Welcome to the LOSRA Website
Like any local community, the policies and decisions shaping the character and future of Lower Sunbury are influenced by a combination of local and national government initiatives, alongside market forces and vested interests operating within these frameworks. As with many areas, Lower Sunbury faces challenges stemming from an aging infrastructure, rapid urban development, increasing traffic congestion, and other pressures that impact both quality of life and the distinctive character of the neighbourhood.
In collaboration with local authorities, other residents’ associations and amenity groups, LOSRA plays a vital role in addressing fundamental issues that affect its members' lives. This organisation not only engages with broader strategic concerns but also focuses on the everyday matters that shape community well-being.
To stay informed, we encourage you to subscribe to our regular e-bulletins via the link at the top left of this page. Your continued support is essential to our efforts, and we urge you to join or renew your membership. Subscriptions for 2026 are now payable at £5 per household. Donations are also welcome.
Are You an Artist or Member of an Arts Group?
LOSRA has received the following email from Spelthorne Council:
Are you an artist living in Spelthorne or a member of an arts group? Whatever your interest in the arts; from dance, theatre and fine art to film-making and poetry, the Spelthorne Arts Forum has something for you.
Come along to see displays on recent projects and meet with other artists and arts organisations. Also find out about the funding and support that is available in Spelthorne and have your say on what is important to you.
To book your place please contact the Leisure Services team on 01784 446433 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Louise King
PR and Communications Officer
Spelthorne Borough Council,
Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1XB
Tel: 01784 444260
Cows Return to Sunbury Park on 18th April
Our Spring 2017 newsletter (scroll down to 3rd April) announced the return of cows to Sunbury Park. Since publication we have now been notified that the cattle will be arriving on 18th April.
Cows will naturally graze the more dominant grass species and in turn allow the less plentiful plants to establish. The Council and Friends of Sunbury Park are striving, on our behalf, to encourage increased levels of wild flowers onto the site which would aid pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies.
The Manor Players present Breaking the Code at the RAC, 20th - 22nd April
At Bletchley Park, home of Britain's best codebreakers, and it's leafy surrounding, Alan Turing was hard at work turning his extravagant theories into reality - no easy feat at the height of the Second World War. The young and brilliant mathematician created a machine, an elementary computer that would crack the German Enigma code and win Britain the war.
Following the triumphs of VE and VJ day, Alan lived briefly in Hampton, Middlesex (working for the National Physics Laboratory [NPL]) before he found a new role as a professor at Manchester University. Now his sights were set on a bigger goal – the development of the modern computer. This was a goal he would never fully achieve after being publicly humiliated and having his character destroyed by the press due to the uncovering of his sexuality and later guilty verdict for indecency.
Hugh Whitemore’s classic play intertwines an account of Turing's most heroic hour with the story of his betrayal and neglect by the nation he had helped in its darkest hour.
The Manor Players present Whitemore’s play, Breaking the Code at the Riverside Arts Centre, 59, Thames Street; 20th – 22nd April at 8pm. Tickets £10.
On Saturday the tickets will increase to £15 to include a special talk by Lady Nichola Turing, show ticket, drink and nibbles.
Allotments now available
Announcement from the Council:
Want to grow your own fruit and vegetables? We have allotment plots available so get in touch if you are interested in renting one.
Contact us by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01784 451449.
Sunday Lunchtime Jazz at Sunbury Cricket Club
The final Sunday lunchtime jazz event of the winter at Sunbury Cricket Club is on Sunday 9th April, when the Club welcomes Equinox, a quartet led by drummer Stephane Booroff, who enjoys an eclectic musical life working with ‘70s pop band Edison Lighthouse, as well as appearing with jazz groups in various London venues, and is a regular at the Wednesday jazz shows at the Barley Mow, Shepperton.
With Stephane will be Nick Cooper (piano), an Erroll Garner stylist who has played with many well-known names at Ronnie Scott’s, Bull’s Head and all the top London venues, as well as on BBC Radio 2 jazz shows, and Steve Riddle (bass), who has played with the likes of Steve Waterman, Art Themen, Don Weller, Harry Beckett and Bill Le Sage to name a few, and who was in the jazz group which played for six months on the QE2 for its final voyages as well as on Queen Mary 2
The quartet also features special guest Duncan Eagles, a saxophonist who is a rising star of the jazz world and whose albums have received critical acclaim. Duncan leads his own band Partikel and is resident at London’s Hideaway club. A double-page spread was devoted to him and Partikel in the March edition of top UK jazz magazine Jazzwise. This is a great opportunity to see a leading and innovative personality on the contemporary British jazz scene,and there is a lot of interesting information and videos at www.duncaneagles.com.
