Hosted by Nicholas Owen, the Mayor was in attendance at one of her last public engagements, MP Vince Cable also dropped in to join 12,000 other visitors that helped raise approx £10,000 for two local charities. It shouldn’t be forgotten of course that the bus garage was open as usual and the fleet of 120 buses still managed to run on time for the whole day!

Photo: Peter Denton.

A wide selection of historic buses and support vehicles were on show for families and children to happily clamber over and look around – the first time for some young visitors and bringing back memories for the older crowd. Some historic buses looked out-of-place in Bushy Park at Chestnut Sunday but as local resident Alan points out, buses used to run through the park on their routes during the 1940′s/50′s – quite the scenic bus route.

The weather always has a strong bearing on how well attended Chestnut Sunday is and the relentless rain in the run-up to this year’s festival was casting a shadow over the weekend. Fortunately this stopped before the weekend with enough time to dry out the ground and the sun shone strongly on the day.

Over 10,000 people (and slightly more than last year) lined the route of the parade and joined in the fair and displays afterwards in the park. The usual suspects paraded along the historic Chestnut Avenue (designed by Sir Christopher Wren) including classic cars, military vehicles, police horses, historical actors and marching bands.

A huge queue showed how popular Park Lane Stable’s pony rides are and riders from the Horse Rangers Association performed choreographed formations to music.

There are plenty of Jubilee & Olympic events coming up for the area (news to follow soon) but in the meantime put this in your diary for next weekend. On June 8th-10th, Friday to Sunday, The Teddington Society and local businesses are hosting a Charity Celebration Weekend to help raise money for local charities.

Various goodies will be available in and outside shops on stalls and there will be live music, bubbles & balloons, quizes & games, raffles, 1940s tea party, design a tiara, cupcake competition and more!

Also on June 10th is this year’s Teddington In Flower where private gardens are open to the public to also raise money for local charities and not forgetting the first charity Vet4Life Dog Olympics – even if you are not entering any events, please register your interest if you are planning on attending.

This will be taking place at Normansfield on Sunday 20th May 2012, 3-5pm. Tickets are £4 in advance, £5 on the door and children go free. There will also be a Summer Concert on Sunday 10th July 2011.

Fran is a classically trained pianist and holds an Associate Diploma (Distinction) in Piano Performance from Trinity College of Music, London. She runs a popular private teaching practice in Teddington for children and adults, from complete beginner to early intermediate students.

The studio was established in 2006 and enables students to study for exams or play purely for pleasure in a relaxed, friendly learning environment. Regular student concerts, and opportunities to perform in festivals and competitions.

More information can be found here on the studio’s website or read about “piano playing and music, art and life” via the blog.

Photo: Peter Denton

Also coming up at Normansfield Theatre is a Blue Apple Theatre production for adults with and without learning disabilities. They are now developing a touring production of Hamlet which will play across theatres in the south of England, ending with a gala celebration of this huge achievement at the Normansfield Theatre.

For a full list of forthcoming events at this treasured theatre, check out the Langdon Down centre’s website and remember that the Museum of Learning Disability is now open to the public 2-5pm Mondays and 9:30am-1:30pm on Saturdays.

This innovative opera company have previously brought high quality opera to audiences at the Richmond Theatre and the Menuhin Hall in Cobham. At the Landmark they will be staging a unique evening of opera, accompanied by the acclaimed orchestra Musica Poetica London.

The unusual double-bill of early opera classics will include Purcell’s hauntingly beautiful ‘Dido and Aeneas’ and highlights of Mozart’s final work ‘La clemenza di Tito’.

If you have visited the newly opened Langdon-Down museum and marvelled at the Victorian Normansfield Theatre, you can experience it as it will have looked in its hey-day at several performances over the coming months.

Carmen will be performed here this weekend on the 18th/19th February 2012. Also back by popular demand, the Paper Moon Theatre Company proudly present another trip down memory lane into the wonderful world of traditional Victorian Music Hall that includes a mélange of song, dance, magic and laughter (March 17th).

‘I Do Believe’ (24th-25th March 2012) is a play with a magical twist, a piece of theatre which reveals that children still believe in fantasy and fairytale. Performed by a cast of 17 children and 3 adults and complimented by historical images and classical music, this production is a charity premiere presented by a talented original cast from the Twickenham Theatre Workshop.

Finally on the 26th of May 2012 by six amazing actors, four of whom happen to have Down’s syndrome, will be performing Shakespeare’s most famous play – Hamlet, at the Normansfield Theatre

As part of the Richmond upon Thames Libraries Charles Dickens 2012 bicentenary celebrations, Teddington Library will be hosting an evening with author Essie Fox on Wednesday 25th April 2012 (6-7pm).

