Armistice Day 11 Nov 2021

Today after a misty start the sun shone through just in time for us to remember those who had lost their lives at war in the service of their country. Some 40 people gathered at the Tilt in front of the Cobham Heritage Trust memorial to those who lost their lives in the Second World War and at 11.00 the Rev. Dr Mike Branscombe, vicar of St Andrew’s led a short service during which the two minutes silence was observed and the names on the memorial were called out. Wreaths were laid by the Royal British Legion, our councillors and Cobham civic groups.

Those in the photograph are, left to right: Rev Dr Mike Branscombe, Cllrs Alistair Mann and David Lewis, with David Tipping and Sir Gerald Acher vice chairman and chairman respectively of this Trust.

Obituary: David Bellchamber (1948 - 2021)

David Bellchamber, Planning Officer for Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust, and an outstanding community figure, sadly passed away on 29th July 2021.

David was born in Hampshire and raised by his aunt Elsie following the death of his mother. He was a boarder at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Crediton where he became a high achiever, also gaining the original Duke of Edinburgh Award and becoming a Queen’s Scout. He went on to gain a BA (Hons) at the University of Westminster where he captained their Rugby team. Completing his LLB at Guildford he joined a City Law firm and became a partner.

David was a non-believer, but if he had a religion, it would be called ‘the greater good’. In this he was a true believer.

Aged only 30 he suffered with a respiratory illness and was given a prognosis that he would die before he was 45, but despite this he battled on and lived to the age of 73. He moved to a houseboat in East Molesey and became a vegetarian before moving to Walton on Thames. He joined a private Law practice in Elmbridge and became a volunteer Legal Adviser at Citizens Advice. He married and had two sons before later divorcing, marrying Sue, and gaining two stepsons.

In the ‘80’s, he joined the Liberal Democrat Party and regularly ran as a Local Council Candidate. In one year in Weybridge, he was ‘frightened out of his life’ because he almost got in! He played a major role in the Liberal Party gaining a seat in the Cobham & Downside Ward in 2021 – much of his help and support given from his hospital bed.

He became a key figure immersing himself in the community, working tirelessly for the greater good. He loved the environment and was a lead in developing ‘Transition Cobham’, and the ‘Community Garden’ and serving for many years on the Walton Conservation Area Advisory Committee. In 2009 he joined the Cobham Heritage Trust planning team, before becoming Director and Company Secretary of the Community Chatterbus, and Chairman of the Cobham Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Fittingly, for such a community-minded man, he was awarded a Surrey County Council Chairman’s Award in 2019 for his volunteering work.

David Tipping

Can you help us identify the Cobham Home Guard?

Can you help us identify the Cobham Home Guard?

Cobham Home Guard - 6th Surrey September 1944

If you can identify any of the men in the photo, please can you email Joyce Acher at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Your help is greatly appreciated and will contribute to our upcoming book on the Second World War.

Feeding the Ducks in Cobham

Cobham is fortunate to have the river Mole pass close to its High Street and the opportunity it provides to see wildlife close up, especially swans and ducks.

Feeding the ducks is an age-old pastime for families but recent research has concluded that feeding bread (especially in large quantities) is detrimental to the health of the wildfowl. The uneaten bread also affects the river because it goes mouldy and affects fish as well.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Canal and River Trust do not recommend feeding bread to ducks as it’s like feeding them junk food.

What do Ducks Really Like?

• special wild duck food pellets
• sweetcorn (canned, defrosted or fresh)
• lettuce torn into small pieces
• peas (defrosted, no need to cook)
• oats (rolled or instant)
• seeds

Duck Food Now Available in Cobham

If you would like to feed the ducks but don’t have any of their favourite food, Cobham Heritage has partnered with the Princess Alice Hospice Charity to provide individual bags of nutritious duck food. The bags can be purchased at the Princess Alice Hospice Charity shop at 52 High Street (just a short walk, 50 metres away) for a £1 donation per bag. 

We want families to enjoy the river and to feed the ducks but we would like to encourage everyone to feed them good nutritious food.