LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

As the politician said to the Vice President, "This is the way to start the New Year" – and so did about 90 members of the Society who came to the Party on January 13th along with Tony Arbour (left) and John Demont. Food and drink were organised by our hard working Party Planners led by Sally and Geoff Howland, with a Quiz on the history of Teddington illustrated by our Teddington800 banners and devised by Paddy Ching. More photos to enjoy inside.

Your next opportunity to meet en masse will be at the AGM on April 19th, hosted by the Landmark Arts Centre; see details on the enclosed flyer. Our guest speaker will be our MP Sir Vince Cable, who recently met your Committee to talk over matters affecting us all. You'll find a report inside. The Landmark now has its own grand piano and lovely it is, too, both to look at and listen to. I had the pleasure of attending a concert there in January and there is an article inside. Future special events will include A Night of Opera on November 1st at Normansfield. Organised by Diana

Gillespie with Opera For Charity, proceeds will go to the Princess Alice Hospice and Downs Syndrome Association. Full details next time. Also coming is a special tribute evening to the Little Ships which assembled at the Lock to help the miraculous evacuation of our beleaguered troops from Dunkirk during WW2. This is being organised by Mike Pemberton, whom we featured in our last issue. Details next time. Thanks to Brian Holder and his three Transport Musketeers, we have stopped the proposal to create a cycle Quietway in our busy and not so quiet High Street, at least for the time being. After all, we have had four safe "Family Cycling Routes" in place since 2002, which fully meet the Quietway definition and would leave the High Street free for heavier traffic. Each of our specialised Groups has been working hard on your behalf, but if you'd like to help we can find something for you to do. We particularly need someone with IT skills to help with Tidings. Please don't be shy – come forward give us your support!

SHEENA

CORPORATE MEMBERS 1 of 1 100 High Street AlphaVet Surgery Architecture:wk Art Historical London Beechgrove Press British Maritime Technology Broom Water Association Churcham House LLP Curves Dexters Estate Agents Elements Hair Salon Elleray Hall Social Club Elmfield House Dental Practice Fairwater House Residents Association Harmer Slater (Roger Sutton &Co) Home Instead Senior Care Kagan Moss & Co, Solicitors Kindle Stoves La Casa Del Habano Landmark Arts Centre Langdon Down Centre Milestone Residential National Physical Laboratory Park Lane Stables Park Road Surgery Parsonage & Co, Solicitors Patrick O’Donovan (Maritime & Commercial Arbitrator) Quantum Group Shambles Bar and Restaurant Sims (Opticians) Ltd Snellers Estate Agents Squires Garden Centre St Mary’s University Stepping on Out Stevens Tyres Stone Rowe Brewer, Solicitors Stoney Deep Residents Association Tamesis Club Teddington Cricket Club Teddington Artists Teddington Bowling Club Teddington Carpet Centre Teddington Choral Society Teddington Funeral Care Teddington Rugby Club Teddington Theatre Club The Fallow Deer The Financial Planning Group The French Tarte The Friends of Udney Park Playing Fields The Lensbury Club The Park Hotel The Strawberry Hill Trust The Tree Agency Trevor Aston Photography Turing House School TW11 Magazine Zeldaland

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

We extend a warm welcome to the following new members: Robin Andrew Barry Bennett and Margaret Hansen Robin Brown and Jane Wilson Maggie Cox Susan Cramond Maggie Evans Valda Hurley Philippa Ingram Kevin Kelly Liang Lu Ian and Rachel Robinson Philippa and Nigel Schofield Susan Webb And a new Corporate Member Trevor Aston Photography Subscriptions for 2018 are now due. A big thank you to members who have already paid by standing order, cheque or cash. Please note this will be your last edition of Tidings unless we receive your subscription! Also please note that again this year we will not be issuing membership cards unless you send an SAE to the membership secretary. This is to reduce costs and enable us to keep your subscription rate the same. Those who pay by standing order: Thank you to all members who have paid by standing order. If you want to check yours has reached us, please call or email because sometimes it’s not clear who the payments to our bank are from if you have set up the payment yourself. We hope other members will wish to renew their subscription and continue to be part of the Teddington Society. You have two options:

Pay online at www.teddingtonsociety.org.uk You will receive a confirmation email.