The bar opens at 12 noon, a lunch menu is available from soon after that, and the music gets under way about 1.15pm. For further information contact Stephane Booroff at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Paul Watts at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Read the 2017 Spring Newsletter Here
Our Spring Newsletter is currently with the printers and will be distributed to households within the Lower Sunbury area during the next couple of weeks.
If you prefer not to wait for your hand-delivered copy you may read it here
More...
Saxophonist Ruth Hammond in Tribute to Stan Getz with Terence Collie Trio at the RAC on 9th April
Ruth has appeared on TV’s ‘Later – with Jools Holland’, played a weeklong residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (London, UK) and was interviewed on Radio 4’s “Woman’s Hour” as a representative of up and coming female musicians.
In this tribute to Stan Getz Ruth will be accompanied by Terence Collie, piano; Richard Sadler, bass; Mitch Perrins, drums.
Venue: The Riverside Arts Centre, 59 Thames Street TW16 5QF. Doors 7.30pm; tickets £12 on the night or £9 in advance through www.moodindigoevents.co.uk
The Shepperton Players Present The Odd Couple (Female Version) at the RAC, 6th - 8th April
“The Odd Couple is a play by Neil Simon. Following its premiere on Broadway in 1965, the characters were revived in a successful 1968 film and 1970s television series, as well as other derivative works and spin-offs. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates: the neat, uptight Felix Ungar and the slovenly, easy going Oscar Madison. Simon adapted the play in 1985 to feature a pair of female roommates (Florence Ungar and Olive Madison) in The Female Odd Couple.” - Wikipedia
There can’t be many people who don’t know of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple”. it is the quintessential US situational comedy written by one of America’s greatest comedy writers. In adapting the play for female protagonists and updating it to the 1980’s Simon had the opportunity to leave in what he had seen work and rework those bits that in 20yrs of performances he thought could be tightened up. What you are left with is a play that is both fresh and arguably better crafted than the original.
The Odd Couple – Female version will be prove to be an excellent nights’ entertainment for anyone.
Performance dates are: Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th April. Tickets will be available £12 on the door or £10 in advance through www.sheppertonplayers.org.uk. Performances start at 8pm at the Riverside Arts Centre, 59, Thames Street, TW16 5QF.
Runnymede and Spelthorne Volunteer Awards - 30th May 2017
The following notice has been received from Spelthorne Council with a request for publication:
Runnymede and Spelthorne Volunteer Awards - 30th May 2017
We would like to honour and recognise the wonderful work done by volunteers. On 30th May 2017, from 6 to 8 pm, Voluntary Support North Surrey, Royal Holloway University of London, Runnymede Borough Council and Spelthorne Borough Council will be hosting a joint annual awards ceremony at the Royal Holloway, University of London. We are delighted that CHEP will be sponsoring this event.
Please take the time to nominate one or more of your valued volunteers for these awards. The award categories are:
- CHEP Award for Lifetime Achievement in Volunteering
- Inspirational Volunteer Award
- Individual Volunteer Achievement Award
- Voluntary Contribution to Older People’s Services Award
- Voluntary Contribution to Health Services Award
- Environmental Volunteer Award
- Young Volunteer Award (up to the age of 24)
- Best Volunteer Team Award
- Business Contribution to the Community Award
We have assembled knowledgeable representatives from our locality to form the judging panel. This will include Phil Simcock, Community Action Volunteer Manager at Royal Holloway University of London, Arthur Birkby, Chairman of Voluntary Support North Surrey, and representatives from CHEP and the Borough Councils.
To make your nominations please use our online form. On the form please provide details in 300 words or less about the person or team being nominated outlining the reasons why they have been outstanding as volunteers. The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 19th April 2017.
If you need help in nominating someone or completing the form, please contact the Voluntary Support North Surrey office on 01932 571122. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone in Runnymede and Spelthorne that may be interested in nominating a volunteer. Your support in this matter is very much appreciated.
The Barnes Blues Band Returns to the SCC on Friday 31st March
The next Music Night at Sunbury Cricket Club falls on Friday 31st March when the Club welcomes back the BARNES BLUES BAND who attracted a big audience the first time they played at the Club a while back. They are a band who do selected gigs, as they all have a variety of musical commitments, and we are guaranteed another stunning evening of high class blues and R&B from a group of seasoned professionals who have honed their skills in a variety of big name bands over the years.
