The Chertsey Society

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The Chertsey Society is an amenity society with no political affiliations that acts as a voice to represent views on local issues.

The Chertsey Society was formed in Autumn 1960 by a group of likeminded local residents who were concerned that the historic character of the town was being eroded by sequential replacement of notable local landmarks. The threatened demolition, approved by Chertsey UDC but resisted by SCC of Denmark House in Windsor Street in 1957, provided a catalyst. Eventually a meeting was convened at Curfew House, the home of the Medd family in October 1960. The meeting was extensively reported in The Surrey Herald of the time.

30/10/2026

THE GRACE EVANS OCTOBER EVENING TALK.

On Monday 26th of October, Grace Evans gave a talk on The Olive Matthews Collection of Costume and Accessories housed in Chertsey Museum.
Grace told the well filled meeting about Olive Matthews, and how she gathered to herself and to have a most distinguished costume collection in private hands, and how it found itself in the public run Chertsey Museum in 1972.

Grace dealt with a varied selection of items shown on the screen throughout the evening. An illustration here shows a Gentleman’s Nightcap of the 1600s for which Miss Matthews paid a clothes market trader 29 shillings (about £70 today). It had a red silk lining and a tassel, and was sold as a Victorian Gentlemen’s smoking hat. Olive knew very well what it was, and he didn’t. The silver thread has blackened with age. It was worn at other times when fine houses were chilly.

An Edwardian (1901) ball gown by Madame Clapham (Court dressmaker) in Hull, that is beautifully (hand) embroidered with whale bone ( for shaping) in the bodice as told by Grace, and is twice illustrated here.

Another prize of the collection, which was mentioned here on a previous page, was put up on the screen. A linen & silk men's suit (possibly French) with Tambour work & all handmade and embroidered. Tambour embroidery is a decorative needlework technique performed using a fine hook, known as a tambour needle to create continuous chain stitches.

Lastly Grace explained about a more modern piece which was screened from the collection, a Cocktail Gown by Paul Poiret. Alexandre Paul Poiret (1879 - 1944). Poiret was a French fashion designer and master couturier during the first two decades of the 20th century, and who died francless, but his works are desirable and collectable.

28/10/2026

REMEMBERING MALCOLM LOVEDAY.
This time last year, our Hon' President, Malcolm Loveday BEM, started to work on a future-proofing project - to fit an automatic clock winding system at St. Peter's Church to save him (and now others) from climbing half way up the tower every week.
This was something that the Society committee decided to continue with in his memory. After many days and weeks and months of paperwork and phone calls, the auto-winder mechanism has now been installed by Cumbria Clock Co. (who knew Malcolm well) and it looks very smart. A plaque to Malcolm and his works is to be affixed to the wall adjacent to the small entrance door to the tower stairs.
Our thanks go to Tina Thrussell and Valerie Lane who have project managed the installation and fund-raising for this. Also to Cllr Mark Nuti for his support of our successful bid for grant monies from Your Fund Surrey.

The photos were taken by Peter Whisker. The team: Sue Loveday, Kai and Peter from Cumbria Clock, CS committee members Valerie and Tina. VL

23/10/2026

THE GRACE EVANS TALK at St. Peter’s Hall, Windsor Street Chertsey, on the 26th of October 2026 at 7.45pm. Members £1, Guests £2

Grace Evans, the costume curator will give a talk about The Olive Matthews Collection.
This is a nationally significant group of over 6000 items composed of women’s, men’s and children's dress and accessories from around 1600 to the 2010s. It is housed at The Cedars, Chertsey Museum.
Grace as costume curator has made local history in the fact that she has served and looked after the collection for more than a quarter of a century.
Some members will recall when Grace first came, around the turn of the century, that the museum was in a state of flux due to a lift to be inserted, and an extension to be built. Health and Safety required the lift, and the O. M. Trust paid for the extension. The Friends of Chertsey Museum designed and transformed the garden for the new millennium.
Grace did what was required in an exemplary manner through those times, and has since given her best for the survival and exhibition of the collection for the last 25 or more years.
It is worth noting that in the first two years of the museum existence from 1972 at The Cedars, there were five changes of curatorial staff, and one attendant.
Since the turn of the 21st century, there have been two!
Emma Warren came soon after Grace as curator. In these changing times, such constancy is a positive virtue, and the Society would not be surprised if there is anyone else in the job of costumes collections maintenance who has served so long as Grace with her curatorship of The Olive Matthews Collection.

