Surrey Day 2026

Surrey’s Hidden Treasures

9th May 2026 was Surrey Day! Surrey Day showcases the County’s rich heritage, vibrant culture and inspiring people. It brings people together to celebrate everything that makes Surrey such a special place to live, work and visit.

This year’s theme was “Surrey’s Hidden Treasures” and I found several over the course of the day.

In the morning, I was taken on a tour of Epsom’s town centre by the Mayor and Mayoress of Epsom & Ewell and Paul Taylor of “What’s On in Epsom”. I learnt about the discovery of Epsom Salts; “unofficial” Royal visits to Epsom by the Prince Regent and Charles II; and the suffragette Emily Wilding Davison’s fatal encounter with King George V’s horse.  Epsom’s history was beautifully depicted in a modern mural on display in Epsom’s town centre by young artist Ole Murphy. 

The Epsom Girl Guides had invited me for lunch, but lunch had to be earned! Dame Maggie Aderin – renowned space scientist and Surrey Day 2026’s ambassador – and I were given orienteering lessons at the Epsom Girl Guiding Activity Day. We learnt how to read a map and managed to earn our very own Surrey Day 2026 badge, although the Rainbows had to help us from time to time…

With my newfound map-reading skills, I then made it to the Bourne Hall Museum, which currently hosts two interesting exhibitions in addition to their permanent collection of artefacts from in and around Epsom and Ewell. One exhibition displays the great variety of objects that were found when the site of the Bourne Hall Museum was excavated in the 1960’s:  Roman coins; Tudor wine glasses; silver spoons and Victorian clay pipes. The other exhibition marks the late Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday and shows the Queen’s love of the famous Derby Festival at Epsom Downs racecourse. It is a fascinating collection and beautifully displayed.

Denbies Wine Estate was my next stop. Unsurprisingly this Surrey treasure had been found by lots of people – the sun shone on the vines; a live band was playing; and there were many spots for people to sit down and enjoy a glass of Surrey wine or champagne. The estate is a bustling hive of activity. Besides various businesses making different kinds of drinks:  wine, beer, gin and coffee – there is a farm shop, a health centre, an art gallery and an off-road bike shop. I was taken on a highly informative tour of the estate and needed a lot of willpower not to stay and drink champagne until sunset.Surrey Day culminated at Godstone Flower Farm, where many people gathered to listen to the Surrey Poet Laureate Adam Gary proclaim a special Surrey Day poem.

The Sing It Out Choir from Godstone provided the wonderfully upbeat finale to the Day with a medley of highly infectious songs.

Surrey Day 2026 was a triumph!  A special thanks goes to Visit Surrey – Surrey’s official tourist board, BBC Radio Surrey, and The Surrey Lieutenancy for having created Surrey Day eight years’ ago and managing to organise a Surrey Day which seems to be more successful each year.

VE Day in Cranleigh.

81 years ago – on the 8th of May 1945 – after nearly six years of devastating conflict, the Second World War in Europe officially came to an end. Victory in Europe Day or VE Day, as the day has become known in the UK, was a day of relief, of celebration, but also a day of reflection, remembrance and gratitude. And thus it has remained.

On this day, we remember the courage and sacrifice of all those who lived through the War. The countless stories of bravery and suffering serve as a reminder that peace should never be taken for granted.

VE Day was not just about victory; it was also about hope. Hope for rebuilding lives, nations, and relationships as well as appreciation of the importance of unity, tolerance, and understanding. Let us honour those who served and sacrificed, not only with words, but with actions: by standing against division; supporting each other and striving for a more peaceful world.

In remembering the past, we strengthen our commitment to a better future. And that is something to celebrate!

Celebrating is indeed what I did with the residents of Cedar Court in Cranleigh. Michael Gains and Kathryn Thompson had organised the most wonderful celebratory street party. The weather tried to disrupt the best laid plans, but it did not dampen the spirit. We had a wonderful lunch followed by a splendid singsong in the garden when the sun reappeared.

We could hang out our washing on the Siegfried Line and we definitely packed our troubles in our old kit bag, until we’ll meet again!

