The annual Pillage the Village event once again proved a great success, attracting large numbers of families and young people to the village. Organised and promoted by our local traders, the event saw plenty of Halloween spirit, with many children dressed as ghosts, goblins and witches enjoying the festivities.

The Parish Council would like to thank all the village traders for their hard work in making the event such a fun and safe occasion for the community.

We’re pleased to welcome two new councillors to East Horsley Parish Council: David Holliday and Chris Jany.

David Holliday

David and his wife, Ann, have lived in East Horsley for seven years, having moved from their previous home in Weybridge. They have two married children and three grandchildren. With more than 25 years’ experience as a CEO, David has led transformation and growth across the telecoms, media, manufacturing, and supply chain sectors worldwide. Now he’s keen to put his skills to use closer to home. As a parish councillor, he looks forward to supporting local projects and helping East Horsley continue to thrive.

Chris Jany

Chris has lived in East Horsley for over 30 years, where he and his wife raised two children who were educated locally. Following a 35-year career in the travel industry, most recently as Operations Director at Newmarket Holidays, he retired and now volunteers with RHS Wisley and St Martin’s Church, where he recently served as churchwarden. An enthusiastic gardener, runner, occasional cyclist, and rugby fan (especially Harlequins), Chris aims, as a parish councillor, to strengthen connections between local parishes and councils, promoting shared values and community goals.

Clare Mathias, the inspiration and driving force behind the Horsleys Community Fund (HCF), recently hosted a reception to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its launch.

The Fund enables local philanthropists to support the most vulnerable and isolated members of our community. Grants have also been awarded to benefit young people through sports clubs, activity groups, school facilities, playgroups and play areas. Community amenities such as village halls, medical services, gardens, footpaths, and the Horsley Repair Cafe have also received vital support from HCF.

Clare and her dedicated team continue to welcome new volunteers to help with the Fund’s organisation. Above all, securing ongoing donations remains the key objective.

Individuals and local businesses wishing to lend their support will be warmly welcomed. For more information, contact Clare at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the Community Foundation for Surrey at 01483 478092.

The Horsley Repair Cafe in the Canterbury Rooms (next to St Martin’s Church) now offers minor IT repairs. If you’re having problems with your computer, drop in between 10.00am and 12.00 noon on the first Saturday of each month, and one of our skilled local volunteers will be on hand to help.

Of course, the usual repairs to household and garden items, as well as textiles, are still available, all in return for a small donation to cover running costs.

While you wait, enjoy tea, coffee, and a tempting selection of homemade cakes and biscuits, freshly prepared by our enthusiastic catering team. Free parking is kindly provided by Horsley Towers, whose management continues to support the café generously.

East Horsley Parish Council has donated £500 to the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey & Sussex in recognition of their vital lifesaving work in our community.

Earlier this year, the charity responded to a medical emergency in East Horsley, landing on Kingston Meadows to provide urgent care. Thanks to the swift actions of the air ambulance team, along with a couple of well-trained and quick-thinking local residents, a life was saved.

The Parish Council is proud to support the charity, which plays a crucial role in providing specialist medical care in critical situations across Surrey and Sussex. The donation will help fund essential equipment, training, and rapid-response services that continue to make a real difference in emergencies.

Residents are encouraged to learn more about the charity and upcoming events, including the Heli Hike Surrey on Sunday 31 August, which raises funds for this life-saving service.

The Horsley Lunch Club for Men has been running for eight months and is proving hugely popular, with members learning to cook delicious, healthy meals while enjoying great company.

The club meets twice a month at The Wheelhouse, West Horsley, from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Each session features a new recipe, with all food and equipment provided. Members work together to prepare and cook the meal, aiming to serve lunch around 12:00. Afterwards, the group packs away the “pop-up kitchen” and heads home with full tummies.

So far, the 15 members have created dishes from India, China, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, the Levant and the UK, while picking up new skills, gaining confidence and making new friends. The emphasis is on real food from scratch that can be easily recreated at home, whether for one person or in batches for the freezer.

The club is open to all men – carers, widowers, and anyone who would like to share a meal, chat and a friendly atmosphere. Spaces are available for new members who want to improve their cooking skills in a relaxed, sociable environment.

