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19/12/2025

What a nostalgic treat! Dave Hill’s Slade at the Shepherds Bush O2, on the band’s ’final tour’. Dave himself, nudging 80, is still a little ball of energy, and while his bandmates are not Noddy, Don or Jim, they recreate all the old hits well. Dave sometimes stands on a box at the front of stage, so that anyone behind the front row at a packed venue had a chance of glimpsing him! He’s now about 4ft 8in! The encore songs included the mighty Cum On Feel The Noize and, of course, Merry Xmas Everybody

16/12/2025

“It was a lovely welcome back,” said local marketing guru Harriet Bonnichon of the band which greeted commuters last night (Monday) at Surbiton station.

Kingston and Malden Scout and Guide Band were playing jolly Christmas tunes to get everyone in the festive spirit whether they had had a hard day at the office or were rushed off their feet shopping.

Video by .bonnichon

GuideBand KingstonandMaldenScoutand GuideBand

15/12/2025

A moving send-off this morning for Sandra Coombs at St Raphael’s. She was better known to Surbitonians as Scooter Gran, for her foot-propelled glides around town. Sandra was 90, and held an honorary doctorate from Kingston University. Full obit in the first Good Life of 2026
.intl

15/12/2025

Short shrift: that’s what a proposal to build a playground in Surbiton's Fishponds Park received at a drop-in event.

And you have the chance to have your own say on the plan in an online public consultation at www.tinyurl.com/FishpondsPark

The deadline to respond is Wednesday next week (December 24).

Residents weren’t happy with the proposal for a ‘nature trail’ playground in the park off Ewell Road, which included two towers with a bridge, a double web climbing frame, a tower slide, and lower-level challenges like a suspension bridge, agility trail and sensory zone (pictured).

They felt it was inappropriate for the setting and not a nature trail at all.

“It’s often described as the gem of a park,” said the Friends of Fishponds Park chair Rob Eyre-Brook, who said the group had not been told about the public meeting. “It is very, very tranquil, it’s based around nature, people come here to enjoy its natural aspects, the fantastic investment in the ponds that has really enhanced it. I just think it is a completely inappropriate position for it.”

He said the group was keen for the park to be enhanced for young children but it was how it was enhanced that mattered – not climbing frames but more low-level points of fun and interest scattered around the park where no safety surfaces are needed, perhaps even a circle of logs where primary aged children could sit after having searched for mini beasties, providing an outdoor classroom to enjoy.

Surbiton Neighbourhood chair Tom Reeve encouraged as many people as possible to take part in the online consultation so Kingston council can assess what residents would prefer.

“This is a genuine consultation; we want to hear the feedback,” he said. “It is a good starting point to talk about what we would like to do. We should not assume this is a fait accompli. It’s not.”

.h.holt

12/12/2025

Richmond Theatre’s panto Cinderella is a hugely enjoyable traditional take on the fairy tale, featuring a (very) brief and wonderful appearance on stage by two ponies - which delighted a spellbound audience.

Basil Brush, who soon qualifies for a bus pass, is wheeled on and off to huge acclaim, while Charlie Stemp fills the show with energy as cheeky chappy Buttons.

Cinders is played by Hope Dawe – the female lead for the second year running.

Possessed of a wonderful singing voice, it's put to good use in numerous adaptations of songs from different eras (Pet Clark’s Downtown translates as ‘Richmond’, for instance).

The most memorable scene is a highly amusing wall song in which Prince Charming (Tom Major) and Buttons compete for Cinderella’s attention while tumbling backwards.

The two-hour child-friendly show features the old routines of a tongue-twister ferried from one side of the stage to the other, and the now-whiskery action song If I Were Not Upon The Stage, first aired in music hall productions way back in 1947.

A five-piece orchestra plays in the pit, ugly sisters Stephen Guarino and Jak Allen-Anderson wear some truly outlandish costumes, Call the Midwife star Helen George is the fairy godmother (also with an amazing vocal range), and the fast paced show, written by Harry Michaels and Alan McHugh, is directed by Gary Wilmot. Until Jan 4.

stemp

09/12/2025

When we’ve heard different sides of the same story, how will we judge those who were pursued and those who did the pursuing?

