www.shra.org.uk the bulletin Representing the views of all who live in the historic Thameside village of Strawberry Hill No. 137 July 2008 Royalty and Romance Sun shines on Strawberry Hill of St James’s Parish Music and Fun Day A charming and very readable history of St James's Church, Popes Grove, and the After a week of were whipped and lib growth of the Parish, has just been written nearly continuous erally applied to the by local resident Tom Devitt. rain, the clouds dis- home-made produce, Tracing the origins of the church from its appeared and the sun together with Chair- founding in 1885 to the present day, the book reveals the close links and encouragement came out for the man Bruce Duff’s which the church received from exiled royalty Strawberry Hill Mu- now-legendary choc- living nearby such as King Manoel of sic and Fun Day on olate sauce. Portugal, Louis Philippe of France and the Sunday 13th July. By 6 o’clock eve- Countess of Paris. SHRA’s strawber- rything had been sold Their gifts to the church can still be seen. ry-themed stall was and the Association A large section of the book details the art and stained glass. The church itself was the result well positioned in the was richer by £674. of a generous donation by a wealthy Catholic food area, next to a Secretary Clare convert. German sausage stall. Phelps organised the You can obtain copies of “The Parish of A large team of volun- helpers and the straw- St James, Twickenham, 1855-2008”, from the teers manned the stall, Joint-chairman Robert Youngs, Committee members berry treats were all church porch, price £4.50 or £20 for five slicing 40 lbs of straw- Pam Crisp and Teresa Read man the stall while made by residents. copies, or by e-mail to: John Armstrong looks on berries and inserting The Committee [email protected] . A portion of the history can be seen on the them into sponge cakes, layering them on would like to thank local estate agents Mile- church website: shortbread, tartlets, pavlovas, millefeuille, stone and Collis for their generous sponsor- cheesecake, and fairy cakes. Pints of cream ship of our stall. www.st-james-twickenham.org.uk SHRA Calls for Review of Planning Hearings SHRA is responding to concerns follow- This threatens our ability to protect our ing a number of planning decisions, neighbourhood.” notably surrounding objections to de- Whereas an applicant can appeal velopments in Waldegrave Road, Gif- against rejection to the Planning Inspector- ford House and St James’s Church. ate, objectors can only appeal by applica- Residents have complained that the tion to the High Court, at great cost. procedure is biased against objectors and (See “Third planning request” on page 2) leaves too much decision making authority to council officers. Concerns have also Committee Changes been voiced about inadequate minute Jose Relton, Committee member with responsibility for planning matters, has keeping of committee planning meetings. resigned. The Chairmen and Committee Under the current procedure, a number would like to thank Jose for her hard work of objectors, usually about three, are per- and service to the area over many years.
Reproduced by kind permission of Private Eye/ Clive Goddard
mitted to speak for three minutes each. Design & Construction Proposers and their supporters also speak for three minutes, followed by a summing Soft Landscaping - up the planning officer. Patios- Driveways - Planning Committee members may ask Fencing - Water questions of both proposers and objectors, Features - Garden but neither may challenge statements made Walls by the planning officer. John Armstrong, SHRA Committee Fully Insured - Free Estimates member, says: “scrutinising and repre- Tel: 020 8890 4944 senting local parties over planning and Mob: 07738423429 development is a key function of our or- Email: ganization. We believe the planning hear- [email protected] .uk ings and the appeals system, are flawed. Page 1 The Bulletin No. 137 July 2008 www.shra.org.uk Transport Strawberry Hill Post Office PROFESSIONAL Clare Head shadows Traffic Station Painting Stalled and Parking The refurbishment of the pedestrian bridge which began in January has now stalled and CENTRE Cllr Clare Head, who frequently attends SWT has not supplied a date for further work. Shirts, Ironing, SHRA Committee meetings, has been SWT engineers concluded the bridge needed appointed shadow cabinet member for structural repairs before painting and replace- Laundry, Curtains traffic, parking and transport on Richmond ment of rotten weatherboards could continue. Duvets, Tailor Repairs Council. The present unsightly chipboard is now likely SAME DAY SERVICE AVAILABLE Her brief covers the whole of the Borough. to remain in place for several months. OYSTER CARD, BUS PASS, TRAVEL CARD, Clare says that she is particularly conscious of Waiting room watch LOTTERY, CASH MACHINE, MOBILE TOP UP, the CPZ problem in Waldegrave Gardens, and PHOTOCOPY AND FAX will be fighting for residents seriously Residents report that the waiting room on Agent for Kings Dry Cleaning in inconvenienced by non-residents taking their the Richmond-bound platform is now open all Twickenham parking spaces. the time when the booking office is open. SHRA has raised the problem of waiting 80 Tower Road Her colleague, Cllr Marlow is pressing 020 8892 3293 council officers to expedite a new design for the room closures with SWT which has asked resi- dents to monitor the situation. parking outside the station. The world is your Oyster! Jay and Aparna Patel would like you to know that you Planning can now buy or