Category: News

Happy Birthday Vampire Ride at CWOA

UN-BITE-LIEVABLE! VAMPIRE ROLLER COASTER AT CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES CELEBRATES 35 YEARS.

Chessington World of Adventures is celebrating 35 thrilling years of its legendary Vampire roller coaster by giving away a fang-tastic 100 fast tracks!

Fast track passes – worth £60 per person – will be awarded to the best-dressed little vampires and their families visiting on Friday 11th April

Chessington World of Adventures’ iconic ride, Vampire, is marking an incredible 35 years next Friday 11th April.

As Europe’s first ever suspended roller coaster, which first took flight in 1990, the London theme park’s Vampire roller coaster has thrilled millions, and cape-tivated visitors with daring drops, swooping turns and eerie theming throughout.

To commemorate this mystical milestone for one of the nation’s favourite rides, the attraction is hosting a special weekend of celebrations, including giving away 100 free fast track tickets worth £60 per person.

Kids aged 6 to 15 are invited to come to the park dressed to thrill, donning their finest vampire attire*, to be in with the chance to win ‘Ultimate 8’ fast track access to Chessington’s top rides, including Croc Drop, Mandrill Mayhem and the iconic Vampire.

Howard Ebison, Divisional Director at Chessington World of Adventures said: “Vampire is one of those rollercoasters that everyone knows and loves. It’s one of our most popular coasters, and what makes it so special is the nostalgia it brings. Every day we have visiting parents (and even grandparents!) reminisce about riding it when they were young. And now they have the opportunity to take their kids on one of their childhood favourite rides. This big birthday weekend is a fantastic opportunity for families to create more unforgettable memories, and we can’t wait to see our park filled with the excitement and creativity of our youngest guests.”

“This special offer serves as a thank you for three and a half decades of support, ultimately making Vampire a cherished part of our attraction history.”

Over the Vampire birthday weekend (11th-13th April), Chessington World of Adventures will be in spooky festive mode. Wild Woods will be transformed into a gothic garden party and Violet, Chessington’s much-loved vampire bat character, will be making a special appearance to meet with children every morning.

John Wardley – one of the world’s leading rollercoaster creators – is the mastermind who designed the iconic Vampire coaster for Chessington back in 1990. On the milestone birthday, John commented: “It is incredible to see the lasting impact Vampire has had over the past 35 years. From initially writing to Chessington Zoo’s director with the idea to transform the attraction into a theme park, to being the first to ride the Vampire track, the process and making-of Vampire has been a thrilling adventure in itself.

“I have always been fascinated with illusions and special effects, and this was something I really wanted to bring to life with Vampire – giving riders the opportunity to be fully immersed in the adventure. It was this inspiration that ultimately led to the revolutionary suspended track – with Vampire being the first roller coaster of its kind in the UK. It’s inspired coasters globally since.

“It brings me immense joy to know Vampire continues to delight and inspire new generations.”

Vampire hangs at 70 feet, soaring through the skies, swooping over the rooftops of Wild Woods and flying through the treetops with speeds of 45 miles per hour. The ride’s height restriction starts at 1.1metre.

For those with an undying love for Vampire, looking to ride it for the first time, or simply joining the celebrations at Chessington, head over to chessington.com/Vampire-35th-birthday for details of the fast track giveaway and what’s on over the birthday weekend.

*To qualify for the offer the child must be dressed in a recognisable Vampire costume – this will be assessed at the discretion of the Chessington ticket office team

HOW TO ENTER:

  • Come to the Safari Hotel at Chessington World of Adventures at 10.15 on Friday 11th April to take part in the contest (Chessington’s Admissions team will direct you from the entrance gates)
  • Entrants should be dressed in a recognisable vampire costume
    The competition is open to children aged 6 – 15 years old, accompanied by an adult
  • Please note participants must have a pre-booked Chessington ticket
  • Each winner will receive four Ultimate 8 Reserve and Ride passes for themselves and three additional people. Up to three children can be part of each group of four. Each group must include at least one adult over 18 years old. Free passes are limited to a total of 100 fast tracks

    See full terms & conditions at chessington.com/Vampire-35th-birthday

News Community Sports Centre at Reigate Grammar School

We are thrilled to share an exciting new project that will enhance student life and shape the future of sport and activity at Reigate Grammar School for generations to come. After receiving planning approval, we are moving forward with the design and build of a new, state-of-the-art sport and activity centre – The Andy Paul Sport and Activity Centre.

