WHAT’S ON NEWS

Compton Club

Compton Club’s AGM will be held on Friday 6 December at 7pm. Only paid-up members will be allowed to attend and vote so remember to bring your membership card. To renew membership, visit compton-clubmembership. square.site/ or pay at the bar in the Club. New winter hours are Thursdays and Fridays from 7pm.

Onto the fun stuff… Come along to Compton Club’s Christmas Lights Party on Saturday 7 December, from 6pm till late. There will be mulled wine and mince pies, carol singers, Santa’s Grotto, plus the Best & Worst Christmas Jumper Competition. Then, on 31 December, the Club will be hosting a New Years Eve Party, from 6pm until 1am, featuring live music.

Later in the month, blast away the January blues and come to the Club’s Party For No Reason on Saturday 25 January from 6pm. www.comptonclub.co.uk.

DON’T FORGET, the Club is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 7pm.

CLT Pantomime Jan 2025

Tickets are selling fast for Red Riding Hood. Written by CLT's talented writing duo Frazer Woodhams and Fred Pollard, it's the story of Red, who is joined by her slightly dotty Granny, a couple of hapless wheeler-dealers, a conniving and ruthless property developer, an outrageous panto Dame and, of course, a Big Bad Wolf! Good and evil battle it out to save the village of Rosewood. With plenty of laughs and great songs, it's guaranteed to be fun for all the family.

The box office is now OPEN. Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 January 2025.

Compton Village Hall, 7.30pm and Saturday matinee 2.30pm, £12. Book online www.ticketsource.co.uk/clt or by emailing tickets@comptonlittletheatre.org.uk.

As always, CLT relies on a fabulous team of volunteers who work behind the scenes to bring our productions to the stage and is always seeking new people to join. No experience is necessary.

Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice

CALLING COMPTON CYCLISTS. Phyllis Tuckwell is launching Pedal to Paris, to help raise the final amount needed to fund the construction of its new hospice. The cycling challenge will take place from 10 to 13 September 2025, and will cover a total distance of 333 kilometres.

Setting off from the hospice site in Farnham, the route will take participants through Lewes to Newhaven, where, after an overnight hotel stop, they and their bikes will board the ferry to Dieppe, before cycling through picturesque countryside and along the Seine into Paris.

The route will include a total climb of around 8,200 feet, with a mixture of level stretches and rolling hills. Once cyclists have arrived, they will enjoy a celebration dinner and their bikes will be transported back to Farnham. They will then be free to enjoy Paris before heading home.

Phyllis Tuckwell is grateful to Cycle4Good (C4G), a non-profit organisation which is coordinating the entire trip and will accompany the riders throughout the challenge. Phyllis Tuckwell needs to recruit a minimum number of cyclists by 31 January 2025 in order for this challenge to go ahead. Please consider signing up now by registering via www.pth.org.uk/pedal-to-paris or emailing pedaltoparis@pth.org.uk to find out more. Companies interested in corporate sponsorship opportunities connected to this event are also urged to get in touch.

Van Arnhem Nursery

Ho, Ho, Ho! Visit Santa in his new Grotto at Van Arnhem Nursery, Priorsfield Road, GU7 2RQ, where you can also choose your homegrown Christmas Tree. A visit costs £6 and every child receives a gift. Santa will be in his grotto until 15 December.

www.hanschristmasandersen.co.uk/.

Godalming Museum

Godalming Museum’s Christmas Shop is open until Tuesday 24 December. The shop will offer a wide selection of Charity Christmas cards, beautiful, sustainable decorations and gifts for all the family, including stunning Hilary Webb jewellery, Selbourne pottery, and the Museum’s bespoke Godalming Calendar by local water-colourist Miri D'Ambrosio.

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.

Les Amities Francaises

Thursday 12 December & Thursday 23 January, 7.30pm until 9pm: Les Amitiés Françaises is hosting lectures in French. In the December talk, Peter Prowse will talk about the history of the Canal du Midi and its surrounding towns incorporating songs from the South of France. The January lecture, by Brigitte Thibaut, will be on the most iconic French couples. To find out more, visit www.amitiesfrancaisesgodalming.com. Talks take place at Wilfrid Noyce Community Centre, Oglethorpe Hall, Crown Court Car Park, Godalming, GU7 1DY.

What’s on in December & January at St Nicholas Church?

• 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. The last one of the year is on December 12 and it reopens on 6 January. Contact: fledglingscompton@gmail.com.