top up your Oyster Card at the Post Gifford house land up for tion because the site is the location of historic Office and that they can Gifford Lodge. Work is currently taking place now supply US dollars on de sale soon mand. This means you can now pick up your on a party wall agreement because the Council travel money (Euros or dollars) without Residents living near to the Gifford House plans to build within 2.4 metres of the former ordering in advance. site have been told that the house and part of Willow Grange estate about, ten metres from the land will be put up for sale shortly. existing houses. AGM held at Golf Club The Contact Centre on the site will be relo- The sale of Gifford House was featured in cated to Mortlake during August. A new Con- a recent issue of Private Eye’s “Rotten Bor- oughs” section. The 2008 Annual General Meeting of the tact Centre will re-open on the Gifford House SHRA was held on Monday 14th April at site, possibly next year. In the meantime, the Third planning request for Strawberry Hill Golf Club. Judith Love- site will be gated and services disconnected. lace, Chair of the Friends of Strawberry A seven-week project to remove asbestos Waldegrave Road Hill, told the meeting about the current from the former Council-run Day Nursery SHRA and local Cllr Clare Head have spo- state of the restoration of Horace should be completed in time for demolition of ken out against a third development in Walde- Walpole’s “little Gothic Castle”. Gifford House to start in October. However, the Tricia Mckeown, Services Manager at grave Road opposite St Mary’s College. site has yet to undergo other scrutiny for con- Roy Kinnear House, was presented with a SHRA committee member John Armstrong tamination and for an archeological investiga- cheque for £300, the proceeds of the collec- and Cllr Head are particularly concerned by the tion at the Christmas Carol Singing together CAR SERVICING & REPAIRS style of the ‘brutal modern developments.” with a contribution from the Association’s They say: “In principle we are not against cer- funds. VOLVO tain houses being knocked down and used more Twickenham MP Vincent Cable, Cllr & intensively for housing. What is upsetting is Clare Head and prospective Conservative SUBARU outsiders imposing their ideas on the commu- candidate Deborah Thomas were among the nity which has spoken out against brutal mod- guests. Major items under discussion were & ern developments. Developers, architects and planning and traffic. Most other makes the planning committee should listen to local One resident raised concerns about St * plus * people and not impose their opinions.” Mary’s College hosting an Olympic team in Tyres, batteries, exhausts It is feared that light spillage from huge 2012 with attendant security issues and in- glass windows will drive away wildlife from creased police presence. Dr Cable has offered • Very Skilled Technicians help with the issue. • Great Value nearby gardens. • High Quality 020 8892 4440 ShaftesburyRAWLINSON Way, Wellesley & Road,WEBBER Spencer Road, Tower Road, Walpole Gardens, Preston Close, MKG 3000 Wellesley Crescent,72 Tower Road, Walpole Strawberry Road, Hill TW1 Popes 4PP Avenue, Tower Road, Strawberry Hill, TW1 4PP Vicarage Road, GrangeTel: 020 Avenue,8892 5442 Alexander Close, It pays to advertise Advertising income has funded the Popes Grove, Orford Gardens, Waldegrave Road and production of a better quality Bulletin. Buying or selling in Strawberry Hill? You may wish to support our advertisers. Gardens, Radnor Road, Holmes Road, Bonser Road, If you would like to advertise in the next issue, the rates are £5 per single column Riverview Gardens, Clive Road, Michelham centimetre. Call the local property experts For all advertising sales, please contact Gardens, Downside, Strawberry Hill Road and Close, Eugene Bacot at: Southfield Gardens,www.rawlinsonandwebber.co.uk Waldegrave Park, Hawkesley Email: [email protected] Tel: 020 7731 4526 Close, [email protected] Close, Field End, Upper Grotto Road Page 2 The Bulletin No. 137 July 2008 www.shra.org.uk Hundreds earnestly applaud an Friends of Strawberry enchanting picnic play Hill House An appeal has been launched to restore The first picnic theatre production to be the beautiful and historic Renaissance staged on the lawns of Strawberry Hill painted glass of Strawberry Hill House. House, The Importance of Being Earnes t, Over the years much of the glass has been attracted more than 300 playgoers on June damaged as a result of being wrongly 29. re-hung during the 1960s or before that Nearly £2,000 was raised towards the resto- bomb damage. ration fund. Enthusiastic bons vivants pic- The rectangular glass panels were nicked lavishly, even bringing chairs and rescued from ancient houses in Flanders and tables. The gothic backdrop created the ideal show biblical, classical or domestic scenes. The cost of repairing and re-hanging setting. Members of the cast take a bow So successful was the evening that it will will cost in excess of £250,000. The now become an annual event. The Richmond performance of As You Like It. A comedy by Strawberry Hill Trust also seeks donations Shakespeare Theatre is hoping to celebrate their Teddington-born playwright Noel Coward is for repair of the ‘roundels’ – in fact they are 75th anniversary at the House next year with a also a possibility. rectangular – ranging from £500 to a large roundel to £100 for a smaller one. Further details can be found on the web- Shell seat inspired by Botticelli site: The remarkable 6 feet high shell seat which dominated