The 2025 Wimbledon Qualifying Competition starts on Monday 23 June to Thursday 26 June at the Community Sport Centre Roehampton. Tickets have gone on sale today and are available for pre-purchase at £15.
Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre Bank Lane (off Priory Lane) Roehampton London SW15 5JQ
Held one week prior to The Championships, the Wimbledon Qualifying Competition is comprised of Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Singles competitions to determine the final Main Draw places for The Championships 2025. To secure a Main Draw place, players compete in a knock-out tournament and must win every one of their matches across three rounds to earn one of the 16 Championships’ places in each of the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ draws.
The council has been trying to attract wildlife to Beverley Brook by cutting back some of the trees around it and creating barriers in the water to provide more varied habitats.
Unfortunately, a new kind of life form has appeared, one which shows it’s still alive by the presence of a little green light. There were three electric bikes in and around the stream yesterday evening – two Limes and one from Forest.
It’s one thing to find five Lime bikes in a row on the pavement of my street – all neatly spaced out and pointing in the same direction – but another to have them in the stream.
I have reported them to the companies, but presumably they already know where they are because of their electronics. One of the Lime bikes has been there for at least a week.
It’s a shame that these monsters are now disturbing the wildlife, which seems to be returning. I saw a happy-looking grey heron there one evening, which may be the same one that looked a bit odd last night but I’m told was just sleeping.
Or if you want to contribute, a donation can be made via Sort Code 600720 44372310
£1600 so far. Keep it going!
Mo was born in Norfolk just before the Second World War, the daughter of a butcher. On leaving school, Mo worked in a shop before joining rhe RAF where she trained as a dental nurse. Mo was posted to Cyprus where she met her first husband, Bill Port. After they left the RAF, they lived in Bristol for a while before returning to London. In London, Mo had a variety of jobs before starting her property management company. Many of her landlord clients became friends.
Sadly, Bill died and Mo’s second husband was John Saunders, a lay reader at St Michael’s and All Angels. Their faith was very important to them and they supported the church in lots of practical ways. They ran a group for seniors and Mo was involved in catering for church events – her vol au vents were famous – and flower arranging. They were both active supporters of the Conservative Party and the local Round Table.
After John died, Mo’s involvement with FISH was very important to her. She manned the helpline, drove people to appointments, helped with the open gardens days and made vast vats of soup for the monthly concerts at St Mary’s. For a couple of years she ran the Christmas Lunch at the Day Centre.
Mo loved opera, the theatre and cinema and generously organised outings for her wide circle of friends.
For many years Mo kept Old English Sheepdogs and through walks in Richmond Park, she got to know many other dog owners. Latterly, she had a cat called Claude – de Pussy – and an ancient tortoise called Malcolm.
When Mo could no longer manage at home, she went to live at St Mary’s Convent and Nursing Home. She retained her sharp sense of humour and was very popular with the staff. Mo’s favourite resident at the home was Tod the dog.
Mo died in April 2024, a few days after her eighty eighth birthday.
Charlie Standing is giving a concert of his musical mishaps and disasters on June 8th. For many years Charlie was Organist at All Saints, and is a popular jazz pianist at a number of London Clubs.
Charlie’s repertoire ranges from Bach to Star Wars, and according to one fan he can play Messiaen with his right hand and I do like to be beside the seaside with his left!
The concert is raising funds for All Saints Church, East Sheen. Charlie will be playing on the excellent Yamaha grand piano there. Ticket price includes a glass of wine and a savoury nibble, £12 on the door or email ksheldon.vol@outlook.com
A visiting friend from Australia works with a coalition of community groups on the Great Ocean Road in coastal Victoria. Can the East Sheen and Mortlake Communities learn from their objectives?
The Painkalac Valley Network is an ongoing coalition of community groups that meet regularly to collaborate on and advocate for issues of mutual interest regarding the Painkalac estuary and its valley environs. The Network will action diverse strategies to further its objectives.
Vision To revive and maintain the Painkalac from source to ocean [from park to river] as a thriving interconnected community and ecosystem that must be protected for future generations.
Approach We acknowledge the inherent rights of the entire Painkalac landscape including ecosystems on land, in fresh and estuarine waters and at sea, recognising the fundamental interconnectedness between humans and the natural world. We embrace collective responsibility for its wellbeing and see the Painkalac as a community to which we belong, rather than the other way around. What is good for the Painkalac is good for all.
Explore the history of Richmond’s waterside right where it happened. At this exhibition, hosted by Richmond’s boatbuilding craftsmen, you’ll uncover the rich, centuries-old connection between Richmond and the Thames. Delve into the diverse history and numerous uses of boats and wherries that have defined life along the riverside through the ages. This exhibition will be accompanied by a talk on wherries and a family workshop at the Old Town Hall, promising a weekend filled with riverside celebrations.
Event details:
Date: Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June 2025