Essie’s book ‘The Somnambulist’ is a gothic mystery with much of the action taking place in Victorian East London – in a grand garden square, and the threatening docks, as well as Wilton ’s music hall, a crumbling but magical theatre still in existence today. With many illustrations to give a sense of time and place, Essie’s talk will discuss the places, people, inspirations and themes that occur in her historical novel, with ample opportunity for any questions afterwards.

Teddington Theatre Club who perform at Hampton Hill Playhouse have a varied and exciting new season programme starting with “A Different Way Home” by Jimmie Chinn, a former member of TTC, from February 26th – March 3rd. The season continues with Present Laughter (Noel Coward), My Own Show (Lesley Bruce), Privates on Parade (Peter Nichols) and Women of Troy (Don Taylor).

For those more scientifically-inclined, as part of the National Science and Engineering, NPL is hosting “Improbable After Dark” on March 10th, an Ig Nobel Event “honouring achievments that first make people laugh, and then make them think” with speakers that will include many scientists and several QI ‘Elfs’.

This Ultramarathon covers 150 miles over 6 stages (days) across the Sahara desert, southern Morocco. As if the distance and heat doesn’t make it difficult enough, each competitor has to carry all of their own kit (bedding, clothes, food, cooking equipment) in temperatures sometimes exceeding 50C. The longest stage (day 4) is 84 Km which is 2 regular marathons back to back.

Despite describing himself as “no natural athlete”, Dave is competing in this extraordinary race to raise money for St Wilfrid’s Hospice and Macmillan, 2 charities that looked after his Mum when she fell ill with lung cancer. You can help Dave smash his £8,000 target by donating online here.

His training is done mostly in Bushy and Richmond Park, so if you see someone running along Teddington High Street wearing a backpack, water bottles and as much clothing as they can physically fit in, it’s probably him on his way to a long training session!

Dave has a great team of supporters that include his family, friends but also Physio & Therapy who have helped get him back on his feet after many an injury and barman Dermot from the Adelaide pub who has been ensuring that his nutrition is kept up to speed and who is also collecting donations from a charity bucket on the bar.

This event follows on from the successful public meeting held in November 2011 at the church, where 350 people attended to discuss the possible future of the hospital.

At the February meeting, a presentation on the work and progress by The League of Friends, including the exploration of developing a Social Enterprise Model of ownership for the hospital. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the community to put forward their views about the future of the hospital.

An online petition has also been sent up by The League of Friends of Teddington Memorial Hospital providing another way for the community to show their support.

[Update 06/02/2012] You can now download a summary of what was discussed on the evening including thoughts from Dr Graham Lewis MBE, advisor Zac Arif and MP Vince Cable and news that the online petition has now received over 12,000 signatures.

Pamela Bryant MBE, Chairman of The League of Friends of Teddington Memorial Hospital presenting at the meeting with the panel (left to right):
Zac Arif, Advisor to the League, Julian Naylor, Trustee and Company Secretary of the League, Baroness Hilton, Chairman of Teddington Society and General Practitioner Dr Graham Lewis MBE and Dr Kate Moore

Dr Graham Lewis MBE giving his presentation

As part of the hospice’s volunteers campaign, the Business Secretary aimed to show visitors to the shop that even in these hard times of austerity, giving your time can be just as rewarding and invaluable for local charities.

Vince, Patron of Shooting Star CHASE said of his day at the shop: “It is a very successful, well organised and well laid out shop. I have helped on the till, steamed donated clothes and helped with some cleaning. The staff have made me feel so welcome, they have a great spirit… I would encourage anyone to come and volunteer for Shooting Star CHASE. Volunteers are vital and make a big difference to the charity.”

Val Hall, Shooting Star CHASE Senior Retail Co-ordinator added: “It was fantastic to have the Business Secretary volunteer with us. He really proves that donating your time is vital to charities. Shooting Star CHASE’s volunteers are so important in keeping our shops going, and although we have many dedicated volunteers, we still need more.

“We hope that Dr Cable’s example will spur local residents to follow suit and donate their time to make a real difference to over 500 local families that rely on our support.”

For those able to help out, Shooting Star CHASE are currently looking for new volunteers for their shops in Teddington, Twickenham, Hampton Hill, Shepperton, Whitton and Ashford. For more information on volunteering, click here.

One possible future for the hospital involves a Social Enterprise ownership model where the development of services would be decided locally via partnerships with the community and the health and social care services – helping to secure its future as a local GP and community hospital. You can find out about how the investigation into this and other plans are progressing at several up-and-coming dates.

There are two January ‘Drop-In’ dates – informal meetings at Teddington Baptist Church Hall on Monday 16th January. This will be split into two sessions – parents with young families 11am-2pm to discuss services for children at the hospital (any suggestions will be welcome). Then 7:30-9pm for any member of the community to talk about any additional services, clinics etc. If you are short on time you can drop in for a brief spell as these will be informal in nature.

