Normandy in the Press (1960 to 1964)


Normandy in the Press

1960 to 1964

“Normandy in the Press” presents a past view and happenings of the village as seen from selected reports and articles in the local papers. The reader should note that until 1955 Normandy was predominantly part of Ash, Willey Green was part of Worplesdon and a small part of Flexford was in Wanborough.

The researched material held at County Libraries and Record Offices was hand-copied over a number of years by society member Peter Trevaskis. Those notes have been subsequently transcribed by members: Alan Norris, Eira and James Nursaw; Emma Rafferty; Peter Blakiston and Stephen Cranstone.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure correctness in the copying and transcribing, readers are advised to refer to the original newspaper source for the full account.

Normandy in the Press Index
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1960 January 2nd
Surrey Advertiser
Looking ahead.
Preparations for May Day started in Normandy on Wednesday, when Mrs R Steel held her first maypole dancing classes for local children.
1960 January 9th
Surrey Advertiser
Normandy estate plan disputed.
Need for houses set against Green Belt extension
Land at Wyke Heath Farm, and between Elm Hill and Pirbright Road.
(Long report)
1960 January 16th
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
Hurdy Gurdy at Normandy party.
Over 60's in Village Hall on Saturday (9th January). (Report).

Five year old's death.
The funeral service took place at Normandy Parish Church on Thursday of five year old Wendy Ewins, who died after a 'hole in the heart' operation at St Thomas Hospital, London at the weekend. She was the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs Roland Ewins of 4, Waldren Cottages, who have other children.
1960 January 30th
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
Guildford fire brigade were called to Vokes Ltd, Henly Park, Normandy yesterday. An electric drying oven was slightly damaged by fire.

Electric failure stopped match.
A table tennis match at Normandy Village Hall was nearly abandoned on Monday evening, when the electricity supply failed for the second week running. The visiting team, the Pegasus Club, were on the point of returning to Guildford without playing, when the supply was re-connected after a break of nearly an hour. They beat their Normandy hosts by ten games to nil.
A second cut in electricity occurred on Tuesday between 11am and 12noon, when engineers completed repairs to Monday's low voltage fuse. According to a Southern Electricity Board spokesman, this was caused by bad contacts on the fuse gear. As well as the Village Hall, houses in the lower part of Glaziers Lane, and along part of the Guildford Road were affected by Monday's breakdown.
1960 February 6th
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
Parish Council topics.
Parish Rate
Normandy Parish Council agreed, at their monthly meeting on Tuesday, to fix the special parish rate at two pence for the year.

Rubbish dumping
Because they had had no reply from the local Boy Scouts troop to their request for help in clearing rubbish dumped on Normandy Common, between the Scout hut and the British Legion hall, the council decided to arrange for it to be collected and buried by employed labour. The police, who had been told of the dumping, reported that the complaint would be given the necessary attention by patrols.

Road make-up, Christmas Pie
After considering a request from the Christmaspie Estate Residents Association for support in their efforts to see that the road surface from the northern end of Christmaspie Avenue, to a point just past Culls Road, was made up without delay, the Council agreed to urge the Highways Department of Surrey County Council to give the matter priority.
1960 February 20th
Surrey Advertiser
Choosing May Queen.
Normandy May Queen is to be chosen today by Miss S Ellis of the Bellairs School of Dancing. She will be selected at Normandy Village Hall this afternoon from among girls between 11 and 16.

Wyke and Normandy
Kiosk repairs.
Repairs started this week to the telephone kiosk at Normandy Cross Roads, which was put out of action when a car crashed into it two weeks ago and smashed half the door. This was a double bereavement for Normandy, the kiosk is also the village's only street light.
1960 February 27th
Surrey Advertiser
Youth service.
The monthly youth service on Sunday was conducted at Normandy Congregational Church by members of Guildford Inter Church Youth Group, who, at the close of the service, joined with the younger members of the congregation in a discussion led by the minister, the Reverend D Bell.

