www.shra.org thebulletin Representing the views of all who live in the historic Thameside village of Strawberry Hill No. 136 March 2008 Early carols greet the Christmas SHRA AGM Tree unveiling TEES OFF AT GOLF In a charming prelude to the Christmas tree cere- CLUB mony, 20 children and parents from Archdeacon Cambridge School gath- The Annual General Meeting of ered to sing carols in the the Strawberry Hill Residents’ As- afternoon. sociation will take place at 7:00 for The request came from 7:30 pm on Monday April 14th in the school and SHRA was Strawberry Hill Golf Club, delighted to agree. This Welleseley Road. clearly extends the life and Free coffee and tea will be avail- reach of our community able, as well as a cash bar. All resi- Christmas tree. That dents are invited to attend. evening the tree was deco- Children from Archdeacon Cambridge School singing at rated by local children be- Wellesley Parade Judith Lovelace, Chair of the fore Carmel Kinnear, of the Kinnear SHRA, together with a contribution from Friends of Strawberry Hill, will give Foundation, switched on the lights. the Council, made up that sum to £300 from an insight into to the work on Horace Free mince pies and mulled wine were its funds, which will go to the Roy Kinnear Walpole’s gothic house and how £8 the cue for the Strawberry Hill Singers to Foundation for handicapped young people. million of donations to restore the open the carol singing. A collection raised The foundation is based in Waldegrave House to is 18th century splendour is over £200. Road, opposite St Mary’s College. being spent. Three major applications approved Residents packed the Salon inYork House immediate neighbours and to wildlife. John Gifford House Family Centre on Thursday 13 March, when the Council's Armstrong, on behalf of the SHRA Committee, The Council submitted this application to Planning Committee met to consider 3 referred to the semi-detached houses at 7 Cross build a smaller Family Centre for the whole of major planning applications in this area. So Deep (the "Cross Deep Carbuncle") as an the Borough on the site of the present Centre great was the demand for places that some example of a modern design that can grossly garden between Popes Avenue and Grange members of the public had to wait outside intrude on the general townscape of an area and Avenue. Residents complained that living for their application to be heard, whilst all drew an analogy with the design of the rooms of the houses in Grange Avenue will seats, and even the steps, in the Salon were proposed flats. Residents are worried that this overlook a flat roof covered with solar panels. occupied. approval may put other large houses on similar The council approved all three plots at risk from similar developments, to the Continued on page 2 applications. These applications focus detriment of the townscape and character of the attention on the continued erosion of green whole area. Strawberry Hill Post Office space and increasing density of developments. St James' Church Extension While the Waldegrave Road and St James's PROFESSIONAL Church developments will now almost Residents of Upper Grotto Road and certainly go ahead, protests continue over the Radnor Road complained that the extension to Family Centre (see box on page 2). the rear of the Church would cause noise and CENTRE traffic hazards in the narrowest part of Radnor 279 Waldegrave Road Road, as well as being unsightly and that Shirts, Ironing, This proposal is for the replacement of a security of nearby houses would be Laundry, Curtains detached house opposite St Mary's College compromised. Eugene Bacot, SHRA Duvets, Tailor Repairs with a four-storey block of 5 flats. Two close Committee member, and Cllr Head presented a SAME DAY SERVICE AVAILABLE neighbours spoke against the application, comprehensive list of objections, including loss BUS PASS, TRAVEL CARD, LOTTERY, CASH MACHINE, MOBILE TOP UP, citing insufficient car parking, density of of habitat for wildlife. Supporting the PHOTOCOPY AND FAX development and that it is aesthetically out of application were aparishioner, a planning Agent for Kings Dry Cleaning in keeping with other tile roofed detached and consultant and Father Ulick Loring, who noted Twickenham semi-detached homes nearby. Cllr Clare Head that the church remained largely unchanged re-emphasised these points and observed that since 1885 and that the extension would 80 Tower Road light spillage would be detrimental to provide a valuable neighbourhood amenity. 