Families Upon Thames Issue 133 October 2019

H ME KE TA

EE FR E OM

Upon Thames

RECRUITING NOW

Halloween Special Issue 133 October 2019

Successful ‘business mum’ is seeking 5 working partners to work part-time from home, alongside & without compromising family commitments or current career.

If you have a supervisory, managerial, sales, marketing, recruitment or selfemployed background, or you wish to develop an extraordinary lifestyle

please call Diana Page 01235 533362 • 07747 086518

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2 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - October 2019

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contents

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News

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Early Years Does my baby or toddler have ADHD ?

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Halloween Cooking BOO Meringue Pops

...endless ideas for families of young children in • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey Families® Upon Thames • Issue 133 October 2019 • Visit us at

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Education • School News • Is good grammar important ?

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Clubs and Classes Directory

14

Whats on

Upon Thames

To advertise in this magazine contact: MIMA WALIA, Editor SARAH HODGSON, Managing Editor DESIGN & PRINT, Ridgeway Press m: 07792 006546 e: editor@familiesuponthames.co.uk

To advertise in this magazine contact: MIMA WALIA, Editor SARAH HODGSON, Managing Editor DESIGN & PRINT, Ridgeway Press

www.familiesonline.co.uk

m: 07792 006546 e: editor@familiesuponthames.co.uk www.familiesonline.co.uk

Find us and like us on Facebook Facebook.com/familiesuponthames @FamiliesuponT Now more than 8,000 followers!

Make sure you pick up our Nov/Dec 2019 issue and get set for Christmas Out early November

Families Upon Thames is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Upon Thames are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Upon Thames. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

News...

Little Explorers Hands-on fun 90-minute learning sessions aimed at children aged 2-5 and their parents or carers.

A chance for curious children to connect with the living environment as they explore, observe and question the natural world around them.

Join us for a fun-packed adventure in the Gardens with games, stories, crafts and dressing up. You'll find out what makes plants grow, where your food comes from and some of the ways that we use plants in our everyday lives. You'll investigate animal habitats, insects, bees and pollination and the changing seasons.

For children aged 2-5 and their parents or carers.

The activity is 90 minutes long and will be held in the Davies Exploration House, behind the Temperate House.

Event date: Monday 21 October Getting to the venue The activity is held in the Davies Exploration House, behind the Temperate House. Please allow enough time to walk to the venue for your session, roughly 15 minutes from Victoria Gate.

Visit www.kew.org to book your tickets

Digital Isolation Taking Hold of Children There has been a large increase in the number of children ages 9 to 16 who say they feel lonely, according to a report from CHILDWISE, an independent market research agency specialising in children and young people. .

The new data shows that three in five children respond in the affirmative when asked if they ‘ever feel lonely.’ This is a 7% increase on last year.

Girls are much more likely than boys to feel this way, with four out of five older teenage girls age 15-16 reporting ever feeling lonely, including more than a third who admit to often feeling this way.

This comes on top of research by Childline which reported a 14% rise in the number of children contacting the charity about loneliness. Many children reported that watching their friends socialise without them on social media made them feel isolated. The youngest person to call was just 10 years old.

More info: www.childwise.co.uk or www.childline.org.uk

Visit the Family Learning Festival The Family Learning Festival which runs from 19 October to 3 November is a national celebration to inspire a love of learning in family life.

Organisations across the UK, including schools, libraries, museums, children centres and galleries will be staging a range of FREE creative family learning activities.

This year's Festival theme is ‘Future Families’ and organisers will be holding activities to encourage families to become earthy explorers, digital discoverers or wellbeing warriors!

Organisers of the festival, the lifelong learning charity, Campaign for Learning, believes learning that takes place in the family and home should be valued as much as learning that takes place in school classrooms and formal education. The family is where we learn important life skills and positive attitudes to learning, which enable us to become confident, motivated lifelong learners.

To find a local event, visit www.familylearningfestival.com

Active Girls are Happy Girls A new report has found that girls that are physically active are happier and more resilient than those who are not.

The findings are drawn from of a survey from more than 25,700 primary and secondary aged children by the national children’s charity, the Youth Sport Trust.

More active girls showed higher levels of the qualities associated with wellbeing which are self-belief, confidence, resilience, happiness and empathy. The largest difference was seen in girls’ resilience. 77% of more active girls said they were resilient compared to 46% of less active girls. It also found that more active girls were happier with 75% stating so compared to 55% of less active girls.

Ali Oliver, the Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust says: “We owe every girl the opportunity to become a confident mover, find a sport or activity that she enjoys, and through that experience improved physical health and emotional wellbeing.”

More info: www.youthsporttrust.org/girls-active

4 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - October 2019

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Can you help to transform a child’s life?

The Purple Elephant Project is a new children’s therapy centre and service which will be opening soon in Twickenham, in response to the ever-increasing cuts to funding and already overstretched services across the borough.

The centre will be offering wonderful interventions such as Play Therapy, Theraplay and even VIG (Video Interaction Guidance), in addition to expert training courses for parents, carers and other professionals. One of the main aims of this soon-to-be-registered charity is to enable primary schools to employ a Play Therapist onsite by offering heavily subsidised packages directly to local schools, which in turn will enable more children to access the support they need.

In order to begin supporting families in the community, the project is currently in the process of raising funds to convert an excaretakers' house into a therapeutic centre, providing a place where parents can drop in for

support, feel listened to and a place for children to feel safe enough to explore the issues that affect them.

If you would like to be part of something lifechanging, please help this project raise the

Teachers ‘As Good As Tests’ at Predicting Success

funds they need by pledging to their crowdfunding campaign before 9th November: www.spacehive.com/the-purple-elephantproject Every penny raised will go towards getting this project off the ground.

Help for Choosing a Family Dog If you are considering adding a dog to your family, this is an important decision which is best not made on a whim.

