Radio Jackie

15/06/2026

GuilFest returns to Stoke Park in Guildford on 4th and 5th July.

The award-winning festival, named the UK's Best Family Festival, will feature performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Proclaimers, Rudimental, Kula Shaker, Lottery Winners, ABC and Haircut 100.

There will also be seven stages of music and entertainment, alongside street theatre, arts and crafts, workshops, world cuisine, a literary tent and a dedicated kids' area.

PAW Patrol will appear on Saturday 4th July, while The Gruffalo will visit on Sunday 5th July.

Tickets and more information are available at guilfest.co.uk.

14/06/2026

Budding musicians are being invited to take to the stage at this year's Burlington Fest in New Malden.

Organisers are looking for performers of all ages and abilities to take part in the community celebration on Saturday 27th June.

Short sets of between 15 and 20 minutes will be performed between 12pm and 3pm, giving local talent the chance to showcase their music and connect with the community.

The volunteer-run event is organised by the Burlington Schools' Partnership Association and aims to celebrate music, local talent and community spirit.

Anyone interested in performing can contact the organisers via WhatsApp on 07889 932865.

13/06/2026

More than 2,500 rental e-bikes have been removed from the streets of Kensington and Chelsea since the council launched a dedicated enforcement operation last year.

The council says the bikes were parked dangerously or causing obstructions for pedestrians.

More than 1,200 bikes have been seized so far in 2026, with operators charged more than £210,000 in seizure, storage and release fees.

Lime accounted for the majority of the removals, with 1,624 bikes seized, followed by Human Forest with 787.

Kensington and Chelsea Council says the enforcement action is aimed at keeping pavements clear and improving safety for residents and visitors.

12/06/2026

The Horton’s Summer Exhibition returns this August, showcasing artwork inspired by the theme Transformation.

Running from 1st to 25th August with free entry, the exhibition will feature work by established artists, emerging talent and first-time exhibitors from across Surrey.

The exhibition takes place in The Horton’s Grade II-listed Atrium gallery space in Epsom and explores the idea of transformation, inspired by the venue’s own journey from asylum chapel and music therapy centre to cultural venue.

Venue director Maria Reeves said the theme reflects not only the building’s history, but also “reinvention and the capacity that as individuals we may have for resilience and rebuilding ourselves and our communities.”

More information is available from The Horton.

11/06/2026

Residents are being invited to take part in a free family-friendly bike ride around Kingston this weekend as part of Bike Week.

Organised by Kingston Cycling Campaign and Full Cycle Community Bike Project, the 6.5-mile ride will explore cycle-friendly routes across North Kingston, including the Thames towpath and Richmond Park.

The ride is designed for all ages and abilities, with marshals on hand to help riders feel safe and confident throughout.

Volunteers will also offer free bike safety checks before and after the ride, while Friends of Latchmere Recreation Ground will provide bike security marking.

The ride starts from Latchmere Recreation Ground on Sunday 14th June.

10/06/2026

Tawny owls are breeding in Battersea Park, with a pair successfully raising three chicks in one of central London’s few recorded tawny owl habitats 🦉

The birds are thriving thanks to the park’s mature trees, lake and grassland areas, while ecology teams from Wandsworth Council have installed owl boxes to support the population after a nest site was lost during a storm.

Experts say the chicks will stay dependent on their parents for food for up to three months before finding their own territory in the park or nearby green spaces.

09/06/2026

A couple from Surbiton have been talking about keeping their dream of becoming parents alive after being turned down for IVF multiple times.

38 year old Sophie Wismer and her partner Sam Yeats say they are devastated after Sophie's treatment for Mucinous ovarian cancer impacted their ability to conceive naturally.

Sophie was diagnosed with the condition last September and had to have one of her ovaries removed.

Although her prognosis is positive, doctors have told the couple that their chances of natural conception are unlikely.

Sophie and Sam have been telling Jackie's Chloe Norman how they've now turned to a public fundraiser to try and raise the money for IVF themselves.

A spokesperson for NHS South West London said: “We recognise how difficult and distressing fertility issues can be for people and their families. While we are unable to comment on individual cases, all funding requests for assisted conception are evaluated in detail for their eligibility using the same clinical criteria outlined within our assisted conception policy. This is to ensure that all decisions are made fairly and consistently.”

They have been turned down for IVF twice.

08/06/2026

A multi award-winning short film starring Sir David Suchet will receive its first public London screening tomorrow.

Last Gasp follows an oil shareholder forced to confront the consequences of his wealth after learning about the impact of gas flaring on communities living near oil fields in Iraq.

The film will be shown as part of Burning Skies, a collection of five short films about oil, at Chiswick Cinema on 9th June at 7pm.

Written and directed by Tom Cholmondeley, the film was inspired by the story of Iraqi campaigner Ali Julood, who documented the effects of pollution from oil flaring before his death from leukaemia aged 21.

Last Gasp has already won multiple awards, including Best Short Drama at the Activists Without Borders Film Festival and Best Impact at the Phoenix Rising International Film Festival.

08/06/2026

A man known to thousands on social media as The Food Waste Inspector is trying to get supermarkets to stop throwing away food.

The UK produces around 10 million tonnes of food waste every year according to recent Government figures.

The Food Waste Inspector travels the country trying to salvage products that are thrown out, and Jackie’s Phillip Barr has been out with him.

You can hear his report here.

An episode by Radio Jackie

07/06/2026

Pride Month is underway in Kingston, with events and activities taking place across the borough throughout June.

The Progress Flag is flying above Kingston Guildhall as a symbol of the council’s commitment to inclusion and support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The newly elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor joined members of the council’s staff network, local charity Unapologetic and Kingston University’s LGBTQ+ network to mark the occasion.

Councillor Hamed, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Equalities, said: "Kingston is a borough where everyone belongs, and Pride Month gives us the opportunity to celebrate that."

Residents can find details of events, local LGBTQIA+ groups and support services on the Kingston Pride 2026 webpage.