020 8892 3293 Page 1 The Bulletin No. 136 March 2008 www.shra.org.uk Transport Applications approved Wellesley Parade gets 2 hr limit Ticket machine From page 1 Richmond Council has agreed to examine The long urged ticket machine for platform 2 There are also houses and flats on two SHRA’s proposal to create a number of 2 hour was finally installed and operational by the surrounding sides, including a building of parking bays and a loading bay in Wellesley end of February. Townscape Merit. They are also concerned that Parade. While there is an issue over who the proximity of the Centre will affect their owns the land, this is not considered to be a Waiting room watch privacy. problem. The waiting room on the Richmond-bound Teresa Read, SHRA Committee member platform does not appear to be open at all and leader of the Gifford House Action Group, Brighter station and new ticket times when the booking office is manned, made a representation concerning the loss of 10 despite SWT assurances. SHRA has raised parking spaces in the new Centre. However, the machine this problem with SWT which has asked resi- Council will encourage staff to travel by public Partial painting of Strawberry Hill station dents to monitor the situation. transport or bicycle. began in January. However, the bridge painting could not be completed because Once the Gifford House development goes South West Trains engineers concluded it Student parking ahead the parking situation will be even worse. needed structural repairs. SHRA is awaiting Residents are still complaining about parking Residents worry that selling part of the Family further information. by students in Strawberry Hill Road and Centre land will make the Gifford House site Close. In Waldegrave Road, 25 out of 31 larger for sale by the Council and Care UK. Station car park residents have asked for the same CPZ The Council's Development Manager and the architect spoke in favour of the application. Following an enquiry from SHRA, SWT has provisions as apply in Southfield Gardens, said it is not interested in operating a car park that is, partial restrictions in the morning. Now residents are keen to see the proposals in the station yard. The yard has been fenced Since the building of St Mary’s sports hall the for Gifford House. The Gifford House Action and is now used only be tenants. This solves College has 120 fewer parking spaces, but Group will campaign for effective pre- the problem of car and rubbish dumping. makes no reference to this in its prospectus. application consultation. CAR SERVICING & REPAIRS Did you know... Family Centre Call-In VOLVO ... that St James’ hall was opened by King Cllr Clare Head (South & Manoel II of Portugal in December 1927? Twickenham) and Cllr Christine SUBARU The King and Queen Marie Amelie, who Percival (Barnes) have obtained a & settled at Fulwell Park (now demolished), review of a Cabinet decision to close Most other makes regularly worshipped there. They were family centres in Mortlake and * plus * generous supporters of the church and there Barnes and to group all family cases Tyres, batteries, exhausts are reminders of the Orleans and Braganza at the Gifford House site. • Very Skilled Technicians families, including the window to • Great Value St.Anthony of Padua bearing the Braganza The call-in is backed by the • High Quality crest. Gifford House Action Group which This, and many other fascinating facts says the space for the family centre is 020 8892 4440 about the area, can be found on the too small, but releases the maximum Twickenham Museum’s website: amount of land for housing MKG 3000 www.twickenham-museum.org.uk development. Tower Road, Strawberry Hill, TW1 4PP Residents may request to speak at Have you been in Pope’s Grotto? the review meeting which will be held No, not our excellent pub, but Alexander Pope’s original 18th century grotto, partially under Cross at York House on 25 March at 7:00. Deep and only accessible through St James’s School. Much of this fascinating and unique You can register to speak before construction still survives. Ex-chairman of SHRA and local historian Tony Beckles Willson gives 14:00 on the previous day (call 020 tours in the week of the Twickenham Festival, 13-22 June. Look out for the publicity in May. 8891 7191).

