The Sunbury & Shepperton Arts Association is pleased to announce the 2013/14 programme of Saturday morning classical Coffee Concerts which will take place at the Riverside Arts Centre, 59 Thames Street, Sunbury-on-Thames.

Tickets, priced at £7.50, include coffee and croissant. Doors open for coffee and croissants at 10.15 am and the hour-long concerts commence at 11.00 am.

Saturday November 23rd is the date for the first concert in the series, when Markella Vandoros, violin, and Emma Abbate, piano, will perform a programme comprising Mozart’s Sonata in G major, Schubert’s Sonata in A major and Debussy’s Sonata in G minor.

Markella plays with the Mediterranea Trio and is currently studying for a PhD in the Music Department, Kings College, London. Emma Abbate, is professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Subsequent concerts are scheduled for Saturday 8 February, 2014 when The Gelachter Wind Trio will perform, and Saturday 22 March sees the return of the excellent pianist Joseph Tong. The final concert in the series is on Saturday 26 April featuring David Gaster, violin, and Linda Marley, piano. 

Tickets are available from the box office on 01932 782 788 or on the door immediately prior to the performance. To see leaflet, click here

The next Music Night is in eleven days’ time on Friday 15th November, when the SCC welcomes back The Downliners Sect, one of the legendary names of '60s R&B from the days of the original Eel Pie Club, where they vied with likes of The Rolling Stones, Pretty Things and The Yardbirds in their EMI days. With an evolving line-up over the years, built around their original founder Don Craine, they have stood the test of time as one of the best exponents of classic R&B and blues. Still led by Don Craine (guitar/vocals), and including long-time stalwart Keith Grant (bass/vocals), the line-up also includes on harmonica and vocals John O’Leary, Savoy Brown Blues Band founder member and one of the godfathers of British blues harmonica, who has played at the Club with his own band. The line-up is completed by Del Dwyer (guitar/vocals) and Mark Freeman (drums).

They regularly feature at the current incarnation of Twickenham’s celebrated Eel Pie Club, and they gave us a really brilliant night last year – they are pretty much the archetypal Sunbury Music Night band – if you’ve enjoyed gigs at the Club but have never seen Downliners Sect, we can guarantee you’ll enjoy them as well. There is full info at www.downlinersect.com, and you can find loads of Downliners Sect video on YouTube. I am sure it will be another great night, so we look forward to seeing you there.

In our autumn newsletter, residents will have been advised of the Environment Agency's Drop-in session at the Embroidery Gallery on Wednesday 13th November. This notice serves as a reminder - especially to those who received telephoned alerts from the EA last winter when there was no apparent risk to their properties. To view, click here

Sunbury & Shepperton Local History Society - Exhibition of Sunbury Historical Photos

On Saturday 9th November 2013 between 10am and 4pm, The Friends of Sunbury Library have invited the Sunbury & Shepperton Local History Society to put on a photo display on the ground floor at Sunbury Library.

This is a one day FREE event.

Come and see more photos of Sunbury from the extensive archives of the Local History Society.

Please bring your old photos and memories of Sunbury to share with the volunteers.

There will also be local history books for sale including:

• The latest publication of Sunbury & Shepperton Local History Society
• ‘The History of Walton Bridge’ (60 pages in colour) by Nick Pollard - £7 or £6 to members!

More information about the Local History Society can be found on their website: sslhs.org.uk

Sunbury Library, The Parade, Staines Road West, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middx, TW16 7AB

Detectives in North Surrey are warning residents to beware of a scam where people are being conned into handing over cash for alcohol and cigarettes but are left without the promised goods.

Officers have released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with an incident last week during which a number of people were fleeced out of hundreds of pounds.

The fraudster targeted a number of people at an office building in Sunbury last Wednesday (18 October), telling them his off-licence business was closing down and that he needed to dispose of some cheap stock. The victims handed over a total of around ￡600. The suspect has asked one of the victims to drive him to the off-licence in Green Street in Sunbury, instructing them to park at the back. The suspect has then made off with their cash but without handing over any alcohol or cigarettes in return.