Send a cheque to Jenny Michell, 5 Broom Park, Teddington TW11 9RN. Please enclose an SAE if you require a membership card.

Turn to the back page for a list of members’ events

– not least our forthcoming ‘behind the scenes’ trip

to the Royal Albert Hall!

The Teddington Society 1 Avenue Road, Teddington TW11 0BT Reg. Charity No. 802026 www.teddingtonsociety.org.uk Twitter: @TeddingtonSoc President : Jenny Hilton Vice-Presidents Roger Avins, Paddy Ching , John Demont Chairman Sheena Harold t: 020 8977 2700 sam.harold@hotmail.com Vice-Chairman & Twitter account Peter Denton pd.tedsoc@fastmail.com Secretary and Minutes Nick Picton tedsocsecnic@gmail.com Treasurer Sally Howland t: 020 8977 9404 sally.howland@btinternet.com Press, Publicity and Promotions Sheena Harold Membership Secretary Jenny Michell t: 020 8977 0772 members@teddingtonsociety.org.uk

Website : Judy Asher Planning Group Veronica Laughrin vronl@hotmail.co.uk Environment Group Geoff Howland t: 020 8977 9404 geoff.howland@btinternet.com History Group Dick Hughes t: 020 8977 0635 gillyhughes580@btinternet.com Riverside and Open Spaces Group Andy Weston andyandjaneweston@yahoo.com Roads and Transport Group Brian Holder t: 020 8977 1579 brianholder99@aol.com Trees and Gardens Group Sheena Harold Flood Working Group Brian Holder Members’ Outings Pamela McHutchon

TREVOR ASTON PHOTOGRAPHY

We’re delighted to welcome Trevor Aston Photography & Video as our newest Corporate Member. Based in Teddington for some 30 years, Trevor was nominated for a Sony World Photography Award and was a selected exhibitor in the Art of Photography Show in San Diego, California. He now introduces his work:

I became fascinated by photography when I was a teenager, and I saved my pocket money for months to buy my first camera when I was 14 years old. Then, with earnings from a newspaper round, I could afford one roll of slide film a month. You can be sure I made every frame of film count! My wife and I have made our home here in Teddington for nearly 30 years. As we brought up our two children, Teddington, the river and Bushy Park have been the backdrop to a large part of our family’s photographs and video. Professionally, I take photographs of people for portraits or special occasions and I make videos of events, and I work with families, individuals and businesses. Teddington is a special place, and it’s a thoroughly good thing that the Teddington Society is keeping an eye out for our town.

BAKING BISCUITS FOR ST JOHN!

Senudi Galhenage (left) and Cameron MacGreggor of the St John Ambulance Brigade in Teddington proudly show our photographer a couple of fine shortbread biscuits – the first delicacies

to be baked on the Brigade’s brand new ‘A’ rated cooker at their headquarters in Park Road. The much needed cooker was bought with a grant of £300 from the Teddington Society – part of the proceeds from the 2016 Village Fair.

HOSPITAL WALK-IN CENTRE SECURE, SAYS SIR VINCE CABLE

At a wide-ranging meeting with the Teddington Society in December, our MP Sir Vince Cable confirmed that although the future of Teddington Memorial Hospital’s walk-in centre was secure, policy changes may impact on the way the public had access to doctors. He was due to meet the Richmond Clinical Commissioning Group (comprising 29 local GP practices who plan and buy NHS health services for people in the borough) to discuss the future. Sir Vince met members of the Society’s executive committee at the Lensbury Club. Among the other matters discussed were aircraft noise, planning issues, train services, local schools, riverside development, the Quietway scheme and local employment. Brian Holder, the Society’s Roads and Transport Convenor, raised the issue of the cycle Quietway scheme along the high street – which, he said, had not been the subject of proper consultation. Sir Vince acknowledged local feelings, and offered to chair a community meeting about the Quietway if it were needed. The MP also offered to act as catalyst, if required, in the long-running dispute over the future of the Udney Park Playing Fields. Keith Atkinson of our Planning Group reported that fears had been raised of a possible stand-off between the developers and Richmond Council, “which would be to nobody’s benefit”. Sir Vince agreed, and hoped there could be a meeting with all interested parties to map out a way forward. On another planning matter – St Mary’s University’s proposals for the campus at Twickenham and the playing fields at Teddington – Sir Vince noted that the university was still considering its options, which would be closely followed. Other local issues concerning trains were also touched upon: Sir Vince reported that there may be structural issues relating to the possibility of lifts at Teddington

