tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72303781509114267222011-11-27T23:28:50.169ZSecret messages from Reigate about history, geography, health and wellbeing, scandals, World War and much moreElizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.comBlogger541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-75824376880232121172011-11-27T09:41:00.007Z2011-11-27T15:28:19.096Z

17th November was a special date in the calendar for my Churchill's Secret Reigate talk at St.Paul's, Redhill - the event also attracted several volunteer stewards from Chartwell.This time I started off with two bits of topical news - firstly a letter from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council thanking me for my street name suggestions, and to confirm that the new residential road off Linkfield Lane

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-40236063087492392582011-06-09T08:35:00.006+01:002011-06-09T17:00:48.861+01:00

Have you seen this stone? Missing since 1st June 2011, last seen in Barons Caves, Reigate. There is a long tradition of guides explaining for visitors that it was used in medieval times as a way of summoning service from the castle servants upstairs.

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-23836680302919414522011-04-17T10:00:00.004+01:002011-04-17T10:35:44.776+01:00

Strolling through our Priory Park on Friday, I noticed that the neat lollipop-style bay trees were not looking too healthy any more. Of seven trees, several now have dead, brown leaves and at least one is denuded of its lower bark. Stopping to chat to my park keeper friend who was carefully tending the herbaceous borders in Monks Walk, I just mentioned this and to my horror, he told me what has

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-55119267281671510882011-04-05T12:17:00.006+01:002011-04-05T13:12:37.102+01:00

While the spring sun shines and the cherry trees blossom beautifully, it is easy to forget the bitterly cold weather of three months ago, but not the damage that it did to roofs, gutters and roads across the country. Sadly our town's magnificent historic Grade 1 listed building, home to Reigate Priory Junior School and Reigate Priory Museum, took a terrible blow from the snow. The museum is

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-62437285039025569072011-03-17T08:12:00.017Z2011-03-17T09:50:34.126Z

Pure and simple: sodium bicarbonate and magnesium sulphate - with optional extrasWith the world in shock over the radiation disaster, and people needing simple solutions to help themselves get rid of 'nasties' like bugs or poisonous metals, what could be lovelier than to remember those times when Grandma scooped a handful of sweet-smelling glittery crystals into the bathwater and swished them

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-8491389769507842042011-03-16T13:37:00.007Z2011-03-16T13:54:13.432Z

This week is Science and Engineering Week 2011 and I was invited to give a talk to the Monday group at St Paul's Church, Dorking.Here are the photos in an album:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=279624&id=520276478&l=1bfdf4d106The centrepiece was my patchwork quilt comforter which I designed to commemorate 70 years since WSC became Prime Minister, and the Battle of Britain. Naturally it

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-91932997763727653002011-02-10T12:42:00.015Z2011-02-11T07:27:05.984Z

Surrey Primary Care Trust replied under the Freedom of Information Act today. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/hpv_vaccine_untrue_safety_claimsWatch out - before even opening the file there is a long load of legal tripe purely designed to frighten me and you, I reckon! Here's one paragraph:Please note that the information provided is the property of Surrey PCT and subject to Intellectual

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-65844742331594457922011-02-05T11:37:00.008Z2011-02-10T08:20:13.387Z

..There is nothing better for cheering me up after a truly awful week than a stroke of luck - or was it merely a coincidence? The reason I called this blog Pigeon Post is that during World War 2, a prize-winning pigeon loft at 18 Doods Road, Reigate was commandeered for the war effort. Reigate was the Battle HQ for South Eastern Command, headed by the military VIP, General Montgomery. For my

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-49457676380872561102010-12-29T15:12:00.002Z2011-01-03T14:11:56.548Z

For all the publicity about the renovation of Reigate Priory Park through Heritage Lottery Funding of £4.2 million plus more millions from local businesses, I have always maintained that a DVD would be an ideal way of recording the process and the outcome.So it was a great treat this Christmas to see the new DVD sponsored by the Borough Council and Legal & General. It features some key historical

