Aly Fitch

25/11/2025

Some of bricks to build part of the town have little paw prints in them.

This one is along the alley linking West Street to the Church.

Such a cute addition to the architecture 🐾

24/11/2025

And that’s a wrap.
The last branch standing has just fallen
Castle Street pollarding, 2025.

22/11/2025

35 years ago today, Margaret Thatcher stepped down as Prime Minister.

Her time in office was defined by towering highs and profound lows, reshaping Britain.

I remember that day vividly. Looking around now, it sometimes feels as if we’re navigating the same turbulent waters as back then, with politics as unpredictable, passions as high, and challenges as complex.

Thatcher’s legacy is never simple, but her strength and readiness to make difficult decisions remain a benchmark in British politics today.

20/11/2025

Bit inconsiderate to give them a haircut just as winter sets in!

Tree-shearing work on Castle Street is likely to cause some traffic disturbance, so it’s best to avoid the area if you can.

20/11/2025

Council tax looks set to rise for those living in larger homes in the South. It’s frustrating watching this Government scramble for cash when it’s obvious how much they’re wasting elsewhere.

The South gets targeted again, and money made in the South should stay in the South. Instead, it looks like the extra revenue will end up going to the North and the Midlands

Honestly, this Government is pants.

19/11/2025

* Closing on the 31st December *

It would seem Poundland have a closing down sale on.

Such a shame to lose another vital shop in the town.

19/11/2025

The government is considering restricting the right to jury trials to speed up the criminal justice system, but removing this right is neither efficient nor safe.

Jury trials have been a cornerstone of justice in England since the 12th century, when Henry II introduced reforms that replaced ordeals and combat with decisions made by ordinary citizens. For over 800 years, juries have protected people and the rule of law.

The system worked because scrutiny and safeguards were still in place.

Some argue that removing jury trials would speed up the justice system, but the reality is the opposite. Wrongful decisions lead to more appeals, adding more delay and cost, rather than less.

The justice system might need reforming, but dismantling a centuries-old protection is not the answer.
Jury trials must be protected.

16/11/2025

This afternoon popped into Sweet Lizzy’s of Downing Street, and suddenly, I was in W***y Wonka’s Christmas wonderland!

If Christmas had a headquarters, this would be it!

15/11/2025

Laithwaites have officially arrived and taken up base in the old Seven Stars!

Popped in this afternoon and, what an enormous flashback, standing in what used to be the old pub and swigging a drink again!

Laithwaites, as one of the principal sponsors of the light switch-on, I’m sure that, alongside supplying us all with our festive booze, they’ll become a real asset to the town.

So here’s a big warm welcome to Laithwaites

15/11/2025

What a privilege it was to attend the magnificent Venison Dinner at the Bush Hotel last night. The venison was piped in with great ceremony and presented to the Mayor, who graciously accepted his role as Chief Tester. Our town crier also made a fine appearance.

A superb six-course meal followed (and the coffee was the perfect finale).

This event is truly part of our town’s living history, the very first Venison Dinner took place in 1605, making this the 222nd iteration of a tradition that has endured for over four centuries.

Mark your calendars: the date has already been set for next year, 13 November.

A great success as always, and a big thanks to the Venison Committee who bring this annual feast to our tables.

14/11/2025

Happy Birthday to His Majesty King Charles III!

Sending heartfelt wishes for a day filled with happiness, reflection, and the love of family.

Thank you for your steadfast devotion to the country and for continuing to guide us through times of change.

God save our King 👑🤴👑

13/11/2025

I find it extraordinary that politics today can stoop so low. To take a deeply tragic situation and use it as an opportunity to throw political vitriol does nothing to help, it only adds fuel to a fire that should be put out, not kept burning.

What incensed me most about the statement released by the local Lib Dem MP for Woking was that it didn’t focus on how a child had been so severely let down by multiple agencies, but instead fixated on the wage increment of a member of the opposition. Scoring political points from a child’s death really is the lowest of the low, and to centre that around a salary increase is, quite frankly, an insult.

Let Sara Sharif’s deeply sad passing be a moment for change, a moment for unity, compassion, and cooperation between parties to seek the best for their constituents. Not another opportunity for division, finger-pointing, or heartless comparisons that mean very little in the face of such a loss.

Following the conclusion of criminal proceedings in December 2024, a Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR) was progressed in relation to Sara Sharif, with the agreement of the national C…