Peter Stewart

And out of the darkness eventually came some light. One biographer wrote, Palmer withdrew into the peaceful world of his study, and he was there amid loved books and artistic treasures, amid prayers and meditations and rambling memories, that he rediscovered a lost vision.

It might not have been as fervid as it had been in Shoreham near Sevenoaks before, but during the Furze Hill exile of the final part of Palmer's life, he worked on the finest pictures he had created since his youth. And those were created right here locally.

Another commentator saying that his final two decades represented a distillation of everything that had come before in terms of both subject and style. His painting Going to Evening Church was done here. It's now in the Tate, although the cornfields and the church seem to be an invented idyll.

It was at Furze Hill that Palmer, in 1872, drew a pen and ink sketch simply titled Red Hill, although there are no distinguishing features that help us pinpoint the location today more than 150 years later. But it's a work called The Lonely Tower that's of most interest to us and it's one that you need to see because it's a view that you know.

It was engraved in 1879 and was taken from an earlier watercolour and is said to be his etching masterpiece and unusually the principal feature of the landscape was not only a particular place but one which he could see in the distance from his studio. in Furze Hill House, and it was very close to the farm where his son Thomas is buried.

Indeed, the sky in The Lonely Tower has the great bear star constellation as it was on the night that his son died, and as he, Samuel, looked skyward in grief. On the right-hand side of the picture is a flock of sheep overlooked by two shepherds. On the left, there's a wagner with his ox cart negotiating a narrow stone-built path. A barn owl flies overhead.

There's a crescent moon low down in the centre of the picture, with the lonely tower lit from the inside through one window, standing on a high bank to the left of the etching. And it's suggested that that tower is Leith Hill Tower, the folly built in 1765. It would be clearly seen from Red Hill without the present-day tree cover, especially as Palmer's House also was on a hill.

It's such an atmospheric and haunting picture, the Irish poet W.B. Yeats referred to the work in his poem Phases of the Moon. And from that etching, several similar watercolours were created, which are in galleries around the world. The original is held in storage at the V&A. Samuel Palmer died in Redhill in 1881 at the age of 76.

His father-in-law and mentor, John Linnell, died just six months later. Samuel's wife, Hannah, died 12 years later, and the two are together in the cemetery at St Mary's in Reigate. OK, so you probably think the story is over. The pictures and etchings have been done. They're in safe storage or on display at various galleries around the world. But next week, the story continues.

How a vindictive relative nearly destroyed all evidence of Samuel Palmer's work. and how that led to a massive fraud over what he had completed. Plus, where Samuel lived locally, and how we remember him to this day, without perhaps realising. And there's a display of Samuel Palmer's work at Adams Gallery in Reigate from September the 19th.

Let's jump straight forward to Tuesday the 10th of September and the Growing Health team together inviting people living and working in communities across East Surrey to get together to create conditions in which everyone's health and wellbeing can flourish. Can't say fairer than that. While the health service is vitally important, it largely focuses on doing the repairs.

So this particular group builds the conditions for health and well-being together in communities. So can you get involved? The next meeting, Hawley, Tuesday the 10th, 9.30 to 11 at Hawley Community Centre at Regent House on Albert Road. More details, neighbourhoods.eastsurrey at nhs.net. The Archway Theatre presents Terry Pratchett's Lords and Ladies.

Following on from their sell-out production of Weird Sisters by Terry last year, they present the further adventures of Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Og and Margaret Garlic. Mysterious crop circles are appearing all over the kingdom. and this can mean only one thing. The lords and ladies are back, and they're distinctly not fluttery and twinkly. It's up to the weird sisters to sort it all out.

Throw in a moody teenage wannabe witch, some rude mechanicals and a couple of wizards, not to mention a very distinctive librarian... You've got a recipe for much hilarity mingled with Pratchett's very own profound philosophical observation. So five performances, 7.45 between the 10th and the 14th of September, plus a matinee on Saturday the 14th at 2 o'clock.

And the Planet Reigate podcast is proud to be official media partners with the Archway Theatre Hawley. For more information and booking details, go to archwaytheatre.com or phone 0333 666 3366. Friday the 13th of September, Betchworth. It's a lovely walk around the fields, the countryside and the golf course across Betchworth and Brockham.

07940 508 443.

That's a bit better, isn't it? And next Saturday, it's a Rygate Caves Open Day on the 14th. And also, you're invited to join Picnic in the Park. Yeah, this is happening in Charlewood. Get ready to soak up the sun and relish the joy of the great outdoors. Come one, come all, they say. Join us for an unforgettable picnic experience. They say we can't wait to share this wonderful day with you.

Game stations will be set up for everyone to use. Mini football matches, beat the goalie, bring a blanket, bring a chair, pack a picnic for all to share. That rhymes. Pitch a gazebo and chill the beers. Let's all play games, sing and cheer. Event organised by Chulwood Community Volunteers. It's at Chulwood Rec on the 14th. So pop down there and take part in that.

Don't actually have a time for this, but as it's a picnic, well, it's not going to be first. It's not going to be at 7am, is it? It's going to be lunchtime and into mid-afternoon, I should imagine. Nutfield Gardening Society have their autumn show at Nutfield Village Hall. That opens at 9am for exhibitors.

Exhibits to be staged by 10.30 open to the public at 2.30 with a raffle and prize giving at 4.30 and we wish them every success for that event there. Well, did you hear that it is our very first birthday? Yeah, it's episode 52 and it's our anniversary edition. I mean, just looking back at the last year, it's been quite a roller coaster.