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-8924471097407975812010-12-04T16:53:00.006Z2010-12-05T16:12:14.287Z

There is some good news from my Lib Dem councillor Graham Norman about one of my heritage concerns locally - the boarded up cottages in Reigate's Castle Grounds are for sale!Yes, it will be good to have them occupied again and one trusts fully restored in keeping with their age and location.If they decided to put them on the market as a result of my raising the subject then I am very glad I did -

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-86156602404339988202010-12-04T16:14:00.008Z2010-12-04T16:50:48.132Z

Now that the local paper has moved offices out of Reigate to Redhill, there is no space for the archives. They have all had to go to somewhere in Brentwood/ford, I hear.So for posterity, here are two of the letters published in October 2008, one by a colleague and the other from me. Well, if only more people had read them at the time, such as our MP Crispin Blunt who lives in London, not his

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-67147686296323292802010-11-19T07:37:00.014Z2010-11-19T10:30:14.695Z

(1) Lifesaving phage medicine as used for Red Army troops to fight infections throughout WW2 and the Cold War (2) This Soviet medal was for meritorious service in WW2 - in Russian, "We have won"Back in August I was at the Cabinet War Rooms special tea party where I had a most delightful conversation with Mr Hugh Lunghi. He had previously told me about his experiences of being the official

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-88552474651732614742010-11-03T12:32:00.012Z2010-11-05T07:58:40.131Z

Have you ever wondered what to write in an autograph book? Well, this is what J Arthur Rank wrote on 4th February 1923, here in his home town for a neighbour's boy, Eric Hurst of Edes Fields, Park Lane. I had the great honour of showing it to the two audiences of my lecture, Churchill's Secret Reigate.Pray about everythingAlways expect somethingBe thankful for anythingGrumble about nothing.J.

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-81496816929978986032010-10-24T15:31:00.005+01:002010-10-24T16:36:23.570+01:00

Dearie me, I hear that the beautiful natural oasis to the east of 'the Priory' pub in Bell Street, Reigate is under threat again from our Borough Council.Our planning officers are insisting that it should be left unmowed, fenced off - and unvisited! This is despite the fact that the landlords pay up to £400 per month in rent to the Godfrey Searle Choir Trust, clearly adding much needed support to

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-81340482488169483282010-10-18T13:26:00.009+01:002010-10-18T18:03:26.379+01:00

For many years my mother Audrey Ward was invited by groups and schools to give local history talks, and far and away the most popular were the ones about street names! We still have the card index, boxes of slides and lecture files, amended each time to satisfy the curiosity of residents of different parts of the borough. Sometimes my father or I went along too, to operate the slide projector and

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-90775659977740132102010-10-12T07:18:00.013+01:002011-01-04T11:46:15.752Z

With so much rich history, a healthy environment and magnificent views over many counties, Reigate's residents have much to be thankful for. Over the centuries, it has been the scene of various battles, on land and in the air. Even cannonballs have been found in the Priory park, possibly from when a local Lord mounted cannon to frighten the rightful young female owner away. Like mine, her name

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-45112138229576929632010-10-10T11:16:00.010+01:002010-10-12T16:43:50.234+01:00

Yes, it may be a strange thing to do, but I had never made a patchwork quilt before, and I figured it would be a pleasant pastime to combine the fabric colours and prints into a padded picture to mark a remarkable wartime achievement 70 years ago, in August-December1940.A few of my squares are now printed with photos of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, army General Montgomery, my Luftwaffe

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-66761928742774384462010-07-25T17:13:00.013+01:002010-07-25T18:57:44.858+01:00

44 years ago this summer, there was a tragedy waiting to happen in a village in Wales, because nothing had been done about an overloaded slag heap and a water main in a disused canal. It was only a matter of time - actually by October of 1966, when a third factor - so much rain - created a disaster at Aberfan."Tip No 7...slipped and descended upon part of the village killing 116 children and 29

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-43107209418204745312010-06-07T16:00:00.015+01:002010-06-07T20:35:40.084+01:00

Memorable features in the Priory grounds are the tiny graves for some cherished pet dogs that belonged to Lady Henry Somerset's grandchildren.Now we know from archaeological evidence that some children are buried in the grounds of Reigate Priory, too - since, after all, it was consecrated ground. A colour leaflet about the archaeology includes a photograph of two skeletons, with the following

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-36074201009655462632010-05-30T06:59:00.017+01:002010-12-02T07:16:09.352Z

The most famous female owner of Reigate Prioryis Lady Henry Somerset, and her name is associated locally with the restoration of some Victorian garden features in Priory Park. Numerous roads in Reigate and Redhill commemorate her family names and properties; various buildings were constructed or altered on her instructions. Her cottage dower-house, now known as Makepeace, was built right beside

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-30347525696393005962010-05-14T14:02:00.011+01:002010-08-10T20:02:12.768+01:00

Dorothy Edwards was a "traditionally built" lady with a bun who lived for most of her life, 1914-1982 in Reigate. She used to read her much-loved childen's stories aloud on BBC's Listen with Mother, much to my delight as a child of the 1950's and 60's. Little did I know that she lived only a mile or so away from our family, and even visited local schools on a regular basis, also calling in on Mr

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-15297781844007986492010-05-10T15:10:00.002+01:002010-05-10T15:18:38.370+01:00

This is my latest slide show of the 11th century castle area in the centre of Reigate - a stone gateway, dry moat, inner bailey, outer bailey, wet moat, barbican, southern approach, public gardens, private grounds, medieval inn/assizes, castle walk, cottages, stately trees and rare flowers. The man-made Barons' Cave may have been the castle wine cellar before becoming a local curiosity for

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-28494124352131385802010-05-07T17:09:00.008+01:002010-08-10T20:00:17.965+01:00

We are looking forward to the publication of Ros Black's forthcoming book about Lady Henry Somerset.Born Lady Isabel Somers in 1851, her family owned Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire, parts of London as well as much of Reigate. On her marriage at the tender age of 22 she became the daughter-in-law of the Duke and Duchess of Beaufort at Badminton House.If you are not already familiar with what

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-8754901026643555442010-04-25T16:54:00.000+01:002010-04-25T16:55:06.056+01:00

The sandstone caves in Tunnel Road in the centre of Reigate were used as an air raid shelter during World War 2. There are 4 or 5 open days each year, hosted by Malcolm Tadd and the Wealden Cave & Mine Society.This exhibition of sculpture called "Reconnect" is by Zita Ra for her MA Fine Art show at the University of Brighton.The sculptures and caves can be seen by the public in Reigate on

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-48082241105704079992010-04-20T14:15:00.007+01:002010-05-30T06:42:33.106+01:00

There is a one-day conference on Monday 24th May, 9.30am-4.00pm at the Surrey History Centre in Woking, organised by Surrey History Trust and Surrey County Council.I sent them the list of notable local citizens that previously I presented to the Reigate Society a year ago and it will be interesting to hear what happens.Update: 29th May: nothing.

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-80257641035329548902010-04-19T11:28:00.005+01:002010-04-20T14:47:35.164+01:00

The postman has just delivered my new mug from the Welsh Shop in Newport. It's ever so educational because it says "Duw Duw! Well I Never!" - the first Welsh expression I have ever learned. Now you see, this is because Welsh miners were signed up as Royal Engineers in World War 2. They were sent here to south east England with their special skills and techniques to mine the new bunkers for South

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-61017395396011943102010-04-17T13:41:00.005+01:002010-08-10T20:06:55.609+01:00

Visitors to Reigate might be unaware of its equine history. There isn't a single horse or even a donkey alive in the central part of the town nowadays, whereas there were several at the stables in Reigate's Priory Park as recently as forty years ago.There is actually a rather high class wooden rocking horse which has been used as the symbol for Reigate Priory Museum since it was founded in the

