Living In Richmond, Kew & East Twickenham magazine - May/June 19

May/June 2019

KEW FETE 22 JUNE

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

tickets! local open Win Holland gardens Jools & Caro Emerald

Connecting local people to local life

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Welcome...

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love this time of year - there are so many events going on locally and so many things to do. One of my favourites is the annual Open Gardens, where locals open up their gardens for all to come and admire. This year, Richmond HIll and Ham Gardens are back, plus there are a few new additions, too. Find out where to go on pg 16.

This year, we celebrate our 10th Anniversary of Kew Midsummer Fete. As one of the early founders, it's wonderful to see how successful the Fete has been over the last decade. As well as offering a great day out for locals, we have raised more than £130,000 for local charities.

Read about this year's Fete on pg 22.

As well as Kew Fete, there are lots of other fairs, fetes and festivals over the summer. We've got two pairs of tickets to see Jools Holland and Caro Emerald - find out how to win on pg 29.

In June, local artists open their studios and homes to visitors, so you can see where artworks are created and buy without going through a gallery (or pay gallery prices). I go every year and it is wonderful to meet the artists and discuss their work. More details on pg 31.

Enjoy!

Pippa, Editor

Connecting local people to local life

Contents 7 14 16 21 22 31 32 36 39 41

Homes & Interiors: the modern bedroom Gardening: Chelsea Flower Show Open Gardens: visit local gardens Restaurant review: 144 On The Hill A day out at Kew Fete Art House Open Studios Local Talk Local people: Neil Brown - blacksmith Fairs, Fetes & Festivals History: the origins of Shene

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43 47 50

Health: Get walking!

Children's Literary Festival What's On

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WIN!

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Tickets to see Jools Holland and Caro Emerald Business Profile: Blink Optics

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31 

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Contact us:

Also: Living In Barnes, East Sheen & West Putney

Editor & Publisher: Pippa Duncan Sales: Caroline Clark T: 020 8878 1890 E: pippa@livinginmagazines.co.uk Published independently by: Living In Magazines Ltd July/Aug copy deadline: 7 June @LivingInMagazinesRichmond

Contributors: Valerie McBride-Munro, John Moses, Katherine Sorrell, Alison Runham

livinginmagazines.co.uk @LivingInMag

Pippa Duncan

Photo:anniearmitage.com

Living In Magazines

ALL ASPECTS OF HOME REFURBISHMENT KITCHEN, BATHROOMS & BEDROOMS Renovating Interiors Since 1985 www.bellainteriors.co.uk T 020 8332 9898 / F 020 8332 9777 / E sales@bellainteriors.co.uk / 137 Kew Road Richmond. Surrey TW9 2PN.

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Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

a good night

homes & interiors

Does your bedroom look a little dated, or is it brimming with contemporary style?

We outline some quick and easy ways in which to give it a brand-new look

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quiet retreat, a calm haven, and a cosy place in which you can relax, read, watch TV, listen to music, make phone calls or even sleep – your bedroom is your own personal space, and the ideal room in which to express your unique personality. If, however, it feels boring rather than beautiful, dull rather than delightful, why not consider a makeover? With some forward planning (and without spending a fortune) you can transform a tired space into a gorgeous room that you’ll love spending time in.

Photo: frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

A pop of colour Bold colours are on trend this spring, often quite dark and moody – an intriguing antidote to the careful beiges, greiges, stones and neutrals that have predominated over the last few decades. Where better than a bedroom to go for this dark décor? Be brave and use fuchsia, turquoise, emerald, orange, mustard or deep blue in arresting combinations or, if you don’t feel quite courageous enough, perhaps just cover one wall with a strong shade. Even the simple addition of a bright headboard, rug, throw or group of cushions can make all the difference.

On the walls A new paint colour will transform the room.

Experiment by using a tester pot to cover a large sheet of card and sticking it to different walls at various times of the day, so you can see how the colour changes according to the light. Another way to make a difference is to use patterned wallpaper, all over (for huge impact) or just on a feature wall. Or opt for a wall-sized mural – they are easy to order, sized to your dimensions, via specialist websites, and look absolutely amazing, whether the image is of, for example, a wooded glade, tropical palms, a cityscape, oversized flowers or a starry night sky.

'To transform a bedroom from boring to boudoir, introduce sumptuous bed linens that are gorgeous to look at and soft to the touch...'

Beautiful bed linen To transform a bedroom from boring to boudoir, introduce sumptuous bed linens that are gorgeous to look at and soft to the touch. You may wish to use plain white as the basics, just adding a stunning throw, blanket, eiderdown or quilt – or several – for a jolt of eye-catching colour and pattern. Or go for broke and put colour with colour, plains with

Find more great Homes & Interiors articles at livinginmagazines.co.uk

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Š Marianne Majerus

Inspiring Gardens, Expertly Crafted Designed by Matt Keightley A multi-award winning garden design and build company with an uncompromising commitment to quality. Based in Richmond, we work on private gardens and commercial schemes, both within the UK and internationally.

Rosebank Landscaping, 98 Kew Road, Richmond Upon Thames, Surrey TW9 2PQ | 0208 255 0132 info@rosebanklandscaping.co.uk | www.rosebanklandscaping.co.uk |

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@rosebanklandscaping

'Wall-mounted lights will free up space on a bedside table...' patterns, and revel in the excitement and drama of layered vibrancy.

Right photo: clarrissahulse.com; above right: hurnandhurn.com

Take the floor In a bedroom where wear and tear is not a factor, luxurious, deep-pile carpet laid wallto-wall is an option to consider. It’s not cheap, however, so if that’s beyond your budget, consider sanding back your floorboards and either varnishing or painting them, then adding a rug or two in a bold, modern style (blocks of vivid colour, chevrons or Berber, perhaps) for heaps of character.

Lights fantastic Assess your lighting and ensure it’s both subtle and flattering. You can make it more adaptable by adding table or floor lamps in the corners and fitting a dimmer switch to the central pendant. Even changing the bulbs makes a difference – LED for energy saving, choosing warm white and not overly bright.

For bedside reading, a pair of swing-arm, wallmounted lights will free up space on a bedside table or go with the on-trend look and hang a bare filament bulb from a coloured cotton flex that’s suspended either from the ceiling or a wall-mounted bracket.

How to update your furniture Wardrobes, chests of drawers, blanket boxes and bookcases are an investment, and not necessarily items that you’ll want to replace too often. But there are ways in which to improve or disguise such furnishings that are old-fashioned, overly bulky or otherwise just

not quite right. A lick of paint works wonders, for example, though it’s inadvisable on anything antique. Sand thoroughly, undercoat and cover with a top coat – choosing either a colour which will stand out or, if your aim is to minimise the look of the piece, the same colour as the wall behind. It’s also possible to paste wallpaper (or wrapping paper, maps, sheet music, posters – the list is endless) onto the flat panels of wooden furniture, painting the rest of the piece in a co-ordinating colour to give it a quirky new look. Another surprisingly effective upgrade is simply to change the knobs or handles for something more sleek and modern. It may even be possible to do the same for feet or legs, where appropriate.

