Gail Hébert

Twickenham’s Bonnie Langford, the singer and dancer, was at the forefront of a demonstration at Twickenham junction to save St John’s cottage hospital in Amyand Park Road, threatened with closure. Hundreds of people signed a petition. From left to right, Toby Jessel MP for Twickenham, Miss Langford and Dr Alex Hall of St John’s Hospital. A meeting of St John’s health centre users group to be held at the health centre in Oak Lane was to discuss the implications of its closure. Mrs Pamela Rathbone chairman of the League of Friends braved the cold as a patient on a stretcher bed and comedian Roy Hudd did a stint later. Councillor John Waller thought there should be an alternative way of raising funds apart from closing the hospital and pointed out that the decision to close was against what the health minister Kenneth Clark had said about the need for beds. There was also a need for geriatric beds. Closure of the hospital affected the council’s finances as some people should be in hospital who were in council old people’s homes. It also increased the demand for home helps, he said.

A very shabby and derelict looking Tower House viewed from the riverfront with steps leading up to Richmond bridge behind.

Top, the corner of Fauconberg Road and Sutton Court Road, circa 1900. The house half hidden by trees was Sutton Court, photographed not long before its demolition. Sutton Court was the manor house of one of the two Chiswick manors and one of the large mansions in the south part of Chiswick. It was a late 18th century house built on the site of an earlier house which had been home to Lady Mary Fauconberg, daughter of Oliver Cromwell. It was a boarding school run by Frederick Tappenden for part of the 19th century. Its last use was a temporary council offices while the town hall was being enlarged in 1900. The modern view shows the houses in Sutton Court Road and behind them the blocks of mansion flats called Sutton Court that were built in its grounds. From Then & Now Chiswick by Carolyn and Peter Hammond, published in 2003.

The splendid run of success of Richmond Lacrosse Club came to an abrupt end at the end of January 1984 when they went down to Hounslow, leaders of the London Premier League. Hounslow always seemed to have the edge and led 1-0 at half time, despite being reduced to ten men, one of their defenders being temporarily suspended. The visitors, niggled by some of the umpiring, were even sharper in the second half and took a 2-0 lead before Richmond were able to pull one back. It came when Ian Simpkins managed to scramble the ball across the line. A beautifully struck short corner by Hounslow closed the door on any Richmond revival and gave the league leaders a fine win on a sticky pitch. Richmond 1, Hounslow 3.

United British Artists was formed in 1983 by a group of outstanding performers and directors to create new theatre opportunities.

This photograph of Pears Fountain and drinking fountain is taken from Andrea Cameron’s pictorial history, Hounslow - Isleworth, Heston & Cranford. The fountain was erected at the junction of London and Spring Grove Road, Isleworth in 1899 as a gift from Andrew Pears, owner of Pears Soap Works on the London Road. The photograph was taken in around 1935 and the fountain was removed in 1937 after Heston Fire Station, right in the modern picture, was built. The older view shows a telephone box in the background, right of the fountain, with two small children waiting outside, although there doesn’t seem to be anyone occupying the kiosk. A sign affixed to the lamp post pointing towards Hounslow, proclaims the electricity showroom.

Redundant garages will be replaced by a community centre in Hounslow if planning application P/2008/3689 is approved for Clements Court, Green Lane. Hounslow Homes Limited would also form a new kiosk, together with new and additional parking spaces.

Talented young chefs from local schools have once again competed in the first heat of the Rotary Young Chef competition, which aims to encourage young people to develop cookery and food-presentation skills, consider healthy eating options, prove their organisational and planning skills and their ability to cope in a demanding situation.

The Community of Yahweh Worldwide has submitted application P/2008/3656 to the planning department of L B Hounslow. Work to be carried out at 1 Richmond Road, Feltham, subject to permission, would add a single storey extension to the existing place of worship. The community was established in Nigeria in 1960.

Sherland Road, Twickenham where the garages on the left are the subject of an application for demolition in favour of affordable housing. Plans 08/4195/FUL submitted by Paragon Community Housing Group of Hampton provide for two storey, three bedroom terraced houses with a bedroom in roof space. Six parking places would be created and the site landscaped with refuse and cycle parking provided. Scores of public comments have been left on the council’s planning website. Protesters fear that, “our cherished trees and award winning community planted area (eight awards to date) would be destroyed. We have worked so hard to create this little urban oasis in the road and more 50 species of biodiversity would be lost and the wide variety of visiting birds - from goldfinches to woodpeckers, would lose their regular feeding ground.”