PAINTINGS by Surrey artists winged their way across the Atlantic as part of a unique Town Twinning celebration in Runnymede.

A HOTEL chain has employed Olympic hopefuls as part of a new scheme to help athletes balance work and training schedules.

Former child soldiers from Uganda will be visiting Sunbury at the end of November to perform a play based on their experiences.

Sunbury Page 3 girl Rosie Jones has launched a new calendar as the face of BigD nuts.

WEARING flares and bondage trousers was the fate of a nationally-renowned former music dealer when he was filmed for a retro TV series.

David Lashmar turned the clock back four decades in Turn Back Time – The High Street.

A six-part weekly BBC1 series starting next month.

His episode, to be screened on December 7, shows him running a 1970s record store, which has been re-created in precise period detail.

David not only had to dress the part, but his whole stock was vinyl records and cassettes, featuring the likes of iconic bands from the decade, including T Rex and the Sex Pistols, with glam rock and punk posters adorning the walls.

And, of course, being in the 70s, he had no mobile phone or e-mail to make his life easier.

The whole series was based in a handful of deserted shops in the Somerset town of Shepton Mallet.

Mr Lashmar, of Salmons Lane, Whyteleafe, ran Beanos record store in Croydon for more than 30 years.

But his business, whose customers included legendary DJ John Peel and The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, bit the dust two years ago as downloading ruined the second-hand record trade.

He said: "The whole experience was absolutely brilliant.

"I was totally immersed in the decade – it's a clever idea.

"It certainly brought back many memories of my shop's heyday.

"At one stage the TV producers got me with green hair to help re-create the punk experience.

"To make it more realistic, they cut off my electricity a few times to resemble the miners' strike and made me use a water standpipe because of the 1976 drought."

Mr Lashmar, whose vintage music expertise has led to him featuring as an expert on Antiques Roadshow, recalled: "I used to go buying records all over England and western Europe, but it stopped being fun towards the end. Downloading took over very quickly.

"I was on a train the other day and 50 per cent of the passengers had music headphones on."

One of his coups at Beanos was selling a rare version of The Sex Pistols' God Save The Queen for £12,000 – only 200 were produced on the A&M record label.

The producers of Turn Back Time also made other nostalgia-related series, including Who Do You Think You Are? and Edwardian House.

Other professions featured in the programmes include a butcher and a grocer, also in a yesteryear setting.

Uma Dhir, Miss Surrey from 2009-10:

Mr Postman – The Carpenters

Man In the Mirror _ Michael Jackson

Back For Good – Take That

Fanny Maiklem, owner of Fanny's Farm Shop:

Sailing – Rod Stewart

I've Got A Brand New Combine Harvester – The Wurzels

Lady In Red – Chris De Burgh

Peter Ainsworth, former East Surrey MP:

Elgar's Violin Concerto, performed by Yehudi Menuhin

Part of the Union – The Strawbs

She Loves You – The Beatles

Gordon Keymer, leader of Tandridge District Council:

Haydn's Trumpet Concerto

She Loves You – The Beatles

Elgar's Cello Concerto

A GROUP of women have stripped off for a charity calendar.

The Brockham Belles were inspired by the loss of their friend Louise Francis, who died this year at the age of 43 after a five-year fight with breast cancer.

A committee was formed with the idea of shooting photos, inspired by the 2003 film Calendar Girls, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Cathy Bushe, who organised the project, said: "Louise was a vibrant and caring woman, always doing things for charity and other people and would love the idea of the calendar.

"We have been overwhelmed by the level of support we have received from so many people. The enthusiasm has really spurred us on.

"Cancer is such a cruel illness, and our project has touched the hearts of lots of people for lots of different reasons. This has become a real community project."

More than 40 people volunteered to pose for the calendar, which will be on sale from local stores from the beginning of November for a £10 donation.

"It has been hugely fun," Mrs Bushe said. "We have had so many laughs along the way. People have just said how much fun it has been.

"It has been a real bonding time, even for people who didn't really know each other."

A launch party will be held on Sunday. For more information, or to order a calendar, contact Cathy Bushe at cathy@bushe.fsnet.co.uk or call 01737 843133.

A NIGERIAN "megachurch" leader visited Leatherhead for a day of seminars and an evening of worship.

Dr William Kumuyi, who claims he preaches to audiences of more than 100,000 in Nigeria, spoke to a handful of people at Leatherhead Theatre.

But the former maths lecturer and founder and general superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church relished the opportunity to spread the word to a smaller crowd.

He said: "What we hope to achieve is to interact with people and tell them we have found what God can do in our lives and then present it to other people.

"We are here sharing, hearing from others and benefiting from their experience and sharing what we have discovered."

Dr Kumuyi attended a series of seminars at the United Reformed Church in Leatherhead before heading to the theatre in the evening to share his views.

"We believe God can answer prayers and work miracles in our lives," he said.

Friday's event was organised by leader of Pioneer Engage Church in Leatherhead Gerald Coates. Dr Kumuyi met Mr Coates when he was invited to speak at a Deeper Life Church conference in London.

A CONVICTED criminal has been ordered to repay tens of thousands of pounds.

Ashley Bonham-Carter, of Highacre in Dorking, was jailed for 18 months in April for illegally obtaining 129 Blackberry phones from mobile phone giant Vodafone.

The unemployed 23-year-old fraudulently used a business account to get his hands on the devices, which he sold for £300 each.

Bonham-Carter went to prison after admitting one count of theft at Guildford Crown Court, following investigations by detectives at Epsom CID.

But Surrey Police have now been granted a Confiscation Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The order, granted on October 11, means Bonham-Carter must pay back a total of £55,419.87.

He was released from prison last Wednesday, having served 77 days in custody while on remand before he was sentenced, and was given seven days to make full payment.

Non-payment could lead to an additional stretch in prison.

Detective Inspector Richard Hamlin, who leads Surrey Police's economic crime unit, said: "This is an excellent outcome that means a convicted criminal cannot profit from the money he made from his illegal activities on his release from prison.

"Surrey Police aims to send out the message to those committing or thinking of getting involved in crime that it does not pay and you will be caught.

"If you profit from crime before you go to prison, you certainly won't once you have been released."

It is believed Bonham-Carter lived a lavish lifestyle before he was caught.

THIS week we report on the peculiar situation at Mole Valley District Council.

The Liberal Democrats' by-election victory over the Conservatives has turned a one-seat deficit into an 18-17 advantage.

The council has six independent members so, just like in May's general election, no party has emerged with an absolute majority.

Unlike May's election, however, it looks like the largest party will not end up in power.

The Lib Dems claim the independents are breaking a promise to support whichever party has the most councillors, instead choosing to assist the Tory minority.

Power in the council is given to an elected leader, who chooses a cabinet from other members.

A simple majority vote can remove the leader but it seems the Lib Dems may have to continue in opposition.

The close balance of power between two main parties and the independents is good for local democracy because it means no one group can force unpopular measures through without gaining support from beyond their own political group.

But surely the party with the most seats should get the first chance to run the council.

After the general election, the Tories and Lib Dems met before other deals were discussed, because David Cameron's party had won the most seats and public opinion said they should have the first chance to form a coalition.

It is not clear how long the Tories will hold out but for now, the minority party is in charge.