The owners of the Eel Pie Club will host a street party to celebrate its 25 anniversary and Twickenham’s rich music heritage.

The vibrant event is set to take place on August 17 from 12-5pm on Church Street, and will feature five live bands on an open air stage, various DJ sets and market stalls filled with 1960s memorabilia. 

Aiming to invoke the spirit of the ’60s, the street party will pay homage to the likes of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Pink Floyd, all who previously performed at Eel Pie Island. 

Eel Pie Club co-owner Gina Way said: “These kind of events are so important for the local community because they bring everyone together.” 

A Crowdfunder has been launched to help the running of the event, making it entirely community-powered. 

Twickenham 60s Day is being held in collaboration with Church Street Traders Association and A Taste of Twickenham, two groups which actively promote music events within the area. 

The 1960s-orientated lineup consists of The Eel Pie All-Stars and The 60s All-Stars, both of which feature from iconic bands including The Kinks, The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Foundations. 

Attendees will also be able to enjoy a kids’ zone with art activities, Mod Vespas and a walking tour which will explore Church Street’s music and film history. 

Way said: “We want to unite different generations, alongside giving the younger crowd a taste of what Twickenham was like during the ’60s.”

Way added all of the activities on the day seek to honour Twickenham’s status as a music and cultural hub. 

There will also be an intimate acoustic set at Brewery Market at 5pm and live ’60s music played into the night at The Eel Pie Pub and The Fox.

Entry to the street party is free and tickets can be accessed here.

Feature image: Gina Way

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A production of Joseph K and the Cost of Living (After Franz Kafka) will appear at Twickenham’s Mary Wallace Theatre, 100 years after it was written, from the 31^st May to the 7^th June.

This Emily White adaptation follow four diverse characters who face parallel experiences while battling discrimination and injustice with the complexities of modern day living.

This Richmond Shakespeare Society (RSS) production has been directed by Maxina Patterson and is a multi-role play consisting of eight actors.

Actress of K3 (the third incarnation of Joseph K) and ensemble roles, Anastasia Babich said: “We’ve got some things that people don’t usually do in amateur theatre because they’re complicated.

“The diversity of what we are doing on stage is pretty unique.”

K3 deals with misogyny at church and at work and Babich said that the main challenge is getting into the right mindset for each part without blending the roles together.

Babich said: “Some things seem absurd and something very far from us.

“But sometimes if you look at them and have a think, you can find something around you that might remind you of that absurdity.”

Babich added how theatre makes a situation big and grotesque but it can also make you reflect on what you see daily.

Dominic Upton plays four roles, and secured the part of K1 which dives into Joseph K’s corporate life following his arrest.

Upton said that the play’s physicality was challenging due to this being an amateur production which resulted in many hours being put into perfecting unison movements.

Patterson said: “I learned a way of working with actors to find through their ability and their imagination, how we would put the movement pieces together.”

Patterson’s directing technique involved recording the actors so they watch it and learn as well as see their progress.

Upton said: “It’s been a good challenge, but it has been mentally taxable.

“It definitely gave me an appreciation for people who do one man shows and play multiple characters.”

Guidance is advised due to the play’s sexual nature, depictions of violence, bad language and flashing lights.

The RSS charity was founded in 1934 by former dancer and actress Gladys Erickson.

With many of their previous shows like While The Sun Shines being sold out, ticket pricing starts at £16.

Upton said: “We’re just itching to get it off the ground and have an audience come in.”

The RSS regularly hold open auditions for actors of all levels and for this play, auditions begun with a physical workshop to give the actors a feel of what the rehearsals would be like.

Babich enjoyed the freedom in the rehearsals due to Pattison letting the actors devise the script and figure out how their character would behave.

Patterson said: “I really enjoyed the process of sitting with the actors and taking about the differences as well as how they changed their physicality to play those characters.”

The RSS performs plays all year round including two Shakespeare plays.

They have a Young Actors Company which is taught by a professional actor and director with the aim to improve confidence and build on performance skills.

Upton the Young Actor’s Company at age 12 which resulted in an exchange trip to perform in Malta.

Within the theatre, there’s state-of-the-art lighting and sound control technology, along with an induction loop for hearing-aid s.

There are volunteer vacancies for in lighting and sound, stage management, costume making, set designers, and acting.

