In 1957 18 year old Mahmadur Rashid came to the UK from Pakistan to find his destiny. It had been an adventurous journey. With a one way ticket, he took a 28 seater plane from Dakar which had to make an emergency landing when the radio gear caught fire.
The History of The Shahin Read More »
January is the time for New Year resolutions. What have you been putting off? What do you want to change to make life better?
Facing Your Fears and Climbing Mountains Read More »
Charles Dickens, who knew the Sunbury and Shepperton area well, was the man who popularised the idea of the Christmas Ghost Story, in the mid nineteenth century. Whilst looking through old Christmas editions of the Middlesex Chronicle at Spelthorne Museum in Staines, I came across the following story of ghostly goings-on at Battlecrease Hall in Shepperton in the edition for 27th December 1946.
A CHRISTMAS GHOST STORY Read More »
I recently visited a fascinating exhibition put on by the Environment Trust about the forgotten history of market gardening in South West London entitled “Feeding London”. It is on at the library of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew and is well worth a visit.
Middlesex – London’s Market Garden Read More »
The ability to stand up in front of an audience and be able to give an address, is always going to stand you in good stead. Think of that best man’s speech, making a sales presentation or standing up and asking a question at a public meeting.
I was a shy young thing. Ironically, joining the Brownies, would have been just the thing for me, as I discovered when I went to the grand opening of the new HQ of the 1st Sunbury Scouts & Guides. The event was teaming with old and young, those who had been a scout or guide back as far as 40 years ago.
New HQ for Sunbury Scouts & Guides Read More »
The Légion d’honneur, is France’s highest decoration. It was established by Napoleon in 1802 to recognise individual merit. Among its recipients are those who have played a part in the liberation of France and so it was that Sunbury’s John Cairns was recently invited to a special ceremony at the French Embassy to receive such an award for the part he played in WW2.
Légion d’Honneur for Sunbury Man Read More »
At the turn of the last century, Sunbury was a weekend and holiday destination. The river was bordered by many little cottages and the beauty of the river and peace of the village offered sanctuary from the bustle of London. Many of those weekend retreats have been sold and redeveloped.
Historic Getaway sold at Auction Read More »
How can six cows become such an attraction? There was much talk of it last year, but finally, with little warning, six Aberdeen Angus cows arrived in Sunbury Park.
Sunbury Park – Much More Than Just Cows! Read More »
Sunbury will be marking a remembrance on October 18th this year, the date when two brave RAF fighter pilots lost their lives 75 years ago, whilst attempting to land at Kempton Park Racecourse.
Kempton Memorial to Brave Pilots Read More »
For many years before the coming of the railway to our area in the mid nineteenth century, the main way of moving around bulky goods was by river.
Rope making in Sunbury and Shepperton Read More »
This year started badly with a large chunk of my winter spent in rehab after a long spell of illness and injures that put me a long way behind my competition
Shepperton has a Double World Champion Read More »
Centenary celebrations for the national Women’s Institute in September 2015 attracted widespread media coverage. Some readers may also know of the Middlesex Federation of Women’s Institute’s 75th Anniversary publication entitled Middlesex: Within Living Memory, a collection of members’ life experiences published in 1996
Landscape change: memories of a WI member Read More »
You may know him, and if you like good quality fish at good prices you really should visit him on Wednesdays, as do I and an increasingly large coterie of loyal repeat customers.
A (Wednes)day in the life of Andrew Clarke Read More »
A chapter in the history of Sunbury’s riverside ended recently, with the closure of the long-established boatyard of George Wilson & Sons.
George Wilson & Sons, Sunbury Read More »
Guinness, the black stuff, may be served in the bar, but we are talking Guinness as in breaking records in August.
Guinness Record Attempt and Webb Ellis at Hazelwood Read More »
Clearing out is a great way of discovering long lost treasures. So it was for a local Sunbury resident who was having a clear out and came across his son’s summer school project from when he was 10.
A Child’s View of Sunbury’s Treasures Read More »
Every year crowds gather at Rivermead Island in Sunbury for the annual regatta. This year the event on Saturday August 15th will be the 138th year. We wander around the stalls, watch the arena events, have a bite to eat and cheer on the racers.
The Children’s Regatta – Then & Now Read More »
Hopefully you will have already visited Spelthorne Museum in Staines, but if not you are missing a treat! Next time you are in Staines, ome and find us, just through Staines library.
A treasure trove of history Read More »
They deny encouraging the scheme. They deny even knowing any details about it, despite meeting after meeting after meeting with The Jockey Club and their consultants. We’ve made it all up, apparently.
The huge conspiracy theory that will not die Read More »