Wyke and Normandy.
New estate at Westwood Lane.
Fairlands Estates Ltd, of 44-45 High Street, Guildford, was given permission by Guildford Rural Council on Thursday to develop an estate on land off Westwood Lane, Normandy. The Council approved outline permission, subject to the number and layout of the houses being agreed with the local planning authority.

May Queen chosen.
An 11 year old Guildford County School girl, Marion Crook, of Meadowside, Bailes Lane, Normandy, was chosen on Saturday to be Normandy's May Queen. Her maids of honour are to be 13 year old Susan Gale and 11 year old Jeanette Hirons. They were chosen from nine entrants.
1960 March 19th
Surrey Advertiser
Years of service in Wanborough. Death of Mrs Dorothy Vaughan of Christmaspie House. (Report).
1960 April 16th
Surrey Advertiser
Normandy garden show changes.
Report of Annual Meeting of Normandy Gardening club.
1960 April 30th
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
Parish Council contest.
Ten nominees will contest the seven vacant seats on the Parish Council at Normandy. They are Mesdames R Brown and O Thorn, Messrs A A Cook, A N Govey, S A L Gray, D C Oliver, W G B Olley, G B Orchin, G E Owen and F A Woods. The period for withdrawals closes at 12 noon today.
1960 May 7th
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
No election now.
There will now be no parish election at Normandy. Last week ten people were nominated for the seven vacant parish council seats, but three have since withdrawn. They are Mrs Rose Brown, Mr W G B Olley and Mr G E Orchin.
1960 May 21st
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
World Refugee Week
Normandy week made £100 for refugees. (Report).
1960 May 28th
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
Normandy Amateur Dramatic Society Annual Meeting. (Report)
1960 July 2nd
Surrey Advertiser
Normandy woman admits stealing lodgers' cheques
A Normandy woman, who admitted stealing cheques from her lodger and forging a signature on them, was before Farnham magistrates on Monday. She was 64 year old Mrs Lucy Richards of The Oaks, Guildford Road. The case was adjourned for fourteen days to enable the probation officer to make a report.
She pleaded guilty to seven charges and asked for two more similar offences to be considered.
She admitted that she stole cheques from her lodger, James Larkin in May and June. She forged a signature on them, and obtained money and goods to the value of £3 and £14 from a nearby shop.
She said 'I have more or less brought him up, and he has been in my house since he was ten. As I had some bills to pay, I decided to make out a cheque for myself.
'When I did it, I wasn't thinking of forgery. He was living with me, and I thought I could borrow the money.'
Another charge was that she stole an envelope containing 28 cheques made out to a total value of £277.16s.1d. These had been sent to Larkin by his bank to query after his account became overdrawn. It was said that the envelope and cheques had been burnt by Mrs Richards.

1960 July 2nd
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
House with waterfall sold.
Woodlands, Normandy, has been sold on behalf of the Executors of the late Mr J F Johnson by Knight, Frank and Rutley. Mr Johnson was the principle of John F Johnson, Estate Agents of Farnborough, who acted with Knight, Frank and Rutley in the sale. The house, which has been purchased by Mr R P Tomsett, lies on the outskirts of the village in about 14 acres.
1960 July 16th
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
Burned girl critically ill.
The condition of nineteen year old Patricia Rice of 18 Westwood Lane, Normandy was stated by a spokesman at Roehampton Hospital yesterday afternoon to be very critical.
Miss Rice was severely burned while in a car parked at a council housing estate at Aldershot. She had been reported missing from her home since mid-day on Saturday, when she went to Aldershot. The fire in the car occurred at about 4am, and Miss Rice told an ambulance attendant that she lit a cigarette and set fire to the inside of the car accidentally. She fought her way out of the blazing car, and knocked up the occupants of a nearby house. Police were satisfied that the fire was caused accidentally, and that there was no foul play. Miss Rice was burned on her face and arms.

