In April 2024 I took a decision to expand a Blog I had had for many years. Since then the number of subscribers and viewers has increased. I think it is timely to republish about the why, what, where and when.

The title of the Blog was then East Sheen and Mortlake Community Matters. It became clear that this was too wordy a title to provide convenient use. The shortened title should not be seen as intending to exclude Mortlake. The purview is intended to be north to south from the River Thames to Richmond Park and east to west from Priory Lane to Clifford Avenue and to include matters from surrounding areas which might interest that community.

The central purpose of EastSheenMatters is to provide a reliable source of news and information about local activities with a spice of comment about the administration and history of the local community. Having worked as a solicitor in a local authority for eight years, then been a partner in a solicitors’ practice specialising in child law for twenty years and sitting as a Tribunal Judge specialising in special educational needs for another twenty years, I have detailed knowledge of the operations of local authorities.

Being a member of the committee of the Mortlake with East Sheen Society (MESS) has provided important insights into the local community. It has to be emphasised that EastSheenMatters is wholly independent of MESS. Any opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect MESS opinions. The Barnes and Mortlake History Society is also an invaluable source of information and has encouraged me to provide a historical context for our contemporary community.

There are local sources of information but many have their limitations. One of the most useful publications is Sarah Olney’s Weekly Newsletter, but, while informative, it is inevitably politically biased. The refusal to address the Stag Brewery planning applications, now supported by the Inspector, and the failure to reflect local opposition, demonstrates this all too clearly. The Richmond Council Community News and its website links are useful factual providers of information but they naturally come from a source where you would not expect to find anything remotely critical of services or political decisions.

Community activities such as church events, festivals, concerts, exhibitions, markets, talks, meetings, all get some publicity from Parish Notices, East Sheen Village, Mortlake Community Hall, the Barnes Home Guard Club, the Hare and Hounds and the Police Liaison Group. But they will only be seen by those who are alerted to them.

The need for an independent, apolitical East Sheen and Mortlake outlet, which ensures that news and information circulates freely among residents and retailers has never been greater. Comments on postings and the functioning or accuracy of the site are welcome. If you want to make a contribution on a new topic (attributable or otherwise) please contact me direct on richard.ahwhite@btopenworld.com . The site is moderated to ensure that no abusive content is published.

You can subscribe by googling EastSheenMatters and finding the |Subscribe button or by sending me your email address to the email address above. You will then receive a posting when it is published. Unsubscribing is just as simple. If you find the site useful tell your friends!

Richard White