• Inside Outside meets on Saturday 7 December, 10am to noon (first Saturday of the month) 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

December

Sunday 1 4pm Christingle (suitable for all ages and includes making your own Christingle)
Sunday 8 10.30am Service of the Word
6pm Patronal Festival Communion
Sunday 15 10.30am Holy Communion
Sunday 22 6pm Carols by Candlelight (all welcome at our Carol Service)
Tuesday 24 4pm Christmas Eve Nativity/Crib Service (come dressed as a character from the
Christmas story – costumes also available in church.)
9.30pm Christmas Eve Midnight Communion

For more details visit: www.stnicholascompton.org

Milford Probus Club

On Friday 13 December, Milford Probus will be hosting its annual Christmas lunch. Instead of a talk, members and visitors (always welcome) will be treated to a conjuror. The Christmas lunch promises to be a special festive occasion to welcome people seeking companionship with others of shared interests and seeing how joining a friendly, active club could help to get more from retirement. The price is £48 for traditional three-course Christmas lunch, with fish and vegetarian options. There will be choice of good wines. Book by Sunday 1 December (details below). After lunch on Friday 17 January, Ian MacFarlane will give a talk on diabetes, a condition concerning chronically raised blood sugar with serious side effects. Type 1 diabetes is due to insulin deficiency and Type 2 to insulin resistance. Due largely to increasing obesity, Type 2 is rising rapidly and now affects 8% of the UK population. Exercise and weight loss are important in managing the condition. As a consultant physician and professor, MacFarlane has practical hospital experience of diabetes and has published research papers on it. 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).

Godalming Panto

Godalming’s Panto Jack and the Beanstalk runs from Saturday 14 until Saturday 28 December 2024 at

Godalming Borough Hall, GU7 1HR. Tickets: £15–£23.50. Check out guildfordfringe.com/events/jack-and-the-beanstalk-2024 or email info@wyschproductions.com.

Lynchpin Theatre

Godalming-based LynchPin Theatre will be celebrating its 25th birthday by reviving its very first play, Emily Dickinson & I — the journey of a portrayal. The play charts an actor’s journey into the heart and soul of America’s foremost female poet, Emily Dickinson. Actor Edie Campbell leads the audience through her 14-year journey of writing, researching, performing… and putting on Emily Dickinson’s dress. The result is an intricately woven dual biography of poet and actor, as Campbell makes sense of her own experiences through Dickinson’s poems and letters. Devised by Edie Campbell and Jack Lynch, Emily Dickinson & I premiered at The Mill Studio, Guildford, in December 1999 before a hugely successful run at the Edinburgh Festival and tours, launching LynchPin on its theatrical journey. The play returns to The Mill Studio, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, GU1 3UX, on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December. For tickets phone 01483 440 000 or visit www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/whats-on.

Conservatoire Concerts

Conservatoire Concerts invite you to the second concert of its Chamber Music Festival, on Saturday 7 December, 7pm at Godalming Baptist Church, GU7 1BA. The concert features Bodman String Quartet performing works by Haydn, Beethoven and Debussy.

As usual, Conservatoire Concerts always heralds the new year with a joyous Baroque Festival featuring the Purcell School Baroque Ensemble and musicians from various conservatoires around the UK. This Baroque Festival will take place on Thursday 9 and Saturday 11 January. All concerts start at 7pm at Godalming Baptist Church, GU7 1BA.

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

Mane Chance Sanctuary

On Wednesday 1 January, Mane Chance Sanctuary, GU3 1DL, is open to all for its annual New Year’s Day Walk. Take in the fresh air and the stunning views of the Surrey Hills, while meeting the charity’s rescue horses and ponies on route. Walks start at any time between 10am and 2pm. Hot food, hot chocolate, mulled wine and hot drinks are available at the end in the barn. Tickets cost £3 for adults, £2 for children and seniors while children under 5 (and dogs!) can come for free. Book at www.manechancesanctuary.org/New_Years_Day_Walk_2025.html.

St Augustine’s Abbey

St Augustine’s Abbey, Chilworth, GU4 8QR, is holding a special Advent Carol Service including the singing of ancient Gregorian Chant on Sunday 8 December 2024, at 3.30pm. Nestled in the serene surroundings of the Surrey Hills, the Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery offers a peaceful and reflective setting to celebrate the season of Advent together.

This Advent Carol Service is open to everyone, regardless of faith or belief. Whether you are a person of faith, exploring spirituality, or simply seeking a moment of peace and beauty, we warmly welcome you to join Chilworth's Benedictine monks.

This contemplative service will feature traditional Advent carols, the singing of ancient Gregorian Chant, Scripture readings and reflections led by Chilworth's Benedictine monks. Immerse yourself in the timeless music and messages of hope, peace, and preparation for the coming of Christmas. Visit www.chilworthbenedictines.com.