For more information or to join, contact Edward Scott on 01483 285394 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Just 13 months after its inauguration, the Horsley Repair Cafe is fast approaching a remarkable milestone: its 250th repair!

This Saturday (5 Aug), the team of dedicated volunteers is on track to complete their 250th fix, a fantastic achievement in such a short time. Since opening, the electro-mechanical team has brought new life to a wide range of household and garden appliances, while the textile repairers have lovingly restored garments and linens. Over 200 happy customers have gone home with treasured items repaired and revived.

So, who will be the 250th? Whoever it is will receive a small gift to mark the occasion. Could it be you?

Bring along an item in need of repair and join the team this Saturday in the Canterbury Rooms, next to St Martin’s Church, from 10.00am to midday. Free parking is available at nearby Horsley Towers.

After 14 years of dedicated service, Parish Clerk Nick Clemens will retire in July 2025 following his 70th birthday. Nick’s leadership has been central to the success of our Parish Council, and we thank him for his outstanding contribution.

Following a thorough recruitment process, we are pleased to announce that Hilary Gullen will succeed Nick as Parish Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer. Hilary, currently Electoral Services Manager at Richmond Borough Council and an East Horsley resident, brings valuable local government experience. She will start in mid-May, working alongside Nick for two months to ensure a smooth transition.

We look forward to Hilary’s leadership as our Parish navigates upcoming changes in Surrey's local government landscape.

We’re pleased to welcome two new councillors to East Horsley Parish Council: Chris Hampson and Anna Mitchell.

Chris Hampson

Chris has lived in East Horsley for over a decade and applied to become a councillor to help preserve the village’s semi-rural character, while recognising the importance of appropriate development across the wider borough.

Married with three children, Chris is also passionate about strengthening our strong sense of community. He brings a broad professional background in strategy, finance, operations, and procurement, and looks forward to supporting the Parish Council in its work.

Anna Mitchell

Anna and her family moved to East Horsley in the summer of 2024 and are thoroughly enjoying village life. She has a strong interest in all areas of the Parish Council’s work, with a particular focus on history, heritage, and sustainability.

As a committed sustainability advocate, Anna makes daily choices to reduce environmental impact and promote kindness to the planet. She enjoys gardening, running, walking, and spending time in nature. If time allowed, she’d be out horse riding or painting.

With a professional background in communications and marketing, Anna brings creativity, energy, and a positive mindset to her role on the Council.

Just ten months after its launch, the Horsley Repair Cafe has earned official recognition. Last Saturday at the County Club in Guildford, the team was honoured with a Mayor’s Award for Service to the Community.

Volunteer-in-Chief Alex Veys hailed the award as a resounding endorsement of all the hard work the volunteer team has put in since the Cafe opened in July last year.

With the first Saturday of the month approaching, the Repair Cafe will once again open its doors this weekend to residents of East and West Horsley. Locals are invited to bring in a wide range of household and garden items in need of repair, along with garments and other textiles that can be mended.

While repairs are underway, visitors can enjoy tea, coffee, and a delicious selection of homemade cakes and biscuits.

Free parking is available, as always, at Horsley Towers—courtesy of the management

Photo - Cllr Andrew Franklin, Cllr Aileen Aitcheson, Jonathan Hill, Carol Wilson, Cllr Sallie Barker MBE, Major of Guildford

On Tuesday 24 March, The Friends of Effingham Junction Station carried out work at Effingham Junction train station. They pretty much finished clearing the area next to the access road including clearing the soil off the road and clearing the old footpath. While the East Horsley Parish Council (EHPC) awaits the arrival of a new warden, George’s Garden Services, based in the village, have been busy deputising (funded by EHPC). The border of the access road to Effingham Junction Station car park has been transformed. Previously, a dense mass of overgrowth, it is now free of everything long dead. Additionally, the public footpath flanking the car park fence is now once again clear having been buried for many years.

Thanks to sponsorship from funeral directors James and Thomas, the gravestone of Frank and Ellen (‘Nell’) Chown, has been expertly restored. The grave, situated in St Martins Churchyard, had become almost unrecognisable thanks to years of sap and other detritus from a nearby tree. Now, thanks to the efforts of Chris Bertram, funeral arranger at the East Horsley branch and K and S Memorials, professional grave and monument restorers for James and Thomas, the gravestone is now looking splendid with the inscriptions clear and eminently readable.