St Mark’s Church was once again buzzing with creativity with Artz @ St Mark’s over the weekend July 30-August 1.
Walls, tables and easels were covered with paintings and quilts, there were cushions, violins, knitting, tapestry, a prom dress, as well as music and dancing, all of it displaying the talents of local people who joined in for the first, but not the last, Artz @ St Mark’s, organized jointly by the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale and a group called North Farnham Voice which exists to enable local residents to have a say in the present and future of North Farnham.
North Farnham Voice was founded by Catherine Powell, the newly elected Surrey County Councillor for North Farnham. Catherine said: “l just knew there were a lot of artistic and creative people in North Farnham because so many volunteered to make the PPE scrubs for the NHS during Lockdown. They carried on making them into the spring of this year to provide a supply to the COVID vaccination clinics too, so we asked them to come and display their own work.
“A large number got involved again this weekend and helped make it a real success. About 220 people dropped by over the weekend and there was never a dull moment with all the live music too. What’s more there wasn’t an inch of wall or table space left for the want of an exhibit. The church came to life with the colour, variety and the sound of people and really played it’s part as a great place for the community of North Farnham.”
Refreshments were served and many people took advantage of the occasion to view the newly restored Kitty Milroy murals in the church.
St Mark’s also holds craft markets on the third Saturday of the month and the next one will be on August 21 from 10am to 2pm, at St Mark’s, Alma Lane, Farnham, GU9 0LT.
There will be a celebration of art, craft, music and dance this weekend when the first Artz @ St Mark’s takes place from Friday, July 30 to Sunday, August 1 at St Mark’s Church, Hale.
Cllr Alan Earwaker, Mayor of Farnham, will open Artz @ St Mark’s at 6pm on Friday, July 30 and over the course of the weekend there will be an exhibition of painting, quilting, needlework, knitting, even a prom dress, along with music and dancing which includes the band Cajun Boogaloo, Northumbrian pipes, saxophone, the organ and Appalachian dancing.
Refreshments will be served and there will be the opportunity to see the newly restored Kitty Milroy murals. The opening times will be Friday 6-8pm, Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 2-4pm.
Rev’d Lesley Crawley, Rector of the Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale, of which St Mark’s is a part, said: “I am awed by the creativity of the people around us here in Farnham and grateful to them for sharing their work and talent with us. We saw a lot of it during lockdown when we held our online Lockdown Art Club and we are so looking forward to being able to show the work in person now.
“We hope lots of people will come to see the work on display and enjoy the music and dance, and also take the opportunity to see the beautiful murals painted by Kitty Milroy 100 years ago and now restored. Please do come and join us over the weekend.”
St Mark’s is on Alma Lane, Hale, Farnham, GU9 0LT. There is a small amount of parking at the church.
Farnham’s newest craft market, which opened in St Mark’s Church, Hale, on Saturday, July 17, has been declared a resounding success.
The market was opened at 10am on Saturday by Cllr Alan Earwaker, Mayor of Farnham, and a steady stream of visitors browsed the stalls for jewellery, textiles, glass, handmade soaps, hats, home décor, cards, pictures and much more, as well as sitting down for tea and home-made cake and listening to live music played on the fiddle, saxophone and double bass. People also took the opportunity to get a closer look at the newly restored murals in the chancel which were painted a century ago by a local artist, Kitty Milroy, and are now recognised as being of national importance.
Everyone – visitors, stallholders and the amazing team who put this on – had a good time and emails and social media messages have been coming in saying how much people enjoyed it. A lot of the stallholders have asked to book again and in August we will be able to have more stalls in the church. This month we limited the number because of Covid restrictions but we will be able to expand though we intend to remain cautious in the light of the rising number of Covid cases.
This was the first of a series of regular monthly markets which will take placed on the third Saturday of each month and the next one will be on Saturday, August 21, from 10am-2pm.
Anyone who is interested in a stall at the August or subsequent markets should contact Stella Wiseman on 07842 761919 or admin@badshotleaandhale.org
Farnham has a new market on the third Saturday of the month, starting on July 17 and it’s at St Mark’s Church, Alma Lane, GU9 0LT. It will run from 10am-2pm.
The market will be selling all sorts of creative products – jewellery, glass, ceramics, textiles, hats, face creams, bath products, art, home décor, cards – as well as homemade cakes and other refreshments. There are only a couple of tables left at the first market but it will be running every month and bookings are being taken for August onwards. If you want to book a stall, contact Stella Wiseman.
