LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

Descended as I am from Orcadian ancestors, I have been suffering from the heatwave that has decimated my garden and many others in the area. A far cry from May, when I nearly froze to death judging school gardens and had to be revived by the landlady of The Ship who tucked me up in a fleecy blanket by the fire!

Despite the heat, a lot has been going on since our last edition, and this is the first compiled by our new dynamic duo of Peter Denton and Liz Waters. I think they’ve done a brilliant job, but what do you think? Do tell us what you’d like to see in your magazine. Of course once printed, a group of about 25 or 30 members swing into action on foot, by bike or car to deliver Tidings to you. If you would like to join the team and become a distributor, just let Jenny Michell or me know. Sadly we have lost Bruce Morgan who died recently, and send our condolences and support to Sally at this sad time.

We have said goodbye to Dawn Stoddart, who brought us TW11 and TW magazines. Appropriately I said my farewell to her at the Village Fair, which is where she came eight years ago to pitch her idea – and it was there that I said hello to Christiane Ella, the new Editor. More about her next time.

We welcomed a new administration after the local elections when the LibDem party swept into power under their leader Cllr Gareth Roberts, so there are now lots of new names and faces to learn. The most delightful so far is the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mona Adams, who brought her charm, vivacity and energy to the Village Fair – even to the extent of promoting the Society, as you see here!

The History Group have had a change of leadership: we bid farewell to Dick and Gilly Hughes who’ve done a terrific job steering it in new directions, and say hello to David and Claire Ivison, who’ve taken over; many of you will know them through their activities in the Friends of Bushy & Home Parks. All our groups welcome new members, so do get in touch via contacts on page 2.

Finally, I should like to say how grateful we are to all our Corporate Members. We’ve asked Elizabeth Foster and Irmeli Selin to take up the reins of a liaison link which I established some years ago. I hope you will make use of the information we generate and support our Corporate Members by Shopping Locally.

SHEENA

The Society CORPORATE MEMBERS

1 Avenue Road, Teddington TW11 0BT 1 of 1 Reg. Charity No. 802026 100 High Street www.teddingtonsociety.org.uk AlphaVet Surgery @TeddingtonSoc Architecture:wk Art Historical London President: Baroness Hilton of Eggardon Beechgrove Press British Maritime Technology Vice-Presidents Broom Water Association Roger Avins, Paddy Ching, John Demont Churcham House LLP Curves Chairman Dexters Estate Agents Sheena Harold t: 020 8977 2700 Elements Hair Salon [email protected] Elleray Hall Social Club Elmfield House Dental Practice Vice-Chairman, Website and Twitter feed Fairwater House Residents Association Peter Denton Harmer Slater (Roger Sutton & Co) [email protected] Home Instead Senior Care Kagan Moss & Co, Solicitors Secretary and Minutes Kindle Stoves Nick Picton La Casa Del Habano [email protected] Landmark Arts Centre Langdon Down Centre Treasurer Milestone Residential Sally Howland t: 020 8977 9404 National Physical Laboratory [email protected] Park Lane Stables Park Road Surgery Press, Publicity and Promotions Parsonage & Co, Solicitors Sheena Harold Patrick O’ (Maritime & Commercial Arbitrator) Quantum Group Membership Secretary S & N Electrical Contractors Jenny Michell t: 020 8977 0772 Shambles Bar and Restaurant [email protected] Sims (Opticians) Ltd Snellers Estate Agents Environment Group Squires Garden Centre Geoff Howland t: 020 8977 9404 St Mary's University [email protected] Stepping On Out Stevens Tyres History Group Stone Rowe Brewer, Solicitors David Ivison Stoney Deep Residents Association [email protected] Tamesis Club Teddington Cricket Club Planning Group Teddington Artists Veronica Laughrin Teddington Bowling Club [email protected] Teddington Carpet Centre Teddington Choral Society Teddington Funeral Care Riverside and Open Spaces Group Teddington Rugby Club Andy Weston Teddington Theatre Club [email protected] The Fallow Deer

The Financial Planning Group Roads and Transport Group The French Tarte Brian Holder t: 020 8977 1579 The Friends of Udney Park Playing Fields [email protected] Club The Park Hotel Trees and Gardens Group The Strawberry Hill Trust Sheena Harold The Tree Agency The Wharf Restaurant Members’ Events Trevor Aston Photography Pamela McHutchon Turing House School [email protected] TW11 Magazine

