EastSheenMatters

After a scintillating and highly regarded performance at All Saints on Sunday evening for the Free Ukraine Concert, Basil Alter returned to East Sheen at Christ Church on Friday evening accompanied by Julian Chan on piano.

In another fine perfomance they played Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 1, Brahms Violin Sonata No. 2, Korngold Much Ado about Nothing Suite and Richard Strauss Violin Sonata in E Major , Op 18

AND for the final concert of the Christ Church Summer Series see the Consort Concert on 26 June.

Music will include renaissance part-song/church music and 20th Century english part-song.

A real showcase of small choral ensemble excellence!

Please find below the ticket link for the concert on 26 June. 

https://www.ticketsource.com/christchurch-east-sheen/t-mjeqogm

MCC played an enjoyable and entertainiing chess match against LiftRP on Thursday. MCC put out a strong team of four comprising three regulars at Mortlake Hall, Russell Campbell, Peter Stanford and Richard White, and Alan Palmer, a ringer who is President of the London Chess Club League.

The school fielded ten players who were probably a little shocked to face the skills demonstrated by a team of over 60s. But they also showed good analytical skills on which to build their match play. We look forward to a return match in the autumn.

And tomorrow Mortlake Community Chess (MCC) plays a match against LIFTRPA at the school at 2pm on Thursday 18 June 2026. New recruits who may not have been able to get to sessions at Mortlake Hall are welcome to be part of the team.

Leon Chakrabarti plays Viola.

Roads and pavements in the Borough are due for a nearly £9million makeover.

Richmond Council has a budget of £8.7m, including a £1.2m grant from the Department for Transport (DfT), to resurface roads and pavements in 2026/27. Transport for London (TfL) has also confirmed it is giving the authority £60,000 to maintain A roads in the borough.

The Council’s transport committee approved the full list of roads and pavements due to be resurfaced in 2026/27 last night (June 9).

A new report by council officers said the investment would improve safety, reduce the volume of reactive maintenance works needed, slash complaints and cut the number of claims for accidents and injuries.

“The council’s economic vitality depends upon highway links that are safe and fit for purpose. The management of this valuable asset is therefore of the utmost importance.”

Which East Sheen and Mortlake roads are set to be resurfaced in 2026/27?

Enmore Gardens

Hertford Avenue (Upper Richmond Road to Richmond Park Academy)

Milton Road

Sheen Lane (Sheen Gate Gardens to York Avenue)

Sheen Road (Kings Farm Avenue to Grena Road)

• Which East Sheen and Mortlake pavements have sections set to be resurfaced in 2026/27?
• Christchurch Road
• Leinster Avenue
• Palewell Park
• White Hart Lane
• East Sheen Avenue

The plans could change depending on ongoing development work, utility company works and actual cost.

A Peregrine Falcon flies off with a Parakeet in Richmond Park earlier this week.

Some might like a few more Peregrine Falcons to fly in!

See also Invasion of the Parakeets on Channel 4, 8pm Monday 15 June 2026

With thanks to John Strachan for his permission to post his photo.

EastSheenMatters has recently been asked whether any current elected members or officers are subscribers to the blog. Regular readers will know that one of our local councillors, Cllr Cambridge, has contributed but there is no reason to believe that anyone else reads it. That includes our MP’s office.

That is a pity given that EastSheenMatters is the only journalistic output offering opportunities for discussion between Twickenham and Putney, save for the politically driven council website.

The Council Leader made a public statement after the recent elections that he would run a listening council. That has yet to be demonstrated by the Leader and his Deputies.

On a related point should the Council be considering a new Development Plan for the Stag Brewery site now that the secondary school will not be built? The Council has made it clear that it regards any discussion about the future of the Stag Brewery site to be a matter for the developer. But the owner Reselton Properties wishes to sell. So what is to happen? Ideas on a postcard to……?

“Last Friday, [5 June] I visited Thomson House School in Mortlake, and I was delighted to hear the news that the school had recently been graded as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. This is an excellent reflection on the hard work of the teachers at the school, as well as the behaviour and work ethic of the pupils. 

As some local residents may know, the Department for Education withdrew its funding for Livingston Academy, the school which was due to be built as part of the Mortlake Brewery development. While enrolment in primary schools in Richmond and across London has fallen, creating funding concerns for local schools, modelling has consistently reported that extra provision is needed for secondary school placements.

Amongst the matter of school placements in the borough, we discussed a range of issues impacting pupils at the school, including space for the pupils to play and safe crossings in the area.

I would like to thank everyone at Thomson House School for welcoming me last Friday.”

Comment: It is somewhat strange you might think to place such focus on the secondary school issue, which is now buried in the past. And no mention of Thomson House School’s wish for consideration of them moving their sites by the level crossing at Mortlake Station and in Vernon Road to the Stag Brewery site.

AND it was not accurate to write solely about the falling enrolment in primary schools, when the relevant issue is falling numbers within primary schools, such that consideration may need to be given to the viability of all schools in the area.

AND whose modelling? Is that the same evidence that was challenged at the Public Planning Inquiry eighteen months ago?

LidDems won all 54 seats in the recent local elections for councillors in Richmond.

Noone spoken to by EastSheenMatters believes this is good for local democracy. Except some councillors.

Is this a powerful argument in favour of proportional representation?

Greed and rapacity are such destructive sins – destructive of those around you – and yourself.