March 2016 Shepperton Matters by Village Matters

March 2016

Shepperton Town & Green, Littleton, Charlton, Halliford and Laleham

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Matters

Putting Local Business First. Bringing a Community Together

Shepperton

Issue 54

FR EE

01932 771155

Welcome! I spent a wonderful morning at The Greeno a few weeks back. If you have not yet tried this amazing resource on your doorstep there is an open weekend at the start of April. See p37 for details of that. You can also read about my visit to the centre. You might also laugh at my welding experience at the Greeno Shed. It turns out I beat the men to be named Star Welder of the morning, which I think is hilarious! I feel my talents are better used in photography, which is a great love. Shepperton Matters is again sponsoring the Photo competition at the Shepperton Fair. Do take part. We look forward to seeing what talent there is out there. You may have a chance of having your photo on the

March 2016 cover of a future issue….Oh, and there is some decent prize money available too. In case you don’t have the date of the fair it is on June 11th this year. Time flies... Check out the new What’s on section this month, and do keep us updated if you have an event you want listed.

Reader Offers The Bakery Shop - 10% off with voucher inside Village Windows– 20% off repairs The Phoenix - 25% off food in March Grooming Gorgeous - 10% off firsr groom Warm Reflections-10% off 3D pet sculpture Quality Fruit - 10% off fruit & veg Angela Charles Interiors - 10% off in March Lock & Leave - One month free storage Shepperton Cricket Club - £50 off venue hire The Greeno - £5 off hair on April open day

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Contents

Village Matters Ltd

Chertsey Bridge Shepperton Fair Photo competition The Greeno - Lifeline to Many Jazz Legend to Perform Greeno Shed - Job ‘Weld’ Done! Bike Clinic on my Driveway Restaurant Review Friends of Thamesmead Recipe of the Month Organise Your Life Hampton & Kempton Railway 2016 Eco Park - Estate Cars Refused? Charlton Village Residents Shepperton Residents Association Gardening Matters What’s On Community Matters Advertising Rates/Deadlines

Advertising / Editorial : Monica Chard

Telephone: 07979 808991 Email: monica@villagematters.co.uk www.villagematters.co.uk Shepperton Matters is a member of the Village Card scheme

Front Cover: ‘Darrent’ at the Hampton & Kempton Railway. See article inside www.facebook/ Sunbury&SheppertonMatters

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4 6 8 10 12 15 16 23 28 30 32 34 39 42 45 47 48 50

Chertsey Bridge By Nick Pollard The local bridges over the Thames are a vital part of our transport infrastructure, if often the focus of long queues of traffic. Many of them have a long and interesting history, and that between Shepperton and Chertsey is no exception.

A print of Chertsey Bridge dating from 1799, the Middlesex bank with the towpath is on the left. Chertsey Lock had yet to be built. The first bridge was built of timber in 1410 under a license granted by King Henry IV, and maintained afterwards by Chertsey Abbey until the dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. It was continually patched up and rebuilt until 1779, when a decision was taken to replace it in stone. The new bridge was designed by James Paine, who lived at Sayes Court in Addlestone (he also designed bridges at Walton, Richmond and Kew), and a tender of £7,325 from Charles Brown of Richmond was accepted to build the bridge. The keystone was laid by the Duke of Northumberland, Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex, and Lord Onslow, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, on 26th June 1782. When the original five-arch design had been completed, it must have caused no little consternation when it was apparent that it didn’t reach to either bank! It seems incrediPlease mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts

ble that Paine should have made such a basic error, but it cost another £2,800 to extend the bridge by adding another arch on each side. It was finally completed in May 1785, and a stone inscribed ‘BEGUN 1780 FINISHED 1785’ was placed on the upstream side of the bridge. The materials of the old bridge were sold to Paine for £120. The bridge achieved literary fame with a mention in ‘Oliver Twist’ by Charles Dickens (1839), in which Bill Sikes takes an unwilling Oliver on a burglary at Chertsey, and after passing through Sunbury and Shepperton, the pair approach Chertsey Bridge. Sikes drags Oliver off to one side, the boy fearing he is to be drowned, but Sikes’s intention is to spend part of the night in the ruined Black Swan pub (closed in 1816) which once stood on the Shepperton side of the bridge, before continuing on to the house they are to break into. The bridge stills stands virtually unaltered from when it was built over 200 years ago, apart from the added street lights. It was however, extensively restored and strengthened in the 1990s to allow it to cope with the weight of modern motor traffic it was never designed for. Nick Pollard will be telling the story of ‘The Thames Bridges from Staines to Kingston’, at the next meeting of the Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society, at 8pm on Tues. 15th March. The meeting takes place in the theatre of Halliford School, Russell Road, Shepperton. All welcome, admission £2 for non-members of SSLHS.

