It was just over a year ago that the exhibition of the Lendy Memorial in the Walled Garden was made the subject of a controversy by an unsolicited commentariat questioning the rectitude of its continued public display. (See previous articles of 17th June, 22nd June,17th August 2020 and 19th January 2021).

At the conclusion of discussions with the Council and all interested parties, it was finally, and with universal approval, agreed that the Memorial should remain where it is. Our past Chairman, Alan Doyle, kindly undertook to write about the history of the Lendy brothers and to make his work freely available at the Embroidery Gallery. The resulting booklet is co-authored by Nick Pollard, the historian who many will know as the Chairman of Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society.

To read the booklet online, click here

Without a doubt, Leo Richardson is widely recognised to be one of the UK's leading Jazz Tenor Saxophonists, best known for his honest, straight-ahead, contemporary hard-bop style. His most significant influences include John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon, Horace Silver and Art Blakey.

Leo joins the Terence Collie trio at the Riverside Arts Centre on Sunday 11th July at 7.45pm.

For further information, click here

Cows will return to Sunbury Park on June 15 th for the summer grazing season. There were no cows in the Park last year because it was decided that with the Park being such a valuable and well-used area for people to exercise during the Coved emergency when
so many other activities were restricted, it would make sense not to have them during that time. However, now that things have opened up more, they are coming back this year, arriving on June 15 th .

There will be fewer of them this time – nine cows, we understand – and they we will be in the Park probably until the early autumn, maybe about four months. Having cows in the Park is the best way to manage the grassland from the point of view of keeping down the rank grasses and improving bio-diversity - mowing is expensive and difficult in the Park, and the cows’ grazing habit, tearing at the grass and exposing small areas of earth, helps the seeds of wild flowers and herbs to become established.

We are conscious that many people have acquired dogs during the last year or so and may be new to dog owning, and unfamiliar with interacting with cattle in the Park. It is obviously important that dogs are not allowed to approach, chase or harass the cows in
any way, and if you are not sure how they will respond to seeing the cows it is advisable that they are kept on a lead.

The cows are generally docile, keep themselves to themselves, and will not normally approach people in the Park, so families can safely enjoy seeing them and having them around, but as with dogs, please keep your distance and don’t bother them in any way.
If you see any untoward behaviour or incidents involving the cows in the Park, please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Further to the article posted on this site on 10th May.

Ferries from Sunbury across the river to Walton, have operated for hundreds of years and were a vital link for the local communities. Sadly, with the advent of modern transport, bridges and road links, the ferries died out towards the 1970s – until now.

LoSRA has always championed the idea of a new river crossing in Lower Sunbury, and whilst the idea of a footbridge is still a long term objective, an initiative from Spelthorne Council (SBC), through its River Thames Task Group, sees a new ferry service beginning operation from Lower Sunbury next month.

The SBC River Thames Task Group was made up of Spelthorne Councillors, Officers and local community representatives (including LoSRA) with a knowledge of the river and the local area. The Task Group has undertaken a number of riverside projects across Spelthorne including improvements to Kings Lawn and the ferry initiative.

As part of the ferry project, two local residents, Neil Huntingford (a LoSRA Committee Member), and Simon Harris have set up Sunbury Ferry Ltd. Formed as a not-for-profit community company, they have recruited over two dozen local volunteers to operate the ferry service at weekends and public holidays throughout the summer months. Many of the volunteers are already experienced boaters whilst others have taken advantage of the opportunity to gain a qualification through training at Queen Mary's Reservoir.

The Council have generously provided the initial funding to get this community initiative up and running, with LoSRA and other local organisations adding their support as the project has developed.

Keen to be 'green', the new pontoon-style ferry is powered by a whisper-quiet electric engine and crosses the river from the Lower Sunbury bank opposite the Riverside Arts Centre, over to the Walton bank downstream of Sunbury Lock.

LoSRA is proud to be an active supporter of this new service for the local community which should also help attract visitors to the area to enjoy the many amenities on offer in Lower Sunbury as well as giving access to Walton.

Please visit the ferry website for more details: sunburyferry.co.uk

Photo shows volunteers undertaking training ahead of the new ferry being delivered.

Cllr Lawrence Nichols was elected as Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council at the Annual Meeting of the Council on Thursday 26 May.

Cllr Nichols, of the Liberal Democrats, was elected as Councillor for the Halliford and Sunbury West ward in 2019 and was previously Chairman of the Audit Committee. Cllr Nichols was also a councillor between 2007 and 2011.

Prior to retiring in 2017 he had been a senior Civil Servant, having previously been an IT Director for a subsidiary of a UK bank. He is a school governor at Beauclerc and Chennestone Schools in Sunbury.

Cllr Ian Harvey was elected as the new Mayor for Spelthorne at the Annual Council Meeting on 27 May. Cllr Susan Doran was elected as Deputy Mayor.

Cllr Harvey was first elected as a borough councillor for Sunbury East in May 2013 and re-elected in 2015 and 2019. He has always taken a special interest in ward issues and works closely with local residents. He was Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council from February 2016 – June 2020.

Cllr Harvey has lived in Lower Sunbury for 24 years and is married to Helen, who is also a local councillor.