The suspect is described as Asian with an English accent, in his late 40s, 5 ft 8 to 5 ft 10 tall, of large build. He had a shaved head, a scar on his upper lip and a mole below one eye. He was wearing a brown leather jacket, blue jeans and black suede shoes with leather straps.

Anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV image, has any information, or believes they have been targeted by a similar scam, is asked to contact Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference SL/13/6177. Alternatively, information can be passed to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Surrey Police will again be working with its partners to tackle anti-social behaviour during the Halloween and Bonfire Night period and to make it clear to potential trouble makers that criminal offences will not be tolerated.

They have mailed the county’s supermarkets and convenience stores to enlist their help in refusing the sale of eggs and flour if it is suspected the goods will be used by trick or treaters. Responsible retailers can play a big role in helping deter anti-social behaviour associated with what should be peaceful and family orientated activities, and the force is grateful for the support of local businesses.

In addition, ‘no trick or treat’ cards are available from local Safer Neighbourhood teams and posters will be on display to reinforce radio, newspaper and social media communications. For information and advice on a safe Halloween and Bonfire Night, and to download a printable ‘no trick or treat’ sign, visit www.surrey.police.uk

The Autumn Newsletter has now been sent to the printers and will be distributed to all households during the next 2 weeks. You may also view it on line by clicking here.

At this year’s LOSRA AGM, the possibility of seeking a pedestrian and cycle river crossing between Sunbury and Elmbridge in order to access the Thames Path, maybe using the weir infrastructure,if any negative implications for residents could be satisfactorily addressed, was discussed and received broad support. A survey we have conducted since then also indicates that it is something which a majority of Sunbury residents would welcome, and a considerable number would use.

We asked a question at the Surrey County Council Area Committee on 30th September to ascertain if they would approve such a scheme in principle. While they were unable to “approve” the concept, they said they would welcome new infrastructure that helped meet their transport objectives, which included encouraging more walking and cycling. A bridge could form part of a cycling action plan to be developed in the future. They said that a feasibility study would be needed to establish whether the benefits justified the likely cost and outweighed any negative impacts.

We have since discussed the implications of a feasibility study with Surrey’s Area Highways Manager, who indicated that this might cost between £5,000 and £10,000. The LOSRA Committee has subsequently approved in principle the possibility of contributing to the cost of a study, once we have more details. In addition, a local resident, who is a civil engineer with a specific knowledge of bridge technology, has done an initial outline study of options and costs, which may inform the debate as the project moves forward.

At the same time the Surrey Cycling Strategy is currently under consultation, and LOSRA has made a submission to that which, among other comments, will naturally highlight the potential value of improved access to the Thames Path.

As well as opposing projects that we don’t like, LOSRA also likes to take a pro-active stance in pursuing objectives which we think will enhance the quality of life in the area, and this is one of them. To view the LOSRA response to the SCC Cycling Strategy consultation document, click here

A vocal & instrumental recital will be held at St. Mary's Church on Saturday 26th October. The event will feature Helen Astrid (Soprano), Frank Palmer (Clarinet) and Geoffrey Bowyer (Piano).

The recital is being held in aid of the Princess Alice Hospice and tickets at £8 may be purchased at the door.

After being informed by the Chief Executive and Head of Planning Services that a development of 14 homes was in prospect for the tennis courts site in The Ridings, we are dismayed to have received this leaflet from Cala Homes in which it seems the true figure is 29 dwellings.

We have no way of explaining this very substantial increase in an already densely developed area and hope to find out more when Cala Homes hosts an exhibition of their plans on Tuesday 5th November from 3.30pm - 8pm, at St. Paul's Catholic College, The Ridings, Green Street. All residents are urged to attend. To view the Cala Homes leaflet, click here.