My theme this time is ambition. Every one of us has some whether it is to get a good grade in an exam, the latest model of car, to go somewhere in particular on holiday, or even to grow the biggest onion. I have fulfilled some of mine, failed in others, and who knows what the future may bring. But there were millions of men and women who put aside their ambitions during both World Wars, because evil men have ambitions of conquest, greed for land and minerals and various types of genocide, and they needed to be stopped. The only ambition then was to restore freedom and justice to those who were denied these simple rights and to live through the war and enjoy old age. Speaking of which, I had the honour recently to meet Henry Allingham, Europe's oldest man (I think), and a veteran of the Great War. I spoke to him, sat with him for a while and shook his hand. A living link with a terrible past, and a great honour for me. To live to the age of 111 in not something I truly can understand.

Poppy Appeal is not that far away now. One of my ambitions is to help raise as much money as possible with your help. If you feel as I do, the huge debt we owe to people like Henry Allingham, please help the Appeal by contacting me on 01252 703 293.
Thank you.

Last month everyone should have received a copy of Waverley Recycling news, summer 2007. It is full of interesting recycling information, facts and figures. The new Waverley Council is pleased to announce that their waste review does not mean a return to weekly collections but a switch to 'same day' collections soon.  Two facts not included were:

The new bio-degradable corn based wheelie bin liners which are strong and sturdy enough to line the whole bin and loop over its rim, are available from the council offices at the Burys, Godalming (or from the locality office in Cranleigh, Haslemere and Farnham) at £1.50 for a roll of five. Anyone buying a roll will be invited to participate in a trial to find out how useful the liners were in combating smells during the hot weather.

'Tetra-pak' type cartons, used for milk, juice, sauces and soup can now be recycled at two sites near us: the Crown Court car park in Godalming and Beacon Hill car park in Hindhead. The black collection bins have 'Recycle your paper based liquid food and drink cartons here' on the front with examples of pack types.

It is time again to start thinking of what gifts to put in a shoe box for the Romanian Shoebox Appeal. In September I shall be putting leaflets at the back of St James Church, and the URC. If you have not done a shoe box before, the leaflets tell you what sort of things are needed and how to wrap up the boxes. £2 per box is needed to help with transport costs.

I shall be taking all the boxes down to Worthing to the storage and distribution Centre at the end of October - early November. For further information contact :