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Shepperton Fair Photographic Competition £75 prize money per category Shepperton Matters is once again sponsoring the Shepperton Fair Photographic competition. There are several categories to choose from. The Derek Belsey Memorial Trophy awards photos of natural history. Other categories are People, which speaks for itself, and Open, which is a wide variety of subject matters. There are two junior sections: 7-10 years old and 11-17. Remember last year 10 year old Amy HannafordCooper swept the board of the juniors and saw her winning entry on the cover of Shepperton Matters (see right). New this year is a category called Celebrating Shepperton. This can be images representing tomorrow’s history or just seeing Shepperton at it’s best. What judges look for is originality, composition and imagination. You do not need to be a professional to take some excellent photos, so don’t hold back. The competition is open to anyone living within a 3 mile radius of Manor Park, who is not connected to the fair committee or support team and who has no commercial interest in photography either professional or amateur. This year for the first time we welcome digital photos taken on mobiles or tablets, which you can upload directly to the Shepperton Fair website www.shepperton-fair.org. You can also download forms from the site (or pick up in Budgens in due course) and submit the entries personally. With £50 for first place and £25 for runner up in each category why not get your photos

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The Greeno - Lifeline to Many By Monica Chard, Editor It was wet and miserable outside. Inside it was vibrant, happy and fun. The Greeno was positively bustling and was brimming with positivity. I had been invited down to see the new welding in action at the Men in Sheds (see article later in issue). Also to meet Amy, the relatively new hairdresser, and to see the paintings which had been done by Peggy Pickering’s art group to brighten up the walls of the salon. But what I got that wet and miserable morning was so much more. Let’s start with Amy. She took over the salon at the end of last summer. She is a busy lady. She was dealing with three customers when I was with her and a steady stream kept arriving. Many come every week for a wash and blow dry. Some leave partners to the expert care of the Alzheimer’s unit upstairs while they enjoy some pampering. Amy’s cheerful chatter sends clients off home with a boost of positivity. Human interaction is key to staying on track at any time of our lives, but even more important in later years. A survey last year found that one million people aged over 70 and living alone claimed not to have had any contact with another human being for a month. That is truly shocking. Thank goodness for a facility like the Greeno on our doorstep. Amy has a special touch with her clients, making each one feel special and cared for. She works Monday Thursday from 9am-2.30pm. Appointments are advised, but she was take walk in’s if she has a spare moment. There was a bustle in the centre while I was there. One member asked me if he could show me his paintings. David has been coming to the Greeno for 18 months or so and described it somewhat emotionally as his lifeline. It gives him reprieve Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts

from issues in daily life. Members can spend the whole day at the centre. There are keep fit classes, crafts, games, singing and dance. Local Jess Edgar, who has launched drama classes for children, is also offering drama for the older generation. The opportunities seem endless. This particular morning the fitness class was attended also by members of London Irish Rugby Club who had come along to do their bit for the community. They were also interacting with other members as can be seen from the photo! I have never seen an elder scrum before, but I have now! They were clearly loving it.

Racing around the scrum was also Rosy the PAT dog. Pets as Therapy is a well known organisation arranging for suitable animals to visit centres such as the Greeno. Animals bring a smile to people’s faces. Rosy the lab was enjoying chasing a ball around the room (dodging rugby players) and the members were enjoying throwing the ball for this happy pet. There was lots of positivity in this room. Down the corridor, Karen Meers (unmistakably Pat White’s daughter), had finished the exercise class and was now starting on a back and shoulder massage on one of the members. As well as running the fitness classes and gym sessions, she is a trained holistic masseuse and has a steady stream of clients in for full body treatments to just hands and feet. This aids circulation as well as helping with aches and pains, not to mention giving a feeling of well being.

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fun that eating alone at home. There is always room for more members and if you live alone, it would be a shame not to take advantage of this fantastic facility. Membership is only £15 per year. If transport is a problem, then Pat and Vanessa are looking for solutions to help. They are trialling a bus service picking up at Vinter Court, Shepperton Court and the Village Hall between 10-10.30 on a Wednesday and delivering you to the Greeno. Please contact them direct to register your interest in this service, or to find out about joining if you are not already a member. There is no need to be lonely if you live around here.

London Irish players join in keep fit in the hall Karen has achieved great success with some of the stroke patients. One lady was in a wheelchair a year ago, but is now able to walk on her own. The services and care on offer at the Greeno are second to none. Every member is treated as a special person. Staff all give their time and care. Pat and Vanessa are constantly attending to members needs. Often just words of encouragement and interest mean the most. Lunch is served every day to over 40. It means a hearty warm meal taken in company. Much more

The Greeno Centre Glebeland Gardens Shepperton, TW17 Tel 01932 246173

Professional • Reliable • Airport • Local & Long Distances • Email: vacarsbase@gmail.com www.vacars.co.uk Licenced by Spelthorne Borough Council

Thinking of Selling your Stamp Collection? Cut out the commissions and sell direct to the dealer! Home visit valuations. Immediate payment, however large or small. Call 01932 785635 www.jcstamps.co.uk To advertise call Monica on 07979 808991

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Jazz Legend to Perform This year sees a series of events to mark the 10th anniversary of the Embroidery Gallery in Lower Sunbury. I am sure many of you will have visited the gallery and marvelled at the incredible Millenium Embroidery. But most people probably don’t know that the embroidery is celebrated in music. Local resident and jazzman Tony Kinsey was inspired to write a seven part jazz composition when he first saw the embroidery (in fact, wife Pat was one of the many embroiderers). Having lived in Sunbury for close to 50 years, Tony has translated the visuals from the embroidery of the village into music; river life, the pubs and buildings of note all feature. This is the essence of the composition. Tony is not prescriptive about what you should listen out for. As with viewing a piece of art, he would rather the piece was interpreted individually, with the audience finding their own images as they listen to the music. His Embroidery Suite has only been performed once in public and it has never been professionally recorded. On March 11th the piece will be performed again to mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Gallery. The performance will be with Tony’s 16 piece jazz orchestra and will be recorded live. CD’s will then be for sale in the Gallery itself and the memories of our historic little village will be preserved for future generations in both visual and musical form. Tony is said to be one of the most significant and influential personalities in modern British jazz. He was drawn to music when he was only 5, asking his parents for a drum kit for Christmas. His older brother was an accomplished pianist so they enjoyed creating music together. Tony’s parents wanted a good career for their son and facilitated an introduction to a lab where Tony was to be trained as a metallurgical chemist. But science was not where Tony’s heart lay so he packed his drums and headed to Soho where the jazz scene was in its heyday. He worked in various night clubs before being invited to work on the Queen Mary. He did 17 crossings. Britain was still in the grips of rationing, so the unlimited provisions on board were an absolute luxury. The New York jazz scene embraced him, but London was where his heart lay. Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts

Photo Vic Kettle

By Monica Chard, Editor

After leaving the Queen Mary he settled back in London doing studio work and playing in the Soho Jazz clubs. Tony says “When I saw the lights of Soho it was as if the lights went on in my head”. He became a founder member of the John Dankworth Seven leaving after two years because an opportunity came his way to play at the 51 Club, where he eventually took over leadership of the band. It was that band which was invited to take up residency of the Flamingo Club, the premier jazz club at the time. Tony is a modest man. He could wow you by reeling off the names of all the greats he has played with (Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Lena Horne, Oscar Peterson to name a few). Indeed Tony has been referred to as one of Britain’s finest jazz drummers and composers. His career encompasses not just playing jazz, but also as a composer of music in many genres, including works for a full symphony orchestra and chamber groups. His Big Band has been described as world class by Jazz Wise magazine. Tony has also written for many library production albums. His compositions have been used for film, TV and theatre. His achievements and legacies are innumerable. You have the chance to hear his legacy at the public performance and recording of The Embroidery Suite. Don’t hesitate to reserve tickets. I think it will be standing room only! March 11th The Embroidery Suite Sunbury Cricket Club Tickets for sale through the Embroidery Gallery

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Men in Sheds - or Job ‘Weld’ done….. Sparks flew at the Greeno Shed welding workshop recently as welder Dennis Moody from Supercraft Ltd gave one to one tuition to 30 people who attended the morning’s training, including five women. And ‘Star Welder’ was?..Monica Chard from Shepperton Matters indeed! (See right with Dennis) The Greeno Shed has gone from strength to strength since opening last summer and is now the proud owner of a complete set of Mig welding equipment thanks to The Rotary Club of Shepperton, Aurora and by the kind support of Supercraft Ltd from Byfleet. Phil Mackenzie, of the shed was delighted with the response and spoke for many when he said “at my advanced years it’s great that there are still new skills to be learned and this facility be made available to the local Community” The Greeno Shed offers shedders skill-sharing, informal learning, a sense of purpose & achievement, a place of leisure where men come together to work or just drink tea and chat. A great variety of projects has been undertaken to date so if you need help with something just get in touch. The only requirement is that jobs are done in the shed. Reclamation, reuse and restoration feature strongly and whichever activities are pursued the essence of a Shed is not a building, but the network of relationships between the members and the local community For more information on the Men in Sheds project you can have a look on the website: www.menssheds.org.uk The Shed operates under the Greeno centre and as such all Shedders become Greeno members for the cost of £15 per year. This covers the insurance also allows the shedders to use all the other facilities at Greeno, like lunch, teas, coffees, the hairdresser and a chiropodist! For more information please contact the Greeno on 01932246173 or pop in on Monday-Thursday 9-1

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The Bike Clinic on My Driveway By Monica Chard, Editor One of my dear friends had suggested I join her for a charity bike ride in March to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. 40 miles with my old bike seemed like an impossible challenge. I was toying with investing in a new bike when I met husband and wife team Dave and Gwenda, who have recently started a mobile cycle servicing and repairs business. They turned up at my house with the Hinton Cycles van - their workshop on wheels. They have on board every tool and spare part you could possibly need. Dave used to run a bike shop so has lots of experience across all sorts of bikes. He is also fully qualified in road and mountain bike repairs and servicing to Cytech Level 3. But Dave offers something more than just qualifications. Something priceless; Honesty and Integrity. He will appraise a bike and give an honest opinion about what it needs. It may just be a service. In my case there were lots of options to make a huge difference to the bikes performance, including putting an extension to my handlebars to alleviate my cramped riding position which I had always found problematic. Dave will not take on a job if he does not feel the bike is worth doing. But, he tells me, just because a bike is old, does not mean it is not well built. You should not be a hurry to get rid of an oldie. He recently serviced a 50 year old Moulton and a Dawes Galaxy from the 1980’s, both still good, solid, serviceable bikes which will last for many more years. “We talk about cycling as ‘Green’, but if you are truly green you need to keep your bike going and improve on it, not just change it for something more modern”, says Dave. I get that point, so will not be changing my

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Gwenda gets the coffee on as Dave works on my bike bike after all, and have no excuse not to do that charity bike ride now! While I watched Dave stripping my bike down like a surgeon, Gwenda made coffee. Yes, the van even has an oven and hob. (It is apparently not beyond the realms of imagination to be served a slice of pizza!) Services on offer from Hinton Cycles include safety checks (ideally annually by the way), repairs, punctures, general overhaul and rebuilds. Dave has worked on bikes worth £50 to those worth £15,000. He tells me he built a wheel for a top end road bike recently worth £1000. Hinton Cycles also offer Doctor Bike days for schools and businesses, where you bring your bike for a once over and get a ‘prescription’ of suggested maintenance/repairs. This is a free service. If you want Hinton Cycles to do the work then they can do it in situ or collect and return. These guys are hard working and passionate, offering an excellent service. At the time of year when you start thinking of getting out on two wheels, why not get your bike checked over? Hinton Cycles are happy to come to you.

