CR5 Issue 155 April 2018 digital

April 2018 

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2 

Vegetarian Feast 

on a Banana leaf 

more than 30 dishes 

Date: 

Thursday 

y, 18th January 

2018 

Time: 

Starts fr 

rom 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm 

Cost: £26.90 per person 

On the 18th 

January 

2018 at 

Karnava 

var we are hosting a 

Curryr 

14th Festival 

April evening, 

with a 4 course menu. 

11.00am to 3.30pm 

Reserv 

vations fo 

or the evening are 

now being taken 

£25 per person 

Vegetarian Feast 

Valenties Day 

Bo 

okings 

now being taken 

Bookings now being taken 

2 TO 

Log 

ADVERTISE 

into www.cr5.co.uk 

IN THE PURLEY 

your 

PAGES 

local community 

CALL : 0208 

website! 

773 4737

Celebrating 

10 YEARS 

If you are thinking of selling or renting your property, 

please call us today to arrange a free valuation. 

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To advertise call Lucy on 01737 557888 or 07703 209292 

3

Welcome to the April 2018 Issue of CR5 

CR5 is your local community magazine delivered FREE of charge every month 

to 11,500 homes in Coulsdon, Old Coulsdon, Netherne, Hooley & Chipstead. 

Welcome to the April 2018 issue of CR5 

Magazine. 

I hope you all had a nice March despite 

several snowfalls. Luckily none of them 

lasted for long, but gave the youngsters 

time to enjoy building snowmen and 

sledging. Let us hope that spring is well 

and truly on its way and we can look 

forward to some warmer weather. 

No doubt gardening will be on everyone’s 

minds to prepare for the summer months 

Don’t miss our for our Fab Prize 

competition on page 8 :-) 

If you are planning any new projects in 

your home this year, please do take a look 

at the wealth of advertisers in the CR5 

Magazine. The handy index is on page 98 

for your convenience. 

CR5 Magazine is brought to you by a 

local publisher giving you access to a 

huge selection of local businesses along 

with a wealth of local information on the 

Community Pages (p90-97). 

If you call any advertisers, please do 

mention you found their advert in the CR5 

Magazine- this will ensure the future of 

CR5 popping through your letterbox each 

month. 

Dont forget to LIKE our Facebook page 

for regular updates. You can also find 

more information on our website 

www.CR5.co.uk 

Wishing you all a happy, and healthy 

March 

Warm regards 

Lucy McAlpine 

Editor CR5 Magazine 

Telephone: 01737 557888 

Mobile: 07703 209292 

email: 

lucy@cr5.co.uk 

Published by CR5 Magazine, 

Hillside, Netherne Lane, Coulsdon, CR5 

1NR 

Editor: 

Assistant: 

@CR5 Magazine 

Lucy McAlpine 

Michelle Plant 

CONTENTS: 

CR5 Wordsearch COMPETITION 8 

Fool me once ... 16 

Furry Friends Animal Rescue 24 

Animal Protection Trust 24 

Quirky Britain: Take a walk with a llama 32 

CR5 History: A memorial to post 40 

CR5 Gardening: Ovehaul your lawn 44 

Croydon Conservatives Update 48 

CR5 Technology: Don’t be an April Fool 56 

On your bike... 60 

Taking Time... 64 

CR5 Travel: Belgrade 68 

Coulsdon & Purley Debating Society 72 

CR5 Recipe: Lemon Marscapone Creams 76 

CR5 Pets : Protect your pets this Spring 76 

Private Health Insurance? 78/79 

CR5 Motoring: BMW X3: Truly Capable 80 

Preventing Keyless Car Theft 82/83 

Coulsdon Library 84 

The Ash Girl - Courtyard Theatre 85 

CR5 Kids Page 86 

Old Coulsdon Camera Club 87 

Filled with the fullness of God 87 

CR5 Just for Fun Crossword 88 

Trip Down Memory Lane 89 

CR5 Recipe: Spice crusted baked salmon fillets 89 

CR5 Community Pages 90-97 

Index of Advertisers 98 

We take the hassle out of advertising, giving 

you time to run your business. 

To advertise your business in the next issue, either 

call or email us for our CR5 media pack 

Deadline for artwork for May 2018 issue: 

18th April 2018 

Please note: Advertising Space cannot be 

guaranteed in our deadline week: please make 

your booking in plenty of time 

DISCLAIMER 

Although every effort has been taken in compiling the contents, 

the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors, omissions or 

information supplied by its advertisers. 

CR5 is COPYRIGHT protected. No part of this publication may be 

reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any 

form, without prior permission of the publisher.

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6 Log into www.cr5.co.uk your local community website!


7

WIN 

A Pet, Baby 

or Family 

Photo Session at 

Andrew Franklin 

Photography 

(Worth CR5 ROADNAMES £49) 

WORDSEARCH CR5 

W O H Y E L R I H S HOW TO ENTER: 

AUSTIN 

Firstly, locate all of the listed roads in BECKETT 

the grid 

H G I E L T S E W B to the left. 

CEARN 

The remaining letters will spell out a road 

N R A L I E D N R E name in the CR5 area not previously listed. CLOVER 

Submit your entry by email with the subject 

I D I L N R O O E C 

CONISTON 

“COMPETITION” to lucy@cr5.co.uk or post 

to CR5 Magazine, Hillside, Netherne Lane, 

DARCY 

T S R E G O N T V K Coulsdon. CR5 1NR. 

DEANS 

Please do not forget your name and address 

S N O H F W O S O E 

DOWNS 

and contact number on your entry. 

HILLSIDE 

U A T S I A T I L T 

Competition closes 18th April 2018. HOMEFIELD 

The winner will be randomly selected, notified and 

A E C S E N N N C T named in the May 2018 issue of CR5. HOW 

No cash alternative is available. Editors decision LACEY is 

N D I N L W U O H T final. No correspondence will be entered into. 

LINDEN 

I I V W D N A C I N AUSTIN 

MARLPIT 

LINGFIELD 

BECKETT 

MEAD 

M S R O E S T P Y R CEARN 

REID MARLPIT 

CLOVER 

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L L O D T A L N E A CONISTON SHELLEY REID 

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E L N A H R R I C T 

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15

Fool me once, shame on you… 

…fool me twice, shame on me. 

The first of April is traditionally April Fool’s 

Day, or more correctly, All Fools Day. 

Its origins, like so many traditions that have 

been handed down to us across the generations, 

are shrouded in a certain amount of 

mystery. 

It might be related to the ability of Spring 

weather to provide us with theunexpected, 

sunshine and showers in close order, or even, 

like this year, snow at Easter. 

There’s the possibility that it’s the 

celebration on the fruitless expedition 

by the crow on Noah’s ark to find dry land. 

Some speculate that it comes from the Hindu 

festival of Holi or Huli, where the celebration 

of the defeat of evil takes the form of people 

throwing coloured powder and water at each 

other. Others suggest that it’s an evolution of 

the medieval Feast of Asses or Feast of Fools 

which had its beginnings in France. Certainly, 

the most modern form of All Fools Day started 

there. You have to remember that up until 

1582, when Pope Gregory brought in a new 

calendar, the 1st April was the start of the New 

Year, not the 1st January. It’s why, at least in 

part, our tax year still works along those lines. 

(Now there’s an April Fool’s trick. Income Tax 

was first introduced in the UK back in 1799 

purely as a temporary measure to help pay for 

the war against Napoleon. Note the use of the 

word ‘temporary’. Two hundred odd years later, 

and I’m still waiting for the Chancellor to leap 

out from No.11 Downing Street and shout ‘April 

Fool! You can have it all back now…’) 

They really knew how to celebrate in those 

days. Not for them a quiet evening with some 

Aldi Prosecco and Jools Holland’s Hootenanny 

on the TV, oh no. The celebrations lasted a 

week and ended with parties, dancing late into 

the night and the giving of presents. But when 

the Gregorian calendar came in, not everyone 

knew about it. It took a long time for news to 

travel. Pope Gregory couldn’t just tweet ‘Let’s 

make the calendar great again. It now starts in 

January’ and the known world suddenly, 

simultaneously, upgrade to Year V2.0 (Papal 

Edition). Some didn’t hear about it, some did 

and refused to accept the change. Others 

frankly forgot about it. But what began to 

happen was that people who had made the 

change began to play tricks on those that 

hadn’t, by inviting them to non-existent New 

Year’s Eve parties. 

And those who fell for it became ‘April Fools’. 

The tricks, or pranks, began to develop, getting 

people to believe that something that was true 

was actually false. And the tradition began to 

migrate, reaching England and the rest of the 

British Isles in the 18th Century. 

Nowadays it’s usually the reverse, 

with the media often cunningly and 

meticulously crafting fictional news stories and 

articles which have just enough credibility to 

possibly be true. In 1957, the BBC famously ran 

an item on the deadly serious news magazine 

programme Panorama in which they explored 

the problems experienced by spaghetti farmers 

on the Swiss/Italian border. In 1964, Swedish 

Television announced to their viewers that they 

could convert their black and white televisions 

to colour through the simple expediency of 

pulling a nylon stocking over the screen. 

Sir Patrick Moore once announced that a 

unique planetary alignment would result in less 

gravity on Earth and that if you jumped at a 

particular time you might even float. 

In 1998 Burger King announced the launch of 

the left-handed Whopper burger. 

The Independent wrote an 8 page pull-out 

special on a wholly fictional Caribbean island, 

with detailed information on its culture, trade, 

tourism and history. 

Waitrose advertised the Pinana, a banana/pineapple 

hybrid. Did people fall for them? Oh yes. 

So, this April 1, keep an eye out for 

the pranks and the tricks. And look hard. 

These days they’re a lot trickier to spot. It’s 

not that they’ve become so much more clever 

and sophisticated, it’s just that the real news is 

often so unbelievable… 

Paul M Ford writes for GrayDorian 

– The Writing Bureau 


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LALEHAM LEA 

LALEHAM LEA 

Independent Catholic Primary School for boys and girls aged 3-11 years 

Catholic Independent Primary School for boys and girls aged 3-11 years 

Catholic Independent 

29 

29 

Peaks 

Peaks Primary 

Hill, Purley, 

Hill, School 

CR8 

Purley. for 

3JJ. 

boys 

0208 

CR8 and 

660 

girls 3JJ 

3351 

aged 3-11 years 

www.lalehamlea.co.uk 

29 Peaks Hill, Purley, 

email: 

CR8 

secretary@lalehamlea.co.uk 

3JJ. 0208 660 3351 

0208 660 3351 

www.lalehamlea.co.uk email: secretary@lalehamlea.co.uk 

‘The www.lalehamlea.co.uk 

educational development email: secretary@lalehamlea.co.uk 

of children in 

‘The “The educational the EYFS development setting development is excellent.’ of children of children in the in 

the EYFS setting is is excellent” excellent.’ 

Children love to explore the world we 

live Children in and love here to at explore Laleham the Lea world we use we 

Science, live in and here Technology, at Laleham Engineering, Lea we use 

the Science, Arts and Technology, Maths (STEAM) Engineering, subjects 

across the Arts the and curriculum Maths (STEAM) to inspire subjects and 

encourage across the pupils curriculum to get to to inspire grips with and 

these encourage key areas pupils of to learning. get to grips with 

these key areas of learning. 

Contact Mrs Edwards in the school 

office Contact now Mrs to Edwards book a tour in and the secure school 

your office child’s now to book place a for tour 2018/2019. and secure 

Tel: your 0208 child’s 660 3351. place for 2018/2019. 

