By Inspector Maxine Cilia, Spelthorne Borough Commander I write this on one of the saddest days, after the announcement of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. A very poignant mo-ment in history, marking the end of the life of a remarkable wom-an who influenced and touched the hearts of so many. May Her Majesty …
By Nick Pollard The passing of Her Majesty Queen Eliza-beth, so soon after celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, was a shock to us all. As I write this the State funeral is about to take place, and her final journey to Windsor will take her through Spelthorne, along the A30 through Ashford and Staines. Of course, …
The season of mists…… By Rachael Leverton ..and mellow fruitfulness, states the first line of the famous Keats poem. There is something rather lovely about autumn. The days are cooler but often sunny, yet the ground is more moist and so easier to dig. It’s the perfect time of year for gardening. It’s tempting to …
By Monica Jones and Nycki Day Following the fantastic jubilee event on Orchard Meadow in June, Nycki Day wrote to the Queen. Nycki is Joint District Commissioner for Sunbury Girlguiding and along with Isobel Parr (the other District Commissioner for Sunbury) had attended the committee meet-ings for the event , and ran a craft and …
…And you might need Surplus to Supper…. By Monica Jones With the cost of living escalating and many struggling to make ends meet, the Surplus to Supper weekend shop will be a life saver. Open to anyone, you can get a couple of bags of shopping and make a suggested donation of around £10 for …
I don’t need to tell you that money is tight for many of us these days. Charitable donations may be just one step too far in your monthly budgeting.But what if you could make donations without it costing you a penny? Easyfundraising is an app which will enable you to do just that! Once you …
By Monica Jones We reported some months ago about increas-ing concern and frustration regarding speed-ing vehicles along Thames Street. Over 300 signatures were added to the original petition to get better speed management in place along the road. Surrey County Councillor Buddhi Weerasinghe is very supportive. He told us “Over the last few months, I …
Rory Edwards is a local parent, teacher of 29 years and a school governor. He offers us an insight into certain dilemmas parents might face throughout the school year. A recent report* I saw said that 1 in 6 children in 2021 had mental health issues. This is a 50% increase from the 1 in …
By Bill Cunningham In life we have to trust something and someone. But who and how and when and what is the challenge, with so much scamming around our ears.We all welcome genuine help with our scarce resources to pay for the cost of just staying safe and well and fed and warm, in the …
By Monica Jones More than ever, we are talking about the men-opause. For too long, it was one of those TABOO subjects, skirted around, referred to as “the change” in whispered voices. October 18th is World Menopause Day. I bet most of us didn’t know that. I certainly didn’t, until I started researching this piece.We …
Springfield Primary School has achieved the Sainsbury Platinum Award, following on from the success of achieving the Gold Mark for the previous five years. The school also retained 3 Star Active Surrey status for sports provision for pupils in Key Stage 1. These achievements recognise how the school has progressed as a centre of excellence …
Thanks to Daphne Clement for these fantastic photos tak-en by her of our dear Queen’s visit to Sunbury in 2001. She and husband Roger Clement were among the guests, and as you can see, she most definitely got close!Next time you stand next to one of the embroideries at the Walled Garden, you can think. …
Many Congratulations to April and George Rushbrook, who celebrate their 70th Wedding Anniversary on 4th October 2022. They are pictured, right, as they are today, and below, a slightly younger version!April and George became resident in Sunbury in 1982 when George, a Senior Police Officer in the Metropolitan Police retired.They enthusiastically embraced the community, April …
I write this on the day of the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll, having just returned from Runnymede seeing her on her last journey. Viewing her statue in the Pleasure Grounds there, the sight of the ‘Gloriana’ Royal Barge and the meads of Runnymede, with their Magna Carta and Kennedy Memorials, made me …
By Monica Jones If you were in Shepperton one Saturday in late August, you might well have heard funky music. You might also have seen some of the locals swap usual day wear for flower bands, gaudy dresses and snazzy trousers. And you might have wondered what on earth was go-ing on! Those in the …
Laughing Stock; Music festival raises funds for dignity in dying Read More »
By Inspector Maxine Cilia, Spelthorne Borough Commander I hope your summer has been enjoyable and you have coped with the very hot days and dry gardens. Spelthorne is seeing a rise in the theft of moped scooters, and with youths riding them with no headwear other than a balaclava. Not only is this dan-gerous for …
Strawberry Hill House and garden has been open to visitors for over 250 years. If you have not yet discovered it, I urge you to go. Created by renowned writer Horace Walpole (1717-1797), Straw-berry Hill is internationally famous as Britain’s finest example of domestic Georgian Gothic revival architecture. Strawberry Hill’s 18th-century garden is one of …
 Strawberry Hill House, Gardens and Flower Show Read More »
By Rachael Leverton Pruning Power Pruning is a word which can instil fear into the heart of a novice gardener. I often get asked when to do it; how to do it, and how extensive it should be? Rarely do I get asked WHY do we do it? While a shrub won’t die if it …
By Nick Pollard As I write this the Bull pub, Shepperton Green, lies shuttered and forlorn. It seems that it had come to the end of its lease and this wasn’t renewed. I do hope this is not the end for yet another of Shepperton’s historic pubs, but at the moment it doesn’t look good. …
You may have noticed as you stroll down Thames Street towards Rivermead Island, that the little boat has had a complete makeover. As well as the painting, it has been replanted and a plaque has been fixed to the back of the boat. It was funded by the Lower Sunbury Business Community and Ally Dodds, …
It’s all going on at D’Oyly Carte Island, on the Thames below Shepperton lock. We have already brought you news of the purchase of the historic island and house. Well, life is being breathed back into this magical place and once more you will see that the moor-ings all around the island have been filled …