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South west London has emerged as a hotspot for bicycle thefts at train stations, with the borough of Richmond reporting the highest number of incidents across the capital.

Bicycle theft is one of the most prevalent crimes in London, with an incident happening every 16 minutes. 

In 2024, nearly a thousand of these thefts were of bicycles locked up at stations, according to data from the British Transport Police. 

Data from London rail, overground, tube and tram stations shows a significant density of these bicycle thefts from stations in the South West, with Surbiton, Richmond, Twickenham and Teddington stations consistently among the highest number of reported thefts from 2019 until 2024. 

Stations in Richmond recorded 734 reported incidents in the six year period and Kingston upon Thames followed with 405. 

Stations Richmond and Kingston alone recorded more than a fifth of total bicycle thefts from stations across all of London’s 33 boroughs, based on data obtained by a Freedom of Information request. 

Jake Neale, Retail and Marketing Manager at Richmond Cycles, said: “In the last couple of years, it definitely feels like that’s happening more regularly, both from outside stations, but also from homes and elsewhere.”

The average price of new bicycles in the United Kingdom sat at around £590 in 2023, according to Statista research. Some models can sell for significantly more.

Neale added: “It’s definitely not uncommon around here to see £10,000 bikes.”

High value models which are rarely ed and difficult to trace, with a low likelihood of police intervention, makes bicycles an appealing target for thieves, according to Neale. 

He said: “They just cut through the street furniture because these days, bike theft is no longer just teenagers seeing an unlocked bike and just grabbing it for a bit of fun. It’s a real targeted theft. They know what they’re doing.

“They’re rocking up with unmarked vans and ankle drivers and completely covered faces, and they’re in and out within seconds. It’s basically impossible to stop, really.” 

For Neale, who has worked at Richmond Cycles for over seven years, it makes sense for bike thefts to be more common in the South West, as it’s a more affluent part of London and bikes are likely to be of higher value. 

Yet the number of thefts is not directly correlated to affluence.

In fact, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea rank highest for resident’s disposable income, according to Trust for London data, yet they have the lowest number of reported bicycle thefts. 

Neale also noted the proximity to Richmond Park, one of London’s most popular spots for the cycling community, which may attract cyclists to the area, who may be more likely to buy higher value bikes. 

Ben Holland, a podcast host, has had six bikes stolen in the 20 years he has lived in South London, leaving him financially strained and frustrated.

These thefts have deterred him from repurchasing an aspirational bike, because the risk of getting it stolen is too high. 

The 41-year-old said: “I saw a bike someone was selling, an expensive specialized bike, for next to nothing. That’s a really amazing, beautiful bike, and it’d be nice to ride around. And I thought, oh, actually, no. That’s crazy, it’s not worth having one. 

“I feel very confident that by having a cheap bike and an expensive lock, like a lock that’s literally worth more than the bike, then you’d always be fine.” 

As a result of the number of thefts from London stations, the British Transport Police have launched a campaign in collaboration with the tracking website, Bike.com to make stolen bikes more easily traceable. 

The campaign aims to raise awareness about the high frequency of bicycle theft in London and encourages cyclists to “double lock” their bikes as a preventive measure.

The British Transport Police said: “We are pleased to see a decrease in reports of thefts at Twickenham and Richmond in 2024 compared to the previous year.  

“We are aware that every offence is one too many, and we will continue to work relentlessly alongside our policing partners and partners in the rail industry to further reduce incidents of theft and criminality across the railway network. 

“Our patrols are targeted and ed by statistics to ensure that our officers are exactly where they are most needed.”

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The number of on-time state school applications received by south west London councils has decreased following the autumn budget’s private school tax, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.

Data obtained from Croydon, Kingston, Richmond, Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth councils each showed a decrease in the number of secondary school applications received by the 31st October deadline.

The announcement of a 20% VAT charge on private school fees last autumn had heralded outcry, but is yet to play out in the state sector. 

One teacher at a small private school in Surrey said: “There has been no sudden rise of pupil withdrawals. But I can see a few schools struggling in the future which could have a major impact on the state sector. 

“With the rising cost of living, even before the VAT increase, families were having to make sacrifices to send their children to private school. Now, the number of families who can afford the extra 10-20% gets even smaller.” 

