Compton Village Fete 2025 will be held on Saturday 17 May, 12pm to 4.30pm. Come along and enjoy a fantastic afternoon of traditional Fete fun for all ages. Facebook users can find the latest fete news at www.facebook.com/ComptonVillageFete. Proceeds will be shared between various village causes, including the Allotments, Compton Club, Compton Little Theatre, Compton NEWS, St Nicholas Church, Compton Village Hall, plus Village projects and a chosen charity, which will soon be announced. The Compton Fete Committee is ALWAYS seeking volunteers. Please email elenidhafcoleman@gmail.com. Save the date for the Compton Village pre-Fete Family Fun Day, on Friday 28 March, Compton Club from 5pm. The fun includes creative fun for the children and will also be a drop-off point for any donations for the Fete stalls. Thinking of volunteering? Come along and meet the team on the afternoon.

Compton Parish Council - Annual Litter pick

Compton Parish Council is organising the annual litter pick on Saturday 22 March. It starts at 10.30am, at the Compton Club, and volunteers can return there for hot soup and rolls at midday. Many hands make light work of clearing all the rubbish discarded around Compton over the past year so please join. It is a social occasion and helps to make the village look spring-ready. Litter pickers, high-viz jackets and bin bags are provided, but please bring your own gloves. -The next PC meeting is on 19 March, 7pm, Pucks Oak Barn. -The Annual Parish Meeting is on Wednesday 7 May at 7pm, Compton Club. This is an opportunity to find out Compton PC’s plans for the coming year, whilst enjoying a drink and a light supper.

Les Amities Francaises

On Thursday 27 February, from 7.30pm until 9pm Les Amitiés Françaises is hosting a lecture in French. Germaine Jones will talk about the origins of the most well-known French symbols and emblems. To find out more, visit www.amitiesfrancaisesgodalming.com. Talks take place at the Wilfrid Noyce Community Centre, Oglethorpe Hall, Crown Court Car Park, Godalming, GU7 1DY.

What’s on in February at St Nicholas Church?

It was great to see so many of you in church over Christmas. As we start a New Year, you are very welcome to continue to join us as we meet together. All events and services are free. More details can be found on www.stnicholascompton.org.

• Muddy Church, a space for all for wandering & wondering with God, is on the first Sunday of every month (except school holidays). It returns on Sunday 2 February at 10.30am.

• Toddler group Fledglings is on Mondays, 9am (term-time) at Pucks Oak Barn. Contact: fledglingscompton@gmail.com.

• Inside Outside meets on Saturday 1 February and Saturday 1 March, 10am to noon to keep the church and churchyard looking good. Contact stnicholascompton.wardens@gmail.com.

• Bell ringing practice is once or twice a month on Tuesdays at 10am, with bell ringing on Sundays from 10am to 10.30am. Contact phil.gorton@btinternet.com.

• Baptisms, weddings & funerals: Please contact our Rector, Sally, if you would like to mark a family milestone at St Nicholas.

• If you would like someone to pray for you or with you, contact our Rector, Sally: stnicholascompton.rector@gmail.com. Confidentiality will be respected.

  Thanks & blessings, Revd Sally Buddle

February
Sunday 2 10.30am Muddy Church — All You Need Is Love
6pm Evensong
Wednesday 5 10.30am Book of Common Prayer
Holy Communion
Sunday 9 10.30am Holy Communion
Sunday 16 10.30am Holy Communion
Sunday 23 10.30am Holy Communion
Details of all Church services can be found at www.stnicholascompton.org

New Organist at St Nicholas Church

Greeting from St Nicholas’ organ bench. Richard Dacey is the new Organist and Choir Director at St Nicholas. He’ll be playing the beautiful Kenneth Jones organ on Sunday mornings at 10.30am and at Evensong on the first Sunday of the month. Richard studied music at the RCM in London and has enjoyed a varied career as a teacher, performer and music theatre vocal coach. He’s also chairman of the Vivace Chorus in Guildford. If you are interested in joining the choir at St Nicholas, then now is the time as the Choir Director is hoping to provide opportunities for young people to gain experience in singing, organ-playing and performing in junior workshops and concerts. The church building is an inspiring venue for the arts and there are plans to organise a concert series in the village on a regular basis, hence the need for more singers. Email stnicholascompton.organist@gmail.com or come and chat to Richard after a service in church on Sunday.

