Sunbury Matters Articles

By Monica Chard  According to the Horticultural Traders Asso-ciation, lockdown spawned an estimated 3 million new gardeners, as many of us started really treasuring outside space that we may previously have taken for granted.  But one local family has been nurturing growers for decades. This year Squire’s celebrate 85 years. The business was started in […]

By Monica Chard  You may have already visited Liquid Leisure in Charlton Village, and had fun in the water. The new attraction was heavily affected by the Covid restrictions of 2020 but managed to welcome some families to at last enjoy a much needed day out of fun and leisure. Over the winter the team

Great news to hear that Old Hallifordian James Woodgate has been selected as one of the six archers that will represent Team GB at the Tokyo Olympic Games.  James Woodgate left Halliford School last year and at just 18 is the youngest member of the archery team to be selected for Tokyo. On leaving Halliford

Thank you to this months contributors. Do send any photos for inclusion in Local Capture to monica@villagematters.co.uk.

There’s been renewed enthusiasm about the idea of a new Royal Britannia in the wake of Prince Philip’s death. He was closely involved in the commissioning and design of the previous royal yacht. In service from 1954 until 1997, the origi-nal Royal Yacht Britannia was the 83rd official royal yacht of a British monarch since

It is wonderful to know that finally brides can get their plans back on track. Wedding venues have opened.  It has been heart breaking that plans have been cancelled or put on hold. We wish all the brides out there good luck.  During lockdown you may also have been spending time researching the big day.

By Sue Endersby  I joined the team of volunteers which is part of the PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Ser-vice) at St Peters Hospital when I saw an ad in this magazine. We help to facilitate com-munication between patients and their rela-tives and friends. This is naturally particular-ly important while you can’t visit because of

Ashford based company, Penrose Group, is taking on a challenge, raising money for both Dramatize and MS-UK.  They are aiming to raise at least £500 to help Dramatize with their work helping adults with learning disabilities and MS-UK in their work helping people with Multiple Sclerosis.  Dramatize, which is also based in Ashford, and only

In the March issue of Sunbury Matters we ran an article on self pub-lishing and from time to time we hear of locals who have done just that. Some have even been taken on by publishers. Lockdown has been a period of creativity for many.  So here we have Mouse Tales, the tale of two

By Nick Pollard  Sunbury was once home to a variety of manufacturing businesses, most of which have disap-peared, along with the jobs they provided for the local population. One of these was known as the Turret Grinding Wheel works, which was located on a site off Fordbridge Road, where there is now a small industrial

As I write this for the June edition more lock down restrictions have been lifted. It is lovely to see that we can visit our locals, out of the rain, go for dinner in the warmth at the local restaurant and visit gyms and cin-emas. However as we all get out more and more, that

Poems in praise of a beautiful place  During lockdown, husband and wife Cyril and Rosemary Lafferty had plenty of time to admire the ever changing view from their living room in Beasley’s Ait, overlooking the Thames. Neither of them had ever written poetry before, but they challenged themselves and each other to try to capture

Sunbury Skiff & Punting Club (SSPC) has found a new home just next door to its previous launch site at Desborough Sailing Club (DSC).  It is a great and exciting move for both clubs.  SSPC were previously leasing land from the owners of Ferris Meadow between DSC and the popular Shepperton open water swimming lake.