was a grave there that didn't show up on our paperwork this does happen sometimes and they're off the ministry of defense graves and don't come under our care this should hopefully be changing soon so he said I contacted our area coordinator to find out if she knew and she told me it wasn't an MOD grave either and that it's probably a private grave so we're in the process now of trying to get it brought under our care which is a really good thing to do isn't it he was quite a man as brave as they come four years on the front line trenches involved in every major battle he says read his story he's a proper hero and he's been laid to rest in the very heart of red hill so you know what I clicked through to the link and I read a little bit more and I thought as it's the anniversary of both his birth and his death you would like to know a little bit more about Jack Harvey. Jack Harvey was born on the 24th of August 1891 in Peckham in London and he died on the 15th of August 1940 right here in Red Hill. In November 1914 he enlisted as a private in the London regiments in Camberwell be served on the western front and saw action at most of the major battles at Eap the Somme and Passchendale. It was in the latter stages of the war that Jack would perform the action which would lead to the award of the Victoria Cross. On the 2nd of September 1918 north of Piran in France when the advance of his company was held up by machine gun fire private Harvey dashed forward a distance of 50 yards alone through the English barrage and in the face of heavy enemy fire. He rushed a machine gun post shooting two of the team and bayonetting another. He then destroyed the gun and continued his way along the enemy trench. He single handedly rushed an enemy dugout which contained 37 Germans and compelled them to surrender. These acts of gallantry saved the company heavy casualties and materially assisted in the success of the operation. He was gazetted for the VC the Victoria Cross on the 12th of November 1918 and attended his investiture at Buckingham Palace on the 8th of March 1919 where he was presented with his VC by King George V. Also at his investiture was another Camberwell native George Cartwright VC. Jack was promoted to corporal following his VC action and was demobbed in 1919. He returned to civilian life and died at the tragically young age of just 48 on the 15th of August 1940 in Redhill. He was buried in Redhill Cemetery with full military honours. His medals including VC, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-1919 were brought privately in 2001 by Michael Ashcroft and are displayed in the Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London. Jack Harvey's citation on being awarded the VC said, "Throughout the entire operation he showed the most magnificent courage and determination and by the splendid example which he set to all ranks materially assisted in the success of the operation." There's the short story of Jack Harvey and if you would like to pay your respects to Jack you will find the site of his burial at Redston Cemetery in Redhill of course section C grave 2359 and if you'd like any more information on Jack and maybe after a picture of his gravestone so you can see what it is that you're looking for then contact me at the planet rico podcast and I'll make sure that you get that so again that's the story of Jack Harvey 1891 to the 15th of August 1940 and I just thought that in the month of the anniversary of both his birth and his death and because that grave and the story behind it has only recently been uncovered so to speak you'd like to hear about it on the planet rico podcast. [Music] The 62nd soundscape, local natural sounds uninterrupted. Before we go at the end of the show natural sounds from a place you know. This week riagate and the priory park fountain. [Music] [Music] [Music] The planet riagate podcast was produced and presented by Peter Stewart.