There is so much creative skill in and around Farnham and we are delighted to offer artists and crafters the chance to share this with others, and also to encourage people to buy from local producers who have been hit by the pandemic. Among the first stalls will be hats from award-winning milliner Mind Your Bonce, contemporary glass jewellery from Pure Glass, handmade face creams from Gloimoi, upcycled home and gardens items from Val Lee, fused glass, soaps and bath bombs, beautiful greetings cards. Come and browse.
The market will also give visitors the chance to see the newly restored Kitty Milroy murals in the chancel. They really are works of extraordinary skill and beauty and are recognised as being of national significance and the work of a previously unrecognised major talent.
The market will be open from 10am for visitors. Covid restrictions will remain in place for the July one.
We are very excited to be able to host the Badshot Lea Community Fete on 3rd July at St. George’s from 12-4pm.
We will be having a barbecue and refreshments, including cream teas. Due to the restrictions still in place, everyone eating or drinking will need to be seated – so it is lucky we have lots of lawn. It should be a lovely atmosphere on the beautiful summer grass.
Sadly, the restrictions mean that the children of Badshot Lea Village School are unable to perform for us but hopefully this will not stop them coming along and enjoying everything on offer. We are delighted to have partnered with the Tice’s Meadow Birders group, who will have an exhibition, Badshot Bloomers, with their exciting news about a new Community Garden and the Community Association. The Sea Cadets will be present and letting people know what goes on in their organisation and the Working Men’s Club will also be represented. Nibbs Gin are producing flyers which will include interesting discounts.
As a new incentive this year, we have invited small businesses to hire a spot in the car park to sell their wares – so there will artists, wax melts, Usborne Books, bath bombs, hand and face creams, children’s bits and bobs, fudge, calligraphy, craft items, our very own ‘Home Produce’ and a good-as-new toy stall. We also have a children’s ‘Tea Cup’ ride.
Don’t forget our Summer Grand Draw with a first prize of £100; tickets are already on sale. We are also running a bottle tombola and a more general tombola. (Any donations gratefully received).
We are all looking forward to a great afternoon of eating, having fun in the sun and coming together as a community.
Calling all crafters, artists and other creatives!
There is a new monthly market starting at St Mark’s Church, Alma Lane, Upper Hale, on the third Saturday of each month, starting July 17. 10am-2pm.
We are inviting all sorts of creative people to come and share and sell their work – jewellers, painters, wood carvers, milliners, knitters, artisan food producers, potters, glassmakers, textile artists….
It’s just £10 for a table, so book now as we will have limited space because of the need for social distancing.
If you would like to take part, please get in touch with admin@badshotleaandhale.org or call 07842761919.
The sun is out and so is the June magazine! This month’s magazine is packed full of news and events about our parish which isn’t confined to the villages we serve locally – lovely though they all are! Being online has allowed us to reach out far further and welcome people who can’t be with us physically.
Take the flower festival for instance. Among the 300+ entries were ones from friends of the parish from around the country. Take a look at some of the entries in the magazine and, of course, online.
There’s news of upcoming events – Father’s Day’s an important one as is the fete on July 3 – new classes, new rooms, a new business, our new youth hub, the new mayor and North Farnham councillor, along with lots more including Kitty Milroy and her media-starring murals, prayer, Jeremy Hunt, appeals for help, schools news, the Church Cat and more.
Can you spare some plants? Do you want some plants for your garden? Then our plant sale is for you!
Instead of a plant stall at the fete on July 3, we are holding a plant on Saturday, May 29, in the grounds of St George’s Church.
This is to raise funds for the whole parish so please support us.
Divide your perennials or dig up the plant which is in the wrong place and bring your offerings along just before 10am please. The sale will last from 10am to midday.
If you have no plants to offer and don’t wish to buy any please make a donation to parish funds instead.
On the day lack of cash is not a problem – bring along your credit card as we have card readers to take your money!
This year our festival has been sponsored by Florescence, an award-winning florist based at St Mark’s Church in Upper Hale. If you look at wonderful floral arrangements and think ‘I wish I could do that’, Elise from Florescence has made a video here to give you some tips. The finished arrangement can be seen in St Mark’s during our 11am Sunday service.
Thank you
Thank you to all who took part and to all of you for viewing this flower festival online. Our church flower arrangers have also placed beautiful displays in church which you can see at our Sunday services – 9.30am at St John’s, Hale; 10am at St George’s, Badshot Lea; and 11am at St Mark’s, Upper Hale.
The Covid pandemic has had an effect on our finances and the parish is more dependent than ever on donations. Please do give to support our work in the community. You can donate by clicking on the button below. Thank you.
