Page 14 - Oxted Local May 2025

14 May 2025
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Oxted Local 
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Surrey Day 2025: Celebrating Oxted
and Limpsfield’s Wartime History
Surrey Day returns on Saturday 10
May, celebrating the rich heritage,
culture and beauty of our wooded
county. Now in its seventh year,
this edition coincides with the 80th
anniversary of VE Day, focusing on
Surrey’s role in World War II.
Oxted and Limpsfield played a
vital part in the war effort. The
Canadian Air Force was stationed
locally, with a secret airstrip hidden
behind Park Road, and road signs
were removed to confuse potential
invaders.
The area was surrounded by three
RAF bases and even witnessed a
Messerschmitt being shot down
over the Common. Limpsfield
Chart was home to a POW camp,
and the WW2 air raid shelters at
Grub Street remain well preserved.
One of the most remarkable local
stories is that of Diana Rowden,
a former Manor House School
pupil who served as a Special
Operations Executive agent and
gave her life for her country in
1944.
To mark the occasion, Visit
Surrey has recorded a special
podcast with the Friends of
Limpsfield Common – National
Trust guardians of the air raid
shelters – which will be broadcast
on BBC Radio Surrey and podcast
platforms on Surrey Day. The
shelters themselves will be
open to visitors on 10 May from
2–5pm (pre-booking required via
Eventbrite).
If you miss this date, there’s
another open day on 20 July.
Surrey Day
celebrations
in Limpsfield
will continue
through the
afternoon with
live music and
entertainment
at The Bull Inn
– featuring Kylie
Dyson and The
Dockyard Dogs –
and at Limpsfield
Royal British
Legion Club next
to the Air Raid
Shelters. The
flags will be flying
in the village and
on the Chart too
and Titsey are
doing another
special Beer &
Ride event (see
their website for
details)
Surrey Day in
Oxted town centre
The flags will be up, the VE DAY
lamppost discs too and we will get
to enjoy performances from 12pm
including a live cross with BBC
Surrey and The Oxted Band on
Station Road East at 12.10, Sing It
Out on Station Road West at 1pm,
the fabulous local Rock Choir at
2.30 on Station Road East, and Ms
Molly Moonshine
on Station Road West at 3pm.
In collaboration with Classic Car
Connections, a convoy of vintage
vehicles will also be stationed in
Oxted town centre and will then
leave at 3pm, passing through
Limpsfield to arrive at the
Royal British Legion at 3pm (or
thereabouts!).
Don’t miss – Oxted Royal British
Legion VE Day party with Surrey
Jive on Saturday 3 May. 7pm.
It’s going to be a fabulous day
so please make sure you come
out and enjoy all the local
entertainment and activities.
More info on @limpsfieldsurrey
and @loveoxted socials.
By Sophie Martin
Image: Peter Wade and Martin Edser