It pays to advertise Shaftesbury Way, Wellesley Road, Spencer Road, Once again, we thank our advertisers RAWLINSON & WEBBER in this issue. Advertising income has Tower Road, Walpole Gardens, Preston Close, funded the production of a better Wellesley Crescent,72 Tower Road, Walpole Strawberry Road, Hill TW1 Popes 4PP Avenue, quality Bulletin. You may wish to Tel: 020 8892 5442 support our advertisers. Vicarage Road, Grange Avenue, Alexander Close, Popes Grove, Orford Gardens, Waldegrave Road and If you would like to advertise in the next issue, the rates are £5 per single column Gardens,Buying Radnor or selling Road, Holmes in Strawberry Road, Bonser Hill?Road, centimetre. Riverview Gardens, Clive Road, Michelham For all advertising sales, please contact Gardens,Call Downside, the local Strawberry property Hill Road experts and Close, Eugene Bacot at: Email:[email protected] Southfield Gardens,www.rawlinsonandwebber.co.uk Waldegrave Park, Hawkesley tel: 020 7731 4526 Close, [email protected] Close, Field End, Upper Grotto Road

Page 2 The Bulletin No. 136 March 2008 www.shra.org.uk Friends of Radnor Gardens Friends of Strawberry Cafe may open this summer Hill House By Cllr Clare Head, Chair FoRG A busy three months has seen renewed work Gothic art and the muses on the gardens and the bowling green by FoRG AGM – March 31 Richmond Council. Combined with an up- An exhibition by Gothic artist Anne Sud- surge in membership, Radnor Gardens is The annual general meeting of the Friends worth heralds the start of an exciting poised to regain some of its old allure this will take place at 7:30pm on Monday, March series of events at Strawberry Hill House year. 31 at the Pope’s Grotto Hotel. The Friends’ ranging from a literary lunch to an open- Summer Café plans and hopes for continued refurbishment air performance ofThe Importance of Chief among the improvements is the proposal of the gardens will be explained. Being Earnest. to revive the café in the brick hut this summer. Jason Debney, coordinator of the The house is the ideal venue for Anne’s Richmond Council will be inviting tenders Thames Landscape Strategy, will speak about magical and haunting landscapes which are shortly; one firm applicant has already come improvements to the gardens in the context of on show from March 17 to May 20. forward. the Strategy. The hut is being surveyed. It is hoped to Other events lined up for the Spring are: create a pleasant refurbished area in front of the We hope to see many of you there to building with tables and chairs. Resurfacing in share a glass of wine and to let us hear your • Landscape and lunch: Talk by Patrick front of the building to preserve the grass while ambitions for our delightful riverside garden. Jones of the Landscape Agency on the creating a stable surface has begun. restoration of the Strawberry Hill gar- South Gate den. Price: £18, includes lunch with Long overdue work on the South Gate started Bowls Club wine. 11am, April 10 in February. There are plans to place bollards The Bowls Club green is in much better condi- • Celebration of Spring: An evening of tion following work by Richmond Council. The on the pathway to prevent vehicles driving on poetry and prose by Walter Houser and to the soft grass where they create ruts. The upstands (the ditching at the edge) has been Geraldine Moffat; 7.30pm in the Long path from the main gate to the gazebo will be completely renewed and the green renovated to resurfaced and widened. a high standard. Gallery. Price: £5, includes refresh- ments. 7.30pm, May 1 • An Evening with Simon Brett: Author of the Charles Paris, Mrs Pargeter and Fethering series on books and writing. Price: £10, including refreshments. May 8, 7.30pm • Plant Sale: Floral and herbal displays for your garden. All day, June 1 • The Importance of Being Earnest: In the garden, the first of a planned series World InfoZone of open-air plays, against the evocative World InfoZone adds a perspective to education with world, country and cultural backdrop of the House. Bring your pic- profiles, newslinks, country features and nic. Price: £12 per person. 5.30pm, June global communication. Visit ourwebsite - an 29 invaluable resource for teachers and students: • Music and Fun Day: Food, music, dancing, fairground stalls and fun for all http://www.worldinfozone.com/ the family. All day; July 13

For further information and ticket purchases Strawberry Hill Restoration Project see: Beauty stripped bare. By Judith Lovelace. www.friendsofstrawberryhill.org