Tel: 0208 660 3351. 

At Laleham Lea we firmly believe in putting the child 

at the centre of everything we do. 

From the warm welcome as you walk throug the 

door in the morning to the playground where all 

ages play, run and socialise together as one happy 

family. 

Bright, light filled classrooms and enthusiastic, 

experienced teachers engage young minds’ thirst 

for knowledge, helping each developing individual to 

reach their full potential and untimately move on to 

the school of their choice. 

Contact Mrs Edwards in the school office now 

to book a tour and secure your child’s place for 

2018/2019. Tel: 0208 660 3351 

Limited places 

Limited 

Limited 

places 

remaining Places for 

remaining for 

September 

Still available for 

September 

September 2018 2018 


We look forward to welcoming you to our school 


THE ALTONWOOD GROUP 

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First class facilities for all types of events: 

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21

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23


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25

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27


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29



31

Feeling stressed out? 

Take a walk with a llama 

by Kate McLelland 

According to the advertisement 

strapline for one of the many llama 

trekking trips available in the UK 

today: “You feel calmer when you 

walk with a llama”. 

If you’ve recently browsed 

magazines or websites offering 

rural escapes, the chances are you 

will have noticed promotions for 

llama trekking. Llamas originally 

came from South America, where 

local people have used them as 

pack animals for hundreds of 

years. Their specially adapted feet 

- padded, like a dog’s - together 

with their friendly natures made 

them the perfect companion for 

long treks across the mountainous 

Andes region. 

Like the alpaca, the guanaco 

and the vicuna, llamas belong 

to a biological family known as 

‘camelidae’. All four species, 

known as ‘New World camelids’, 

sprang from a common ancestor, 

which was also the antecedent of 

the African and Asian camels. 

From the middle of the 20th 

century llamas began to be 

exported to the US and Canada in 

large numbers. Avocado farmers in 

California found them particularly 

useful for transporting their 

harvested fruit down steep valley 

slopes, but it wasn’t long before 

Californians began to recognise 

therapeutic benefits of walking 

with llamas. When llama trekking 

arrived in Britain in 1997, the 

Independent newspaper described 

it as “an exotic import” but since 

then opportunities to walk with 

llamas have become almost 

commonplace. 

WHAT HAPPENS ON A LLAMA 

TREK? 

Although llamas are able to pull 

carts and carry up to 25% of their 

body weight, they are not suitable 

for riding, so your trekking experience 

will be limited to leading 

your llama on a halter as you walk 

along. At first glance this may not 

seem like much of an ‘experience’, 

but trekkers report that leading a 

llama is a surprisingly relaxing and 

calming experience. 

A UK llama trek can involve anything 

from a half-day trip (ending 

with a cream tea, of course) to a 

ramble lasting several days. Brenda 

Stevens, a member of the British 

Llama Society and owner of the 

trekking company UK Llamas, offers 

visitors the opportunity to halter 

and groom their llama before leading 

them into the country lanes and 

footpaths around the village of Mosterton 

in Dorset. Llamas are usually 

well-behaved but have been known 

to pause on their route if they find 

a particularly tasty hedgerow plant. 

Brenda explains: “Our llamas enjoy 

nothing more than exploring the 

village and helping our neighbours 

by ‘trimming’ their bushes and trees 

along the way!” 

WHAT MAKES LLAMAS SO 

SPECIAL? 

Llamas will also stop in the 

middle of a trekking expedition 

if they sense the presence of 

wildlife, helping their human 

companions spot creatures they 

might otherwise fail to see on a 

countryside walk. With their sharp 

senses and strong protective 

instincts, they are often used on 

farms to guard lambs, ducks and 

chickens from attack by predators. 

Hardy and undemanding, they are 

also placed in paddocks to provide 

companionship for horses and 

ponies. 

Perhaps it is this ability to bond 

with other species that has singled 

32 Log into www.cr5.co.uk your local community website! 

llamas out as ideal travelling 

companions for humans. In spite 

of rumours that llamas can spit 

in spectacular fashion if angered, 

this rarely happens. These animals 

can exhibit aggressive behaviour if 

they are not reared in groups with 

other llamas, but are usually docile 

and friendly to humans if allowed 

to socialise with their own kind. 

In fact, many UK llama owners 

have become so confident of 

their animals’ good behaviour 

that they have started to involve 

them in animal therapy sessions. 

Llamas’ soft fur, large eyes and 

human-like expressions are 

helpful when working with autistic 

children and adult dementia 

patients. Parties and celebrations 

are another growth area for the 

‘llama experience’. In 2009 James 

and Suzanne Benson set up 

Nidderdale Llamas from their farm 

in North Yorkshire with a view to 

diversifying their farm business, 

and they now make their animals 

available for hen parties and 

weddings. 

For hen parties the llamas are 

equipped with pink ‘L’ plates on 

their tails, while participants can 

hire sashes to wear as they walk. 

At weddings, llamas meet and 

greet guests and provide a focus 

for photographs. Paying to lead 

an animal on a countryside ramble 

may seem like a slightly eccentric 

thing to do, but there’s little doubt 

that llama trekking is a magical 

and unforgettable experience for 

those who take part, providing an 

effective way to de-stress and get 

back in tune with nature. To quote 

one happy customer who reviewed 

his trekking trip on the TripAdvisor 

website: “Quite simply one of the 

BEST days out we have had.”


33



35


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37

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39

History: A Memorial to Post By Catherine Rose 

In the era of email 

and smartphones, 

many believe the 

art of letter 

writing is 

declining. So, 

what of the 

history of our 

postal system, 

once the only way 

people could 

communicate 

across long 

distances? 

During medieval 

times, letters 

were usually handwritten 

on velum 

and sealed with 

wax (there were no envelopes in 

those days), after which they were 

sent via messenger on horseback, 

or even by trained hawk or carrier 

pigeon. 

In 1507, Cardinal Wolsey appointed 

a Master of the Posts to manage 

a postmaster in each major town 

who would keep a team of horses 

and post boys to deliver letters. 

In 1635, the Royal Mail was founded 

and the first official post or 

‘letter’ offices were set up. By 1660 

letters were being inked to show 

the date they were mailed using a 

hand-held stamp, also known as a 

‘Bishop stamp’ after its inventor, 

Henry Bishop. 

The cost of postage wasn’t 

rationalised, however. There was 

corruption and widely varying 

charges applied to different areas 

and routes, for example over 

bridges with tolls. As it was the 

recipient who had to pay, post 

was often refused on the grounds 

of cost, resulting in losses and an 

inefficient system. 

In 1837, polymath Sir Rowland Hill 

wrote a pamphlet – Post Office 

Reform, its Importance and 

Practicability – which outlined 

suggestions to revolutionise the 

postal system. 

At that time there was a postal 

charge for distance and an 

additional one for each sheet of 

paper sent which resulted in many 

people writing ‘between the lines’, 

i.e. turning the paper around 180 

degrees and writing the second 

page in the spaces between the 

lines of the first. (There is a wonderful 

example of this in a letter 

on display at Jane Austen’s House 

Museum in Alton, Hampshire.) 

Hill made a case for abolishing 

the existing complicated and expensive 

postal tariffs. He suggested 

introducing a penny post across 

the board for standard letters of an 

ounce or less, paid for by the sender, 

with higher rates of postage for 

packets and parcels dependent on 

weight.This idea proved popular 

with the public and together with 

the Postmaster General Lord 

Lichfield, they came up with the 

idea of using a small label “covered 

at the back with a glutinous wash” 

that could be stuck to an envelope 

to show that the sender had paid 

the required postage. 

Named after the original hand 

stamp method used for postmarking, 

the postage stamp was 

born. However, it was perhaps 

not as novel as it is claimed for 

similar pieces of paper, attached to 

documents using lead staples, had 

already been in use to denote paid 

taxes for several hundred years. 

It was decided to place the 

postage stamp in the top righthand 

corner of the envelope to 

speed up postmarking (also known 

as cancellation), because postal 

workers would be using their right 

hand. 

In 1839, Hill ran a competition to 

design the first postage stamp 

with a prize of £200. There were 

nearly 3,000 entries. In the end, it 

was R. A. William Wyon’s depiction 

of a young Queen Victoria’s profile 

that was chosen, based on a bust 

he had modelled of her when she 

was just fifteen and which was 

subsequently used for a commemorative 

medal on her first visit to 

London as Queen. Another artist, 

Henry Corbould, drew the head 

and embellished the background. 

The whole design was then line 

engraved for printing. 


The Penny Black was officially 

launched in May 1840, followed 

two days later by the Tuppeny 

Blue. More than 70 million letters 

were sent annually over the next 

two years, a figure that had more 

than quadrupled by 1850. Along 

with the demand for post came the 

production of folded envelopes. 

The initial stamps were printed 

onto sheets of paper and then 

manually cut using scissors. 

Perforated sheets to facilitate 

tearing were introduced in 1854 

after Henry Archer invented a 

perforating machine. The Penny 

Red was the first to appear with 

the characteristic edge we now 

associate with stamps. 

Other countries soon followed suit 

with their own postage, but the UK 

remained the only country that did 

not geographically identify itself on 

its stamps, the reigning monarch’s 

head being deemed sufficient. 

The explosion in letter sending 

necessitated another invention – 

the post box. Surprisingly, it was 

the Victorian novelist Anthony 

Trollope who introduced the 

iconic pillar box in 1853. Initially, 

it was designed in green to blend 

with the surroundings, but it soon 

became clear that people needed 

to be able to spot it and green was 

replaced with the now familiar and 

famous ‘pillar box red’. 

Postcodes were phased in 

between 1959 and 1974 to help 

with the sorting and delivery of 

letters. It is interesting to note that 

when looking back prior to Hill’s 

founding of our modern postal 

system, rural addresses often only 

consisted of a number and the 

name of the village – fine for a 

messenger on horseback searching 

through a handful of houses. 

Today, we can sit at our laptops 

and send a message in the blink 

of an eye. And with companies 

increasingly going ‘paperless’, who 

knows what the future will be for 

our postal system?

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41



43

Overhaul 

Your Lawn 

by Pippa Greenwood 

It has rained so much in recent 

months and the ground has 

become so wet that there have 

been times when I’ve thought 

that my garden might be about to 

turn into a paddy-field! The flower 

and vegetable beds are starting 

to pick up remarkably well, but 

it is the lawn that seems to have 

taken the most obvious battering. 

Over-wet conditions can cause 

roots to die off and will reduce the 

oxygen in the soil. Worse still, any 

areas of the lawn that you’ve had 

to walk on, albeit infrequently, or 

over which you’ve had to move 

a wheelbarrow or other fairly 

weighty bit of equipment, will have 

become compacted or squashed. 

It may not be obvious but the air 

spaces that should be plentiful in 

the soil will have been dramatically 

reduced, and the heavier your soil 

is, the worse the problem is likely 

to be. So if you want your grass 

to be as green as it should be and 

ready for the summer use it’s likely 

to get, it’s time to get to work 

now. 

Check over your lawn mower and 

see to anything that needs sorting. 

If it’s too much to take on yourself, 

take it to a reputable outlet for a 

service as soon as possible – you’ll 

need it even more in a few weeks’ 

time! Once it is working well again, 

you’ll be surprised at how much 

quicker and easier each mowing 

session becomes. 