The Independent Schools Council (ISC), which represents more 1,400 private schools in England, declined to comment on these figures but had previously suggested that an increase in private school fees to meet the additional VAT charges, would result in a migration of students into a ‘stretched’ state sector.

Richmond Council saw a 10% drop in applications from 2024 to 2025, although figures had already been decreasing since 2021, in line with dropping birth rates in the area. 

A council spokesperson said: “The number of on-time secondary school applications received for September 2025 shows a small decrease compared to the previous year, reflecting wider demographic trends that we will continue to track closely.

“At this stage in of secondary issions, we have not seen any discernible impact on our pupil numbers arising from the VAT charge on independent private schools. As we monitor this, our focus remains on ensuring that there are sufficient high-quality school places available for all children in Richmond upon Thames.” 

The capital’s rising cost of living, coupled with its dropping birth rates could be contributing to the fall in student numbers. 

One Wandsworth primary school is set to close over the summer, citing a dramatic decline in pupils and a resulting debt of approximately £300,000. 

St Anne’s Church of England took just eight children into their reception class in September 2024. 

Merton has seen a similar steady decrease in secondary school applications year on year, dropping by 10% since 2019. 

MP for Mitcham and Morden Dame Siobhain McDonagh said: “We have had a number of primary schools in Mitcham and Morden go down to one form of entry, you know, 30 a year rather than 60 because there simply aren’t the children around.

“We’re facing a terrible crisis in our schools in SW London with falling school rolls. Birth rates are down, people are just not having children and one of the factors at the top of our discussion is just how expensive it is to live in London and clearly if you have children, you need more housing and that is very difficult to access.” 

With regards to constituents raising concerns on struggling to afford the rising fees at independent schools, McDonagh added: “Maybe some time ago I had one or two, but as your Freedom of Information application indicates there has been no real impact.

“Some of the schools have absorbed the costs because private school fees have gone through the roof in recent years, so there may be quite a lot of money in the model.”

Despite dropping slightly this year, Sutton has seen a 5% increase in the number of state school applications received from 2019 to 2025.

A state school teacher in Sutton said: “Most of us here are in agreement that the move by the government makes sense. If what they’re saying is true then state schools will definitely benefit from the budget increases.

 “But I can see both sides, some people work really hard to just about manage to pay the fees so their child can get that top education, but probably won’t be able to afford it anymore.” 

The ISC together with a small collective of Christian faith schools and a parent-led group challenged the government’s VAT policy in court last month, arguing that it was discriminatory and against the legal right to an education. 

At the hearing, it was raised that higher fees could force 35,000 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) into the state sector, which the claimants state to be ‘in crisis’. 

Representatives of the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, HMRC and the Department of Education argued instead that the policy will raise a predicted £1.3-£1.5b annually, to be put into raising the standards for the 94% of children in state schools. 

The hearing concluded at the Royal Courts of Justice on 1 May and a date for judgement has not yet been announced. 

Featured Image by MChe Lee on Unsplash

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England’s Grand Slam triumph in the 2025 Women’s Six Nations served to underline the impact the team is making in inspiring the next generation in south west London.

The Red Roses seventh-consecutive Six Nations title following last Saturday’s 43-42 win over continued the longest winning streak by any side in the men’s or women’s competition, and the shown by the Twickenham community is having a notable impact on the area, too.

Along with a mural on fan-favourite pub The Cabbage Patch showing skipper Zoe Aldcroft plus vice-captains Marlie Packer and Meg Jones in action, the venue will be renamed The Red Roses Patch for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England later this year.

Cabbage Patch bartender Alex Collinsson, 24, said: “They’ve had lots of watch-time on TV, and it seems to be growing week by week by week.

“We’ve had it on every screen bar one with people watching it until the end.”

Collinsson added interest in the sport has only increased over the years, with many young women regularly watching the tournament in their pub.

St Mary’s University women’s rugby team, whose players are aged 18-22 and are sponsored by The Cabbage Patch, has found the community from them and other businesses instrumental to driving their participation rates and visibility.

Team spokesperson Ella Dempster, 22, said: “Being able to watch what England’s women’s team have been able to achieve the past few seasons has been monumental and will be a massive turning point for women’s rugby union.

“Women are starting to be put on an even playing field to men.

“We hope that the participation rates of girls and women in rugby will continue to grow and showcase how much women are capable of.”

