For the second consecutive year, the Horsley Choral Society has taken top honours in their division at the prestigious Leith Hill Music Festival, held last weekend.

In a poignant moment for the group, the competition marked the final appearance of long-serving Musical Director Val Beynon. Under her baton, the choir delivered an exceptional performance, winning all three categories in their division.

East Horsley Parish Council congratulates the Society on this remarkable achievement, joining the many voices celebrating their continued success.

On Tuesday 24 March, The Friends of Effingham Junction Station carried out work at Effingham Junction train station. They pretty much finished clearing the area next to the access road including clearing the soil off the road and clearing the old footpath. While the East Horsley Parish Council (EHPC) awaits the arrival of a new warden, George’s Garden Services, based in the village, have been busy deputising (funded by EHPC). The border of the access road to Effingham Junction Station car park has been transformed. Previously, a dense mass of overgrowth, it is now free of everything long dead. Additionally, the public footpath flanking the car park fence is now once again clear having been buried for many years.

Thanks to sponsorship from funeral directors James and Thomas, the gravestone of Frank and Ellen (‘Nell’) Chown, has been expertly restored. The grave, situated in St Martins Churchyard, had become almost unrecognisable thanks to years of sap and other detritus from a nearby tree. Now, thanks to the efforts of Chris Bertram, funeral arranger at the East Horsley branch and K and S Memorials, professional grave and monument restorers for James and Thomas, the gravestone is now looking splendid with the inscriptions clear and eminently readable.

Our special guest at this year’s East Horsley Annual Parish Meeting is our new Liberal Democrat MP, Zöe Franklin. It’s nearly ten months since Zöe won the Guildford seat at the general election so an excellent opportunity to discover what she has been up to in the House of Commons and for her to hear concerns from residents. The Annual Parish Meeting is also the occasion where your Parish Council reports on the activities of the previous twelve months and provides a forum where you can ask questions of your parish councillors. The meeting will be held at the East Horsley Village Hall on Friday 2 May starting at 7.30 pm.  You are welcome to attend, bring along some friends, and learn more about the work of your local representatives both at parish and parliamentary level. Refreshments will be served.