Generally, children and dogs from great bonds and friendships and dogs can offer the opportunity for children to learn great life skills such as responsibility and compassion.

But all dogs are individuals. The breed of the dog is perhaps the single most important factor you can take into account, when deciding what dog is right for your family.

To help families with this decision a Dog Breeder Decider tool has been created by pet food manufacturer Webbox. The tool matches a dog breed with your family by analysing your family’s lifestyle and preferences against the personality traits, behaviours and requirements of all dog breeds.

More info: www.webbox.co.uk/dog-breed-decider

Sats are no better than teachers at predicting pupil's GCSE and A-Level results, a study has found.

The study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, found teacher assessments at age 7, 11 and 14 were just as effective as using Sats results to predict pupils’ subsequent exam success.

Researchers say their findings, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, question whether the benefits of standardised exams outweigh the costs.

A lead researcher Dr Kaili Rimfeld, from the King's College London, said: "We have shown for the first time that teacher assessments predict GCSE and A-level results just as well as earlier exam scores.”

"The fact that exam scores correlate so highly with the teacher assessments raises questions about the value of the testing culture that characterises compulsory education in the UK." More info at www.kcl.ac.uk/news familiesonline.co.uk

Email: editor@Familiesuponthames.co.uk • Tel: 07792 006546

Families Upon Thames • 5

DISTRIBUTORS WANTED...

Families Upon Thames Magazine is looking for distributors in the local area Do you have a car and a few spare hours a month?

Join our delivery team and earn some pocket money.

Email: editor@familiesuponthames.co.uk

* Children’s Food Trust and Soil Association approved meals * Part time and full time sessions available * Funded sessions available * Individual Learning Programmes * Regular Trips and Outings * Extra Curricular programmes such as: * Cook & Grow, Early Language Programme, Magical Maths, * Lets Get Physical, Stork to Walk * Platinum Award for First Aid Training * Nappies, Creams and sun creams all included * Strong belief in outdoor learning opportunities

6 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - October 2019

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Does My Baby or Toddler Have ADHD?

However, many of the symptoms of ADHD in babies closely resemble the behaviour of any other happy, healthy baby, so they can go unnoticed. It is only when the problems continue after other babies have grown out of them that the issue becomes apparent.

It can take a strict eye to figure out whether or not a baby is having difficulty remembering things. One issue can be food: does your infant tend to put food in their mouth but forget to chew or swallow? Do they start crying for attention in the middle of a game, seemingly forgetting that they were playing? These might be indicators of ADHD.

By Toby Buckley

Can Toddlers be Diagnosed with ADHD? There is evidence that toddlers are being diagnosed and treated for ADHD. The National Institute for health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines state that “ADHD should be considered in all age groups, with symptom criteria adjusted for age-appropriate changes in behaviour.”

ADHD that’s visible in toddlerhood can be associated with a number of causes and risk factors, including:

October is ADHD awareness month and Families takes up the baton to raise understanding about this debilitating condition.

I

nattention, poor impulse control and hyperactivity are some of the key characteristics that define the behavioural disorder, ADHD. When your child is just a baby or toddler, the difficult behaviours associated with ADHD may slowly become apparent.

Many children with ADHD will have been particularly hard to put down to sleep as infants, so you may well find yourself pacing around the house with them in the middle of the night to no avail.

Nursing for long periods in the middle of the night can be particularly challenging with a baby with ADHD, who might sleep for a short while then wake up screaming and crying demanding full attention. In addition, nightmares may wake them back up pretty quickly even if you do manage to get them to sleep.

During the first year of life, around one fifth of all babies will show signs of “regulatory issues” such as sleeping issues, difficulty feeding and persistent crying. However, by the time they

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reach pre-school, most of these infants will have adjusted and their transient symptoms will disappear.

In research1 into infant regulatory problems, 22 studies of 1,935 children were analysed. Babies with multiple regulatory issues were covered in five of these studies, excessive crying in ten, sleeping problems in four and feeding issues in three.

The study concluded that infants who experienced problems in several categories were at the highest risk of developing behavioural problems. Temper tantrums and ADHD were the most common behavioural problems to develop.

Tantrums Problems with temperament are particularly common in infants with ADHD. From rocking in their cribs or baby chairs to thumping one or both of their feet, a baby with ADHD may engage in a variety of troubling behaviours.

Email: editor@Familiesuponthames.co.uk • Tel: 07792 006546

• Genes • Low birth-weight, especially when caused by premature birth • Central nervous system problems at critical moments during development • Mother using drugs, alcohol, or smoking during pregnancy, or exposure to environmental toxins during pregnancy • ADHD also has a number of early indicators, according to some studies. Your child will not necessarily have ADHD if they have some of these signs and symptoms, but they may be worth taking into consideration • Slowed rate of head growth • Issues with behaviour • Delay in motor development, speech, and language. Speech development delays at 9 months old were present in a third of children with ADHD, according to one study. At 18 months old, two thirds exhibited delayed speech and language.

As soon as they reach 3 years of age, certain researchers have suggested that a child can reliably be diagnosed with ADHD through evaluations.

Where Can I find Out More?

For more information about ADHD, check out this helpful guide from Need2Know books at http://need2knowbooks.co.uk/product/theessential-guide-to-adhd/ It answers essential questions and guides parents and teachers step-by-step through the actions they need to take to support a child with ADHD. Use N2K25OFF for a 25% discount.

Sources 1 Archive of Disease in Childhood

Families Upon Thames • 7

Join us at Happy Potter this half term for lots of FANG-tastic crafty fun!

From 28th October-1st November we will be running a variety of SPOOK-tacular workshops including making Halloween headbands, pompom monsters, hanging bat decorations, paper Cat hats and spooky skeleton cookie decoration! We are very excited for a FRIGHTfully fun HALLOWEEN PARTY on the 31st with

pottery pumpkin decoration, face painting, fancy dress and more terrifying treats!