'Now is your chance'.
The cost of recent alterations and additions to Normandy Village Hall will be discussed at the annual meeting of the management next Wednesday. The cost exceeded the original estimate.
Mr W G Lloyd, Secretary of the Committee, reminding village people of the meeting in a circular writes 'this is your hall - now is your chance to run it'.
1960 September 10th
Surrey Advertiser
New Dahlias seen at Normandy
Report of Normandy and District Gardening Association show in Village Hall on Saturday. (Long report)

1960 October 8th
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke & Normandy
Market Gardener wins his appeal
A Normandy Market Gardener has won his appeal to keep a caravan to accommodate an agricultural worker on land at Park Farm, Elm Grove, Normandy, after his application for planning permission was refused by Guildford Rural District Council. Mr T W Marshall the Market Gardener, who employs eight regular agricultural workers on his 85 acre garden was told in the allowing the appeal "The Minister accepts that there is a need to provide accommodation for agricultural workers on your holding and considers that no harm will be done if this caravan is retained pending the provision of permanent housing". The permission is limited to two years.

1960 November 5th
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
On the beach at 94
"This annual outing is indeed one of the high spots of my life" said 94 years old Mr Sylvester Chyne when thanking the organisers of the Wyke and Normandy Veterans outing on Sunday. The party travelled to Brighton through Cranleigh and Horsham and arrived at about 12.30 pm. After spending an enjoyable afternoon on the shore and the Town they returned at about 5 pm.

1960 December 3rd
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke & Normandy
Sunday Outing
Wyke and Normandy Veterans went on a coach tour on Sunday. Their tour followed the Thames for much of the way; they passed through Windsor and Henley; having lunch at High Wycombe. They returned through Slough, Staines and New Haw.

1960 December 10th
Surrey Advertiser
Normandy farmer dies at 91
Mr Henry Crooke of Passengers Farm, Bailes Lane Normandy - (Report)

St Mark's Wyke
Church funds benefit by about £150 after Christmas Fair at Village Hall on Friday - (Report)

1960 December 17th
Surrey Advertiser
Normandy man fined £10
Godalming County Magistrates, sitting at Guildford yesterday, found Alistair Short of the Homestead caravan site, Normandy guilty of driving his motorcycle combination without due care and attention or reasonable attention for others.
The case was the result of an accident on July 8th in The Meadows, Godalming, when Short was said to have hit a sports car when trying to overtake another vehicle.
Short who pleaded guilty was fined £10 and ordered to pay costs of £2.14s 6d. He was given six months to pay. His licence was endorsed.

Toy sale
After months of collecting and renovating toys given to then by villagers, Normandy Scouts and Guides led by their Scoutmaster and Guide Mistress Mr and Mrs Hirons, held a sale in the Scouts Hut on Saturday. From the £12 raised, parcels are to be sent to twelve folk in the village.

1960 December 24th
Surrey Advertiser
Annual meeting of Normandy Cricket club - (Report)

1960 December 31st
Surrey Advertiser
Wyke and Normandy
Canon C J Tapsfield
The ashes of Canon James Tapsfield Vicar of Wyke and Normandy 17 years were buried in St Mark's Churchyard on Friday last week by Canon C N Selby Lowndes, the present Vicar. A son, The Reverend A C Tapsfield is Curate at St Peter's Ash.

Bridegroom from Italy
Miss Josephine Lilian Hough, older daughter of Mr and Mrs Hough of 9 Delamare Crescent Ashburton Estate Croydon to Mr S Apuppo of Catane Italy. The bride is a Nanny at White Firs, Normandy.