Godalming Museum

Godalming Museum has several exhibitions running in February:
- Blue Sky Artists. Tuesday 7 January to Saturday 15 February. A small group of local professional and semi-professional artists who exhibit together at various UK venues in London and across the south of England.
- Charterhouse Art Takeover in Godalming. Tuesday 18 February to Saturday 15 March. Throughout the month of February, Charterhouse School is showcasing artwork created by year groups from 9 to 12. From textiles to photography and painting, there is a diverse range of ideas and media within the exhibition. Charterhouse students have worked extremely hard to produce wonderfully creative and exciting pieces. Visit Godalming Museum to see a body of the students’ work, along with a list of other exhibiting venues.
- Lecture: Surrey and the New Space Revolution by Professor Craig Underwood. Wilfrid Noyce Centre. Friday 21 February, 7.30pm-9pm. Underwood is Emeritus Professor of Spacecraft Engineering at the University of Surrey. His lecture tells the story of how Surrey pioneered the “New Space” revolution.

Compton Triptych reunited at Godalming Museum In 2011, sculptor Jon Edgar searched for Compton clay to work on a head of former curator of the Watts Gallery, Richard Jefferies. Jon came across Brickfields Pottery, the home of artist/potter Mary Wondrausch (1923-2016; her self-designed grave and relief panels are worth visiting at the top of the Memorial Chapel grounds, in Compton cemetery). Mary offered a bag of clay quarried from work on the foundation of her house but Jon felt it would be a sacrilege not to use the material for a sitting with the remarkable woman he had just met. This posed a dilemma. Having previously used the idea of three linked heads, he felt it appropriate to think of a third head to create a Triptych for Compton. An appeal was launched in the Compton NEWS and a number of candidates, both living and historic, were suggested. Jon thought it fairest to select solely on the strength of feeling in the Parish as all suggestions were equally sincere. This meant that he had not even seen the subject prior to starting the head, which made it more interesting. Jane Turner, described as a “village stalwart”, turned out to be the chosen candidate for the third head. The three heads were part of The Living Clay exhibition at the Lewis Elton Gallery at the University of Surrey. Subsequently, the head of Richard Jefferies was displayed at the entrance to the newly named Richard Jefferies Gallery in the restored Watts Gallery in 2011. After it was removed, the three heads went their separate ways on various loans. The three terracottas have now been reunited and have been acquired by Godalming Museum for perpetuity. Jon has a new carving at Winchester Arc’s Every Step of the Way exhibition between April and July; his ‘Portal’ carving (2013) sits on the old A3 route at Hindhead.

Godalming Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. It is located next to the Town Council offices, by the Pepperpot, 109A High St, GU7 1AQ. Visit www.godalmingmuseum.co.uk / 01483 426510.

Milford Probus Club

After a friendly lunch, on Friday 21 February members of Milford Probus and visitors (always welcome) will have a talk by Kevin Foo, who has worked in mining as scientist, miner, mill operator, manager and director. This includes the process development of gold, tin and base metal refractory ores, a 10-year diversion into the oil and gas industry, and 30 years as an entrepreneur in these fields. In addition to its local impact, mining has a clear connection with climate change which will be explored. Milford Probus is a club for retired and semi-retired business and professional men and women who enjoy comradeship, informative talks and wider activities. Lunch is at 12.30pm (pre-lunch drinks from 12pm), Godalming Masonic Hall, GU7 1RQ. If interested, visit www.milfordprobus.com, or book a lunch (book the Monday before please) with Jon Warnke (jgwarnke@btinternet.com/07818 602699).

Conservatoire Concerts

Conservatoire Concerts is organising a Violin and Harp Concert on Saturday 8 February, 7pm, at Godalming Baptist Church, GU7 1BA. Anna Zaffagni (violin) and Isabel Eberhardt (harp) will be performing a programme featuring well-known and favourite pieces by Debussy, Saint-Saëns, Telemann, Bach-Gounod and more.

To book, visit https//conservatoireconcerts.org.uk. Admission is FREE with a retiring collection towards musicians’ fees and expenses

Sandra’s Yoga classes

Sandra’s popular yoga classes will continue until December. Mondays and Fridays, from 10.30am until 12pm. The classes are full-ish with enthusiastic attendance, so email Sandra if interested at willpower24@talktalk.net.

Watts Gallery - Dates for your diary

• Discover captivating illustrations and sketches by Cicely Mary Barker in Flower FairiesThe Magical World of Cicely Mary Barker and follow the magic into the Watts Gallery woodlands with an outdoor Tree Fairy Trail. Explore the exhibition in more depth with a lunchtime tour on Thursday 6 February by Exhibitions Curator, Corinna Henderson. Exhibition runs until Sunday 27 April 2025.