Katherine Sorrell is the author of 17 books on design and interiors

mention Living Magazines when contacting advertisers FindPlease more great Homes & In Interiors articles at livinginmagazines.co.uk

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Alcoves Bookcases ●

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Wardrobes

Made to order in my local workshop Superior quality and delivery within an agreed time span. Wood and painted finishes 07961 321126 Call Jamie for an informal discussion of your requirements www.yellowchisel.co.uk

Cupboards

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Fitted Furniture & Woodwork

Kitchens Shelving ●

You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6 letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.

3 letters: 11 4 letters: 17 5 letters: 9 6 letters: 2

3 Letters IRE LEI LIE LIP PER PIE PIS REP

Answers: pg 37

R P LS I E

Bespoke furniture and curtains shouldn’t just be things rich people can afford.

Our dedicated British craftsman can create the sofa, armchair, dining chair or headboard you’ve always dreamed of but was out of reach.

Visit our showroom to browse through our collection of beautiful yet affordable fabrics and ask about our measuring and fitting service. gabidarochainteriors.com Phone: 0208 891 3908

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Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

Rattan is right at home outdoors, and these armchairs are super-comfy. Whitcombe teak table, £1,200, and Hampstead chairs, £290 for a pair, all Garden Trading.

Rattan Revival

Light weight yet strong and durable, rattan is a versatile material that can be used indoors and out for a variety of furnishings, adding pretty natural texture and a charmingly retro vibe.

Put your favourite houseplant on display in a tapered round basket with natural tones and an intertwined binding design.

Rattan basket, £60, Cox & Cox.

Sit back and relax on this iconically styled rocking chair that’s inspired by ‘50s and ‘60s interiors. Monet rocking chair by Sika, £515, Cuckooland.

Add pretty texture and minimal styling with a lightweight, occasional bench seat. Hampstead bench, £290, and seat pad in charcoal stripe, £18, both Garden Trading.

Artisan vintage meets natural Scandi in this elegant console, made from teak framework with wicker. Retro rattan console, £499, The French Bedroom Co.

Divide an open-plan space or create a private corner with this three-panel screen that’s crafted from rattan with a solid cane frame and fine webbing to the surface. Rattan webbing screen, £275, Cox & Cox.

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Back to nature

gardening

The greatest flower show in the world is coming to town very soon, and the central theme of this year’s Chelsea Flower Show is all about wellbeing. But the one garden that I’m particularly looking forward to is the ‘RHS Back to Nature Garden’

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© Valerie McBride-Munro 2019

f you cast your mind back to Hampton Court Flower Show 2017, my good friends Andree Davies and Adam White swept the boards with a gold medal, People’s Choice Award and Best in Show for their Playscape Show Garden, so I am willing them on to do great things this year at Chelsea. As they specialise in designing interesting and challenging gardens for children, I suppose that it was not much of a surprise that HRH The Duchess of Cambridge should want to join forces with this dynamic duo.

The key elements of this woodland garden include a crafted hollow log for children to climb through, a den, a waterfall, stream and tree house. So, it’s shaping up to be a great place for families to get together, play, dig and generally have a great time without fear of doing any damage in an otherwise manicured garden.

It’s to be a great place for wildlife, too, as plants, fruits and seeds are there to provide food for them and nectar for bees and butterflies. There’ll also be nesting sites for birds and cover for other animals to hide in the garden.

I haven’t yet seen the full plant list, but as some plants are there to provide material for crafting, I suspect that there’ll be swathes of willow; the trees, I’m told, are full of character and personality, so expect some pretty lovely old gnarled specimens.

This has been a true collaboration between these garden creators. Behind the scenes, the design ideas have been drawn together from many, many walks in the Sandringham Estate, endless cutting up of photographs and plant material to develop the main themes, building intricate models, all of which has resulted in the development of this exciting outside space.

And, you’d be quite wrong to assume that this garden collaboration is merely a one-hit wonder. After Chelsea, there are plans for this ‘dream team’ to continue. They’ll be codesigning two further RHS gardens, mirroring many of the elements from their Chelsea design. So, expect another amazing creation at Hampton Court this year and another garden at RHS Wisley later in the year.

The message with all three gardens has to be ‘Go outside and get your Nature fix!'

Valerie McBride-Munro is a qualified horticulturist offering a plant problem solving service. Tel: 020 8892 9243

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Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890 Find more great gardening articles at livinginmagazines.co.uk

RHS

Kids go free*

H A M P TO N C OU R T PA L AC E G A R D E N FE S TI VA L

Inspirational gardens, plants and floral displays | Unique shopping Expert advice and workshops | Live talks and music | World food and drink

1–7 July 2019 | Preview Evening 1 July RHS Members’ Days 2 & 3 July Book now rhs.org.uk/hamptoncourt

Supported by

Your visit supports our work as a charity *Two children 16 and under free with an accompanying adult. No ticket required.

Please mention Living In Magazines when contacting advertisers RHS Registered Charity no. 222879/SC038262

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'There are always flowers for those who want to see them' Henri Matisse

Over the summer, numerous private gardens are opening their gates to the public…

19 May: 6-8pm Ham Open Gardens Only open every other year, a wonderful selection of 17 gardens, one originating rom the C17th.

Tickets from Ham Common, £11each or £16.50 for two 24 May: 6-8pm 26 May: 2-5.30pm Chiswick Mall & Field House A group of six gardens, including a water garden with a predominately green planting scheme of exotic foliage (pictured right).

Chiswick W4 2PR. Tickets £12 26 May: 2-5pm 2 June: 6-8pm Kew Green Gardens A range of large gardens, mainly informal, with borders and well-established shrubs.

65, 67, 69, 71, 73 Kew Green TW9 3AH. Tickets £6 2 June: 3-6pm 26, 34, 59, 60, 61 Marksbury Avenue Five very different gardens, from a New Zealand theme with camomile lawn to a quintessential English cottage garden and

one with more than 20 varieties of clematis.

Teas at no. 60. See Siobhan McCammon, below right.

Kew TW9 4JE. Tickets £7 2 June: 11-5pm Richmond Hill Open Gardens 14 beautiful gardens, from small to large, scattered across Richmond Hill.

Tickets available from St Matthias Church, £12.50 2 June: 2-5pm Stokes House A half-acre walled country garden, abundant with roses, clematis and perennials. Ancient mulberries and wisteria, yew hedging and pergola, (pictured left).

Ham St, Ham TW10 7HR. Tickets £4 8 June: 2- 5pm Trumpeter’s House & Sarah’s Garden A two-acre garden on the site of the Richmond Palace. Ancient Tudor walls are covered in roses and climbers. Unusal shrubs and trees.

Richmond TW9 1PD. Tickets £5

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9 June: 1-4pm 28 Taylor Avenue Verdant gardens with mature trees and shrubs - a typical urban garden.

Kew TW9 4ED. Tickets £3.50 9 June: 1-5pm 31 West Park Road A modern botanical garden, with an oriental twist. The emphasis is on foliage and a mix of unusual plants. Dry beds, shady beds, mature trees and reflecting pool.