www.hintoncycles.co.uk Tel 0800 0439200 info@hintoncycles.co.uk 15 Or email monica@villagematters.co.uk

Restaurant Review Thai at The Phoenix The Phoenix in Thames Street is rising again, under new management. The Authentic Pub Co took the business over last November. This is the company behind The Flower Pot, which itself went through a complete transformation a few years back. Immediately on taking over, the team gave the pub a deep clean. It has suffered years of neglect and underinvestment. The beer lines were dirty, the toilets were disgusting and the dĂŠcor was grimy. It was a tired and run down pub. But it had HUGE potential. The current owners have money to invest and ambitious plans for this riverside jewel. Because the pub is in a conservation area, there are a lot of planning hoops to jump through, so the big transformation is going to have to wait for the paperwork to be done - a challenge in itself! Rather than waiting until the refurb has been completed, the team have gone for an interim solution and in late January launched a Thai restaurant within the pub. They have created a cosy interior, giving it a fresh lick of paint, new colour scheme and introduced Thai statues, candles and soft lighting give it a comfortable atmosphere. So far so good. In the kitchen, they have installed a Thai chef and created a menu of Thai favourites which

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are on offer 6 days a week. On Sundays, they are serving traditional roast dinners and a limited selection of Thai food, such as the ever popular Pad Thai and Green Curry is also available. Sitting in the riverside restaurant, we took our time choosing from the menu, enjoying a basket of Thai prawn crackers and chilli dipping sauce. The beer on tap is from Twickenham Brewery and Brakspear and offers a good selection of well kept ales. The wine menu offers a good range of wines by the glass and bottle.

Crispy corn fritters with dipping sauce

It was good to see that the food menu offers several options for vegetarians, with a soup option, vegetarian sharing platter or individual dishes such as Crispy Sweetcorn and Chilli Fritters. These were crunchy and sweet and were a delightful starter. Mr C and I also had the Steamed Dim Sum and Salt and Pepper Squid (see over). The dishes were beautifully presented and each served with a different dipping sauce. I had not realised that the contents of the dim sum (prawn, squid, water chestnuts and bamboo shoots) were minced so I preferred the crunchy texture of the crispy squid. I could happily have had a whole plateful of these. It

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would probably be worth having the Kingfisher Sharing Platter which offers a selection of both these dishes as well as Thai Fish Cakes, Tempura Prawns and Sesame Prawn Toast. I will certainly look forward to trying one of the soups on my next visit. The Hot and Sour Tom Yum is touted as 3 chilli hot on the ratings provided on the menu. I love food with a kick, and the lime leaf, galangal and lemongrass suggest that the dish will be bursting with flavour.

The menu offers a good selection of main courses, with specials, curries, salads and wok dishes. On a previous visit I have sampled the Weeping Tiger, a sirloin steak served on a skillet with a dipping sauce that set my taste buds dancing. It has a 4 chilli rating (out of 5). I very much enjoyed this dish. I have not had the courage yet to try the Infamous Jungle Curry and its 5 chilli rating, but I think I am limbering up for it! 5 chillis are rated as “only for the brave”. I reckon I may be brave enough, so watch this space! Mr C enjoyed the chicken Thai Red Curry

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with coconut rice. I very much liked this dish too and as we couldn’t manage to eat it all, the staff kindly packed up the leftovers for us to enjoy at home the following day. The Slow Cooked Lamb Massaman dish made with spices, ground peanuts, coconut milk and potatoes is also a winner and the dish was scraped clean - always a good sign. There is a tempting dessert menu, but we didn’t have room for more. The banana fritters in coconut batter with coconut ice cream had my name on, but they will have to wait for another time. The team at The Phoenix know that they have not yet got to their complete rebirth. They have come a long way since taking over. Some things are beyond their control. The toilets bear a sign put there by the management stating “Probably the worst toilets in Surrey”. Yes they could be better, but I didn’t think they were that bad. The work on new facilities will have to wait until the full refurb in the summer. I really wish The Phoenix well. Be patient with them if not everything is quite right yet. Their passion and vision will see them through and they deserve our support meanwhile.

The Phoenix 26-28 Thames Street Sunbury on Thames, TW16 6AF 01932 785358 www.thephoenixsunbury.com

17 Or email monica@villagematters.co.uk

Have Fun with Pilates! Pilates is a form of exercise with an emphasis on core strength. Regular practice can lead to a stronger leaner body with increased protection to your spine helping you to stand taller and able to move with a new ease. We meet at Laleham Village Hall every Monday evening between 6 and 7 Classes are relaxed and informal and all are welcome regardless of age and experience. You won’t have to enrol on a whole course as you pay just £9 each time you come and you won’t need to bring anything as everything you need is provided. But be warned....once you start you won’t want to stop! Looking forward to seeing you.