This incredible community facility, set to open in September 2027, is made possible thanks to a generous donation from former pupil Andy Paul, alongside financial resources we can now rely on from our RGS International partnerships. This generosity and commitment to RGS has enabled us to move forward with our plans to ensure that sport, fitness, and wellbeing remain at the heart of school life.

A Vision for the Future of Sport at RGS

The Andy Paul Sport and Activity Centre will provide outstanding new facilities. The centre will include:

A multi-sport competition-standard Sports Hall for netball, indoor hockey, cricket, badminton, and more.

A fully equipped fitness and conditioning suite supporting student active wellbeing and performance sport.

A dance / multipurpose studio .

Outdoor Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs) providing all-weather spaces for both sport and an enhanced play space for all.

With the construction beginning in April 2026, this project builds on the success of the Harrison Centre and reflects our ongoing commitment to enhancing RGS facilities for future generations.

Why This Matters for Our Students and the Future of RGS

Through sport and physical activity at RGS, we develop character, instil a lifelong love of movement, and provide pathways for excellence, ensuring that every student finds their place within our sporting community. As part of our 350th year commitment to the future, The Andy Paul Sport and Activity Centre is a legacy project, securing the long-term success and stability of RGS. It will keep us at the forefront of independent education, attract the best students and staff, and continue to ensure that an RGS education is one of excellence, ambition, and opportunity.

“My time at RGS helped me become who I am today. I want to give back and ensure future generations have the very best facilities to thrive, just as I did.” Andy Paul.

We are incredibly grateful to Andy Paul and our International Partnerships for making this possible and look forward to celebrating this next chapter in RGS history with you all.

What Happens Next?

-April 2026 Construction begins

-September 2027 Opening of The Andy Paul Sport and Activity Centre

Follow our journey - we will share updates and progress on our website and social media channels as we bring this vision to life.

Follow RGS Sport @reigategrammarsport to see how we are leading the way in school sport at RGS.

Nescot graduate on road to WorldSkills Shanghai

Melissa Barretto, a skilled Professional Cookery Diploma graduate from North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot), is setting out on a journey of a lifetime, in an intrepid bid to do the UK proud on the international stage at the next WorldSkills Competition.  Known as the ‘skills olympics’, it will be held in Shanghai from 22-27 September 2026.

Following Melissa’s success in its national Culinary Arts skills competitions, WorldSkills UK, in partnership with Pearson, the world’s lifelong learning company has announced that Melisa will join its 18-month intensive training programme. Melissa will be aiming to be selected for the team that will represent the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai.

It is the first time China has hosted the prestigious WorldSkills competition. The event will see 1500 young people travel to Shanghai from over 80 counties to compete in technical skill disciplines from engineering, manufacturing and technology through to creative, digital and hospitality in front of an audience of 250,000.

The WorldSkills competition is considered by global experts as the ultimate test of a nation’s ability to meet future skills needs. It is attended by government representatives, educationalists and leading employers from across the globe.

WorldSkills UK uses its participation in the international WorldSkills competition to promote skills excellence across the UK, and by working with education, industry and UK governments it is embedding world class training standards throughout the skills sector.  This is helping to meet the demand for a highly skilled workforce in crucial sectors including engineering, digital, manufacturing and construction.

The UK will be competing in over 30 skills at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, including 3D Digital Game Art, Robot Systems Integration and Renewable Energy.

Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Congratulations to Melissa on being selected for our training programme for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Together with the other members on our programme, Melissa will be developing the right skills to fuel business growth across our economy. With WorldSkills being hosted in Shanghai next year, it provides a fantastic platform for us to work closely with China, where we know skills excellence is a priority, to collaborate, innovate and learn from the very best in the world.”

Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications said: “Pearson is proud to sponsor Team UK! Boosting the profile and prestige of technical and vocational education is incredibly important to us and I wish this talented group of 86 young people from across the country the best of luck as they begin their training programme towards competing in Shanghai.”

Melissa Barretto won the Silver Medal in the Culinary Arts category at WorldSkills UK in November. She was part of the first cohort of students on the Level 3 Advanced Professional Cookery Diploma course at Nescot, and the first year that the Catering and Hospitality department had entered the competition. She competed in the WorldSkills National finals along with fellow student, Iustin, a worthy finalist.

 

Karin Freestone, Catering and Hospitality Chef Lecturer at Nescot said: “Congratulations and well done to Melissa on this incredible achievement. We are immensely proud of Melissa and so thrilled that she has been selected for this prestigious training programme. Her skills and talent are exceptional and evident throughout her time at Nescot. It’s been an honour and privilege to mentor her and we wish Melissa the very best on her journey.”

 

NESCOTJulie Kapsalis, Principal and CEO at Nescot said: “We were thrilled when two of our Professional Cookery students competed in the finals with Melissa wining Silver. A remarkable achievement for our Catering and Hospitality department in their first year of entering the competition and a testament to the team’s exceptional training, guidance and support for all our learners. We are so proud and delighted for Melissa and we look forward to following her exciting training journey for WorldSkills Shanghai. Good luck and all the very best to her.”

Students from Nescot have participated in the finals of WorldSkills UK for the third year running, with Nescot’s Creative Media students wining Gold in 2023 and Bronze in 2022.

Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for WorldSkills Shanghai, following a successful partnership at WorldSkills Lyon in 2024.

For information on Squad UK for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 visit the WorldSkills UK website here.

For information on Nescot’s Catering and Hospitality courses visit our website here.

Citizens Advice takes energy advice out to the community

Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell takes energy advice out to the community Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (CAEE) is reaching out to the community to inform residents in the borough how to manage energy in the home efficiently. Three locations have been secured where visitors can meet with CAEE advisers to discuss their own energy in the home issues. The free advice includes:
            • Reducing energy use in the home
            • Help applying for grants and benefits
            • Switching providers
            • Warm home discounts
            • Crisis support
            • Smart meters
image of Lisa Davis, CEO of CA Epsom and Ewell,Lisa Davis, CEO of CAEE, said: “We know people are worrying about their use of energy. The on-going cost of living crisis is still affecting us, but for some, it can be truly devastating. We can help – come and talk to us and we can support you with a way forward.” CAEE is still seeking more locations – schools, churches and social groups. It is targeting under-represented communities who need help with benefit checks, energy bills and debt, and also referring people in need to other areas where Citizens Advice can help. Some financial support is available from the Project Wenceslas fund for those with energy debts or need help to purchase energy efficient appliances. For further information, visit our webpage www.caee.org.uk/energy-advice/. Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell takes energy advice out to the community

Council Approves Proposed Local Government Reorganisation

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council approves joint interim proposal for local government reorganisation and votes in favour of three unitary councils for Surrey

The interim proposal outlines a shared vision for Surrey, with options to split Surrey into two or three unitary councils following reorganisation. Currently there is a two-tier system in place, with 11 district and borough councils, and one county council. As set out in the Government’s English Devolution white paper, the aim of dissolving all 12 current councils to create two or three unitary councils is to create more clarity for residents over decision-making and accountability, achieve greater financial resilience, and economies of scale to deliver services that improve outcomes for residents – particularly those in greatest need of support. Both two and three unitary options would offer savings; and both would unlock the opportunity for further devolution in Surrey.

Councillors discussed that three unitary authorities would provide stronger local connections and accountability between local government and the communities they serve, would be better placed to reflect the unique identities of their communities and better able to meet their needs. Three unitaries, which reflect existing economic geographies, would also enable a clearer economic strategy, greater ability to focus on an area’s specific strengths and would help maximise opportunities for strategic investment and growth.