Saturday’s nail-biting Grand Slam decider between England and brought 37,573 spectators to Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

As part of the Rugby Football Union’s Every Rose campaign, they aim to fill the 82,000 capacity of the ground for a Red Roses match by 2027.

Viewing data trends from Statista also show a steady increase in British women watching the games, rising to 42% in 2023 from 37% in the previous year.

A £12.3million government-backed investment ahead of this summer’s home World Cup aims to make rugby union even more accessible for women and girls across England, on the back of a 9.3% rise in girls playing in 2023.

Dempster said: “The attitudes towards the sport have been hugely positive.

“The winning streak of the Red Roses will continue to inspire generations to come.”

Feature image credit: Bethan King

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Food bank parcels distributed in London are at a higher level now than at the peak of the pandemic, Trussell Trust data shows.

The number of food parcels distributed in London in the year before the pandemic hit was 204,355.

This number had more than doubled at the height of lockdown to 423,214 and is now higher than ever, surging to 454,750 between 2023 and 2024.

It comes amid reports that almost one in five people claiming universal credit and disability benefits used a food bank towards the start of this year and as the government released in its Spring Statement plans to slash welfare benefits by £5bn before the end of the decade.

Sarah Hope, who regularly volunteers at her local Salvation Army food bank, told South West Londoner these new statistics by the UK-based Christian food aid charity did not shock her.

She said: “Very sadly, it doesn’t surprise me that the use of food banks has risen dramatically since Covid, of course, because of the upsurge in the cost of living.

“I think some people have now become completely reliant on the food parcels, and food banks tackle the issue of hunger without addressing the root causes of it.”

Hope said that the normalisation of food banks minimises a sense of urgency for society to act on the deep-rooted causes of food insecurity.

Experts agree with Hope that food banks have increasingly become a semi-permanent fix, or ‘sticking plaster’, for severe food poverty in the UK.

Food insecurity worsened during Covid-19, when food banks were unable to bulk-buy food staples from supermarkets as non-food bank s stockpiled supplies, with Sainsbury’s pasta sales rising by 240%, and sales of UHT milk by 110%.

Post-Covid, worsened living costs have seen demand for food banks skyrocket to almost 300% in many areas of the UK, with London hit particularly hard.

The number of food parcels distributed in the capital is markedly higher than the average in England, which was at 286,788 between 2023 and 2024, nearly 200,000 less than London.

Whilst food parcel distribution has increased dramatically, the number of distribution centres barely risen as food banks continue to battle increased demand, with stagnating resources.

A south west London resident who has struggled to afford food and asked to be anonymous said: “I’ve gone through all my savings, and at the end of the month, what I get on Universal Credit is ridiculous. It just doesn’t stretch, as everything’s going up.

“I find now my weekly food shop has easily doubled over the past few months.”

She was about to use the food bank for the first time when she came across Olio Hub – an app that works alongside shops, where neighbours can share surplus food and other household items that are near their sell-by dates.

She is now an Olio volunteer – collecting supermarket items that have expired by the end of the day, and ing them onto the site, where app-s can arrange to pick up the surplus food, and the volunteer gets to keep 10% of what they have been given by the shop.

Despite many needing to use the food bank, she said stigma stops people from going to food banks near them to avoid anyone they know, and she has noticed people who travel very far just to collect food.

“There is a big stigma to it, even though more people I know are using food banks they don’t want to it it,” she added.

Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “The sheer numbers of people in London still facing hunger and hardship is heart-breaking.

“You can help make sure food banks can continue to provide warm, comionate, practical and advice by volunteering, donating, fundraising or campaigning to help end hunger in London and the rest of the UK.”

A spokesperson from the Department for Work and Pensions said the Government is determined to decrease London’s reliance on food banks.

“The mass dependence on food banks is unacceptable – that’s why we will fix the fundamentals of the social security system and make work pay so people don’t rely on crisis and become more financially secure,” they said.

As part of this plan, Labour has increased the National Living Wage, extended England’s Household Fund by £742 million for another year, and is due to publish a new Child Poverty Taskforce strategy this spring.

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The 250^th birthday of Britain’s foremost landscape painter J.M.W. Turner was celebrated at his former residence in Twickenham on 23 April.

Sandycombe Lodge, otherwise known as Turner’s House, was designed by Turner himself as a getaway from the bustle of London life, and is now a museum, with its interiors recreated as Turner would have had them. 