Kew TW9 4DA. Tickets £3 9 June: 1-6pm Sheen Open Gardens There are 20 gardens to visit. Tickets available from Savills at 298a Upper Richmond Road West or visit fishhelp.org.uk for more details. £20 to visit all gardens

16 June: 3-6pm Ormeley Lodge A large walled garden on Ham Common, with herbaceous borders and box hedges.

Walk through the orchard to the wild garden.

Vegetable and knot gardens.

Ham Gate Avenue, Ham TW10 5HB. Tickets £5 23 June: 5-7.30pm 20 Beechwood Ave Minimalist layout offset with the designerowner’s favourite plant combinations, topiary, pots, sculpture.

Kew TW9 4DE. Tickets £5.50 Visit ngs.org.uk or opengardens.co.uk for more details and other gardens

My Open Garden – Siobhan McCammon Australian, Siobhan McCammon, has lived in the UK for many years. When she moved to 61 Marksbury Avenue in 2004, she had to start her garden from scratch: ‘I didn’t want to recreate an Australian garden, so I had to teach myself about English plants – what would survive and what would look good together.

‘I wanted an informal, cottagey look, but slightly wild. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don’t – it’s an ongoing process!

‘I love visiting other people’s gardens and being part of the scheme has given me a focus each year, as well as knowing we are

helping charities. More than £3m was raised across the country in 2017. I love people visiting and seeing the pleasure it gives them.’

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SUDUKO

aun

www.auntieplanty.co.uk

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Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through to 9.

You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic - there’s no maths involved and no adding up. Have fun!

ANSWERS: pg 37

Win! Tickets to see Jools Holland & Caro Emerald Living In Magazines has a pair of tickets each to give away for Jools Holland and Caro Emerald at this year's Hampton Court Palace Festival

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highlight of the summer calendar, Hampton Court Palace Festival provides world-class acts in a spectacular setting, as well as gourmet Fortnum & Mason picnics and sumptuous VIP dining experiences.

This year’s Festival presents a sensational lineup of shows including Kylie, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Caro Emerald, Jools Holland and more.

Gates open at 5.30pm, so soak up the pre-concert atmosphere in the East Front Gardens, enjoying a picnic and a glass of champagne before taking your place in the seated auditorium, against the magnificent backdrop of the intimate Tudor courtyard, for the evening’s performance. It’s an event not to be missed!

Visit hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com for more information and the full line-up.

HOW TO ENTER: We have one pair of tickets to see Jools Holland (6 June) and one pair of tickets to see Caro Emerald (12 June). For your chance to win, just email: pippa@livinginmagazines.co.uk with Jools or Caro in the Subject line and answer the following question: Where can you enjoy the pre-concert atmosphere at the Festival?

Send postal entries to: HCPF Competition, 38 Chelwood Gardens, Richmond TW9 4JQ. Final entry date: 16 May. Terms & conditions apply – please visit livinginmagazines.co.uk for further details.

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Thursday 11 July • 7.00pm NT Live (Encore Screening) Hope and humanity meet stubborn reality as Small Island traces the tangled history of Jamaica and the UK. Filmed live on stage as part of National Theatre Live’s 10th birthday.

Tickets: £12.00 (£10.00 concessions)

Upcoming productions Faust

All My Sons

Sunday 5 May • 2.00pm Royal Opera House (Encore Screening) Experience the decadence and elegance of 1870s Paris in David McVicar’s spectacular production of Gounod’s best-loved opera.

Thursday 30 May • 7.00pm NT Live (Encore Screening) All My Sons is a moving and powerful landmark drama, the first great play from one of the finest playwrights of the Twentieth Century.

Tickets: £15.00 (£12.50 concessions)

Tickets: £12.00 (£10.00 concessions)

Golden Hour / New Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui / Flight Pattern

Romeo and Juliet

Thursday 16 May • 7.00pm Royal Opera House (Live Screening) The contemporary face of The Royal Ballet is shown in works from three of today’s leading choreographers.

Tuesday 11 June • 7.00pm Royal Opera House (Live Screening) Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers encounter passion and tragedy in Kenneth MacMillan’s Twentieth Century ballet masterpiece.

Tickets: £15.00 (£12.50 concessions)

Tickets: £15.00 (£12.50 concessions)

Booking Information Tickets available online at thehammondtheatre.co.uk For enquiries please call 020 8783 4418

20 Hammond Theatre, Connecting local people to local life - 3HD 020 8878 The Hanworth Road, Hampton, TW12 Free 1890 parking on site, bar & disabled access available

144 On The Hill

restaurant review

Georgian splendour mixes with modern magic at the newly relaunched 144 On The Hill, writes Pippa Duncan

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he restaurant at the Richmond Hill Hotel has been re-invented. Keeping to its Georgian heritage, it has a simple grandeur but with contemporary elements. A lot of thought has gone into the décor and it shows – beige mixed with flashes of orange, sumptuous banquettes, leather and velvet chairs. The long wraparound bar spans the room and is spectacular – worth going for just a drink.

Having ordered cocktails, Emy, the mixologist, brought the ingredients for a Virgin Mary to the table. No Worcester Sauce and Tabasco here, but Sichuan pepper, ashberries, pimento and lemon verbena, mixed with tomato and then streamed from one cup held high to another. Other tables stopped talking to look. It was mesmerising if slightly nervewracking to watch. But he didn’t spill a drop.

And it was absolutely delicious.

For the first course my husband, Alex, chose the open rabbit lasagne with mushrooms and truffle sauce (£8). Fresh lasagne, tender rabbit mild in flavour, in a creamy sauce – it was excellent. My retro prawn and smoked salmon in a cocktail glass (£9) was good, particularly the salmon and the side accompaniment of a Bloody Mary shot (oh yes!), but couldn’t compete with the flavours of the rabbit.

Alex, always keen to try something new when we do a restaurant review, went for the vegan Jackfruit Dirty Burger – Cajun jackfruit with red cabbage, apple slaw, vegan cheese

and beer sourdough bun with with chips (£12).

It was a mountainous magnificence and tasted just as good. Neither of us are vegan but, if we hadn’t known, we would have just assumed it was meat. Layers of thinly sliced jackfruit blended well with the cabbage and apple slaw, tasty cheese and crispy fries.

I opted for the more traditional seared Gressingham duck breast, Richmond honey and Earl Grey jus and Isle of Wight garlic fine beans (£14). The duck was cooked medium, as ordered, and was tender to cut, while the garlicky beans were fabulous.

We could have tried every dessert on the menu but, foregoing the Bakewell tart, Alex went for the rhubarb bread and butter pudding (£7), which came as freshly cooked rhubarb on a soft bed of bread. The tang of rhubarb hit the spot and he was a happy man. I had the Valrhona chocolate mousse with honeycomb crunch. It came beautifully presented, topped with delicate edible flowers and little segments of deeply chewy honeycomb. Expecting a smooth chocolate experience, the mousse was very textured, possibly because it was a vegan version, but shows that the restaurant does more than a simple nod to vegetarians and vegans.