The interim proposal will be submitted to Government on Friday 21 March. Over the coming weeks and months, Surrey councils will continue to work together to deliver the full proposal to Government by 9 May 2025. Questions remain, including around debt management, funding gaps associated with delivery of the local government reorganisation, and what form wider consultation on local government reorganisation will take.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Hannah Dalton, Chair of the Residents’ Association at Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (Majority Group), said:

“Throughout this process, at the forefront of our minds is how best to serve our communities and preserve local democracy for the future.

“Our focus is on continuing to deliver the services our residents rely on, while representing the interests of all our communities across the borough to ensure a bright future, making the most of the opportunities that local government reorganisation and devolution has the potential to deliver for our residents.

“We will continue to work in partnership with councils across Surrey, our partners and residents, to achieve our shared vision for Surrey.”

For More Details CLICK HERE

Author and Zoologist Jane Wilson-Howarth returns to Nescot

North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) welcomed Jane Wilson-Howarth, world renowned physician, author, zoologist and an authority on travel health to the college yesterday. Jane inspired and motivated our learners with two very special talks about her journey as a published writer, and her love for animals in her fascinating encounters with the wildlife in Madagascar.

Jane studied at the college in the early 1970s when it was known as Ewell Technical College, completing her Ordinary National Diploma in Sciences. She was delighted to return to her alma mater, now known as Nescot.

Jane’s first talk reflected on her career as an author and her time at the college. She spoke about how a letter-writing habit in childhood helped her writing abilities. She explained to students that writing is an essential and useful skill and emphasised the importance of finding your passion, “It doesn’t matter what it is, if you’re passionate about something, it will come across in your writing”, said Jane.

For her second talk, Jane spoke about her travels in Madagascar and her fascination and love for the wonderful wildlife on the island especially the lemurs. Our Animal Care students, some of whom have been to Madagascar on a college trip last year were fascinated to hear her experiences and reflections – including being bitten by a scorpion.

Jane was also given a tour of the college including the Learning Resources Centre (LRC) that featured an eye-catching and creative display of her fiction and non-fiction books, a selection of photographs from her travels and various newspaper articles. Students are able to borrow and browse Jane’s books from the LRC. At the end of her visit, Jane was delighted to be awarded with the Nescot Honorary Fellowship by Principal and CEO, Julie Kapsalis.

Julie Kapsalis, Principal and CEO said, “It’s been an absolute pleasure to welcome Jane back to her old college as one of our most illustrious alumni. A big thank you to Jane for sharing her extraordinary career as a writer and zoologist with our students and staff.

“It’s a privilege to award Jane with an Honorary Fellowship. We introduced the award in 2023 for the college’s 70th anniversary to recognise excellence of former students and members of the local community. It is the highest accolade the college can bestow.”

author and zoologist Jane Wilson-Howarth returns to NescotSpeaking about her visit, Jane said, “It’s a real pleasure to come back to Nescot. I was here from 1970 to 1972 and had a really good science education at the college and that gave me the confidence I needed. It’s been so wonderful meeting and speaking with students today. I was so touched by the time and effort that went into creating the wonderful display of my published work in the college’s Learning Resources Centre and the beautiful drawing I received of a leaf tailed Gecko by one of the students. I was especially thrilled to receive an Honorary Fellowship from Nescot. Thank you to everyone at the college for making me feel so welcome and for such a memorable day.”

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council submits Local Plan

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has submitted the borough’s Local Plan to Government for Public Examination by the Planning Inspectorate. Submission at this time ensures that the Local Plan will be inspected according to the December 2023 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Public examination of the Local Plan by an independent Planning Inspector will take place later this year, once an Inspector has been appointed. This is anticipated to take place this summer.

The plan has been written in consultation with residents and stakeholders and is informed by an extensive evidence base. Public consultations took place in February 2023 and December 2024.

The Local Plan is a critical document in shaping the future of the borough. It covers a wide range of issues; from the creation of jobs, environmental protection and leisure development to sites for new homes, including affordable homes, and much-needed infrastructure improvements.

The council’s Local Plan Examination Webpage contains more information on the Local Plan Examination, including the documents submitted and copies of responses to the Proposed Submission Local Plan.

