THE Mayor of Reigate and Banstead has struck the first commemorative medal marking the 150th anniversary of the borough of Redhill and Reigate.

Councillor Lynne Hack visited Pobjoy Mint to create the first of the medals, which will be given to volunteers who organised the celebratory events and some schoolchildren who took part in the festivities.

On September 11, 1863, following a four-year campaign by residents, Queen Victoria signed a Royal Charter to create a municipal borough of Redhill and Reigate.

For the first time, this placed responsibility for the administration of the area into the hands of an elected council which was the forerunner of today's Reigate and Banstead Borough Council.

Last Tuesday, Cllr Hack struck the first medal at the mint in Bonsor Drive, Kingswood, from a design used to mark the borough's 50th anniversary in 1913.

Geraldine Herneman, from Pobjoy Mint, said: "A hundred years on, it seemed appropriate to resurrect such a commemorate token and Pobjoy Mint was pleased to be able to strike these medals to mark this anniversary."

She added: "The Pobjoy Mint was pleased to gift the medals to the council as it is based in the borough and wanted to show its support for the celebration."

The design on the medal features the borough's coat of arms on one side – a tree and Reigate castle– with a commemorative inscription on the other.

Last year a series of events, including a Victorian market and the creation of a floral arch, were held to mark the anniversary.

Several hundred medals are being produced but the final number has not been decided.

MODEL mutts strutted their stuff on a specially created "dogwalk" for a charity fashion show with a difference.

United Colors of Benetton staff held a special show of canine couture at the brand's Reigate High Street store last Wednesday.

The dual-purpose event – which featured 12 four-legged models – was to raise funds for animal charity RSPCA and to launch the store's new dog clothing line.

On top of the traditional T-shirts and jackets, United Colors of Benetton now offers jackets and tops for small dogs which want to dress to the nines and avoid the cold.

Cara Felstead, of the store, said: "The idea for the show came from my manager and when she suggested it, we all just said 'That's amazing. How have we never done that before?'

"It just made sense because we are all dog lovers in this shop and Reigate is such a popular place for dog lovers and dog walkers.

"It was something nice for the dogs and helped raise money for the RSPCA."

While some of the models belonged to regular customers of the store, others arrived just to take part.

Shop staff had been handing out flyers for a couple of weeks before the show and visited local vets to recruit interested dogs and their owners.

Cara added: "People came in to the shop to see what the show was all about in the weeks running up to the event and thankfully they all turned up on the night too.

"It was quite a full shop, which is a good thing, and there was a real family feel about it. People turned up with their kids to watch, which was lovely."

A special "dogwalk" was set up down the middle of the shop for the evening and the pooches were pampered and dressed before strutting their stuff in some of the store's latest designs.

The final fundraising total, which will all go to help the RSPCA's work with animals, had not been calculated when the Mirror went to press.

REIGATE Squash Club recently travelled to Valetta, Malta with a six-strong side to compete in a return fixture against the island's premier squash team hosted at the Marsa Sports Club.

The Reigate touring team was led by first team captain Richard Campbell, a former Scotland national player, and included both the men's and ladies recently crowned club champions and Reigate Surrey Cup team players Clare Wright and Alex Preston.

On the court the action was fast and hard fought.

The match against the Marsa Club team on the Friday night ended up with Reigate as the winners by 4-2 in matches or by 22-8 in games.

The pick of the matches were the thrilling five-setters involving both Clare Wright and James Howarth from Reigate.

Wright, the Reigate ladies champion and former South East of England player, played against the Maltese national team player Johanna Rizzo.

There was little between the two players but at the critical moments of the match Rizzo raised her game to win 14-12.

James Howarth, Reigate Veterans champion, and Paul Borg faced each other again.

There was nothing between the two of them once again and it came as no surprise when they went into the fifth game at two games each.

This time, however, with the home crowd behind her and the home advantage Borg managed to come through to take their match 3-2.

The Saturday was another full afternoon of squash. The round-robin format meant that everyone had five matches and Alex Preston of Reigate eventually emerged as the winner and was the recipient of a bottle of the finest Maltese wine.

DAN NEWTON believes Banstead will need to work on not surrendering their wickets so cheaply after a weather-affected defeat to Sunbury on Saturday.

Sunbury, always one of the Premier Division's stronger sides, won the toss and put the Rams in to bat.

And it proved to be a good decision with the in-form Kevin Smith removing openers Jon Gunasekera and Bertie Blackwell to leave the home side at 11-2.

Billy Yeats and overseas debutant Uwe Birkenstock saved the Rams innings with 22 and 38 runs respectively, with them eventually recording 136 all out.

Banstead were unable to make a dent in Sunbury's batting, losing when the rain returned on Duckworth-Lewis with the visitors at 100-1 after 21 overs.

And skipper Newton believes losing wickets at difficult times cost his side.

"I thought after Billy Yeats and Uwe Birkenstock did so well that we might get nearer the 200-mark but they bowled well, especially Kevin Smith," Newton, who is currently out injured, said.

"We lost wickets at difficult times in the game; every time we had a break for rain or tea we seemed to lose a wicket directly after which didn't help.