Layer-by-layer, the original decoration of Strawberry Hill House is being peeled away to reveal original wallpaper and painting. Design & Construction Furniture and wallcoverings have all been removed and the, now echoing, rooms will be on view when the House re-opens on March Soft Landscaping - 23 for Sunday afternoon visits. Two of the Patios- Driveways - most recent discoveries are a large grey Fencing - Water fragment from the original staircase Features - Garden wallpaper and rediscovered ‘ghosts’ of Walls pinnacles behind the wallcovering in the yellow bedchamber. The pinnacles had only Fully Insured - Free Estimates been seen in 18th century engravings. Tel: 020 8890 4944 In the meantime, basic works are being Judith Lovelace talks to a spellbound audience in Mob: 07738423429 Strawberry Hill House completed so that the main restoration Email: contracts can start in September. Separation electricity, central heating and drainage were [email protected].uk works to establish independent water, completed in the Autumn. Page 3 The Bulletin No. 136 March 2008 www.shra.org.uk Preserving the Post Office

Strawberry Hill was not on the list of Post Office closures in the London area published by the Post Office in February. However, a definitive list is awaiting confirmation at the end of March.

For nearly 30 years, Aparna and Jay Patel T H E C O M M I T T E E have been at the centre of village life. The news that Strawberry Hill Post Office may finally be saved from the threat of closure Joint Chair is a tribute to the hard work of Postmistress Bruce Duff 8894 5271 Aparna Patel and her husband Jay who run the [email protected] newsagents in Tower Road. It is a busy life, starting at 5am in the Robert Youngs 8894 1121 morning to get out the newspaper rounds – Jay [email protected] employs 11 delivery boys – and not finishing Jay and Aparna Patel until 7pm in the evening, except for a half day John Naish not be informed of the final decision until the 8892 7953 on Sunday. end of March”. (Hon. Treasurer) Since taking over the shop and Post Office In the meantime, the Patels are in daily [email protected] in 1980, they have become central figures in contact with hundreds of residents from community life. Their daughter Dipali (20) Clare Phelps morning and evening commuters to older 8892 5863 and son Dipesh (18) were born here. The people, and even local business people and (Hon. Secretary) Patel’s contribute regularly to local those working from home. Jay says that many [email protected] organisations such as SHRA. customers make use of the high-quality, M E M B E R S When they arrived in Strawberry Hill, comprehensive dry cleaning service, which neither Aparna, an industrial chemist, nor Jay, offers a same day service. John Armstrong a computer sciences graduate, can have “We go out of our way to help the 8894 5218 [email protected] imagined they would become a community residents with post and parcels. A good institution. service is the least we can offer,” says Eugene Bacot “We have worked hard to keep the Post Aparna. “People seem to pop in just to chat,” 8892 2837 Office”, says Aparna. Jay adds, “While we are says Jay. “It’s part of what makes Strawberry [email protected] not on the list of Post Offices to close, we will Hill such a pleasant place to live.” Joe Brett 8892 6625 Can SHRA help you with planning issues? [email protected] Pam Crisp If you and/or your neighbours are concerned about projected building plans in your area, 8898 1878 we are here to give advice and support. Together with local councillors, SHRA is able to [email protected] help by giving advice on: Mike O’Hagan 8894 5193 1 Coordinating objections [email protected] 2 Pin-pointing acceptable grounds for objections Teresa Read 3 Explaining the workings of the Council's Planning Department [email protected] Jose Relton Contact Jose Relton or any member of the Committee. 8892 3233 ! [email protected] RENEWAL OF SUBSCRIPTION of £3.00 (minimum) PER HOME FOR YEAR 2008 This subscription renewal may be made by cash or cheque made payable to Strawberry Hill Residents’ Name(s):______ Association. Address:______ Hand to either:

A John Naish, 12 Waldegrave Gardens, TW1 4PG ______

B Costcutter by Strawberry Hill Station ______Postcode: ______ C Post Office, Tower Road Telephone:______ Payment may also be made by Standing Order. Forms are available from John or from the SHRA Email:______ website (www.shra.org.uk)

Additional donations are always welcome! Amount: £______Date: ______ Published by SHRA, 40 Popes Grove, Twickenham, TW1 4JY Page 4