Councillor Peter O’Donovan, chair of the Licensing and Planning Policy CommitteeCouncillor Peter O’Donovan, Chair of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee, said “I am very grateful to EEBC officers who have worked diligently to reach this milestone, ensuring that the Local Plan is assessed against the framework to which it was developed. Overall, it has been a huge undertaking.

I also thank all the residents who took the time to tell us their views. I know that the plan will not please everyone. However, I believe it is a huge step forward for our borough and our communities, and if adopted it will help ensure that all Epsom & Ewell residents can enjoy the benefits that this strategic plan aims to deliver – whether their focus is on access to affordable homes, leisure facilities and green space, to jobs and economic growth.”

The public examination will include public hearings. Details on these will be published on the council’s website.

Darts legends visit Nescot to prove that maths matters

Nescot (North East Surrey College of Technology) College in Epsom, Surrey welcomed a trio of darts legends and MC, Paul Starr to the college today to inspire students and encourage them to develop their mental maths skills.  Paul ‘The Asset’ Nicholson, Devon ‘The African Warrior’ Petersen and three-time darts World Champion Mighty Michael Van Gerwen visited the college for the ‘Nescot Loves Darts & Maths’ event promoting arithmetic and numeracy, launching a college darts league and sharing their stories of determination and success.
 
Nescot hosted a full day of darts events, aimed at students re-taking their maths GCSEs. Nicholson and Petersen played a 5-leg match, then the players and Paul Starr held a Q&A and participated in a darts related maths quiz with students. Smaller groups of students later met the players in workshops on self-belief and inclusion.
 
The players also formally opened the newly branded Nescot Department of Maths. Each classroom now has a darts board and is named after a darts legend. In addition, Nescot launched a darts club and league, the first college in the country to do so. The inaugural Kapsalis Cup was contested between Nescot and East Sussex College Group, with plans to roll out a wider college league. During the sessions, all three players plus the MC were awarded a Nescot Honorary Fellowship and the day concluded with a ‘meet and greet’ for students.
 
The event was masterminded by Julie Kapsalis, Principal and CEO at Nescot (centre of picture below), and also a massive darts fan. Julie makes an annual pilgrimage to the Lakeside World Championships and loves watching the sport, live and on TV. Having previously worked in sports PR, she also has contacts in the world of darts and reached out to them with the seed of an idea.
 

urrey college hits the bullseye! Darts legends visit Nescot to prove that maths matters 

Julie said “Exciting and engaging students retaking their maths GCSEs was the challenge that made this day take shape. We regularly invite leaders from business, sport and the community to share their stories and when looking for a maths enthusiast, my mind turned to my own sporting passion – darts.

“The response from the darts community was incredible, after one phone call we were gifted boards, surrounds and darts, then the representatives of top players suggested an entire day of events at the college. We created a mini arena, and it was so exciting to see darts legends step up to the oche at Nescot.  We’re so grateful to the players, their management and everyone involved for taking the time to promote maths and inspire our students. Highlighting role models from all kinds of backgrounds and making learning fun are key at Nescot. I can’t wait to see our students’ playing darts in the classrooms. Game on!”

urrey college hits the bullseye! Darts legends visit Nescot to prove that maths mattersMichael van Gerwen said “It’s great to see first-hand how Nescot are using darts to inspire their students. It’s a brilliant way to improve mental maths, as the two go hand in hand. I love the fact the college is going to have a dartboard in every maths class too. It will be a fantastic addition, and I’m sure the students will love it.”

Devon Petersen said “It was a pleasure to visit Nescot College, and it’s so good to see them following core values and using darts to enhance their arithmetic. I have seen darts and maths work together in the work that I do for Bullseye Maths with young children, and Nescot will definitely see the benefits of using darts to enhance their education.”

urrey college hits the bullseye! Darts legends visit Nescot to prove that maths mattersPaul Nicholson said “Seeing young people like the ones at Nescot College enjoying the sport of darts today is so good to see, and I have no doubt that including darts as part of the student’s maths learning journey will only be a good thing. Darts is a sport for all, and it can be educational as well as fun, as proved with what Nescot are doing. Schools and colleges can only benefit from adding darts to their learning program.”

Darts is a sociable, inclusive sport, which almost anyone can access. It can improve mental health by enhancing cognitive function, reducing stress and boosting confidence. It also improves motor skills, hand-eye coordination and problem solving. Importantly for the maths department, the mental maths involved in darts can improve maths skills generally, especially around multiplication and subtraction.
 
Maths skills and mental maths are important for many employers. Nescot welcomes students who would like to retake their maths GCSEs and improve their employment prospects before they step into the world of work.
 
As well as functional skills courses in maths and English, Nescot offers a wide range of college courses for school leavers and adults, including Animal Care, Business, Computing and IT, Construction, Performing Arts, Childcare, Health & Social Care and Beauty Therapy. The college has an open event on May 15th, from 4.30 – 7.30pm, where prospective students can learn more about the courses, campus and facilities. To find out more about studying at Nescot call 020 8394 3038, visit www.nescot.ac.uk or email [email protected]

MP visits Stoneleigh Job Club

Helen Maguire, MP for Epsom & Ewell, Champions Local Free Job Coaching by volunteers during her Stoneleigh Job Club visit 

Stoneleigh Job Club was honoured to welcome Helen Maguire, MP for Epsom & Ewell, today. Her visit highlights our ongoing commitment to providing free and invaluable support to job seekers within the local community.

During the visit, Helen Maguire MP, met with job seekers, and volunteer staff members to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by those seeking employment.

“We are thrilled to have Helen Maguire MP  visit us and show her support for our mission,” said Peter Webb, founder and chair  of Stoneleigh Job Club. “Her presence and engagement with our clients and volunteer team highlight the importance of community-driven efforts to address unemployment and underemployment.”

Stoneleigh Job Club, established in 2015, has been a vital resource for job seekers in the local area, providing free workshops, one-on-one coaching, and networking opportunities. The dedicated team of ten volunteers from the local community work tirelessly to help individuals of all ages build their skills, confidence, and connections to secure meaningful employment. With welcome funding support from the National Lottery , Community Foundation and local councillors amongst others over the period , our ability to sustain appointments and drop in  sessions on Tuesdays at Stoneleigh Library has been much helped.

For more information about Stoneleigh Job Club and its services, please visit stoneleighjobclub.co.uk, email at [email protected], or call on 07900 489282.

Businesses Invited to Free Climate Action Event

Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) is inviting local businesses to a free “Introduction to Climate Change & Carbon Emissions” event designed to help them reduce costs, improve efficiency, and build a more sustainable future.

Taking place on Tuesday, 18 March, from 8.30am to 10.30am at the picturesque Hartsfield Manor, the event, funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), will provide practical steps for businesses to lower their carbon footprint and save money. Hosted by Bioregional, a leading sustainability charity, the session will offer expert guidance on net zero strategies, cost-saving energy efficiencies, and decarbonisation planning.

Attending businesses will gain:

  • Cost-saving insights by identifying ways to cut energy and resource expenses
  • Clear guidance on net zero by demystifying the jargon and focusing on real-world benefits
  • Tools to calculate carbon footprint to help businesses track and reduce emissions
  • Practical steps for decarbonisation—tailored to businesses of all sizes
  • Access to MVDC assets—helping sustainable businesses to get started
  • Networking with like-minded businesses over a complimentary breakfast and refreshments

 Councillor Bridget Kendrick, Deputy Leader for MVDC and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance said: “Sustainability isn’t just good for the environment—it makes business sense too. By improving efficiency and reducing energy costs, businesses can strengthen their operations while playing a vital role in tackling climate change. We encourage all Mole Valley businesses to attend this free event and take advantage of expert advice on how to future-proof their business while saving money.

This is a must-attend event for businesses looking to stay competitive, reduce risks, and unlock financial benefits while contributing to a greener future. Spaces are limited, so please don’t wait too long to book your complementary space. Register now: Select tickets – Reduce Costs & Boost Your Brand with Climate Change Awareness for Businesses – Hartsfield Manor.”