Bookings: 020 8940 2247 144onthehill.co.uk

Please mention Living In Business Magazines contacting advertisers More restaurant reviews at livinginmagazines.co.uk Profilewhen

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10th anniversary

kEW MIDSUMMER FETE A great day for family and friends on Kew Green Saturday 22 June: 11am-6pm

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his year, we are celebrating our 10th anniversary of Kew Midsummer Fete. In 2010 a group of locals decided that we couldn't let the 250-year-old tradition of a fete on Kew Green die out. So we started planning. Each of us had our role to bring the fete together - booking a Victorian fun fair and the attractions, creating a food court, attracting more than 100 stallholders, finding bands for the live entertainment on stage. And also, all the things visitors probably don't think about - booking portable loos, making sure Health & Safety requirements are in place, asking St John's Ambulance to attend and paying a company to take all the rubbish away at the end of the day.

We were ecstatic when so many people turned up on our first day. And, all these years later, we are still overwhelmed and so grateful that so many thousands come - not just from Kew and Richmond, but from across London for a great day out.

Fabulous stalls There will be around 90 outside stalls, selling a wonderful range of goodies from paintings to plants, scarves to scones, jewellery to jams and cards to cushions. Inside the marquee there will be a further 25 stalls, full of exquisite original items including furniture, silver jewellery, frames, candles, bags and clothing.

The food court We have an even wider range of delicacies at the Food Court this year - more than enough to suit every taste, from pizza to paella, pulled pork to Pimms. There will be the traditional tea tent, where you can sit down and relax with a cuppa and a cream cake. Or there will be plenty of beer on tap with the ever-popular Fuller's bar.

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Great attractions Travelling showman Reuben Bond will once again be setting up MIDSUM MER his historic fairground rides including his KEW GR EEN colourful Carousel of gallopers, the Flying th Chair-O-Plane for the fearless, the tots’ ARY ANNIVERS Merry-Go-Round 22 JU N of vintage vehicles 11 A M T E 20 19 IL L 6P M and the high-in-thesky Old-Time Wheel. Aspiring and seasoned footballers can take aim at the very popular 'Beat the Goalie' run by local club, Kew Park Rangers.

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Stage stars There will be all-day entertainment on the stage, with great acts such as Buddy Flame and the Rockets, Kew Dance Arts, Rock Choir and Q2 Players, to name just a few.

Dog days The Dog Show always draws huge crowds and local residents, who are keen to show off their favourite member of the family. There are seven rosette-winning categories: Best Puppy,

Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

Best Old Dog, Best Pedigree, Best Cross-Breed, Best Rescue Dog, Best Trick and Dog Most Like Its Owner. The Best In Show will be chosen from those winners. Once again, a celebrity will kindly be judging this year's winners! Still currently a secret, you'll find out on the day who will be picking our champions. Entry to each category is ÂŁ3 and registration is on the day, 12-2.30pm. The show starts at 3pm.

Tug of War The Tug of War Tournament is a great event to watch, with both children and adults joining in the tugging fun. You can put a team of six together in advance (enter online at kewfete.org) or just turn up on the day.

Great raffle prizes We have some amazing raffle prizes, including a Sonos Playbar, theatre tickets, vouchers for local restaurants, a one night stay in a Fuller's pub/hotel, a photography session and much more. Tickets will be on sale on the day but you can buy them beforehand at shops around Kew Parade.

Thank you to all the amazing local businesses which have donated prizes.

Calling all local charities All profits from Kew Midsummer Fete are donated to local charities and more than ÂŁ130,000 has been shared out since we started in 2010. If you are a local charity and would like to apply for a donation, complete the application form (which can be downloaded from the website) and return it by 6 June.

Pippa Duncan kewfete.org

Thank you to our Sponsors & Supporters The Fete couldn't happen without you!

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Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

the right vision Blink Optics offers beautiful frames, the latest eyecare technology and superb customer service

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ou just have to look at the number of positive online reviews to see that Blink Optics is getting it right. Based in East Sheen, this independent optician, owned by Nilesh and Alka Soneji, has not only got great frames and state-of-theart technology, but that all important excellent customer service, which turns one appointment into a life-long customer.

‘Locals have really taken on board that we

Blink Optics offers a great selection of designer glasses including SALT, Ray Ban, Tom Ford, Moscot, Face a Face and Nifties - which creates glasses for the smaller face - as well as a wellpriced house brand, offering specs for every budget. And, with an in-house lab on site, they can offer a quick and easy express service as well as repairs.

like to go that extra mile. We’re not a chain, which means we can really take time with each customer and give a personalised service. And, having treated the parents, we now see them bringing in their children for eye tests, too.’

Nilesh emphasises the importance of eye tests in the young. ‘Kids might not be thinking about the fact they can’t see the board clearly at school, so it’s up to the parents to notice if there may be a problem with their vision,’ he says. And, as children’s eye tests are free, there’s no reason not to get them checked out.

Nilesh and his team also offer a complimentary 4D eye health scan – worth £50 – when you book an eye test. This is important for all ages, as the scan can spot debilitating eye conditions at an early stage, before they cause irreparable damage, particularly as having good eyesight doesn’t mean your eyes are necessarily healthy. ‘The scan can see into the deeper layers of the retina and detect conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macula degeneration.’

There are many types of contact lenses on offer these days and Nilesh has built up years of experience to find which would be most suitable for you. He says: 'Many of our clients require correction for both distance and close up. I can fit them with multi-focal contact lenses that suits all their viewing needs.'

• • • •

Under 18 and Over 60: free eye tests Complimentary 4D eye health scan State of the art technology Exceptional customer care

‘Having struggled for some time with a high street optician to obtain the lenses appropriate to my needs, I am delighted with the results that Nilesh has achieved for me.’

327 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen 020 3327 1510 / blinkoptics.co.uk

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25

Suppliers and installers of domestic kitchen appliances 441/445 Upper Richmond Road West East Sheen London SW14 7PJ

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Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

● 020 8876 1246 ● info@coopersappliances.com ● www.coopersappliances.com

SLEEPING BETTER WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Great Sleep Starts Here

Looking for the bed of your dreams?

Conveniently located between Putney and Richmond (with free parking), Westend Bed Company is home to 40 different models, in different tensions, from the world’s leading bed brands including the largest display of Hypnos beds in the UK. Get expert advice from our Sleep Specialists and browse our beds in store.

“Our new mattress is absolutely the best thing we own. I wouldn’t change it for anything else it’s completely wonderful.”

Emma Redmayne

“Thank you for the advice – you were completely right, the soft tension really helped my bad back which was such a welcome surprise.

I can finally wake up without pain.”

F. Werneman

“You truly have the traditional English values we were speaking about when we met. I will, without hesitation, recommend your shop to all my family and friends.”

S. Yabsley

“Thank you. I had the most comfortable sleep.

Great recommendation, and the delivery team were excellent.”