the garden of Walpole’s www.friendsofstrawberryhill.org Strawberry Hill House in the 18 th century has been recreated and replaced in the garden. Designed by Walpole’s friend Richard Bentley, the oak shell seat was inspired by Botticelli’s painting The Birth of Venus. The shell seat was unveiled at Chelsea Flower Show where the three Cholmondeley sisters recalled a letter from Walpole in which he said the Duchesses of Hamilton and Richmond and Lady Ailesbury dined with him. “There never was so pretty a sight as to World InfoZone World InfoZone adds an international The Ladies Cholmondeley try out the shell seat at perspective to education with world, country the Chelsea Flower Show and cultural profiles, newslinks, country Ian Davis features and global communication. Visit our Ian Davis, past Chairman of SHRA, died see all three of them sitting in the Shell” website - an invaluable resource for on 29th June at Exeter Hospital, aged 82. A limited edition of 101 numbered shell seats teachers and students: He was chairman from 1991 to 1993, have been made by Architectural Heritage to help http://www.worldinfozone.com / succeeding Tony Beckles Willson. raise funds for restoration. Friends of Radnor Gardens
Café could open in the They should write contact Clare Head autumn by e-mail at: [email protected] The café in Radnor Gardens could re- St James’ Boys log open by September if building quotes garden flora are received in time. FoRG Chairperson Clare Head says Eight boys from St James’s School have “the small cost of making the café safe will undertaken a project to research and be made by Richmond Council. When record all the species of trees, shrubs quotes are approved it should only take a and flowers in the gardens. couple of weeks to get ready – fingers When completed the report will be pre- crossed,” said Cllr Head. sented to FoRG to form the basis of a heritage board for visitors. In the meantime, FoRG is researching Boys from St James’s School recording the flora in the history of the brick hut which is re- St James’s school recently became the Radnor Gardens first corporate member of FoRG. puted to be a former WW2 air raid shelter FoRG has consistently raised the ques- or machine gun post. It is strategically FoRG polls flooding tion of flooding, especially sewage over- placed to command river traffic. Concrete flow from drains which runs into the internal blast walls would seem to support Friends of Radnor Gardens Committee gardens. this view. members have distributed Thames Wa- “We are now attending regular joint FoRG is keen to hear from anyone who ter Flooding questionnaires to house- Council and Thames Water meetings and has information about the history of the holds in Cross Deep close to the gardens hope to get some action to prevent flood- brick hut. which are affected by flooding. ing,” says FoRG Chairperson Clare Head. Page 3 The Bulletin No. 137 July 2008 www.shra.org.uk World InfoZone
Educating the world from Strawberry Hill Teresa and teachers from Nigeria at the 2008 Stockholm awards An educational website founded in 1997 by former teacher Teresa Read, has been honoured by an international organisation based in Sweden . Called World InfoZone (WIZ), the website T H E C O M M I T T E E contains photographs and information used by schoolchildren in education projects all over the world. Between 2002 and 2004, WIZ took OFFICERS part in an international project involving schools in more than 40 countries. Bruce Duff In that time WIZ and Teresa have been (Joint Chair) 8894 5271 nominated on many occasions for awards, [email protected] notably the Stockholm Challenge which recognises information schemes that build a comprehensive view of the world and the Robert Youngs (Joint Chair) global knowledge society. history of its people and it is used by 8894 1121 Teresa, who has lived in Strawberry Hill educational organisations globally”. [email protected] for 25 years, runs the site on a voluntary basis. Last month Teresa was invited to Stockholm in recognition of her work. John Naish She says: “The site aims to provide a (Hon. Treasurer) 8892 7953 Your Association Needs You! [email protected] Clare Phelps The Bulletin is delivered to Wanted: green-fingered volunteer! (Joint Hon. Secretary) every one of the 2,500 8892 5863 homes in Strawberry Hill The colourful planters sited by Threshers [email protected] thanks to our team of and Harjii’s as well as the oak tubs near the volunteer distributors. Sopa restaurant are maintained by SHRA. Pam Crisp A new distributor is (Joint Hon. Secretary) They are replanted twice a year, funded by 8898 1878 sought for Waldegrave Park to deliver to your subscriptions, and occasionally watered [email protected] approximately 45 houses on the odd number and weeded. SHRA is looking for a keen gar- side. dener to take on this role. M E M B E R S If you can help with either of these tasks, please contact Clare Phelps on 8892 5863 John Armstrong 8894 5218 [email protected] May SHRA help you with planning issues? Eugene Bacot 8892 2837 If you and/or your neighbours are concerned about projected building plans in your area, [email protected] we are here to give advice and support. Together with local councillors, SHRA is able to help by giving advice on: Joe Brett 8892 6625 [email protected] 1 Coordinating objections 2 Pin-pointing acceptable grounds for objections Mike O’Hagan 8894 5193 3 Explaining the workings of the Council's Planning Department [email protected]
Contact any member of the Committee. Teresa Read ! [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