Welcome to the LOSRA Website
As with any other local neighbourhood, the policies and actions which affect the character and future of Lower Sunbury are generally framed and implemented by a combination of local and national government, along with the vested interests and market forces which operate within those frameworks. Lower Sunbury is by no means unique in being under threat from a creaking infrastructure brought about by rapid urban development, the growth of traffic, and other pressures affecting the quality of life and the character of the area.
Working with the local authorities, we see it as the responsibility of residents’ and amenity groups such as LOSRA to address the underlying issues which fundamentally affect their members’ lives, as well as the minutiae of everyday life with which such groups are often concerned.
Please sign up to receive our regular e-bulletins by subscribing via the facility at the top left hand of this page. It goes without saying that, without your continued support we would cease to function so we urge you to join, or renew your membership now Subscriptions (£5 per household) for 2024 are now payable.
Eco Park Update for January and February
The Eco Park update prepared by the contractors, Suez, may be viewed by clicking here
The Rebel Yell Jazz Orchestra Returns to the SCC on 18th February
The next Sunday Lunchtime Jazz event at Sunbury Cricket Club is on Sunday 18th February, and it features the return of THE REBEL YELL JAZZ ORCHESTRA, who made their debut at the club during last year’s jazz season.
The Rebel Yell Jazz orchestra specialises in re-creating and celebrating the music of the great Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, which was the most accomplished and exciting jazz big band formed outside the US in the '60s, comprising the cream of European and expatriate American players like Ronnie Scott, Johnny Griffin, Tony Coe, Benny Bailey and the master of bebop drumming himself, Kenny Clarke. The group astonished audiences around Europe with Francy Boland's exciting and daring arrangements.
The Rebel Yell Jazz Orchestra was formed 3 years ago specifically to play the music of this exciting band and has had many of the pieces especially transcribed. The band recently featured the “Fellini 712” suite, one of Francy Boland's most audacious long-form pieces ever written for jazz orchestra - at the Spice of Life in Cambridge Circus in front of Tony Coe, one of the original band members. The suite, which was recorded by the legendary Clarke-Boland Big Band in December 1968, is a musical tribute to the city of Rome in three movements, each of which contains variations on a recurring theme. The band plan to revisit at least part if not all of the suite on the 18th February, where the concert will feature a wide range of material from the Clarke-Boland repertoire and some other interesting big band pieces.
Doors open at 12 noon, and entry is £7.50 on the door - a bistro lunch menu will be available from soon after 12, with the band coming on around 1pm. It’s great way to spend a chilly winter Sunday, and it’s a rare opportunity to see a band of this ambitious size and style.
Mayor's Charity Music Night at Sunbury Cricket Club, 9th February
The Mayor of Spelthorne, Cllr Vivienne Leighton, is holding a special music night at 8.30pm on Friday 9 February at Sunbury Cricket Club in aid of her charities: Spelthorne Dementia Support, Impossible Dream and the Swan Sanctuary.
The line-up will include guitarists Gerry Cook (The Saxons), Tim Renton (3 AM), Mark Doyle (Marshall Taylor Band), Chris Allard (Little Hampton Band); bassists Colin Pattenden (Manfred Mann's Earth Band, The Nashville Teens), Roger Harding (East of Eden), Martin House (Life & Soul), keyboard player Kevin Welling (Stan Bland Band), harmonica ace Adam Russel (Nashville Teens) multi-instrumentalist Phil Miller-Tate (Marshall Taylor Band) and Alan Worrell (drums) plus Music Night host and organiser Paul Watts (vocals & guitar). Karl Green (Herman's Hermits) is hoping to be in the UK to join us.
It will be a great night of top class rock 'n' roll, blues, '60s, R&B, rock and country. It's all for a great cause and will be a fun community night. The bar opens from 6pm and the show will start at 8.30pm.
The musicians will be giving their services free, so all the door money will go to the charities. Tickets cost £10 and can be bought on the night.
