STAY ALERT CONTROL THE VIRUS SAVE LIVES
IT WILL SOON BE HISTORY
Wednesday 15th April 2020
Today's exercise is 'Hanging from the Ceiling'
Hold it for 30 minutes, repeat 5 times a day.
That way you will develop two metre arms.
Great for hugging and maintaining social distancing.
Friday May 1st 2020
Regular readers of Bob's Blog (if there are any GJ) will know that Thursday's in Cobham are fish and bin day. Jimmy the Fish drives over from Lowestoft with his fresh fish. But the last few weeks have been fishless for obvious reasons. Fortunately Jimmy had my mobile number and sent me a text saying he will be back next week.
Being a regular customer, an artist! and a supporter of small businesses I created a couple of posters to stick on the trees where he parks his van.
Hopefully they will be there for all to see until next Thursday.
Enterprising? I might get a discount on my cod!
Saturday 2nd May 2020
To lighten the mood and perhaps get an idea of what is was like in a real war. You could listen to this lot. Vera Lynn, Anne Shelton, George Formby, Arthur Askey, Joe Loss, Glen Miller, Flanagan and Allen, Benny Goodman, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Gracie Fields, Doris Day, The Andrew's Sisters and a few others.
# Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye #
# We'll meet again don't know where don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day #
Wednesday 6th May 2020
Here in Cobham we are particularly fortunate in having many delightful footpaths to choose from. A favourite is across the fields. Field after field after field after field after field with the river meandering on your right. Grazing horses, gaggles of geese and dozens of ducks. Rickety bridges, challenging stiles, squeaky gates and seas of shimmering grass.
This morning a farmer was busily nailing up plastic notices on every tree, post, stile telling you that you agree to pay £250 if you step off the path. A fellow stroller coming the other way keen on maintaining social distancing stepped off the hallowed way onto the grass, 'good morning' he said' 'good morning' I said 'be careful you will be liable for a £250 payment'. 'No problem' he said cheerily 'fortunately I've brought my cheque book'. Well it is Cobham!
They say that when you get very old you get nostalgic about your old girlfriends, old cars and old times etc. For some reason I've got a touch nostalgic about my old school in Oxshott as I've just found a christmas card to commemorate 150 years since it opened which was 1820. This year it is 200 years old and I've been invited to chat to the children about my time there which was 1944 to 1950. I might mention The Oxshott Village Sign as well!
Does this mean I'm very old?
I might have mentioned that before, sorry, I rarely read my own blog. What was that?
Thursday 7th May 2020
You'll be pleased to know that Jimmy the fish sold out of fish (see above} he gave me a couple of crabs. Delicious. Thanks Jim.
Tuesday 12th May 2020
I'd just like to report that despite the lockdown Polesden Lacey is still there complete with Crows, Birds, Bees and Buzzy things, Buttercups, Daisies and Bluebells.
But no cars, people, pooches or coffee.
Just dreamy.
Saturday 16th May 1967 sorry 2020
Happy birthday to you.
The sight of an 81 year old cycling around the area on his rusty old bike doing a survey of Village Sign Brass Plaques at 7 'o' clock on a Saturday morning you may think is bizarre to say the least but guess what?
This is the Stoke D'Abernon Village Sign with a miniscule brass plaque which is difficult to find and difficult to read and says nothing about what is represented on The Sign or the History of Stoke D'Abernon.
This is the Downside Village Sign Plaque which is much larger but equally as difficult to read and says nothing about what is depicted on The Sign or about the History of Downside.
This is the Cobham Village Sign which is even more difficult to read and says nothing about what is depicted on The Sign or the History of Cobham.
This is The Claygate Village Sign plaque which is also unreadable and has nothing to say about what is represented on the sign or Claygate's History.
It is usually obliterated with piles of fruit and veg from the Greengrocers.
This is The Oxshott Village Sign which has two plaques both equally as difficult to read and has a lot to say about who paid for it and a very brief description of what is depicted on The Sign. Unfortunately the plaques have been made too wide, overhang the chamferred timber causing a hazard. The four 'vandal proof' fixings are vulnerable and one has already fallen off.
If you squint a bit you can just make out who dreamt it all up!
By the way the bike is a ladies Chopper made by Dawes of Birmingham England.
Conclusion of survey - It's a shame that whatever is written on a brass plaque becomes unreadable in a very short space of time even if they are polished regularly. Engraved brass plaques are expensive, lack 'contrast', are difficult to read because of reflections but also quickly become tarnished, lose the filler and as a result, despite popular mythology, fail to 'stand the test of time'. Check the brass plaques in any cemetary. And if you think that Harley Street brass plaques look great it is because they are designed for one name to be read at a distance and are polished daily.