Godalming Panto - Jack and the Beanstalk

Bookings for Godalming’s Panto Jack and the Beanstalk are now open. The show will run from Saturday 14 until Saturday 28 December 2024 at Godalming Borough Hall. Jack and the Beanstalk will feature spectacular song and dance, colourful costumes and lots of fun and laughs for the whole family. Tickets: £15–£23.50. Pay What You Can tickets are also available and are for the exclusive use of people who cannot afford full price and would not be attending a pantomime without this scheme. It is not an opportunity to get a discount if able to pay full price. There will be a minimum the production can accept due to overhead increases. If in need of financial support, email info@wyschproductions.com. Schools, nurseries or clubs receive one FREE teacher/minder ticket per 10 tickets purchased. Email info@wyschproductions.com to arrange.

Fitsteps

CHA-CHA-CHA INTO CHRISTMAS. Wendy Taylor's FitSteps (non-partnered Latin and Ballroom dance exercise) and Yoga Flow classes continue to run at Compton Village Hall in term time. First class free! FitSteps runs on Wednesdays, 10-11am. Get your Strictly fix and have fun as you get fit and learn real dance steps. Yoga Flow runs Wednesdays at 11.15am to 12.15pm. Stretch and strengthen in a mindful and flowing yoga class set to relaxing music. Classes are suitable for beginners and improvers. To book, email wendygtaylor@gmail.com.

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 news 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Watts Gallery!

• Watts Contemporary Gallery’s annual print exhibition has returned just in time for Christmas. In Print: Nature's Realm hosts the work of eight UK artists, with a particular focus on celebrating the natural world. Meet some of the exhibiting artists on Saturday 7 December 2024 and Saturday 1 February 2025 to find out more about their work and the inspiration behind it. Exhibition on display until Sunday 2 February 2025.

• Start your Christmas shopping early at Watts Gallery's first ever Christmas Market on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December. Find unique, handcrafted gifts from local artisans.

• Families can get stuck in with lots of festive fun at Watts Gallery this December. Enjoy Festive Family Days (Saturday 14, Sunday 15, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December) and meet Victorian Father Christmas, explore the Flower Fairies exhibition and get creative during drop-in workshops, or head to regular Clay Club sessions and join Watts’ ceramicist for an hour of hands-on messy fun! After Christmas, look ahead to the New Year at The Make Space.

• Start 2025 with a splash of creativity and book onto a creative workshop. Fill up pages in your sketchbook with regular Saturday sketch sessions or discover the world of ceramics on a five week pottery course starting Tuesday 14 January 2025.

• To celebrate Mary Watts’s 175th birthday anniversary, Watts Gallery is delighted to present Mary Watts: A Legacy Reimagined, an exhibition featuring the work of five artists who have previously worked at Watts Gallery as artists in residence and exhibitors. On display until Sunday 22 December. On display in the Artist in Residence Studio.

• Head to Watts Gallery on Saturday 7 and Saturday 21 December for a guided tour exploring the life and work of Mary Watts. Discover the beauty and community spirit she brought to Limnerslease, the Chapel and Compton Pottery. Please note that parts of the tour take place outdoors, so warm clothing and sensible shoes are recommended.

• Explore Cicely Mary Barker's enchanting world through original artwork and personal sketches in Flower Fairies The Magical World of Cicely Mary Barker. Until Sunday 27 April 2025.

  DON’T FORGET, COMPTON RESIDENTS GET 50% OFF ADMISSION! VALID WITH A PROOF OF ADDRESS. www.wattsgallery.org.uk. Please check the website for opening times over the Christmas holidays. KD Fine Art’s last day for Christmas will be on Saturday 21 December and it will reopen on Thursday 2 January.

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

Godalming Choral Society

Godalming Choral Society’s next concert will be Felix Mendelssohn’s well-loved oratorio, Elijah, first composed in 1846. His masterpiece dramatically depicts the extraordinary life of the prophet and the composer was heavily influenced by the choral works of Bach and Handel. This will be performed on Sunday 30 March 2025 in the Great Hall, Charterhouse. Godalming Choral Society is seeking new members and welcomes singers who enjoy a broad range of joyful music. There is no need to audition. Rehearsals start Tuesday 7 January. 7.30pm at the Wilfrid Noyce Centre, Godalming, GU7 IDY. For further information and tickets, visit www.godalmingchoral.org.uk.

Guildford Jazz

“A Jazzy Christmas”, with Jo Harrop, Paul Edis & special guests

Friday 6 December

Featuring new arrangements of festive favourites penned by pianist Paul Edis and performed by the ‘velvet-voiced’ Jo Harrop alongside a nine-piece band,
A Jazzy Christmas will feature an
eclectic mix of classic Christmas hits such as ‘Santa Baby’ and
‘Driving Home For Christmas’.
From 8pm.

St John’s Church, St John's Street, Godalming GU7 3EJ.

Visit guildfordjazz.org.uk to book