For more information call Charlie on 07967 736341 To advertise call Monica on 07979 808991

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Sudoku 9 6 7 8 5 4 7 2 4

5 1 7 3 2 4 6 1 8 9 1 4 5 6

Solution on page 40

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Or email monica@villagematters.co.uk

Friends of Thamesmead I joined in some fun recently. I was invited to the Thamesmead School quiz one Friday night, put on by what was the Parent Teachers Association, to raise much needed funds for the school. The hall was packed full of adults, drinking Prosecco and other beverages and having a great time. We certainly joined in, finding a large amount of competitive spirit along the way! (Gutted only to get 9th place though!) It was interesting to find out more about the PTA and just why they are so important these days. They play a vital role within the school. The PTA have in fact recently changed their organisational name to ‘Friends of Thamesmead’ (FoT). This small group of parents work tirelessly to raise money to support the education of children at Thamesmead. As a result of budget cuts and the rising cost of employment, funds are increasingly sparse within state schools. The FoT support fund raising events for the school, including the fashion show (which I also attended) and quiz night. They also man the PTA stall at Shepperton Fair which is a very important event for them. Thanks to their hard work and commitment, the money they have raised has helped to buy fuel for the minibuses, a range of books for different curriculum areas, art materials, new school furniture, costumes for school productions, and some additional ICT and music equipment. There is a lot more to be done, however, including updating the ICT suite, so funds are vital and there is constant pressure to come up with ideas. The reality is that without these volunteers, children could not enjoy some of the many things they take for granted. What the Friends of Thamesmead need is help. Do you have a high profile friend who may be willing to champion the cause? Do you have any ideas you could share? If you are able and willing To advertise call Monica on 07979 808991

to support the work of the Friends of Thamesmead, even if it is just to volunteer to help out for a couple of hours at one event, then please contact them by emailing thamesmeadpta@hotmail.co.uk If you are unable to offer your time, you can still support funds by joining the 200 Club Lucky Lotto Scheme . For just £15 per year you will be in a draw to win £25 first prize every month (£15 second prize) and an annual draw could win you £200 first prize or £75 second. All that for a £15 investment! That sounds like a good bet to me! The key is to get involved. Give some time if you can and if you can’t do that, please support the activities of this hard working group.

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Recipe of the Month Banana & Walnut Loaf

Teatime cake

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Sift the flour and baking powder together into a separate bowl. Add the butter, egg and caster sugar. Using a mixer mix everything together for a minute or two. Add the mashed and chopped bananas and briefly whisk them into the mixture. Fold in the chopped walnuts and lemon zest.

Cooking time: 60-70 minutes Ingredients 225g plain flour 2 level tsp baking powder 80g softened or spreadable butter 1 large egg (beaten) 110g caster sugar 4 medium bananas (peeled) 50g walnuts (chopped) Zest 1 lemon Demerara sugar for sprinkling

Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared tin. Sprinkle with Demerara sugar. Place in the pre-heated oven so that the top of the tin is in the centre. Bake for 60-70 minutes until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool for 10-15 minutes then turn out on to a cooling rack.

Method

Preheat oven to 180C / gas 4. Grease and line This cake is good served warm with crĂ¨me fraiche, cold, or even toasted. a 2lb loaf tin. Mash three bananas to a pulp and chop the fourth. Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts

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Some people seem to be born more organised than the rest of us, but we can all develop habits that will make for a more organised and productive life. Here are five to consider. Write Things Down Don't try to remember everything. From shopping lists or ideas for home decor, to important family or business dates, or goals you'd like to achieve - write them down! Do It Now The longer you wait to do something, the more difficult it will become. Putting in the

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effort to get things done as soon as possible will make your life less stressful and less demanding. Give Everything a Home Knowing where to find a thing saves time and frustration. Decide where things belong, label the space if necessary but NEVER designate a storage space as â&#x20AC;&#x153;miscellaneous!â&#x20AC;? Get Rid of Clutter Schedule regular clear outs to go through the items in your inbox, cupboards or drawers. Only keep things you really need and use, which will clear the way for greater creativity and productivity. Delegate Responsibilities Whether at home or work, delegate as much as you can. Organised people know how to share the load. No person can do everything, but everyone can do something. This is a great way to help others grow and develop too. By Debbie Singh-Bhatti

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Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway – 2016 By Douglas Dick The Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway will start the 2016 season on Saturday 19th March – the first train will depart Hanworth Halt at 10.30.a.m. and trains will run until 4.00 p.m. The last trains of the 2015 season were the “Santa Specials”, which despite a 60% increase in passenger-capacity were all sold-out; so if you missed out last Christmas, put a not in your diary now, to book well in advance, next December.

through before we are ready on 19thMarch, and of course with more volunteers the present valiant band could either take it easy – or far more likely get a whole lot more tasks completed!

But the members of the Metropolitan Water Board Railway Society have not been idle since then – far from it! The new Booking Office has been completed - Those of you who were fortunate enough to get Tickets for the “Santa Specials” will have seen it in partial use. To catch the train visit our website www.HamptonKemptonRailway.org.uk. Or just come along any Sunday! Fares are £2.50 for adults, £1 for under 16’s and under 5’s are free!

And the Old Ticket Hut has now become a shelter for the Station Master! The track just beyond the ‘Hanworth Halt’ platform has been re-aligned to give Darent a smarter get-away from a standing start with our new 2016 two-coach train. As always with an operating steam railway there has been a long list of ‘maintenance’ tasks to get Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts

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33 Or email monica@villagematters.co.uk

Eco Park - Estate Cars Refused? What is going on at the Eco Park? If you are considering using your private vehicle to take household or garden refuse to the Community Recycling Centre at Charlton Lane, you should be aware that local residents are being restricted to quantities which can be fitted into the car boot only. Unless you have an estate, it is possible you will have filled your car by flattening the back seat. If so, you are likely to be refused. One would have thought that maximising the load per visit is the most efficient on grounds of both car transport and site usage. It seems that basic logic is lacking in this arbitrary policy which has not been formally communicated, or consulted upon, by Surrey County Council. We need clarification and a proper description of a sensible policy worked out with SCC and for which the County is responsible, not one made up by SITA employees on the gate. Residents pay for this service and have a right to expect nothing less. The additional increased risk of fly-tipping must also be a concern. We also understand that there will be reduced opening hours and indeed charging for certain items to be disposed of such as tyres and gas canisters. Residents said that reduced opening hours would make it more difficult for them to dispose of their waste and to recycle. Overall these new rules are bound to increase fly-tipping which is already a big problem in Surrey and is getting worse. According to their own figures, the County Council had to dispose of 2,500 tonnes of fly-tipped waste in 2014/15 with that amount expected to increase to over 4,000 tonnes by the end of the current year of 2015/16 by this March. What madness!

