On 24 May, the American Battle Monuments Commission held a moving Memorial Day ceremony at the Brookwood American Military Cemetery to honour the memory of more than 230,000 U.S. service personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
Memorial Day originated in the 1860s after the US Civil War and was originally known as Decoration Day. In time, Memorial Day came to recognise all US military personnel who died while serving in the US armed forces, including those who fought, died or went missing during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, among other conflicts.
Current Military personnel, veterans and relatives of those who gave their lives, as well as Brigadier Julian Ladd TD DL representing HM The King, were in attendance. Wreaths were laid by representatives of the many countries and organisations participating in the ceremony.
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Memorial-Day-ceremony-4-24.05.26-scaled.jpg15362048Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-05-24 11:00:002026-06-02 13:03:45Memorial Day at Brookwood American Cemetery.
On 21 May, I was invited to join the Mole Valley Community Fund for a wonderful event at Fetcham Park to celebrate the important role the MVCF plays in the area.
The Fund seeks to provide sustainable funding to support community projects and voluntary groups in Mole Valley. It does so by bringing together donors and stakeholders who are passionate about their local community and who can together make a difference to the area in which they live.
Since its creation in the first quarter of 2024, the Fund has helped more than 3,500 voluntary and community organisations already – organisations which support and benefit local residents, and which provide the stepping stones to stronger, more resilient communities. These organisations step in where need is greatest, often quietly and without fanfare, and they do so with compassion, skill and dedication.
Funds like MVCF ensure that this important work is supported, sustained and recognised. Grants provided by the MVCF may fund existing services or facilities and new initiatives and can contribute to either capital costs or support on-going running costs.
The stories that we heard that evening from grant recipients, business ambassadors and fund supporters demonstrated something powerful: when local generosity is thoughtfully directed, it creates opportunity and connection. That is community at its very best.
The evening was both a celebration of what has already been achieved and an invitation to continue the good work!
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MVCF-Feat-IMage.jpg6811020Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-05-21 18:00:002026-06-01 13:22:48Mole Valley Community Fund Celebration Event.
On 12th May, Surrey County Council’s Fostering Service invited me to join them for a coffee morning and lunch to mark “Foster Care Fortnight” and celebrate the vital role foster carers play in supporting children and young people across Surrey.
It was a lively and colourful event on a beautiful sunny morning in the garden of the Council’s offices, which brought together foster carers; members of the Council’s Foster Service; the Leader of Surrey County Council, Tim Oliver OBE; Helyn Clack, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning; and various partner organisations which work with the Foster Service.
It was a perfect occasion to recognise the incredible commitment shown by the foster parents and the Foster Service; to provide an opportunity for everyone to share their experiences; and to celebrate the positive impact of fostering. With so many children and young people in need, fostering is one of the most important roles within our communities and takes many different forms.
Fostering can range from Emergency Fostering, where short-term care is provided, to General Fostering aimed at provide children with a stable, long-term home. Some foster parents support parents and babies during parenting assessments, or host children with additional needs for short stays to give their families some vital respite. The Council’s Foster Service also cares for young unaccompanied asylum-seeking children needing safety and support and makes sure that it continues to support care leavers, since young adults do not automatically stop needing a stable basis of support once they reach 18.
Foster carers do a phenomenal job, providing stability and care for young people at some of the most challenging points in their lives.
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.
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Surrey-Day-Epsom-6-09.05.26.jpg640960Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-05-09 09:30:002026-05-10 23:48:03Surrey Day 2026
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!
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/VE-Day-celebrations-2-feat-image.jpg668998Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-05-08 00:00:002026-05-10 19:56:05VE Day in Cranleigh.
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 –
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.
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.
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Include-feat-image-1.jpg9601438Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-05-03 15:00:002026-05-05 15:23:44Happy 10th Birthday to the Include Choir!
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?
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6562-scaled.jpg13652048Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-05-02 10:43:352026-05-02 17:54:09DORKING WESTIVAL – Great Music in Dorking this Bank Holiday Weekend in Support of ESDAS. (East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services).
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.
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The-National-Honey-Show-KAVS.jpg12021800Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-05-02 00:00:002026-05-04 20:46:59KAVS for the National Honey Show.
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.
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Feat-image.png12721912Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-04-28 13:00:002026-05-04 20:06:29Thank you to Caroline Breckell MVO DL – Under Sheriff Extraordinaire!
