Zac Sherratt

A blue plaque will be unveiled at Fairacre in Haslemere, Surrey, the home where Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond lived for a decade and wrote several Paddington books and original television scripts. The Haslemere Society organized the plaque with the permission of current owners Steph and Neil Stephenson. Bond’s daughter, Karen Jankel, will speak at the ceremony, which marks the earliest eligibility for the plaque following the 2017 death of the author and this year’s centenary of his birth.

Lingfield Fire Station has reopened after a two-year refurbishment that relocated its crew and vehicles to Oxted. The upgraded station includes a second vehicle bay, facilities for handling contaminants, a gym and space for a multi-role vehicle with potential wildfire capability. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer Dan Quin said the improvements were deserved and particularly important during Surrey’s wildfire season. Refurbishment work at Chobham and Reigate fire stations remains ongoing.

Friends and admirers gathered in Guildford and along the streets of Milford to mourn Dame Penelope Keith, who died peacefully at home with cancer on 29 June aged 86. At her funeral in Guildford Cathedral, broadcaster Gyles Brandreth and others remembered the star of The Good Life and To the Manor Born as kind, funny, remarkable and deeply connected to her Surrey community. The service was described as both moving and celebratory, marked by laughter, tears and gratitude.

Friends and members of the public gathered in Guildford and Milford, Surrey, for the funeral of actress Dame Penelope Keith, who died peacefully at home from cancer on 29 June aged 86. The service at Guildford Cathedral was described by attendees, including Gyles Brandreth, Sarah Cliff and Doreen Walford, as deeply moving while also celebrating Keith’s humour, kindness, acting career and strong connection to Surrey.

Students at the University of Surrey express mixed reactions to the opening of the UK's first university‑owned Wetherspoons pub on the Guildford campus. Supporters cite affordability and convenience, while critics question its impact on existing pubs and student nightlife. University leadership frames the new venue as a community space, and Wetherspoons’ CEO welcomes the partnership.

National Highways warns the A3 in Guildford will become unusable within several years without immediate repairs due to rusting metalwork in bridge supports. Weekend closures will allow waterproofing and resurfacing to prevent further deterioration, with diversions routed through central Guildford. The £5m project is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

American mink are threatening native wildlife along the River Mole in Surrey, prompting a coordinated trapping effort led by the Waterlife Recovery Trust with support from local anglers. The invasive species, lacking natural predators in the UK, has contributed to a drastic decline in water voles and other animals. Trapped mink are euthanised, analysed for population data and used to help lure others. Anglers report sightings and help monitor traps as conservation groups work to prevent further ecological damage.

Councillors are set to meet to obtain updates on the new Cranleigh Leisure Centre after project costs rose from £20 million to nearly £36 million. Residents and opposition councillors have raised concerns about delays, parking, construction impacts and access. The current 55‑year‑old centre will be demolished once the new facilities, which include a pool, gym and studios, are completed. Local residents expressed support for the new centre but emphasised the need for adequate parking and timely progress.