1961 January 21st
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Death of Mrs D K H Orchin.
Doris Kathleen Hope Orchin, Stanwell Cottage, Guildford Road, Normandy. (Report)

1961 January 24th
Highways and Bridges Department of Surrey County Council.
A proposed 40 mph speed limit between Ash, Dover Arms to a point 286 yards east of the junction of the A323 and A324.
1961 February 18th
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Funeral of Mr Henry Deedman, 1 The Hollies, Guildford Road, Normandy (79) (Report)

1961 April 3rd
The Times
Family's home for 240 years (Westwood).

1961 April 8th
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Westwood House for sale
Westwood House, 240-year-old mansion in Westwood Lane, Normandy is to be sold at auction in May unless disposed of earlier by private sale. The house has been the home of the Coussmaker family since 1720 and is now occupied by Mrs L J Coussmaker and her daughters.

1961 June 3rd
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Parish social
Some eighty people attended a parish social in the Village Hall last week. The organiser was Mrs Steel and Mr Derek Basset, secretary of the Parochial Church Council, was MC. The Vicar (Canon G N Selby Lowndes) spoke of the progress of the planned giving campaign and Captain Cradock (Churchwarden) spoke about the financial situation. Social activities included games, songs and dancing.
1961 June 13th
Highways and Bridges Department of Surrey County Council.
Highways Act, 1959, part 1X.
Guildford Rural district. Culls Road - Christmaspie - Normandy.
Your committee have decided that the private street, known as Culls Road, Christmaspie, Normandy, should be made good under or in accordance with the Code of 1892, contained in Part 1X of the Highways Act, 1959 and have directed that the specifications of such work, and other documents, including the provisional apportionment, be prepared by the County Engineer.
1961 July 1st
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Demand for a car park
Normandy Parish Council have reiterated their demand for a car park to be provided for the village in the vicinity of the village hall.
They have been pressed by local bodies to initiate further action, and have submitted to Guildford Rural District Council the following scheme: -
'Local voluntary bodies to be responsible for the provision and maintenance of a car park if the Rural District Council would accept the title of the land required, which would be transferred from the Parish Council to the Rural District Council'.
Upon the recommendation of the General Purposes Committee, the Council decided not to entertain the proposal. The Committee pointed out that if the Council accepted the title of the land proposed to be used, the cost of the future maintenance and management might well have to be borne by the District Council if local voluntary bodies failed to provide the necessary funds.

1961 July 29th
Guildford and Godalming Times
USSR order for Vokes Group Ltd, Additional buildings at Henley Park.

Part of Worplesdon goes to Normandy
Surrey County Council, at their meeting on Tuesday, approved an alteration of the boundary between the parishes of Normandy and Worplesdon in the Guildford Rural District, so as to transfer a part of the parish of Worplesdon to the parish of Normandy.
In a report of a local inquiry which they had before them, it was stated that the area in question was situated adjacent to Normandy, and that for all practical purposes the residents there (210) belonged to Normandy, their activities centring around the Normandy Village Hall, Parish Church and other facilities.
Worplesdon Parish Council fully concurred with Normandy Parish Council in their proposal to include within their boundary this part of Worplesdon.

Normandy
Polish farmer fined. A Polish farmer, Gustav Josef Krawczyk of Park Lodge, Normandy, pleaded guilty at Farnham Magistrates Court on Monday to failing to pay a National Insurance contribution in respect of a week in June.
Krawczyk, who also admitted arrears to the sum of £35.8s, told the court that his farm was too small for him to receive a Government subsidy, and that he only made £6 a week for the business. He said that, as he could not write in English, it was difficult for him to correspond. 'I do not understand English law and just work farm, that's all I can do', he said.
The magistrates fined Krawczyk £2 and made an order for payment of the arrears.

1961 September 2nd
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Vokes Group and Common Market. (Long feature)

'Must still press for more cesspool emptyings'.
Normandy Parish Council, who have been pressing the Guildford Rural District Council for additional emptyings of cesspools in the village, have been informed by the Rural District Council that no departure can be made for the present policy for cesspool emptying - which is once in three months free of charge.
Mr A A Cook (Chairman) said at the Council meeting on Tuesday that they must continue to press for increased emptying of cesspools and, if necessary, call a public meeting if the situation became worse in the winter.
The Council had approached their MP, the Rt Hon Harold Wilkinson, in an endeavour to get a 40 MPH speed limit imposed throughout the main thoroughfare of the village, but have since learned that the Highways and Byways Committee of the Surrey County Council have decided to defer this question for twelve months, at the end of which time the position will be reviewed.

