Shepperton Matters

The Holiday Inn, Shepperton, has been taking advantage of lockdown to undergo an extensive modernisation. Not one area of it will be untouched and the plans are definitely exciting.  We visited in June, on a hard hat tour of the premises. There are two defined areas of the building; the hotel, with new reception desk, […]

Saving Water In spite of the somewhat soggy spring water is an increasingly precious resource in the UK. Over the past few decades, rivers, reservoirs, and ground water supplies have become depleted. It’s important to save water where we can. Most of us have enough space for at least one water butt, and there are

This summer’s Spelthorne in Bloom competi-tion will be launched in June, when the entry forms will be published online and in print, and the posters will appear on Council notice boards. The children’s poster competition attracted more than 100 entries, despite many schools being closed, and we had many entries from children who were studying

Bank Holiday Monday, gale force winds, a garden fire and an island full of wooden craft and flammable materials. What could possibly go wrong?!  It was devastating to see images of the fire on Platts Eyot last month. Two boathouses full of historic boats under restoration, went up in flames which were seen from miles

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

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

Trio Pharmacy in Shepperton were honoured to receive MP Kwasi Kwarteng to officially open the new prescription dispenser at the back of the store in Claremont Drive. The event was attended by local councillors and Mayor of Spelthorne, Cllr. Colin Barnard.  It is the only such dispenser in Surrey and of-fers a genuine time saving,

The Garden Goddess Iris was the goddess of the rainbow in Greek mythology. I have a thing for Greek mythology, and I love Irises. The large, bearded types unfurl at this time of year and they reflect the colours of the spectrum from deepest purple, through dusky orange, egg-yolk yellow and the most delicate of