Recommendations to follow.
Represented on this Sign
St Mary's Church which has a rich history dating back to the 7th Century. It is mentioned in The Domesday Book of 1086.
The Monumental Brasses of Sir John d'Abernon date from 1277.
The d'Abernon Coat of Arms.
The Cricket Club dates from 1870 and was home to Bob Willis who went on to play for England from 1971 and England Captain from
1982 - 1984.
This Sign was erected in October 2019 by Stoke D'Abernon Residents Association with generous support from Cobham Heritage Trust and Elmbridge Borough Council.
This could be The Plaque for The Stoke D'Abernon Village Sign.
It is Black Anodised Aluminium with white laser marked lettering.
Includes a brief description of what is represented on the sign.
It does not reflect, easy to read in all lighting conditions, used widely in marine and other hazardous locations and will stand the test of time.
Downside has existed as a Village since the 12th Century.
Represented on this Sign is The Village Pump which was
'ERECTED AND THE WATER BROUGHT FROM A DISTANCE FOR THE SUPPLY AND COMFORT OF THE COTTAGERS ON DOWNSIDE COMMON BY HARVEY COMBE Esq 1858'.
The Pump can be found on the far side of The Village Green.
This Sign was created in 2014 with contributions from Downside and Hatchford Community Group, Cobham Heritage Trust, Downside and Hatchford Sports Day, Chasemore Farm, Kate Ellis and Jamie Hawkins.
This could be The Plaque for The Downside Village Sign.
It is Black Anodised Aluminium with white laser marked lettering.
Includes a brief description of what is represented on the sign.
It does not reflect, easy to read in all lighting conditions, used widely in marine and other hazardous locations and will stand the test of time.
Represented on this Sign
is Cobham Mill
The earliest known reference to a Flour Mill on this site is 1534.
Milling ceased in 1928.
Following years of dedicated restoration by local volunteers it was brought back to life by
The Cobham Mill Preservation Trust in 1992.
In 1996 it received Elmbridge Borough Council's Conservation Award and in 1997 it was awarded The Surrey Industrial History Group's 'Conservation Plaque'.
The Sign was commissioned by The Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust from Black Forge Art and was unveiled by The Worshipful The Mayor of Elmbridge Councillor Mrs Tannia Shipley on 5th May 2017.
This could be The Plaque for
The Cobham Village Sign.
It is Black Anodised Aluminium with white laser marked lettering.
Includes a brief description of what is represented on the sign.
It does not reflect, easy to read in all lighting conditions, used widely in marine and other hazardous locations and will stand the test of time.
Represented on this Sign are
Claygate Bricks from The Claygate Brickfields which was opened c1930.
The Holy Trinity Church
built in 1840.
The Claygate Permain Apple
Ruxley Towers
This Village Sign was commissioned by The Claygate Village Residents Association to mark The Millenium and was funded by many local people.
It was built largely due to the inspiration and commitment of
David Prentice.
This could be The Plaque for
The Claygate Village Sign.
It is Black Anodised Aluminium with white laser marked lettering.
Includes a brief description of what is represented on the sign.
It does not reflect, easy to read in all lighting conditions, used widely in marine and other hazardous locations and will stand the test of time.
THE HISTORY OF OXSHOTT
REPRESENTED ON THIS SIGN
The Royal Kent School Shield. Founded 1820.
A rare Reinforced Concrete Footbridge
built in 1910. Believed to be the first, the last
and only one spanning a three track railway.
Known locally as 'The Stone Bridge'.
Scots Pine Trees on Oxshott Heath.
The smoking Brickworks Chimney.
Demolished in 1966.
St. Andrews Church Bell Tower.
Consecrated in 1912.
The War Memorial built in 1918 by local resident
Sir Robert McAlpine (Concrete Bob).
The Coming of the Railway in 1885.
A Coal Train serving the brick kilns.
Oxshott Brick Company brick.
Opened by John Early Cook
c1866 closed 1958.
The Wren ‘Mark’ from the Oxshott Pottery
started by the Wren family in 1920.
The 'Oxshott Jug' from the pottery.
First recorded in 1179 as Occa’s Sceat.
The Oxshott Club. Snooker / Billiards.
The Oxshott Sports Club.
Tennis, Cricket and Bowls.
All with over 100 years of history.
