Issue 49
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.
Sunbury Matters
Restaurant Review – The Warren Lodge Hotel
2014 was a pretty grim year for The Warren Lodge Hotel. First the floods, which restricted access to the hotel, then a fire in April gutted the kitchen. The kitchen reopened just before Christmas, so we went along to see the changes and sample the menu.
Restaurant Review – The Warren Lodge Hotel Read More »
Sunbury Riverside c1950s
On the face of it this 1950s postcard of Sunbury riverside doesn’t look a lot different to the present day, but closer inspection reveals quite a few changes. The most obvious is the large white house by the river.
Sunbury Riverside c1950s Read More »
Through the eyes of a child
It was February 2014. The Thames was in flood it was cold and misty. My family was very worried because our house was very close to being flooded by the torrential flow of the river…
Through the eyes of a child Read More »
Issue 48
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.
Issue 47
It is a sad day when another local company closes. RIP Page Aerospace. We take a look at its history. As the river has started rising we ask, are we prepared for the coming months. Read up on the latest about the Eco Park and about road rage in Sunbury.
Eco Park Update
As readers are probably aware (although many local residents are still not!), Surrey County Council recently gave itself planning permission again to build the massive Eco Park waste disposal incinerator in Charlton Lane, Shepperton, despite massive local opposition, which Surrey CC just seem to ignore time and time again for their own reasons. Sadly Secretary
Dear Father Christmas
The Art of Letter Writing is not dead after all. It seems that Santa receives an estimated 550,000 letters each year, sent to Lapland of course. Do your children still write letters to Santa?
Dear Father Christmas Read More »
Questions for Bishop of Kensington
An insightful questions and answers interview with Bishop of Kensington.
Questions for Bishop of Kensington Read More »
Sunbury Really Does Matter
Sunbury Matters loves receiving letters and emails from residents old and young, still living here and those who moved away but have a fondness for the village. We received this, an extract of a nine hand written page letter, from Enid Illsley.
Sunbury Really Does Matter Read More »
Residents Concerned at Speeding Traffic approaching Sunbury
Residents living at either end of Lower Sunbury village are becoming increasingly concerned about speeding traffic.
Residents Concerned at Speeding Traffic approaching Sunbury Read More »
Let’s Not Think About Tomorrow
Lower Sunbury’s Keith Munday has been a struggling songwriter all his life. His dream is to write a successful song and be in a position to raise money for the appropriate charities linked to our armed forces.
Let’s Not Think About Tomorrow Read More »
Grave threat to flood risk improvements
After the severe and prolonged flooding early in 2014, the Environment Agency revived their proposed £256 million River Thames Scheme (RTS) to increase flood capacity at Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington weirs.
Grave threat to flood risk improvements Read More »
Issue 46
We reflect on the centenary of WW1 with a song from local songwriter Keith Munday, and we look at the War Memorial in Sunbury. We take a stroll down Vicarage Road in the 1940’s. Back to the present day and residents are calling for speed restrictions coming into the village, for Sunbury to be in Zone 6 and for the Richmond Flood plans to consider the effect of us upstream.
A Stroll Down Vicarage Road in the 40’s
When I started school at Kenyngton Manor my teacher was Miss MacFarland and the Headmaster was Mr Moncaster ( known as Monkey to all the kids).
A Stroll Down Vicarage Road in the 40’s Read More »
The Wildlife of Sunbury Park
Sunbury Park was originally part of the flood meadows of the River Thames. Today the park has extensive areas of grassland, scrub and woodland and is bounded by ancient walls, each of which has it’s own distinctive fauna and flora.
The Wildlife of Sunbury Park Read More »
Decoy and Deception at the Studios
The craftsmen and women at Shepperton Studios are famous for their ability to create scenery and models for film and TV, during World War Two however, their predecessors put these same skills to a more vital use.
Decoy and Deception at the Studios Read More »
Issue 45
Decoy and Deception at Shepperton Studios I Want to be a Witch – Meeting Ian Cunliffe The Wildlife of Sunbury Park Dunkirk Little Ships Sail By
Issue 44
As well as the usual offering of recipes, gardening tips and Sudoku we bring you an overview of local events concerning history and heritage and a report on when a V2 rocket struck Sunbury. We also report on connecting old friends through Sunbury Matters. Terry Pattinson lost contact with his old mates 50 years ago, but thanks to a call for contact through Sunbury Matters is being reunited with them.
A Busy Month For Heritage!
September always seems to be a busy month for heritage in our area, so this month I thought I would highlight several events and anniversaries.
2014 sees the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Thames Valley Railway, the original rather grandiose name for the branch line from Strawberry Hill to Shepperton.
A Busy Month For Heritage! Read More »
V-2 Rocket On Sunbury
This month marks the 70th anniversary of a V-2 rocket strike on Sunbury during WW2. At 0410 hours on September 15th 1944, the rocket, some 46 feet long, weighing 13 tons and carrying a one ton high explosive warhead, struck the Sunbury Works of the Metropolitan Water Board (MWB) beside the old Hanworth Road (A316).
V-2 Rocket On Sunbury Read More »