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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS SUBSCRIPTIONS Jenny Michell Membership cards for 2018 have been sent only to those who enclosed a SAE with their renewal. If you have any We extend a warm welcome to the following new queries about your payment, standing order or Gift Aid, members: please email [email protected] or call

020 8977 0772. Jonathan and Mary Batson Paula Bellinger MEMBERSHIP RATES ARE UNCHANGED Richard and Rebecca Bevan Family/couple £11; Individual £7; Senior (over 60) Jonathan and Helen Borchard Individual £4; Couple £5; Corporate £25 Emily Carvill and Laurence Morris Juliet Coen and Paul Mason PLEASE ADD £3.50 if you live outside the TW11 Yvonne Connolly and Robert Redpath postcode area or in a block of flats with no separate post Debbie Costello box, so that we can post your copy of Tidings. James Cramond Linda Evans New members are always welcome. To join the Society, Liz Ford please Leigh, Teresa and Thomas Gibson 1. Pay online or download a standing order form at Jenny and David Gilbert www.teddingtonsociety.org.uk; or Judy Hancock 2. Send a cheque payable to The Teddington Society to Simon and Emelia Harris 5 Broom Park, Teddington, TW11 9RN. Please Linda Haydon enclose a SAE if you wish to have a membership Michael and Katie Hibbard card Susan Hitchin Jane Inglesfield THE WHARF: A MODERN RESTAURANT ON Miranda Jaggars HISTORIC GROUND Ali Knight and Sarah Cooper Simon and Saka Lamb We’re very pleased to welcome the Wharf Restaurant on David Lawrance Teddington’s riverfront as our latest Corporate Member. Rachel and Carlo Malka Mary McCarter Robert and Barbara Munday Gavin and Shirley Prince Debbie Robinson Peter and Carol Rogers Mary Rose Teresa Scoble Karen Sinclair Mr & Mrs Slymon Sue Strudwick Alexandra Sumner Kate and Rosie Suttle The stylish restaurant has been a part of Teddington’s Gill Telfer culinary scene for the past 20 years, and specialises in Gill Thomas modern British and European classics with Asian Olivia Tilley influences. The chef proprietor is Ray Neve, former Pippa Weber executive chef with the legendary Anton Mosimann. Moira and Leslie Welch Ray’s wife, Barbara, has many years’ experience in the Evelyn Whitby world of travel, events and hospitality, and their joint Phil Wilding and Ewa Bialkowska expertise make the restaurant what it is today.

As a matter of interest, the Wharf stands on historic

ground: here once stood the celebrated Tough’s And a new Corporate Member: Boatyard, which was the subject of the Teddington The Wharf Restaurant Society Annual Lensbury Lecture earlier this year.

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A ROYAL ACCOLADE FOR COLIN SQUIRE TEDDINGTON SOCIETY ANNUAL LENSBURY LECTURE RAISES £500 FOR RNLI

Colin Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, has received an OBE in recognition of his services to horticulture and to charity.

A full house at The Lensbury was recently enthralled by an evening of entertainment that recalled the heroic events of the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, and Teddington’s role in it.

Colin posed with his award for Tidings at the garden The event was the second Teddington Society Annual centre in – which, as it happens, was the Lensbury Lecture. Stars of the evening were John Tough, first in the family chain; today the business has expanded grandson of the legendary Douglas Tough, and singer- to 15 centres across the south-east. In addition to his songwriter Mike Pemberton. Together, they created an business activities, he’s also a leading light in the evening of nostalgia, folk music, wit, charm, old photos Richmond in Bloom event and is on the board of trustees and historic film. of a number of local charities and organisations. The evening raised a remarkable £500, which we have donated to the Teddington RNLI – which, of course, has Squire’s also has a notable presence on . its base just a few metres away from the original Each summer the local garden centre and the lock Tough’s Boatyard. keepers combine to delight visitors with stunning floral The Boatyard was a familiar landmark on the Thames at displays – and this year is no exception. Teddington. It was from there that Douglas Tough organised and assembled 120 private boats to join in Operation Dynamo, which helped rescue more than 385,000 soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk. At the lecture, John Tough vividly described that historic event, and he also traced the history of the family business since its foundation as Tough & Henderson in 1917.

