What will be in the time capsule buried in St George's in 1905? A copy of The Times? Probably not. Some coins, probably. But what else? Come at 10 o'clock to the opening of the time capsule to find if you guessed correctly. Then browse around the history exhibition to see what it was like living in Ashtead 100 years ago, before we all had cars and phones. How did they cope?
Members of the Leatherhead & District Local History Society will give talks, starting at 11 am with chairman Peter Tarplee. Peter has compiled guides to the industrial history of Mole Valley and of Elmbridge and co-authored the recently published "Leatherhead and District, Then and Now". Did you know that cars, artificial silk and photographic plates were made here?
During lunch, Meredith Worsfold, who has lived in seven Ashtead houses and wrote "Ashtead The Street in the 1920's", will share memories of old Ashtead, which has grown from 2,000 people in 1900 to over 13,000 now. At 2pm Gwen Hoad, on LDHS and Leatherhead Museum committees and author of articles on Ashtead, will talk about the old farms of Ashtead. Refreshments will be served outside the church from 5pm for weary commuters on their way home. Wednesday 19 April - Art in Ashtead contact
Start the day at 10am by enjoying the glories of the Flower Festival arranged by Laurel Kindness and the church flower arrangers, many of whom exhibit their arrangements nationally, and the skills of local artists Mary MacDermott, Jo Stewart, other members of the Ashtead Art Group and local school children in the Art Exhibition. Mary will demonstrate with oils at 11am. As an architect she has always enjoyed drawing but turned to painting about 15 years ago, inspired by the beauty around Ashtead. Mainly self taught, she has learned a great deal from the art group. Jo, who will run an art workshop at 2.30pm, has painted for 40 years and attended night school at Wimbledon and then Epsom from 1972, while bringing up four boys. She painted animals in oils semiprofessionally and moved to landscapes using pastels over the last 15 years. She exhibits frequently. Children can have their faces painted and later join in activities.
At 7.30, Ashtead stages its own Strictly Come Dancing - Take 2! Sit back and enjoy some of your braver friends waltzing, pirouetting and hopefully not wobbling, after weeks of gruelling training by professionals Suzanne and Ian Spirydon. It would be wise to buy your tickets (£5 incl refreshment) in advance at St George's. Thursday 20 April - Photography
Come and see the Photographic Exhibition of entries from Ashteadians and from local schools, open all day from 10am. If going digital excites you, Andy Carter will explain all at 10.30. After lunch, aided by Richard Markwick, he will show how photographs can be manipulated. Does a photograph never lie? Is manipulation ever justified? What is right to do and what is wrong? He will repeat these talks at 8 and 9pm respectively. Andy is the Parish magazine's resident photographer and manages Ashtead's website. At 4pm Richard Markwick will hold a workshop for 8-16 year olds, who are invited to bring their digital cameras with them. Friday 21 April - Music
Leah Perona-Wright and Esther Jones will start the day with a vocal workshop looking at the basics of singing, without being too serious. Leah was brought up in Ashtead into a strong musical family and frequently leads St George's evening worship. Both work part-time at the Royal College of Church Music.
At 1.30 the City of London Freemen's School Jazz Band, who took part in the 2004 Lord Mayor's Show and appeared on Sky TV and led by Paul Anders Sogaard will entertain. Then St Giles' Choir will perform from 2.45pm to 3.15pm. At 8pm Leah's father Nigel Perona- Wright, parish choir director and professional musician, will conduct the stirring and dramatic Noye's Fludde by Benjamin Britten, a setting of the Chester medieval play telling the story of Noah's Ark. Not heard nearly often enough, this is a concert for all. Be wise and buy your £1 tickets in advance from St George's. Saturday 22 April - Family Fun
Men are encouraged to enjoy some tasty waist-expanding bacon butties at the Men's Breakfast at 8am when Paul Woolley (Bible Society) will talk. Paul is a recognised expert in politics.
At 10, Barnett Wood School, whose building was also built in 1906, will entertain with Maypole Dancing on the green in front of the church and Woodman. Captain Keith and his Puppets will be standing by at 10.15 to bring a smile to younger children while those older can join in football, netball and frisbee tournaments on the Rec. All can join in a hog roast for lunch.
Meanwhile at the 11am and 1.30pm Craft Workshops the inquisitive can find out how Rob Rennie can get a ship into a bottle. Why does he do it as much as how. 25 years ago he found a book… Richard Newman will demonstrate railway modelling and others will show the art of patchwork, card making, quilling, cross-stitch, iris folding, embossing and glass painting. Come and have a go.
In the evening an old tradition will be revived with a home grown concert organised by Flora Alsop, from honouring Shakespeare to Dibley and round the block. Sit back and enjoy this from 7.30pm. Sunday 23 April - Celebrating St George's Church and St George's Day with George Carey
The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, will be our guest at all three of the special services, at 9am choral communion, 11.30 all age family service with puppets, and 6pm informal evening celebration. Before the 11.30 the new time capsule will be sealed and buried, ready hopefully to enlighten and surprise our successors in 2106.
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