Workshops running 10.30am-12pm daily including lunch at £20 per child (6+) and 3.30pm-5pm on the 31st (all ages). For more information and tickets visit us at happypotterceramics.co.uk

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Just Imagine

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DANCE

Ballet For ALL Glimmer~Twinkle~Sparkle~Dazzle (6-17 mnths) (18 mnths-5 years) (5-10 years)

(11+ years)

BOOK A FREE TASTER CLASS Richmond - East Sheen Kew - St Margarets Twickenham - Teddington

info@justimagineballet.com 8 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - October 2019

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Things that Go YUM in the Night!

Conjure up some ghoulish AND tasty Boo-meringue Pops this Halloween!

BOO-meringue Pops are tiny spectres that sit quietly in their cups until an unsuspecting little someone gets within snacking distance.

Our friends at Wonderbly have come up with this fantastic spook-tastic recipe.

Follow the simple steps below to make your own.

Ingredients...

For the meringues • 115g caster sugar • 115g icing sugar • a pinch of salt • 4 large egg whites, at room temperature • large freezer bags • greaseproof paper • tiny chocolate drops • a bar of milk or dark chocolate

For the cups • paper cups • utility knife • paint • brush • Posca pen • lollipop sticks • masking tape • a sheet of tissue/crepe paper • scissors

Now for the cups…

Place your cup upside down on the crepe/tissue paper and draw a circle about 1cm wider than the rim.

Cut out the circle and make small criss-cross slits in the centre of the crepe paper.

Paint your cups a deep dark colour. When they’re dry, draw on some cobwebs or other creepy patterns.

Let’s make BOO-meringue Pops:

Keeping little fingers safe, cut the bottom out of your paper cups with the utility knife.

Preheat the oven to 100°C or gas mark ¼.

Put the caster sugar into one bowl and sift the icing sugar into another (and be careful not to sneeze!)

Put the egg whites into a large bowl with a pinch of salt and use the electric whisk on medium power until the mixture forms soft peaks.

Whisk on high power, adding 1 tbsp of caster sugar at a time until you’ve used it all.

Put your freezer bag into a glass and fold the edges over the sides. Spoon in your meringue.

Take the bag out, twist the top shut and snip off the bottom corner. Make sure you hold the bag gently so the ghosts don’t escape!

Put a sheet of greaseproof paper on a baking tray and place the cardboard circles (aka the cut-out cup bottoms) on the tray.

Take your ghosts on their cardboard circles and tape the lollipop sticks to the cardboard. Pop your ghosts-on-sticks into their cups from above. (Tell them to prepare their scary face…)

Glue the edges of your tissue circles to the inside rim of the cups.

Pipe a ghost onto each, add choc-drop eyes and pop in the oven for 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hours.

Fold in the icing sugar.

By now the mixture should be glossy with scared-stiff peaks. (If you want to keep the meringue really white, you can add ½ tsp lemon juice and bake on a lower temperature for longer.)

And voilarghh! You have a shroud of supernaturally cute treats ready to surprise lots of little monsters!

When your ghosts are cooked and cooled, melt the chocolate (in a bowl) over a saucepan of boiling water.

Using a toothpick or similar, give your ghouls some mouths, eyebrows, whatever you fancy!

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Email: editor@Familiesuponthames.co.uk • Tel: 07792 006546

Wonderbly create meaningful, magical personalized stories, which let children imagine themselves doing extraordinary things. Find out more at wonderbly.com

Families Upon Thames • 9

Hampton Pre-Prep & Prep School Hampton Pre-Prep & Prep School offers an excellent all-round education, with superb pastoral care and exceptional teaching.

Every child is recognised as a unique individual and allowed to flourish in a caring, lively and happy environment. The school’s latest ISI report found that: ‘The achievements of the pupils are excellent… A close and nurturing atmosphere is at the heart of the school.’ The school’s stunning, new, state-of-the-art Prep building borders a local park and pupils enjoy an abundance of outdoor space, with onsite grass playing fields, an all-weather games area and ‘the allotment corner’ with raised beds for growing flowers and vegetables. The welcoming and friendly Pre-Prep School and Kindergarten are accommodated in an attractive Edwardian building with a superbly equipped playground. Part of the Hampton School Trust, the Pre-Prep & Prep School enjoys close links with the nearby senior school and an increasing number of the boys move onto Hampton School via the Assured Place Scheme.

For further information, visit www.hamptonprep.org.uk

Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep School At Shrewsbury House Pre-Prep School, each child is valued as an individual. Based in Esher, we provide a happy, caring environment, in which all of our staff are committed to helping our children achieve their goals and realise their full potential. Our curriculum, which includes specialist subject teaching from Nursery onwards, is designed to allow children to explore, to think, to question for themselves and to enjoy their experiences at school. Our children are encouraged to grow as individuals academically, socially and emotionally and they are presented with a wide range of opportunities both in and outside the classroom.

Please contact Mrs Jules Akhurst on 01372 462781 or jakhurst@shstrust.net to arrange a tour, or if you would simply like to chat about our School and your child.

Newland House School A Natural Step into School Now open for two years, Newland House’s Nursery School has proved incredibly successful and popular with its surprising range of amenity and outdoor space. The Nursery offers a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 3 to 4 and is a place where children can develop their own style of learning and where the focus is on increasing confidence and working with parents and children to create an individualised experience.

Parents are quick to positively endorse their children’s experience praising the inspirational teaching, the range of stimulating activities and the progress that their children make; Nursery has been the most incredible introduction to Newland House for our son. He literally sprints into the building every day! It is a very special place with nurturing and passionate staff who create exciting learning opportunities for the children every day. He is now more than ready for Reception and I am confident that the transition to school will be easy. Nursery has more than exceeded expectations and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

There are many opportunities to see the Nursery and discover what Newland House can offer your child over the autumn term.