Mike Pemberton then sang his specially written ballad, a powerful musical tale full of drama and action which was accompanied by archive footage from the and other sources. Afterwards, Sheena Harold, Chairman of the Society, thanked Mike and John for combining to create an absorbing and entertaining evening. She also paid tribute to Lacy Curtis-Ward, Chief Executive of The Lensbury, who generously provided the Squire’s has been a Teddington Society Corporate excellent facilities for the evening. Member of many years standing, and has often supported our horticultural initiatives with Watch out for details of next year’s third Teddington donations or discounts. Society Annual Lensbury Lecture.

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TEDDINGTON A WINNER! Running Rein was actually a horse called Maccabeus – it Back in Victorian times, Teddington once hit the was said that the perpetrators changed the name from sporting headlines in spectacular fashion. Not Maccabeus because it originated in a book they weren’t the town, but a racehorse with the same name. familiar with… the Bible! Nick Picton takes up the reins. Teddington ran 18 times during his career. He won ten races and was regarded as one of the best racehorses of It was in 1851 when the was won by a his day. He was retired to stud in 1853 but had limited horse named Teddington. He ran in the cherry jacket and success in this field, although he did sire Mayonnaise, the black cap of one of the leading figures of the turf, Sir winner of the 1859 1000 Guineas. He also sired two Joseph Hawley, and was owned by his sporting partner Grand National winners – Emblem (1863) and Mr JM Stanley. Teddington wasn’t an imposing looking Emblematic (1864). They were unusual in being full horse, even being described as more like a greyhound sisters and were among the 13mares to have won the than a racehorse. As a foal he was very weak and it race since 1839 (the last being Nickel Coin in 1951). seemed unlikely that he would prosper. His front feet were of different sizes, and his near forefoot “rather of the donkey order”, it was said. Even so, he had an encouraging career as a two-year-old, and Sir Joseph and Mr Stanley had no doubts about his chances as a three-year-old in the Derby, piling money on with the bookmakers. There was a fright a week before the big day when Teddington’s foreleg swelled up, but he had recovered by the time Derby day arrived. With 33 starters, the 1851 race had the largest field to date, and for many years after. It was the 72nd running of the race and Teddington started at odds of 3 to 1 against. Other horses tried to match him, but Teddington liked to make the running; he left the others without effort and won “in a canter” by two lengths. Hawley and Stanley made fortunes from the win and Teddington by Charles Hunt (b 1806) rewarded the winning jockey, Job Marson, with a cheque for £2,000 – perhaps worth a hundred times that in In 1862 Teddington was sold to the Emperor of Austria today’s values. One of the leading bookmakers of the day, for £1,700. He was shipped to Antwerp on the steamship Leviathan Davies, lost £100,000 on the race but was said Baron Osy but on arrival the crew simply placed boards to have taken no more notice of this than “he was wont without railings from the ship to the quay, expecting to do of his washing bill”. their equine passenger to stroll ashore. But Teddington was spooked and plunged 30 feet into the River Scheldt. Pedigree is all in racing. Teddington’s He sank to the bottom but fortunately resurfaced. He dam, Miss Twickenham, was well bred and his sire, was caught by the head and after a struggle lasting about , had won the Derby in 1844 in unusual half an hour was brought ashore, no doubt less than circumstances. pleased with his involuntary bath. Orlando had finished second but it turned out that the The Emperor kept a lavish stud for racing first past the post, Running Rein, was actually a four- at in Hungary, where Teddington spent his year-old: the Derby is restricted to three-year-olds only. remaining years. The plot to run a four-year-old was hatched by a crooked trainer, Abraham Goodman and his accomplice, Pickles Higgins the bookmaker.

The Derby Day by William Powell Frith © Gallery

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CHESTNUT SUNDAY As anyone in Teddington knows, is blessed with fine avenues of horse chestnuts, and the blossoms are reputed to be at their best on or around 11th May. So, since Victorian times, this natural event has been celebrated on the Sunday closest to the 11th – and it’s as popular today as ever it’s been. As in past years, we had a stand there, of course.

On Chestnut Sunday this year, classic cars, old vehicles, marching bands, police horses, vintage Vespas, throaty Harley Davidsons, London taxis through the ages, and even the occasional penny farthing or two, all paraded along Chestnut Avenue, which runs through the park and connects Teddington with Hampton Court. The family event was crowned with glorious weather to make it a perfect day.

