The following notice has been received from Spelthorne Council and is reproduced here for our members:

Designed for the over-50s, this nine-day event promotes some of the activities and services aimed at helping older adults improve their health.

Leading a healthier, more active lifestyle doesn't necessarily mean going to the gym - it could be brisk walking, line dancing, Tai Chi or bowls. There really is something for everyone.

As part of the event, Spelthorne’s Community Centres are offering the chance for all new visitors to try one free activity from 26-30 September and giving away free goody bags on their weekend taster days (provided by Sainsbury's and Waitrose). Activities are also taking place at the Spelthorne and Sunbury Leisure Centres and at various other locations in the Borough.

Here’s a link to the webpage with a further link to the brochure:

https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/living-well

An application by the developers, Crest Nicholson, as an addendum to the approved scheme for Park Avenue, has been lodged with the Council. In their design and access statement the company states:"Following considered evaluation of current and anticipated market conditions and demand within the context of the Park Avenue development as proposed and the surrounding local area, it is felt that the area fronting the entrance green which previously proposed the addition of four large 3-storey, 5-bedroom villas (plots 52-55) would be better served by a single 3-storey centrepiece appartment building.... Parking provision for the proposed building meets the local authorities parking standards and provides a total of 36 parking spaces of which 24 are allocated. Additionally the 4 unallocated spaces on the adjacent street have been retained."

The developers intend to meet their affordable housing obligation based upon the precedents set by the previous consent and the viability work undertaken previously. It is proposed that the 35% proportion of affordable housing agreed in regard to the implemented consent be mirrored in this application. Based upon a net gain of 20 additional dwellings, this would require a contribution toward seven off-site dwellings of £335,125.

To view the application in its entirety and to make representations, please visit: http://my.spelthorne.gov.uk/planning/ quoting reference: 16/01357/FUL

The annual Picnic in the Park run by the Friends of the Sunbury Embroidery will be held on Saturday 10th September. The event will feature Music Night favourites, The 60s All Stars - the Friends fancied a change from the orchestral music that's been the norm at past events.

For those of you who've never been, the Picnic in the Park takes place in the beautiful surroundings of the Walled Garden in Thames Street where the Gallery is situated and it's really an atmospheric event where you can bring your tables, chairs, picnic, drinks and whatever else (candelabra have been spotted on several tables); and enjoy the music as the dusk falls.

Gates open around 6pm with music from 7pm. Tickets may be purchased at the Gallery for £12.50 in advance or £15 on the night and funds raised by the event support the work of the Gallery.

To see poster, click here

Further to the publication on this site of new charges to be introduced at Charlton Lane Community Recycling Centre (scroll down to article of 2nd August) we are pleased to publicise a petition calling for their abolition.

To add your name, click here: http://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/Waste-charges/

The formal notification of Surrey CC's introduction to charging may be viewed by clicking here

Simon will be performing at the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street, on Sunday, 4th September at 7.30pm to celebrate the music of John Coltrane with Terence Collie on piano, Paul Michael on bass and Rha Stranges on drums.

Simon Allen began his career with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Pendulum Jazz Orchestra, performing alongside the likes of Jazz Stars Art Themen, Gerard Presencer, Jamie Cullum and Peter King.

After being a winner in the Daily Telegraph ‘Young Jazz’ competition, and a finalist in the ‘Young Jazz Musician of the Year’, Simon gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music, and was selected to join UK drummer Clark Tracey's acclaimed Quintet, winning further awards and touring the UK over 7 years.

He has appeared at major UK venues and festivals including Ronnie Scott’s, the Barbican and Brecon Jazz Festival, and worked with an astonishing array of top musicians from the jazz and pop world.

Between 2005-2013 Simon was featured in the late Stan Tracey CBE’s various groups, and is featured on his final two quartet recordings, as well as octet and big band album releases. He has also appeared on the Jools Holland’s “Later” TV show performing a track from the album "Senior Moment".

Tickets £10 on the door or, in advance, £8 by booking on www.moodindigoevents.co.uk

The Indispensable Man, a play by Terry Pattinson and Geoff Buckingham, will come to the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street, on 16th & 17th September at 8pm.

The Manor Players again push the boundaries and team up prolific local writers Terry Pattinson and Geoff Buckingham combined with a welcome return to directing by Riverside stalwart Carmen Souchet.

We are invited to come along and enjoy this original comedy, based upon the outrageous and hilarious events surrounding a major newspaper in the 1980’s. Ruthless and philandering Editor George Goldman stops at nothing to shape the nation’s events and to scoop the headlines in the battle for readership. But how much longer can he get away with it, and who will be the winners and losers?

