Archive for

IN PICTURES: Magna Carta 800th anniversary celebration

Fish weirs, Doctor Who and Fort Knox – things you didn’t know about Magna Carta

In the last in a series of videos celebrating 800 years of Magna Carta, TV historian David Starkey reveals that a host of US states still include the historic document in their constitution – including a reference to fish weirs on the Medway and Thames – while other fascinating facts linked to the charter feature Fort Knox … Continue reading →

Jail sentence for serial rogue trader who made £100,000 out of Surrey residents

A serial rogue trader who fleeced vulnerable Surrey residents out of more than £100,000 by overcharging for shoddy building work has been jailed for three years. James Saunders, 51, charged extortionate sums for repairs to roofs and drains before he was stopped in his tracks by trading standards officers. He preyed on elderly people, using … Continue reading →

Call for greater powers for the South East goes to government

West Sussex, East Sussex and Surrey county councils will join forces to lead the call for greater powers and freedoms to be devolved to the South East. All three council leaders have signed a letter that has been sent this week to Greg Clark – Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – in … Continue reading →

Surrey library book turns up nearly 4,000 miles away in America

A book that vanished from a Surrey library has turned up nearly 4,000 miles away in an American city. John Van Der Kiste and Nicola Sly’s More Cornish Murders was last seen at Surrey County Council’s Dittons Library five years ago. Now the true crime book has resurfaced at Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. … Continue reading →

Warning over bogus ‘miracle cure’ which could be on sale in Surrey

Trading standards officers are warning that bleach-like chemicals touted as a miracle cure for cancer and other diseases could be on sale at an event in Surrey this weekend. Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards* is concerned that potentially harmful products will be available to buy or consume at an event being held in the Farnham … Continue reading →

ROUND UP: BBC historian to give Magna Carta talk; Nominate your unsung hero; Learn new digital skills at Guildford Library

BBC historian to give Magna Carta talk Historian Dr Nick Barratt, who has made regular appearances on BBC’s ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, will give a talk in Surrey on the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta. The ‘1215 And All That’ talk takes place at Surrey History Centre, Woking, on Saturday … Continue reading →

Plan ahead for royal event to mark Magna Carta anniversary

With preparations for the Queen’s visit to Runnymede to mark Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary in full swing, residents and businesses are being urged to plan ahead. The Queen will be joined at the site where the charter was sealed in 1215 by dignitaries including The Duke of Cambridge and The Princess Royal and the job of setting … Continue reading →

County council chairman invites Surrey’s mayors and chairmen to County Hall

You can download this image here.   Not in photo: Mark Francis, Mayor of Spelthorne Borough Council Joanne Potter, Mayor of Surrey Heath Borough Council Melanie Odell, Mayor of Haslemere Town Council   Caption: Chairman Sally Marks met with Surrey’s mayors and chairmen for the first time since pledging to promote businesses, champion the vital work of … Continue reading →

IN PICTURES: Celebration of ‘wonderful’ work of volunteers

As national Volunteers’ Week draws to a close, here’s a celebration in pictures of the people in Surrey who work tirelessly for good causes together with a video of Cabinet Member for Localities and Community Wellbeing Richard Walsh hailing the “wonderful” work they do in local communities.

Record number of 12 Surrey groups win the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Twelve Surrey groups have received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. Below is a press release from the Queen’s representative in Surrey, Dame Sarah Goad DCVO JP. Record number of 12 Surrey groups win the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2015 The UK … Continue reading →

Foster mum backs push to find more foster carers in Surrey

A mum who has fostered a 15-year-old is appealing to others to offer a loving home to a teenager who needs one. As Foster Care Fortnight gets underway, Vicky is urging would-be foster families to consider opening their homes to teenagers as well as babies and younger children. She says her experience of fostering a … Continue reading →

VIDEO AND PICTURES: Behind the scenes at new fire station in Guildford

A new state-of-the-art fire station in Guildford is almost complete. Firefighters are moving equipment to the brand new site next door to the existing station and testing the facilities. The new building features better training facilities, particularly for honing rescue techniques at road accidents, and also includes spaces to work with local school children and other community … Continue reading →

Deputy leader helps launch Surrey space centre

A new space centre, which will be used to send four satellites into orbit this summer, has been launched by Guildford-based Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) with the help of county council deputy leader Peter Martin. Mr Martin said: “The facilities are really are out of this world and I have no doubt they will be the … Continue reading →

ROUND UP: Skills festival for teenagers in care; Towpath safety

Skills festival for teenagers in care A summer festival to help teenagers in care pick up useful life skills such as cooking, budgeting and DIY will take place on 4 July in Woking. The annual Surrey Skills Festival has been organised by Surrey County Council and is free to attend for all Surrey looked after … Continue reading →