⚽️ The Sheppertonesses and D'Oyly Carte Island 🏝️
Podcast. Newsletter. Socials.
Denise Johnson: The Sheppertonesses
When Denise Johnson launched a women’s walking football club in Shepperton, she wasn’t sure if anyone would show up. Ten women did, and the Sheppertonesses were born. Since then, the group has grown into a weekly fixture, welcoming players of all ages and experience levels.
🎧 In this month’s episode, Denise shares how it all began, what it means to the women who take part, and her plans for growing the game locally.
Andy Hill: D’Oyly Carte Island
Andy Hill and his wife Sheila weren’t looking to buy an island. But when they paddled past a crumbling Victorian house in the middle of the Thames, they saw something others didn’t. Today, D’Oyly Carte Island is home, café, concert venue - and soon, perhaps, a red squirrel sanctuary.
🎧 Hear Andy tell the full story, from dereliction to revival, in this month’s episode of The Sheppertonian.
What’s On (sponsored by Shepperton Matters)
Looking for an allotment plot?
Laleham allotments have plots available. If you are interested, then please email lalehamallotments@gmail.com.
8.30-10.30pm Fridays and Saturdays
Thameside Brewery live music and beer.
Also Sunday afternoons from 4-7pm.
1 Hale Street, Staines, TW18 4UW. Tel 01784 456214. Find us on Facebook.
Now until 14th August
Lisa Todd presents Ununtu ‘I Am Because You Are’ at the Sunbury Millennium Embroidery Gallery, Thames Street, Sunbury TW16 6AB. Free exhibition.
Tuesday 1st July and Sunday 6th July
Hampton Court Gardens are open FREE.
Wednesday 2nd - Sunday 13th July
Creative Textiles Exhibition at the Robert Phillips Gallery, Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Manor Road, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 2PF. Free.
Thursday 3rd - Saturday 5th July
Great Expectations by the Sunbury Riverside Players at the Riverside Arts Centre. Tickets from RACBoxOffice@gmail.com or 07760 802328.
Friday 4th July 10.30am-12.30pm
Jazz Fridays with The Café Jazz Band.
The Rose Café, Rose Theatre, 24-26 High St, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT11HKL (entrance on Walbrook St). Free.
Friday 4th July 7.30pm
Sir Stephen Hough piano concert at the Riverhouse Barn, Manor Road, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 2PF. Tickets £35. boxoffice@riverhousebarn.co.uk or 01932 253354.
Friday 4th - Sunday 6th July
The D’Oyly Carte Island series of summer concerts are part of the Weybridge Festival 2025.
Friday 11am-4pm: Gilbert & Sullivan. This event includes access to the display of memorabilia in the ballroom and dining room of Eyot House.
Saturday and Sunday offer two family days, with free access for under 10s, which include face painting, a coconut shy, a magician and whack-a-mole and four great local musicians. These events run from 11am-4pm.
In the evenings, amazingly talented musicians will perform some of the best-known tracks on the planet with music from Miami Coast (Friday), Flo Collective (Saturday) and Yacht Brothers (Sunday).
Tickets and information doylycarteisland.com/music
Saturday 5th July 11.30am-4.30pm
Laleham Village Fair. At the Laleham recreation ground. Free entry. Stalls, entertainment, Staines Lammas Band, Ukelaleham, dog agility, classic vehicles. Do come along and enjoy this family day.
Saturday 5th - Sunday 6th July
GuilFest returns to Stoke Park
Soul II Soul, The Jacksons, Rock Choir, Bay City Rollers, Razorlight, KT Tunstall, Elvana and many more. www.guilfest.co.uk
Sunday 6th July 12.15pm
Sykes Martin at Walton Folk. Riverhouse Barn, Manor Road, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 2PF. Tickets £15. boxoffice@riverhousebarn.co.uk or 01932 253354.
Sunday 6th July 2-4pm
Music in the Park. Saxophony will be performing at the Walled Garden, Thames Street, Sunbury, TW16 6RA. Bring a chair or picnic blanket. Refreshments from the café. This is a FREE event.
Monday 7th July 12pm-2pm
Lunchtime Jazz with the Half-Diminished Band. Half-Diminished are all local, amateur musicians. "We play numbers we like; some are jazz standards, others adapted from rock and pop numbers but all in a laid-back jazz style". Free event. The Rose Café, Rose Theatre, 24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1HL
Tuesday 8th - Saturday 12th July
Teddington Theatre Club presents Airswimming by Charlotte Jones. Coward Studio, Hampton Hill Theatre. hamptonhilltheatre.org.uk Tues - Fri 7.45pm, Sat 2.00pm & 6.30pm.
Friday 11th July 10-11.30am
The Friends of Sunbury Library invite you to Coffee Time. Coffee or tea, biscuits and general knowledge quiz for 50p. Sunbury Library, The Parade, Staines Road West, Sunbury.