The celebrations, organised with Visit Richmond, began at Tate Britain, where the nominees for the Turner prize were announced, before travelling to Sandycombe Lodge for champagne, cake, and a speech from Richmond’s mayor, and onto Richmond Hill to take in the inspiration for his painting, ‘England: Richmond Hill on the Prince Regent’s birthday’.

In his speech, the Mayor of Richmond Richard Pyne said: “We in this borough are very thrilled that he chose to design and build this house in our borough and to live in our borough.

“It was wonderful that he lived here so happily with his father for so long.”

The day also marked the opening of the museum’s new exhibition, ‘Turner’s Kingdom: Beauty, Birds, and Beasts’.

The collected artefacts include Turner’s own fishing rod, on loan from the Royal Academy, and a letter in which he signed his name with a cartoon of a mallard to signify the initial M for ‘Mallord’ in his name.  

The exhibition curator Nicola Moorby said: “This exhibition feels like such a perfect fit for the house, which is somewhere where you get to see a behind-the-scenes look at Turner, you get to see behind that armour of secrecy which he created around himself.

“We’re focussing on the birds and beasts that were known to be part of Turner’s household and his world during his lifetime, and using them as a way to understand a bit more about Turner the man.”

Moorby said that it was a real thrill for her to bring the ‘Farnley birds’ to the exhibition from Leeds.

These watercolour paintings of birds including a turkey, a heron, and a peacock, were part of a private project created for Turner’s friend and patron Walter Fawkes of Farnley Hall.

Sandycombe Lodge, built in 1813, was reopened to the public in 2017 after painstaking year-long restoration efforts, including the removal of an extra storey and white paint on the exterior walls, as well as the recreation of furniture and wallpaper using scraps and inventories from Marylebone and Chelsea.

Chair of Turner’s House Trust Lucy Littlewood said: “I think it’s very much as Turner would have had it when he first moved in.

“I personally feel it would have been a little bit muckier and messier if Turner had just returned from a fishing trip with his dad, so that’s chapter two for where we want to take the house in its next iteration.

“We want to bring more of Turner the man into the house.”

Current fundraising efforts will go towards making the house feel more lived-in in an effort to conjure a feeling of Turner’s continued presence in the residence.

Among the attendees at the birthday celebrations were a number of art critics, curators, and biographers.

Dr Jacqueline Riding, a curator and biographer, said: “We know minute by minute what Turner was doing when he was touring Europe, or going to Italy, or around Great Britain, but it’s those little bits of the character, the little bits of personal life that come through, that’s the bit I find really exciting.”

Biographer and TV producer Franny Moyle said: “You want an environment where the past is still present.

“I think being able to time slip and discover little bits of our past, and have a communion with the past, is healthy.”

On Richmond Hill, the assembled group was treated to a talk from the curator and art historian Gillian Forrester, with a particular focus on ‘England: Richmond Hill on the Prince Regent’s birthday’ which depicts the protected view. 

She said: “It’s about this view being absolutely emblematic of Englishness. 

“He’s really interested in those sort of symbolic resonances.”

She finished her speech by saying: “I feel quite moved by having the opportunity to talk about this in front of this spectacular view.” 

The exhibition ‘Turner’s Kingdom: Beauty, Birds, and Beasts’ will run until 26 October 2025.

Tickets and more information is available here: https://turnershouse.org/whats-on/

Picture credit: Ciaran Whyte

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A beloved Twickenham pub which closed six years ago will reopen in June as a games and entertainment pub, backed by a half a million-pound investment.

The former Roxie Steak and Tap, which shut its doors in 2019 is undergoing renovation starting this month to reopen as The Rose & Lion.

Heineken-owned Star Pubs and award-winning pub operators Steve Orme and James Thomson have invested £520,000 to bring the unique pub experience to Twickenham. 

Orme said: “We were blown away when we first saw The Rose & Lion interior. 

“Although just a shell, we could see it would make a fantastic open sociable space.

“It will be a great place to hang out, with shuffleboard, AR darts, table football all adding to the fun.”

The Roxie Steak & Tap prior to renovation. Credit: Helena Jones, Star Pubs.

Former school mates Steve and James aim to create a classic London bar vibe with retro accents to their new pub, featuring a large central bar, six screens, a Beavertown courtyard and eclectic decor. 

