Newsletter - Wed 30 Apr, 2025
By David Grantham
Athletes, sports clubs and volunteers were honoured at the annual Reigate & Banstead Sports Awards earlier this month. More below.
The beacon in Priory Park, Reigate, will be lit to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May (exact timing yet to be published). It’s one of a number of civic events planned by the borough council, who have also said they want to pay tribute to the men and women who helped defend the nation. More from the borough council here (Opens in a new window).
Reigate fire station, off Croydon Road, has been demolished as part of a major upgrade project (Opens in a new window). Crews have been relocated elsewhere on site. Sharing a video (Opens in a new window), Surrey Fire & Rescue said: “We are pleased to share this significant step in our Reigate Fire Station rebuild project with you. The fire station, which was initially built in the 1950s, has now been demolished. We look forward to sharing more updates as the rebuild progresses throughout 2025 and some of 2026.”
A direct rail link between Redhill and north of England is being proposed (Opens in a new window) by Arriva Grand Central. The company has made an open access bid to the Office of Rail and Road for five trains a day between Brighton and Newcastle with stops including Gatwick, Redhill and Guildford. Services, which would be routed via the Midlands, could start from December next year. Gatwick Airport has welcomed the bid.
The Archway Theatre’s latest production, Clue: On Stage, gets under way this week. “Just like the film, this is a fast-paced comedy, in which the audience meets the same classic characters (Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, etc),” says the Horley-based theatre (Opens in a new window). Performances run 30 April - 10 May.
Graffiti appeared in the new playground at Merstham Rec, prompting Reigate & Banstead to ask (Opens in a new window), on 17 April, for anyone with information to get in touch (Opens in a new window). The council has also been posting pictures of the wider project (Opens in a new window) to upgrade Merstham Rec, including the new parkour course, with the opening date expected to be announced shortly.
Surrey County Council’s Warm Welcome initiative supported more than 65,000 residents this winter (Opens in a new window), offering free hot drinks, winter essentials, energy advice, and social activities across 80 community venues. Surrey says that the scheme, now in its third year, helped tackle isolation and hardship, fostering community spirit. Support continues year-round at many venues.
Families have been reimbursed a total of £27,000 by Surrey County Council for private educational psychologists they used in 2023-24 to help create education health and care plans, during a shortage of professionals. More from Chris Caulfield, Local Democracy Reporter, here. (Opens in a new window)
A by-election takes place on Thursday (1 May), in the Surrey County Council division of Nork & Tattenhams. Candidates from the Conservatives, Greens, Labour, Lib Dems, Nork & Tattenhams Residents, and Reform UK are all contesting the seat. More from Chris Caulfield, Local Democracy Reporter, here (Opens in a new window).
Lyme disease can be contracted anywhere in the UK, but the south of England is one of the areas where it’s more common, Surrey County Council has recently been reminding residents. Information on the disease and dealing with ticks, including prevention, is here (Opens in a new window).
Local sporting heroes celebrated
Winners in eleven categories were celebrated this month at the annual Reigate & Banstead Sports Awards 2025, held at the Reigate Manor hotel.
The annual awards highlight the achievements of athletes, coaches, volunteers and clubs from across the borough. More than 150 nominations were received.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council has listed the winners and some of their achievements:
Changing Lives Award – Jerry O’Leary, Redhill Football Club ("transforming lives through football by running free community sessions in Redhill and Whitebushes")
Club of the Year – Old Reigatian RFC
Coach of the Year – Sean Reynolds, Fuzion Dojo ("helps his martial arts students discover they can achieve more than they could ever imagine")
Inclusive Sport Award – East Surrey Hawks Football Club ("provide a safe, nurturing and fun environment for disabled children across Surrey to learn football and life skills")
Junior Team of the Year – Banstead Cricket Club Girls U13 team
Senior Citizen – Bill Early, Banstead Cricket Club ("a cricketer continuing to play for a sixth decade")
Sports Person of the Year – Melissa Jones, Max Force Trampolining ("a gymnast competing at a national level")
Team of the Year – Banstead Cricket Club Womens 1st XI
Volunteer of the Year – Tony Stone, Chipstead Football Club ("out in all weathers every Saturday and taking on multiple roles at Chipstead Football Club")
Young Sports Person of the Year – Raegan O’Donnell, Horley United U14 team ("the only female player in her league and has been signed by Brighton & Hove Albion FC")
Young Volunteer of the Year – Aydan Wright, South Park Football Club ("a player and referee who recently stepped up to coach the U15 team at South Park FC")
Speaking shortly after the awards, Cllr Nadean Moses, Reigate & Banstead’s executive member for sustainability and leisure said: “The Sports Awards are about more than competition—they’re about community, commitment, and the power of sport to change lives. Every nominee has played a role in making Reigate & Banstead a healthier, more active place to live. Congratulations to our winners and heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributes to sport in our borough.
“We’re also incredibly grateful to our sponsors for helping make these awards possible. Your support allows us to celebrate the people who give so much to their clubs, teams and communities.”
Winner of the Changing Lives award and chairman of Redhill FC was Jerry O’Leary who runs free community sessions in Redhill and Whitebushes. He said: “This is a team effort and it’s about getting kids playing who might have missed out somewhere along the way. We’ve got kids who’ve never played football before that love coming along – boys and girls, aged nine to 14. They enjoy their camaraderie, the socialisation and are proud that they’ve become part of a club. Sport changes lives and I think kids just want the opportunity to get involved.”
Photos from the event are in a council Flickr album (Opens in a new window), and the Planet Reigate podcast (Opens in a new window) has interviews.
Details about how to nominate for the 2026 awards will be released in the autumn - more information on the awards is here (Opens in a new window).
This year’s awards were supported by a number of local organisations and businesses, including Connick Tree Care, GLL, PM Active, Reigate & Banstead Sports Council, Reigate Priory Cricket Club, RLM Locksmiths, Surrey Playing Fields and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.
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