Station, but the installation date remained next year or 2020. He also said he was pursuing the poor service on the Fulwell to Shepperton line – “by far the worst service anywhere on our patch”. On Crossrail 2, he believed it would be “15 or 20 years” before anything happened, as planning was in the early stages. Both Sir Vince and committee members praised Teddington’s two largest employers, NPL and the LGC Group, for the benefits they brought the town. However, it was necessary to attract more businesses to the area, and to create new local employment opportunities; if not, the place ran the danger of becoming little more than a commuter town. Sir Vince also noted that the automatic right to convert office space to housing had resulted in a loss of offices throughout the borough; “it would” he said, “be useful to monitor the situation.” At the end of proceedings, Sheena Harold, Teddington Society Chairman, thanked Sir Vince Cable for his time and input. The meeting had been informative and productive. In return, the MP praised the Society for its effectiveness over the years – and he also described Tidings as “a high-quality magazine reflecting the views of a very well-organised society”. The meeting was kindly hosted by the Lensbury Club in Broom Road, one of our Corporate Members to whom we offer our grateful thanks. • Our picture shows Sir Vince Cable MP (centre) with, from left to right, Sally Howland, Treasurer; Dick Hughes, History Convenor; John Demont, Vice President; Geoff Howland, Environment Convenor; Nick Picton, Secretary; Sheena Harold, Chairman; Brian Holder, Roads and Transport Convenor; Jenny Michell, Membership Secretary; Andy Weston, Riverside Convenor; Judy Asher, Webmaster; and Keith Atkinson, Planning Group.

HISTORY GROUP Dick Hughes Street furniture Inspections are now complete. We had 15 volunteers in all, doing the legwork. They came from deliverers of Tidings, members of the Planning and History Groups, and Society members. The more we dug, the more interesting topics came to the surface – but street signage developed the most interest. The earliest street signs (only two have been located) are of enamelled metal and date to the period immediately following the introduction of the railway. Apart from these signs we have divided the remainder into three groups: Group A (moulded ferrous or non-ferrous signs with

prominent lettering largely from the period when Teddington had its own Urban District Council);

Group B (when Teddington UDC was amalgamated with Twickenham and pressed metal signs were used with “Borough of Twickenham” on them); and

Group C (signage erected since Teddington became part of the London Borough of Richmond, and which are made of printed metal and plastic).

Currently, about 15% of our signs are group A, 5% are group B and the remainder, about 80%, are in group C.

Council policy is to replace any rusting or damaged sign with a group C type sign. Unfortunately, there’s a fashion to collect street signs as souvenirs. A photograph in the press recently showed a man sitting in front of a wall on which his trophies were displayed, including a street sign. We all know about our missing finger post, and we propose to have a meeting with the appropriate Council member in this matter. Survey of retail users in High Street and Broad Street Our figures have now been assimilated with our statistics which go back to 1910. Changes during the last 30 years have been remarkable: in 1990 we had 3 trading butchers (0 now), 2 fishmongers (0), 4 bakers (2), 7 car sales/repair (1), and 5 newsagents (2). In recent times we have all seen how our banks are disappearing. Supermarkets continue to flourish – we now have 4, and the number of cafes and restaurants has increased to 29, despite town planning policy to restrict numbers. Hairdressers/barbers have increased since 1990 from 4 to 13 and charity shops from 5 to 8. Beauty, tanning and nail shops are also appearing. Some shopping frontage

has moved to what is essentially office use, abeit on the basis of short-term planning approval. With the increase in online shopping, these trends seem likely to increase. Enquiries Only one new enquiry has been raised. A gentleman from Kingston asked about a mine at Teddington Station. He’s apparently concerned that it will open up as a sinkhole, into which a train could disappear. You have been warned…

CLARISSA’S UDNEY PARK CONNECTION Sheena Harold Clarissa Dickson Wright was one of the culinary duo The Two Fat Ladies who somewhat eccentrically travelled round Britain in a motor bike and sidecar doing a TV cookery programme of that name.