"Sunbury are a strong side so it wasn't the easiest of opening matches; I think they will be strong contenders for the title again this season."

Although Newton does not expect to be back in action for a number of weeks yet, Banstead will be bolstered by the return of opening batsman Josh Lawrence and bowler, and middle order batsman, Aman Shinwari.

"Aman has just come back from Afghanistan where he's hoping to make it into their national side," Newton explained. "He played for us last season as well as playing some second team cricket for Surrey."

Banstead travel to Guildford on Saturday and Newton is looking for a little more "intensity" from his side.

"Guildford is a nice ground and a team we enjoy playing against," the skipper said. "I think we need to look at looking after our wicket a little better but also a bit more intensity in our play."

LAST weekend Reigate Priory Lawn Tennis Club hosted the finals of their annual veteran's tennis event with Bill Austin winning all three of his finals with some fine attacking play.

In the men's event he defeated Duncan Tullis 6-2, 6-3, in the men's doubles he teamed up with Roger Beer to defeat Andrew Sanders and Ray Goodfellow 6-3, 7-5, and finally in the mixed doubles, with partner Lucy Hamilton, came through 6-1, 6-4 against Duncan Tullis and Elaine Hargreaves.

One of the stand out matches of the day was Karen Tee's win over Hargreaves in the ladies singles. With every game hard fought, Tee's strong defensive play brought her a 6-4, 6-3 win. Prizes were presented by the club chairman Hywel Hughes.

On Sunday, June 1, the club will welcome back two Davis Club players to run a coaching 'tennis circus' day. For details visit www.rpltc.co.uk

Results:

Men's singles Bill Austin beat Duncan Tullis 6-2, 6-3.

Ladies' singles Karen Tee beat Elaine Hargreaves 6-4, 6-3.

Men's doubles Bill Austin and Roger Beer beat Andrew Sanders and Ray Goodfellow 6-3, 7-5.

Ladies' doubles Elaine Hargreaves and Lucy Hamilton beat Karen Tee and Ann Walling 6-1, 6-4.

Mixed doubles Bill Austin and Lucy Hamilton beat Duncan Tullis and Elaine Hargreaves 6-1, 6-4.

A "CHEEKY" great, great grandfather who lived through two world wars has celebrated his 104th birthday.

Bill Marsden, who lives at Abbeyfield House, in Reigate, put his long life down to "keeping busy".

He spent two decades travelling the world in a camper van until he turned 90, and is still able to walk unaided, read without glasses and spin a good yarn.

He was born in 1910 in Manchester, where he worked as a lorry driver before serving in the Second World War, driving Army trucks in North Africa and Italy.

House manager Elizabeth Chase said: "A chap he was with in Italy was a Catholic and he wanted to go to the Vatican.

"Apparently they met the Pope and Bill kissed the Pope's ring. The Pope blessed him and told him he would live to 102."

Mr Marsden's wife Margaret died when he was 70, so he decided to buy a camper van and travel around Europe, living out of it.

Mr Marsden said: "There were some lovely spots, they were some exciting times living by yourself in a small caravan.

"I would toss a penny to decide which way I would go."

Ms Chase added: "He was staying where he turned up, people would chat to him and he'd do jobs for them. He did that for 20 years."

On Friday, he was surrounded by balloons and banners at the residential home in Somers Road. He opened presents – mainly sweets which he would give to his carers – and enjoyed a lunch with fellow residents.

In the evening, Mr Marsden celebrated with his family with a birthday buffet.

Ms Chase said: "He's quite cheeky, he just loves company, loves to talk and loves to be centre of attention.

"His memory is wonderful. He's amazing, I don't know what his secret is."

EMOTIONAL tributes have been left by the roadside where a motorcyclist was killed.

The man in his 40s – who is named in the tributes as Kevin – was declared dead at the scene of a collision with a car on Bank Holiday Monday.

Now flowers adorn a signpost and road sign at the junction of Reigate Road and Deerings Road, in Reigate, where paramedics fought for 45 minutes to save the man's life.

Family members appear to have visited the site to pay tribute.

One card attached to a bunch of flowers said: "From your broken hearted mum Jean. Gonna miss you so much."

Emergency Services shut off the roads surrounding Reigate Grammar School for more than five hours following the tragic incident at 3.45pm on May 5.

The passenger on the bike – a woman in her 40s – was flung across the road and taken to hospital. She was released the next day.

Police are still urging witnesses or anyone who can help with the investigation to contact them. Call Surrey Police on 101.

The man has not yet been formally identified.

TELEVISION stars Adrian Chiles and Anton Du Beke will help launch the town's new café today (Thursday).

Beryl and Pegs, in Holmesdale Road, opposite Reigate railway station, is opening for a special launch event ahead of its full opening tomorrow.

Strictly Come Dancing star Mr Du Beke and Mr Chiles, who presents football coverage on ITV Sport, will be at the café to meet new patrons.

The new venture, which is the brainchild of long-standing friends Lesley Haylock and Debbie Davis, will open today from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. From tomorrow it will be open from 6.30am to 5pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm on weekends.