Bowen-Jones

215 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, London, SW14 8QT Tel: 020 3369 4522

www.westendbedcompany.com

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27

JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT LOCAL NETWORKING MEETINGS: 21 MAY & 25 JUNE THE SHEEN NETWORK IS A LOCAL, INCLUSIVE NETWORKING GROUP, OPEN TO EVERY BUSINESS IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS. WE TYPICALLY HAVE 25-35 BUSINESSES ATTENDING. FIND OUT MORE FACEBOOK.COM/THESHEENNETWORK OR EMAIL HELLO@THESHEENNETWORK.CO.UK

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A new chapter for Richmond Hill Hotel The newly re-launched Richmond Hill Hotel will delight, whether you stay in one of its luxurious bedrooms, dine in the fabulous new restaurant or just enjoy a cocktail at the bar

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ichmond Hill Hotel, a retreat on the edge of one of the world’s greatest cities, has begun a new chapter in its history that will assert Richmond as a ‘go to’ destination in 2019. The Georgian townhouse has recently completed a multimillion pound refurbishment programme, revitalising its Georgian bedrooms, restaurant and bar.

Designed by award-winning designers, K&M, who have drawn on Richmond’s unique heritage, the bedrooms feature comfy, hand-stitched Heal’s king-size beds, with furniture commissioned to fit within each of the individual room styles. Deep, freestanding baths, antique phones and clocks give a nod to the past, complimenting the modern walk-in showers, underfloor heating and Nespresso coffee machines - combining the best of all eras and further enhancing the familial townhouse experience to create calm and considered spaces. Richmond Hill Hotel has also undertaken the remodelling of its food and beverage outlet, 144 On The Hill, launched this spring as an independent, destination restaurant and bar, embracing a contemporary, welcoming and timeless identity.

Combining the Georgian architecture of the building with fine elegant detailing of the interior, the design is influenced by famous poets, writers and artists, including Thomas Hudson, the famous portrait painter and former resident of the area. Designed by award-winning Russell Sage Studio, the space

has been devised as a place to kick back, brunch, lunch or dine.

144 On The Hill provides a series of spaces, all effortlessly connected and each dedicated to a different experience, boasting bursts of natural daylight. The Snug is a quiet, comfortable, intimate space for cosy down time; and the bar and lounge offer an upbeat vibe with live music, innovative cocktails, specially selected wines and a medley of delicious small plates.

The newly created restaurant provides an iconic setting for many celebrations; an eclectic combination of locally-sourced ingredients, championing Surrey farms, Kent vineyards and local Richmond beekeepers, selected by the Head Chef to create a robust, classic British ‘Turf to Table’ inspired menu that changes with the seasons. With a nod to the local environment, the unique menu ranges from much-loved British dishes with a twist and sharing plates to appetising vegan dishes, all prepared from scratch by the team of talented chefs.

Whether you are looking to celebrate a milestone, indulge in a delightful afternoon tea, enjoy a long, lazy brunch or sample the delicious modern British cuisine with a cocktail or two, experience the team at 144 On the Hill’s unique culinary vision. www.richmondhill-hotel.co.uk www.144onthehill.co.uk booking@144onthehill.co.uk 020 8940 2247

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29

Spring ART FAIR 18 & 19 MAY 2019 10am - 5pm

Admission £4, Concessions £3, U16s & LAC Members FREE Ferry Road, Teddington, TW11 9NN www.landmarkartscentre.org 020 8977 7558 LandmarkArts landmarkartfairs Image: Nadia Day

Registered Charity No: 1047080

ARTISTS@REDLEES Proudly presents...

SUMMER OPEN STUDIOS 2019

Friday 10th May - Sunday 12th May PREVIEW | FRIDAY 10th MAY 18.00 - 21.00 (All welcome, no invitation needed.)

Friday 10th May 18.00 - 21.00 Saturday 11th May 11.00 - 18.00 Sunday 12th May 11.00 - 18.00 REDLEES STUDIOS REDLEES PARK WORTON ROAD ISLEWORTH TW7 6DW

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www.redlees.org @RedleesStudio

Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

Art House Open Studios More than 200 artists are taking part in Richmond's Art House Open Studios: 21-23 and 28-30 June

A

rt House offers a unique opportunity to visit artists' creative spaces, chat to the artists themselves and hear how their work evolves. And, by buying direct, you are not paying gallery prices.

Hundreds of local artists will open their doors over the two weekends in June, exhibiting a wide range of work including paintings, sketches, photography, stained glass, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and upholstery.

Venues are spread across Richmond borough with exhibitions in homes, studios, schools, cafes, church halls, boathouses and in heritage buildings.

Entry to all venues is free. You can find out where to go at arthouseopenstudios.co.uk or the free brochure is available from local libraries, arts venues and Orleans House Gallery.

Artists from top: Nadia Day, Emma Map, Nicky Browne

OTHER EXHIBTIONS: Landmark Arts Centre: Art Fair 18 & 19 May, 10am - 5pm Featuring around 100 artists, showcasing a huge range of work across a wide range of media: painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, ceramicists and illustrators.

Richmond Art Society Summer Exhibition: 28 - 30 June, 10am - 6pm Also at the Landmark, The Richmond Art Society is holding a three day exhibition at Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington. There will be more than 200 works of art including watercolours, acrylics, drawings, pastels, digital works, prints, sculptures and ceramics. Amateurs and professionals.

Landmark Arts Centre, Ferry Rd, Teddington TW11 9NN landmarkartscentre.org Please mention Living In Magazines when contacting advertisers

31

local talk... east twickenham

(MI5) in 1992, having worked in countersubversion, counter-espionage and counter-terrorism in her career.

The National Archives, 7.30-9.30pm.

Tickets £28-£35, including a glass of wine. nationalarchives.gov.uk

richmond

kew

•Tackling local crime Despite Richmond being one of the safest boroughs in London, there is still concern about the level of robberies and incidents reported locally, so the council has injected an extra £100,000 into community safety for the coming year. While crime is actually down in Richmond, there has been an increase in burglaries and serious youth violence.

The extra money will also be used to fund initiatives that will bring communities together, including supporting Neighbourhood Watch.

•Dame Stella Rimington evening 5 April An iconic face of British espionage and now an acclaimed writer, Dame Stella Rimington will spend this special evening discussing her life, career and writing. Known as the inspiration for Dame Judi Dench’s character ‘M’ in the James Bond movies, Dame Stella was appointed head of the Security Service

•17th Century Dew Gathering 6 May No, I hadn’t heard of this, either. But it seems the tradition of gathering dew as part of May Day celebrations has been going on for 400 years. Dew was seen to have medicinal or magical qualities, so people would wash themselves with dew gathered in the early morning.

Ham House will be open from 6am to enable you to gather your own dew! Or, alternatively, just nip into your garden…

Ham House, open from 6am. Tickets £10 per adult, £5 per child, including breakfast at the Orangery café. nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-house

•Antique Fair – Twickenham Stoop 12 May An antiques, Art Deco, Vintage and Collectables fair at the home of Harlequins Premiership Rugby Club. With space for up to 120 indoor stands plus outdoor pitches, the event will feature a wide range of antiques from jewellery to furniture.

10-4pm, £3 entry. Twickenham Stoop, Langhorn Drive, Twickenham TW2 7SX

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Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890 Find more local news at livinginmagazines.co.uk

A WARM WELCOME TO

WARREN HOUSE Welcome to the elegant and luxurious surroundings of Warren House, a Victorian mansion located on the Coombe Estate. A magnificent private house, set within impressive landscaped gardens, Warren House is the perfect place for all events, whether a birthday party, a wedding, a business conference or a traditional afternoon tea.