The band is led by one of the great blues troubadours of the British club scene Papa George (guitar, vocals), and features Bobby Tench (guitar, vocals) whose illustrious background includes the Jeff Beck Group, Streetwalkers, Humble Pie, Van Morrison, Freddie King and Hummingbird, along with Peter Rees, formerly of Gary Moore’s band, on bass, and drummer Darby Todd, who you have seen at the Club performing with Buddy Whittington and Protect The Beat; and who plays regularly with Alan Price’s band and Hot Leg, the new band led by Justin Hawkins of The Darkness.
You can find out more at www.papageorge.co.uk, www.bobbytench.co.uk & www.darbytodd.com, and there are videos featuring all of them if you search under their individual names at www.youtube.com.
This will undoubtedly be an evening of absolutely first rate blues, and one not to be missed. Please note that the entry price for this event is £10.00 (it was inadvertently announced at £7.50 the first time it appeared on the Forthcoming Events listing). It was £10 the first time they came, and it would cost a good deal more if you went to one of the regular shows at The Bull’s Head, Barnes! Many apologies for any confusion. As usual, there will be food available. We look forward to seeing you there.
Minutes of the Patients' Participation Open Group Meeting of 27th February
If you were unable to attend the PPG Open Meeting at Sunbury Health Centre on 27th February you can keep up-to-date on the most recent developments at the Centre by reading the minutes here
Specsavers Surrey Youth Games: free sports coaching
The following Council press release has been received by LOSRA and is reproduced here:
Team Spelthorne is looking for young people aged 7-16 to participate in the annual Specsavers Surrey Youth Games. The Specsavers Surrey Youth Games is the largest annual youth festival with around 2000 young people experiencing a competitive, countywide sporting event.
Fifteen sports are on offer including hockey, cricket, judo, football, lacrosse, table tennis and boccia. In the lead up to the competition weekend, there are weekly coaching sessions which start in April. Thanks to sponsorship from local organisations, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Everyone Active and Shepperton Studios, Spelthorne Council is offering the coaching sessions free of charge. Participants will then be selected from the coaching sessions to represent Team Spelthorne at the Games on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford.
Cllr Maureen Attewell, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, said: “The Surrey Youth Games offers a fantastic opportunity for young people to experience different sports and make new friends. All the sessions are free, local and aimed at beginners, encouraging young people to give it a go and hopefully be inspired to join local sports clubs as a result.”
To be eligible for Team Spelthorne, you must either live or go to school in Spelthorne and if you already play a sport, you must be below county standard.
Please register online at www.spelthorne.gov.uk/surreyyouthgames to guarantee your place. Each sport has limited spaces and places are given on a first-come first-served basis. Please visit the website for a full list of sports, coaching timetable and eligibility criteria.
For more information contact Spelthorne Leisure Services on 01784 446433 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
New Spelthorne Fire Station – Surrey County Council rules out two full-time crews
The Leader of Spelthorne Council makes the following statement which will doubtless be of interest and great disappointment to all residents within the Borough:
“It is very disappointing to learn today [16th March] that Surrey County Council has decided not to provide two full time crews for the planned new fire station at Ashford. As this will be replacing Staines and Sunbury fire stations – two of the busiest in Surrey - we believe it is essential that Spelthorne has two fire appliances, each crewed full-time, to protect the safety of residents. On behalf of all Spelthorne residents I call upon Surrey County Council to reconsider this decision as a matter of urgency.”
Friends of the Elderly - grants are available to help older people on limited incomes
The following email has been forwarded to LOSRA from Spelthorne Council:
Friends of the Elderly - announced that their grant scheme has plenty of funds available. If you have a service user who needs a one off grant to replace essential items such as basic furniture, flooring, and household appliances or cover the cost of small home repairs, the link below has details of how to apply. They can also help with utility bills, household repairs and adaptations and mobility aids or getting online. Grants of up to £300 can be paid, but they will pay more in exceptional circumstances.
They also offer regular allowances that are paid monthly or twice a year to support older people whose income does not meet their basic cost of living. The Winter Comforts Fund helps towards the cost of keeping warm in the winter.
To qualify, a person must have reached state retirement age and be on a low income, live in England and Wales in private or rented accommodation. Applicants should supply evidence that they are receiving Guaranteed Pension Credit (GPC) or have savings of less than £4000 and are on a low income
All applications must be completed by a third party agency – we cannot accept applications from individuals, their family or friends.
Examples of third party agents include local authorities, social services, housing associations, charities and community groups, health practitioners, Citizens Advice Bureau, or other support agencies.