The new pub will offer a lively weekend atmosphere with live music and music bingo, and in recognition of Twickenham’s rugby heritage, it will screen a variety of live sports, including NFL games and ice hockey.

Orme said: “It’s the newest, coolest place to go pre and post rugby, so our opening in June is perfect timing.”

The Rose & Lion interior will offer a retro feel with exposed brick and high padded cocktail leather chairs, while the exterior will be repainted black, juxtaposed by red doors and white windows.

The food menu will consist of smashed burgers, pizzas, wings and ribs, with meat provided by Chiswick butcher Rodney Macken, who also serves Michelin star restaurants. 

The bar will feature craft, cask, and draught beers and ciders, alongside a selection of wines, spirits and soft drinks.

A visual of the The Rose & Lion pub. Credit: Star Pubs.

The pub operators, who also run the award-winning The Red Lion in Shepperton and The Golden Grove in Chertsey, are hoping their newest addition will have a broad appeal, catering to families and non-drinkers who wish to enjoy coffee mornings or an affordable bite to eat.

Stars Pubs business development manager Alex Jackson said that with the duo’s pub renovation experience, he is confident the Rose & Lion will thrive as a new community hub, attracting locals and visitors alike by offering something alternative to the local competition.

Twickenham resident Suzy Holland said: “It’s already very pub-heavy around here, but I think everybody in Twickenham loves a pub.

“I think it’s great, Twickenham needs something a little different”.

Stacey, who works in Twickenham, said: “I think for the younger generation it’s [The Rose and Lion] definitely a bonus.

“A lot of my younger team would definitely go there to play the games after work”.

Feature image credit: Helena Jones, Star Pubs

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A south west London rugby union club is to host a new beer festival during the last May bank holiday weekend. 

Fifty different handcrafted spring ales and beers from all over Surrey, London and beyond will be showcased, and tasted, at Rosslyn Park Football Club on 23 and 24 May. 

Over a thousand of people are expected to turn up for this first edition of the Rosslyn Park Beer Festival. 

Event organiser Phil said: “We will have beers and ciders from about 20 to 30 different producers.

“People will try beers and ciders that they won’t normally try, and most of them will come from smaller independent brewers.”

In addition to pints filled with names such as Surrey Nirvana, Staggeraurus or Chaos More Chaos, participants will try their hand at a new game straight from the Austrian Alps. 

Phil said: “It is called ‘hammerschlagen’, but we are going to call it ‘der stumps’.

“It is a very popular bar game where you have to try and nail a nail into a log, using the reverse side of a hammer.

“It is a lot more difficult to do.”

Three bands from the area will also be playing live music during the two-days festival, with The Forty Fives and Leech Covers Band already confirmed.

All-inclusive tickets cost £27.50, and food and other drinks, including soft drinks will be available to purchase on the day. 

Tickets include entry into the event, a free souvenir glass to take away home, live music and all beer and cider. 

Phil said: “We’d love to see as much people from south west London, enjoy the bank holiday sunshine and have a pint.”

Rosslyn Park Football Club was founded in 1879 and currently has 1,500 playing .

Rosslyn Park’s senior men’s squad, which operates as a semi-professional team, currently plays in National League One – two levels below English rugby union’s top division, the Gallagher Premiership.

Clubhouse manager Cori Poole said: “We coach minis and youth.

“We are starting again to have a women’s side.

“We also have a netball team.”

The festival will be held at the club’s home ground on Priory Lane, Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 5JH.

It runs from 7pm–11 pm on Friday 23 May, and 1pm-5pm followed by 7pm-11pm on Saturday 24 May, with tickets available here.

Picture credit : Free to use from Julianna Arjes/Unsplash

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Richmond upon Thames has emerged as a hub for female entrepreneurship with three residents recognised among the UK’s 100 most impressive female founders.

Valentina Rebeschini, Goldie Putrym and Eva Thorne were among around ten other Londoners selected by Small Business Britain as part of their f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100 campaign on 1 March.

Three of the London contingent acknowleged hailing from Richmond has brought the trio closer together as well.

Putrym said: “To know that two of them live within 20 minutes of me is just unbelievable.

“We are now in touch regularly and each other where we can.”