Within this immaculately maintained 150-yearold manor house we have 4 unique dining spaces. Drop in for a light lunch in our beautiful and bright Wisteria lounge or sip a coffee in the sun on our stunning terrace. We look forward to welcoming you to Warren House.

For your moment in time 020 8 547 1777 / info@warrenhouse.com Warren House, Warren Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 7HY (Located 5 mins from A3, Robin Hood Gate)

www.warrenhouse.com

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love learning FRENCH French is a beautiful language – and it can be easy to learn!

B

onjour! My name is Stéphanie Paillasson and, together with my team of handpicked tutors, we offer fully tailored French language tuition in and around the Richmond area. Founded in 2008, we have helped hundreds of clients to reach their goal of learning and improving their French.

My qualified native French tutors are highly experienced in teaching individuals and groups of all ages and abilities, whether to learn French for business, travel, exams or just for fun.

I know that learning a language can be a challenging and dry experience, but our tutors develop a fun and supportive environment to help you learn and exceed your expectations and we have the track record to prove it!

Our clients have busy schedules, so we believe in flexibility - offering teaching at home or at the office - as well as distance learning over the internet.

We treat every client as an individual, so we will take you through our free level assessment, discuss your objectives and tailor our lesson plans to match your needs.

Call us now to book your free level assessment - À bientôt!

Why learn French?

• Make travel more enjoyable • Improve the chance of entry to college or university • Understand a foreign culture • Be more competitive in the job market Stéphanie Paillasson stephanie@french-tuition.co.uk 07502412296 french-tuition.co.uk businessfrench.biz

'Learning French with my tutor is a pleasure. She uses a mixture of conversation, responding to questions that arise from day to day life and text books, in a way that makes the learning feel easy.’

Nick, Richmond 'My daughter is in Year 9 and has been having French lessons through Stephanie's company for nearly a year now. This has really helped her grasp the fundamentals and given her much needed confidence before embarking on her French GCSE.' Frances, Kew ‘I have been enjoying French conversation classes for nearly a year. Stephanie is an excellent and able teacher. She makes each lesson educational, instructional and enjoyable. Above all Stephanie makes learning fun. She is very encouraging when one struggles and makes you think about the language from a fresh perspective. Stephanie prepares thorough, bespoke lessons. I would thoroughly recommend her for all levels of ability.'

Susan, Chiswick

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35

Hot metal Neil Brown is one of the few modern-day blacksmiths, working from his forge at the Museum of Water and Steam, just across the river in Brentford. He talked to Pippa Duncan as he worked on pieces for his stall at this year’s Kew Fete

N

ot many people know that there is a forge at the museum. But it has been in existence since 1838 and is the oldest continuously used forge in London. There are only around 600 blacksmiths in the UK, but the numbers are growing as people return to a love of uniquely beautiful and traditionally made pieces, rather than mass-production.

Neil Brown trained as a blacksmith more than 15 years ago, having tried a variety of jobs that he hated. ‘I did sculpture at college and got a job making architectural models and sets, so I knew I liked working with my hands, but somehow I ended up working in IT for years. It was actually my manager there who told me to find something I liked doing more!

'A highly skilled blacksmith, with years of experience behind him, Neil makes bespoke pieces for his customers...'

I found a three-day blacksmithing course in Leatherhead. It was January, freezing cold and I was outside all day, but I loved it. I knew this was what I wanted to do.’

Now a highly skilled blacksmith, with years of experience behind him, Neil makes bespoke pieces for his customers. ‘I recently created a gate for a lady in Kew. She came with a photo of what she liked. I drew up some ideas and we honed down exactly what it was that she wanted and based the gate on leaf shapes in forged metal. She was really delighted with the finished product and absolutely loves it.

‘For each piece of work, once the idea is firmed, I draw it up to full size, work out what materials I want, cut them to size and

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Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

then light the fire and start forging the shapes. Depending on the piece, it can be a week’s worth of forging, followed by another couple of weeks of assembly, with a couple of trial fits on site to ensure it all works. But at other times, if I’m making an artistic piece, it’s all cutting, welding, drilling and there’s no forge work at all.’

Neil has also created a large tree of life for St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey and, recently, a garden table with metal vine leaves wrapping round the legs for a local couple. ‘I am starting work on a staircase balustrade soon. The customer wants two flights of stairs, starting with a lot of detailed work at the bottom. Elements will then be repeated up through the balustrade. I love the fact that I can make so many different things, from hooks and sculptures to garden ornaments.’

Before being turned into the museum, the building next to the forge was Kew Bridge Pumping station – created to produce clean water using steam, diesel and electric pumps.

The pumps were made in Cornwall and a

Quiz answers S U D U KO

team came up to install them, including a blacksmith. He stayed on to set up the forge and, as well as working with the pumping station, worked with the local boats and stables. Recently, says Neil, his great great grandson paid him a visit, delighted to see the forge still in use.

You can see Neil’s stall – Hot Metal Works – at Kew Fete on Saturday 22 June, or see more of his work at hotmetalworks.co.uk

Read with Children Doorstep Library brings the joy of reading into homes of families in disadvantaged areas throughout Hammersmith & Fulham. We operate a team of volunteers who read with the children, lend them books, befriend the families and offer support.

Volunteer 3 hours a week to share your love of books If you are proficient in English and want to share a passion for reading, please email us at enquiries@doorsteplibrary.org.uk www.doorsteplibrary.org.uk 020 8870 1476 Registered Charity: 1158197

TRIAL ANSWERS:

3 Letters IRE, LEI, LIE, LIP, PER, PIE, PIS, REP, REP, SIP, SIR 4 Letters IRES, ISLE, LEIS, LIES, LIPS, LIRE, LISP, PIER, PIES, PILE, REPS, RILE, RIPE, RIPS, RISE, SIRE, SLIP 5 Letters PERIL, PIERS, PILES, PLIES, PRIES, RILES, SLIER, SPIEL, SPIRE 6 Letters PERILS, PLIERS Please mention Living In Magazines when contacting advertisers

37

The joy of music therapy The Otaka Kraus Music Trust has helped hundreds of people with special needs to enjoy music ‘Music is there for everybody. It’s a river we can all put our cups into and drink it and be sustained by it’ John Williams, composer

T

he Otakar Kraus Music Trust lives by this philosophy and uses music as a way of connecting with and helping the most vulnerable members of our local community.

The Trust provides music therapy and specialist music teaching for a wide range of needs. This includes OK Music Club group sessions for babies and children with additional needs and siblings; OK Music School to teach children and young people with disabilities to play instruments and perform in public; OK Music Groups to help adults with mental health issues; and Music Therapy groups for elderly people.

In 2018, the Trust provided 3,000 music sessions for over 290 people, helping them to

communicate, concentrate, gain confidence, make friends, perform in public and take part in community activities.

At the heart of everything it does, the Otakar Kraus Music Trust uses music as a way to bring joy, happiness and self-belief to people who are hard to reach. It is always looking for ways to do even more for our local community and deliver greater impact.