MANY residents are opposing later opening times at a once-notorious pub – although the current landlord insists he is a victim of its past.

Two years ago, a police dossier revealed drug-dealing, drunken fights, late-night noise and vandalism at the Village Inn – formerly the Caterham Arms – in Coulsdon Road, Caterham.

This prompted Tandridge District Council to impose stringent conditions on the pub, including closing at 11pm nightly instead of 1am, installing CCTV cameras, compiling incident logs and displaying "zero tolerance drug policy" signs.

Gerry Bohan took over the pub – since renamed the Caterham Arms – last summer, and has tried to transform the place.

In addition to a £120,000 makeover, he has removed the pool tables, introduced a mums and toddlers' club on some weekdays, and divided the pub into two bars. But his bid this month to keep it open until midnight has run into opposition.

Colin Jackson, who lives in Coulsdon Road, said: "I applaud what the landlord has done to the place but we can't go back to the bad old days again. The depth of feeling locally is very strong."

Another complainant, who asked not be named, said that although anti-social behaviour had greatly diminished, they did not want a renewed late-night extension in a residential area.

Mr Bohan told the Mirror: "The pub had a chequered past which I am trying to turn around. I'm a victim of what went on before.

"All I'm asking is for opposing residents to see the change here for themselves."

In support, Anita Hill, who lives in Banstead Road, Caterham, said: "The new landlord has spent a lot of money on the place and it looks really nice. I hope residents give him a chance."

And Caterham resident Matthew Baker said: "To say the pub is a different place is an understatement. I would grant the extended licence, and the slightest slip-up I'm sure the police will ask for it to be revoked."

A hearing of the council's licensing committee on Mondaywill decide whether the pub should get the midnight licence.

The meeting is at 2pm at the council's Oxted offices.

RESIDENTS of an exclusive Kingswood estate are squaring up to Middle Eastern royalty over plans to surround houses with fencing and barbed wire.

A row has erupted after mystery buyers swooped in at the eleventh hour and snapped up four multimillion-pound mansions in Kingswood Warren Park, gazumping home-buyers who were close to exchanging contracts.

The elite family believed to be behind the purchase also bought two homes in Beech Drive and the road leading to houses in Hamilton Place, leaving residents who were hoping to own it themselves fuming.

Now the buyers want planning permission to install 6ft fences around the six homes and seal off an access road where neighbours should have right of way.

More than 20 objections have been lodged, with one resident claiming it would create a "stockade-style enclosure".

Janine Connick, secretary of Hamilton Place Residents' Association, who understands the newcomers are Middle Eastern with royal connections and want the homes for the Epsom Derby, said: "The worst part is it's such a lovely setting and they just want to cut it in half. It's not what was intended for Kingswood Warren. If that was to happen it would be a crying shame."

Fences and barbed wire have already been installed without planning permission, while approval is also sought to take down the internal timber fencing between the cluster of houses.

Mrs Connick said: "The issue is they think they could do what they like, there's no decency about it."

Jacky Saunders, an intermediary for the buyers, described the residents as "small-minded".

"I'm really surprised they have acted like this," she said. "It's jealousy that we bought six houses. I expected them to be kind greeting us, not this."

She added she would not have bought the road had she known developers Octagon were in negotiations to transfer it to the residents.

She said: "The money was not much, I just thought I would buy it. If I knew they were in negotiations with the residents I assure you I would not have bought it. The issue is not mine."

On the planning permission issue, she told the Mirror: "I was told by the council anything below two metres doesn't need planning permission. I will not do anything without the council's consent, I will improve on the area, I assure you I'm going to be a good resident."

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's development quality manager Kelvin Hinton said: "We have received an application which is under consideration and some revisions are expected.

"We can confirm that some works commenced in advance of the application being considered but ceased on our instruction."

The authority will decide whether to grant permission by May 23.

Octagon had not commented when the Mirror went to press.

SKIPPER Neil Saker was pleased with Reigate Priory's "strength in depth" after securing an opening weekend win against Premier Division new boys Leatherhead.

Saker lost the toss and the Llamas were put in to bat, which seemed to be a good decision with Andy Delmont, Chris Murtagh, Craig Cachopa and Henry Tye all being dismissed before making double figures.

Opener Richie Oliver notched 53 but it was the lower order, including a 34 from the skipper, that rescued Priory.

"We didn't know much about Leatherhead apart from they had Shaun Udal, who played for Hampshire and England," Saker explained. "We got off to a slow start. Richie Oliver played well, but other than that the top order didn't fire. I think it showed strength in depth; when the top order don't fire then the lower order can.

"We responded well; I was pleased with our 194 and then we bowled fantastically."

Last season a poor series of results in the middle of the campaign cost the Llamas a shot at the Premier Division title, but Saker is hoping to be challenging until the final game this time.

"I don't like to set goals for myself or the team," Saker said. "We have a couple of new players and sometimes it takes a while for everyone to gel, but we also have a lot of good friends among our group so I hope it happens for us.

"Really, this season I just want us to be in the competition for the title until the last week. I want us to be in with a sniff, in with a shout, until the last game if we don't win the title.

"Like Liverpool, but without choking towards the end."