Sadly both are now dead but back in 2010 I noted that in her book, Spilling The Beans, Clarissa told how her father, an eminent surgeon besotted with the game of rugby, persuaded Lord Beaverbrook to buy the Udney Park Playing Fields for St Mary’s Hospital. About to operate on him, the surgeon went into His Lordship's hospital room with shaking hands saying he was so upset about not having playing fields for the Hospital rugby team. Lord Beaverbrook said if he survived the operation he'd buy the ground at Teddington for the Hospital. Whereupon Mr Dickson Wright produced the deeds and said, “You'd better sign now and if you survive the op you can pay for the grandstand too!” Perhaps we could do with a modern day Mr Dickson Wright? Incidentally I believe I'm right in saying that Clarissa was the youngest woman to pass the Bar exams. Some family!

Party time in Teddington!

Thousands of happy revellers crowded into High Street, The Causeway and Broad Street in November to enjoy the annual Teddington Lights Up festival (above). Shops, restaurants and cafes stayed open until late, while musicians provided an exuberant soundtrack to the event. Then, in January, more than 80 Society members (left) gathered in St Mary’s parish hall to enjoy our annual New Year Party – and from what they said afterwards, the event was rated a great success. Amid the plentiful food, wine and soft drinks, one of the evening’s highlights was the local quiz, based on our history boards on display at the back of the hall. First prize, with every answer correct, went to Janet Pollock; second, with 19 out of 20, were Janice Kershaw and Stephen White; and joint third with 18 were Andy Karski, Rosemary McGlashen, Cathy Mearman, Nick Picton and Alan Roe. “Huge thanks to everyone who donated some terrific prizes”, said our Chairman Sheena Harold. “Also to everyone who helped organise the evening – particularly Geoff and Sally Howland, who masterminded the whole event.”

ENVIRONMENT GROUP Geoff Howland It was good to see from a photograph in the last edition of Tidings that some Environment Group equipment, in the form a long handled standard litterpicker had been put to good use in far-flung Wales. The scenic background outdid any of the photographs which usually appear in this column of my team grubbing around the gutters of Teddington. While mentioning Environment Group equipment, I have conducted a stock take of the equipment I hold, and which I know is on personal loan to various members, to satisfy an accounting requirement relating to society assets for the annual accounts. Over the years several items have “wandered off” and I should very grateful if any reader who has the odd hi-viz yellow tabard or litterpicker, or such like, tucked away in a dark cupboard would let me know. Many thanks. Many Society members will have seen the filthy state of the High Street on the morning following the Teddington Lights Up event on 30 November. I immediately contacted LBRuT officers and councillors about this state of affairs – as did a number of shop owners. The Teddington Society is no longer involved with the organisation of the event so I won’t point the finger of blame at anyone for the sad state of affairs that prevailed – but it’s hoped and expected that there will be no repeat of the situation in future.

The recycling sites continue to be blighted by fly tipping, but since before Christmas to date the LBRuT street teams have been clearing them daily. I made representations about the clothes and shoe bins often being full to overflowing on many occasions (and hence unusable) and it appears that they are now being cleared more regularly. Despite LBRuT making adequate arrangements for the disposal of Christmas trees, another recent blight has been the dumping of Christmas trees on pavements, roadsides and even in the middle of Elmfield Gardens. Where these were spotted they were reported, and most were removed within a day. A silly article appeared in the Richmond and Twickenham Times laying the blame on the Council, whereas the blame actually lies with those householders who dump the trees. The same applies to those who misuse the recycling sites. It’s to be hoped that under new arrangements to be put in place by LBRuT, the miscreants will be identified and suitably dealt with. We shall see.