To find out more or make a donation please visit www.okmtrust.co.uk , call 07745 062 212 or email info@okmtrust.co.uk

Market news...

Community Food, Arts & Crafts Market

On the first Sunday of each month 10am -2pm * * *

5th MAY

*

2nd JUNE 7th JULY

* *

At Station Parade, Kew (near the Station)

www.kewvillagemarket.org SUPPORTING LOCAL CHARITIES

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I

t’s lovely that Kew Village Market is popular all year round with local residents – and now it seems we’re becoming a tourist destination too!

There’s an Oxford couple who love the mix of stalls and live music so much they take the train down every month; and visitors to Kew Gardens are very happy to discover the market on their way.

Like the delightful Chinese lady recently, who said it had always been her dream to come to Kew Gardens: ‘And discovering this beautiful market I think I am still dreaming!’ So she bought pretty well everything on the stall – KVM cookbook and CD cards and the tote bag to hold them all – to prove back in Bejing that it wasn’t a dream! Drawing by Penelope Grant kewvillagemarket.org

Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

FAIRS, FETES & FESTIVALS Plan ahead - it's going to be a fun-packed summer!

11 – 12 May Richmond May Fair Now under the management of Richmond Bid, the Fair is back - for the first time over two days - this year. More than 100 stalls with a mix of charities and independent stalls, plus live entertainment.

Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Richmond Green. berichmondmayfair.london 25 – 27 May Foodies Festival Mouth-watering summer festival at Syon Park, with workshops, masterclasses, top chefs and Bake Off winners, live entertainment and, of course, lots of lovely food!

From 11am. Weekend Ticket £29, family ticket £38 (2 adults, 4 children). foodiesfestival.com 6 – 22 June Hampton Court Music Festival This year’s Festival presents a sensational line-up including Tears For Fears, Kylie, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Caro Emerald, Jools Holland, Busted, The Jacksons, Michael Ball & Alfie Boe. Bring a hamper and enjoy the spectacular backdrop of Hampton Court Palace. hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com

Win! You can win a pair of tickets to see Caro Emerald and Jools Holland – find out more on pg 19.

7 – 23 June Twickenham Festival A series of events across Twickenham, including Church St Goes Green (15/16 June), craft market and live entertainment. twickenhamthetown.org.uk 8 June Ham Fair Stalls, live entertainment, dog show, art display, music, plenty of bric-a-brac. 11am – 4.30pm.

6 July St Margaret’s Fair A much-loved event for the local community, with thousands of residents visiting the stalls, BBQ, entertainment and five-a-side football.

Events all day, but main fair from midday onwards. Moormead, St Margarets 9-14 July Kew The Music More top stars return to Kew, including Jools Holland (again!), Garbage, Craig David, Jess Glynne, Rick Astley and Beverley Knight with Billy Ocean.

Tickets £39 - £80. kewthemusic.org 13 July Barnes Fair One of the biggest and the best in London, with more than 300 stalls dotted around Barnes Pond and the Common. Live entertainment and fabulous food.

From 9.30-6pm. barnes-ca.org/barnesfair

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local

the origins of SHENE

history

For centuries a sparsely populated area, Sheen – or Shene as it was originally known – was the home to kings

© John Moses 2019

T

he earliest reference to Shene was in the will of Theodred, Bishop of London, who died in 951, bequeathing his land at ‘Sceon’.

The next reference was not until the 12th century, when King Henry I gave the Manor of Shene to John Belet, a Norman courtier.

In the 1360s Edward III decided to build a palace known as Shene Palace. When he died, his grandson, Richard II, who had inherited the throne, married Anne of Bohemia and Shene became their favourite palace. But in 1394 Anne died of the plague and Richard, brokenhearted following his wife’s death, ordered the palace to be demolished.

Five years later Henry IV seized the throne from Richard II and his son, Henry V, decided to build a new Palace of Shene on an adjoining site, though it was not completed until many years later. He also founded, and richly endowed, a monastery known as the Charterhouse of Shene, built near where Richmond Railway Bridge now crosses the Thames.

After decades of peaceful existence a fire seriously damaged the palace in 1498 and so Henry VII decided to rebuild Shene Palace on an even grander scale. In 1501, according to the Great Chronicle of London, the King commanded that 'From then Forthon it shuld be namyd his manoyr of Rychemount and not Shene' – probably because Henry had been

'Richard, broken-hearted following his wife’s death, ordered the palace to be demolished...'

Earl of Richmond, Yorkshire, before he became king. The palace became the favourite palace of Henry VII and his grand-daughter Elizabeth I, who died there.

Later kings, James I and Charles I, used the palace for their children but, after the Civil War and the execution of Charles I in 1649, the Parliamentarians needed to raise money to pay for the cost of the war, so they sold the palace to a consortium for £13,562.0s.6d to be used as building materials.

When the monarchy was restored most of Richmond Palace had sadly been destroyed.

After the dissolution of the monasteries the buildings of Charterhouse of Shene passed through many hands but were finally demolished in the 17th century. However, a small hamlet grew up around this site, known as West Sheen, only to be demolished when George III commissioned Capability Browne to landscape the park of his country retreat at Kew. The spelling gradually changed over the years, however, today East Sheen and North Sheen station still preserve the name.

Please mention Living In Magazines when contacting advertisers

John Moses 41

There’s no place like home CuraCare East Sheen is a local, independent, family business. We provide care and support services to the elderly in their own homes.

We can help with: • Short term or on-going support • Hourly visits to 24 hour live in care • Companionship & Home Help • Personal Care & Dementia Care • Medication & Meal Support For friendly help and advice

Call: 020 8876 3063 Visit: www.curacare.co.uk

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National Walking Month

health

May is National Walking Month and is part of an annual campaign to promote the benefits of walking. We have fantastic open spaces nearby, such as Richmond Park or Wimbledon Common, so there’s no excuse not to stretch those legs

I

t is perhaps walking that is the most accessible exercise, available to all, regardless of current levels of fitness or income.

Your health Walking gives your leg muscles and lungs a workout, reduces stress, helps you sleep, burns excess calories and reduces your risk of osteoporosis, cancer, depression and Type 2 diabetes. Phew, that sounds so good it should be prescribed.

The NHS says even just a brisk 10-minute daily walk has many health benefits, counting towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.

A brisk pace is around 3 miles an hour – if you’re relatively fit, you should still be able to talk, but not sing a song. The free NHS Active 10 app handily tells you when you’re walking fast enough and suggests ways to fit in more brisk walking.

Particularly through the late spring and summer, walking outside will top-up your levels of Vitamin D which is good for your bone health and your immune system.

Be sociable – or get alone time Walking can be a chance to chat with your friends and family. Nordic walking classes, a Walking for Health walk, or a walking group such as the Ramblers (formerly the Ramblers Association) are ideal if you don’t have anyone to walk with.

However, you may prefer to use walks as a chance for some time to yourself. You could listen to music which can help you get into a rhythm and walk faster If you are concerned about wearing headphones while you walk, look at AfterShokz Bone Conduction Headphones.

These sit on bones on the sides of your head but not in your ears, so you can still hear traffic.