Small Business Britain is a non-profit organisation run by Michelle Ovens CBE which champions over 5.5 million small businesses in the UK through a series of campaigns, networks, training and reports, and in 2018 it launched f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100.

This campaign celebrates the multi-achievements of women running businesses by profiling 100 inspirational female entrepreneurs from across the country every year, with the aim of increasing female-led businesses from 20% to 30% by 2030.

It offers a host of events, training, and networking opportunities to boost skills, capability, and confidence, and this year it saw a significant growth in entries.

As well as promoting their businesses, it celebrates women who balance work with an array of other responsibilities, such as family, volunteering, mentoring and community .

Rebeschini, Putrym and Thorne also received a letter from the mayor of Richmond, Richard Pyne, who expressed his heartfelt congratulations for this acknowledgement.

Rebeschini is a Richmond-based photographer who founded Photography by Valentina over 15 years ago.

Her photography business specialises in capturing maternity, newborn, and family moments.

The award marked a profoundly significant moment in her journey, and emphasised the importance of campaigns which bring small business owners together to foster growth and increased confidence, making entrepreneurship as inclusive as possible.

Rebeschini said: “I wish I had had this ten years ago when I was just starting out my business.

“Through time I’ve come to realise just how important networking is, even just feeling ed on an emotional level can make all the difference, especially when starting out.”

When the Italian photographer moved to London in 2007, she began by working for a wedding photography studio, and described her transition to freelancing as a scary and lonely experience.

She said: “When I quit my job I really started to doubt my decision, I had very few connections at the time and it was extremely tough to get clients.

“It made me feel quite lonely at first, it was very limiting because I did not have a network of colleagues I could rely on or a group which I felt a part of.”

Putrym experienced similar feelings of loneliness after launching her business two years ago.

Through Allecza, she is on a mission to end food allergy fatalities and to help families with food allergies and eczema understand how not to let their condition get in the way of living a full life.

Putrym said: “Unlike the corporate world, running a business can lead you to feel quite isolated and lonely.

“But having other mum business owners just round the corner who I can draw on for inspiration, advice, or just share day to day wins or struggles with, is really fantastic.”

The entrepreneur had previously served as both an aeronautical engineer and a journalist, and is currently writing academic books and conducting research for both the Rapid Eczema Trial bathing study and the Food and Allergy prevention study at Southampton university.

Both women drew parallels between owning a business and motherhood.

Rebeschini said: “Having a business could be compared to motherhood, because that too is a rollercoaster of emotions.”

Putrym related to this and explained that her mission to change the world began precisely with motherhood.

She said: “My first child was diagnosed with eczema at ten days old and had her first big allergic reaction at seven and a half months old, and this gave me the excuse to start delving deep into medical research.

“It was petrifying, but in a way it was absolutely life changing because it showed me what I should and want to be doing with my life, it’s given me a real purpose.”

Thorne, also a mother, acknowledged the obstacles which may prevent women from starting their own businesses.

Through The Garden of Eva she brings the preserves and condiments of her American South heritage to the UK, with a significant focus on lowering food waste.

Thorne said: “It is hard to juggle responsibilities, especially if you have children, you’re caring for aging parents, or have other caretaking responsibilities.

“But those who are trying are further ahead of those who aren’t.”

Before embarking on the project over four years ago, Thorne worked as a governance advisor in Liberia, led the policy and research team at one of Tony Blair’s organisations in London, and was part of the Institute of Global Change.

She said: “I was a university professor, I have a PhD from MIT, but this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

“I think there is a gendered component to this, as women we tend to be harder on ourselves and doubt ourselves more.

“We tend to have to fight some of the negative messages that we get about what our place and role is, and that’s why it’s so important that we build a network of , to have other women encourage us to keep going, keep pushing.”

The trio had several key points of advice for women who wish to start their own business.

Rebeschini said: “Have the courage to begin.

“I wasted so much time trying to create the perfect website, the perfect brochures.

“Deep down perfectionism is just a mask for one’s fear.”

Thorne added: “If you have a dream, a ion, maybe even it’s just a faint whisper in your heart, go for it, one small step in front of the other, and if you’re scared, so what? Do it scared.”

Putrym said: “The more representation there is of women of all kinds in business, the more it will give them the courage and ‘permission’ to follow their dreams.”

Feature image credit: Claudia Macaluso

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