THE TEDDINGTON SOCIETY NEWSLETTER T I D I N G S Helping to make Teddington even better Number 158 Autumn 2012 Diamond Jubilee Edition Contents: These past few months have From the Editor 2 seen a frenzy of historic and momentous events and Teddington Village Fair 2013 2 celebrations and Teddington has Jubilee Street Parties 3 been playing it’s full part in these. Wild London 4 The Diamond Jubilee, street parties, charity events, Village Fair, Teddington in Flower, Dog Olympics, Olympic cycling Group Reports 5 – to name just a few. Teddington residents and businesses Membership Questionnaire 8 alike have entered into these celebrations with a true Charity Celebration Weekend 10 community spirit and it is only right that we record as much Society People News 12 of this as possible. But space in Tidings is always at a premium. New Members 12 So we take this opportunity to extend our most grateful Edith Cavell 14 thanks to our printers – they have not only become our latest Trolleybus 50 15 Corporate Member but they have most generously donated Charity Donations Update 16 4 extra pages for this issue at no cost to the Society. Teddington Village Fair 2012 16 Many thanks to David, Alan and their team at Woodgate Loydor in Elmfield Road. 17 Business Exchange Editor 18 Quiz Corner Events 20 Letter from the Chair At long last the weather seems to be improving but too late for our CHRISTMAS LIGHTS UP gardens where the slugs are rampant and for my allotment where I have no pears, damsons or apricots this year due to the rain and wind. To switch on the Lights this year, However, we were lucky for "Teddington in Flower" - although it was we've asked the Mayor and cloudy, it did not rain and the gardens, particularly those new this year, comedy star Lee Mack to do the attracted a welcome number of visitors to help with our donations to local honours for us. We've also asked charities. Thus with the aid of the local businesses we have been able to for the High Street to be closed to make generous donations to Elleray Hall (who have a delightful hidden traffic for a few hours so you can garden), to Teddington Hospital and other local charities. mix and mingle without getting run We are pleased with our increased and now formalised links with the over! local business community and look forward to further fruitful collaboration. Where we are finding it more difficult to communicate is with some parts More details next time. of Richmond Council. Due no doubt to the 15% cut in council staff, some Sheena Harold of the informal relationships built up over many years have been swept away, and the channels for formal consultation seem to have become somewhat clogged. We hope this will improve. Jenny Hilton Dates for your diary: Christmas Lights Up November 29th Merits Xmas Lunch November 22nd & 30th 2013 Village Fair June 16th Teddington Society From the Editor 21 Teddington Park Teddington TW11 8DB Listening to You Registered Charity No. 802026 It is almost 40 years since the Teddington Society was first created. secretary@teddingtonsociety Since then times have changed, people have changed and we have .org.uk seen some amazing changes at both international and national levels. www.teddingtonsociety.org.uk Teddington has likewise seen some significant changes itself over that period. So, towards the end of last year, we asked you all for Vice-Presidents your thoughts on how your Society is performing now. We asked for Roger Avins your criticisms, your praise (where it was deserved), your views and John Demont your suggestions for the future. We wanted to know what was good, Joan Freeman what was not and what we could do to improve and make sure that Chair we properly represent you, the members. Jenny Hilton Your response was magnificent – we did receive praise and equally [email protected] we did receive criticism, albeit constructive. Most importantly you bombarded us with what you see as your priorities for the future Vice Chairman together with many helpful suggestions as to how we can address Sheena Harold them. [email protected] Our Working Group (David Lawton. Maria Pemberton and myself) Treasurer that coordinated all of this has produced a full report together with Sally Howland general recommendations to the Executive Committee on the way 020 8977 9404 forward: the Executive Committee has endorsed our report. There are too many recommendations to pursue all at once and our next step is Publicity & Promotions for the Working Group to take the