A RIVER BLESSING

A service of thanks to celebrate the importance of the Thames to the existence, work and leisure of Teddington took place in July, led by the Rev Joe Moffatt, Vicar of Teddington. The service was held in conjunction with an open day at the RNLI station.

Following the success of last year’s blessing ceremony, held as part of the Teddington 800 celebrations, the service is now to become an annual event.

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POPULAR OPERA COMES TO PICTURES AND NEWS GALORE ON THE TEDDINGTON TEDDINGTON SOCIETY WEBSITE!

The unique in Teddington is We’re pleased to say that the Society’s website is up taking on a distinctly operatic feel in the coming and running again and is now fully operational. You months – thanks in part to the Teddington Society. can go online at teddingtonsociety.org.uk to see our very latest news, details of forthcoming events, a First up is one of the world’s most popular and gallery of new and historic photographs, and more. accessible operas presented by the Society and the It’s also possible for the public to join the Society via Glass Ceiling Orchestra – Bizet’s Carmen – on 15th the website, and for members to renew their September. Then, on November 1st, we are subscriptions. presenting An Evening of Opera Classics. This will include well-established favourites from La Traviata, L’Elisir d’Amore, Nabucco, and other masterpieces.

“These are evenings not to be missed, with a cast of rising stars” said Diana Gillespie, who’s helping organise both events. Among them are Josephine Thorpe, Susana Gaspar and Bechara Mouffarej, who are already performing on prestigious international stages such as the Royal Opera House, Sadlers Wells and the Royal Albert Hall.

At the Carmen performance, the Glass Ceiling Orchestra will be conducted by Royal Opera House Link Artist Sonia Ben-Santamaria and led by Eugene

Lee of the Philharmonia Orchestra and Southbank Sinfonia. Part of the proceeds will go to Dress for “For readers of Tidings, the website is an additional Success, a worldwide charity to help disadvantaged resource because of its immediacy” explained Peter women succeed and achieve economic Denton, our webmaster and Vice-Chairman. “The independence. magazine is published quarterly, whereas the website is immediate and updated pretty much The 1st November concert is in aid of the Princess every day. Alice Hospice and the Downs Syndrome “Not only that, but we can also make available Association. Sonia Ben- dozens of photographs of events such as Santamaria will be Musical Teddington in Flower and the Village Fair – far Director and the more than we could ever hope to publish in the performers will include magazine because the number of pages is limited. Conall O’Neill (left), who So together, Tidings and the website are a double grew up in Teddington benefit for our members.” and studied at the Royal College of Music; the Royal The relaunched website, hosted by DOWN-TO- Choral Society, Queen’s EARTH Websites, is part of our growing online University Canada; and the presence. We also have an active Twitter feed, Children’s Chorus from Newland House School. which gives us an even stronger profile in Teddington, the borough and beyond. As part of our “This is a first for the Society,” said our chairman service to members and Corporate Members, this Sheena Harold, “and we hope our members and feed is also carried on the home page of the website. their friends will come along and support our new venture.” The concert will start at 7.30pm. Website: teddingtonsociety.org.uk Call 07889 437176 or 07801 105248 for tickets. Twitter: twitter.com/TeddingtonSoc

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ALL THE FUN OF THE TEDDINGTON VILLAGE FAIR

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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR GOOD CAUSES THIS SUMMER!

We’re delighted to report that five local charities and good causes have benefited from the Society’s two big summer events – Teddington in Flower and the Village Fair.

Thanks to the generosity of our members, their friends and the public who supported us, and the extraordinarily good weather, a wonderful total of £5,000 was raised.

The Teddington in Flower recipients, which have each received £1,250, are:

The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks, which The Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington’s cultural help protect the wildlife and natural environment hub. Our donation will go towards landscaping the of both parks, and promote the public enjoyment of area around the centre. these two extraordinary open spaces.

The Teddington Village Fair raised £2,500, of which £1,000 each went to:

United Response (left), a local charity which provides a range of support services for adults and young people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs or physical disabilities.

Off the Record (right), based in Church Road, Twickenham. This charity provides free and confidential drop-in counselling, support, information and sexual health services to young people between 11 and 24 who live, work or study in the Borough of Richmond.

