Cllr Maureen Attewell

A Huge Thank You to
Sheppertons Big Tree Committee for another very successful
Community Event !

What a night! Thank you to everyone that came out to make Big Tree Night 2023 such a fantastic success! We’d like to offer a massive shout out to those of you who answered our pleas for help, many hands make light work and we really appreciated you being there. We would also like to say a huge thank you to all our fabulous vendors who offered such delicious food and drinks, and to our wonderful stall holders, sponsors and program advertisers who all bring so much to this special evening with their continued support 🎄 That’s it for another year folks! We would like to wish you all a fabulous Christmas and a very happy new year! X

Do you know a special young person aged between five and 19 years of age who is living or receiving education within Spelthorne and deserves recognition for their achievements? You may wish to nominate them for a Spelthorne Youth Award!

We are looking for nominations for the following categories:

• Unselfishness, kindness and bravery
• Personal achievement
• Community spirit
• Outstanding academic achievement
• Arts achievement (including performing arts)
• Sports achievement
• Triumph over adversity

Anyone can nominate a young person for an award. All young people nominated will be made aware of their nominations and then short listed for an award. The top nominees from each category will be invited to a special awards ceremony and presented with a certificate and prize from the Mayor of Spelthorne. The deadline for nominations this year is Friday 9 February 2024.

The Mayor of Spelthorne, Cllr Denise Saliagopoulous, said: “The Spelthorne Youth Awards are about recognising and celebrating inspirational young people within our wonderful Borough. If you know a special young person who has excelled in a particular field, made a big difference to their local community, overcome very challenging circumstances or shown exceptional personal qualities, then we would love to hear about them and their achievements.”

Further information and nominations can be made online at https://orlo.uk/axrrk

Meals on Wheels Week !!

Spelthorne is marking Meals on Wheels week by inviting residents into our community centres to sample some of the free of charge.

Why not pop in, see below for more details;

Spelthorne is marking Meals on Wheels week by inviting residents to sample some free meals.

Meals on Wheels is so much more than just a meal. It provides regular human contact, which for many may be the only frequent interaction that they enjoy. The service also provides much needed wellbeing and safety checks.

Residents considering using the service, for themselves or their loved ones, are welcome to visit the Greeno Community Centre in Shepperton on Wednesday 1 November (10am-12pm) or the Fordbridge Community Centre in Ashford on Thursday 2 November (10am-12pm).

For further information, residents can email [email protected], visit https://orlo.uk/xeVgz or call 01784 444265.

🍂 October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month 🍂

"HE DIDN’T HIT ME”

He just went through my phone every time I was in the shower,

Provoking fights that would last for hours,

Always apologizing with a bouquet of flowers.

He didn’t hit me.

He just hated all my friends.

Told me they were no good and that I should just stay in.

He was careful to always remind me I was unworthy,

And any time I spoke to a man, he would accuse me of being flirty.

He laughed, saying no one else would ever love me,

Making me feel nothing but useless and ugly.

He didn’t hit me.

He would just break our things on the rare occasions I decided to go out,

Coming home to his aggressive shouts.

He just deleted all my contacts who were men,

Telling me to never speak to them again.

He didn’t hit me.

He just wouldn’t listen when I said no,

Every day stealing a little more of my glow.

He would criticize my appearance,

Calling me stupid, every day weakening my resilience.

He didn’t hit me.

He would just threaten his own life when I would try to leave,

He didn’t hit me.

He just made me hate myself every day.

Worried how the hell I would get away.

He didn’t hit me.

Until one day, he overheard a call.

Hearing that I was leaving, he pushed me toward the wall. Put his hands around my throat.

He didn’t hit me.

Until he did.

Open to local community groups and local charities within Spelthorne.

Applications for Spelthorne Borough Council Annual Grants are now open and can be submitted until 31 October 2023.

Charities or not for profit organisations that provide a service within the Borough may apply.

To apply, visit: https://orlo.uk/LI8lO

Is this something you might be interested in doing.

Each month, on average, there are 10 young people in Surrey who would like to rent a room via our Supported Lodgings scheme. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough Supported Lodgings carers to accommodate them all.

Do you have a spare room you could rent to a young person? Could you dedicate a few hours each week to mentor them & help them gain skills needed for independent adult life?

Find out more about Supported Lodgings at our online information session on Monday 25 September 7pm https://orlo.uk/KaTmk

Have you ever considered if you could provide supported lodgings ?

Have you got a spare room at home you could rent to a young person?

Become a Supported Lodgings carer & help a young person in care or leaving care gain the skills needed to live independently.

Join us on Monday 25th September at 7pm for an online information session.

Email [email protected] for more information and to book your place.

Spelthorne Borough Council has bestowed one of its highest honours by conferring the title of Honorary Alderman to Robin W Sider BEM for his outstanding service and dedication to the Borough.

Spelthorne staff, members of the community and councillors past and present gathered to mark the occasion at a ceremony held at the Council Offices in Knowle Green on 12 September.

Before joining local politics in 1999, Robin served some 40 years in the army, climbing the ranks to being the youngest ever Regimental Sergeant Major in his unit and going on to reach the commissioned rank of Major.

He was elected to serve as a councillor for Spelthorne Borough Council in May 1999, representing Shepperton Town, a position he maintained until his retirement in 2023. He held several roles at the Council, including Chair of the Licensing Committee for many years, and Mayor from 2002-2003 and 2012-2013.

A very well-known figure in Shepperton and Spelthorne, Robin has held numerous roles over the years including a governor at Matthew Arnold School, Chair of the Staines Swimming Club, a Shepperton Rotarian, Chair of Shepperton Horticultural Society, President of the Hope Stroke Club, President of Spelthorne Schools Sports Association and Chair of the St. Nicholas Shepperton Scout Group.

2014 was a particularly special year for Robin as he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his service to the Shepperton Community.

In the years before retiring as a councillor, he passionately embraced his role as the Council’s Armed Forces Champion, raising issues affecting current and retired forces personnel, supporting remembrance events and helping local uniform groups. In October 2021 Robin collected the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award on behalf of the Council.

He was awarded a letter of commendation by the Spelthorne Civic Award Trust earlier this year for his continued work with local support groups and as Spelthorne’s Armed Forces Champion.

Cllr John Boughtflower, proposer of the resolution, said: ”This is a very fitting tribute for Robin who has been a fantastic champion for Spelthorne for so many years. He is a community person through and through. He has given his time and energy to so many organisations and good causes it’s impossible to list them all, but I know they are very grateful for his support. His experience and wisdom is quite unrivalled and we have all learned so much from him over the years.”

Chief Executive of Spelthorne Borough Council, Daniel Mouawad, said: “Robin is a very well-known figure in Shepperton and throughout the Borough and genuinely wants to make life better for people. If he sees a problem or an opportunity to improve something, he’s onto it! He knows the area like the back of his hand and is always seen around the town talking to people and taking an interest in their lives and businesses. Always friendly and approachable, he was the epitome of a great councillor during his time with the Council and earned a huge amount of respect from other councillors and the staff at Spelthorne. We are very pleased to be able to give him this honour.”

Update on Watersplash Farm

Residents raised concerns about activities on site so I asked officers for an update.

Please see below;

Tonight Shepperton Rocks Against Dementia !!

Our yearly WRAD concert is drawing near.
While we look forward to another brilliant night of entertainment given freely by everyone concerned .
We must congratulate and thank every carer in the world .They give all their love ,understanding ,and care to their loved ones during challenging times.
The World Rocks Against Dementia is a tribute to you all through the wonderful music with which we will enjoy .