In most areas of the country grass 

will have started to grow quite a 

bit faster recently and so may need 

cutting. Make sure that you don’t 

set the blades too low for the first 

few cuts, as this will weaken the 

growth and make it more likely 

that weeds will start to invade. 

You can relieve some of the soil 

compaction to allow air down 

to the roots, making for better 

growth and healthier grass. Do 

this after you’ve mown the lawn. 

If only small areas are compacted, 

use a garden fork and drive it into 

the lawn every 4-6 inches or so, 

trying to get the tines of the fork 

to a depth of 4-6 inches as well. 

Once the tines are in the soil, 

gently ease the handle of the fork 

back and forth to enlarge each 

hole. You now have some drainage 

holes. 

If you mix up some sieved garden 

soil or loam with horticultural sand 

(about one part soil/loam to nine 

parts sand) you can brush this 

mixture across the lawn and into 

the holes you’ve made. The result 

is a drainage system over those 

compacted areas. 

If the soil in the garden is quite 

heavy or contains a lot of clay, 

the chances are that these last 

few months will have done a lot 

of damage and the whole lawn 

will benefit from aerating. For an 

enduring and even more useful 

effect, buy, borrow or hire a 

‘hollow-time aerator’, either as 

a hand operated one, a machine 

or a mower attachment. This will 

actually cut cylinders of soil out of 

your lawn, and when filled with the 

‘top-dressing’ mix above will result 

in much longer-lasting drainage 

channels. 

Moss might look good and green 

right now, but it tends to look 

miserable later in the year as it 

dries out and becomes brown. 

So apply some moss killer and 

then rake it all out after the time 

specified on the pack. It will make 

your lawn look worse initially, but 

allows more air to the roots of the 


grass plants and gives them more 

space to grow and spread too. 

Lawns that have suffered from 

serious waterlogging will really 

benefit from a suitable feeding 

regime. Poor growth and overwet 

conditions will have put 

these plants under a lot of stress. 

Whether you choose a granular 

or liquid feed, make sure that it is 

a spring lawn food, as this will be 

formulated specially to give the 

balance of nutrients lawns need 

now. If you do use a granular feed, 

ensure that you water it in unless it 

rains shortly after you’ve applied it. 

Walking on a very wet lawn soon 

wears it out and kills off grasses. 

Get these bare or bald areas 

sorted now and by the time the 

summer comes it won’t look like 

a patchwork. Roughen up the 

bare or thin areas using a rake and 

then sprinkle a suitable seed mix 

on to match in with the existing 

grasses. If you’ve not got many 

patches to sow, you can buy small 

patch repair packs to keep the cost 

down. 

Once all the work is done, and 

it may well take several hours in 

total (depending on the size of the 

lawn and exactly how damaged 

and waterlogged it was), try 

your best to keep off it for a few 

weeks to allow it to bask in all that 

pampering and take advantage of 

all the TLC and grow away really 

well. 

Visit Pippa’s website www. 

pippagreenwood.com and you’ll 

find some great gardening things: 

‘Grow Your Own with Pippa 

Greenwood’ plus Nemaslug, biocontrols, 

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45

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47

Croydon Conservatives Update 

It’s always a pleasure to contribute to the CR5 

Magazine, not least because it’s important to 

feedback on our many activities on your behalf 

as we come up to the Croydon local elections 

which will be held on Thursday 3rd May 2018. 

In Croydon, your councillors have been 

campaigning hard on the many issues which 

confront those living not only in our part of the 

borough, but right across the town. Sadly the 

current administration of the Council is doing 

its level best to force hundreds of entirely 

inappropriate planning applications though the 

Planning Committee. 

There has been a plethora of 

applications to demolish perfectly sound four 

and five bed houses around Purley and 

Coulsdon and replace them with blocks of flats, 

which in aggregate erode the special character 

of our area and put yet further strain on our 

struggling infrastructure. 

In Coulsdon, your local councillors have joined 

hundreds of local residents in objecting 

vociferously to two planning applications 

which would have a devastating impact on the 

Coulsdon community. The first, at Lion Green 

Car Park would provide no less than 157 flats 

for up to 237 residents in several buildings up to 

seven storeys high. 

The other planning application causing local 

concern is the proposal to demolish the 

much-loved Coulsdon Community Centre and 

replace it by a four storey block of 33 flats. 

The loss of the building would be a sad event 

as it has much architectural and historic 

interest to the local community, and is 

well-used, with a 95% occupancy rate. In the 

past, the Labour Cabinet Member for Culture 

has cited the Centre as an example of best 

practice in the borough, so demolishing it is 

surely an act of cultural vandalism. 

At the time of writing these applications have 

yet to be heard by the Planning Committee, 

but we hope they’ll be refused for the good of 

our town. 

Recently Croydon’s Labour-run Council 

celebrated the imposition of a blanket 20mph 

speed limit on all non A and B roads in the 

south of the borough. In the North, affected 

residents were asked in a local referendum 

whether they wished their area to become a 

20mph zone, and on a miniscule turnout and 

by a tiny majority, they decided that they did, 

and so it happened. But the centre and south 

of Croydon were not offered the democratic 

principle of an equal referendum as is the case 

with the north. The Labour Councillor in charge 

confirmed that a few thousand residents had 

written in to oppose it – but was unable to 

confirm how many were in favour. We are not 

opposed to the principle of 20mph roads, but it 

must be in accordance with the wishes of local 

people. Why hold a referendum in one part of 

the borough but not in the other two? Why not 

allow people to write in favour of the scheme? 

Why does the Council not publish how many 

thousands they need to hear from to listen to 

residents? 

There are four other problems with the 

implementation of this 20mph scheme: 

• It cost £1.5m, which completely absorbed 

the Council’s road safety budget; this meant 

that it was not possible to spend any money on 

targeted road safety measures where they are 

truly needed - like as outside schools. 

• There are no specific plans for enforcement 

of this speed limit as the Police rightly have 

much higher priorities such as fighting anti-social 

behaviour and knife crime. 

• The existence of a speed limit which is 

unlikely to be observed debases the general 

importance of adherence to speed limits 

elsewhere. 

• If you look at Croydon’s road accident 

statistics on www.crashmap.co.uk , you’ll see 

that only about 20% of all accidents occur 

on all the side roads which are now subject 

to a 20mph limit. All the rest, occur on A and 

B roads which have generally retained their 

30mph limits. So if the intention of this scheme 

was to have a real impact on accident statistics 

status, then the wrong roads have been 

targeted. What a waste of money. 

These are just two areas - planning and traffic 

management – where we as your councillors 

are fighting for your best interests. We are 

proud to have been elected to do so, and 

hope to continue with your support after the 

elections on 3rd May. There is much more still 

to be done. 

Mario Creatura 

Councillor, Croydon Council 

@MarioCreatura 


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49

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51


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55

Technology 

DON’T BE AN APRIL FOOL 

Keep your stuff safe on PCs and phones 

It seems like every day there’s a new warning 

about hackers and dodgy software — and over 

Christmas we learned that there was a security 

flaw in almost every modern computer, tablet and 

phone that could let baddies get our passwords and 

other private information. So how do we keep our 

important information safe and secure? 

There are three important things to consider. They 

are: loss, where you lose digital things such as 

photos, home movies or documents you don’t want 

to lose; malicious software, which is when a program 

sneaks onto your computer and causes trouble; and 

hacking, which is when somebody you don’t know 

gets into your computer to access your personal 

information and/or demand money. The good news 

is that they’re all easy to deal with. 

Let’s talk about loss first. The single best way to 

prevent loss of valuable personal things such as 

family photos is to have extra copies. They don’t 

need to be printed copies — if you take as many 

photos as we do the cost of getting even some of 

them printed is frightening — and if you keep your 

copies digital then you don’t need to spend too 

much money to copy your entire photo or video 

library, or anything else you want to keep a backup 

of. 

You can store backups on services such as Google 

Photos, Flickr and Apple’s iCloud, but for proper 

peace of mind we’d recommend backing up to an 

external hard disk: that’s 

much faster, and doesn’t 

require you to keep up 

a membership or pay a 

monthly subscription as some 

online services do. You can 

get a really good external 

hard disk for less than £40, 

and you don’t need to pay 

much for faster, even higher 

capacity ones: at the time of 

writing Seagate’s Expansion 

drive, which offers 1TB of storage and has a superfast 

USB 3.0 connection for modern PCs and Macs, is 

just £45. If you’re backing up really massive libraries, 

a whopping 4TB of storage is still under £100 — 

although most of us won’t need anything close to 

that. 

External hard disks aren’t the only options. You 

could burn your own DVD data discs, or use USB 

flash drives such as SanDisk’s Ultra Flair 32GB 

(£12.95). However, we’re not convinced 

they’re great options for long-term 

backups. Drives such as the 

Patuoxun Portable USB DVD CD 

RW Writer may be cheap — £17 

from Amazon, with discs even 

cheaper — but DVD and CD discs don’t last forever 

and many of our ones started to rot after a few 

years in normal conditions. And if you’ve used many 

USB sticks you’ll know of their incredible ability to 

go missing and never be found again. There’s not 

much point in having a backup if you can’t find it 

when you need it. 

The cures for malicious software and hacking are 

the same: security software. There are plenty of 

free options such as the excellent AVG Free (www. 

avg.com), but it’s worth considering spending a 

little money on a paid-for security suite such as 

BitDefender Total Security (around £49/£69 for an 

unlimited-device Family Pack). BitDefender doesn’t 

just cover your PC: it protects Macs, Android and 

iPhone/iPads too, and it includes tools to stop bad 

things getting onto your devices as well as antihacking 

protection for your personal data. It comes 

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1. Seagate Expansion USB hard disk 2. SanDisk USB Flash 

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4 

1 

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59

On Your 

Bike 

by Kate Duggan 

kateduggan.co.uk 

Learning to ride a bike opens up 

a whole new world of fun and 

independence for children. Even 

babies and toddlers can join in 

the fun of a family bike ride, 

with a little help… 

Babies can start joining you on 

bike rides from around nine 

months old, as long as they can 

hold their head up unsupported. 

You’ll need to choose between 

a trailer and a front or rear bike 

seat. 

Child bike seats start from 

around £30. The more expensive 

ones usually have extra features, 

such as a five-point safety 

harness, rather than a threepoint 

one. Some have backs that 

can be tilted for on-the-go naps. 

Front-mounted seats sit in 

front of you and attach to the 

frame. They sometimes have a 

shorter back than rear mounted 

seats, and usually have a lower 

maximum weight allowance, so 

they won’t last you quite as long. 

On the plus side, you’ll be able 

to see your child, which makes 

sharing a ride more fun. 

Some rear seats fit to a pannier 

rack, while others fit to the 

frame. You might find balancing 

is a little bit easier with a rear 

seat compared to a front one, 

and it should last you until your 

child is around four years old. 

Whichever type of seat you go 

for, you’ll need to check that it’s 

suitable for your bike and the 

weight of your child. Look for 

a seat with plenty of padding, 

a good safety harness and 

adjustable foot supports. 

Bike trailers are more expensive 

than seats, but you can pull older 

children, and often two at a 

time (plus picnics or shopping). 

Trailers usually have a cover, so 

your child will stay dry if you get 

caught in the rain, even if you 

get soaked. You might struggle 

with a trailer on steep hills 

though, and you’ll need a garage 

or shed to store it when it’s not 

in use. 