Aspen Salisbury is a young artist who specialises in wildlife-inspired art and can be found on Instagram @byaspencrafts
Dawn Harcourt
Karina Fraser
Karina Fraser is a synesthetic artist who uses the neurological experience of synaesthesia, the cross wiring of senses, to explore and create abstract art. She can be found in her studio at St George’s Church and at www.karinafraser.com
Knitchings
Knitchings is a head of creative arts, a knitter, artist, ‘interior freewheeler’, owner of the world’s most patient and obliging cat – Gladys – and has a large (43k) following on Instagram where she can be found @knitchings
Linda Daruvala
Linda Daruvala is an author and artist.
Penny Fleet
Late Summer Sun
Summer Joy
Sunny Sunflowers
Sweet Joy
Penny Fleet is a mixed media artist, based near Odiham, who creates paintings, cards and collages on canvas, wood and paper using a combination of acrylic paints, inks, hand-decorated collage papers, thread, fabric and text. She can be found at www.pennyfleet.co.uk
Sorrell Price
Susie Lidstone
Gladioli
Lowndes Buildings, Farnham
Susie Lidstone is a watercolour artist well known for her paintings of flowers and buildings especially around Farnham. She can be found at http://susielidstone.com/
Businesses
Castle Vets
Denzil belonging to Rebecca, vet nurse
Garavoche, a foster puppy living with Emma Bunce, vet nurse
Nela, a puppy with a cleft lip, belonging to Natalia, vet
Daffodogs, Merlin and Jasper belonging to Emma Green, vet
Nibbs is a small family business based in Surrey, producing small batch artisan gin in two flavours – elderflower gin, using freshly picked elderflower from the Surrey and Sussex countryside, and a ‘Surrey Hops’ gin using Farnham hops as a botanical. www.nibbsspirits.co.uk
The Rural Life Centre
The Rural Life Centre in Tilford is a living museum which collects, conserves and displays the history and culture of village life in the countryside. rural-life.org.uk
Squires
Squires is a garden centre in Badshot Lea, part of a family-owned horticultural business across Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, West London and Berkshire. www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
Usborne Books
Usborne sells books for children, often via local agents. To order any Usborne books, contact judywilliams61@hotmail.com
Faith organisations
Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Assocation, Farnham
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association, Farnham, is a socially active branch of Lajna, an auxiliary organisation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. lajna.org.uk
Badshot Lea and Hale
The Bahá’í Faith
Bahá’ís believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the future of society and of the nature and purpose of life. www.bahai.org
The Spire Church, Farnham
The Spire Church is a newly formed church created through a partnership between Farnham United Reformed Church and Farnham Methodist Church. spirechurchfarnham.org.uk
Individuals
Angela Hall
The Buckle Family
Buds of Hope by Aly Buckle
Give me Joy in m y Heart by Aly Buckle
Hugo Buckle, 3, planting in Nanny’s garden
Oh, what joy to see the bluebells, by Derek Buckle
Carolyn and Gerry Weston
The Church Cat
Flowers? What is the point if I can’t eat them?
Diana Thomas
Gillian Geraghty
Gillian Hyman
Judy Dudley
Margie Powell
Maxine Everitt
Melissa Salisbury
Melvin Little
Pamela Marsham
Wendy Edwards
Sobriety – an arrangement celebrating a year of sobriety achieved during lockdown of by a recovering alcoholic, remembering both the hope of recovery from addiction through seeking help and trusting the God of our understanding and the joys of sobriety.
Local Groups
Alder Valley Brass
Alder Valley Brass is a brass band based in Farnham, and a small group of its members played at the recent St George’s Day Service at St John’s. It is a traditional brass band of 25 brass players plus percussion and also perform in smaller ensembles from time to time, and it is celebrating its 60th birthday. www.aldervalleybrass.org.uk
Hale Carnival Committee is a group of people who organise the Hale Carnival and fundraise during the year. Sadly the carnival had to be cancelled this year because of Covid but it will be back! www.halecarnival.co.uk
Hale WI
Hale WI is a lively group which, out of lockdown, meets at the Hale Institute on the second Wednesday of the month at 1.45pm. https://surrey.thewi.org.uk/find-wi/hale
Among the therapies offered by Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham therapy through nature, where the sessions are designed to support participants to live well through access to nature, horticulture and the garden, offering the benefits of ‘the great outdoors’ indoors. www.pth.org.uk
Places of Education
Badshot Lea Village Infant School
Sun Class created 100 flowers
Paper flowers by Mars Class
Sunflowers by Sky Class
Fruit and vegetable smiles by Rainbow Class
100 pictures from Tice’s Meadow by Star Classas part of Captain Tom’s 100 challenge
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 