• A new exhibition is coming to Watts Contemporary Gallery. The Spirit of Charleston features the works of 10 artists embracing the exuberant spirit of Charleston Farmhouse, in Lewes, created by the Bloomsbury Group’s Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant in the early 20th Century. Discover vibrant colours and playful patterns. From Thursday 6 February until Sunday 6 April 2025.

• Learn tips and tricks to bring your sketchbook pages to life on Saturday 8 February with the monthly Saturday sketch workshop. Be inspired by the Watts Gallery grounds and collection.

• February half term is fast approaching, so round up the kids and head to Watts Gallery for some fairy-tastic family fun, from decorating fairy doors and wing embossing at Flower Fairies Family Days, to creating your own fairy tea party during the weekly Clay Club. See website for dates and times.

• Watts Gallery’s five-week pottery course with ceramicist Luisa Cacciotti returns on Tuesday 25 February, with weekly sessions running through to Monday 25 March. Learn a range of hand building techniques, as well as getting the opportunity to throw on the potter’s wheel.

  DON’T FORGET, COMPTON RESIDENTS GET 50% OFF ADMISSION! VALID WITH A PROOF OF ADDRESS.

• Check the website for details of events and to book tickets: www.wattsgallery.org.uk

Godalming Choral Society

Godalming Choral Society, under talented conductor George de Voil, is performing Mendelssohn’s choral masterpiece Elijah with professional orchestra and soloists in the beautiful Memorial Chapel at Charterhouse School on Sunday 30 March 2025. Elijah was one of Mendelssohn’s last compositions, but still full of youthful vigour and music, magnificently dramatising the life of the prophet. He died the following year, aged only 38. First performed in 1846 and well-loved in its time, its popularity declined in the last century as it was thought over dramatic. Recently revived, the piece is again regarded as a success. Mendelssohn’s most monumental oratorio brings the bible story to life with operatic gusto. Come and be swept away. For further information and tickets, visit www.godalmingchoral.org.uk.

Arts Society Woking

On Tuesday 11 February, ARTS SOCIETY WOKING’s talk is New Dawn. A Memorial for Women’s Suffrage, Houses of Parliament. Speaker Mary Branson is best known for her large-scale conceptual light installations, particularly the iconic New Dawn 2016 sculpture in the Houses of Parliament, which celebrates the centenary of the Suffrage movement and is the first permanent piece of contemporary abstract art in the Palace of Westminster. She has created works for the London 2012 Olympics, The Magna Carta Memorial at Runnymede, Royal Holloway University and more recently Harvest, a huge site-specific installation at Box Hill, Surrey in collaboration with the National Trust. Branson is an award-winning print maker, a choreographer for performance and dance events, and a mentor and public speaker, having lately returned from a lecture tour to New York and Washington DC. She has held a number of artistic residencies, including for Parliament and HM Prison service, where she led an art group for women prisoners. Branson is artist in residence at Watts Gallery. Talks start at 10.30am but doors open 9.45am for tea and coffee. The venue is Normandy Village Hall, GU3 2DT. Members may bring a visitor, who may want to make a donation to the Society of £6.

Guildford Jazz

Jo Fooks Quartet
Wednesday 5 February

Born in Edinburgh, saxophonist Jo Fooks was named ‘Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year’ in 1992, which led to study at the Guildhall and a scholarship to Berklee School of Music’s summer jazz programme. Subsequently, she received an invitation from British trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton to join his band, touring all over the UK. Citing Humph’s “fun-filled and melodic” approach as a major influence (along with Illinois Jacquet, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon & Cannonball Adderley), Jo’s big, bright sound has also been compared to iconic players such as Stan Getz.

8pm

Guildford Pavilion, Woodbridge Road, Guildford, GU1 4RP.

Sara Oschlag & Pete Long
“the duke ellington songbook”
Thursday 20 February 2025

Sensational Danish-born singer Sara Oschlag and Director of the Ronnie Scott’s Big Band Pete Long
pay tribute to the 1957 recording session “Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Duke Ellington Songbook' , arranged by Billy Strayhorn. The music is stunning,
the band is swinging, and we wholeheartedly advise you to get a ticket while they are available!

With Colin Good on piano, Matt Skelton on drums and Marianne Windham on bass.

20:00 22:30

Guildford Pavilion The Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road Guildford GU1 4RP

Visit guildfordjazz.org.uk to book