This week we sat down with Polka Theatre’s artistic director, Helen Matravers, to discuss their plans for the summer, what makes Polka special and the legend of King Arthur.

We’ve also got your usual news snippets, some recommendations to keep you busy before the tennis, and a great property of the week.

Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

💰 Your Community Bank, the not-for-profit credit union serving Croydon, Sutton and Merton, has opened a part-time hub at Merton Civic Centre. The hub is open Tuesdays and Thursdays (10am – 2pm) and is there to answer any questions and walk you through any paperwork you might be dealing with. Merton council already works with the organisation to deliver the Merton Young Savers Scheme, which helps young people in the borough build good financial habits from an early age. All Year 7 students living in Merton are eligible for a free savings account with a £20 deposit from the council and £10 for their parent or carer, funded through Merton’s Cost-of-Living Fund. Click here to read more.

💞 A new initiative has been launched to support Merton carers. The council marked the beginning of Carer’s Week by announcing three new initiatives to support, celebrate and recognise the borough’s carers. The first is Merton’s pledge to increase its funding for the carers grant, called the Carer’s Discretionary Payment. This grant allows carers to receive a one-off payment for a short break to cover the cost of training courses, equipment, or other items or expenses. The second is the addition of two new support groups: Mencap Meet Ups (a support group for carers of people with learning disabilities or autism, running on the second Wednesday of the month) and a new monthly Carer’s First support group based in Wimbledon are available. Click here for more details.

🏀 A group of Merton schoolgirls have reached the area finals of a major basketball competition. The girls, from Harris Academy in Merton, reached the finals of the Jr NBA 3v3 basketball tournament after taking part in the Her Time To Play coaching clinic in January. The girls from Harris Academy were among the top 32 teams out of the whopping 349 who applied. Check out more in the Wimbledon Guardian.

The Wimble’s sponsor of the week 🥕

The Rooftop Farm is hosting a tour this month in collaboration with London Climate Action Week. The tour is a fun and insightful exploration of sustainability, growing in an urban environment, and the positive effects of urban farming. Tickets are £15 and include 50% off your coffee upon arrival at The Fire Station Café as well as a 50% discount voucher for the farm’s honey and mushrooms (sold at the café). Book here.

Property of the week 🏡

A very swanky flat indeed. This three-bedroom property is in one of Wimbledon’s most exclusive residential developments. The flat also comes with a communal gym and cinema. How much? £1.5 million. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

🎨 Ken Zier at Wimbledon Fine Art: A much-admired Danish seascape artist, Ken Zier’s works are full of light and movement. Pop in, enjoy a selection of oil paintings and even purchase a piece to take home.

Where: Wimbledon Fine Art

When: Sunday 14 – Sunday 28 June, 12–3pm

🥂 Chapel Down English wine-making masterclass: Chapel Down is one of England’s best-known sparkling wine producers. Based in Kent, their grapes’ distinctive flavour comes from the chalky terroir and warm, maritime climate of the region’s North Downs. If you’re yet to try English sparkling, this tasting is the best place to start. Tickets are £40 per person and include six different varieties to try, as well as nibbles.

Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village

When: Thursday 18 June, 6.30–8pm

🥳 Wimbledon opening party: Excited for the tennis to start? This year, the Dog & Fox is kicking off the party early, turning their dining room into a dance floor with live music and a Stella Artois garden takeover with curated BBQ menus. Entry is free, but you should reserve a spot using this link.

Where: Dog & Fox

When: Saturday 20 June, 7pm – midnight

🧘‍♀️ Deep Rest: Yin Yoga and Sound Bath: This 90-minute yin yoga and sound bath is an immersive experience designed to help you slow down, soften the body and gently quiet the mind. Those attending must bring a yoga mat, blanket or pillow, warm layers and an eye mask (optional). Prices range from £28 to £38, and spots can be booked here.

Where: Wimbledon Village Hall

When: Saturday 20 June, 3.30–5pm

🛍 Artisans Market at Cannizaro House: Over 30 wonderful boutique suppliers will be at Cannizaro House for this market, with everything from jewellery, clothes, skincare and candles to dog accessories, glass decorations, gin, rum and more.