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Closing date for April is March 21st

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Rising Stars On March 8th local business woman Jess Edgar might be very excited! An announcement will be made on that day about the winner of the Rising Stars' Young Business Women in Surrey 2016 for which she has been nominated. Jessica only started the Stars dance and drama groups in September 2015 and already has approximately 95 children who are really enjoying her classes. Jess was nominated for the award by a couple of people but she was completely shocked to find out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She is wonderfully energetic and a real asset to the communityâ&#x20AC;? states her nomination. Good luck Jess! You can find out more about the award at www.businesswomeninsurrey.co.uk

0333 123 0212 Made to Measure Curtains and Blinds Chosen in the comfort of your own home Interior consultant providing first class bespoke service from start to finish. Let me come and see you, let me help you choose your design and let me help you transform your home, office, hotel or business

10% off in March

Call me for a one to one consultation and advice

With 20 Years experience Angela Charles can create a set of curtains or blinds as individual as you T: 0333 123 0212 M: 07786 157160 E: angelacharlesinteriors@aol.com www.angela-charles.co.uk To advertise call Monica on 07979 808991

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The CVRA is looking forward to Spring! This time of year can be miserable, with more dark, cold, wet weeks ahead until the days get lighter and warmer. However, we on the CVRA committee are already thinking about Spring and Summer and ways to brighten up Charlton Village. As in previous years, we’ll be having colourful hanging baskets as part of Spelthorne in Bloom. We’re looking at ways of funding plants for the tubs and troughs around the village. And we’re planning a BIG celebration in June – a party to celebrate The Queen’s 90th Birthday in June. Watch this space… On the downside, however, the problem of traffic through the village is still a long way from being resolved and, if anything, it’s getting worse by the day, with a company even applying for an operator’s permissions for a lorry park on the Green Belt Farm Land. We’re plagued by speeding cars at most times of the day and heavy lorry traffic at peak times. On top of that we have the thundering gravel extraction lorries either going to or from their base before 6.30am in the morning or the constant flow of lorries to the recycling centre. We were disappointed that the traffic calming measures that we were promised have yet to materialised. We had asked for a 20mph speed limit that didn’t happen. We asked for 30mph signs painted on the main road, that didn’t happen. Nor did the pedestrian crossing. Nor the white gates to create the illusion of the road narrowing. We did get one small 30mph LED display. Unfortunately it was facing the wrong way, although this has been rectified after our asking, however it only works intermittently. Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts

The latest blow is a proposal to change the 30mph speed limit on Charlton Lane to 40mph on the grounds that ‘that’s the speed drivers do anyway’! We are still working on this traffic problem and we won’t let it rest. On the plus side, we haven’t had to put up with the noise of the pile driving from the Eco Park yet! Wendy Jackson Charlton Village Residents Association

Garden Maintenance Lawn Mowing, Tree & Shrub Pruning, Planting Schemes, Weeding Lawn Treatments Seasonal Lawn Treatments, Scarification, Aeration

01932 701315 07958 385299

Landscaping Garden Designs, Patios, Decking, Fencing, Turfing

Locally based Fully Insured (Free Quotations)

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2 5 8 9 1 3 6 7 4

4 1 7 8 5 6 9 2 3

9 6 3 7 2 4 5 8 1

6 4 1 3 7 8 2 9 5

3 9 2 6 4 5 8 1 7

8 7 5 1 9 2 3 4 6

5 3 4 2 8 7 1 6 9

1 8 6 4 3 9 7 5 2

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Solution to March Sudoku

To advertise call Monica on 07979 808991

Or email monica@villagematters.co.uk

To advertise call Monica on 07979 808991

41 Or email monica@villagematters.co.uk

Shepperton Residents’ Association The proposals to merge Ashford & St Peter’s Hospital Trust with the Royal Surrey Hospital Trust are proceeding more slowly than first anticipated. Therefore, we were delighted to welcome Suzanne Rankin, the Chief Executive of Ashford & St Peter’s, to our Open Meeting on 1st March when she brought the residents up to date with the negotiations currently under review. Residents have been alarmed by a number of teenagers riding their bicycles in the High Street in a poor manner, such as riding on the pavement, doing “wheelies” and weaving in and out of the traffic. The Police have been addressing this with a number of the worst culprits having been identified and their parents informed. Further action will be taken if the offenders persist with their dangerous actions. The illegal occupation of Sheep Walk continues to cause concern to residents, with Spelthorne Borough Council having to serve enforcement notices, including one requiring all unauthorised tipping of soil at the site to cease. The issues in Sheep Walk are complex, with several pieces of land owned by different individuals, nevertheless, the Council will continue to explore all possible enforcement action where necessary. In parallel, Surrey County Council are changing the road layout to stop caravans parking in the layby. Plans have been submitted to the Borough Council for a new care home on the old Bradbury Centre site in Manygate Lane. Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts

The Association is reviewing the application in conjunction with local residents, and will submit objections where considered necessary. Residents are pleased to see that our Post Office is having a make-over resulting in a modern open-plan shop. Despite a bitterly cold and wet morning on Saturday 13th February the Association held one of its regular presences outside Budgens, allowing residents to give their views on matters of concern. Richard Hewitt

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Heston SKIP HIRE Est. over 25 years Locally Based, Family Run Business

 4-20yd Skip Hire  Wait & Load Service  Grab Lorry Service  Licensed Waste Carriers  95% Waste Recycled Cage lorry available for house, garage, warehouse and factory clearance

Skip the Rest. Try the Best!

