IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Beverley Close, ALDERSHOT, GU12 6NP

This roundabout welcomes drivers to Ash, looking from the west. In the centre are a group of standing stones, presumably commemorating something? The Greyhound is a very old timber-framed building and was the first pub in the village. The greyhound name comes from the coat-of-arms of the Gaynesford family of Poyle Manor, to the south not far away.

This is a modern attachment (on the left) to the late 16C timber-framed house, which hides behind a cement-rendered exterior.

There is a much larger modern school building in playing fields behind, but this old building has been retained. The bay windows under the gables are unusual for a school, and must be a modern addition, but the green ventilators on the roofs are typical.

The school is named after The Rev Octavius Walsh. https://archive.org/details/alumnioxonienses04univuoft/page/1492/mode/2up Sadly he died in 1916. Departing this month were Manchester footballing greats Frannie Lee (2nd October 2023) and Bobby Charlton (21st); my absolute favourite cartoonist Tony Husband (18th); Coronation Street's Gordon Clegg and later Everton chairman (23rd) ; and finally, actor Matthew Perry, Chandler from Friends (28th).

Here in Ash where I work there was a lot of mild weather in the first half of the month; but when half term came, as often happens, there was a lot more wind and rain. However, today it was mild enough for me to walk to the shops without a coat

To the left of these cottages was a brewery. The brewery had a large field at the back to grow hops; it is now the site of Walsh Schools. In more recent history, the month saw a horrific attack by Hammas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Hamas_attack_on_Israel which has lead to a massive Israeli counter offensive https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Israel%E2%80%93Hamas_war In the US there were protracted House Speaker elections https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2023_Speaker_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives_election And in the UK there were some jaw dropping revelations at the Covid Enquiry https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67276394

The Bricklayer's Arms to the left was a brewery. It has since been demolished to make way for houses. The brewery had a field at the back to grow hops; there is now a school on the site. Crooke's Cottages were built as staff quarters for the hop pickers.

There are many areas of open water in the Blackwater Valley, and these attract geese (I'm not expert enough to know what species), which can evidently find food in a winter field. Ash Manor Secondary School is in the background. Telephoto used for obvious reasons (especially as I had a dog with me!).