PIANO DREAM BECOMES REALITY FOR LANDMARK ARTS CENTRE The New Year got off to a wonderful start for the Landmark Arts Centre with the arrival of its own concert grand piano in early January. This followed four years of determined fundraising, including a public appeal to Sponsor a Piano Key.

“That appeal really struck a chord with many local people,” said a delighted Lesley Bossine, the Landmark’s manager, “and most of the £21,000 we raised came from individual donations – a wonderful demonstration of how the venue is valued by the community.” Fundraising was further boosted by the proceeds of a concert by classical pianist and local resident, Joseph Tong, and a generous grant from the Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust, which was established in 1997 for the “advancement of public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music and allied performing arts”. Lesley told us that until now, the lack of a concert piano had limited the range of artists and performances at the centre. Now, all that has changed. The piano – a Yamaha C7 – made its debut at a Thames Youth Orchestra concert, followed by a series of Sunday afternoon concerts, kicking off with the Simon Ferris Trio playing Mendelssohn and Shostakovich. The instrument was supplied by the Piano Shop in Bath, who describe it as “one of Yamaha’s premium models in their Conservatoire range. At over 7 feet in length, it has enough power to project over a full sized orchestra, making it perfect for the Landmark Arts Centre’s needs.”

TREES AND GARDENS GROUP Sheena Harold TEDDINGTON IN FLOWER As I was writing about my camellia coming into flower, I looked out of the window and saw a squirrel eating one of the big red blooms just as the snow began falling – so obviously this is just the right time for us to think about Teddington In Flower, which this year will be on Sunday 10th June from 2pm until 6pm. I'm delighted to say that Sian Morgan will again be organising this popular fundraising event, so please start thinking about bringing your back garden up to RHS standards for people to visit and enjoy. If you haven't a garden or you just like meeting people, why not volunteer to greet visitors and take their entry fees? Contact Sian on 07930 331107 or email her: sianmorgan155@btinternet.com All proceeds will go to local charities. PLASTIC FLOWERS!

What we don't want is this – a bed of plastic flowers in gravel at the Park Road entrance to The Causeway, spotted and photographed by Julie Hill. I have contacted the Council to ask if we can take over the care of this bed, which is next to the brick planter the Society adopted back in 2011 and currently looked after by Michael Minas. He, too, is horrified by the plastic plants. I’m hopeful the Council will be delighted to accept our kind offer and will keep you informed. CORNER OPPOSITE THE PARISH CHURCH With the departure of the gas company, the Council have proposed planting poppies in the grass to commemorate the ending of WW1 this year. I have asked if we can do more than that, because poppies are lovely but short-lived and leave an untidy area. Shrubs round the back walls and some light, white plants in the grass will brighten the corner considerably. I've asked if the yews can be removed from round the power supply boxes and something more appropriate done to screen them. I've also asked if the benches can be improved as it's a lovely little spot to sit and watch the world go by – particularly if there's a wedding at the Church!

A CARING CHRISTMAS Sir Vince Cable MP attended a special Christmas Day lunch in Bushy Park, organised for young people leaving care, and their care workers. The Teddington Society donated £100 towards the event, organised by TCDRichmond (The Christmas Dinner Richmond).

“It was a huge success,” said Zoe, one of the coordinators, “and we’ve had some wonderful feedback from everyone there. We’re very grateful to the Society for your generous donation.” Such was the success of the lunch (and similar events across the country) it’s hoped to make it an annual event, supported by crowdfunding.

BAGS OF FESTIVE CHEER! Just before Christmas on behalf of the Society, Sally and Geoff Howland delivered bags of festive cheer to Teddington Social Care, who distributed them to 45 people in the community who were housebound and alone.

This would not have been possible without the generosity of the Hampton Wick United Charity, who donated £900 towards the contents of the bags. This wonderful organisation has helped local residents for more than 300 years, and to this day continues to provide financial assistance to the needy.

FROM THE TROPICS TO TEDDINGTON In 2014, Liang Lu moved from Malaysia to Teddington to live with his British partner. Here, he reflects on his new life in the town he now calls home.

I have lived in Teddington for four years now, and I still adore every aspect of it. I come from the Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo, where I lived for 28 years. It’s humid and hot there for most of the year, and Borneo is covered with lush green rainforest where orangutans still live in the wild.

