Notes from the Riverside

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 go into historical mode. I thought back to when she became Queen in 1952. Then the media was full of talk of the new Elizabethan era, and it did seem to generate a fresh spirit of new ideas and new organisations, and so many societies have their roots then. There seemed to be a wish to rejuvenate lives which had become routine and mundane. Rather like the turn of the New Year, people took stock of their lives at that dawn of a new era and many new clubs, groups and associations were formed. I wonder if the advent of a new Carolian era will have the same effect? Is this a time for you to reassess your own life-style ? Post-COVID many working patterns have changed, with work-from-home becoming more common, and the easing of the dreaded 5-day commute. Maybe an ideal opportunity to address your work/life balance. Perhaps go back to those Elizabethan times of the 50s, when work didn’t monopolise life, when people had time to join a club in order to follow their own interest or hobby, learn a new skill, or just indulge themselves in a local activity. Have a think! There are so many opportunities for us in Sunbury; for self-improvement, education, leisure, enlightenment, fun, to entertain and to be entertained. Not least at the Riverside Arts Centre. On the entertainment front coming up shortly music is to the fore. With the latest of our regular Riverside Jazz concerts: a coffee concert of a Chopin Piano recital: the IAMT musical show: a performance of famous showpieces on recorder and piano, with Miguel Lawrence: and an evening with Alistair Sherwood – Folk Singer. Add in Comedy Club, a Speed Quiz evening, a Big Screen showing of the film ‘Sweet Charity’ plus drama by Riverside Players with plays by A.A. Milne (yes that one!) and a stage version of Jane Eyre. So that is your entertainment sorted. Now which group or activity are you going to join? See contact details under ‘Riverside presents’ on page 58 in this publication