It’s a good idea to visit your local 

bike shop to speak to a specialist 

adviser before you make any 

decisions. They’ll be able to 

recommend a trailer or bike seat 

that’s right for you, your bike 

and your child. 

CYCLING WITH YOUNG 

CHILDREN 

Once your child is old enough to 

ride a 16” bike, you might want 

to progress from a seat or trailer 

to a Trail Gator or other tow bar. 

These attach your bike to your 

child’s, so you can pull your child 

behind you. They’re handy for 

when you fancy a longer ride 

than your child could otherwise 

manage. Some tow bars can be 

unclipped and folded down, if 

your child wants to ride on their 

own for a while. Your child’s bike 

might feel a bit wobbly when 

it’s being pulled, so tow bars 

aren’t suitable for children under 

around four. 

WHERE TO GO 

Lots of roads have designated 

cycle lanes now, and there are 

plenty of traffic-free routes to 

explore too. The National Cycle 

Network offers 14,000 miles of 

bike-friendly roads and paths. 

Visit www.sustrans.org.uk for 

free printable cycle route maps. 

Fancy joining other families for a 

bike ride? 

www.cyclinguk.org lists 

hundreds of UK cycling events, 

including ones that are suitable 

for families. 

It’s also worth asking what your 

local bike club has to offer, as 

lots of cycling clubs organise 

volunteer-led rides for beginners 

and families. 



61

Recognised by most major healthcare insurers including AXA PPP, 

AVIVA, Cigna, Allianz, Simply Health etc. 

● Professional & friendly Practice 

● Use variety of techniques to treat 

all ages - Structural Osteopathy 

(soft tissue / manipulation), 

Cranial Osteopathy, Westernised 

Acupuncture, Photobiomodulation/ 

Low Level Laser Therapy 

● Treatment of pain and stiffness 

including neck, back, joints, 

muscle/tendon/ligament 

injuries, repetitive strain 

injuries, postural and tension 

headaches etc. 

19 Woodplace Lane, Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5 1NE 


Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA no. 00638162 


63

Taking time 

I like to pride myself on my efficiency and 

productivity – If you tell me something will 

take two hours I will try and accomplish in one. 

Unfortunately not being superhuman has 

frustrated my efforts on many occasions. 

I reflected on my insatiable need to get things 

done as I answered work emails on my mobile 

whilst laying on a hospital bed at St George’s 

waiting for the Doctor to see me about my 

wounded hand (a story for another day!) 

I can safely say this is probably unhealthy 

behaviour and it reminded me how fast-paced 

out 24-7 society has become. Technology 

designed to serve us has become our master 

and there is a constant stream of information 

to consume and activities to keep us occupied 

day or night (my gym is now open 24-7 as is 

the Starbucks in Hooley for those wanting a 

3am latte…!) Whilst the freedom it promises is 

alluring perhaps it is a trap? 

Jesus was a busy man. He worked as a 

carpenter but also preached, travelled, 

performed miracles and healed the sick. 

What interests me are his priorities. It would 

have been easy to try and work 24-7. There 

were plenty of people to heal. However he 

regularly chose to take time out to be with his 

father God. Whether walking on the Mount of 

Olives or crossing the red sea he made time 

with God a priority. God promises that he will 

give us rest when we give Him our worries and 

anxieties and trust Him. He invites us to spend 

time with Him; allowing Him to speak and 

bring peace. 

Perhaps you’ve been too busy to consider God, 

maybe He seems like yet another thing to add 

to your ever-growing list. I have found that it 

is in spending time with Him and trusting Him 

that I find rest. 

Why not take an hour out; find a place you feel 

comfortable where you are not distracted, turn 

off the mobile and ask God to meet with you 

and to speak to you. If you have a Bible you 

might try reading some of the Psalms – number 

23 is a good place to start. 

Peter Russell 

Prayer for Coulsdon & Old Coulsdon 

Prayer for Coulsdon & Old Coulsdon exists to 

encourage Christians to pray for the town and 

its residents. If you are interested in praying 

with us you are warmly invited to join us for 

one of our prayer gatherings (which last an 

hour) on: 

Monday 9th April 

9am - 56 Bradmore Way, 

Old Coulsdon 

Tuesday 24th April 

8pm – 65 Edward Road, 

Coulsdon 


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65

Tel: 020 8660 2174 | Visit: www.communitech.tv 

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BE 

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Publication 

CR5 Magazine 

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February 

Deadline 18th January 2017 

Is it TIME TO TALK? 

Size 

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67

Belgrade 

By Solange Hando 

Whichever way you arrive, the first 

sight of Belgrade takes your breath 

away, the ‘White City’ rising like a 

sphinx above the confluence of the 

Sava and Danube rivers. Up on the 

hill, the iconic spire of St Michael’s, 

the Orthodox cathedral, dominates 

the old town but all eyes are set 

on the citadel spreading along the 

ridge, 125 metres above the valley. 

This strategic location fired up 

battles and invasions for almost 

2,000 years, razing the city to the 

ground 44 times, but in the new 

independent Serbia peace has 

come and the old fortress sprinkles 

towers, turrets and walls in the 

wonderful oasis of Kalemegdan, 

the city’s central park. Birds 

twitter all around and there are 

statues and flower displays, grand 

staircases, fountains and gates, 

a few crenellations, a couple of 

museums and churches and lots 

of winding paths and shaded 

seats where locals come to chat 

or play chess. Visitors stroll along 

the beautiful cliff top promenade 

to enjoy the views, the modern 

city in the distance, the bridges, 

the cruising boats anchored 

along the Sava, the green waters 

of the Danube flowing around 

the Big Island’s nature reserve. 

Excavations have revealed the 

presence of the Vinca, one of 

the oldest prehistoric cultures 

in Europe, the Celts, Romans 

and many others, but surviving 

fortifications only date back to the 

18th century, rebuilt by Austro- 

Hungarian and Turkish rulers. 

The ‘old town’ is even younger, 

claiming 200 years at the very 

most, but is stylish and colourful 

with tree-lined streets, outdoor 

restaurants and stunning buildings 

ranging from Romantic or 

Renaissance style to neo-Baroque, 

Art Nouveau or early Deco, in 

white or pastel hues. The wide 

pedestrian street Knez Mihailova 

is everyone’s favourite, the place 

to meet friends, enjoy a drink or 

browse the luxury shops before 

heading to the vast Republic 

Square. There you can gaze at the 

equestrian statue of 19th century 

ruler Prince Michael, the National 

Theatre and the National Museum 

containing some 290,000 exhibits 

from around the world. Most 

valuable is the Miroslav’s Gospel, 

the oldest Cyrillic manuscript of its 

kind, with 362 illuminated pages 

dating back to around 1180. 

Belgrade has myriad churches, 

including Saint Sava rebuilt in the 

20th century and now one of the 

largest in the world, honouring 

the country’s medieval patron 

saint and founder of the Serbian 

Orthodox Church. Saint Sava is set 

on the Vracar plateau but nearer 

to the town centre is an elegant 

cluster of former palaces, now 

turned City Hall and Presidential 

Seat, enhanced by lawns and 

flower beds. Look out for the 

House of the National Assembly 

across the park, pristine white and 

fronted by sculptures of ‘Black 

Horses Playing’. 

Relaxed and cosmopolitan, easy 

to walk around, Belgrade is a 

delightful capital, from the gently 

buzzing centre and waterways to 

the lovely Botanical Garden or the 

secluded Bohemian District around 

Skadarska Street. Once home to 

gypsies, this steep cobbled lane is 

full of old charm, a hideaway for 

writers, artists and savvy visitors. 

There are intriguing paintings 

and trompe l’oeil, antique and 

ethnic shops, small galleries and 

inviting flower-draped terraces 

serving delicious food and wine 

at affordable prices. Guitar, 

harmonica, violin or tamburitza, 

traditional music sounds in every 

corner, late into the night but a 

world away from the throbbing 

nightclubs and floating restaurants 

along the Sava. Meanwhile on the 

cliff-like ridge, all is quiet and the 

old citadel glows high above the 

mighty rivers. 

Above: St Michael’s Cathedral 



69

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These are some of the typical questions many of us ask but don’t always seek answers to for 

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Professional Treatment for; 

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Headaches 

Registered Osteopaths: 

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Mr James Marro 

Miss Lucinda Johnston 

Miss Emilie Roddie 

Recognised by BUPA, PPP AXA, HSA & most major health insurance companies 

107 Coulsdon Road 

(opposite Tudor Rose Pub), 

Old Coulsdon. CR5 1EH 

Tel : 01737 551743 

www.ococ.co.uk 


71

MAY 3rd 2018: 

WILL CROYDON TURN RIGHT… 

Tim Pollard, Councillor for Sanderstead and Leader of the 

Conservative Group, will propose that 

‘It’s time for Croydon to go back to the Tories’ 

….OR KEEP LEFT? 

Andrew Pelling, Labour Councillor for Waddon will oppose him. 

Ahead of next month’s Council Elections,come and hear what the 

two major parties have to offer. 

Coulsdon and Purley Debating Society 

Monday, April 16th., 8 p.m., Old Coulsdon Day Centre, Grange Park, 

Old Coulsdon. Visitors welcome; for further details, contact Angela Applin, 

020 8668 8558. 

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73

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75

Ingredients: 

• Juice of 2 large lemons 

• 50g caster sugar 

• 250g tub mascarpone 

cheese 

• 200ml double cream 

• 10 sponge fingers 

• 2 tbsp white chocolate 

curls, to decorate 

(see tip) 

TIP 

To make white chocolate curls, 

run a swivel-bladed vegetable 

peeler along the side of a bar of 

good quality white chocolate. 

If you’re enjoying the warmer 

weather this springtime, and 

spending more time in the garden 

with your pet, here are a few tips 

to keep both cats and dogs safe 

and well, and avoid any urgent 

visits to the vet. 

Seasonal plants 

Some spring bulbs and plants can 

be poisonous to dogs and cats. 

Daffodils, in particular, cause 

problems if ingested, but other 

plants such as tulips, hyacinths, 

crocuses and clematis are also 

toxic. 

Symptoms include diarrhoea, 

vomiting, and lethargy, potentially 

leading to dehydration and 

convulsions. In cases where the 

most poisonous plants have been 

Lemon Mascarpone 

Creams Serves 4 

Ready in 15 minutes 

These quick and easy desserts make a 

delicious sweet treat for any occasion. Add 

the zest of 1 lemon to the cream mixture for an 

extra citrus kick. 

1. Mix the lemon juice and sugar in a bowl and stir until the 

sugar has dissolved. 

2. Place the mascarpone in a large mixing bowl and beat with 

a wooden spoon until soft and smooth. Gradually beat 

in half the lemon sugar mixture, beating well after each 

addition. 

3. In a separate bowl, whip the cream until softly peaking. 

Gently fold the cream into the lemon mascarpone mixture. 

If it is a little too firm, fold in 2-3 tbsp of milk or single cream. 

4. Dip four of the sponge fingers in some of the remaining 

lemon and sugar mixture then arrange in the base of four 

glass serving dishes, breaking to fit if necessary. Spoon half 

the mascarpone cream mixture on top. 

5. Repeat the layers once more using the rest of the sponge 

fingers, lemon sugar mixture and lemon mascarpone 

cream. Scatter the white chocolate curls over the top. 

Serve immediately or chill in the fridge for 2-3 hours before 

serving. 

Protect Your Cats and Dogs in the Garden This Spring 

consumed, the after-effects may 

be seen within 15 minutes. 