Raise money for a good cause For National Walking Month, the British Heart Foundation is promoting the Just Walk initiative to encourage you to raise money in an organised walk. Tying in with this is their Walk to School Week (16-20 May), where they ask teachers, parents and children to put their best foot forward and walk to school each day.

Get it right • Wear supportive, suitable footwear. If you are walking to work, you could take a smarter pair of shoes with you to change into.

• Stay hydrated. Always take a drink with you if you’re planning to walk for more than 20 minutes or it’s hot.

• Always consider the terrain and the weather, especially if you’re heading off the beaten track. Do you need warm and/or waterproof clothing, headgear and footwear? Do you have snacks, drinks, a first aid kit and a charged mobile phone?

An internet search will return innumerable resources to help you both start and stick with it, not just for May but throughout the year.

Please Livinghealth In Magazines when contacting advertisers How's your mention health? More articles at livinginmagazines.co.uk

Alison Runham 43

EARTHLIFE WELLBEING & FITNESS Earthlife is a unique and tranquil facility in the arches of Kew Bridge, where emphasis is placed on Fitness, Health and Wellbeing. Our aim is to provide a personal and holistic approach to wellbeing and fitness in a place of calm and relaxation.

No Membership or Joining Fees!

FITNESS

WELLBEING

MOTHER & BABY

Hatha, Iyengar, Teen and Dynamic Yoga Purestretch Pilates Ballet for Adults Lotte Berk Method Alexander Technique

Various Massage Treatments Pregnancy Massages Reflexology - Aromatherapy Acupuncture - Hypnotherapy Chiropractic - Osteopathy Craniosacral Therapy Homeopathy - Nutrition Facials - Body Treatments

Pregnancy Yoga Hypnobirthing Mum & Baby Yoga (up to 6 months) Mum & Baby Yoga (6-12 months) Post Natal Pilates Baby Massage Baby & Child First Aid Women’s Health Physio

Earthlife Wellbeing & Fitness

Arch 2, Kew Bridge Arches, Richmond, TW9 3AW

Tel: 020 8940 0888

info@earth-life.co.uk - www.earth-life.co.uk

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Junior school open morning Friday 21st June 2019 9.30am to 12.00 noon

11+ open evening for entry 2020 onwards Wednesday 12th June 2019

16+ open evening for entry 2020 onwards Monday 10th June 2019

020 8255 5300

kcs.org.uk

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45

Opening up the world of books This year's Barnes Children's Literature Festival has more than 80 events, with authors and illustrators such as Lauren Child, Michael Rosen, Francesca Simon, Axel Scheffer, Jeremy Strong and Judith Kerr

T

he Barnes Children’s Literary Festival is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year with a host of fantastic events and a fabulous cohort of authors – all to encourage in children a love of books.

UK Children’s Laureate, Lauren Child (pictured top), creator of Charlie and Lola¸Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort will be introducing her latest character, child genius, Hubert Horatio. The best-selling writer, Jeremy Strong (middle), author of more than 100 books will be joined by his characters, the cardigan-wearing Armadillo and the tuba-playing Hare, as they ponder the meaning of life and cheese sandwiches.

As well as authors, Aardman Animations will be model making Shaun the Sheep, there will be Matilda Musical Theatre workshops and Elmer the Elephant will be leading a story and song session.

There are lots of events over the whole weekend, including theatre and singing workshops and outdoor theatre trail.

Tickets online at barneskidslitfest.org or from OSO Arts Centre: 49 Station Road, Barnes SW13 0LF

KEW, RICHMOND, TWICKENHAM AND TEDDINGTON T: 020 8847 4031 E: kew.teddington@monkeymusic.co.uk

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Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

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47

it's a game of TWO HALVES

'M

is-timed tackles are not rare in youth football but they’re seldom deliberate – and usually the ref deals with it. So it is disappointing when spectators feel obliged to chip in with comments like ‘diver’ or ‘cry baby’ from one side and ‘vicious’ or ‘send him off’ from the other. Yet it does happen occasionally, as last week during a close, tense game.

These nine-year-old players really don’t want that sort of support from parents and coaches – yes, that’s right, coaches – who really should know better!

Like many clubs, Kew Park Rangers is trying hard to improve attitudes on the pitch and we need role models to step forward and shine.

So sometimes we find ourselves having to educate parents as well as players – as if we don’t have enough to worry about, like tactics and how are we going to get the better of this opposition.

Happily the situation did not escalate, thanks to the ref and other spectators keeping everyone calm, but for a couple of minutes it was all a bit unnecessary.

Our message to parents is relax and enjoy the game because that is what the players are doing. And guess what? After the game the players were off having a kick-about, still enjoying themselves.

Ceramics Café Kew Original Ceramics - Painted By You

Studio Hours: Monday–Saturd ay 10am - 6pm Sunday 11am - 6p m www.ceramicsca fe.com Tel: 020 8332 66 61

1a Mortlake Terrace, Kew Green Richmond TW9 3DT 48

Connecting local people to local life - 020 8878 1890

Andy Becker, Football Manager kewparkrangers.co.uk

Academic & All-round Excellence

Visitor events throughout the year

(by appointment, see website for details) Scholarships and bursaries available Entry at 11, 13 and 16 22 route coach service 27 acre campus

Hanworth Road, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 3HD • 020 8979 9273 www.hamptonschool.org.uk • admissions@hamptonschool.org.uk Please mention Living In Magazines when contacting advertisers

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what's on LOCALLY Big Funny Fest 15-16 June Richmond is hosting its first Comedy Festival this June, with the likes of Jason Byrne, Mark Watson, Luisa Omielan and Nish Kumar taking to the stage as part of a huge line-up of comedians. Housed in a Big Top in Old Deer Park, there will be an afternoon, early evening and evening performance, each featuring 3-4 comedians, with a Little Top hosting a further four shows.

Tickets give full access to all shows at the Big Top and first come first served in the Little Top. Tickets £34.50 + fee.

More details at bigfunnyfest.com or book tickets at: seetickets.com/tour/big-funny-fest

Cat Weatherill & Ruth Graham

Out of Water

Tying in with Death Awareness Week, a cabaret for those who are too busy living to think about dying. Storyteller/singer, Cat Weatherill (pictured), and comedian/ funeral celebrant, Ruth Graham, share true stories about unforgettable people they have known, but are no longer with them.

Funny, thought-provoking and candid, the show celebrates the strength and spirit behind ordinary lives and their outcomes.

Tickets £7. The Exchange, Twickenham. 7.30pm start. exchangetwickenham.co.uk

A new play by Zoe Cooper (Jess & Joe Forever), Out Of Water looks at gender, wild swimming and how we define who we are. Lesbian couple, Claire and Kit, move from London to South Shields to be nearer family and the sea and to have their baby.

But as Claire, a teacher, finds out, she has as much to learn from her students as they do from her.

Tickets £25, Under 30s £12.50 tickets also available. Orange Tree Theatre, performances 7.30pm and 2.30pm. orangetreetheatre.co.uk

24 May

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Until 1 June

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Where children become everything they can be Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year-olds

stagecoach.co.uk/kew 0208 487 1456

kew@stagecoach.co.uk

Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited.