Sunbury Matters Issues

In these difficult times we hope to bring you some inspiration this month. The front cover is by a budding artist at St Ignatius and the children’s work is on display at the health centre. Why not plan how you will spend some of your new freedom once our lockdown ends and life returns to

In this months issue we see two business competitions open, so get thinking about your own entry. Local photographers also have their chance to shine. Both Spelthorne Council and the Shepperton Village Fair are looking for entries. We hear about a couple of local charities supporting families with new borns and young children. Perhaps you can help?

This month focuses on numerous public meetings regarding the Local Plan and protests mounted by residents against the loss of green belt. We also bring you some inspiration on sustainability issues including the idea of Boomerang Bags which have taken one corner of Surrey by storm. Could we do the same here and replace plastic bags in the village?

We bring you photos of the hugely successful Sunbury Christmas market and there are updates on our children’s safe crossing campaign and our view on allowing building on greenbelt land.

This month, as well as information on events galore for Christmas we bring you an update on the foodbank and how they are helping the community. We celebrate Dennis Brock’s 101st birthday and his British Empire Medal and we thank the Friends of Sunbury Park for their hard work in the park.

The biggest story this month is that Village Matters has won Best Business in Sunbury as well as Runner up Best Business in Spelthorne! Brilliant news all round!

Lots to read in this issue, as well as the usual historical pieces covering both the old St Saviours Church and the Victorian school of art in Sunbury, we meet Overtones band member Mike Crawshaw, celebrate 5 years of Laughing Chili and introduce you to Painshill Park.

This issue sees the new school year start and we offer an overview of ideas of what to look out for in a new school together with a piece on hypnotherapy and how it has been used to deal with anxiety in youngsters. We also look at the expansion plans for Sunbury Embroidery Gallery and look back on a very windy Sunbury regatta.

This joint issue covers the upcoming Sunbury Regatta, looking at the celebrations of the Sunbury ‘Victory’ regatta of 1919. We celebrate a British Empire Medal awarded to Dennis Brock for his services to bell ringing. We meet a 15 year old Sunbury boy who is on his way to the World Cup finals of gaming in New York in July and we say goodbye to the LOSRA founder chairman Patrick Curran and hear just what we need to be thankful to him for.

This issue is the 100th! Our mix of local and historic stories continue to delight readers it seems. This month we bring a pull out 4 page programme of the Sunbury & Shepperton Arts Festival, as well as an article on one of the talks; Austin and Howard Mutti-Mews tell us about their correspondence with Hollywood stars and their forthcoming film.

Plenty to read about events coming up and events just gone. We look at ways you can enjoy the summer on the water with all the various facilities nearby. We look back to how St Ignatius Church on Green Street was built, many Irish navvies playing their role. We thank volunteers who have taken part in Sunbury Open Gardens and hope that others will step forward to carry the wonderful event on.

We bring you news of two developments which threaten the village this month. The proposed demolition of the ancient rope walk wall by Orchard Meadow and construction of 3 modern houses amongst the old buildings.

Lots of history in this months issue. We bring you a historic perspective of the horse rangers, who started in Shepperton. We visit them where they live now, in the Royal Mews, Hampton Court. 100 years since the death of Nurse Marjorie Croysdale we tell the story of this selfless lady and her family who lived at Hawke House.

Plenty to read in this issue, from tackling loneliness and isolation, to spreading kindness and having patience with planning and building in the village. As well as that, you can read about the history of Sunbury’s oldest pub, the Three Fishes.