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-62100156145403559572010-04-16T12:27:00.004+01:002010-04-17T13:40:44.934+01:00

Dear Reigate and Banstead Borough Council,May I please bring to your attention the text on your leaflet obtainable from the Pavilion."Tree number 13: Horse Chestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum arrived in Britain in the 17th Century. The name derives from the inside of a conker shell that is shaped like a horses hoof."Would you please let me have the source of that information and get it

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-23918700825703631982010-04-03T11:38:00.013+01:002010-04-03T14:04:04.314+01:00

If you are very lucky, you can see these treasured veteran and vintage motor cars on display at special occasions in Reigate. This particular one was a garden party for the residents of a nursing home in July 2009. The enterprising manager at the time asked me for a few local contacts, so it was no trouble at all to put him in touch with the owner of the cars, Bryan Goodman. Bryan is an

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-61702437644038835332010-04-02T07:59:00.031+01:002010-04-03T18:29:28.677+01:00

Reigate's majestic wooden ship,complete with crow's nest for a bird's eye viewOne doesn't expect to find a wooden sailing ship in the middle of a country park for the children to play on, so let's look at why there is this one in Reigate Priory Park.Well, Reigate Priory was founded in medieval times by Augustinian canons (monks, that is, for those not familiar with the word). Being in such a

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-74274862509105345482010-04-01T11:52:00.009+01:002010-04-07T12:18:09.766+01:00

Please click here to read the only approved account of Myra Collyer. She has given permission for it to be available on the internet as she feels that unauthorised reports give a false picture of her life and that of Sarah Churchill.In particular we wish to point out that Myra Collyer did not go on the stage after the war. Sarah Churchill's role during the war in both camps was as Production

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-71894204263960021902010-03-06T07:29:00.005Z2010-03-06T07:38:24.959Z

You can view my photo album of the Eagle gates and Park Lane's Pineapple gates here, along with several more sets of gates and railings by the same smith in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea..

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-1546287823513802362010-03-05T10:01:00.006Z2010-04-19T08:50:38.525+01:00

Do take a look at this trailer about the renovation of Reigate Priory's murals and staircase. They date back to the early 1700s. The full length DVD is available from Reigate Priory Museum and is based on historical research by its founder, my mother Audrey Ward, author of "Discovering Reigate Priory, the place and the people". Although she is not credited in the official Surrey County Council

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-9990264669146809992010-03-04T14:16:00.025Z2010-11-20T17:13:37.589Z

When our gracious parkland dating back to medieval times was being restored in 2007, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council did well to get a video made for them by local photographers.There are some beautiful shots and rare footage of the special equipment used for digging up trees and dredging silt from the lake. An archaeologist is shown hard at work, examining the area near the old gatehouse,

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-71813966092369874842010-02-21T17:12:00.006Z2010-04-02T06:10:11.966+01:00

Lady Henry Somerset was the main landowner here in Reigate in 1895. She also owned Eastnor Castle in Ledbury, Herefordshire, from where she wrote the following letter that has just turned up. It was the occasion of the retirement of the Pastor of the old Congregational Church in the High Street - ah, those were the days. Nowadays it's a Marks and Spencer's."It would be impossible for any

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-77207630861710006232010-02-11T14:19:00.006Z2010-02-12T09:33:42.991Z

It's £8 plus Post & Packing - and you can buy it here online, from anywhere in the world! For a limited time the pack also contains the specially commissioned poem by Barrie Singleton which was the finale of my presentation.P&P UK + £1 post and packing £9.00 Overseas + £2 post and packing £10.00 UK pick up £8.00

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-67376646559976740612010-02-02T18:11:00.006Z2010-02-02T18:33:52.043Z

One of the very happy outcomes of my "Churchill's Secret Reigate" talk was a phone call from a lady in the audience who has found this little gem.In a 4-page document we can see a photo and read about Eileen Olive McKerron, nee Graves. She describes in exact detail her uniform issued, her daily tasks and memorable moments between 11/12/1942 and July 1945. How exciting to be posted in her home