Prospective parents are welcome to visit.

Find out more from admissions@newlandhouse.net newlandhouse.net | 020 8865 1305

Shrewsbury House School Shrewsbury House School is an outstanding IAPS independent Prep school for boys aged 7–13 located in Surbiton, Surrey. With a superb academic record, committed staff, small class sizes and dedicated pastoral care, every boy has the opportunity to fulfil his potential.

Shrewsbury House School has a national reputation for success in Scholarships and Awards to top day and boarding Senior Schools at 13+. In 2019, our boys achieved 37 Scholarships or Awards to some of the UK’s leading senior schools.

If you would like a tour of the School, please contact Ms Fi Sweetland, our Registrar, either via email: registrar@shstrust.net or telephone 020 8399 3066.

Innovate, Nurture, Inspire, Fly …

10 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - October 2019

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Is Good Grammar Important?

By Andrew Campbell

When you went to school, it’s possible you didn’t get much grammar instruction and as a result didn’t absorb its importance.

A

lternatively, you may have had grammar drummed into you again and again, using a prescriptive rule-based approach which didn’t create an understanding of its significance or purpose.

Either way, you may feel that you don’t know much about grammar and may wonder if it is really an essential component of your child’s education or future.

The truth is that the use of correct grammar is important because it is the main feature within both our spoken and written communication that allows us to communicate our thoughts and ideas clearly and be understood.

Using incorrect grammar can lead to meaningless sentences and unclear messages, which in turn can lead to misinterpretation or misunderstanding. Even something as simple as a misplaced comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence. For example: "Let's eat Grandpa." versus "Let's eat, Grandpa."

Children who don’t develop a good grasp of grammar fall back on what they intuitively know about language; as a consequence they simply write like they speak. Whereas, with a good understanding of the different grammatical components of language, a child is able to express themselves clearly and establish good foundation skills for written documentation like school essays, job applications and creative writing in later years.

Grammar rules also help children develop the habit of thinking logically and clearly. They provides the building blocks for them to expand their vocabulary and understand and express themselves in longer, more interesting and more complex ways. When children increase their language complexity (with word endings, or longer/more complex sentences), they can express and understand more complicated ideas.

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The rise of social media as a dominant form of communication amongst young people has given rise to much short-cutting of the English language. When sending texts or messages via Facebook or WhatsApp, simple sentences or fragments of sentences are the norm and it is unnecessary to use grammar. This shortcutting of language exposes children to a real risk of developing bad communication habits which could hold them back in the future.

Some Tips for Helping Your Child with Grammar Bring grammar to life by asking questions to find out what your child knows about grammar. Do they know what a noun is? If not, show your child some objects. Explain that nouns are the names used for people, places and things. You can do the same with verbs by acting out some actions such as 'jump', 'hop' and 'clap'.

Do simple crosswords with your child using a dictionary to help you. The dictionary tells you what type of word you have looked up (verb, adverb, pronoun, noun etc.), and you can share this with your child.

For older primary school children: Opposites. Help your child understand antonyms (opposites) by calling out words like hot, big, slow, and getting them to shout out the opposite. Alternatively, get your child to shout words that mean the same as the ones you’re calling out (synonyms).

Tense tents. Help your child understand verb tenses, by drawing some ‘tense tents’ on pieces of paper. Write down some verbs in their various tenses – present (play), past (played), future (will play) and get your child to move the verbs into the correct tent.

Sentence Challenge. Challenge your child to write sentences of more than 25 words that only contain one verb. This helps them to understand how to control a sentence, rather than overcomplicate it.

More resources at: www.learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/grammarvocabulary www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zhrrd2p www.theschoolrun.com/best-grammar-apps-forkids

Play with punctuation. When you read, occasionally look at the punctuation and talk about what it is telling the reader to do. Show your child how a question mark tells you to raise your voice at the end of the sentence to indicate a question being asked.

Play 'i-spy' with the focus on looking for nouns (e.g. dad, bridge, tree, shop, apple). Tell your child that you are going to ask questions about the noun they have chosen. For example, 'Is your noun green?', 'Can your noun fit in my hand?' In this way you introduce grammatical terminology in a fun way.

Model. When your child says something that is grammatically incorrect, model to them the correct way of saying it.

Email: editor@Familiesuponthames.co.uk • Tel: 07792 006546

Handwriting Tutor 3 Achieve clear and confident handwriting 3 Neat handwriting is important in Exams 3 Don't lose marks unnecessarily!

Mrs. Cutler: St Margarets, TW1 T: 07521 554188 E: selene.cutler@handwritingsupport.co.uk BA(Hons) Languages - Professional Handwriting Analysis/Graphology Member of the National Handwriting Association - DAB checked

Families Upon Thames • 11

12 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - October 2019

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Clubs & Classes ART & CRAFT CERAMICS CAFÉ KEW Ages: All Children can create something unique. Starting with a plain white bisque shape, they paint on their design using ceramic underglazes, it is then fired in the kiln, and their piece is ready for collection within 2 to 4 days. Open Tuesday to Sunday, Mondays on Bank Holidays/half terms.

In: Kew Contact: Joanna Wronka 020 8332 6661 www.ceramicscafe.com HAPPY POTTER CERAMICS Ages: 6+ Arts and crafts café for all ages offering pottery painting, clay, T-shirt design, mosaics, foam clay and decopatch. NEW: After School Art Club, plus holiday workshops, baby prints and children’s parties.

Adult workshops available also.