Chocolate Easter eggs 

Chocolate contains theobromine, 

which is highly toxic to your dog 

or cat. Although dark chocolate 

contains the most theobromine, 

the levels in milk chocolate are also 

sufficient to cause serious health 

problems. 

It’s advisable to consult your 

vet as a matter of urgency if you 

know that your pet has consumed 

chocolate – symptoms include 

rapid breathing, hyperactivity, 

seizures, vomiting and diarrhoea. 

Slug and snail pellets 

As spring is ‘slug season’, you may 

be tempted to use slug pellets to 

control this problem in your 


garden. Dogs and cats tend to find 

slug pellets tasty, however, and as 

many brands contain a poisonous 

substance called metaldehyde, 

your pet’s health is at serious and 

immediate risk after ingestion. 

Look out for symptoms such as 

muscle spasms, seizures and lack 

of coordination, and contact your 

vet as a matter of urgency. 

www.nawt.org.uk/advice/keeping-pets-safespring 

www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/springsafety-tips-for-dog-owners.html 

By Ann Haldon 

PETS

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77

Finance By Ann Haldon 

Is It Worthwhile Taking Out Private 

Health Insurance? 

Private health insurance generally 

covers the cost of private 

consultations, treatments, 

and immediate aftercare as an 

inpatient. Some policies also 

pay for outpatient care, such as 

physiotherapy. 

Employers sometimes offer this 

type of insurance as a benefit 

to their employees, but if you’re 

thinking of taking out your own 

policy, how do you know if it’s 

going to be worthwhile? 

Before we look at the benefits and 

potential drawbacks of private 

medical insurance, here’s a little 

more detail on the cover that 

could be included. 

WHAT MIGHT A HEALTH 

INSURANCE POLICY COVER? 

The benefits provided by private 

health insurance vary according 

to the monthly premiums, with 

comprehensive policies offering 

the greatest level of cover. Here’s 

a general outline of the main 

benefits: 

• Private consultations 

• Anaesthesia 

• Inpatient stays for investigative 

tests, surgery, or immediate 

post-treatment care 

• Treatments and procedures as a 

day patient 

• Outpatient treatments and 

aftercare - physiotherapy or 

hydrotherapy, for example 

Some health insurance providers 

also offer cover for alternative 

therapies such as acupuncture, 

homeopathy and herbal medicine, 

and dental or eye care. 

WHAT ISN’T COVERED? 

Although specialist insurers do 

exist, a basic health insurance 

policy doesn’t generally cover: 

• Pre-existing conditions (usually 

in the last five years) or chronic 

illnesses 

• Pregnancy and childbirth 

• Cosmetic surgery 

• Fertility treatment 

• Emergency treatment 

HOW DOES PRIVATE HEALTH 

INSURANCE WORK? 

Private medical insurance is 

designed to work alongside 

NHS services, so your GP would 

need to refer you for a private 

consultation. Policies are renewed 

annually, with monetary excesses 


applying in the same way as with 

other forms of insurance. 

The insurer sets a limit on the 

amount of cover available to you 

annually. They define the benefits, 

plus any exclusions that apply - a 

pre-existing illness, for example 

- in the policy document. You pay 

a monthly premium, usually by 

direct debit, and are able to take 

advantage of cover during the 

policy year, up to the set limits. 

WHY MIGHT YOU DECIDE TO 

TAKE OUT PRIVATE HEALTH 

INSURANCE? 

• You need fast access to a 

consultation, investigative 

procedure, or treatment 

• Treatment isn’t available on the 

NHS 

• You’re employed, but don’t 

receive private health insurance 

as a benefit 

• You’d like to see a particular 

consultant, or require a 

specialist referral 

• You want the comfort of staying 

in a private room 

• You don’t want to wait for 

physiotherapy after surgery 

WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL 

DRAWBACKS OF PRIVATE 

MEDICAL INSURANCE? 

• Policies are costly, with 

premiums increasing every year 

• Some health conditions 

are excluded, so a private 

healthcare policy may not cover 

all your medical needs 

• You have to pay an excess each 

year 

• You may have ethical concerns 

about private health care 

• The insurer sets limits on the 

amount of cover available 

for each condition, each type 

of treatment, and an overall 

amount in the policy year

TYPES OF PRIVATE 

HEALTHCARE INSURANCE 

Policies can be tailored to 

individual circumstances, so if 

you have a family for example, 

you could take out a policy that 

covers your partner and children. 

Some people choose age-specific 

policies, but bear in mind that the 

older you are, the more expensive 

private health insurance will be. 

As well as family policies, you can 

buy individual private healthcare, 

joint policies and standalone 

policies specifically for children. 

HOW MUCH WILL PRIVATE 

HEALTH INSURANCE COST? 

Various factors are taken into 

account by insurers when setting 

the price of private healthcare 

premiums - these include (but are 

not limited to): 

• Age 

• Existing health 

• Medical history as an individual, 

and of your family 

• Lifestyle 

• Types of cover required 

It’s advisable to shop around 

before buying private health 

insurance. Comparison websites 

offer an idea of how much various 

policies cost, but as with many 

other types of insurance, there 

are ways to lower your premiums. 

Choosing to pay a higher excess 

in the event of a claim can reduce 

the amount you pay each month. 

Some insurers also offer no claims 

discounts, and reductions if you 

can prove that you attend a gym 

regularly, for example. 

If a ‘waiting time’ is added to your 

policy’s terms and conditions, it 

can also lower the costs involved 

when taking out private medical 

insurance. Essentially, this means 

that, if the NHS waiting list is less 

than the waiting period stated 

in your policy, you must receive 

treatment on the NHS. Otherwise, 

your policy covers the cost of 

private treatment. 

ALTERNATIVES TO PRIVATE 

HEALTH INSURANCE 

There are alternative ways to 

fund private medical treatment 

without taking out an insurance 

policy. If you have residual income 

or existing savings, for example, 

you could set aside a sum to 

cover a proportion of future 

treatments. 

Paying only for the initial 

consultation is also an option if 

you require an urgent medical 

opinion. The consultant would 

then refer you back to the NHS 

for treatment, if necessary. 

Healthcare cash plans also exist 

that help you cover your medical 

costs. In this case you’re refunded 

the costs that you pay up front, 

up to pre-agreed limits. 

www.money.co.uk/healthinsurance/how-does-healthinsurance-work.htm 

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/ 

en/articles/do-you-need-privatemedical-insurance#what-does-itcover 

CR5 East East & and West West Quiz 

1. Which body of water is known by names that translate as 

"the East Sea" in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands 

and by a name that translates as "the West Sea" in Estonia? 

2. Which country was known as the Dutch East Indies when it made its first and 

only appearance at a FIFA World Cup in 1938? 

3. What is the most westerly capital city in mainland Europe? 

4. Which other English county borders both East Sussex and West Sussex? 

5. What are the names of the two rival gangs in West Side Story? 

6. In which county would you find the town of Lowestoft, which is the most 

easterly settlement in the UK? 

7. What name did the Western Allies use to refer to the best-known crossing point 

between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War? 

8. The term West Bank is normally used to refer to a region in the Middle East that 

lies to the west of which river? 

9. What is the name of the local London Underground station in EastEnders?... 

Walford East or Walford West? 

10. If you flew due east from Edinburgh airport, what would be the first country you 

would fly over after leaving Scotland? 

Answers on page 88 


79

BMW X3: Truly 

Capable 

by James Baggot 

The wheels are spinning, but the 

BMW isn’t going anywhere. Every 

revolution of the alloys acts as a 

spade, shovelling sand and sinking 

the new X3 deeper into the huge 

blood-orange dunes. 

But this isn’t a seaside resort. 25 

miles from civilisation, we are in the 

Saharan desert and we’ve spent 

the last hour tackling one of the 

toughest off-road routes I’ve ever 

experienced. The fact that only 

now, just a few feet from our final 

destination, one of my colleagues 

has managed to half bury a BMW is 

a testament to the X3’s abilities. 

Nestled in a lunar landscape, 

beneath a carpet of stars so bright 

they look superimposed on the sky, 

is our camp. A series of Bedouin 

tents have popped up between 

the dunes, rugs laid out across the 

sand and a sweet smell of mint 

tea is wafting through the rapidly 

cooling air. 

The next day, we set off on our epic 

drive towards the Atlas Mountains, 

thrown head first into the madness 

of Marrakesh. It’s an assault on the 

senses, and tests defensive driving 

skills to the limits. 

It subsides as quickly as it erupted, 

the roads opening up into out-ofthis-world 

landscapes. Soon we’re 

crossing the Tizi n Tichka mountain 

pass, one mighty hairpin after 

another. Our X30d – with a new 

260bhp, 620Nm engine – is by far 

the pick of the range, and on roads 

like this, it’s swift and enjoyable. 

At midday we arrive in Ouarzazate, 

and the famous Atlas Film Studios. 

We drive around the sandy site in 

our BMWs, entering the gates of 

Game of Thrones, a huge city set 

made real by the thousands of 

extras that are bussed in from the 

surrounding villages when they’re 

needed. 

By dusk we’ve covered nearly 

300 miles and have taken in the 

stunning Anti Atlas Mountains. We 

filter our way through M’Hamid, 

the last conurbation before the 

desert, in a dusty convoy. To the 

locals we look like aliens, 15 brand 

new BMWs disappearing off into 

the darkness. 

Our camp, not far from the Algerian 

border, is an hour of off-roading 

away. It would be great fun, if 

only we could see where we’re 

going. Just the lights of the cars in 

front illuminate the impenetrable 

darkness. 

It’s this swamp of blackness that 

unbalances the rhythm of one of 

our colleagues when approaching 

the camp. They fail to give a sand 

dune the run up it deserves, 

beaching the BMW in a position 

that takes seven men and shovels 

to retrieve it from. 

The next morning, we’re told today 

will be tougher than yesterday. Five 

hours of harsh off-roading will be 

followed by a dash back across the 

mountains to the airport. 

Warning soon forgotten, we’re 

quickly back in the groove, drifting 

the off-roader around sandy 

corners and clattering over sharp 

rocks. As the desert eases, we 

experience the barren, flat, dry 

river beds of the Ouef Draa, Iriki 

Lane and Erg Chigaga, all stages of 

the famous Dakar Rally. 

As we approach Foum Zguid, on 

the edge of the desert, our BMW 

calmly tells us our nearside rear 

wheel has lost pressure. BMW 

chaperones soon arrive out of the 

dust and whip the ruined wheel off, 

and we once again make our way 

back on to tarmac – after five hours 

of bumping and crashing, the X3 

feels like it’s riding on a cloud. 

Back in the Anti-Atlas Mountains, 

we start to make good progress, 

giving us time to enjoy the X3’s 

comfy new interior and smart 


multimedia system. But 100 miles 

in, we hear a popping and a 

hiss, and the now all-too familiar 

warning chime caused by another 

tyre losing pressure. 

This time team the BMW team 

isn’t close, and with no phone 

reception we’re left waiting in the 

searing heat for help to arrive. An 

hour later, the support car pulls 

up but now it’s not the tyre that’s 

causing frowns, but the time. We 

have 130 miles to go, back across 

the challenging Atlas Mountains, 

and even without hold ups it looks 

like we’ll miss the only flight out of 

Marrakesh that day. 

So begins a rush to the airport 

quite unlike any I’ve experienced 

before. We head off on a threehour 

rally stage. From screeching 

hairpin bends to blink-and-you’llmiss-them 

overtakes, the BMW 

takes it all in its stride. 

Through sweat, tears and clenched 

body parts we hurtle into the 

Marrakesh airport car park with 

just minutes to spare. The flight is 

closing, but we manage to get our 

boarding passes and dash to the 

gate. 

Sat, perspiring, exhausted but 

elated on the plane, I look across 

to the newspaper hacks who’ve 

endured the pan-Moroccan mad 

dash with me, and we smile. The 

BMW X3 may have two new tyres, 

but it’s been returned unscathed 

and we’re taxiing down the runway 

just 25 minutes after we arrived at 

the airport. 

All credit to BMW. There aren’t 

many firms who’d put their cars, 

or a bunch of journalists, through 

what we experienced. The X3 has 

proven it’s a truly capable car, able 

to transport you and your family 

on any adventure – and I for one 

am certainly looking forward to the 

next one.


81

REDUCING CAR CRIME 

PREVENTING 

KEYLESS 

CAR THEFT 

Criminals are using 

increasingly sophisticated 

methods to steal motor 

vehicles. Your vehicle 

could be at risk. 


What is keyless theft? 

The process criminals use to steal a car via keyless theft – also known as relay theft – is relatively 

simple. First, they buy a relay amplifier and a relay transmitter; these electronic gizmos can be 

purchased from the darker corners of the internet. Next, they identify a house with a nice car 

parked outside and, by using these gadgets, can detect whether the car features keyless entry 

and go. One criminal then stands by the car with his transmitter, while a second waves his 

amplifier around the perimeter of the house. If the car key is close enough the amplifier will 

detect its signal, amplify it and send it to the accomplice’s transmitter. This transmitter then 

effectively becomes the key, and tricks the car into thinking the real key is nearby, whereupon 

the thieves are able to open the car, get in and drive away. The whole process can take as little 

as 60 seconds and can be completed in near silence. 

Don’t forget the basics 

Andy Barrs, head of police liaison at Tracker, says owners shouldn’t forget to take standard 

security measures, ensuring their car is properly locked and keeping keys far away from doors 

and windows. This will minimise the chances a crook will be able to find and amplify the key’s 

signal and is general good practice, as it’ll prevent thieves from easily breaking in and swiping 

them. Barrs also says owners can keep their car keys in a metal tin to block signals. 

Physical barriers 

You could also purchase an aftermarket security device such as a steering wheel lock, a 

driveway parking post, or even a wheel clamp. Even if the thieves are able to access and start 

your car, these should prevent them from driving away – and many criminals will consider 

bypassing these for being too much hassle. 

Signal-blocking pouches 

Consider purchasing a Faraday pouch to keep your car key in. 

These pouches contain signal-blocking materials that stop your key 

transmitting its code, preventing crooks from being able to detect 

and amplify the signal. You should, therefore, test whether a pouch 

you’ve purchased works by putting the key in the Faraday bag and 

ensuring the car doesn’t unlock when you stand next to it. 

Is there anything more you can do? 

Other steps you can take to keep your car safe include checking if 

there are any software updates for the car itself, remaining vigilant for unusual activity in your 

area and having an aftermarket immobiliser or tracker fitted. Carmakers themselves are working 

on countermeasures to combat the issue of keyless theft, with new frequency technologies, 

software and keys among the developments taking place. If owners are worried about keyless 

theft, they can contact their dealer to see if the system can be disabled. 

For advice on recommended security devices, see: www.thatcham.org/security or 

www.soldsecure.com 

In an emergency dial 999. 

For all other enquiries call the non-emergency number 101 or visit the website 

www.met.police.uk. 

Follow on Twitter @metpoliceuk 


83

COULSDON LIBRARY 

It’s free to join the library and nearly everything is free to borrow. 

Adults and teens can borrow up to 25 items, children up to 15. 

We have free wifi, free use of PCs and access to the internet for 

up to two hours per day. 

Library services are available 24/7, with a digital library of audio 

and e-books to download. 

For Children 

FREE CHILDREN’S EVENTS 

Rhymetime. Tuesdays 10-10.30am. Babies, toddlers and their adults. 

Wiggle and Jiggle. Thursdays 11-11.30am. Babies, toddlers and their adults. 

Craftytime. Fridays 3.45-4.30pm. 3-7 year olds and their adults. 

Rock & Rhyme. Saturdays 10-10.30am. Babies, toddlers and their adults. 

Storytime. Saturdays 3-4pm. 3-7 year olds and their adults. 

8-12 year olds use the fun and interactive LEGO Education programmes, WeDo or StoryStarter. 

WeDo shows how to make models which can be programmed to move; creative stories can 

be inspired with StoryStrarter. £1.50 library members/£3.00 non-library members per session. 

Both in cash. Advanced booking required. Monday 9th & 23rd & Tuesday 3rd and 17th. 4-5pm 

For Adults 

Free talk by South East Cancer Help Centre. Friday 6th April from 10.30-11.30am. 

Please contact the library to book a place. 

Free talk on countryside volunteering, conservation and walking in the local area. 

Friday 20th April from 10.30-11.30am. Please contact the library to book a place. 

Adult Craft Mornings - Adult Colouring & Dot-to-Dot and Knit, Stitch and Crochet group. 

Every Monday 10.30am-12pm. 

Reading Group - Second Thursday of the month 2-3pm. At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy 

Chevalier will be discussed on the 12th April. Copies available from the library. 

We now have a Live Well Adviser at Coulsdon Library to support people who want help to 

access the JustBe website or to have a chat about their lifestyle. 

Tuesday Mornings 9.30-11.30 am. 

Do your Health MOT on the JustBe Croydon website -https://www.justbecroydon.org/ 

Free one hour one-to-one IT help sessions on Saturdays between 11am and 2pm. 

Please contact Coulsdon Library to book. 

Opening Hours 

Monday 9am-6pm, Tuesday 9am-6pm, Thursday 9.30am-6pm, Friday 9am-7pm, Saturday 9am-5pm. 

Coulsdon Library at 167 Brighton Road, Coulsdon, CR5 2NH, 

Tel 020 3700 1007 email: coulsdonlibrary@croydon.gov.uk 


When an invitation to The Ball from Prince Amir arrives at the Ash Girl’s 

house, she can’t bring herself to believe that she, like her sisters, can go. 

With her mother dead and her father away, she must learn to fight the 

monsters that have slithered and insinuated their way into her heart 

and mind. She must have faith in herself for others to do the same. 

In her wondrous reconstruction of the Cinderella fable, 

Timberlake Wertenbaker gives us a splendid exploration of the beauty 

and the terror which are both inherent in growing up. 


85

Answers on page 88 


Dave says "I felt this was an image just waiting to be 

taken, I was lucky enough to be there just as the top 

was being lowered onto The Gerkin. However, it has 

always puzzled me how they got the actual gerkin 

inside.........." 

They say the camera never lies but you can tell a 

good story with enough images and the skill to 

manipulate them! 

DIARY 

3rd "Landscapes" by Alan Thomson FRPS 

10th Digital Image Competition (3 of 3) 

17th "From designer to photographer and back 

again" by Marshall Pinsett 

24th Practical Workshop 

We meet each Tuesday evening (7.45pm for 8pm) 

in Cameron Hall, Canons Hill, Old Coulsdon. 

Visitors £5 (refunded on joining). 

Visit oldcoulsdoncameraclub.org.uk, see us on 

facebook or contact 

lynda@oldcoulsdoncameraclub.org.uk 

Filled With The Fullness of God? 

“...and to know this love that surpasses 

knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure 

of all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:19 (NIV) 

If you haven’t decided to become a Christian yet; if 

that decision is somewhere in the back of your mind 

and you feel urged to make it, I guess one of your 

questions that you ask must be “How can anyone 

live the life of a Christian in this world?” In answer 

to that, see a section of a prayer in the bible where 

one of God’s greatest servants prayed for a tiny 

congregation in a place called Ephesus. Ephesus 

was a large and prosperous city in Asia Minor and 

was the Headquarters of the goddess Diana’s 

worship. Because of this, Ephesus was a very 

difficult place to be a follower of Jesus. His beautiful 

prayer of encouragement for this tiny Church, 

surrounded by pagan worship is recorded in 

Ephesians 3:14-21. As you read this amazing prayer 

you’ll be aware that Paul is praying that they would 

come to understand the sheer dimensions of God’s 

love for everyone: 

First the “length” to which God’s love is willing to 

go—it’s limitless! And so “he (Jesus) is able to save 

completely those who come to God through him, 

because he always lives to intercede for them” 

(Hebrews 7:25). 

Next, the “breadth” of God’s love is shown by 

Christ being “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and 

not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole 

world” (1 John 2:2). 

Now the “depth” of it? Well, “For you know the 

grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was 

rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you 

through his poverty might become rich” 

(2 Corinthians 8: 9 ). 

And what can the “height” of this love be? 

Ephesians 2:4-6 tells us “because of his great love 

for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with 

Christ even when we were dead in transgressions— 

it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised 

us up with Christ and seated us with him in the 

heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” 

Such is the amazing generosity of God’s love for 

everyone and filled with the power of that love 

which indwells every corner of our lives, we can all 

become—“more than conquerors through him who 

loved us!” (Romans 8:37). This is how much you are 

loved—so now you know—the next move is yours! 

Prayer: Father, your love is overwhelming-a great 

gift for all peoples because of the precious sacrifice 

of your son Jesus. Please accept our thanks and 

praise. Amen 

GCI Coulsdon Community Church meets at 11.00am 

on Sundays In Coulsdon Community Centre Upper 

Hall. For further information please contact Pastor 

Brian Smith coulsdon@gracecom.church or 

01798 813133. To receive daily e-mail messages 

like this one please go to www.daybyday.org.uk 


87

CR5 Just for Fun Crossword 

Across 

7. Buff up (6) 

8. Equality (6) 

9. Throw (4) 

10. Used by trains (8) 

11. Tangled (7) 

13. Dizzy (5) 

15. Frighten (5) 

17. Laughed (7) 

20. Fuel (8) 

21. Applaud (4) 

22. Light wind (6) 

23. Hug (6) 

Down 

1. Pillar (6) 

2. Cash register (4) 

3. Agitated (7) 

4. Ruin (5) 

5. Fighting (8) 

6. Remained (6) 

12. Revenue (8) 

14. Without sound (7) 

16. Seats (6) 

18. Authorise (6) 

19. Repaired (5) 

21. Surrender (4) 

KIDS answers from page 86 

Kites B & D are the same. 

There are 25 flying leaves on the page. 

Across: 7 Polish, 8 Parity, 9 Hurl, 10 Railways, 11 Knotted, 

13 Giddy, 15 Scare, 17 Giggled, 20 Gasoline, 21 Clap, 

22 Breeze, 23 Cuddle. 

Down: 1 Column, 2 Till, 3 Churned, 4 Spoil, 5 Brawling, 

6 Stayed, 12 Turnover, 14 Silence, 16 Chairs, 18 Enable, 

19 Fixed, 21 Cede. 

East and West Quiz Answers from p79 

1.The Baltic Sea 2.Indonesia 3.Lisbon 4.Surrey 

5.The Sharks and the Jets 6.Suffolk 

7.Checkpoint Charlie 8.The River Jordan 

9.Walford East 10.Denmark 


CR5 Trip Down Memory Lane 

This photograph shows the Coulsdon & Purley ARP Heavy Rescue Squad in about 1940 

possibly taken in Whytecliffe Road, Purley. 

