Sunbury Matters is a free monthly community magazine, launched in November 2011. The magazine is distributed to the Sunbury-on-Thames area every month but every issue is also available to read online right here.
This month we hear from the man who ran The Listeners, a series of concerts from (future) world class musicians in his own home, put on for the visually impaired. Alan Gifford ran the project for some 20 years bringing happiness to so many. We also hear about the 40th anniversary of the Spelthorne Natural History Society and take a look at Open House London attractions not too far from home.
We take a look at the 10th anniversary exhibition of the Embroidery Gallery in Lower Sunbury, looking back to the initial idea for the millennium project through to the design of the gallery and finally the royal opening. We also visit RHS Hampton Court Flower Show and congratulate Squires on 80 years in business and the 80th birthday of Chairman Colin Squire.
In this months issue we look back to a summer unlike this one, where bombs were falling on our area. We should be thankful for peace! We also discover links to the past through some postcards sent during the first world war to a cottage in Shepperton that was moved not once, but twice. We share some of the images from the lovely events to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday with you here too.
In this issue we try to piece together the past again, looking at a boat called the Jane Scott depicted in one of the Sunbury Embroidery panels at the Walled Garden. Why was this boat chosen? Does it still exist? We meet the grand daughter of the man who built it to find out more. We also visit an exhibition showing Heathrow ‘firsts’, at Spelthorne Museum.
In this issue we help someone piece together the past from an old family album and photos from the 1920’s. The result was amazing. We hear about a celebration of 150 years of Sunbury characters to mark the 150th anniversary of the Methodist church in Sunbury. Even Sunbury Matters gets a mention! Congratulations to everyone who won civic awards. We have the list of recipients in this issue.
We look to the river this month again, having visited the Jubilee River, and worry about the effect the River Thames Scheme will have on our communities. We also look to the proposed development on Kempton Park green belt land. When is Green Belt not Green Belt? As magazine publishers we are always interested in how things have been done in the past, so it was with great interest that we have been lent some old community magazines from Kenyngton School in the 1950’s. Fascinating!
In this months issue you can find out about the history of Chertsey Bridge in advance of a talk about Bridges of the Thames. We also meet Tony Kinsey, a jazz legend, who has composed music to celebrate the Millenium Embroidery which celebrates its 10th anniversary.
This month sees two years since the devastating floods of 2014. The front cover was taken at that time and beautiful as the image is, the memories still haunt river dwellers. This month we reconsider dredging and what a difference it would make to our communities. We also have coffee with the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey and hear about Sunbury featuring in literature.
We look at what treasures have been found in the Thames over the years when it was being regularly dredged. Yet another benefit to dredging! We also share the story of a couple of cousins reunited through Sunbury Matters, and finally take a look at the 50 years since the Shahin restaurant opened.
In this months issue we look at the role Middlesex played in growing the fruit and veg needed to feed the growing population of London. We also hear about a ghost story from Battlecrease house in Shepperton.
We revisit the past in this issue. A look at how the Thames was at Shepperton Lock in the 1920’s, a visit to a former holiday home on Wheatley’s Ait in Sunbury where actors and actresses got up to all sorts in the 1920’s.
Sunbury has some famous new comers – Our 6 cows in Sunbury Park have made it onto the ITV News and the Daily Telegraph. Read all about Sunbury Park’s uses through the past century. You will be surprised. You can also find out about the origins of the name Rope Walk, as we explore rope making in the area.
A packed issue this month. Full of history and local stories. I joined St Trinian’s, a long held ambition! We have a look at local houses George Wilson’s boatyard, and Pomfret Cottage both either sold or up for sale. We also congratulate local businesses celebrating milestones this year.
Lots happening in Sunbury in August. How about the new Sunbury Comedy Festival? Or the Regatta of course. We look at the children’s regatta, meet the brain behind the comedy festival and preview the arrival of the Webb Ellis trophy in Sunbury.
As well as taking a look at the recent festivities from an insiders point of view, we visit the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton and hear about their work, this being the month of swan upping again.
A month of celebration and community events coming up. Have you ever wondered what is in the grand building on the Lower Hampton Road? Sunbury Court is the Salvation Army’s International Conference Centre. It is where their ‘General’ is elected every 5 years (the equivalent of electing the Pope in a way).
As well as introducing the 2015 Spelthorne in Bloom, we take a look back at both the Hawke House Estate, launched in 1936 and also the Aircraft Factory on the site of Rossall House, which we looked at in last months issue.
This month we say goodbye to Father Paul of St Mary’s after 10 years. We meet a man who makes his living from cherry juice and who was featured on TV’s Total Wipe Out. Fancy a different look? Get down to Sunbury Antiques Market, buy up some vintage clothing and get a good seamstress to adjust it for you. So on trend!
Sunbury Matters celebrates its 50th issue. We take a look at Thames Street in 1939 and rediscover some of the old shops. We need Brian Alvey, Violin Bow Maker, and we share some tales of Albert Skinner…
This month’s beautiful cover of a Sunbury scene is by local photographer Neil Huntingford. Seasonal and stunning. Inside you will find a shot of how Sunbury’s riverside looked back in the 1950s.
Read about local Doreen Kettle who knits for the dogs of Battersea Dog Home. Meet the ladies of National Womens Register. Hear about the floods through the eyes of a child.
