After a full day at work - exacerbated by the vagaries of South-West Trains and London Underground - Larry somehow finds a second wind for the multiplicity of tasks to be tackled in the evening ahead.
Larry & Audrey's home is effectively the operational headquarters of the Association as, in addition to his paperwork, it also accommodates the membership records maintained for the last 11 years by Audrey. They are justly proud of the fact that the Association, founded in 1945 and strictly non-political, has strength in its numbers, boasting the most paid-up members of any such organisation in the country - some 6,000-plus. In fact, despite its village status, Ashtead has more residents than either Leatherhead or Dorking, and therefore has a relevant voice to be heard.
"I want to get the best for Ashtead," he says. "Whatever needs to be done in order to keep Ashtead a nice place to live. If there is something wrong you try to put it right."
"Ashtead has plenty of reasons to be fragmented: two sets of shops in 'Upper' and 'Lower' Ashtead, not to mention the physical barrier of the railway line and level crossing. However, I am delighted that a united community spirit is very much alive here and an important part of my task is to foster and encourage that."
Achieving the best for Ashtead does not happen by accident or by sitting back and watching people make the wrong decisions. In any one week, Larry can find himself at a meeting of the Mole Valley Planning Committee, dealing with the effects of graffiti or vandalism at the railway station, talking to representatives of the emergency services to ensure access to and from the 'island' on the other side of the track, arguing the case for traffic calming or yellow lines, not to mention chairing meetings of the Association itself. Committee meetings are held twice a month, with twice yearly meetings for members at the Peace Memorial Hall.
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If you also want the best for Ashtead and have a few hours to spare, there are many ways to help the Association and Larry would be delighted to hear from you.
Contact him or Audrey on 277942 or e-mail chairman@ashteadresidents.org.uk |
