Teenagers cook up a treat

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 local heat was arranged by the Rotary Club of Teddington and the Hamptons in co-operation with Teddington School, which provided the venue and facilities.

Under the watchful eye of professional chefs David Cole and Anthony Malins, two contestants from Teddington School, one from Hampton Community College and one from St Paul’s Catholic College set about the daunting task of preparing a three course healthy meal for two people costing no more than £14. Thirty minutes setting-up time was allowed and two hours for the actual cooking.

The judges praised the very high standard of the entries, and finally selected Gemma Gregory from St Paul’s as the overall winner.

Gemma will now go on to the district final where she will hope to be one of the two winners who will be selected for the regional final. One winner from each Rotary District will proceed to the National final in April.

In that final, all entrants will receive a special white cotton apron and a certificate. The winner will be presented with a trophy, a cash prize of £250, a day’s experience at Fifteen Restaurant, London (founded by Jamie Oliver) and a trip to the Olive Harvest in Tuscany (accompanied by a parent or guardian) with Filippo Berio. The second placed person will receive £200 and the third placed person will receive £100.

Pictured left to right are the two judges David Cole and Anthony Malins, with Mike Bayes of the Rotary Club of Teddington and the Hamptons. The competitors were Gemma Gregory, Caroline o’Mahoney from Hampton Community College and Shahana Uddin and Sam Aldred (both from Teddington School.

Fruits of church appeal

The happy photo shows Brian Timbrell chairman of the tower appeal run by St Mary the Virgin in Mortlake, presenting a cheque to Di Sharp, District Commissioner Mortlake District Guides.

St Mary’s tower appeal finished at the end of December 2007 with the good news that the target of £160,000 was reached and the first part of the restoration work is now in progress.

Ten per cent of the total amount raised, £16,000, has been pledged to go to the local community projects with two awards having been made last year.

On Sunday January 25 at a celebration after the service two more grants were presented: to the Mortlake District Guides for cooking and craft items and the New Stepping Stones playgroup for equipment and resources for music and woodwork sessions.

Local groups wishing to apply please write to St Mary’s Community Fund, St Mary the Virgin Church, Parish Office, Mortlake High Street, SW14 8JA.



Mayor’s year
The Probus Club of Richmond enjoyed a bountiful Christmas lunch at the Richmond Golf Club, with the added bonus of a subsidy from club funds.

Guests were welcomed, including the Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, Helen Lee-Parsons.

The mayor gave a talk on various activities undertaken during her time in office. Close links with HMS Richmond have been maintained, with updates provided on the ship's role in submarine research, and the new radar system which is the envy of the world.

Good relations with Chile, which is now purchasing obsolete frigates, have continued as in the past. The Liberator of Chile, Bernardo O'Higgins (whose statue is by Richmond Bridge), has links with Richmond.

The daring Admiral Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, was commander -in-Chief of the Chilean navy during the early 19th century, and provided invaluable assistance to several countries, including Spain during the Napoleonic wars.

The mayor travelled to Brussels by Eurostar to receive the top award given to the UK for the design of Richmond Riverside by Architects Francis Terry & Co. She was also invited to Buckingham Palace, along with 900 guests and met the Royal Family.

To her surprise a couple from Richmond in Yorkshire were standing next to her. Sports are keenly promoted, especially water sports, in view of the success of local residents in winning medals.

The 2012 Olympic contestants need support at all levels. It is also the Mayor's aim to help the vulnerable and HM Prison Latchmere, which provides help for people who wish to start afresh, was visited.

