What's On

An extremely rare brown shrike was spotted on Staines Moor prompting thousands of birdwatchers to drop everything and flock to the beauty spot over the last ten days to catch a view of the small brown spectacle. Herald & News reporter Russell Butt donned his wellies and grabbed his binoculars to see what all the fuss was about.

There's not many things more frustrating than when your holiday plans go awry.
So imagine the surprise of one small, brown bird who should be heading from Siberia to South East Asia for the winter, but has found himself perched atop a hawthorn bush in Staines.

Imagine its further surprise to instantly achieve celebrity status on arrival, with more camera lenses being pointed at it than Kate Moss gets stumbling out of a Soho nightclub.

An extremely rare bird has been sighted in Staines Moor, attracting a throng of bird watchers in the process.

A Brown Shrike was first spotted on Monday October 11 in some Hawthorn bushes on the moor, about 100 metres north east over a concrete bridge over the River Colne.

RESIDENTS flocked out in the sunny weather to enjoy the sixth annual fun day in Stanwell.

Northlands Residents' Association put on the event in Whitley Close on Sunday (August 9) which saw more than 200 people turn up.

Troublesome youths in Stanwell are being encouraged to try carpentry or plumbing to keep them off the streets.

Spelthorne Council workers hope the visits of a construction bus to Clare Road on Tuesday April 7, Sunday April 12 and four more dates in May and June will keep youngsters from becoming involved in antisocial behaviour.

The inaugural Spelthorne Junior Chess Championships will be held on Saturday, March 14 at Staines Prep School in Gresham Road, Staines.

There are three age categories - under 9s, under 11s and under 14s - and entrants must either live in Spelthorne or attend a school in the borough.

The deadline for entries is Tuesday March 10 and forms can be obtained by calling 01932 563497.

Free swimming at public pools in Spelthorne will be available to youngsters aged 16 and under and anyone over 60 from April 1.

The initiative is being promoted by the borough authority in partnership with Runnymede Council and Sport and Leisure Management Ltd, which manages the two council-owned leisure centre pools in Spelthorne.

A selection of directories covering Spelthorne and dating back more than 200 years have gone on public display.

The documents, which are equivalent to today's telephone directories, are available to view at Spelthorne Museum in Elmsleigh Road, Staines.

The annual general meeting of Stanwell Good Neighbours and its voluntary driving scheme will be held on Friday November 21 at 7.30pm at Stanwell Village Hall in High Street, Stanwell.

Spelthorne and Runnymede Drama Festival will be held at the Riverside Arts Centre in Thames Street, Sunbury, between October 14 and 18.

The event takes the form of a competition, which will consist of a programme of one-act plays performed each evening and judged by adjudicator Mike Caiser.

Tickets to the festival are £5. To buy tickets call 01784 452675, or buy on the door.