Faster cancer diagnosis with Kingston’s new ultrasound scanner
#07: 1000th Bushy Parkrun, Unilever not leaving, Gallagher brothers make up, faster cancer diagnosis, Kingston Hospital AGM, best place to downsize, laugh with Joel Dommett, local policing, death of local news, funding for your project, Open Studios in Kingston, Open House in London, taste of the Caribbean in Wimbledon and more.
START WITH A SMILE: Stuff to cheer us up
🌿 HEAVENLY HEATHERS: In 2016, Heathlands Reunited brought together 11 organisations led by the South Downs National Park Authority to recreate, reconnect and restore heathlands across the South Downs National Park. Now concluded, the five-year project has helped the habitat bounce back from the brink with Nightjars and other rare species now flourishing amongst the heathers. And for nature lovers, late August and early September are a perfect time to enjoy the South Downs currently carpeted in a cascade of pink and purple.
LOCAL STORIES: Stuff you need to know
🏢 UNILEVER NOT LEAVING: Unilever, global consumer goods giant, quells rumours of relocation to confirm it will continue to retain its UK and Ireland headquarters in Kingston. The company, however, has decided to keep its global HQ in central London having initially considered a move to Kingston. The new ‘Unilever Campus’, currently under construction on Eden Street, is due to be completed in 2025 and will be home to around 2000 employees.
🏥 KINGSTON HOSPITAL’S NEW ULTRASOUND SCANNER HELPS DELIVER ‘ONE STOP’ SERVICE FOR PATIENTS: A new ultrasound scanner, funded by Kingston Hospital Charity, is helping to provide a ‘one stop’ service for patients visiting Kingston Hospital with suspected gynaecological cancer. The hospital is now able to offer same-day ultrasound imaging and appointments with clinicians, helping with quicker cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
🏥 KINGSTON HOSPITAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: With their merger currently in progress, Kingston Hospital and Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare are holding a joint Annual General Meeting on Monday 30 September, 6pm to 8pm. The event is open to the public and is available to attend in-person or virtually. It’s a perfect opportunity for residents to ask questions about the potential benefits or disadvantages of the proposed merger and the impact it may have on people currently accessing services from the two healthcare providers.
🌳 SUSTAINABLE SEPTEMBER 2024: Sustainable September returns to Kingston for a third year. Organised by Kingston Council, it’s a focal point in the calendar where, together with communities, the council celebrates the work taking place to create a greener borough for current and future generations. As well as events and information, you’ll find plenty of practical tips on the Sustainable September website on how we can all play our role in combatting climate change.
🛖 MERTON NAMED UK’S BEST PLACE TO DOWNSIZE: If you’re planning on downsizing, you’d be pleased to know that you don’t have to move too far from Kingston. According to a survey by The Telegraph, the London Borough of Merton is the top spot in the UK for those looking to downsize. Easy access to green spaces and healthcare topped the list, along with shops that are relatively easy to get to. Wait! Isn’t that how you would describe Kingston? We may be bias, we suggest if you really want to downsize, downsize in Kingston!
📰 DEATH OF LOCAL NEWS: Local journalism is at the heart of local democracy. Sadly, yet another local newspaper, and this one carried national clout, the Evening Standard is publishing its last daily edition on Thursday 19 September. It’ll then be rebadged ‘The London Standard’ and distributed weekly, each Thursday.
👮🏼 CANBURY GARDENS WARDS POLICING SURVEY: Kingston Police would like to get your thoughts on local policing, specifically from residents within the Canbury Gardens Ward in North Kingston. Amongst other issues, they would like to understand your concerns around crime, anti-social behaviour, Ward Officer patrols and how safe you feel. To help keep Kingston as one of the safest places in the UK, please complete this short survey.
LOCAL DEMOCRACY: Stuff that affects your neighbourhood
💸 SHARE YOUR VIEWS ON LONDON’S ECONOMIC FUTURE: The Mayor of London is working with London councils to help drive London’s economic growth for the benefit of all Londoners. The eight-minute survey asks residents about their experience of living and working in the capital to help produce the London Growth Plan by end of December 2024. Find out more and have your say by 15 September.
🙂 SHARE YOU IDEAS ON YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD: We all want to make Kingston the best it can be – for everyone who lives, works, studies, visits and does business here. To help deliver and maintain this, Kingston Council has created an online platform to allow residents to get involved and share their thoughts on specific projects. Neatly organised in three sections, Surbiton, South of the Borough, and Kingston and North Kingston, residents can share their views to help improve the whole of the Royal Borough of Kingston.
💰 NEED FUNDING FOR YOUR LOCAL PROJECT? Whether you are local community group, residents’ association, registered charity or a charitable business, you can access funds for local infrastructure projects through the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL). Application deadline is 16 October 2024.