In addition, the Addison Road Community garden project (left) in Teddington received £500 to regenerate the communal playground area. This worthwhile scheme is being backed not only by the Society, but also by the Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhood Team and local Councillor Jim Millard.

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TEDDINGTON IN FLOWER

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BATTLEFIELDS TO BUTTERFLIES can be seen as Walpole conceived it, with the collection in the interiors as A special memorial garden, representing a First he wanted them to be, shown in their World War trench leading into the sunlight where original positions. wild flowers are flourishing and the sky is filled with white butterflies, has been created thanks in Strawberry Hill House is looking for enthusiastic part to research done by David and Claire Ivison, people to join its volunteer team and share the who head the Society’s History Group. story of this remarkable house and collection – so, if you enjoy talking to people and sharing stories, email [email protected] or call 020 8744 1241. The exhibition closes on February 24th.

TEDDINGTON ARTISTS AT THE NORMANSFIELD VICTORIAN THEATRE

In 1990, a group of like-minded artists got together to form a group that would meet, exchange ideas

and exhibit together. They numbered just 12, they The garden is the work of Historic Royal Palaces all lived in Teddington, and they were all and the Royal Parks Guild, and recognises the professional. They became known as sacrifice made by staff who worked at all the parks, Teddington Artists. gardens and grounds who died in the First World War. It’s part of a series of Battlefields to In 1991 they held their first exhibition in the Butterflies garden tributes, and made its first Victorian theatre at Normansfield, and they have appearance at the recent Hampton Court Flower continued the tradition of an annual show ever Show. A commemorative stone, which lists the since. This year, the 27th show – the Teddington names of the 24 gardeners and park keepers from Artists Art Fair – will take place there over the the Royal Parks and Palaces, is to be placed in a weekend of 29th and 30th September. Thirteen permanent memorial garden at Brompton Teddington Artists and five guests will offer a Cemetery in London. range of fine art, including paintings, prints, textile art, photography, ceramics, jewellery As well as being long-term members of the Society, and sculpture. David and Claire are also active in the Friends of Bushy & Home Parks, whose newsletter they Entry is £2, of which half goes to the Langdon produce and distribute. Down Centre charity. Refreshments and parking are available.

LOST TREASURES RETURN TO STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE

The Lost Treasures of Strawberry Hill exhibition, which opens on October 20th for four months, will see some of the most important masterpieces in Horace Walpole’s unique collection return to Strawberry Hill House.

Walpole’s collection was one of the most important of the 18th century. It was dispersed in 1842 – but now, for the first time in more than 170 years,

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HISTORY GROUP RHP and the Library in Waldegrave Road. There David Ivison are about 40 parking spaces there, but residents need fewer than 20, so 20 or more spaces that History Boards could be used by shoppers and Library users will Our well-travelled Teddington 800 history boards be empty for most of the day. The Society has are currently on exhibition at the Twickenham asked for all the spaces outside RHP and the Museum – and they’ll be there until the end of Library on the east side of the road to be converted the year except for the month of September. into Free One Hour Turnover spaces to maximise use, although a few Pay and Display spaces for drivers wanting to stay more than an hour would be acceptable. This was requested months ago without success, and will be requested again.

Elleray Hall and Park Road Surgery Richmond Council’s previous Conservative administration announced plans to amalgamate three charitable services – Elleray Hall, RUILS and RIAS – on one of three sites all owned by the Council, implying that the other two could be sold. This Community Hub idea is now on hold and will be reviewed by the new LibDem administration in due course. The Society is working closely with The boards are a tour de force by Paddy Ching, our Elleray Hall to maintain its independence and resident historian and Vice President, with input expand its services. from Sheena Harold, Ken Howe, Pieter Morpurgo and John Sheaf. They cover the history of the town Park Road Surgery wants to expand to provide from medieval times to the present day, and make better facilities for its patients. It has been offered absorbing reading. a site on the Udney Park playing fields if Quantum The at 25 The Embankment gets planning permission to build 100-plus luxury is set in a lovely three-storey Georgian house, near homes. This is strongly opposed by local residents the parish church of St Mary. A stone’s throw from and a wide range of sporting organisations, but the river, this Grade II listed building is open on Quantum has now appealed directly to the Tuesdays and Saturdays between 11am and 3pm, Secretary of State for “non-determination” by and Sundays between 2pm and 4pm. Drop in, sign Richmond Council. The Society’s strongly held the visitors book and admire our history boards! view is that the Surgery should stay on the west side of the railway line where most of its patients live, with the Police Station being one possible location. A Council review is to take place shortly, including valuation levels to take account of social ROADS AND TRANSPORT GROUP benefits of services provided. Brian Holder The Council car park behind Tesco Metro – this It’s claimed by some that Controlled Parking Zones must be included in the Council Review (CPZs) reduce car use and linked air pollution. Not The Society would like to see this large site so: arriving drivers have to tour the streets to find included in any review of Council-owned property parking spaces creating unnecessary noise and air in the area, as the car park could be upgraded to pollution, even though well located Pay and two floors, one underground, with the possibility Display or Free Turnover parking spaces reduces of affordable housing above. This would avoid the this problem. loss of shoppers’ parking which is so important to the health of the Broad Street shopping centre, and One case of inadequate research leading to some provide limited parking for nearby residents who 20-plus empty parking spaces for most of the day are currently allowed to park in the small east side is the extended hours CPZ outside and opposite the car park.