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-29990185108451205642010-01-23T16:42:00.012Z2010-01-23T18:00:56.860Z

I am getting ready for my 2nd lecture about 'Churchill's Secret Reigate' next Saturday. Over 100 people have reserved free virtual tickets and there are limited spaces with good visibility.This will be videoed fortunately, since publishing any research is a challenge. A few notable Churchillians, friends and military historians have seen the potential and are offering great support.Would you like

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-76155034911578420562010-01-05T12:22:00.005Z2010-01-05T12:40:28.621Z

I learned recently that "our" Reigate Hill underground Battle HQ known as Monty's Hideout was the inspiration for the secret tunnels of South Heighton on the South Downs for the Navy - started and completed soon afterwards in 1941.Geoffrey Ellis describes this as follows:'Col. FH Foster DSO OBE TD RL RIBA CRA 4 Corps Troops Royal Engineers disclosed how he designed the subterranean labyrinth

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-84088902666653854462009-12-12T11:16:00.010Z2009-12-15T15:06:15.835Z

It had to happen.I gave my illustrated talk on "Churchill's Secret Reigate" in November to a very appreciative audience of Churchill Fellows, Churchill fans and local people, with the promise that I would repeat it in January for those we didn't have enough seats for that day.Many thanks to Major-General Jamie Balfour for introducing me and to Randolph Churchill who spoke to us afterwards, and

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-37729276434581647612009-09-09T14:03:00.004+01:002009-09-09T15:12:07.566+01:00

Reigate's very own Myra Collyer is a star at age 85. She worked during the war in the Cabinet War Rooms as a shorthand typist and was then talent-spotted for her artistic ability to become an assistant to Churchill's three draughtsmen - doing headings for the maps, and nameplates for the ever-changing Admiralty staff upstairs.It is 70 years on since the start of the war, and 25 years on since the

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-79602629321451243092009-06-03T14:11:00.008+01:002010-04-02T05:28:22.939+01:00

.Members of the Royal Family who are unable to make it to the Memorial event in Normandy would be very welcome instead to visit Reigate, Surrey where the D-Day landings were masterminded in utmost secrecy by Montgomery and his team! Perhaps the President of France didn't realise this when he was planning his own celebrations for 6th June this coming weekend.It's such an exciting international

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-58224902799015201212009-04-29T15:36:00.002+01:002009-04-29T15:42:20.853+01:00

I have since checked out the Martin Bormann story with two cemetery managers, the book 'OpJB' by Christopher Creighton (John Ainsworth-Davis), some photographs, news reports, letters and the report of a funeral director who had known him locally. I am of the opinion that the man living by Wray Common, Reigate for many years was a "Martin Bormann double" trained for the purpose by the secret

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-80711081746711236232009-04-15T18:54:00.006+01:002009-06-03T15:12:07.329+01:00

I was given this information last week about Martin Bormann living in Reigate after the war! What do you think? There are various pointers scattered on the internet too, involving Prime Minister Winston Churchill and even Ian Fleming, writer of the James Bond 007 spy novels.

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-38590635043987533302009-04-05T08:49:00.007+01:002009-04-05T09:13:36.872+01:00

.I gather that the Canadian Army troops stationed in Reigate as part of the GHQ Reserve were(1) the “Hasty Pees”: the 1st Batallion of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, Ontario. Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex is their Colonel in Chief. He visited them in 2005 and there are some wonderful photos at http://www.theregiment.ca/hpjornal.html.(2) the Royal Canadian Regiment. The Duke of

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-29263948597604805442009-04-02T07:44:00.004+01:002009-04-02T08:02:15.741+01:00

