The third Friday of the month is here, and our music series is officially carrying on tonight with an incredible live performance!We are excited to host House of Mojo @ 8PM. Known for their high energy and soulful sound, they are the perfect vibe to kick off your weekend.Grab your friends, head down early to grab a seat, and let’s make it a night to remember. |
A classical musician of my acquaintance suggested MOJO might reflect Mozart plus Johann Strauss x2
How many book clubs are there in the local area?
What are they reading – and why?
Do they share thoughts with other book clubs?
AND the $64K question, do they spend more time discussing the book or the food and wine or local gossip or East Sheen Matters!!
Location: St Mary’s Church, Barnes
Thursday, 19 February 2026, 8pm
Dr. Helen Fry is an English historian who specialises in World War II, focusing particularly on espionage and the Allied Intelligence Services. She has published many books on these topics.
Sheen House and the Barnes Home Guard Club
19/03/2026 8:00 pm
Speaker: Richard White
19/02/2026 8:00 pm
Location: St Mary’s Church, Barnes
Lecturer: Helen Fry
 The Mortlake Mash Up project encourages Mortlake residents to think about how their area could be improved and how it could become a more cohesive and engaged area with a thriving centre. Kew 2026 Orchid Festival This year the orchid festival has been organised with local resident Xiaoyu Shi and is inspired by China’s remarkable biodiversity and heritage. An Orchid Festival talk hosted by Xiaoyu Shi is being held on 9th March, 10:00-11:00am at Mortlake Community Hall. Monthly Walk+Talk Since the autumn, we have been running a monthly Walk+Talk in partnership with the Allegr Foundation. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 12 noon at Mortlake Hall. All abilities and ages are welcome. Next walk is on 4th March. Mortlake Hall, 29th March 1-3pm Come along to our charity clothing/homeware sale. Help recycle, reduce waste and support two fantastic charities at the same time – Mortlake Community Association and Retina UK. Browse rails bursting with quality pieces at pocket-friendly prices. If you have clothing or homewares in good condition that you can donate to the sale, please drop these at Mortlake Hall 24th and 25th March (9am to 5pm) or 28th March (9am to 12 midday). No furniture or electrical items please. Boat race, Jubliee Gardens 4th April 1:30-4pm Join us on Boat Race day at Jubilee Gardens, Mortlake High Street to enjoy the action with a riverside view. Meet others from your local area, find out more about Mortlake Community Association and the programme of events taking place over the coming months. Learn about initiatives underway to improve Mortlake and how you can get involved. Litter Pick, Mortlake Green Help make Mortlake a cleaner, tidier and more inviting space by joining our Litter Pick event in May.This is a great opportunity for the whole family to help keep our streets, parks and rivers clean. All equipment will be provided. Meet at the entrance to the children’s playground on Mortlake Green at 10:30am. Wildflower Planting Come and join us spreading wildflower seeds around Mortlake Green. Screen on the Green For a summer event we are planning to screen a family film on Mortlake Green. Further details to follow. Event ideas? If you have a community event idea, come and talk to us! Mortlake High Street Sustainable Drainage Mortlake Community Association, Richmond Housing Partnership and Community BlueScapes, secured funding to install sustainable drainage systems in the area around Mortlake High Street, to ensure our communities are flood and weather resilient in future. The systems will redirect surface water into enhanced green spaces and rain gardens which will help prevent flooding during heavy rains and keep plants watered during droughts. They will also make these areas look more beautiful. Plans have been drawn up following consultation and feedback from local residents. A number of locations for rain gardens have been identified around Mortlake Hall and the flats along Mortlake High Street. These are designed to thrive in wet and dry conditions, improving our local environment. Works are expected to start in March 2026 and complete around July 2026. South Worple Avenue Greening The community-led consultation for the proposed renewal of South Worple Avenue has now been completed. The proposal aims to restore biodiversity lost during local developments and to transform South Worple Avenue into an enhanced ‘green’ pathway leading up to the new school and hospital. Trees, planting and a new permeable surface are included in the proposals. The aim is to complete the project before the NHS Trust facilities open in September 2027, subject to approvals and availability of funding. Mortlake Green Back in December we enjoyed a well-attended community bulb planting session on Mortlake Green organised by Habitats & Heritage. We also planted native hedging and installed a fantastic bug house. We are looking forward to seeing the results of our work in the spring. Thank you to all who attended for your hard work!  Discussions are ongoing with the council regarding the painting of a mural and options for a cafe. |
Roll over Richard Osman, local author Harry Armfield has written an engaging and exciting murder mystery set in East Sheen. Part domestic comedy, part thriller, ‘Murder on the School Run’ is a sparkling new addition to the cosy crime genre.
Andrea Dawson, the ex-model wife of a wealthy businessman, has been stabbed to death in her home on ‘Millionaire Mile’ (i.e. Fife Road) in East Sheen, Southwest London. The murder is investigated by Nick, an out of work househusband and his feisty, rich female neighbour, Angela. Together they uncover a web of sexual blackmail, art fraud and financial corruption at the highest level. As they probe deeper into the mystery, it seems they can trust no one, and soon the killer is looking to put a permanent end to the pair’s amateur sleuthing.
Available on Amazon, on paperback (£11) or Kindle (£9.99).
Be the first to review it on ‘East Sheen Matters’ and win a bottle of champagne!!! More than ‘It’s good’
East Sheen is developing a lively music scene. You will have read on this blog about the monthly Sheen Live Jam sessions at the Barnes Home Guard Club. But there’s more.
Another initiative which shares the same vibe and many of the same musicians is called Rock ‘n’ Roll Recruits – and offers anyone a chance to play.
When you enrol, you join a band, learn a few songs over several weeks of evening rehearsals and then play a gig to friends and family at a local venue such as the Half Moon in Putney or the Bull’s Head in Barnes.
There are also courses for children, but for adults it’s a mix of evening classes and performance.
Players are assembled and taught by Richard Coulson, a professional musician and graduate of the London College of Music. Richard can play most of the instruments himself and knows how to direct all of them, while making the sessions productive and fun.
“All people need to be eligible is the willingness to commit to the rehearsals for one term and be able to work as part of a team,” Richard says. As well as making new friends, the classes create a real sense of achievement. “I want people to have an experience that gives them a renewed confidence, both on and off their instrument”.
It’s an unusual chance to “experience the joy of making music as part of a group and seeing progress happen together”.
Some of Richard’s players sign up for one term after another, so each band is made up of both new Recruits and more experienced players. They are carefully put together by Richard so nobody feels out of their depth or is asked to do more than their musical skills can cope with.
Last month saw the second of two gigs from bands completing the Recruits’ latest term (above and top). The atmosphere at the Bull’s Head was great and the music was impressive, ranging from Motown to Primal Scream, via Blondie and TLC.
A couple of the bands will be reprising their songs at the next Live Jam session at the Home Guard Club on Thursday February 12th.
If you’d like to find out more about Rock ‘n’ Roll Recruits, you can make contact through their website – http://www.rockandrollrecruits.co.uk/
Contributed by Charles Miller
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