The main difference between there and here, and what I really love, is the weather. Here I greatly enjoy all four seasons, whereas in Borneo there are only two: rainy and sunny, although it’s generally warm and humid all year round. Every season here in England has its wonders and beauty, but I prefer Spring, when everything comes to life bursting with fresh colours. My favourite place to see nature’s four seasons is definitely Bushy Park, and to witness the change of wildlife behaviour every few months provides wonderful photography opportunities. We are so lucky to have such a fabulous park within walking distance.

When I first arrived here, it was love at first sight. Teddington’s unique qualities make it very special. It has a beauty of its own, such as the traditional shopfront windows in the high street, the giant Poppy sculpture, the charming blue footbridge across the Thames, the farmers market, local cafes and an all-round friendly neighbourhood. Teddington is lively all year round with events and activities. In the street where I live, we have an annual

street party which creates social activities with neighbours. And in the highly-anticipated annual Teddington Lights Up festivity I’m always looking forward to the next mulled wine! I think this event, like the summer fair and Teddington in Flower, greatly enhances the lives of us all – as does the wonderful Landmark Arts Centre, where I’ve seen several concerts and art shows. Back to Bushy Park, where the Bushy Parkrun (which I’ve done half a dozen times) is one of the most inspiring activities in Teddington. It’s amazing to me that such a fully volunteered activity can be so successful and well organised, and attract so many runners – as well as their dogs and prams! All in all, I’m very happy to be part of Teddington, its culture and its many fine traditions. Not only that, but I’m a proud member of the Teddington Society as well!

LIFE SAVER INSTALLED IN BUSHY PARK A defibrillator has been installed near the entrance to the Pheasantry Café in Bushy Park. This life-saving equipment delivers a high-energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest. Defibrillators are found in many places such as railway stations, shopping centres, airports and leisure centres. They are available for use by the public in emergencies and, says the British Heart Foundation, “you shouldn’t be afraid of using one if someone has had a cardiac arrest.” More information can be found on the BHF’s website – www.bhf.org.uk

CHAMPION GARDENER CHAMPIONS STRAWBERRY HILL HOUSE The gardener and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh has accepted an invitation to become a Patron of Strawberry Hill House. Last summer Mr Titchmarsh opened Strawberry Hill’s newly restored Woodland Walk and garden, and hosted a summer afternoon tea in the grounds. “I’m pleased to become more involved with this remarkable gothic villa by the Thames” he said. “The refurbished garden is an oasis and everyone should be encouraged to enjoy and support this local treasure.”

BUSHY PARK’S WATERWAYS In the first of a two-part series, Dick and Gilly Hughes introduce us to the origins of Bushy Park’s many ponds and waterways.

How many people, we wonder, know that we have four named rivers in Bushy Park? They are the Taxonium, the Queen’s, the King’s and the Longford. In fact, they are all part of the canal and watercourse system constructed first to improve the pond and water features in Bushy Park and around Hampton Court Palace itself; and second, to provide potable water for the Palace. The Knights Hospitallers of St John (originally a medieval Catholic military order) probably acquired the house on the site of Hampton Court Palace, together with adjoining land, in the 12th century. In 1515 they leased the property to Cardinal Wolsey who rebuilt the house in palatial style – only to find it expedient to give it to Henry VIII. Following the suppression of the Knights Hospitallers in the 1530s, Henry VIII extended the holding by way of a property exchange with the Abbot of Westminster Abbey. As a result, the King had a fine palace to live in and a fine park in which to hunt deer and rabbits. There was, however, a problem: the water supply to the palace was inadequate. The water from the Thames wasn’t considered drinkable; nor did it provide a head of water to service the water features in the garden. In the 1530s the problem was solved in two ways. First, by sourcing drinking water from springs in Coombe Hill near Kingston, filtered once and conveyed some eight miles by lead pipe across the bed of the Thames to the Palace. Second, by creating our first pond in the park, Waterhouse pond, to act as a reservoir for the Palace garden features. The pond, situated in what’s now the Woodland Gardens, was fed by one of the few natural springs in the Park. Here the matter rested until the 1630s when Charles I, wishing for a more generous and effective water supply to the Palace, sought to provide it with a canal from the river Colne at Longford. The canal, dug by the King’s army, was some 12 miles long and hastily constructed in about nine months. It still follows the same course today,

but in an adapted form – it now passes underneath Heathrow airport in a conduit and over the railway line at Hampton Hill in an aqueduct. When originally constructed, the canal caused great inconvenience to the local inhabitants because it couldn’t cope with the varying water levels from the river. By 1649 the locals had had enough, so they blocked the canal and resisted attempts to clear it.

