EastSheenMatters

A bright idea promoted by Richmond Council and Habitats and Heritage. The central concept is to make sustainability accessible and affordable. A circular economy!

It provides an excellent opportunity to repurpose an old chapel, which has to be maintained. It was consecrated in 1877 and is adjacent to Richmond Old Burial Ground. It has been disused since the 1960s and was declared redundant in 1996. The Diocese of Southwark has since granted a lease to Habitats and Heritage.

The Fixery was established in March 2026 and is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

Some parking is available nearby but from East Sheen there is a pleasant twenty minute walk through Sheen Common and the East Sheen and Richmond Burial Grounds.

Colin and Tim have repaired a toaster. Tim also repairs cycles.

This beautiful mosaic depicts the Annunciation. It was designed by Daniel Bell and probably constructed in 1877.

Habitats and Heritage are always looking for volunteers!

Matey Common Darters, notable for their red colouring, were numerous at Sawpit Pond today – and a blue Migrant Hawker.

The Deer are on the job and being noisy. Bellowing to be heard – probably more from the Red Deer! And those big fellas will be protecting their hinds. There has already been one report of a walker with a dog having to beat a hasty retreat.

Most important DO NOT APPROACH. Of course all you readers here will know that. But it must be worth warning the many visitors too.

Consequent on the demise of the Parks Police it is also being reported that more commercial vehicles are seen driving up Sawyers Hill. some even taking a short cut to Kingston Gate via the road past the Royal Ballet School, and of course more ebikes.

Perhaps a better form of transport.

Habitats and Heritage are organising a litter pick on Sheen Common this Sunday morning

20 September

Details are here 

For further information, please email cleansheen@habitatsandheritage.org.uk

Even the Richmond and Twickenham Times is now expressing concerns about the Vine Road plans.

See Concerns over upgrades at Vine Road Recreation Ground | Richmond and Twickenham Times

There should be further consultation engaging Mortlake and Barnes.

See the previous posts on this matter, https://childlawobserver10.com/2026/07/30/vine-road-development-2/

Saturday 12 September 2026 

More than 30 independent food and drink businesses across East Sheen will take part in Sheen Food Fest on Saturday 12 September, as the event returns for its second year, celebrating the vibrant cafés, restaurants, pubs, delis and eateries that make East Sheen one of south west London’s hidden food gems.

Visitors can explore the high street, discover somewhere new and meet the passionate people behind the businesses that help make SW14 such a fantastic place to eat and drink.

Every ticket includes five Taste Tokens, redeemable for five complimentary tasting portions at participating venues. Hungry for more? Every venue will also be serving a specially created Food Fest Special for just £5.

Collect your event map from the designated collection point (to be confirmed) from 10am, then follow your own foodie trail around the delicious destinations of East Sheen!

Participating venues and opening times will be clearly marked on the map, allowing you to explore at your own pace.

Whether you’re a local resident or visiting for the day, Sheen Food Fest is the perfect excuse to discover somewhere new, revisit an old favourite and support the brilliant independent businesses that give East Sheen its unique character.

Date: Saturday 12 September2026

Time: 10am onwards (individual venue opening times are shown on the event map)

Location: Collect your maps from James Anderson, 363 Upper Richmond Rd West, East Sheen, London SW14 7NX

Transport: Mortlake Train Station • Bus routes 33, 337, 493  • Limited local parking

Ticket Prices

Book tickets in advance:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/eastsheenbusinessretailassociation/2300459

Standard 

Adult (includes five Taste Tokens): £8.25 (£7.50 + £0.75 booking fee)

Family of Four (includes 20 Taste Tokens): £27.50 (£25.00 + £2.50 booking fee)

Annual Open House Day at the Air Raid Shelter, St Leonards Court via St. Leonards Road and Palmers Road London SW14 7NG

The annual opening of the Air Raid Shelter to the public will take place on Sunday 13 Septmeber 2026 from 1pm to 5pm. Free entry. It is organised by the Mortlake with East Sheen Society (MESS).

Do come – and bring your friends. 

The shelter is to the right of the photo beneath the grass area. The entrance is in the tower at the top right hand corner.

The shelter is down thirteen steps, so take care and hold on to the rail. The guide will have a large torch!

Since 2015 MESS has opened the shelter on Open House Day every September.   The shelter cannot receive more than 15 visitors at a time and each visit takes 10 minutes, so we may have a queue of visitors awaiting their turn. While they wait, they are entertained with discussion of the site and maps of bombsites in the area.  

In the last few years MESS has had tourists coming from the USA and various countries in Europe. 

MESS also opens the shelter to local schools by appointment. See mess.org.uk

Holly Lodge Musical Roots event, an annual evening of jazz and blues music, takes place at
5.00pm on Wednesday 23rd September at Pembroke Lodge. Tickets: https://bit.ly/4ppkLFB

More information Sue Gamble: susanjgamble@gmail.com

Set List:

• Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
• Killing In The Name – Rage Against The Machine
• The Kids Aren’t Alright – The Offspring
• Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus
• Alive – Pearl Jam
• Basket Case – Green Day

Listen on Spotify

Timings: 7-8:30pm (open mic), 8:30-9:30pm (jam), 9:30-10:30pm (open mic)

Location: The Home Guard Club House, 76a Richmond Park Road, London SW14 8LA

Entrance: Members – Free, Guests £3

Sarah Olney reports that for the past year she has been working alongside local suicide prevention campaigner, Philip Pirie, to push the government to launch a public health campaign to tackle the stigma towards suicide. They have been collecting signatures for an open letter to the Prime Minister to call on him to make tackling stigma a priority. Former Health Secretaries Sir Sajid Javid and Sir Jeremy Hunt have actively supported the call, alongside the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of General Practitioners, suicide prevention charities and over 40 MPs.

Last year, Philip co-chaired a group which produced new NHS Guidance published as ‘Staying Safe from Suicide’, which reformed how practitioners should assess someone’s risk of suicide. Over 80% of people who die by suicide are assessed as being ‘low’ or ‘no risk’ before they die, and the guidance sought to change practice to ensure mental health practitioners adopt a holistic approach towards understanding someone’s thoughts and possible ideations.

Mental health professionals work long hours and have extremely difficult jobs. Sarah states that the Department for Health and Social Care should be doing more to ensure practitioners have the most up to date training on new guidance.

A year after the guidance was released, it was revealed that less than 10% of mental health practitioners had undertaken the training on suicide prevention. Officials say it is easier to roll out compulsory training on equality and diversity.

There is another dimension to this. All health service staff are vulnerable to the pressures of persistent understaffing and long hours and complex patient demands. Suicide rates among staff are higher than the national average, so it must follow that more attention should be paid to their mental health. That makes it difficult to understand why so few have taken the training. Is it time restraints or is there a reluctance to admit to such problems because of the stigma which is regrettably still attached?

Other sources

Sarah Olney’s speech on 19 November 2025 in a Committee Debate in Westminster Hall. YouTube: Stigma of Suicide.

BS 30480 provides a comprehensive framework for workplaces to prevent suicide, intervene effectively, and support recovery for employees affected by suicide. Published by the British Standards Institution in 2025, it is the UK’s first standard dedicated to suicide awareness in the workplace. It offers free, evidence-based guidance for organizations of all sizes and sectors, including public bodies, charities, and commercial enterprises, to create safer, psychologically healthy work environments and embed suicide prevention into organizational culture.

Daddy Blackbird – Surviving and thriving after loss by suicide