GRACE EVANS TALK is the 26th of October 2026 at St. Peter’s Hall, Windsor Street Chertsey, at 7.45pm. Members £1, Guests £2

16/10/2026

THE GRACE EVANS TALK, MONDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2026.

The picture of Olive Matthews is of her posing in front of one or two of her extensive collection of costume and accessories.
Miss Matthews was of short and very slight in stature and in later years wore a large hat when going out. Miss Matthews speaking voice was bird like and in a high register. The late local artist, Margaret Robinson did two images of her from life, one of which is shown in the comments below.

Miss Matthews last visit to Chertsey Museum was to an exhibition of her father’s collection which included beautiful Chinese porcelain, and this was held upstairs in the Exhibition gallery. Trustee Sidney Oliver and the attendant carried Miss Matthews up the stairs on a windsor chair. This was in the pre-lift days museum of the late 1970s.
One exhibition downstairs in the Costume Gallery showing items from the Olive Matthews collection was on public display, this became an occasion when Miss Matthews came in the afternoon with her neighborhood companion who would drive her from her bungalow in Trumps Green, Virginia Water.
To greet her there always someone from the Runnymede Borough Council in the form of the Chief Executive, or the Borough Secretary, or both in attendance. Very thin brown and white bread cucumber sandwiches were served with tea on these occasions of her visit.

The posed photograph shows that behind Olive Matthews there is shown an 18th century gentleman’s suit of satin in copper and gold. The laced and exquisitely turned out gentleman walking into a room in the late seventeen hundreds wearing this apparel would have caused much comment then, with buckled shoes polished by his valet, and with his perfumed handkerchief in one hand, and a quizzing glass in his other.

GRACE EVANS TALK is the 26th of October 2026 at St. Peter’s Hall, Windsor Street Chertsey, at 7.45pm. Members £1, Guests £2

12/10/2026

CHERTSEY FLOOD ISSUES

On the day of writing ‘El Nino’ is producing heavy weather in the Pacific Ocean and flooding parts of the USA. When such heavy weather happens in Atlantic, Chertsey gets its moments in the form of flooding.
1894 was such a year after there had been minor flooding in a few years before then. We know this anecdote from a young researcher into his environment in Bridge Road and recored residents of that era. Those residents then did not have the benefit of ‘The Chertsey Sausage’ of 2013.
The other picture is of 1894 when the old George was flooded in Guildford Street by the River Bourne, and wooden duck boards were the issue of the day then. Very Venetian.

All of this preamble is to thank our MP. Dr Ben Spencer on his update of the work of The Thames Scheme at our annual Chertsey Town Forum last month. Dr. Spencer came and gave the meeting an update on the said River Thames Scheme, which is still progressing, albeit slowly. There will be a formal planning application at some stage. Meanwhile we wait with collective fingers crossed in the hope the effects of El Nino spare us the return of The Chertsey Sausage and the T Shirts that might ensue.

02/10/2026

THE CHERTSEY TOWN FORUM 2026

A lively gathering of about ninety members and a lot of guests attended The Chertsey Society annual Chertsey Town Forum. Committee member Rob Marshall was the MC displaying his usual clarity and lucidity.
In the picture also with back views are (l to r): Cmdr Ian Nash, Surrey Police; Cllr Mark Nuti; Cllr Shannon Saise-Marshall and a side view of Dr Ben Spencer MP.
The Chertsey Town Forum has always been a feature of the societies winter Monday evening meetings and with the variety of speakers over the years. All the above mentioned gave presentations, led by our present Member of Parliament, Dr Ben Spencer who has over his years at the House of Commons for the district, has been present on these annual Monday evenings in the town.
There were the questions and answers which have been a feature, and where our members and guests could get insights and information about Chertsey Town and district, and also still wider into Surrey County Council matters affecting the wider area.
Dr. Ben Spencer came to give an update on the River Thames Scheme, which is still progressing, albeit slowly. There will be a formal planning application at some stage.
Dr Spencer then got bombarded with questions and comments from the audience about the A320 junction improvements. A popular subject over the years and to come.
We also had updates from our two newly elected West Surrey councillors. Cllr. Shannon Saise-Marshall drew attention to the local volunteer groups doing good works in the town, such as litter picking and park improvements.
Cllr. Mark Nuti who is a regular speaker at these meetings issued a call for the town to embrace the inevitable coming changes in a positive way with the mantra “Get involved”. The forum had about 90 attendees, so the committee getting involved is definitely something The Chertsey Society does, and has been doing since 1960 in various ways.

The picture of the meeting with Rob Marshall in his role of MC is courtesy of Cllr Jaz Mavi. With thanks VL and VS. 2026.