Are you interested in local history? Then why not join the Bourne Society. 

Apply to : J Hurrion, 7 The Towers, Hayes Lane, Kenley, CR8 5YL www.bourne-society.org.uk 

• 6 x 150g salmon fillets 

• 2tsp mild chilli powder 

• 2tsp ground coriander 

• 2tsp ground cumin 

• 1/2tsp freshly ground black pepper 

• Squeeze of lemon or lime juice 

• 2tbsp olive oil 

Spice Crusted Baked Salmon Fillets 

This salmon dish is ideal for easy weekend entertaining. Bake the 

day before and when cold cover and chill in the fridge overnight. 

Allow to come to room temperature for 30 minutes before 

serving. 

Serves 6 - Ready in 1 Hou 

Preheat the oven to 200C, 180C Fan, Gas 6. Run your fingers 

along the top of the salmon fillets and remove any fine 

bones with tweezers. Mix together the spices and rub over 

the surface of the salmon fillets. Season with a little salt. 

Place the salmon pieces in a foil-lined roasting tin. Whisk 

together the lime or lemon juice and oil and drizzle over the 

salmon. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes until the salmon is just cooked to the 

centre. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely. 

TO SERVE 

• 6tbsp mayonnaise or soured 

cream 

• 2 spring onions, trimmed and 

finely chopped 

• Zest and juice from 1 lime 

• Lime wedges and spring onion 

curls (see tip) to garnish 

TIP 

Arrange the cold salmon fillets on a platter. Mix together the 

mayonnaise or soured cream, spring onions and lime zest 

and juice. Serve the salmon and mayonnaise garnished with 

lime wedges and spring onion curls. 

To make spring onion curls use a sharp knife to thinly shred 

a few spring onions. Place in a bowl of iced water and leave 

in the fridge for about 1 hour until curled. Drain on kitchen 

paper before using. 


89

What’s On in the Community 

FREE page for local charities and non-profit making organisations 

Here to help you 

The South East Cancer Help Centre is a local charity that over the last 30 

years has helped thousands of people affected by cancer. 

Talk to us and explore the ways we may be able to help you, whether it be 

through information, counselling or the wide range of complementary 

therapies we offer. 

We have local NHS recognition and provide a friendly, supportive environment 

with only one purpose – to help you cope 

Visit www.sechc.org.uk or call 020 8668 0974 for more information 

South East Cancer 

Help Centre, 

2 Purley Road, 

(Tesco Development) 

Purley, CR8 2HA 

Registered Charity No. 1011509 

Talk to us – we’re here to help 

making things possible 

London South 

We can be contacted on 07780 366 130 

Something you need to do, but can't manage. 

Something which would help your comfort, but not available. 

Something you play, but the equipment does not suit. 

Contact Remap London South for ideas, adaptions, and custom aids. 

Remap London South is a registered charity supported by voluntary donations. 

Charity Reg No. 1137666. 




Registered Charity no. 1105863 

The Choir for Female Voices performs a varied and 

growing repertoire at both public and private concerts, 

including carols at Christmas. 

New term new challenge 

Come and join us! 

Rehearsals are held on: 

Wednesdays: 7.30pm 

Methodist Church 

Limpsfield Road, Sanderstead 

For more details or to enquire about membership 

call Jill 07957 627 783 

The RSPB Croydon 

Local Group 

Monthly Illustrated Wildlife Talks in 

South Croydon 

Whitgift Sports Club, Croham Manor Road - 

off Croham Road, South Croydon, CR2 7BG 

Second Monday of each month, 2pm and again at 8pm. 

Admission £4.00. Everyone is welcome, not just RSPB 

members. 

Free refreshments. A selection of RSPB goods, nuts & 

seeds are on sale. 

Parking limited on site but free in adjacent roads. 

64 & 433 buses stop nearby in Croham Road. 

Monday April 9th 2018: “Tropical Queensland”. 

David Boag is a full-time author and wildlife 

photographer. Come along and share with us his 

experiences on this trip to Queensland. David’s 

presentation of the wide diversity of wildlife found in this 

extraordinary part of Australia is not to be missed. 

For more information contact John Davis 

on 020-8640 4578 

or see www.rspb.org.uk/groups/croydon 

Note: on request we give illustrated bird talks to local 

organisations. 

Charity Classic Car Run 22 April 2018 

organised by The Rotary Club of Croydon Jubilee 

We Start 

the Annual Classic Car run at Denbies Wine Estate, London Road, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6AA and take 

a stunning route over two counties through the high grounds of Surrey Hills and country lanes of 

parts of “Old Surrey & West Sussex”, incorporating the most beautiful villages and hamlets. Picnic 

at one of the beautiful sights on the way or enjoy a lunch at one of the plentiful pubs. 

We end 

at Glorious Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0PH. Nestled at the foot of 

the Sussex Downs just a few miles from the sea, the track is the only circuit in the world to 

remain entirely in its original form. Should you wish to have a bite at Goodwood it has the 

Aero Club and NAAFI wagon. 

The entry price 

is £45 which includes the car, the driver, one passenger, a run pack, route guide and finisher’s 

plaque. Additional passengers are £15 each. Space is limited to 150 cars. 

All surplus will go to local charities 

Closing date for entries is 19 April 2018 

Contact details: dhiraj@dsandco.com croydonjubilee@virginmedia.com 

Tel: Dhiraj 020 8686 7757 (9am - 5:30pm) 020 8654 4545 (6pm - 9pm) 

Tel: David 020 8688 0273 (6pm - 9pm) 


91



Saturday 21st April 2018 

Clockhouse Singers 

Think you can’t sing? 

Want to sing better? 

Just want to sing? 

Come and find your true voice with 

your local Community Choir 

The atmosphere is very relaxed, and 

beginners are welcome. 

Saturday mornings 

10:30 a.m. to 12 noon 

Whitethorn Avenue Methodist Church, 

CR5 2PP 

(Opposite Beechwood Avenue) 

Young people welcome from age 7 

with Safeguarding policies and 

Certificated helpers 

Call: Anna Crowther on 020 8668 3769 

or annapac@uwclub.net 

or just turn up! 




2 nd Tuesday of every month 

2pm – 4pm 

& fun quizzes and entertainment 

for a modest donation 

Holy Communion at 1.30pm 

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, 

COULSDON 

Email: standrewsoffice@yahoo.com 

Hold the Dates 

Sunday 24 th June in the afternoon 

St Andrew’s Choir Summer Concert 

Please join us for a wonderful afternoon of 

music, fun and laughter. 

TICKETS ON SALE soon 

3 rd Tuesday of every month 

3.30 – 5.30 pm 

in the Church Hall 

Messy Church is for all ages 

to be creative, learn about Jesus 

and eat a yummy meal together. 

Everyone is welcome & 

it’s totally FREE! 

HALL AVAILABLE FOR RENT 

Spacious, well appointed kitchen and 

servery, cutlery, dishes, furniture and 

some parking, competitive rates 

Contact: 

hall.lettings@standrews.coulsdon.net 

This page for April please 

Children’s Activities 

All activities must be booked in advance, unless otherwise stated. 

Children under eight must be accompanied by an adult. 

Sunday 1st & Monday 2nd April - Open Day 

& Easter Egg Hunt 

Explore the gardens looking for clues to find the 

eggs. 1pm-5pm Cost: Adults £5 children, £2. NO 

BOOKING REQUIRED. 

Wednesday 4th and Friday 6th April 

Toddler Trails and Tales (2–4 years) 

Enjoy the story of ‘The Scarecrow’s Wedding’ and 

go for a walk around the park to bring the story 

to life. Return to create artwork linked to the story. 

10am–11.30am or 1.30–3pm. Cost: £7.50 per child. 

Thursday 5th April Forest Fun (4-7yrs) 

Join us in our Forest School area, explore Cedar 

Wood, make woodland crafts and enjoy a snack 

around the fire. 10am-12noon or 1.30pm-3.30pm. 

Cost: £7.50 per child. 

The Gatton Trust, Gatton Park, 

Reigate, RH2 0TW 

01737 649066 

Monday 9th April Feathered Friends 

(4–7 years) 

Find out more about the interesting birds that live 

at Gatton, through crafts, trails and games. 

10am–12noon or 1.30pm–3.30pm. Cost: £7.50 per 

child. 

Wednesday 11th and Friday 13th April 

Toddler Trails and Tales (2–4 years) 

Enjoy the story of ‘The Smartest Giant in Town’ and 

go for a walk around the park to bring the story 

to life. Return to create artwork linked to the story. 

10am–11.30am or 1.30pm–3pm. Cost: £7.50 per 

child. 

www.gattonpark.com 


93



Friends of Marlpit Lane Bowling Green 

2018 Season Starts Saturday 31 st March To September 

Membership not required. 

We are open to the public 

Also Putting 

Fees : Bowling and Putting 

£3.00 Adult 

£10 00 Family 

£2.00 Under 16 

Includes equipment. 

(All Players must have flat shoes). 

Marlpit Lane Memorial Ground 

Coulsdon 

More volunteer help is needed for 

next season. Contact Gill : 07532 233159 

Marlpit Lane Bowling Green 

@FMBG 

Have a lot of FUN ! 

Get outdoors 

Learn new skills 

Make new friends 

Contact : Sonya Dyer 

sonyadyer@blueyonder.co.uk 

Mondays 

6.15 to 7.45 pm 

Try new things 

Tel : 01737—553004 

Text : 07900—281949 

24th PURLEY SCOUT GROUP : Rear of Hillars Heath Road, Coulsdon CR5 2JP 




Old Coulsdon Community Friendship Club 

THE ARTS SOCIETY CROYDON AREA 

Formerly Croydon Decorative & Fine 

Arts Society 

Meet Monthly (2nd Thursday) at 10.15 

All Saints Church Hall, Sanderstead 

We are looking for like minded people 

that are interested in Art. 

We have expert lecturers to do the talks. 

12th April Double Dutch, Symbols 

Emblems and Double Entendre 

10th May Germany’s post WW2 

culture of Memorials 

For further details phone 0208 657 2496 or 

email janice.brunger@outlook.com 

Meetings: 2 for 2.30 p.m. 

Venue: The Cameron Hall 

Old Coulsdon Congregational Church 

Canons Hill, Old Coulsdon 

All welcome 

Contact: Joan Dixon Tel. No: 01737 851467 

Feeling like a friendly chat? 

A warm welcome awaits you on: 

Wednesday 11th April (2 for 2.30 pm) 

“A Year at Wisley” - talk with slides 

by Colin Jones. 

and 

Wednesday Wednesday 9th May 

(2 for 2.30 pm) 

“The Spitfire Women of WWII” - talk by 

Clare Walker. 