In: Teddington Contact: Una 020 8973 1468 www.happypotterceramics.co.uk

DANCE JUST IMAGINE BALLET Ages: All Just Imagine Ballet is an inclusive ballet and dance school for all ages and abilities. Just Imagine values creativity and expression and focuses on the healing and nurturing aspects of the creative arts. Children can progress through four separate ballet programmes created to be in line with their physical, emotional and social development and aligned with the National Curriculum key stages. Glimmer (0−18 months), Twinkle (18 months−5 years), Sparkle (6−10 years), Dazzle (11+ years).

Plus: Tap, Contemporary, Street, Jazz, Character Dance, Classical RAD Ballet, Boys Only Ballet, Family Dance/Homeschool Classes, Holliday Camps, Birthday Parties, Adult, Silver Swans Dance (60+ years) and SHINE (SEN Dance classes, workshops and one2one sessions with a Dance Therapist).

In: Richmond, East Twickenham, St Margarets, Teddington, East Sheen, Kew Contact: The Fairy Godmother or Miss Jessica, Principal 07813 741189 info@justimagineballet.com www.facebook.com/JustImagineBal letLondon

MUSIC & DRAMA STAGECOACH PERFORMING ARTS Ages: 4-18 Fun, educational and confidence-boosting classes in singing, dancing and drama, which cater for the varying needs of young performers, whether reserved or budding talents. Classes focus on the Performing Arts and having fun in a

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structured safe environment, whilst learning life skills to prepare them for the stage of life. Two-week trial available.

In: Chertsey, Cobham, Hinchley Wood, New Malden, Richmond, Staines, and Weybridge Contact: Chertsey: 0772 517 6102 Cobham: 020 3723 9702 Hinchley Wood: 01372 238238 New Malden: 020 8540 7791 Richmond: 020 8332 6741 Staines: 07802 800633 Weybridge: 0808 208 5134 www.stagecoach.co.uk STAGECOACH TWICKENHAM / STAGECOACH TEDDINGTON PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES Ages: 4-18 Dates and Times: Thursdays Ages 4-6 4.15-5.45pm Waldegrave School Thursdays Ages 6-18 4.30-7.30pm Waldegrave School Fridays Ages 4-6 4.15-5.45pm Waldegrave School Fridays Ages 6-18 4.30-7.30pm Waldegrave School Fridays ages 14+ 4.30-7.30pm Waldegrave Saturdays Ages 4-6 9-10.30/9.3011/10.45-12.15/ 11.15-12.45 St Catherine’s School Saturdays Ages 4-6 9-10.30/ 9.1510.45/ 10.45-12.15 St Marys & St Peters School, Teddington Saturdays Age 6-18 10-1 and 2.305.30pm St Marys & St Peters School Teddington Saturdays Ages 6-18 10-1 and 2.305.30pm St Catherines School Saturdays Ages 15+ 3.30-6.30pm St Catherines School Part time Performing Arts classes for children ages 4-18 offering exciting West End performance opportunities, and learning to sing, dance and act all under one roof. A dynamic and exciting extra curricular school club offering Creative Courage for Life!

Price: Ages 4-6 £168 (90 Minutes) ; Ages 6+ £336 (3 hour session) Contact Name: Sarah & Will Chitty 07824 999414 0208 979 5276 twickenham@stagecoach.co.uk teddington@stagecoach.co.uk www.stagecoach.co.uk/teddington www.stagecoach.co.uk/ twickenham

Hinchley Wood, Molesey Contact: Andy Scates 07931 707720/020 8979 1497 andy@footie-tots.co.uk www.footie-tots.co.uk

SWIMMING TEAM SWIM SCHOOL Ages: 2.5yrs+ Swimming lessons for all abilities and ages. Fun and engaging classes for non-swimmers, as well as taxing for stroke improvers.

Children enjoy the whole pool, not just sectioned areas. NEW: Water Polo for kids – Stage 4 swimmers and above. Contact the school to register interest. Small groups, great results. Plus club swims available three evenings a week. Call or email to arrange a trial lesson.

In: Cobham Contact: Paul Furness 07915510720 info@teamswimschool.com www.teamswimschool.com

TUITION HANDWRITING WITH MRS CUTLER Ages: 4 to 11+ Achieve neat, cursive, joined-up handwriting and boost your child’s self-confidence with one-to-one handwriting lessons. Half term group courses are available for pre-school and older children. Pre-

school children will learn to build fine motor skills to improve strength and dexterity in their hands and fingers.

The courses for older children will focus on learning how to hold a pencil correctly, letter formation, spacing and cursive handwriting.

In: Twickenham Contact: Selene Cutler 07521 554 188 selene.cutler@handwritingsupport.c o.uk MRS JONES EDUCATION – 11 PLUS TUITION Ages: 8 to 11 Mrs Jones Education aims to enable your child to reach their full potential and successfully gain a place at a good senior school where they will achieve and be happy. Learning is structured to maintain your child’s enthusiasm and imagination and allow them to enjoy learning. In Year 4 children attend 11 Plus Foundation before moving onto 11 Plus Preparation in Year 5. 11 Plus Mock Exams are also available for both age groups.

In: Kingston, Surbiton, Wimbledon, South Wimbledon/Sutton, Hampton, Richmond, Twickenham, Chiswick, Ealing, Hounslow and Isleworth Contact: 020 8390 6076 www.11plustuition.co.uk

Bocketts Farm Enjoy a full packed programme of fun and freaky activities including a Spooky Quiz Trail, Creepy Craft Corner and Reptile Roadshow, where you’ll get the chance to meet awesome creepy crawlies up close!

SPORT FOOTIE TOTS/FOOTIE WIZARDS Ages: Footie Tots (2.5-5), Footie Wizards (5-13) An introduction to the world of fitness and football with lots of goal scoring and fun along the way! Classes encourage the children to lead an active and healthy lifestyle from a young age. All classes indoors.

In: Hampton, Twickenham, Teddington, Thames Ditton,

Plus, they'll be amazing science and slime shows from Einstein's Entertainers as well as hundreds of pumpkins on sale! Daily activities include pony rides, tractor rides, animal handling and pig racing, and you can meet and feed all of the friendly farm animals too.

With a large heated indoor play barn, trampolines, pedal go karts, young driver’s area and a jumping pillow, there's plenty to keep the whole family amused, whatever the weather! bockettsfarm.co.uk

Email: editor@Familiesuponthames.co.uk • Tel: 07792 006546

Families Upon Thames • 13

What’s On - October 2019 DAILY KEW EXPLORER LAND TRAIN Kew, TW9 3AB Times: Every half hour between 10.30am – 4.30pm. Price: Adults £5; Children £2.

Enjoy a guided tour around the Gardens on the Kew Explorer land train and learn about Kew's flora and fauna, historic buildings and vital conservation work.

020 8332 5655 www.kew.org EVERY WED MORNING PARENT AND BABY CINEMA AT WATERMANS ART CENTRE 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Times: 11.30am Cost: £6.50 Screenings of the latest films for parents or carers with babies under one.

020 8232 1010 www.watermans.org.uk EVERY WED AND WEEKEND LOCOMOTIVES IN OPERATION The London Museum of Water and Steam, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, TW8 0EN Enjoy a ride on the Museum locomotive.

Running every 15 minutes from 11am until 3:30, you can enjoy a steam powered trip around the Museum building. www.waterandsteam.org.uk EVERY FRI DURING TERM TIME AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS SEE SAW DROP-IN SESSIONS AT ORLEANS HOUSE GALLERY Riverside, Twickenham TW1 3DJ Ages: under 5s. Time: 10.30am-12.30pm Cost: Child £6 (additional sibling £3) Multi-sensory sessions which include music, play materials, soft play, creative activities, stories and rhyme time in a relaxed informal environment.

020 8831 6000 www.orleanshousegallery.org

EVERY SAT MORNING FAMILY CINEMA AT WATERMANS ART CENTRE 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Times: 11am Cost: £5 per person Your favourite family films old and new, on the big screen. See website for details.

020 8232 1010 www.watermans.org.uk EVERY SAT & SUN IN OCTOBER WEEKEND FAMILY ACTIVITIES WWT London, Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes, London, SW13 9WT Discover the wonder of wetlands during the weekend family activities. Go on migration watch! Gaze through a pair of binoculars to help us find the Autumn Visitors. Look out for brightly coloured ducks and elegant wading birds. Or grab a net and find out what lives in the ponds. info.london@wwt.org.uk www.wwt.org.uk EVERY SUNDAY SUNDAY STORIES Kew, TW9 3AB Times: 1pm, 2pm and 3pm Settle down at Kew Gardens for story time and learn about the fascinating relationship between people and plants.

At Davies Exploration House (behind the Temperate House).

Price: Included with entry to the Gardens 020 8332 5655 www.kew.org FROM 1 OCTOBER AUTUMN COLOUR Hever Road, Edenbridge, TN8 7NG As the air turns crisp and a rich display of autumn colour envelops the countryside, pack your walking boots or wellies and head to Hever Castle to enjoy the crunch of leaves underfoot and spectacular autumn tints. Little ones can take on the

MORE ONLINE: familiesonline.co.uk Leaf & Seed Collection Challenge. If they collect 10 different seeds and leaves from Anne Boleyn’s Walk and Lake Walk, they will be given a bulb to take home and plant. 01732 865224 www.hevercastle.co.uk 4 & 18 OCTOBER MUSEUM MONKEYS Chertsey Museum, 33 Windsor Street, Chertsey KT16 8AT Cost: £5 per child. Time: 9.30-11am Join Charlie the Chimp for singing, stories and crafts Under 5s (must be booked in advance) 01932 565764 www.chertseymuseum.org 5 OCTOBER AUTISM HOUR: MOTORING VILLAGE Brookland’s Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge KT13 0QN Time: 9-10am. Following the success of the Autism Hour Event in June, Brooklands Museum is again opening its doors early for families with members on the autism spectrum. Reduced rate admission applies and carers enter free accompanying a paying visitor. This activity has restricted numbers and prebooking is required. 01932 857381 www.brooklandsmuseum.com 5 OCTOBER 15 MINUTES OF FUN Chertsey Museum, 33 Windsor Street, Chertsey KT16 8AT Time: 1.30-3.30pm. Free family craft activities. It’s free and you don’t need to book just go along and join in!

01932 565764 www.chertseymuseum.org FROM 5 TO 6 OCT WOOD FEST RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB Admire traditional skills in a weekendlong celebration of wood and trees at RHS Garden Wisley with a variety of activities for all the family to enjoy. www.rhs.org.uk FROM 5 OCT TO 3 NOV AUTUMN ANIMALS CHILDREN'S TRAIL: OCTOBER AND HALF TERM Ham House and Garden, Ham Street, Ham, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7RS Cost: £2. In the gardens, the animals are gathering in their harvests to help them prepare for winter. Can you help them find their food? Join in the tactile trail to match up the animals with their favourite foods. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-houseand-garden 6 OCTOBER FAMILY FOLK SHOW WITH MEGSON (0-7YRS) Watermans Art Centre, 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Time: 3pm. Cost: £10 (£9). Organic, Authentic & Fun Folk Concerts for Big & Little Music Connoisseurs. Award-winning folk duo Megson blend their infectious mix of heavenly vocals and lush harmonies into a gentle, entertaining concert specially for pre-school children, featuring children’s folk songs old and new from their ‘When I was a Lad’ album.