most pressing needs and to make more detailed proposals to the Executive Committee – work has (incl. Gardens) Sheena Harold already started on this. 020 8977 2700 We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your open and frank responses and to assure you that all of your Newsletter Editor comments have been taken on board. More importantly, now that you Mike Woods have found your voice please keep your comments coming. Even if 020 8977 5642 you didn’t reply the first time round, we still want to hear from you. The article on pages 8 and 9 is an attempt to summarise our report. Minutes Secretary If you would like an electronic copy of the full report, just email the Rosemary Connellan Editor ([email protected]). 020 8977 3314 Membership Subscriptions [email protected] Belinda Heal Copy deadline for the next issue is 20th October 020 8977 4926 Events Organiser Angela Carvill 020 8977 0167 Teddington Village Fair CONVENORS SAME VILLAGE, NEW FAIR Corporate Liaison Bhavna Patel 020 8977 3793 This year's Teddington Village Fair was the last to be organised by the local Environment Lions. Due to dwindling numbers they have decided to close. However that is David Lawton 020 8977 6778 not the end of the Village Fair. The remaining Lions have joined with the Historical Research Society to put on future fairs. Paddy Ching 020 8977 3901 A meeting was held in June where we were joined by the Landmark Arts Centre and St. Mary's Church. With us in spirit were the NPL. Together we will Planning mount a new look Village Fair on Sunday 16th June 2013. Due to the Brian Lane 020 8973 0811 enormous success of this year's two High Street charity days we will use [email protected] Saturday 15th June 2013 to put on similar charity events, we hope, all over (first contact only) town together with Landmark organising street entertainment leading to the big Riverside and Open Spaces Fair the next day. We don't want to see the years of hard work that the Lions Ann Sayer 020 8977 9495 have put into maintaining the Fair go to waste and we want to combine their Roads and Transport charitable work with ours. So support your Village Fair and come and have a Brian Holder 020 8977 1579 'roaring' good time. Sheena Harold Page 2 Teddington Street Parties TW11 pushed the boat out for street parties to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. At least 35 roads closed at one time or another. We don’t have room to present every road here but these are just a few from the great selection that you have sent to me. Thanks to all of those who responded and apologies if your favourite picture is not here. Twickenham Road Page 3 WILD LONDON – A WASHOUT "The Queen is coming to invited to meet H.M. but better person. Mr. Wait of Twickenham Richmond for her Diamond actually met Princess won a lovely box of Belgian chocs from Jubilee" aroused a lot of Alexandra who lives close La Casa del Habano. 3rd prize, a meal excitement but we weren't by. Jenny found there was for 2 at Diners Turkish Delight, went to allowed to tell anybody! no security at the VIP tent Mrs. S. Robley of Hampton. 4th prize - a Richmond Park was the at all so people had to £40 voucher from Via – went to Mrs. A. venue where a tent village introduce themselves to Matthews of East Sheen and 5th prize - was erected inside a find their allotted group. a £40 riding session from Park Lane security fence to keep the Having driven over on Stables - was won by Mrs. S. Morgan of deer out - no mention of Sunday to do a recce, Teddington. Sadly the Queen didn't two legged 'dears' that Wet and Windy was make it through the mud to try on the the order of the day again on Monday might climb over & no with our stuff, overnight insurance for spent all day goods which had to be left Tuesday there on site – no unloading was allowed on the th and then returned on the day, Tuesday 15 May. We shared a tent Wednesday to clear up, I felt I with Hampton Wick but everyone had to knew the Park quite well! arrive by 08.30 and were not allowed to Thanks to Andrew Hanson of leave before 6 pm!. the NPL who took our heaviest bits there and back, and to Duncan Shuttleworth for helping me on Monday. We asked local businesses, Crown to compare it to the real thing! members or not, to donate prizes Teddington Cheese in Station Road lent & boy were they generous. Many us a plastic cheese tower - 6 different thanks to them all. Thanks also to cheeses, one for each decade of the Squires who lent me 6 upright Queen's reign.