It's been a fantastic year for the county, but of course, there's been the ups and downs, but this year Essential Surrey is only focussing on the ups. 2019 has been a year full of blessings and as we say goodbye and close another chapter, we take one final look on the past year and celebrate the community in all its glory. From all of us here, happy new year and may it be a good one...
1. Sorrel received a Michelin Star
Tamarind duck with fried cauliflower by Steve Drake
Steve Drake, who just a few days after scooping the AA Restaurant of the Year Award, saw his Dorking-based fine dining venue Sorrel, receive an all-important Michelin star. Yes, that's right - a Michelin star! But Steve Drake is no stranger to success, the British chef has been a Michelin star title holder now for the best part of 15 years. And this star proves that he truly is Surrey's most decorated chef. You can read our interview with him here.
2. George secured a giant pledge
George Woodhall has endured 14 rounds of chemotherapy, 10 hours of surgery that removed part of his spine – and left him needing to learn to walk again – and 30 bouts of proton therapy carried out during one of the USA’s fiercest hurricanes. But despite all of this, his family, the Woodhalls fight to keep things positive.
During their brief time at the Marsden they had discovered that, for every £100 raised for research, only £1.27 goes towards combating childhood cancers – despite the fact that 11 children in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each day and, of that 11, three will die. So, as champagne corks popped across the land that New Year’s Eve, the Woodalls launched George and the Giant Pledge with the core objectives of highlighting childhood cancer and raising a whopping £100,000 for the Royal Marsden.
3. A new dementia care home opened
Every step I took it felt like walking on eggshells. A feeling that instantly made me feel sick to my stomach. A crackling, overpowering noise in my ears threw me into a state of confusion. So, much so, that every task I tried to complete was impossible. I found myself countless times, just stood there, confused and unsure. And my vision, the one thing I relied on so heavily was obscured.
This is what living with dementia is like. It's like standing in the middle of chaos, feeling completely vulnerable, scared and the worst of all; confused. This is how a virtual experience of dementia made me feel - and it was only three minutes long. When the experience was over - I was shocked. "Is this all the time?" I asked the attendant in charge of the virtual reality tour. "Every second, of every day" he replied.
Every three seconds someone in the world is diagnosed with dementia. The Devonshire Dementia Care Home & Day Centre in New Malden launched in September with a dedicated safe place for those suffering from dementia, where the home is set up uniquely to help trigger memory.
4. The community came together
Organizers were informed that the event which is taking place on November 29th is set to be cancelled due to a lack of funds raised from traders.
But in true local spirit, a group of traders and local residents in a race against the clock tried to raise money for the event to still go ahead as planned. In support, the council had waivered all fees to close the road and divert the traffic, which had helped efforts immensely.
The goal was to raise £5,000 by the 9th of November, which was the cut off deadline to raise funds needed to have the event go ahead. But the event went ahead as usual with massive thanks to Polly from The Kings Head and Lisa Wyborn.
5. The Richmond magazine celebrated its 20th birthday
It’s 20 years now since it appeared; 20 years since the slimline launch issue dropped nervously onto the first unsuspecting mat: March 1998.
Two gentlemen of this parish – Con Crowley, a Kew-bred journalist with a long track record in local publishing who had edited the Kingston Guardian at the age of 25, and Alex Whitney, sometimes estate agent turned sales executive from Sheen joined forces to create a household name.
“Nothing at that time was really tapping into the name and cachet of Richmond,” recalls Con. “The coffee table titles didn’t relate so closely to local areas back then. Yet here we had the chance to do something in a place like no other. It had the beauty, the cultural richness and a wonderful community too. Richmond is unique – not just in London, but in the UK and perhaps even the world.”
“We’re journalistically, as well as commercially, motivated and we’ve always taken that side of things seriously,” says Con. “We want to provide something interesting and relevant and we’ve been lucky with the quality of our writers. Some of the content has to be ‘aspirational’, though I hate that word, I think we’ve always managed to ensure that there is a deeper element too."
6. Lisa Hillyard won the Certificate of Excellence
Lisa Hillyard of Ewell-based salon Lisa's had received the Certificate of Excellence for her beauty business. The popular beauty hotspot celebrates six years in the village this month and has seen its offer of non-invasive, machine-based treatments grow in popularity. Lisa says her aim is to help clients "get trimmer and look younger through technology." And we think she's doing a great job!
7. Battersea Arts had a message for Donald Trump
Manuel Vason
On Friday, March 13, 2015, Battersea Arts Centre’s Grand Hall burnt down. On Friday, July 13, 2018, it offers a sneak preview of the renewed Grand Hall, as the first of ten free Phoenix Events in the coming months to thank members of the public for their support. This first event offers people a glimpse of the emerging Grand Hall, while actor and patron Toby Jones will read a poem telling the story of the public’s response to the fire, and a musical parade will be led by theatre company Little Bulb. The event marks the beginning of the countdown to the official re-opening of the Grand Hall on September 6.
To mark the occasion Battersea Arts Centre invited its community to come together to celebrate the values which have helped the arts centre re-open. When it was announced that President Trump would be visiting the UK on the same day, Battersea Arts Centre decided to share these positive Battersea-values with him.