020 8232 1010 www.watermans.org.uk 10 OCTOBER MINI ACES UNDER 5S CLUB Brookland’s Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge KT13 0QN Time: 10.30am-12.15pm. Mini Aces club brings the Museum to life through stories, craft, song and dance. With a focus on different objects, stories and exhibits each month, children will discover the treasures we have in our collection and

14 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - October 2019

build self-confidence in a new and exciting environment. Under 5’s. Please book in advance. 01932 857381 www.brooklandsmuseum.com 12 OCTOBER VC10 ZA150 OPEN DAY AT DUNSFOLD AERODROME Dunsfold Aerodrome, Dunsfold Park, Cranleigh GU6 8TB An Open Day held by Brooklands Museum at Dunsfold Aerodrome for the VC10 ZA150, which resides there. This was the very last VC10 of 54 built at Brooklands in the 1960s and was one of the last two to fly with the RAF from Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. On its retirement in September 2013 it was acquired by Brooklands Museum and flew in to Dunsfold, where a team of dedicated volunteers maintain it in running order.

Entry is by pre-purchased ticket only.

01932 857381 www.brooklandsmuseum.com 13 OCTOBER CARD NINJA (6+YRS) Watermans Art Centre, 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Time: 3pm. Cost: Premium tickets: £12 (£11), Family of 4 £44; Standard tickets: £10 (£9), Family of 4 £36. Riotous fun and a sweep of high-flying card tricks can only mean one thing; Javier Jarquin, otherwise branded as Card Ninja, is back in town. Expect deadly and risky fun as he performs his extreme card-flicking stunts.

020 8232 1010 www.watermans.org.uk 13 OCTOBER AUTUMN MOTORSPORT DAY Brookland’s Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge KT13 0QN Competition cars from all ages will be put through their paces on the adjacent Mercedes-Benz World circuit and later in the day Test Hill will be in action. Expect to see a wide variety of competition cars from Formula 1, F5000 and GTs to touring cars and Group B rally cars. 01932 857381 www.brooklandsmuseum.com 19 OCTOBER YOUNG ARCHAEOLOGISTS' CLUB Chertsey Museum, 33 Windsor Street, Chertsey KT16 8AT Cost: £5 per child. Time: 11am-12.30pm or 2-3.30pm. For 8 to 16 year olds (must be booked in advance). 01932 565764 www.chertseymuseum.org FROM 19 TO 20 OCT MARVELS OF MECCANO Kempton Steam Museum, Kempton Park Waterworks, Snakey Lane, Middlesex, TW13 6XH Go and see a dazzling display of wonderful feats of engineering… all made from that childhood favourite, Meccano.

More than a dozen enthusiasts have contributed their magnificent creations to make this the best Meccano display ever… so don’t miss it! www.kemptonsteam.org FROM 19 TO 27 OCT SPOOKY CATS AT THE LONDON MUSEUM OF WATER & STEAM The London Museum of Water and Steam, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, TW8 0EN Go along this Halloween for a spooky kitty time. Many years ago, eight mysterious cats lived at the Steam Museum, playing with the waterworks employees. Listen to a cat story every weekday at 11am, make your own cat craft, explore the Splash Cat trail, find the Museum’s hidden cats, and rememberkids in costume will be able to visit the Museum for free. www.waterandsteam.org.uk

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MORE ONLINE: familiesonline.co.uk FROM 19 TO 31 OCTOBER HALLOWEEN HALF TERM FUN Hever Road, Edenbridge, TN8 7NG Prepare to be spooked this Halloween at Haunted Hever. Join the spooky storytelling, take part in the Halloween craft activity, follow the scarecrow scavenger hunt around the grounds and sink your teeth into a sweet treat at the deadly delicious biscuit decorating workshop. 01732 865224 www.hevercastle.co.uk FROM 19 OCT TO 3 NOV HALF-TERM POTION MAKING TRAIL Claremont Landscape Garden, Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9JG Cost: £1 Hubble Bubble, where to find wizard ingredients for your potion?

Search the ghoulish garden for mysterious ingredients and create some natural magic! Booking not needed, admission applies. 01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremontlandscape-garden 20 OCTOBER MISCHIEF AND MYSTERY IN MOOMIN VALLEY (3-7YRS) Watermans Art Centre, 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Times: 11:30am, 2pm & 3.30pm Cost: £12 (£11) Based on the much-loved novels by Tove Jansson, this intimate, gentle, heart-warming show takes us on a journey through the seasons of the year in Moomin Valley where everyone is welcome, nature thrives and adventures are playful. Featuring, original music and songs, pre-recorded narration all set within a beautiful pop-up book.

020 8232 1010 www.watermans.org.uk 20 OCTOBER LONDON BUS MUSEUM TRANSPORTFEST Brookland’s Museum, Brooklands Road, Weybridge KT13 0QN The annual Transportfest. There will be horse bus rides, heritage bus trips, a collectors’ market, live music and children’s attractions. This event is not just for transport enthusiasts, but fun for all the family as well! 01932 857381 www.brooklandsmuseum.com 20 OCTOBER RISE AND ROAR: QUIET SESSION IN THE MAGIC GARDEN Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Court Way, East Molesey KT8 9AU Time: 9-10.30am. Go along for a quiet session in The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace, aimed at those living with or caring for someone with Autism, or those who have any other sensory needs, and their families and carers. www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace FROM 22 TO 25 OCTOBER JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (3+YRS) Watermans Art Centre, 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS Times: 11am & 2pm. Cost: Premium tickets: £12 (£11), Family of 4 £44; Standard tickets: £10 (£9), Family of 4 £36 This classic fairytale now gets the Lyngo treatment so expect lots of surprises and beautiful images as Patrick Lynch (from Cbeebies) tells the gripping story of Jack who sells his cow for 5 magic beans and finds himself in the land above the clouds. It’s a show with something for everyone – enormous shoes, tiny houses, showers of silver and gold and a big, leafy explosion!