Following on from these sessions a public meeting will be held on February 2nd at the same venue 7-9pm where a presentation on work and progress so far will be made. Opportunities for feedback will also be available – TMH is the community’s hospital and the League of Friends want your involvement.

Although strong assurances have been recently made by NHS bosses that its future more secure than it has ever been (particularly with governments plans to move more patients to hospitals in their communities), the main concern still remains that the proposed creation of a Foundation Trust which may be at risk of a future merger. If you cannot attend any of the meetings you can show your support by adding your name to the online petition.

Recently a group of artists lent their work to the hospital for an exhibition so that patients and staff could enjoy them on site. Richmond Arts Service transported 30 paintings, graphic designs and old photographs (most of local scenes) to the hospital for this special exhibition.

Studies have shown that showing works of art in hospitals can reduce anxiety, stress and depression for patients, as well as staff and visitors! The hospital has run similar schemes involving voluntary visitors to chat to patients and well-behaved bed-side pet visits.

The League of Friends of Teddington Memorial Hospital have a proud record of voluntary service to the hospital and have raised several million pounds since its inception to help improve facilities and equipment.

She will be taking part in her first ever Marathon this year as one of the charities ‘gold band’ runners and a personal fund-raising target of £2,150.

Despite being a single mother, Natalie is finding time to train to move up from previously completed 5km charity runs to the marathon distance – no mean feat!

Natalie and a friend will also be hosting a fundraising quiz night (venue TBC) on the 3rd of March with prizes from local businesses – please get in touch (email npbartlett@yahoo.co.uk) if you might be able to help by kindly donating any prizes.

As if this isn’t enough, she has also organised the creation of a saucy fun charity calendar with friends and family for the same cause.

Local businesses have rallied round to help with the production – with photo-shoots, design and printing all given free of charge from generous business owners.

The ‘Lil Miss’ risqué calender was shot locally in premises including the Red Lion pub and AG Millers Butchers and features shots of Natalie & friends in themed costumes including mechanic, butcher, builder, firefighter, chef and plumber!

Each calendar is £10 and the target is to raise £900 – they are available from the red lion pub, Stanley Road, Teddington or via Natalie by email.

Based by the Wharf Restaurant the Lifeboat Station has always been run by local volunteers and the station is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 2011 saw an average of one ‘shout’ a week proving an invaluable service on their stretch of the river from Hampton Court to Richmond. The first shout of 2012 was at 3am on Tuesday 3rd January to assist a search for a missing man in the area, who was later found safe and sound.

The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and since it was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives.

Cathy with some fellow volunteers

The station would like to thank all it’s volunteers over the years and also the local community for all it’s continued support. If you want to help celebrate this milestone and help raise funds for the RNLI, an up-and-coming event at the Landmark Arts Centre will let you do just that!

West End performer and RNLI volunteer crew member Cathy Cogle will be presenting and performing ‘An Evening at The Musicals’ for one night only to raise funds.

Cathy Cogle lives in Teddington and has performed in West End shows such as Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The Woman in White. She recently took part in the Les Miserables 25th anniversary concert at the O2 and also appeared at this year’s Royal Variety Performance and the Classical Brit Awards.

Cathy: ‘It can be tough when the pager goes off at 3am but the adrenalin soon kicks in and we are out on the river within a matter of minutes. We get called out for all sorts of emergencies; suicide attempts, searching for missing people, rescuing swimmers and boats in trouble… The RNLI does not get any funding from the UK government and so I thought I would do my bit, combine my two passions and help a very worthy cause.’

‘An Evening at The Musicals’ is a spectacular concert of songs from the world’s greatest musicals performed by some of the finest West End performers. They will perform for one night only on Sunday 12th February 8pm. Tickets £15 /£20. Box office 0208 977 7558 or online at landmarkartscentre.org.

Our shops have really done us proud this year with their Christmas window displays and helped keep locals shopping locally.

Many businesses will be closed from just after midday on Saturday (Christmas Eve) and not re-open until the New Year so check at your favourite shops to see when they open again!

A huge double-rainbow stopped people in their tracks on Sunday – particularly striking against the dark winter sky.

A hack in Bushy Park with the winter sun keeping the riders just warm enough.

Photo: Nic Wiseman

The Littlest Star children’s book – on sale in local shops after a remarkable 23 days from concept to reality to be on sale in time for Christmas, raising money for Shooting Star Chase.

Winter berries in Bushy Park set against a blue sky.

Photo: Peter Denton

The Tearfund Christmas Carol Service filled the Landmark Arts Centre with heavenly voices last week.

Photo: Andy Wilson