Croydon Classic Car Show & Family Fun Day 

Sunday 24th June 

10:30am till 4:00pm 

Rotary Fields, Brighton Road, Purley CR8 2BR 

Entry: Adults £3 Children £1 

Exhibitors: Show your classic car or bike including two 

people for just £5. Book in advance or for more information 

please see our website: www.croydonwhitgiftrotary.org.uk 

Harwoods Croydon 01737 306200 Classic Car Insurance 020 8641 3131 


95



KENLEY ART GROUP 

Old Coulsdon District 

Wednesdays 10am - 12 noon 

Satrting 7th February 2018 

Kenley Memorial Hall, Godstone Road 

All abilities welcome and we are a very 

friendly group so why not come and join us 

£17 for 10 sessions 

Including coffee & biscuits 

For Details, Call Audrey 01737 555025 

Coulsdon Floral Arrangement Group 

Fun & Friendship with Flowers 

Sit back and enjoy watching beautiful 

flower arrangements 

by an expert demonstrator 

Meetings held at The Cameron Hall, 

Canons Hill,Old Coulsdon 

Come along for a visit (£5.00) and see 

what we are all about 

At 7.00pm for 7.30pm 

First Wednesday of the Month 

Except January & August 

Chairman - Chris Sawer 01737 554815 

Honorary Secretary 

Ann Nicholson 020 8656 7388 

HELP NEEDED 

Brownie Leaders 18+ for Brownie pack 

for girls age 7-10 needed in 

Old Coulsdon 

Can you spare max. 2 hours a week 

term time? 

Free training given. 

Good fun and very rewarding 

Contact District Commissioner 

jackiesidwell@btinternet.com 

EASTER 

ART 

EXHIBITION 

Guest Artist:David Hyde 

Soper Hall 

Caterham 

CR3 6HY 

Friday 30th March 10 to 5 

Saturday 31st March 10 to 5 

Sunday 1st April 10 to 3 




Worried about debts? 

Looking for a job? 

Struggling on a low income?. 

Then get in touch with your local 

Christians Against Poverty ( CAP ) 

centre who would love to help you. 

All you need to do is visit the website 

at www.capuk.org, choose the service 

you are interested in and enter your 

post code. 

Or you can email 

nigeldavidson@capuk.org 

to request more details 

Welcomes lively over 40's 

to social events including 

barbeques, theatre, walks, 

meals etc. 

New members evening – 1st 

Thursday of the month at 9pm 

Contact: 

Linda 020 8668 1382, 

Glenn 020 8656 9007, 

Shirley 020 8651 5835. 

email: info@companyclub.co.uk 

www.companyclub.co.uk 

St Andrew’s Contact Group 

Monthly Pop In Teas 

at St. Andrew’s Church 

Hall, from 2-4pm on the 

second Tuesday of every 

month. A cup of tea, 

sandwiches and cakes 

are served for a modest 

donation. 

The Contact Group Volunteers invite you to 

join them for companionship and friendly 

conversation. If a lift would help, contact 

Monica Jefford 01737 555996 

contactgroup@standrews.coulsdon.net 

St. Andrew’s Church, Coulsdon, CR5 2DD. 


97

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 

•Accountancy/Finance 

LJ Accounting 33 

One Financial Solutions 70 

Tax Data 12 

•Aerials / Satellite 

Communitech 66 

•Architectural Services 

Jameson Architectural Services 25 

•Blinds/Curtains 

Interior Transformation Studio 6 

JT Blinds 57/59 

Mobile Curtain Studio 65 

Surrey Blinds 42 

•Building Services 

AVACO Scaffolding 57 

Exclusive Extensions 31 

MJ Building Services 69 

SN Building Services 27 

STL Building Services 18 

Taylors Building Services 43 

•Care Services 

Right Care For You 19 

•Carpentry 

Ben Saunders Carpentry 50 

•Carpets/Flooring 

Carpets 4U 55 

CSL T/A Coulsdon Flooring Co 45 

Janes Flooring 74 

Keith Harris Carpets 15 

•Childrens Entertainment 

Fiona’s Farm 77 

•Cleaning 

Brite N Breezy 29 

Ovenu 69 

Surrey Carpet Care 38 

•Computer Services 

Computer Solutions 37 

Fahy Consultancy 28 

Plum Planet Computer Tuition 29 

•Counselling 

Counselling/Talking Therapies 66 

Your Life Matters 74 

•DVD 

Carlton Video 61 

•Education & Tuition 

Laleham Lea School 20 

Oasis Academy Coulsdon 26 

•Electrical/Electrician/Supplies 

BGW Electrical Contractors 39 

Michael Steele Electrician 34 

Surrey Electrical Services 30 

Wandle Electrical Services 50 

Watt Electrical Services 47 

•Estate Agents 

Bond & Sherwill 99 

Daniel Adams 3 

Park & Bailey 1 

John Brown 100 

•Farm Produce 

Flower Farm 11 

•Fishmongers 

James Knight of Coulsdon 37 

•Gardening Services 

Absolute Gardens 52 

Aralia Tree Services 74 

CJ Gardening 23 

Daisy Garden 17 

Emsworth Tree Care 54 

Expertrees 46 

Gaskells Gardens 10 

Little Oak Treecare 9 

Manor Gardens 25 

Marion Bonfante Gardening Serv. 50 

•Health, Hair & Beauty 

77 The Hair Salon 9 

Counselling/Talking Therapies 66 

Coulsdon Opticians 22 

Foot Health Centre 23 

Hair by Rachel 29 

Jane Naylor-Maury Osteopath 62 

Mobile Hairdressing by Shirley 50 

Old Coulsdon Osteopathic Clinic 71 

Relax Therapy 43 

Slimming World 13 

•Hotel 

Coulsdon Manor Hotel 49 

•Interior Design 

Interior Transformation Studio 6 

•Kitchens/Bathrooms/Bedrooms 

Dream Doors 58 

•Ladies Fashion & Accessories 

Milan Design 73 

•Locksmith 

Alpine Lock Services 59 

•Motoring 

Car Body Solutions 19 

Coulsdon Auto Parts 51 

Robe & Hitchen 52 

Top Marks Tyres 17 

Wallace Automotive 30 

•Painter/Decorator/Supplies 

Paintsmart 62 

Richard Perring Decorator 81 

Southern Decorator Supplies 10 

•Pest Control 

BEE OFF Pest Solutions 57 

•Pets 

Animalia Dog Walking Services 69 

Anwells Veterinary Practice 61 

Little 4 Paws 54 

Sitting Purrfect 27 

Whoof Whoof Doggie Day Care 28 

•Photographer 

Andrew Franklin Photography 7 

•Plastering/Brickwork/Tiling 

KWS Plastering Services 28 

SWS Plastering 65 

•Plumbing & Heating 

Dapson Heating & Plumbing Serv. 33 

DV Services-Plumbing/Install 51 

GC Gas & Heating 77 

Jonathan Davidson Heating 6 

MPM Plumbing 28 

SE Services-Heating & Plumbing 14 

•Printing 

Advanced Print 54 

•Property Maint/Handyman Services 

247 Property Maintenance 77 

David Tuppen Handyman 66 

Maiden Maintenance 38 

MJ Services ~Elect. & Plumbing 33 

Newhill Handyman 14 

Property Care & Repair Services 75 

RCB Maintenance 19 

Warwick Property Maintenance 41 

•Restaurants/Café 

Chez Vous 27 


Curry Leaf 42 

Karnavar 2 

Surrey National Golf Club 21 

•Roofing 

BB Roofing 34 

Cladmaster 11 

SG Roofing 39 

Tacey Roofing 19 

W.Brown & Sons 67 

•Scaffolding 

AVACO Scaffolding 57 

•Solicitor 

Rowe Radcliffe 31 

Streeter Marshall 63 

•Sports & Recreation 

Caterham Dance School 9 


•Vaping 

Vapepit 36 

•Weddings & Event Services 



•Windows & Doors 

Atlas Glass 5 

Selsdon Windows 35 

The Surrey Glazing Company 53

INTRODUCING 

INTRODUCING 

WINNER FOR COULSDON 

WINNER FOR COULSDON 

Bond & Sherwill have just won The British Property Awards for Coulsdon. 

Bond Their & Sherwill team performed have just won outstandingly The British throughout Property Awards the extensive for Coulsdon. judging 

period, which focused on customer service levels. 

Their team performed outstandingly throughout the extensive judging 

period, Bond & which Sherwill focused have now on been customer shortlisted service for levels. a number of national awards 

which will be announced later in the year. 

Bond & Sherwill have now been shortlisted for a number of national awards 

which The British will be Property announced Awards later provide in the year. agents throughout the UK with an 

invaluable opportunity to compare the service that they provide against 

The the British service Property provided Awards by their, provide local, agents regional throughout and national the competition. 

UK with an 

invaluable opportunity to compare the service that they provide against 

the Agents service who provided go that by extra their, mile local, and regional provide outstanding national levels competition. of 

customer service are rewarded with our accolade, which acts as a 

Agents beacon who to highlight go that extra these mile attributes and provide to their outstanding local marketplace. levels of 

customer service are rewarded with our accolade, which acts as a 

beacon to highlight these attributes to their local marketplace. 

Bond & Sherwill 

134 Brighton Road, Coulsdon, CR5 2ND 

Bond 020 & 8660 Sherwill 0189 

134 www.bond-sherwill.com 

Brighton Road, Coulsdon, CR5 2ND 

020 8660 0189 

www.bond-sherwill.com 



ESTATE AGENT 

IN COULSDON 

ESTATE AGENT 

IN COULSDON 

THE BRITISH PROPERTY AWARDS are one of the most inclusive estate agency 

awards providers as they do not charge to enter. This has enabled their award to be 

THE structured BRITISH in a PROPERTY manner that AWARDS ensures maximum are one of participation, the most inclusive on average estate judging agency over 

awards 90% of providers agents that as meet they do their not minimum charge to criteria enter. on This a has local enabled level. their award to be 

structured in a manner that ensures maximum participation, on average judging over 

90% The of team agents personally that meet mystery their minimum shops every criteria estate on a agent local against level. a set of 25 criteria to 

obtain a balanced overview of their customer service levels. The judging criteria is 

The team personally mystery shops every estate agent against a set of 25 criteria to 

obtain periods a balanced to ensure overview that agents of their have customer been rigorously service and levels. fairly The judged. judging criteria is 

INDEPENDENTLY 

JUDGED 

INDEPENDENTLY 

JUDGED 

OVER 25 CRITERIA 

OVER 25 CRITERIA 

periods Robert to McLean ensure from that agents The British have Property been rigorously Awards said and “Our fairly awards judged. has been 

Robert entry, McLean such as cost, from to The ensure British that Property we have Awards the most said inclusive “Our awards awards. has been Our award 

has also been designed to remove any opportunity for bias or manipulation. If an 

entry, agent such has as been cost, attributed to ensure with that one we of have our the awards, most it inclusive is simply awards. down to Our the award fantastic 

has customer also been service designed levels to that remove they have any opportunity demonstrated for bias across or manipulation. a prolonged period If an of 

agent time. has Winning been agents attributed should with be one proud of our that awards, their customer it is simply service down levels to the provide fantastic a 

customer benchmark service for their levels local, that regional they have and demonstrated national competition”. across a prolonged period of 

time. Winning agents should be proud that their customer service levels provide a 

benchmark for their local, regional and national competition”. 

www.bond-sherwill.com 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BRITISH PROPERTY AWARDS 

PLEASE CONTACT US ON 020 3151 5525 

JUDGING YOUR 

LOCAL MARKET 

JUDGING YOUR 

LOCAL MARKET 

QUOTE “CR5 “for 

15%OFF 

our standard fees 

in April 2018

Hatching a plan to 

move this Spring? 

Make a move with your leading local 

and experienced independent agent 

INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL 

ESTATE AGENTS ESTABLISHED 1977 

01737 551111 

www.johnbrownestateagent.co.uk

CR5 Issue 155 April 2018 digital

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