Members appreciated that as well as offering support to local residents, the Mayor helps maintain the web of interest in Richmond around the world. A cheque in gratitude was presented to the Richmond Golf Club for the use of its wonderful venue, very good food, and friendly staff Meetings for retired and semi-retired professional people take place on the third Wednesday of the month.Secretary Tod Raven-Hill, 020 8894 9932.
Return to China
Teddington Women’s Luncheon Club Two years ago Peter Temlett returned to China, the country of his birth and gave a most interesting account of his time spent there as he passed round maps, photographs, books and wonderful pictures of his trip.After touchdown at Shanghai, Peter left the organised itinerary and fellow travellers from arts richmond who had organised the trip.He set off on an internal flight to Tsing-Tao, now named Qing-Dao, the coastal town in which he had been baptised. He took a taxi and with the help of the driver found the lovely Lutheran church overlooking the bay on which the coming Olympic sailing area was being designed for the following year.Peter returned and joined the group in Beijing visiting the expansive Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City now named The Palace Museum.< It was difficult trying to see everything on one day and most tiring. Other day trips included the Great Wall, the Xian Warriors, the Ming Dynasty tombs, the Temple of Heaven, the tallest building in Beijing and the Great Wild Goose Pagoda.The group also experienced a rickshaw drive to Old Beijing which is being preserved. Returning to Shanghai they proceeded with a cruise along the Yangtze river and set sail for the magnificent Three Gorges Dam Project and through breathtaking gorges. Peter particularly enjoyed this part of the trip seeing the results of the deliberate flooding and how some villages had been moved to higher ground.Chairman for the day, Pat Lewis thanked Peter very much for his talk saying that he had really motivated her to take the trip.The next meeting will be the AGM on Wednesday February 11 at the Lion pub, in Wick Road, Lower Teddington. 12noon for 12.30pm. Enquiries to Barbara MacMahon 020 8977 4965.
Feast of Baroque
MARBLE HILL SOCIETY Members of the society were treated to an excellent recital of Baroque music at the annual winter party.Two distinguished local players, violinist Henrietta Wayne and harpsichordist Karen Glen performed at the party on Sunday January 18.Henrietta is an authority on the Baroque violin and regularly plays with the well known orchestra The Age of Enlightenment. Karen has a wide and varied career as a teacher and harpsichord player.They played music by Corelli, Rebel, Rameau, Baltazar and J S Bach. The music was a well chosen selection from the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Rebel and Baltazar are less well known today, but Rebel was a brilliant French violinist and a member of Louis XIV’s private orchestra. Baltazar came from Sweden, but worked in England and we heard a piece based on an English Folk song, John come kiss me now.After the feast of music, a gastronomic feast had been prepared by members of the Marble Hill Society.By permission of English Heritage the party was held at Marble Hill, which is one of the most beautiful Palladian style villas in the whole country. The concert was held in the richly ornamented Great Room on the first floor and the supper was in the hall downstairs.The Marble Hill Society was founded to support the work of English Heritage at Marble Hill and regularly holds lectures and social events. Anyone, who would like to join, should write to the membership secretary, The Marble Hill Society at 9 Bridge Road, St Margarets. TW1 !RE.
Chiswick WI
Guest speaker Jonathan Fryer, amused everyone with The humorous side of being an actor, with anecdotes and personal stories of his life in the theatre.The following month saw the usual happy celebration of Christmas tea, social chat, and cracker-pulling took place, with some pleasant musical entertainment by the organist from Christchurch, on the keyboard.Everyone joined in singing old favourites, and enjoyed the carols at the end, especially While shepherds watched their flocks by night, to the tune of On Ilkley moor bah tat, to which it fitted very well. As usual, there was a raffle, the money from which was donated to the British Legion.Chiswick WI usually meets on the fourth Monday of each month in the Cedar hall at Chiswick Methodist Church, Sutton Court Road, on the E3 and 272 bus routes. 7pm-9.15pm. There are no stairs.A craft meeting is held once a month in a member's home. There are opportunities to join outings, make up parties for theatre visits and to learn skills either locally or at the WI's own residential Denman College. Press and publicity officer 020 8994 8306. Varied programme, friendship and a chance to exchange ideas.
Soroptomists International
Soroptimist International of Kingston Upon Thames and District Before taking their Christmas Break, members helped Rotary to collect contributions for local charities at Squires Garden Centre and in Twickenham. On January 10, a member accompanied a group of ladies from the Kingston Upon Thames Branch of Arthritis Care on their annual visit to the pantomime at the Epsom Playhouse, where they saw Peter Pan.As usual, much cheering and jeering from the audience took place during the afternoon performance, and ice creams were enjoyed during the interval. Michael Wood, a longserving driver for the branch, kindly conveyed all those attending the pantomime to Epsom.At their supper meeting on January 13 at the Richmond Hill Hotel, the club was pleased to welcome two speakers. Sarah DuMagnee and Nicola Farnes, talked about and demonstrated Makaton, a communication skill which greatly assists young people with disabilities.Tuesday January 27 saw the first business meeting of the New Year, being held at the Lensbury Club in Teddington.In February, three coffee mornings are to be run by club member, Jennifer Robertson, in aid of mental health. The club continues to support the president’s charity, Kingston Young Carers.Membership comes from a large area including Kingston Upon Thames, Richmond Upon Thames, Surbiton, Teddington, Hampton, Isleworth, Hounslow and Kew.Secretary Pat Harman 020 8390 3507, www.soroptimist-gbi.org.
Rotary Club of Hounslow
In the run up to Christmas, members raised more than £1,000 at their Christmas Collection at Tesco's BullsBridge over a three day period. Rotarians wish to express their gratitude to members of the public for their generosity particularly just before Christmas and also because of the dire economic situation.The club has enjoyed a good start to 2009 which included a presentation given by one of their members Andrea Cameron on Chiswick and the life of Hogarth which was extremely informative.On Saturday February 7 at Gunnersbury School, the pupils’ choir and jazz band will be performing at 7pm. The evening also features the Specialist Music School String Orchestra and Choir along with the Hatton Operatic Society.This fundraising concert is in aid of Paediatric Heart surgery in Delhi. Tickets are £5 with concessions £3 for children under 12. Family tickets for two adults and two children £14.