The High Sheriff Youth Awards Annual Golf Day 2026.

Help us to Raise much needed Funds for the High Sheriff of Surrey Youth Awards at our CHARITY GOLF DAY at the prestigious West Hill Golf Club in Brookwood on the 9th June. 

Each year around £50,000 is provided by the ‘High Sheriff Youth Awards Charity‘ to those young persons in Surrey who have produced the best projects about Law and Order, Crime Prevention, and how to combat antisocial behaviour across our county.

There are team spaces available and we would also welcome any auction prizes that would help us to continue supporting young people in Surrey.

After the success of the last two Golf Days, raising nearly £50,000, we are looking forward to you joining us at West Hill…please contact Julian Wakeling for all the details of this exciting day –

E Mail : julianwakeling@aol.com    Tel No: 07595 916444

Further details…

The projects can be seen on www.surreyhighsheriff.org. The focus is on helping vulnerable, at-risk young people, whose numbers have, sadly, increased since the pandemic.

This is the fourth golf day, sponsored by Folio3 and supported by Srixon, and it is all about playing golf in good company on the beautiful heathland course, whilst at the same time raising funds to support those young people.

Your team of four will be given goody bags, and have time on the driving range, before competing for a Challenge Trophy, in a four-ball better ball Stableford competition. Further prizes will include the longest drive, nearest the pin, plus a Hole in One opportunity to win £5,000.00 to be shared equally with the charity.

After breakfast, there will be a shotgun start. After the round there will be time to socialise before a 3-course lunch, which will also involve a high-quality auction, to raise funds for our young people, with the twin aims of ensuring a better future for them and making Surrey a safer place for all. 

The Cost for a 4 x Ball Team is £800.00. 

I very much hope you will gather a team of friends and work colleagues together and come and enjoy the delights of West Hill Golf Club, Brookwood, Surrey, while generously supporting those young people who need it.

E Mail : julianwakeling@aol.com    Tel No: 07595 916444

Happy 10th Birthday to the Include Choir!

Happy 10th Birthday to The Include Choir!

This amazing choir is a place where people with and without learning disabilities, autism or communication needs can come together and sing; using a mixture of Makaton signing, pictures and objects to ensure everyone is included.

The choir treated us to a wonderful concert over tea and birthday cake on the Village Green in Brockham to celebrate.

DORKING WESTIVAL – Great Music in Dorking this Bank Holiday Weekend in Support of ESDAS. (East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services).

Dancing in the Street!

This Bank Holiday weekend enjoy live music and a drink at the Dorking Westival in support of ESDAS (East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services). 70 bands over 7 stages across 5 venues:  The Star, The Old House, The Spotted Dog, The King’s Arms and The Bull’s Head.

ESDAS delivers a fantastic service:  it supports survivors of domestic abuse and their children in East Surrey.  Sadly, the demand for its services is increasing and ESDAS need your support.  What better way to do this whilst listening to music and visiting some local pubs?

Find out more at: https://www.hellodorking.com/event/westival-1st-3rd-may/

KAVS for the National Honey Show.

On Saturday in the sunny surroundings of the Reigate Beekeepers’ Association Apiary near Dorking, the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey – Michael More-Molyneux CVO – presented the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) to the volunteers of The National Honey Show.

The KAVS is the highest honour awarded to local voluntary groups in the UK and is the equivalent to an MBE.  The KAVS was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee (then known as a QAVS).  The Awards are awarded for life and are announced on the King’s birthday each year, the 14th November.

The National Honey Show is unique. The Show is staged annually over a 3-day period at the end of October and provides education in beekeeping and environmental issues. The Show provides a gold standard by which beekeepers can compare their produce with others. Visitors to the Show can buy honey and products of the hive from beekeepers and producers, as well as learn about becoming a beekeeper.

The Show is entirely organised by local unpaid volunteers and has been run successfully every year since 1923, except for a few years during World War II. Every year there is growing demand for entries from all over the world as beekeepers recognise the kudos of winning a class at the Honey Show. Yet, the organising group and whole team of volunteers for the days of the Show just see themselves as a group of local beekeepers. 

