At the Shepperton Fair this year, we introduced a category “Celebrating Shepperton” into the photographic competition. Well, it seems we have a lot to celebrate! How wonderful to read about Shepperton being voted one of the happiest places to live in the UK! I had lots of calls and emails telling me.
There is a huge amount of pride amongst the local Sheppertonians. You always knew there was something special about this place! So what makes it special?
24,000 people across the UK were asked in a survey by Rightmove, to rank their local area based on 12 factors. These included how friendly the neighbours are and how safe you feel to the standard of local services. One of the factors is how much of a community spirit there is. Shepperton will have come highly in that category. Think about what we have on offer; The Shepperton Fair, Big Tree Night, the Greeno centre. Think about the many community services and groups on offer in the village. We have the open spaces, the river, a golf course. Our schools do well, we have the heritage of Shepperton Studios.
Importantly we have independent shops on the High Street where shop keepers know you by name.
When it comes to battling against threats, then we all pull together. There is a very active residents association and local protest groups. Sadly we can’t always stop “progress” but we can certainly make our voice heard and we certainly do that!
Thinking about how everyone came together during the flooding, it shows how resourceful we are. Neighbours came together to support each other. Nauticalia ran a service to get residents from the Towpath and Hamhaugh to dry land. The Friends of Shepperton kept everyone connected, sharing information and offering help.
We have pride in our history, with the Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society regularly attracting more than 100 people to their fascinating talks.
There is not one but two active Rotary groups supporting good causes in the wider community.
This months front cover is of the Ash Link Nature reserve which has been painstakingly created and maintained by the Spelthorne Natural History Society. It is a little corner of beauty which is attracting plenty of wildlife. The little boat and beautifully planted “fedge” and plants on the corner of Renfree Way show how the community gets involved.
The Shepperton Fair is the largest in the Borough and run entirely by volunteers. The same is true of Big Tree Night, both events key dates in the community.
Wow! When you really start thinking about it, we have so much to be happy about. What makes it is YOU! Without all the people behind the scenes who make so much happen, that spirit of community would not be so prevalent.
Go Shepperton! You win Gold!