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SIR VINCE CABLE INTERVENES IN notices are removed within 24 hours of the event PLANNING CONTROVERSY they are advertising.) I’m in contact with the LBRuT officer who grants permission for such posters in the hope that she’ll make it a future condition that the plastic ties, as well as the notices, are removed in a timely manner. Stray ties/whiskers, particularly those placed at low level, could easily poke one in the eye with all sorts of unfortunate consequences.

I have made my number with the new LBRuT Udney Park Playing Fields cabinet member for the environment, our own local councillor Martin Elengorn, who I have found Local MP Sir Vince Cable has intervened in the to be most helpful and supportive of the Society. long-running dispute over the future of the Udney It’s good to know that we are generally held in Park playing fields in Teddington. Quantum such good regard by our local representatives. Teddington Development Ltd has applied for Long may that continue. permission to erect 107 residential apartments, a GP surgery and other buildings on the site in A NEW BOAT COMES TO VISIT Udney Park Road – which the Teddington Society Ann Sayer opposes. In May, a special ceremony and blessing welcomed In a letter to James Brokenshire, Secretary of State the Thames Discoverer to the Boat for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Project, which was founded 30 years ago. Sir Vince wrote, “The overriding consideration has to be the fact that the development represents a This community project makes the Thames serious breach of [Richmond] Council’s policy, Discoverer and its sister boat the Thames Venturer which has wide support, to retain green open accessible to people with special needs, the elderly space (which would be lost permanently) and to and those with disability or mental health retain playing fields which are widely used by the conditions. In addition it provides environmental local community.” education and learning activities to mainstream schools and youth groups. The boats can also be The controversial planning application has hired by other groups and individuals for attracted more than 4,500 representations to private occasions. Richmond Council – believed to be a record for any planning application in the authority’s history. The boats are moored at Kingston just below the railway bridge – or you may have seen the Thames Venturer moored just above Teddington Lock ENVIRONMENT GROUP footbridge when it played host to one of the Geoff Howland popular “School on the River” days, enabling children to learn about a range of topics related to Only one litterpick has been organised of late, back the river and the nearby shore. For more in April, as I’ve undergone minor hand surgery information visit www.thamesboatproject.org under a latter day Sir Lancelot Spratt – but I'll soon be organising litterpicks and re-cycling site clean ups, upon which I'll report in the next edition of Tidings.

I recently cleared the High Street, Broad Street and most adjacent roads of all the unsightly, and sometimes , lamp post ‘whiskers’, the name given by environmentalists to the abandoned plastic ties used for securing notices to lamp posts and other street furniture (I hasten to add that the whiskers used for Teddington Society

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TREES & GARDENS Blooming Good Sheena Harold Richmond In Bloom has had a lot of good Teddington entries, all of which have been judged by now and we’ll give you the results in the next Poppies in Perpetuity edition of Tidings. We can all help by brightening Our beautiful Flanders Poppies in Elmfield our front gardens or business premises. It makes Gardens are under threat. Apparently someone in people feel good when they pass by and it helps the High Street wants to see them removed from bring business to the town too. their position outside Harlequin House where they have become the focus of remembrance for the Teddington in Flower fallen of not just the First World War but of all Siân Morgan, assisted for the first time by Belinda wars. We hope you will support us as we make Rozalla, laid on a terrific show of back gardens, as strenuous efforts to have the Poppies remain in the you can see elsewhere in Tidings, and raised a lot High Street for ever. This is particularly insensitive of money for charity. So our thanks to them, to as November is the centenary of the cessation of everyone who let us visit their gardens, and to all hostilities of WW1. who welcomed the visitors, took entry fees and enrolled new members. Causeway Flower Box