18/09/2026

THE CHERTSEY TOWN FORUM
Here is modified extract from the fifth official bulletin of The Chertsey Society from Valerie lane.
'The Chertsey Town Forum is on Monday 28th September 7.45pm, at St. Peter's Church Hall. We have a range of confirmed speakers from Runnymede Borough Council and the police, as well as local Councillors and others, so we can cover topics from planning to anti-social behaviour and beyond. There will be Qs & As after each section, so now is your chance to raise any burning issues'.

'PLUS 'save the date' - on Monday 26th October Grace Evans, of Chertsey Museum fame, will be giving an illustrated talk "Costume in Close-up". The topic is The Olive Matthews Collection and a few of the prize pieces that this nationally significant collection holds.'
Valerie Lane - on behalf of the committee of The Chertsey Society.

14/09/2026

THE NEW CHERTSEY SOCIETY WEBSITE.
Accept no substitutes.
www.chertseysociety.co.uk is our new website address which is AI and ‘org’ free.
Our website is a whole new design, containing all the information including ‘What’s on’ of our meetings and displays of Chertsey’s town and district amenity society.
Give www.chertseysociety.co.uk a look.
Our old website address with 'org.uk' should now not be available.
Below is our new header.
2,030 Views: 1,402 Viewers:

04/09/2026

THE CHERTSEY TOWN FORUM.

Our late Hon’ Chairman, the Hon’ President, Malcolm Loveday BEM started The Chertsey Town Forum at St.Peter’s Church Hall in Windsor Street many years ago.
On Monday 28th September at the same hall and at 7.45 pm The Chertsey Society will be holding The Chertsey Town Forum for 2026.
There should be the same array of Councillors and Officers of RBC and SCC, and hopefully our MP Dr Ben Spencer to be present to make presentations of local interest and to answer questions from the audience.

A full programme of monthly Monday night meetings for 2026/7 is being finalised, so watch these pages.

24/08/2026

A GARAGE CORNER OF CHERTSEY ON FILM 1956.
Chertsey’s’ last repairing garage it is thought, was in Guildford Street opposite Hitch's electrical shop. A previous repairing garage was in the black and white British film ‘Bond of Fear’. This is a mainly ‘road film' with a dramatic traveling story line. This page interest lies in that the story principals pull onto a garage on the outskirts of the town of Chertsey to fill up with petrol. The West Surrey garage was on the corner of Bridge Road and Abbey Road and was known as Hampshire's garage. Shown is a proper weather proof built box on the forecourt for the person to serve customers with petrol. It was all replaced with the present flats. Three parts of the corner of London Street, Bridge Road, Abbey Road, and Pound Road and have seen changes since 1956.

A vintage Land Rover of that marque as seen on the forecourt in the film are now highly collectable, even as a neglected dusty old ‘barn find’. The twin engine Triumph motor cycle the policeman rides in the film was from the same factory and about the same time as the famous Triumph ‘Thunderbird’ 6T which was rode by Marlon Brando in the film ‘The Wild Ones’ which added great fame to the brand thanks to Brando. The motorcycle policeman wore a helmet known as a ‘skid lid’, whereas Brando wore a cap. Brooklands Museum features classic Triumph models from this era.
The 3D glass BP (British Petroleum) and other sign lamps on top of the petrol pumps can now also command a price. The bus stop has two great designed enamel request flags the top one green for the 716 Greenline coach from Hitchin to Chertsey, and the other for a local 237 red bus from Hounslow to Chertsey Station. See the comments below.
Behind them in London Street are the original white terraced houses, and the roof church on the corner of Drill Hall Road. The Church has gone, and the white terraced houses replaced with reproduction houses. A pre-war black Jaguar goes round the corner of the junction. In the film, the whole scene shows a busy road.

A good number of Society members lived around this small area of Chertsey at the end of the last century, and into this one. Some would have frequented the then The Vine public house as their local.

The three star, 1 hour and twelve minute British B film ‘Bond of Fear’ 1956, is on DVD, and is frequently shown on one of the commercial TV stations in the afternoons. If recorded, the pause button pressed will show rewarding stills of this area of southern England in days past, including Walton High Street, Russel Road Shepperton, Church Square Shepperton, and Chertsey Road Whitton.
It might also be seen on pay YouTube.
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Address

St Peter's Church Hall, Windsor Street
Chertsey
KT168AT

Website

http://www.chertseysociety.co.uk/, http://www.membershipchertseysociety.co.uk/

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