020 8232 1010 www.watermans.org.uk

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FROM 26 TO 27 OCT BIRDS OF PREY DISPLAYS RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB See the enthralling birds of prey agility demonstrations taking place on Seven Acres (west) at RHS Garden Wisley and get to meet the wonderful birds up close. Watch them take flight at 11am and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. www.rhs.org.uk FROM 26 OCT TO 3 NOV OCTOBER HALF-TERM Hatchlands Park, East Clandon, Surrey GU4 7RT Cost: £3. Pick up a sheet from reception, follow a trail through the parkland and claim your pumpkin-themed prize at the end. Booking not needed. Admission applies. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hatchlandspark FROM 26 OCT TO 3 NOV AUTUMN ANIMALS WORKSHOPS Ham House and Garden, Ham Street, Ham, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7RS Create a bird feeder to help wildlife around you prepare for the winter with one of the guided workshops at 12, 1 and 2pm each day (subject to availability). £3 per child with everyone taking something home. Workshops are subject to the availability of volunteers.

Please call the property on the morning of your visit on 02089401950 to check availability. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-houseand-garden FROM 26 OCT TO 3 NOV SPOOKY STORYTELLING Ham House and Garden, Ham Street, Ham, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7RS Time: 12.30-1pm Children, gather round for some thrilling tales in the back parlour. Hear tales from the past come alive with stories suitable for all ages. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-houseand-garden FROM 26 OCT TO 3 NOV FAMILY GHOST TOURS Ham House and Garden, Ham Street, Ham, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7RS Have a memorable evening together this autumn with a ghostly tour of Ham House and Garden where you will hear unexplained spooky tales from the past and present as you’re lead through the mansion and grounds at twilight. This tour begins at 6pm and will finish 7:15pm with hot chocolate for all.

Recommended age for this tour is 7+. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-houseand-garden FROM 26 OCT TO 3 NOV OCTOBER HALF TERM: AWESOME AUTUMN RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB Join us for a week of half term fun and celebrate Awesome Autumn at RHS Garden Wisley with a variety of fun activities, including: A garden adventure trail, featuring bugs and intriguing trees Guided walks by the Education team on topics covering tremendous trees, meet the minibeasts and seed dispersal, Fun craft activities including making a hedgehog hat, bark rubbing, insect tile printing, leaf mandala, and an insect kite. www.rhs.org.uk

October 2019 - What’s On FROM 26 OCT TO 3 NOV WIZARDS AND WITCHES WEEK Bocketts Farm, Young St, Fetcham, KT22 9BS Activities include a Reptile Roadshow, Science and Slime shows, Owl meet and greet sessions, Creepy Craft Corner and Wizard and Witches Quiz Trail, as well as a full programme of farm activities 01372 363764 www.bockettsfarm.co.uk 28 OCTOBER PUMPKIN CARVING Claremont Landscape Garden, Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 11am-1pm Cost: £2 Go to Claremont this Halloween and carve pumpkins into spine-tingling decorations for your doorsteps. Please take your own pumpkin and help will be on hand to help you carve out spooky shapes. Booking not needed, admission applies. 01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremontlandscape-garden FROM 29 OCT TO 2 NOV CREEPY CRAFTS Claremont Landscape Garden, Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9JG Time: 11am-1pm. Gluesticks at the ready, it's time to make some Halloween inspired crafts to decorate your house with just in time for Halloween. Booking not needed, admission applies. 01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremontlandscape-garden 31 OCTOBER HALLOWEEN NIGHT SAFARI WWT London, Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes, London, SW13 9WT

Time: 4-7pm. Cost: £25.50 per child.

Children must be accompanied by an adult, free of charge. Ever wondered what creatures lurk around the London Wetland Centre after dark? Go along for a spooky night time adventure, searching for the wildlife that comes out at night.

Build a den to hide from Halloween monsters and make a fire to keep you snug. Finish the evening toasting marshmallows on the campfire, telling scary Halloween stories. Ages 8+. info.london@wwt.org.uk www.wwt.org.uk 31 OCTOBER SPOOKY WALK Claremont Landscape Garden, Portsmouth Road, Esher KT10 9JG Cost: £1.50 Are you brave enough for a spooky Halloween walk around Claremont? Who knows what’s going to jump out at you.. go along for a scare if you dare! This is a Halloween themed walk around the lake at Claremont with some spooky surprises along the way.

01372 467806 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremontlandscape-garden FROM 19 DECEMBER TO 5 JANUARY CIRCUS 1903 Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX Experience the thrills and daredevil entertainment of a turn-of-the-century circus this Christmas.

Circus 1903 returns to Southbank Centre, with new acts for 2019 including the Brazilian Wheel of Death. www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Family fun is guaranteed at Hever Castle & Gardens this Autumn.

Enjoy Autumn Colour at Hever Castle & Gardens with free garden tours, stunning walks and a Leaf & Seed Collection Challenge (from 1st October).

Ghostly storytelling, Halloween crafts, a scarecrow scavenger hunt and deadly delicious biscuit decorating workshops* (*small additional charge) take place during Halloween half term (19-31 October).

With welcoming log fires, and beautiful decorations in the Castle, a Christmas trail to follow and the chance to see Father Christmas – be enchanted by the magic of Christmas at Hever (23 November – 24 December).

The theme is Alice in a Christmas Wonderland. Fall down the rabbit hole and follow the whimsical trail through the grounds to try and catch up with the white rabbit, join the Mad Hatter at his tea party and meet the infamous Queen of Hearts. www.hevercastle.co.uk

Email: editor@Familiesuponthames.co.uk • Tel: 07792 006546

Families Upon Thames • 15

16 • Kingston • Richmond • Brentford • Isleworth • Spelthorne • North Surrey - October 2019

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