Saturday 12th July 2pm
Poetry and cake afternoon. St Mary’s Church, Parish Hall, Green Street, Sunbury, TW16 6RN. Free Parking. The theme is “Water”. Send poem suggestions to revrobinmorrison@gmail.com. All Welcome (with or without a poem!).
Sunday 13th July 12.15pm
The Louisiana Rhythm Kings at Walton Folk, Riverhouse Barn, Manor Road, Walton-on-Thames, KT12 2PF. Tickets £15. boxoffice@riverhousebarn.co.uk or 01932 253354.
Sunday 13th July Doors open 6.30-10.30pm
Susan Black sings Piaf. The Hampton Hub Club, 3 Ashley Rd, Hampton TW12 2JA. hamptonhubclub.com. Tel 07770 636303.
Monday 14th – Saturday 19th July
The Richmond Shakespeare Society’s Open Air production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, will be in Twickenham’s Fountain Gardens. Bring a picnic and a rug to watch feuding Fairy Royalty, confused lovers and deluded mortals under a summer sky. Booking at www.richmondshakespeare.org.uk.
Monday 14th July 2.30pm
Laleham Good Neighbours invite you to join them for afternoon tea. Laleham Village Hall. Come and see old friends and meet new. All welcome.
Friday 18th - Sunday 20th July
Thames Traditional Boat Festival in Henley. A magical English celebration of summer. Traditional boats, classic cars, vintage bicycles and vintage fairground. Fun for all the family. More information and tickets at www.tradboatfestival.com
Friday 18th July 7.30pm
Weybridge Male Voice Choir Summer Concert. Special guest soloist Charne Rochford. St James' Church, Weybridge, KT13 8DN. Adults £15, Under 12s free. www.ticketsource.co.uk/weybridgemvc
Saturday 19th July from 6pm
Rock on the River at the Desborough Sailing Club. £18 for adults in advance only. Bring picnics (no BBQs) and deckchairs. Music and dancing. Call Jemma on 07834 910306.
Saturday 19th July 7.30pm
Treble Clef choir presents “It’s Showtime - Songs from Stage and Screen” at Cobham Free School Senior Department, Portsmouth Road, Cobham (opposite The Fairmile). Tickets £15. www.ticketsource.co.uk/trebleclef.
Sunday 20th July 2-4pm
Music in the Park. British Airways Brass Band will be performing at the Walled Garden, Thames Street, Sunbury, TW16 6RA. Bring a chair or picnic blanket. Refreshments from the café. This is a FREE event.
Monday 21st - Friday 25th July
Swan Upping will take place. This involves catching, ringing and releasing Mute swans. This traditional event is quite a spectacle. The swan uppers will leave Sunbury lock cut (by The Weir pub) around 9am and after a 5-day journey they finish at Abingdon. The Dyers and Vintners row traditional Thames skiffs and are accompanied by the magnificent Swan Marker to His Majesty The King, David Barber. Shepperton Lock and Penton Hook Lock are great places to watch them.
Thursday 24th July 7pm
Footballers Wives The Musical. At The Exchange, Twickenham. An exclusive preview before the show heads to the Edinburgh Fringe. www.exchangetwickenham.co.uk.
Friday 25th July 10.30am-12.30pm
Jazz Fridays with The Café Jazz Band. The Rose Café, Rose Theatre, 24-26 High St, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT11HKL (entrance on Walbrook St). FREE.
Friday 25th July 7.30-9.45pm
Runnymede Jazz Club present Jools & The Jazzaholics. The Addlestone Centre, Garfield Road, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 2NJ. www.runnymedejazzclub.com email: runnymedejazzclub@hotmail.com. Members £12, Non-Members £14 (pay at the door). Box Office: 01784 441694
Saturday 26th July 9.30am-4pm approx.
Chertsey & Shepperton Regatta. Dumsey Meadow, Chertsey Bridge Road, Shepperton. Come and watch this unique local celebration of life on the Thames - single and double Thames Racing Skiffs, and punt racing. This regatta has been a regular event since 1851, with competing crews from skiff and punt clubs up and down the river.
Sunday 27th July
High Tide Festival, various venues throughout Twickenham. A date for all music lovers. High Tide is FREE. Music, food stalls and lots of fun. A great vibe and fantastic free day for everyone to enjoy. www.hightidetwick.com for full details.
The Sheppertonian podcast and email newsletter is produced by The Sound Boutique, an award-winning audio production company right here in Shepperton. If you’d like help with anything from bespoke music, problem audio, or if you’d like your organisation to produce a podcast, contact The Sound Boutique at the email hello@thesoundboutique.com to start a conversation.
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The Sheppertonian