1961 September 16th
Surrey Advertiser
Some fine flowers at Normandy (Normandy and District Gardening Association annual show).

1961 September 30th
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Protecting Memorial surround
Normandy Parish Council are concerned over maintaining in good condition the grass surround of the village war memorial. The memorial is adjacent to the Normandy Cross roads, and the surround has recently been re-turfed and put in good order. At their meeting in Tuesday the council decided to consider some form of protection for the memorial surround, such as posts with reflectors on the roadside, to prevent the parking of cars there.

The Council have agreed to let the Normandy Youth Club have the use of the recreation ground for a football match on October 1st.

Mr W G Olley of Glaziers Lane has been appointed to represent the parish in Civil Defence matters, and to act as Liaison Officer for Civil Defence between the parish and the Guildford Rural District Council.

1961 October 14th
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
The late Mrs Townsend
The funeral took place at Wyke Church and cemetery last week of Mrs Margaret Rose Townsend of Brook End, Guildford Road, Normandy. Aged 79, Mrs Townsend, a widow, leaves a married daughter. The funeral service was conducted by the Vicar of Wyke and Normandy, Canon G A Selby Lowndes.

1961 October 21st
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Christmas Pie housing plan rejected - 200 houses proposed.
Appeal by Mr E R R Moore re building of dwelling between Brook House and Tatters, Guildford Road.
Building permission refused - three dwellings on land at The Bungalow, Guildford Road.
Appeal dismissed - bungalow on land behind 2 Elm Hill Bungalows.
Appeal dismissed - land at Westwood Lane.

1961 November 4th
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
To parking - £7
Constance Elizabeth Goodchild, of Acis, Guildford Road, Normandy, was fined a total of £7 by Guildford Borough Magistrates on Monday - £1 for leaving her car for more than 30 minutes in a limited waiting area, £2 for causing unnecessary obstruction, £2 for not having lights in working order, and £2 for having her car in a dangerous condition.
The Court was told that the car was double parked in Tunsgate. A queue of traffic formed to get into the car park and a police officer had to direct it.

Abattoir for Normandy?
Normandy Parish Council have received representations from local residents objecting to an application for planning permission for the proposed erection of an abattoir and cold room at Wyke Farm, Normandy.
At their meeting on Tuesday, the Council decided to support the objection, and a letter has been sent to the clerk at the Guildford Rural District Council stating that they feel the proposed abattoir would offend the rural and residential character of the neighbourhood.

1961 December 2nd
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Saving the memorial.
Despite the fact that posts and chains have been erected at the side of the Normandy War Memorial, cars still park within the memorial precinct, with the possibility of damaging the newly laid turf members were informed by the chairman at the monthly meeting of the Parish Council on Tuesday. It was agreed to put in one more post to prevent all parking there.

The Council received a satisfactory and helpful letter from the Police Superintendent regarding the matter of motorcycles being driven around one of the fields at the weekends. The nuisance had apparently eased, but the police would watch the situation.

The Council received further representations concerning the dangerous bridge in Westwood Lane, where the land required for widening the bridge was the subject of a compulsory purchase order.
It was agreed to press the County Divisional Surveyor for information as to progress in this matter.