“‘Not for me, Not for you, But for Us’ is Battersea’s mid-19th-century motto and is one of Battersea Arts Centre’s core values. We think it captures a spirit of generosity and shared endeavour. We believe in building connections across communities to bring people together. We believe in the power of love and unity to make positive change. We believe in the central and powerful role of women to make the world a better place. We believe that art is a force for good and that everyone is creative.
“Because President Trump is coming to the UK on the same day as we re-open the Grand Hall, we thought we would address our optimistic set of messages to one of the world’s most important leaders. When our community assembled for the photograph, including members of our social dance class, our beatbox academy, young creative entrepreneurs, volunteers, artists and staff, there was a palpable and positive sense of a community coming together. Not to protest or to be angry. But to champion the things which we care deeply about."
8. Thali Ho won the best curry in Surrey
If you're looking for the best curry in Surrey, then you don't need to look any further! Thali Ho – Indian Kitchen has been recognized as the Best Indian Restaurant in the London Suburbs at the prestigious Asian Curry Awards 2018, which was held on Sunday 18th November 2018.
The restaurant itself was founded back in 2017 by two brothers Shamim & Shah Malek. After a year of hard work and a true passion for food, Thali Ho has now received the recognition that it deserves.
And last year, Thali Ho scooped the award for “Best Casual Dining Restaurant” at the same ceremony after only three weeks of opening.
9. Suzanne Antelme won Poet of the Year
Surrey based Suzanne Antelme has become a winner of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year award for the second year running. Suzanne who is 17 has been homeschooled her entire life and only started writing poetry 3 years ago. Her winning poem, small print can be seen online at essentialsurrey.co.uk and will be included in the upcoming Poetry Society anthology. Suzanne has ambitions to publish her own collection and is also interested in politics and journalism. Currently, she is an intern at Sheengate Publishing - we are delighted to have such a talent on the team.
10. Bryony Farmer won Best Young Entrepreneur at the Best Business Women Awards 2018
Kingston's Bryony Farmer, founder and creator of business Precious Stars, wins the award for Best Young Entrepreneur at the Best Business Women Awards 2018, held at Tewin Bury Farm in Welwyn.
Running Precious Stars, a business providing reusable cotton pads for women to use during their periods was created by Bryony herself, after striving for an eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons.
Starting her business at the age of just 15, Bryony now sells her products on her website (www.preciousstars.co.uk) and uses her Youtube channels PreciousStarsPads and BreeFarmerVlogs to promote them. Now 21, her company is well underway and her ambitious personality won’t let her stop there. She hopes to use her growing platform to tackle period poverty. And the judges at the Best Business Women Awards 2018 did not fail to recognize this tenacity.
11. We survived the Beast from the East
This year saw the county being shaken by the Beast from the East, which arrived at the end of February. It was all over the newspaper outlets and everyone literally could not stop talking about it! And for good reason! Not only the county, but the country was held in the Beast's icy clutches for weeks, which brought with it torrential snow and freezing temperatures that kept on dropping. At one point, Surrey was even rumoured to be colder than Moscow!
Schools closed and roads were blocked off and even the lions at Chessington Zoo didn't know quite what was going on. But the little ones had the best time sledging down through the parks! Even if it was the coldest winter since 1986!
12. Prime spot for filming
Neil Genower
Of course we know that the county of Surrey is known as a prime location for filming, but this year Surrey took the spotlight once again in September with the drama Vanity Fair. Did you notice the Surrey stately home in the background of some of the scenes? If so, you weren't mistaken, West Horsley Place took centre stage and we were all happy to see it!
Martin Clunes, who had played Sir Pitt Crawley, said: “West Horsley was my favourite of all of the houses we visited. Freezing but beautiful.” You can read our full interview with him here.
13. We remembered
@pwalkersculptor
This year the county marked 100 years since the end of the First World War with a lot of services and parades to commemorate. Did you know that more than 8,000 men from Surrey had lost their lives in the conflict? And people across the county turned up in the thousands to pay their own respects.
The Guildford Cathedral, in particular, had hosted a few events for Armistice 2018. One of them was the Poppy Fields artworks light show that took place on the 5th and 6th of October that was a truly incredible experience.
14. Mary Welland was rewarded for her service
Darren Pepe
Alongside this, Mary Welland, who was a nurse in the Second World War had been honoured with medals for her service in the war, more than 70 years after its end. Mary Welland from Guildford had been awarded two special medals to thank her for her work in the RAF Medical Corps from 1939 to 1945.
At 96, Mary was honoured with the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-1945 by the Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Lord Molyneux, during the service at Guildford Cathedral.
15. Connor Brown made his dreams come true
Connor Brown, a teenager from Surrey who suffers from cerebral palsy - a disease that affects his motor skills has featured and displayed his outstanding artwork for the first time.
His A-level artwork and eye-catching photography had been showcased through the summer at an exhibition in Sussex Coast College - and it's this work that has helped him land a place to study in The University of Hastings.
Growing up in the care system, Connor has now found a place he can call home and feel motivated to live out his wildest dreams. The modest nineteen-year-old gives thanks and praise to his foster family, whose support and love has helped him succeed and believe that anything is possible.