COMMUNITY, CULTURE & EVENTS: Stuff to do, experience and enjoy
🎸 OASIS REUNITED: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.” Yes, the Gallagher brothers have made up. For 16 years, the apparent animosity between the brothers ran as deep as the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets, except with Liam and Noel, it was within the same family. For those who lived through the 1990s Brit Pop era, Oasis’ reunion is no less momentous than Pink Floyd’s one-gig reunion in 2005. Let’s hope this one lasts longer than a single gig! Tickets for the 17-date-and-counting tour of the UK and Ireland go on sale at 9.00am this Saturday 31 August. Good luck!
🤣 LAUGH WITH JOEL DOMMETT: You may have watched him on This Morning, now you can laugh with him on Monday evening – yes, Joel Dommett, (Live at the Apollo, the Masked Singer and I'm A Celebrity!) is live on stage in New Malden and Kingston this Monday, 2 September.
🎨 OPEN STUDIOS IN KINGSTON – THE KOPPEL PROJECT: We’ve enjoyed Open Gardens over the summer. Now it’s time for Open Studios here in Kingston. Located on Thames Street, The Koppel Project throws open its doors to residents and visitors for an opportunity to meet local artists, see where art is created and discuss all things art. Open Studios runs from 12 to 14 September and you can RSVP for the main event taking place on 12 September, 5pm to 8pm.
🏠 OPEN HOUSE FESTIVAL: Open Gardens and Open Studios done! How about Open House now? Open House Festival is a London-wide festival that invites you to celebrate the city’s architecture, special sites and neighbourhoods, with open days and events across all 33 London boroughs. Taking place from 14 to 22 September, register here to explore the capital’s most remarkable homes, buildings and landscapes, and learn about London’s heritage, design and communities.
🐔 TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN IN WIMBLEDON: Wandsworh Council approves plans to host Europe's 'biggest' Caribbean food and drink festival in Wimbledon Park every year. Kicking off this year on 14 September, the festival will offer a range of street food stalls, live music, funfair rides, rum punch and more. According to the festival organisers, the event is firmly aimed at families and welcomes people of all ages and background as well as those with disabilities.
👑 DRINKS RECEPTION FOR FILM PREMIER OF SEVEN SAXON KINGS EMBROIDERY PROJECT: Residents are invited for a drinks and canapes reception for the premiere of the Seven Saxon Kings Embroidery Project short promotional film at All Saints Kingston. Taking place on 25 September from 6.30pm to 8pm, this free-to-attend event can be booked here.
🎽 1000TH BUSHY PARKRUN: Parkrun turns 20 this October and double celebrations are afoot with Bushy Parkrun reaching its own staggering milestone of 1000th parkrun this Saturday 31 August. While we don’t believe any individual parkrunners have hit that landmark (including anyone from the original 13 who ran the inaugural 5K), there are plenty around the country proudly displaying their ‘500’ parkruns t-shirt. Last week at the 999th event there were almost 1800 runners. Expect an even bigger crowd this Saturday!
SPORTS DAY: Stuff about enjoying your local teams
⚽ KINGSTONIAN FC: Not a great end to Kingstonian’s Bank Holiday Weekend with an unfamiliar taste of first league defeat of the new season on Monday. The Ks were second best to local rivals Raynes Park Vale, losing 2-4 at home. Let’s hope there is a return to form for the forthcoming Emirates Cup game this weekend.
LONDON CALLING: Stuff to do, experience and enjoy in the big smoke
👩🏽👩🏽👧🏽👦🏽 WALK FOR HUMANITY: As summer slowly rolls to an end and thoughts return to school uniforms, play dates and retrieving that winter coat from the back of the wardrobe, how about one last event in London before the clocks go back? How about taking part in Walk for Humanity? Organised by the British Red Cross, Walk for Humanity is a sponsored 5K / 10K family-friendly walk to support people affected by disasters and emergencies around the world. Taking place on 28 September, you'll pass some of London’s most famous landmarks as you cross the River Thames, including St Paul's Cathedral, Big Ben, Tate Modern and the London Eye.
WHAT ELSE? Stuff we couldn’t quite fit anywhere else but still like
📚 THE BOOKER PRIZE LONGLIST: The Booker Prize, the prestigious literary award, announced its longlist of 13 books at the end of July. Back in 2014, the trustees of the Booker Prize decided to open the award to all nationalities, as long as their work is written in English. Many commentators felt that the inclusion in particular of American authors would diminish the chances of lesser known writers from elsewhere to even make the longlist. Fast forward to 2024 and this year more than half of the books on the longlist are by American writers. If you look really hard, you’ll find a couple of English authors! The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on Tuesday 12 November 2024.