Sunbury Cricket Club, Lower Hampton Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, TW16 5PS
Spelthorne Burglary Update
Following the recent release of national reported crime statistics and those of the Crime Survey for England and Wales, residents may be mystified as to why regular burglary updates from Surrey Police have not recently been posted on their Facebook page (Spelthorne Beat – Surrey Police).
The following explanation has been posted:
“As some of you may have noticed these updates have not been released over the last couple of months. This was due to complaints that the information being shared was causing fear and alarm amongst the community. This is in no way our intention.
“Due to this the Spelthorne Beat team have discussed the Pros and Cons and felt that despite a small number of the community stating they would like the posts to stop, the majority of people who contacted us wanted to see the return of the posts and felt their release was beneficial.
“We would like to stress that we are not telling you this to scare you but to educate you and hopefully get some information from anyone who may have witnessed any of the incidents we discuss.
“One thing to remember, and this is of the upmost importance, is that you are not at more risk today then you were yesterday or will be tomorrow. These incidences are not significantly on the rise and there is not a crime spree. It just seems that way because you now know about it whereas you didn't before.
“Whilst ignorance may be bliss, knowledge is also power. And by you having this knowledge you now have the power to better protect yourself and your property.”
LOSRA's New Year Newsletter May be Viewed Here
The absence of our usual autumn newsletter was not an oversight on our part. We delayed publication until the emergence of the Local [development] Plan for the Borough had become clearer.
It is now the front page story and will doubtless be followed up as circumstances dictate.
Paper copies which include membership renewals for 2018 are in the course of distribution to households.
The Music of Michael Garrick Comes to the RAC on 4th February
The music of the late prolific artist Michael Garrick will be brought to the Riverside Arts Centre on Sunday 4th February.
As ever, the evening will feature top British jazz musicians including: Gabriel Garrick – trumpet; Nette Robinson – vocals; Tony Woods – saxophone; Terence Collie – piano; Matt Ridley – bass; Chris Nickolls – drums.
Performance: 7.30pm at the Riverside Arts Centre, 59, Thames Street, Sunbury
Tickets £12 on the door or £9 via the website moodindigoevents.co.uk
More...
Laughing Chili Comedy Club Comes to the RAC on 10th March
Come and join us for a night of fun & laughs, as Laughing Chili brings a selection of fabulous acts from the UK comedy circuit, to Riverside.
Sunbury’s regular comedy night starts its 4th year, with most nights sold out in advance – hence this early notification. Grab your tickets now for a top night out!
Door & bar open at 7.30pm. Show starts at 8.30pm.
Date: Saturday 10th March
Venue: The Riverside Arts Centre, 57 Thames Street, Sunbury
Tickets & details: www.laughingchili.co.uk
Jack and the Beanstalk at the Riverside Arts Centre, 17th - 20th January
Follow Jack, his hapless brother Simple Simon, his mother Dame Dotty Dimple and climb a giant beanstalk to cloudland in the Shepperton Players’ family pantomime “Jack and the Beanstalk”.
Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack as he fights to save the beautiful Princess, outwit the evil giant and win riches beyond his wildest dreams, and the hand of the girl he loves.
Traditional family fun for the child in us all, old and young alike.
Dates: 17th – 20th January
Venue: The Riverside Arts Centre, 59, Thames Street, Sunbury.
Box Office: 07505 206757 or www.sheppertonplayers.org.uk
Sunday Lunchtime Jazz Cricket Club on 21st January Postponed
The Sunday Lunchtime Jazz gig featuring Equinox, which had previously been advertised on Forthcoming Events schedule for Sunday 21st January has unfortunately had to be postponed, and they will now be appearing on Sunday 18th March.
Many apologies for the inconvenience and to anyone who was planning to attend.
Programme of Forthcoming Events at the Embroidery Gallery in the Walled Garden
2017 saw The Sunbury Embroidery Gallery’s coming of age as an art gallery in its own right following the sensational 10th anniversary exhibition and celebrations of 2016.