The talented and enthusiastic cast are enjoying every moment of comedy within the play - and there are many! Robert Johnson, Robert A Hardy, Sue Dye, Natalie Harries, Rob Day, Karolina Liedtke, Bobbie Jack, Elanor Davidson and Ben Roberts look forward to giving you a great evening.

Tickets are £10 and include a Ploughman's Supper with Dessert after the performance.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 07771 458 696 - www.ManorPlayers.org - www.ticketsource.co.uk/manorplayers

LOSRA has received the following email from Spelthorne Council:

Working with Active Surrey and Surrey County Council’s Public Health Team, Spelthorne Council has launched Get Active 50+, a project aimed at improving the health of older adults across the Borough.

People tend to be less active as they get older and we have an ageing population in Surrey. Almost one in five people are over the age of 65 and this is set to rise to one in four in the next 20 years. Being more active by doing something that raises their heart rate for 30 minutes, 5 days a week, can lead to both physical and mental health benefits.

Leading a healthier, more active lifestyle doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym; it could be brisk walking, ballroom dancing or bowls. We can help. Did you know that by increasing your physical activity levels, you can prevent and manage many conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, joint problems and obesity? Being active can also lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, improve symptoms of depression, reduce stress and prevent or manage osteoporosis, falls and hypertension.

Get Active 50+ is making it easier than ever for adults to lead healthier lives by putting on a varied programme of sports and physical activities for people to try. There are numerous sports and activities offered to encourage and inspire our residents aged 50 or over to try something new, get active and improve their health and wellbeing.

Visit www.spelthorne.gov.uk/getactive50 for details on the 50+ activities on offer in Spelthorne or call 01784 446433 for further information.

Paul Watts announces:

"The next Music Night [at Sunbury Cricket Club] is on Friday 19th August, starting a bit earlier than  usual, and as you may spotted, it’s rather an unusual one – August is a funny old month to do regular gigs what with people being on holiday, so I decided to vote myself a gig by hosting The Paul Watts 70th Birthday Jam Session, which also celebrates five years of running the Music Nights at the Club. It was actually my birthday in June, but it was more convenient to do this show now, and we have pulled together a dozen or more of our excellent local players, including several with an illustrious history, plus I hope one or two guests coming from further afield.

"The guitarists are Gerry Cook, well-known local jazz and rock player, originally with The Saxons in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s who were winners of the National Skiffle Group Championship; Tim Renton of 3AM, who played at the Club last year (he was formerly a Womble!); Chris Allard, who has played at the club with Venice Red; Mark Doyle of The Marshall Taylor Band, who have also played at the Club, plus a loose musical cannon in the form of cricket club stalwart Dave Boothman. Bass players are Colin Pattenden from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (and now with Nashville Teens, Jackie Lynton and Skeleton Crew); Martin House, local player who has been in Life & Soul along with all our bands since the ‘80s; Roger Harding, another local player who plays with jazz outfits like the Rebel Yell Jazz Orchestra. Keyboard players are Kevin Welling (he was once in a band with Elaine Paige) of Dave’s Not Here and The Stan Bland Band, and a likely guest appearance by former EMI colleague of mine Jon Pope, who was with Mungo Jerry back in the day. Drummers are Stephane Booroff of Edison Lighthouse, and local player and Music Night regular Alan Worrell. Harmonica players are the formidable talents of an old buddy Geoff Forester and Adam Russel of Nashville Teens and his own band. We’re delighted to say also that it now looks like Karl Green, originally with Herman’s Hermits and latterly with his band Dave’s Not Here, will be in the UK for the event and will be slotting in on vocals and guitar on various numbers.  There may well also be a couple of old friends from my first 1962-3 band in Hastings, The Confederates, who have played for the last quarter-century on the south coast as Jinks, along with one or two other surprise guests. I will be singing and playing rhythm guitar – just about everybody else will also be singing.

"This fine body of talent will be loosely organised into group-sized agglomerations to do four sets of about half an hour each, which we have prepared to some extent, so it won’t be a jam session in the true sense of a disorganised free-for-all, although there will be some cast-of-thousands massed rockers and voices bits for the finale. I am sure it will be a bundle of fun all round, and although precision may not be a hallmark of the evening, we are aiming to put on a proper show worthy of the Club.

"Admission is free, otherwise it’s normal Music Night, with the usual food menu available from fairly early on, as we are aiming to start the show promptly at 8.30, so that we have some time to socialise during and after the show. We look forward to seeing you there".

Regards

PAUL WATTS