Here's the view north from the top of Reigate Priory Park - just where Winston Churchill would have sat in contemplation a century before. You can almost see it all mapped out! Over to the east -Little Gatton where Eisenhower was stationed,the Reigate Hill chalk quarry and lime kilns where the secret bunker would go plus anti-aircraft guns,Underbeeches where Monty was stationed,the area for

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-38391150710225122592009-03-03T18:44:00.009Z2010-04-02T05:11:44.666+01:00

Here's a magnificent view south from the top of the chalk downs of Reigate Hill, taken in 1927 by famous Reigate photographer Francis Frith. By 1941 there was a massive secret underground bunker right below this very spot - 350 ft. long, and it is still there to this day, not on the Ordnance Survey maps!Reproduced courtesy of Francis Frith.Here is the view west, from the direction of his home a

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-25693050475778111192009-02-07T09:43:00.006Z2009-02-07T10:43:56.210Z

.The next talk and slide show is booked for 18th March. The title is Reigate - secrets of the war years 1939-1945. It will be full of little snippets of information that have escaped the history books but noted for posterity - even in old exercise books, video and tape recordings.One of my treasures for this is a German Air Force aerial reconnaissance photograph, issued to pilots, navigators and

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-87176344889727819082009-01-22T15:01:00.007Z2009-01-22T15:45:52.876Z

. If you have ever had this magnificent silver cup sitting on your mantelpiece, then either you are in the Board Room of Reigate Grammar School or you were awarded it one year. It's the Mitchiner Cup.And who was Mitchiner? Well he was a 'notable' Old Reigatian - a star pupil, a top consulting surgeon, a Major-General in the Territorial Army, Honorary Surgeon to George VI and Elizabeth 2 and a lot

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-11956842938920037832008-12-28T09:49:00.020Z2009-01-22T15:48:11.634Z

.In the early 70s I used to work in the university holidays at the old East Surrey Hospital just by Redhill Common. I don't remember any outbreaks of winter vomiting viruses or wards closed - it was unheard of. Even on Christmas Day, the patients and their visitors would go and sit in the sun rooms if they could, and enjoy the daylight and change of air.It's a rather different kettle of fish

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-72529043971506479322008-12-27T11:06:00.012Z2009-02-28T15:09:37.895Z

If you go to an event in the Holbein Hall at Reigate Priory you will see an array of large colour photographs of HRH Prince Edward when he visited the Grade 1 historic building and Grade 2 park on 9th July 2008.He was presented with a copy of Mum's book, "Discovering Reigate Priory - the place and the people" and he even mentioned it in the letter of thanks from Bagshot Park.In the book there are

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-62121544283209484882008-12-23T10:34:00.004Z2008-12-23T15:45:32.379Z

The Borough of Reigate had a very explosive moment when it was only 4 years old - July 14th 1867.Alfred Nobel chose a Fuller's Earth quarry in Redhill to demonstrate his new discovery. This proved to be much safer than nitro-glycerine and it earned him a fortune, plus his lasting legacy of Nobel prizes.He would probably be turning in his grave if he knew about the scandal of alleged bribery and

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-50354851548345215362008-12-21T17:17:00.003Z2009-02-28T14:41:13.537Z

Today, 21st December, is the shortest day - the winter solstice.Here's a photo taken early evening, of some woodwork done years ago at my postal HQ - 1, Howard Road Reigate, RH2 7JE by that infamous Great Train Robber/local carpenter, Ronnie Biggs. To cut a long story short, he went off to South America and was rarely seen again.I don't know where he learned about geometry, but it's a very

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7230378150911426722.post-42530792288645320962008-12-20T09:33:00.002Z2009-02-09T11:40:29.382Z

Christmas is nearly here. Already I've received a surprise by post. It's a local newspaper cutting from 30 August 1990 about the prizewinning pigeons that helped to win the war. They were pedigree Logans and Barkers, frequently winning trophies and certificates for long distance races in the 1920s. The loft had become so well known that it was called the Great Doods Loft - number 18 Doods Road

Elizabeth Grace Filbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16102153203976807876noreply@blogger.com0