Wild about Compton
Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Communities Network is a key part of the charity’s nature recovery efforts in the County, helping community groups across Surrey improve local green spaces for wildlife. As the project moves into its next phase, Wilder Communities will strive to support community groups in Guildford, Bramley, Shalford, Wonersh, Worplesdon, Hambledon, Farnham, Haslemere, Godalming, Redhill and Reigate to restore, connect and protect local green spaces for wildlife. The project locations sit within or beside three key Landscape Recovery Areas (LRAs), which have been chosen to maximise our impact in connecting Surrey’s nature. If you are part of a community group or know of one locally who would like to join this growing network, you can sign up to receive regular updates and find out more about how you can help protect wildlife in your neighbourhood. To discover more about the network visit tinyurl.com/a89k62az or www.surreywildlifetrust.org.
Local musician wins prestigious Parliamentary Jazz Award. Marianne Windham, the inspirational and dedicated Chair of Guildford Jazz, has received the prestigious Parliamentary ‘Services to Jazz Award’ for 2025, which is awarded annually to ‘a living person who is deemed to have made the most outstanding contribution to jazz in the UK’. This award comes from the All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), comprised of almost a hundred members from the House of Commons and House of Lords and whose best-known member is probably the ex-Chancellor of The Exchequer Kenneth Clarke. Previous recipients of this award include the internationally acclaimed vocalist Dame Cleo Laine. Marianne joins this elite group thanks to her tireless efforts to promote the music and, in the process, providing work for over 2,000 musicians while raising over £190,000 for various local charities. The latter includes Challengers, an organisation that provides support for disabled youngsters and their families, and GUTS, a charity that funds detection, treatment and research into bowel cancer. In memory of her close friend, the saxophonist and music teacher Cheryl King who died in 2014, Marianne also founded the Cheryl King Trust which provides grants and bursaries for aspiring young musicians from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Thanks to Marianne’s leadership and sterling support from of her small team of volunteers Guildford Jazz has become one of the leading jazz clubs in the UK and a firm favourite with musicians. Its importance was also recognised in this year’s Parliamentary Jazz Awards where the club reached the final shortlist of three for ‘Jazz Venue of the Year’ award. In addition to regular concerts at the ‘home’ of Guildford Jazz in the Guildford Pavilion on Woodbridge Rd, Marianne’s tireless efforts to disseminate the music has resulted in over 500 concerts, workshops and festivals at venues throughout Surrey. These include local churches (most notably the annual Christmas Concert at St John’s Church in Farncombe), cafes, restaurants and pubs, as well as the Watts Gallery, the Maltings in Farnham and other venues. As a classically trained cellist, she discovered jazz much later than most musicians when a friend took her to a local jazz club. Captivated by the music, Marianne decided to take up the double-bass and made such good progress that in 2011 she decided to leave a successful software consultancy career and become a professional musician. She has developed into one of the most versatile bassists in the UK, playing in a wide range of jazz styles at clubs and festivals. Marianne also performs regularly at classical orchestral and chamber concerts whilst also giving private lessons on the double-bass. In making the ‘Services to Jazz’ award to Marianne, Chris Hodgkins, Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Jazz Group, noted that Marianne’s ‘dual role as performer and organiser has made her a vital force in sustaining regional jazz culture and fostering inclusive, high-quality live music experiences.’
Compton Village—Past & Present
Compton Village – Past & Present by Fiona Curtis, would make a really special Christmas gift for someone this year. Copies cost £20 each — a veritable bargain for a coffee table book about our unique neighbourhood. Find out more at www.compton-village-history-book. com/.
Collection can be arranged, either with a bank transfer in advance or cash on collection. For mailings, please provide full address and include an additional charge of £5.50 in the bank transfer for tracked postage and packing. Bank transfers should be made to the Compton Village Association account at
Lloyds Bank, Sort Code 30-93-49, Account No. 00115047 and reference Book.
Details for ordering as follows: David Hunt — david.hunt0808@gmail.com/07831 768970 OR
Jane Turner – janewturner@mac.com/07763 146448.
Some copies are available to buy at the Compton Club also for £20. Copies also retail at Watts Gallery for £25. The book launch discount has been made possible through the Compton Village Association.
WELCOME PACK FOR NEWCOMERS TO COMPTON
The Welcome Pack, published by Compton Village Association, has been updated by Jane Turner and over 30 copies have been sent out to people who requested one or who have recently moved into the village.
“Recently” means within the last 5-7 years, or even if you’ve been in the village a long time but would simply like to be reminded of what we offer. It’s full of information about organisations, societies, venues for hire, history and a lot more. The Welcome Pack is FREE. If you would like a copy, contact Jane Turner on 07763 146448, janewturner@mac.com.
After the decommissioning of the telephone box by BT, Compton residents wondered what to do with it. It was agreed that it should remain where it was as it was part of the village scene, but sadly it was rusty and the glass was either broken or replaced by plastic.
An anonymous benefactor assisted the Parish Council in covering the costs of repairing the box and Cllr Chris Sharples and another anonymous helper went about restoring the box.
Its central position made it a great place to advertise the village's support for the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. This was followed by Armistice Day when it stood as a prominent act of remembrance.
Later it sported a gold cup for the World Cup and latterly it bore a kilt and matching headwear for Burns Night and beautiful Chinese Lanterns for the Chinese New Year.
Spring saw a beautiful array of purple both inside and outside the box to raise awareness of The Meath and the common, but often stigmatised problem of epilepsy. This was followed by a nod to our Dutch neighbours and friends, one of whom provided initial funding and motivation to cheer up the phone box when it was looking rather derelict.
Compton residents love the various incarnations and Cllr Chris Sharples will hopefully go onto surprise us with future transformations, which not only entertain residents, but also bring a smile to the users of the B3000.
