Mountfield

Mandy Sutton rang us to say that, despite a lot of other competing events such as weddings and Armed Forces Day, her Blooming Marvellous Tea Party last Saturday (June 28th) was a great success. The sun shone, the dead washing machine and fridge disappeared from the garden (Steve also sold raffle tickets!), and the whole event raised no less than £165 for Marie Curie. Mandy has asked us to pass on a big thank you to everyone who helped either by donating raffle prizes, baking cakes — with particular mention there for Sally and Richard, pitching in on the day, or simply turning up to support the day.

We had such a lovely piece from Val Miles the First last week that we thought we’d give our side of the story. So here goes…

After thirty years in London, we were desperate to get back to smaller and saner roots. So we put the house on the market, sold quickly, but then couldn’t find anything to buy. One day, the local estate agent phoned`; there was a cottage in Mountfield… (Where?) Except it turned out that there were not one but two cottages.

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There were a few funny looks when they found that Pete was a Miles. And then all the other funny bits started to fall into place. Rock Cottage belonged to Val Miles. Who came from Pete’s home town (Redhill). As did her her late husband, Mick Miles, who was no relation. So we had to buy Rock Cottage.

Shortly after we moved to Mountfield, Val (the Second) decided to make an honest man of Pete and, after twenty-something years, we got spliced and had a wedding bash— at which Val the First and Pete’s sister sat down and discovered that they’d been at Reigate County School together (in the 1850s…). They sat there swapping notes about what it had been like for a couple of working class girls (my sister was a plumber’s daughter) at a fairly posh county school. There were a few other twists and turns along the way but it all boiled down to the fact that, finally, Val Miles had bought from Val Miles.

We find it almost impossible to think of living anywhere other than where we do. And Rock Cottage and Butters Cottage — formerly 1 and 2 Rock Cottages — are still imbued with so many touches of our predecessors for which we are very grateful.

The Mountfield Club recently held a charity darts tournament in aid of St Michael’s Hospice. Sadly, due to extremely hot weather on the day, the event wasn’t as well attended as had been hoped. The Club would like to thank Bruce Sargent for all his hard work in organising the day. Dates for other events will announced soon.

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The snooker Summer League has now finished and the club narrowly missed out on claiming a quarter final place. During the Summer League, Pete Last recorded the Club’s highest break in a competitive matche of 31, beating the previous highest of 24 by Steve Smith (wrote Steve Smith, through gritted teeth!).

And here’s a positive note to end on. The hedge along the Twitten off Hoath Hill had become overgrown (again) and was causing problems (again). Paul Last takes up the story. “Alex Gray (tree surgeon) cut the Twitten hedge back last night when he got home from work. It’s not his responsibility and he was not asked to do it, he lives in the property opposite with his dad and he said he was fed up with hearing people struggling to get through. This would not have been an easy task as it was in a state, and he took away all the cuttings, I’m sure you will all agree it’s good to hear a young lad in this day and age going out of his way and doing something off his own back with no reward.”

Absolutely, though it should also be clear that this must not be allowed to set a precedent. As Paul says, it is not Alex’s responsibility; it is the hedge owner’s. It should be possible to get a buggy comfortably through on the way to the playground. Anyway, for now, to Alex, thanks mate.

If you’ve anything for the Village Voice, we are at 880614 (evenings) or [email protected].

Peter and Valeries Miles

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