The premiere of The Hunted and The Hunter, a new drama by Susannah Finzi, will be staged at the cornerHOUSE arts centre in Douglas Road, Surbiton, this week – on Thursday (Dec 11) and Friday, Dec 12 at 7.45pm.

After the show there will be a Q&A with the playwright, cast and crew, and a collection to benefit Refugee Action Kingston.

Tickets are £12 (£10 concs).

Box office ticketsource.co.uk/thecornerhouseevents

First pic - playwright Susannah Finzi and cast pore over the script. Second pic – in the spotlight, a soldier and his quarry account for their actions

Pictures Nicky Newberry

.bonnichon .newberry

&A

06/12/2025

A hive of industry at Kingston Library where the monthly repair cafe is keeping busy on a Saturday morning

05/12/2025

The Rose Theatre’s Christmas show, Cinderella, is two hours of joy, fun, tenderness and magic. But mostly fun.
It’s a modern musical retelling of the fairytale by Chris Bush and Roni Neale, but it also explores the positives and negatives of blended families, and how home tensions can – with a bit of give and take – be overcome.
Newcomer Maddy Hunter takes the title role in a show at the Kingston theatre which runs until Jan 4 (rosetheatre.org). Her portrayal of a thoroughly annoying teenager is spot-on, but her true strength is a powerhouse singing voice which does justice to Matt Winkworth’s clutch of catchy songs.
For a professional debut, Maddy should be chuffed with her work… especially as she’s up against a shoal of scene-stealers, notably Corinna Buchan (pictured) as an ugly sister (paired with Hannah Akhalu), Kara Lily Hayworth as the stepmother and the remarkable Jack Fernie (also pictured) as Mr Bingles, the lofty, delightfully effeminate, self-confident cat.
Overall, the singing quality and harmonising is remarkable as the cast – six grown-ups and a dozen Rose youth – rotate around a revolving multi-purpose central set, designed by Ryan Dawson Laight.
Owen Horsley’s direction is confident and assured, wringing every drop of amusement out of whimsical sidetracks including a sustained tongue-in-cheek swipe at woke vegan Christmas dinners and oat milk.
Bursting with energy, the show is set under a giant full moon – a perfect chime to the real thing hanging in the sky outside the Rose on press night. Stills: Mark Douet.

03/12/2025

Stock up on local gifts at The Grove’s festive market this Thursday (Dec 4) at the pub at the Grove Road/Maple Road junction.
The market runs from 3.30pm to 9pm, with a host of local independent businesses selling goodies from stalls.
There are artisan candles, framed photos by the award-winning David Jacobson, handmade jewellery made by craftswoman Anisha, vintage jewellery, locally created children’s clothes...
Plus mulled wine, hot bar snacks, face-painting...

.living

01/12/2025

Michael Bublé tribute act James Dyer performs live at Hotel Bosco on Thursday Dec 11… and entry is free.
Dyer reproduces the Canadian crooner’s greatest hits including Cry Me a River, Feeling Good and Home.
The golden hours at Bosco Lounge, at the foot of St Mark’s Hill, Surbiton, on Dec 11 run from 5-9pm, with all cocktails at £7 and beers at £5.
And if you want to make a night of it, the Bosco Hotel is offering 50 rooms at £50. Full details

01/12/2025

Creating a brighter future for Surbiton. That’s the aim of the newly formed Surbiton Partnership, a funded body of locals with a shared desire to see the town prosper.
All welcome at a launch event on Tues Dec 2, 5-7pm, at ExCellar, at the Brighton Rd/Victoria Rd junction, to hear some of the ideas, and put forward thoughts of your own.
Hear from an umbrella group of businesses, community groups, and the local authority
.living

30/11/2025

Allow extra time today from Surbiton to Wimbledon, Clapham Junction and Waterloo today (Sunday)… it’s a replacement bus service

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