‘SCARCE’ MOTH SPOTTED IN TEDDINGTON

Two of our members were very happy to find a Jersey Tiger moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria) resting on a clematis trellis in their garden here in Teddington. A little online research revealed that until recently its range was restricted to the Channel Islands, south Devon and parts of Dorset – but now it’s becoming more widespread and has even reached Teddington!

According to Butterfly Conservation, this moth is

listed as Nationally Scarce. It enjoys warm days The brick box planter we sponsor at the junction of and nights and flies from July to September. The Causeway with Park Road is looking particularly lovely despite the prolonged drought, don't you think? Thanks to Michael Minas for tending it.

This is in sharp contrast to the atrocious purple plastic popsicles protruding from the brick box alongside! I’m meeting with the Council’s Parks Manager at the beginning of August and hope to acquire planting rights. Otherwise I will be recruiting guerrilla gardeners to redress the situation… any volunteers?

Your Triangle Needs You! The beds at the Triangle opposite the Hospital are dying for a decent drink. We do need a couple of people to look after our bed, do a little weeding and watering. Again, any volunteers?

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EVENTS We have a remarkable chance to visit the lovely site in St Margarets that includes Clifton Lodge, a August to December listed former orangery, and the Violet Needham 800 years of Teddington’s history (1217-2017) Chapel. There are five dance studios (one of which Illustrated on banners displayed at Twickenham is a studio theatre), student therapy facilities and Museum, 25 The Embankment, from now to the a library. end of the year except September (see page 12). Meet: Clifton Lodge, St Margarets Drive, Twickenham TW1 1QN. 15th September Programme: Tea or coffee on arrival. 7.30pm Normansfield Theatre, 2 Langdon Park An insight into Bizet’s opera Carmen Opportunity to watch a Ballet Class in the Conducted by Sonia Ben-Santamaria. Tickets £28 Sainsbury Studio. (Conc. £22) Langdon Down Box Office 033 31 212 Tour of Rambert School and talk with Rachel 300 (see page 7). Tranter, Development Strategy Manager. To book: email Pamela at [email protected] or call 07802 25th September 822812. Richmond In Bloom Awards Night at Cost: £10. Cheques payable to Ms P McHutchon, York House Flat 3, 86 High Street, Teddington TW11 8JD. By invitation only. A full list of Teddington winners Please include email and/or phone number. will appear in the next issue of Tidings. Directions: H37 bus (towards Hounslow) from

outside St Margarets Station, alighting at the Ailsa 1st October Tavern in St Margarets Road, at the junction with 10.30am Society Visit to Rambert School of St Margarets Drive. Walk down St Margarets Drive Ballet & Contemporary Dance, St Margarets and the School is on the left.

1st November 7.30pm Normansfield Theatre, 2 Langdon Park An Evening of Opera Classics presented by the Teddington Society. A first for us, and featuring Conall O’Neill from Teddington singing bass. Tickets £25 (conc. £21) from Diana Gillespie: 07801 105248 (see page 7).

11th November, Remembrance Day To commemorate 100 years from the cessation of Rambert School is a world-leading training and hostilities in WW1 there will be a special service educational institution, with an international and march from St Mary’s Parish Church and the reputation for promoting excellence and Landmark to the War Memorial at the Hospital. innovation in ballet and contemporary dance. Full details will be on our website and circulated to those of you who have given us email addresses The School delivers a unique degree course and is nearer the time. committed to enabling and furthering the potential of its students, nurturing individuality and creative 29th November expression. The Graduates’ work is characterised Teddington Lights Up! Christmas Lights Switch by their artistic expression as well as their strong On in the High Street Afternoon and evening entertainment from Broad technical skills, and they can be found in all areas Street down to the Landmark. Full details in our of the profession – as dancers, choreographers, next issue. teachers, academics and directors.

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OPERA AT NORMANSFIELD – AN EXCITING DOUBLE BILL!

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