St. Nicholas Church 400th Anniversary
St. Nicholas Church, Shepperton, this year celebrates the 400th anniversary of the present building being consecrated.
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Sunbury Matters Articles
Flooding – We need Answers
Now the floods have gone and the clean-up continues there are two questions that need to be answered.
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Cake Ali – Advertorial
Alison Lee found her passion for cakes only three years ago. Her artistic flair has served her well and she is now creating original and fun designs for celebrations and weddings. “I first tried my hand at cake decorating when my son asked for a fire engine cake 3 years ago. The request came only
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Sunbury to Hollywood
The 11th Rotary Prestige Lecture at Halliford School presented us with a look at Shepperton Studios, past, present and future. I always have a flush of pride listening to stories about the old Sound City and what is now a world class centre for film, right on our door step.
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River Gardens
My article that appeared in the December issue, ended with ‘please get in touch’. Well I am really pleased to report that several readers did just that and provided me with very interesting memories which I have been able to share in my book which is now published. In my chapter about the reality of
Shepperton Woman
No, not another term for ‘ladies who lunch’ or perhaps more recently, those for whom waders or wellies are the latest ‘look’. The Shepperton woman in question is the oldest known inhabitant of the area, who lived here 5,500 years ago.
Did You Know Black Ruhtra?
My Great Uncle Arthur Simpson was a real character and an unusual man in many ways; a carpenter, a soldier, part owner of a Pirate Bus Company (Peraeque Transport based at Stockwell in South London), allegedly a smuggler and lastly a part owner and Company Director of the Central Garage in Hastings. Arthur was
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Longacres Branches Out
Yes, Spring is indeed in the air over at the new Longacres garden centre in Nutty Lane, Shepperton. As well as beautiful blooms and blossoms bursting forth, there are significant changes afoot.
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The Big Clean Up
The Spring birdsong has had some competition along the riverside in recent weeks – the sound of pressure washing and brooms, along with the clatter of wheelbarrows and skips being loaded up. Now that the flood waters have receded people who have been affected are clearing up with a vengeance. As we go to press
Keep Kempton Green
It could be bigger than we feared. Last October, the estimate was 1000 dwellings. Documents obtained since state 1000-1500. One item of correspondence says 1500-2000.
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Inspiring Women in Sunbury Village
One might have wondered what was going on at The Magpie on a Monday night recently. Lots of ladies arriving, lots of chatter. No, this was not an enthusiastic hen party. The attraction on that particular evening was to be CHEESE!
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Floods Past and Present
The River Thames forms a large part of the Spelthorne Borough boundary. Although this provides a pleasant environment to live and pursue leisure interests in, the downside is that the risk of flooding has always been with us.
Floods Past and Present Read More »
History of the Queen Mary Reservoir
The Metropolitan Water Board was formed in 1902 to improve the supply of water to the rapidly expanding capital, and quickly commenced a programme to vastly increase unfiltered water storage capacity.
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Where Was Noah’s Ark?
The flooding of 2014 was something to behold, our community became the focus for much media attention and rubber-neckers coming to take photos of our flooded roads and houses.
Where Was Noah’s Ark? Read More »
Under Their Spell
I was visiting Spelthorne Gymnastics at their facility in Ashford. I have to confess to being one of those who came across the club after Britain’s Got Talent was won by Spelbound in 2010.
Charity Auctions – Did they start in Sunbury?
We had heard stories of what must have been one of the first charity fund raising auctions which happened in Sunbury itself in the 1970’s. Some of you may in fact remember it.
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Coal Tax Posts
In several places in the local area, cast iron posts, about 3 feet high, painted white and carrying the Arms of the City of London, can be seen alongside roads or waterways. These are boundary markers for the Wine and Coal tax, originally introduced in 1666 to help pay for the rebuilding of the City
Do You Remember the River Gardens Estate?
Perhaps these days better known as Ashridge Way – Woodbury Close – The Vale. It is in ‘upper’ Sunbury, in case you were wondering.
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Sowing the Seeds of Community
There is no doubt at all that without the efforts of locals, and the Spelthorne in Bloom committee our villages would be missing something. The dazzling array of colour in hanging baskets and gardens have been a delight this year. Whereas last summer was beset with drought, this year the flowers are still blooming late
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Kempton Park Panoramic Restaurant
We came out of the lift on the second floor and were shown into a spectacular glass fronted restaurant and bar. There was a full moon and the floodlights were illuminating the course stretching out before us. People below were scurrying around the Tote, checking out odds. It was very atmospheric and promised an evening
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The Sunbury Military Collage
Sunbury House was a large building standing in spacious grounds between Fordbridge and Halliford Roads.
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