During the ensuing Commonwealth period in the 1650s, Oliver Cromwell chose to live at Hampton Court and ordered the construction of two ponds so that he could enjoy the new sport of fishing with a hand line. The ponds, then known locally as Oliver's pond, but now called Leg of Mutton pond and Heron pond, were originally fed by springs. Following his restoration, Charles II also took an interest in Hampton Court and its parks, and ordered the canal to be cleared and the flow of water to the Palace and the Park restored. This was extended to the Leg of Mutton and Heron ponds – but the uncontrolled flow of water caused fresh complaints from local inhabitants which took many years to resolve. Part of the solution, we are told, was the installation of a sluice in the Waterhouse pond which directed excess water directly into the Thames. The sluice controls are housed on the edge of the pond in the small fairy-like brick building (above), which we can still see today. In the next instalment, Dick and Gilly describe the influences on Bushy Park of Lord Halifax and Sir Christopher Wren – and they reveal how many ponds there are in the park. We think you’ll be surprised!

EVENTS

Tuesday 13th March 11am: Peg Woffington Coffee Morning Come and enjoy coffee and home-made cakes in Tony and Betty's historic cottage at 167 High Street. Bring a friend or come and make new ones!

Friday 23rd March Grand tour of the Royal Albert Hall.

© Marcus Ginns

• see the stunning auditorium and galleries • view the Queen’s private box and visit her private suites and other rooms not always open to the public • hear some insider stories • learn about the rich history, connections with Royals, legendary performances and stunning architecture. Meet: 9am at Teddington Station, by platform 2 entrance, or 10.20am at Door 12 of the Royal Albert Hall. Cost: £18 to include guided tour with coffee and pastries on arrival. Guests are welcome. Booking and payment: to Pamela McHutchon. Email: pmchutchon@btinternet.com Mob: 07802 822812. Please include your contact number and/or email address. Or send by post to Flat 3, 86 High Street, Teddington TW11 8JD.

Thursday 19th April Our AGM is at the Landmark Arts Centre. Doors open 7pm. At 7.30pm the Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable MP will be our guest speaker. His addresss will be followed by the business of the AGM.

REFLECTIONS ON THE SUCCESS OF TEDDINGTON 800 Anne O’Neil McTear Last year’s festival was truly wonderful for many reasons, the greatest being the way in which we partnered with the people and organisations of the town – not least the Teddington Society. At every one of the 25 events, and for every one of the six months, there was the most tremendous joining together in common purpose – whether to party at the ball, to learn at the lecture, to perform at the Review, to pray at the riverside or to perspire pushing the pram at the pram race! And we relished every minute of it.

For some people, Teddington 800 was about history and heritage, and keeping it alive and appreciated – and thanks to Paddy Ching, Ken Howe and others in the History Group, we were able to do that. For others, 800 was about being with friends and sharing passions with a much broader range of local people, in the hope that their lives might be enriched by it – and thanks to the Landmark, the NPL, Normansfield, the Lensbury, the sport and river clubs and the Traherne group, we were able to do that too. For more still, and certainly for me, 800 was also about the central and supportive role of the church in its community, and the service it has offered for so long and will continue steadfastly to provide. In truth, we'd hoped and aimed for the festival to be all of these things, and thanks to the contribution of 30 organisations, 12 steering group members (including, of course, the dynamic Sheena Harold) and 350 additional volunteers from the town, that hope came true. We just can't thank everyone enough! So now, what will Teddington 801 hold for St Mary's? To find out, watch out for our next exciting instalment coming to Tidings soon!

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