Tandridge/Edenbridge Chronicle November 2011


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Newsdesk: editorial.chronicle@tindlenews.co.uk Mammoth trek to help the RNLI


AN Edenbridge pensioner has successfully completed what can only be described as an incredible journey around the coast of mainland Britain visiting almost every lifeboat station on his way to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). But what makes this trip even more amazing is that Reg Marchant, who suffers from post polio syndrome, carried out the stunt on a mobility scooter, often travelling over difficult terrain to reach some very remote locations. Accompanied by his wife Brenda and friend Brian Scott, Reg’s ambitious 5,500 mile Scoot4Life took him a gruelling 19 weeks to finish with just a few mishaps on the way. Both Reg and Brenda


Reg and Brenda at home at last with a glass trophy specially commissioned by their son to mark their achievement


hurt themselves by falling over and Reg managed to lose his hat twice in the high winds.


Now the trio are hoping to donate a total of around £5,000 to help fund the RNLI’s important work. “We think it was a dream,” said Reg. “It seemed to go like lightening. While we were away we were busy working out where to move the caravan, how to tow the caravan to that position, how to use the scooter on the roads and looking at maps.” Reg and his team set off from Poole in early April and during the trip managed to visit 150 lifeboat stations, more often than


Warlingham lights


WARLINGHAM Christmas lights committee is aiming to continue its planned improvements with extra lights on at least one featured tree on The Green and energy saving bulbs for all the lights. Festivities surrounding the switching-on ceremony on Saturday, 26 November Warlingham Green will begin at 4pm, building up to primary school children setting out on the traditional lantern parade around the centre of the village led by the Warlingham Flute Band. The lights will be switched on at 5pm followed by carols from a combined children’s choir. Other attractions include a Christmas market in the village hall and stalls in the church hall from 4pm, and from 5.15pm Santa will be in his grotto in the church hall. Throughout the event there will be children’s rides and lots to eat and drink.


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not to an enthusiastic reception from the crews.


“Most of them treated us brilliantly and asked us in for coffee and a chat,” explained Brenda. “A couple were really emotional about what Reg was doing.” One of Reg’s biggest tests was visiting Spurn Point on the Humber Estury. He had been warned that it would be impossible to reach the lifeboat station on a mobility scooter as it meant driving down a sandy track and out onto a lonely peninsular.


“I got stuck a couple of times in the sand but I got the scooter out and kept going,”


he said. “When I got to the end of the track there were seven houses, home to the only fully paid up members of the RNLI. I spent two and a half hours with the coxswain and crew having cups of coffee.” Reg’s route took him through some of Britain’s most spectacular scenery and he was particularly taken by the stunning views along the north west coast of Scotland. On the Isle of Skye, the team encountered just one example of people’s kindness and respect for the RNLI. At a tiny caravan site next to a loch, the owner returned the fee, donated £20, gave the team some eggs, a homemade cake and did their washing! “It was a lovely surprise,” said Reg. “On another occasion some bikers


pulled up and the guys came over and said here’s some money. I was also stopped by a motorist in Wales and given £5.” Reg, Brenda and Brian arrived back in


Poole in August to a champagne welcome from RNLI crew, friends and family as well as local newspapers and the Meridian TV cameras. “We thoroughly enjoyed the trip,” said


Reg. “Even when it was wet it was all worth it. I would do it again.”


And he could be planning his next trip soon – this time around Ireland!


5


Improbable, absurd but very, very funny


THE Miller Centre Theatre Company presents Home is Where Your Clothes Are by Anthony Marriott and Bob Grant from Thursday, 24 November to Saturday, 3 December.


From the title alone, you might guess this is farce. And you would be right – improbable, absurd, beyond belief and very, very funny.


Home Is Where Your Clothes Are concerns the Major, whose wife has run off with another man, leaving him with a house he cannot afford. To maximise his asset, he lets out the basement – twice – once to Jill, who uses it only at the weekend, and also to Philip, who uses it only on weekdays.


This works well until both tenants change their routines.


This leaves the Major scrambling to maintain the status quo by changing wardrobes, beds, drawers, dresses, suits and even soft toys according to which tenant turns up next.


Daft and implausible, the result is an undemanding evening of laughter. Home Is Where Your Clothes Are is an old- fashioned farce that will appeal to everyone. For more information visit the website at www.millercentretheatre.org or call the box office on 01883 349850.


Debbie helped too


IN October The Chronicle ran a story about the Boomerang project – a skills exchange scheme in the Edenbridge area. Volunteers had helped Four Elms pensioner Rene Casbolt tidy up her garden as part of the scheme. But Rene has asked us to point out that her daughter Debbie has also been helping to keep her garden in good order. Debbie has been visiting on a regular basis to cut the grass, sort out the pots and do the weeding.


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