ROUND UP: Duke of Kent opens memorial garden; Surrey Children pick book winner; Have your say on fire safety plan

Duke of Kent opens memorial garden at Ripley school

HRH The Duke of Kent was greeted by Surrey County Council Chairman Sally Marks when he opened a war memorial garden at Ripley Court School in Ripley to honour former pupils who lost their lives in battle.

Mrs Marks said: “It was lovely to see this new memorial garden so beautifully presented. The garden will help the school’s children learn about its history and of the supreme sacrifice made by past pupils.”

Surrey pupils pick Wilf the Mighty Worrier as best book – and help author celebrate

Around 400 pupils from schools across Surrey helped author Georgia Pritchett celebrate winning the county council’s children’s boook award.

The children from 11 primaries across the county attended the ceremony after voting ‘Wilf the Mighty Worrier Saves the World‘ the best book for readers aged seven to nine.

They chose it ahead of  four others shortlisted for the sixth annual Surrey Libaries’ Children’s Book Award.  They were:

• The Leaky Battery Sets Sail by Gareth P Jones
• The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt
• The Accidental Prime Minister by Tom McLaughlin
• A Tiger Tale by Holly Webb

Richard Walsh, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Localities and Community Wellbeing, said: “The award is a great way to encourage children to enjoy books and it’s fantastic that local schoolchildren get a chance to pick the winner. Reading is an important skill and we hope this scheme, along with the many others we run, encourages children to make the most of their local library.”

The 11 schools were:

• Ashford Park Primary School, Ashford
• Beaufort Community Primary School, Woking
• Claygate Primary School, Esher
• Earlswood Junior School, Redhill
• Laleham C of E Primary School, Staines
• Pyrcroft Grange Primary School, Chertsey
• Salfords Primary School, Redhill
• St. Andrew’s C of E Primary School, Cobham
• St. Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Ashford
• Stamford Green Primary School, Epsom
• Wray Common Primary School, Reigate

Have your say on fire safety plan

Two meetings are taking place next week to help people have their say on the fire and rescue service’s Public Safety Plan for the county.

The events, which are being held during a consultation on the plan, take place between 7pm and 9pm at Guildford Fire Station (Wednesday 18 May) and Reigate Fire Station (Thursday 19 May). Further details can be found online.