For an in depth history of Oxshott please refer to
'Oxshott A Surrey Village’ by Dr B.S Gidvani.
Original Design by
Oxshott resident Robert Jones.
Adapted and made by
Black Forge Art of Wittersham, Kent.
This Traditional Village Sign
was commissioned by
The Oxshott Village Sign Society
And was unveiled by:-
The Worshipful the Mayor of
The Borough of Elmbridge
Councillor Mrs Shweta Kapadia
On 10th May 2019.
Principal supporters of the project were:-
Babayan Pearce
Felicity Bond
Boyce Thornton
Centre for Sight
John and Christine Clarke
Clay Hair Salon
Clay Spa
David Cooke
Nigel Crawford
Danes Hill School
Jeffery Efeyini
Stuart and Judith Mellstrom
Munch and Wiggles
The Oxshott Club
Oxshott Dental
The Oxshott Village Trust
The Shannon Family
Oscar and Leigh Strugstad
Graham Tillotson
Bill and Lesley Wells
Mike and Lindy Wheeler
Elmbridge Borough Council
Surrey County Council
A list of 165 donors to the project
printed on to archive quality paper
and inserted into a tube is buried
near the sign for posterity.
Custodians of The Sign are
The Oxshott Village Trust.
This could be The Plaques for
The Oxshott Village Sign. Wording similar to the brass but includes important dates and names of those who did most to put Oxshott 'on the map'.
It is Black Anodised Aluminium with white laser marked lettering.
It does not reflect, easy to read in all lighting conditions, is used widely in marine and other hazardous locations and will stand the test of time.
6 near invisible fixings to deter vandals.
Compliments The Sign in style and colour and is a fifth of the cost of engraving.
Friday 22nd May 2020
And if you think old Bob's obsession with Village Sign Plaques is a touch weird his neighbour and his wife take a daily tour of all the large stores in the area and watch the people queuing up with their trolleys!
Saturday 23rd May 2020
Happy 114th Birthday and in memory of Mabel Conway who found her way to Oxshott from Darlington in the early 30's, worked for 'Concrete Bob' and married the son of a Brickmaker.
I rest my case and rest in peace.
Mabel Conway 23rd May 1906 - 21st May 1968
Sunday 31st May 2020
No doubt at least one of my regular switched on readers will know that Mabel was my mother so a touch of recognition won't go amiss having had to put up with a wayward, ungrateful son for years.
She was born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire but the family moved to 21 Harrison Terrace Darlington around 1912 when she was six.
No 21 was a typical two up, two down terraced house with outside toilet, tin bath and a postage stamp back yard but lovely neighbours. She shared it with her four sisters and three brothers so a bit of a challenge all round wouldn't you think?
How and why she found her way to Oxshott in her early 20's we'll never know but it's fortunate for me and a number of others that she did. So thanks Mum, it's a shame that you only knew one of your three grandchildren and none of your six great grandchildren but I'll make sure they will know you.
Monday 1st June 2020
This is Mum getting married to Dad, Reginald Arthur Jones on 12th May 1934 at St Andrew's Church Oxshott.
And this is the reception at The Brambles (renamed No.36), Little Heath Lane where her in-laws lived and her grandson is now doing the garden would you believe?
Anti Corona Spit.
Thursday 23rd April 2020
I don't suppose you will have the slightest interest but I have added another page to my Art Gallery. I have developed a fool proof system of producing a likeness which is still on the secret list. It comes from spending 40 years at the drawing board and still having most of your old pens, pencils, eraser shields and rubbers in the loft. Slide rules, set squares, tee squares, trammel, stencils and compasses as well. Including a few old drawings of aircraft bits and pieces from 1965. Plus an introductory manual issued to rookie Boeing employees in 1969. It's called The Boeing Engineer. A Guide to Early Effectiveness. Probably worth a bomb!
Plus a few priceless copies of The Boeing News issued in 1968/9 reporting on the first flight of the 747. Great pictures. Amazing what you find in the loft.
Friday 24th April 2020
If you need a touch of light reading to ease the boredom without adverts, subscribing, signing in and arsing about with cookies and all that b******* click on any of the links on the front page. Today I would recommend IF I HAD WINGS because I've updated it and it's my favorite, sorry favourite.
Tuesday 28th April 2020
Lockdown not likely to be lifted for a couple of weeks yet so I would recommend buying a bird feeder and bird food (you can still get anything you want on line from the RSPB, great service and delivery) hang your bird feeder out the window or on your tree and imagine what it's like to be free - as a bird.