The National Honey Show is truly exceptional, and it is the combination of a passionate and highly skilled 100% volunteer core team with dedicated local volunteers delivering the Show, that make it so. The KAVS is very well deserved.

Thank you to Caroline Breckell MVO DL – Under Sheriff Extraordinaire!

A “posse” of three Lord Lieutenants (former, current and future) as well as 15 former and one current High Sheriff of Surrey came together to thank Caroline Breckell for keeping them on the straight and narrow for the past 18 years.

Earlier this month, Caroline retired from her role as Under Sheriff of Surrey.  A role she started in 2008 when the then High Sheriff Sally Varah MBE DL asked Caroline to accept the position alongside her job at Surrey County Council and role as Clerk to the Surrey Lieutenancy.  Ever since then, Caroline has been invaluable to the smooth running of the Surrey Shrievalty. 

The Surrey Shrievalty shall miss Caroline’s unparallelled knowledge of the inner workings of the County, her sound advice, and good humour.

Thank you Caroline!

Photos; Andy Newbold.

Greatly Deserved Award for Cranleigh Arts.

It is always a great pleasure to attend the presentation of a King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) – the highest honour awarded to local voluntary groups in the UK,  and to be able to celebrate the extensive work carried out by the volunteers of the recipient group.

Equivalent to an MBE, the KAVS was created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. The Awards are awarded for life and are announced on the King’s birthday each year, the 14th November.

Last Friday, the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey – Michael More-Molyneux CVO – presented the prestigious Award to Cranleigh Arts. 

Cranleigh Arts was established over 50 years ago and provides a central point in Cranleigh for people to get together and enjoy all kinds of cultural activity. Its founding principle is “to enrich, entertain and inspire”.  The facilities available and the range of programming at Cranleigh Arts rivals any art centre in the country. What is different about Cranleigh Arts is that it is run by volunteers with all the funds being raised by volunteers and less than 20% of the centre’s funding is reliant on fundraising. For any arts organisation that is exceptional.

Cranleigh Arts is a very deserving recipient of the KAVS.  It has grown out of the community, provides for the community and is run by volunteers from the community.

Photo by Martin Bamford

Chief Scout’s Gold Awards Ceremony.

The Scouts did their best!

On Saturday, I had the honour and pleasure to attend the Chief Scout’s Gold Awards presentation of the Surrey Scouts at the Aldridge Theatre near Farnham.

The Chief Scout’s Gold Award is the highest award in the Scout Section (aged 11-14 years’ old). The Award requires the scouts to complete nine different Challenge areas: World, Skills, Creative, Outdoors, Adventure, Expedition, Teamwork, Team Leadership and Personal.  As well as completing each of those nine challenges, the scouts need to gain six activity badges in areas of their own choice.  

Completing the programme is a true feat. It was therefore a great pleasure to present this prestigious award to an impressive 34 young scouts and to chat to them about their enjoyment of being part of the Surrey Scouts. The camps seem to be the most popular activity and I was told exciting tales of building campfires, kayaking, climbing and lots of fun games.

There will not be many people who have achieved what these young people have gained over the past few months and years. It will make them stand out – in a good way! Teenagers normally do not want to be “different” and just want to blend in, but “being different” in this regard is a bonus – now and in a later life.

A Visit to the Guildford Law Courts

As my first official engagement as High Sheriff, I had the pleasure of meeting the security team at the Guildford Law Courts before attending the swearing in ceremony of Surrey’s newest magistrate.

It was an impressive occasion in front of Her Honour Judge Lees, the Resident Judge at Guildford Crown Court, with the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux CVO, and the Chairman of the Bench, Dr Mike Kelly JP in attendance.

Magistrates fulfil a highly important role in the English justice system.  95% of all criminal cases are heard entirely in the Magistrates Court with only the most serious criminal cases being moved on to the Crown Court.  Uniquely, all magistrates are volunteers.

It was an inspiring afternoon.