1961 December 16th
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Death of Mrs V Greene
A Normandy resident for over 30 years, Mrs Violet Greene of the Neuk, Glaziers Lane, died at her home on Tuesday after a long illness. A widow, she leaves a son and three daughters.
Mrs Greene was a member of the Wyke and Normandy Woman's Institute for some years, and had been a Vice President. She was also a member of the Normandy Amateur Dramatic Society.
The funeral takes place this (Saturday) morning at St Marks Church, Wyke at 11 o'clock.
1962 Wednesday February 24th
Surrey Advertiser - mid week
Normandy
Minister allows workshop at Normandy.
The Minister of Housing and Local Government has allowed the appeal of Mr T James who wants to establish a workshop at his home, Killarney, Culls Road, Normandy.
At a public inquiry in December Mr James appealed against Guildford Rural council's refusal of planning permission. He said he wanted a bench, a vice and small grinding stone to allow him to do light work for people in the village.
Mr R le P Shelton, the inspector who conducted the inquiry reported to the Minister that the development of the ex-dairy site into a workshop would not prejudice the Green Belt extension to create a precedent, nor would it significantly affect the living conditions of those living nearby. It should prove a useful service for the locality.
The Minister, in agreeing to give his consent, made a condition that the building is used on weekdays between 8.0am and 6.0pm only, and that no machinery shall be installed except as agreed with the local authority. The premises are only to be used for the specified purposes agreed.

1962 July 21st
Surrey Advertiser
Ex-Normandy scouts who joined in the 1920s (picture).

1962 Wednesday August 15th
Surrey Advertiser - mid week -
Normandy
Normandy couple wed fifty years.
A couple, who have lived in and around Guildford since the last war, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary on Sunday. They are Mr and Mrs Ernest Hine of Hilldip, Westwood Lane, Normandy.
Mr Hine was born in Dorset and Mrs Hine in Clapham. They met at a dance in Clapham, and were married there in 1912.
During the First World War Mr Hine served for two years in a mechanical transport division in Mesopotamia. Between the wars he worked in a confectionery business, and the Second World War brought the couple to Guildford.
Mr Hine was a member of the emergency catering services here, besides belonging to the Voluntary Fire Service. Since then, he has worked at the Corona Cafe in High Street, and more recently for Ayres and Sons of Woodbridge Road, who presented him with his Golden Wedding cake.
Mr and Mrs Hine have one daughter and three grandchildren, who live in Streatham.

1962 Wednesday August 22nd
Surrey Advertiser - mid week -
Normandy
Wedding at Wyke, St Mark's Church
Mr Robert High Tollemache, younger son of Major General and Mrs H T Tollemache of Sheet House, Sheet and Miss Lorraine Francis Allen, eldest daughter of Brigadier and Mrs F J Allen of Wyke Lodge, Normandy

1962 Wednesday August 29th
Surrey Advertiser - mid week -
Canon's farewell to friendly village - [Report]

1962 Wednesday September 19th
Surrey Advertiser - mid week -
Normandy
Normandy Councillor
Mr A A Cook has been elected unopposed as a rural district councillor for Normandy parish. The by-election was caused by the death of Captain L S Johnson.
Mr Cook is chairman of Normandy Parish Council, a post which he will continue to hold, and he takes up his new duties as from October 6th.

1962 Wednesday October 17th
Surrey Advertiser - mid week -
Normandy
Surrey Farmhouse for sale
An interesting property now on the market is Whipley Farmhouse at Normandy, near Guildford which is in the hands of Weller and Co. of Guildford and John D Wood and Co.
Scheduled as a building of architectural interest, the house, which has five bedrooms, was originally a Surrey Farmhouse, and dates from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It has been completely modernised by local craftsmen, and is offered at £19,500.
The property is owned by City Freeholds and Investments, and stands in eleven acres with an ornamental lake.

1962 Saturday December 19th
Guildford and Godalming Times
Normandy
Milford cricketer married at Wyke
Miss Barbara Anne Steere, only daughter of Mr and Mrs G T Steere of Little Meadows, Westwood Lane, Normandy was on 8 December married to Mr Michael Stearne of 97 St Augustines Road, Southsea - formerly of Cliffe Road, Godalming. He is a member of Milford Cricket Club.

1963 April 13th
Surry Advertiser
Workers luxury club in stately mansion. Vokes sports and social club opens.
1200 people employed at Henley Park.
1964 July 17th
Unknown paper
New Normandy vicar inducted; Rev Graham Hawkett

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