A Fast and Friendly Service Office 0208 572 5243 Mobile 07837 585101 Call anytime!

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Gardening Matters Lovely Lilies (and a spot of hard-pruning) The first day of spring this year is officially March 20th . Trees are blossoming and daffodils are in bloom. The garden has woken up from its winter sleep and is full of promise. But promise is not enough. A beautiful garden does not happen by chance. So what are the top jobs for March gardeners? Pruning features large! Hard-prune those late flowering shrubs like Buddleia, Leycesteria and Lavateria, but only if the risk of heavy frost is past. Spring-flowering plants such as Forsythia and Winter Honeysuckle should be pruned immediately the flowers fade. If you haven’t already pruned your bush roses, now is the time. Leave about an inch of last year’s growth to encourage bushiness and lots of flowers. Shrub roses don’t need such radical treatment but would benefit from losing a third of their old, thick, woody stems. Lift congested clumps of snowdrops while they still have leaves showing. Finally, stay on top of the weeds. If you leave them, weeding quickly becomes an insurmountable chore. Ok, we’ve dispensed with the hard work, now it’s time to look ahead. I have one word for you...Lilies. I always thought they were tricky to grow, and so they proved, mainly because my garden doubles as a slug sanctuary!

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Then I had an epiphany. It dawned on me that if I grew them in pots, slug prevention would be easier, plus I didn’t run the risk of slicing through the fat, scaly bulbs or tender shoots with my hoe while enthusiastically weeding my plot. Even better, it means you can grow them even if you only have a balcony. There are loads of varieties in the garden centres right now. Three bulbs fit nicely into an 8inch / 20cm pot and five fit into a ten inch / 25cm pot. I’ve found terracotta pots best because they provide enough weight to prevent these tall plants tipping over. Lilies need an open planting mixture which drains well so I use a mixture of potting compost plus a soil-less multi-purpose compost. The bulb tips should be a couple of inches below the compost. Keep in a sheltered spot and water when the surface of the compost looks dry. Once the buds have formed, feed weekly with dilute tomato food until late summer. When the blooms fade, cut the stems down and place in a sheltered spot. Each spring, scrape away a couple of inches of compost and add fresh mixture, then repeat the instructions above. Treated like this your lilies will reward you for three or four years before they need re-potting. There are a plethora of colours and scents available, so there is a lily for everyone. Try them. I guarantee you’ll be as in love with lilies as I am.

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PAIGE ELECTRICS

SDS Scotts Decorating Services

REWIRES FAULT FINDING CONSUMER BOXES ALTERATIONS EXTRA SOCKETS AND LIGHTS

Interior/Exterior Domestic/Commercial Locally Based Fully Insured 30 years experience

Call Andy Scott for a quote: 01784 462928 07796 542788

COOKER POINTS SMOKE DETECTORS EXTERIOR LIGHTING POWER TO GARAGE ARE YOU RCD PROTECTED?

LOCAL RELIABLE SERVICE - FULLY INSURED

Office: 01932 711196 Mobile: 07880 715856 franklin383@btinternet.com

PETER the HEATER Heating and plumbing Installations & repair Boiler replacement and service Fair Pricing Gas safe registered Free estimates. OAP discounts

We are a family run roofing business based in Sunbury. We undertake all aspects of roofing work and are fully insured. We offer free quotations and advice

www.aldridgeandsons.co.uk

01932 232393 or 07830 314155

See what our customers say about us at

Keep these numbers. They may be helpful!

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What’s On - Shepperton & Laleham Send info on local events to info@villagematters.co.uk to be listed here Staines Musical Theatre Group’s 50th Anniversary is celebrated with “Wild, Wild Women”, an outrageously funny “grown-up” musical “Western”, 9th to 12th March 2016, Magna Carta Arts Centre, Thorpe Road, Staines TW18 3JH.. Performances 7.30pm (Saturday matinee 2.30pm). Tickets from £10, available from Box Office 07955 319536 or www.smtg.org.uk Nick Pollard will be telling the story of ‘The Thames Bridges from Staines to Kingston’, at the next meeting of the Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society, at 8pm on Tues. 15th March. The meeting takes place in the theatre of Halliford School, Russell Road, Shepperton. All welcome, admission £2 for non-members of SSLHS. Sunday 13 March: ‘Wines of the New World’. Tutored Charity Wine Tasting run by Richard Black for The Rotary Club of Shepperton & Sunbury. 5.45pm for 6pm at Riverside Arts Centre, 59 Thames Street, Sunbury TW16 5QF. Tickets £18 from 01932 770325 or catherineblack1@hotmail.com Saturday 19 March: Actress Carole Boyd & Lynda Chang appear in their own Words & Music Coffee Concert: ‘Spring is Sprung’. 10.15 for 11am, with coffee & croissant. Tickets £8.50 from 01932 782788. Riverside Arts Centre, 59 Thames Street, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5QF

Pinewood Cinema | Shepperton Studios

Forthcoming Screenings The Korda Theatre at Shepperton Studios is open for public screenings at weekends