With 6 stunning exhibitions (including a selection of works from the world renowned Diana Springall Collection), 9 workshops, 2 talks and the annual community art project with Manor Mead and Walton Leigh which produced an art-piece worthy of the National Gallery, the Sunbury Gallery continued to provide the community with world class art exhibitions in addition to the best homemade fare to be found anywhere in the south of England.
Keeping up the momentum, our programme for 2018 promises to keep our visitors coming back with 5 exciting exhibitions in the first half of the year featuring both returning and first-time artists.
How to Book an Appointment at the Sunbury Health Centre
From feedback received by the Association, it would seem that many patients may still be unaware of the new system for booking appointments at the Sunbury Health Centre (implemented on 28th November 2016). Importantly, there is absolutely no requirement for patients to queue up in the early morning in order to see a doctor on the same day.
The Trembling Wilburys Make a Welcome Return to the SCC on 12th January
Just in case there's any chance of post-holiday depression taking hold, let's start 2018 as we mean to go on with news of the first Sunbury Cricket Club Music Night of the year on Friday 12th January, when the Club welcomes back THE TREMBLING WILBURYS.
It's a couple of years since they first played at the Club and gave us a great show, so we're delighted to be able to bring them back. They are not only one of the very best tribute bands on the circuit, playing a comprehensive repertoire of Travelling Wilburys' songs, but they also offer a veritable cavalcade of rock cameos, as a top-class seven-piece line-up performs Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne repertoire as well, and it makes for a thoroughly entertaining evening.
The band includes Dzal Martin on guitar, originally with No Dice and now also with Terry Reid and The Equals, as well as the uncanny George Harrison persona of Glen Knowler, and Dave Collison recapturing Roy Orbison in startling fashion. They perform at high-profile venues around the country, and it will be a top quality show to kick the new year off in style.
There's full information at www.tremblingwilburys.co.uk
Unfortunately, the Club's caterers are away in January, and we will not be able to offer food on this occasion - many apologies for that.
Event details: Friday 12 January 8.30pm. £10 on the door.
Sunbury Cricket Club, Lower Hampton Road, TW16 5PS
Jim Mullen to appear at the RAC on 7th January
From co-leading Morrisey-Mullen in the seventies to his current groups, Jim Mullen has remained an irreplaceable, central, popular figure in British jazz. Mullen has won many British music awards including "Best Guitar" in the British Telecom Jazz Awards (1994, 1996 and 2000).
On Sunday 7th January he will be appearing at the Riverside Arts Centre, 59, Thames Street with The Terence Collie trio featuring: Terence Collie – piano; Richard Sadler – bass; Paul Cavaciuti – drums
Doors 7.30pm
Entrance £12 on the door or £9 in advance via website: www.moodindigoevents.co.uk
Newsletter distributors wanted – can you help?
The Chairman and Committee extend to all our readers our best wishes for a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year and, with it, an appeal for help.
The seasonal newsletters distributed by our army of volunteers are an important medium of communication which has endured since the Association’s foundation 44 years ago and, from our feedback, are a much valued source of information about local concerns. From time to time, due to retirements or volunteers moving out of the area, it’s necessary to appeal for new recruits.
The following streets/roads are those for which volunteers are urgently sought: Allen Road & Close, Claremont Avenue (total 77); Belgravia Road & Crescent, Kempton Avenue & Court, The Chase (total 113); Nettlefold Place, Willow Way, Park Road (total 87); Homewaters, Springfield Grove, Heathlands (total 44).
Even if you are unable to volunteer for any of these locations but would like to put your name forward for our reserve list we would be most grateful. Please get in touch with our Secretary, Colleen Cuthbert who would love to hear from you on: colleen.cuthbert@btinternet. com or by phone to 01932 783606.
Whilst on the subject of newsletters, many residents will have noticed that our Autumn edition was not delivered this year. That edition has been delayed until the end of this month as the revision of the Council’s Plan including the Green Belt Review was not available to us in time for an autumn delivery; so keep an eye out for a delivery at the end of this month!
