Community news from Tatsfield from February 13

Jacqui Apps makes her “Goodbye to Little Acorns” entrance

Written by Dave Bishop for publication in the Surrey Mirror

Regular Surrey Mirror contributor, Dave Bishop, shares the community news from the village of Tatsfield in the Tandridge District of Surrey.

Little Acorns – Goodbye Jacqui
A very well-known hard working lady is leaving us Tatsfielders and going up north to live in Blackpool. Jacqui Apps has been the Tatsfield’s Little Acorns pre-school manager for the past 25 years and she and her husband Dave, have sold up their house here and are going to live with Dave’s mother after saying goodbye to everyone at a terrific surprise goodbye party that was held in the village hall on Saturday evening.

Your scribe was invited to “cover” the happening with instructions to arrive at 7pm and upon opening the door it was a joy to see the way that the team of grafters had laid the whole place out fit for royalty.

Tablecloths neatly covered a number of higgledy-piggledy arranged tables along with gas filled balloons gently waving almost in time with the superb music played by DJ – Rod – a lovely very experienced man. The main entrance door had been brilliantly festooned with many coloured balloons by Lindsey and James Hill. The kitchen had been changed into a complete bar by the 18 hours a day Tina Stracey and some of her staff straight from the Ship pub – nothing could be better than that choice of experience at such an event.

The surprise that Jacqui didn’t know about was that one of ladies in the packed hall rang her on her mobile asking if she could come to the village hall because one of the cupboards were found to be leaking glue onto the floor. Jacqui was the only one with a key to get into the place. Lights were dimmed and a complete hush descended at 7.30pm and into the quietened place that was suddenly lit up with a roar from everyone of “surprise” accompanied by Cliff Richard singing “congratulations” played on Rod’s PA system.

To see Jacqui’s surprised face was something that I just had to click away with my camera as she was followed by a smiling husband Dave and daughter Steph. Jacqui circulated around the many smiling ladies and gentlemen, and with many big hugs and many attendees shedding tears of goodbye – it was all so very moving and the love of that lady was so prominent.

The rest of the evening was spent with a speech from one of the organisers and ex chairperson Natalie Ruggins. There were projected slides with accompanying sound of so many people wishing good luck and thanks along with a super cake made by Terri and a cuddly teddy bear - of course. The cracking evening ended at 11pm and to echo Sir Cliff’s event opening words “congratulations” must be due to everyone who worked their socks off to make the event such a success and well done everyone was said by our parish council's chairman Kim Jennings, who was there to thank Jacqui as well.

To sum up – Little Acorns has been running for 62 years now and it starts each morning at 7am (until 3.30pm) with a “breakfast club” for children (not all Little Acorns) which some of them are escorted from the hall to start their day of study at the Tatsfield’s Primary School. The Little Acorns always have a grand “graduation day” with the “leavers” children dressed up with proper blue caps and gowns, sponsored by Ian Hayman of Tatsfield Aquatics.

And a bit of news for the future is that DJ Rod is booked for a Halloween disco in October ‘cos he’s so good–see! This well decorated Tatsfield village hall is where the outside has a especially safety floored play area for the children. The whole place is totally secured from anyone trying to gain admission - it is locked, barred and bolted and anyone wishing to have their children looked after safely and properly couldn’t go to anywhere better – but as I say – you just cannot beat Tatsfield for doing things – proper like. It’s what we do in this little old village – see!

Fairtrade Fortnight in Tatsfield
Just a reminder that Tatsfield Fairtrade villagers are invited to attend Fairtrade’s “Choose The World You Want” online festival to spotlight why farmers overseas need cash to fight the ever-increasing threat of climate crisis. Fairtrade’s Choose the World You Want Festival will return for a second year for Fairtrade Fortnight 2022 (February 21– March 6).

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