Closed for Refurbishment from March 5th—20th Sat March 26th

Lady in the Van

Sun March 27th

Lady in the Van

Films all start at 18.00

Book online at www.pinewoodcinema.com To advertise call Monica on 07979 808991

Or email monica@villagematters.co.uk

Community Matters Shepperton & Laleham Send community events info to info@villagematters.co.uk to be listed here The Brigitte Trust is a registered charity supporting people with life-threatening illness in their homes. Volunteers visit weekly, offering emotional support, carer respite and practical help like shopping and driving. Our service is free and referrals come from local medical teams. We welcome car drivers who can offer three hours weekly visiting people in Sunbury and Shepperton. Call Sharon on 01306 881816... find out more at www.brigittetrust.org Shepperton and Oatlands Scottish Dancing Club meet on alternate Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 8.00 p.m. to 10 p.m. in St Andrews Church Hall, Hersham Road , Walton on Thames KT12 4AA (Tuesdays) and Oatlands Village Hall, St Marys Road, Weybridge KT13 9PT (Wednesdays) for Social Scottish Country Dancing. Please come and join us. For further information please contact Barbara Dickson on 01483 728053 or email barbaramdickson@gmail.com Staines Horticultural Society Floral Art Group meet monthly on Wednesday evenings. Meetings are a mix of flower arranging demonstrations and practical workshops. A small friendly club we welcome guests. On 24th February we have a practical workshop. For more information contact Anne Hart 01932 564835 Shepperton Allotment Association, Grove Road Shepperton will have a number of vacant plots later this spring. Please contact John Child (Chairman) on 01932 245952 or email chiljohn@aol.com to add your name to the short waiting list The Probus Club of Shepperton for retired business and professional men meets on the first Tuesday of each month at The Anchor Hotel to hear a speaker followed by lunch. In February we had a talk called " Careless Talk Costs Lives". We welcome new members; please telephone 01932 223814 or 242372 Would you like a Tree? We will provide and plant in road verges, schools, parks, gardens in fact anywhere. Usual donation is £35 . Contact David Wood Tree Warden Volunteers 01932 786806 Home-Start Spelthorne is looking for parents and grandparents to become home-visiting volunteers. If you can spare a few hours a week to offer a listening ear, friendship, emotional and practical support to young families, please contact us now to find out more. Volunteers are required to attend a Course of Preparation and have a DBS check. An accredited course is available. Please contact Home-Start Spelthorne on tel no. 01784 463200 or e-mail homestartspelthorne@tiscali.co.uk or see our website www.home-startspelthorne.org DayBreak – located in St Peter’s Hall, Laleham Road, Staines. Most Mondays and Tuesdays we offer respite for carers, giving them a break from looking after someone (sometimes 24/7) for a few hours while they are fed and entertained and perhaps benefit from physiotherapy or podiatry. Call Simon Bhadye 07960 618188 Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts

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Index of Advertisers

Adult Learning Alteration/Tailoring The Zipyard 24 Bakery The Bakery 25 Beauty/Cosmetic Surrey Skin Centre 20 Bedrooms Ashford Interiors 5 Car Bodywork Chip & Paint Repairs 41 Car Repairs/MOTs Wilsons Mobile Auto 46 SCM 35 Care Home/Support Abbey Chase 19 Greeno Open Day 37 Children’s Activities Hampton/Kempton 33 Stars Performing Arts 36 Chiropodist Shepperton Chirop 18 Cinema/Studio Pinewood Studios 7 Clearance Blue Square 30 Curtains & Blinds Angela Charles 36

Decorator SDS 46 Dog/Pet Services Grooming Gorgeous 12 Warm Reflections 6 Domestic Cleaning My Home 30 Jackie’s Cleaners 32 Electrician Paige Electrics 46 Estate Agents/Property Curchods 26/27 haart 21 Fruit/Veg/Flowers Quality Fruit 20 Garden Centre Longacres 11 Garden Services/ Supplies Easicut Mowers 44 Before & After 39 Landscaping/Thames 44 SJL Paving 40 Glazing Repairs Glenn Hudson 24 Village Windows 41 Hair Dressers Daniel Fairfax 22

Sunbury Matters & Shepperton Matters Call

07979 808991 monica@villagematters.co.uk

Handyman/ Maintenance/DIY i-Handy 39 Health & Fitness/Sport Pilates with Charlie 18 Heating/Plumbing Aston Cord 41 Peter the Heater 46 Kitchens Ashford Kitchens 5 Kitchen Makeover Dream Doors 29 Lettings Agency Deverton Estates 14 Massage Massage by Therese 18 Mobility Services All Mobility 9 Oven Cleaning Ovenclean 46 Removals Thorogood 40 Restaurant/Pubs The Red Lion 13 The Fish Shack 14 The Phoenix 16 Hazelwood 34

Advertising Rates (Ex VAT) 1/8th page Quarter page Half page Full Page

£30 £55 £100 £210

10% off for 3 months for quarter page or larger

Roofing/Guttering Aldridge & Sons 46 Sailing Club Littleton Sailing Club 23 Schools Halliford School 52 Sell for Cash JC Stamps 9 Skip Hire Heston Skips 44 Taxi VA Cars 9 Travel Agency Drifters Travel 14 Storage Lock & Leave 49 Useful Numbers 42 Venue Hire Shepperton Cricket 24 Staines Town FC Windows Jubilee 51 Novaglass 2 Window Cleaning Studio Windows 40

April Issue Closing on March 21st monica@villagematters.co.uk Or call

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Disclaimer: Whilst every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of the information included in this publication, neither the publisher nor the editorial contributors can accept any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Shepperton Matters does not endorse any advertising material included in this publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems or transmitted in any form without prior permission of the publisher.