Where: Cannizaro House

When: Sunday 21 June, 11am – 4pm

‘It’s a huge smorgasbord of different styles and genres of theatre’: In conversation with Polka Theatre’s Helen Matravers 🎭

Polka Theatre recently announced its packed autumn and winter season for 2026–27. Leading the season is the new musical Toto, which will begin in October. Theatregoers should also look out for Rebel, Rebel (directed by Helen Matravers); Colours, Colours Everywhere; Blub; The Three Little Pigs; At Sea; and The Sleep Show. Polka’s flagship summer show, Arthur, also starts next week. We sat down with artistic director Helen Matravers to talk about Arthur, accessibility and how the beloved Wimbledon gem chooses its shows.

Before we jump into the summer season, I hear you’re directing a show at Polka next year — tell us about that.

Yes, I’m directing a show called Rebel, Rebel, which starts in January next year. It’s a brand-new show celebrating female voices from the past and present. Also, full disclosure, this is my time solo directing a show. I’ve made loads of work in my career, trained as an actor and devised a bunch of projects, but this is a new challenge for me — and I’m really excited!

Arthur is this summer’s flagship show. What exciting things has the show got in store for us?

Arthur is our YC Chan main house theatre show. It’s actually a co-production with a theatre in Bath called The Egg (and it’s going to be their Christmas show). It’s a very funny, bonkers and silly retelling of the ancient legend. At its heart, it’s a show that explores what what makes a great leader. It follows Grace, who finds herself in A&E during the winter solstice of 2026. Grace encounters Merlin in A&E and is then transported back to the summer solstice in 526 AD, where she meets a young Arthur. Together, they go through a set of challenges, learning to like one another and work out what their individual styles of leadership look like.

It’s written by an amazing playwright called Marietta Kirkbride. It’s got a great set design, puppetry and, of course, the Excalibur moment; we couldn’t leave that out.

What is the process for curating new seasons at Polka?

It’s really tricky. The best way to describe it is it being like a Tetris puzzle. We have to cater for children ages zero to 13. A two year old won’t watch the same thing as an eight year old. We’re really trying to curate new stories and platform new voices, as well as providing audiences with something familiar. There’s a balancing act between book adaptations, new writing, dance, opera, rap and traditional styles of theatre. It’s a huge smorgasbord of different styles and genres of theatre. Because we have two theatres, we always try to make sure there’s a variety between the venues. Whatever is on at the main space will have a different age group, vibe or feeling to what’s being performed at the studio theatre.

There are no more than ten dedicated, permanent children’s theatres in England, and there are none that look like us in terms of being a community hub with play areas, workshops, etc. We try to make sure that what we put on stage mirrors the uniqueness of the building. We’re always trying to create new stories that children are fascinated by.

Would you say that accessibility plays a big part in Polka’s mission?

Absolutely. Accessibility underpins everything we do. We approach our mission with the ethos that no child should ever miss out. It’s important to remember that accessibility is about everyone. We know that there are parents, grandparents and carers who need accessible facilities; for example, they might be visually impaired or hard of hearing. When we look at a show, accessibility is what we think about first and foremost. There is no way we’d ever turn a child away from a show because they weren’t able to enjoy it in the same way their peers could. The doors are open to every single child out there. It’s incredibly important that all children get the chance to see themselves on stage, to have their own story reflected back at them.

Polka actually staged the first ever relaxed performance, and over time we’ve seen that sort of accessibility spread across the theatre sector. We make sure that all of our shows offer dates with British Sign Language (BSL), captions, audio descriptions and relaxed performances.

And how does accessibility inform the curation of shows at Polka?

I think it starts with looking at the source material and then who is adapting the show, who is creating the music, and who is performing. For example, we staged The Firework-Maker’s Daughter around Christmas. It’s a story set in Southeast Asia, but the book was written by Philip Pullman.I asked Jude Christian, who has Southeast Asian heritage, to adapt it into a play for us because it meant there was a real authenticity to the language and world of the production. It’s very important for us that the source material is diverse and balanced, and that it enables children to see stories on stage that they can relate to.

Looking beyond the summer, we’ve got a show called Colours, Colours Everywhere in which the lead performer is a hearing-aid user. Across the board, we work to present the most open and diverse theatre possible so that it can reach as many children as possible.

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked when the final dog race was held at Wimbledon Stadium. The answer: 2017

Q: Which of these famous athletes comes from Wimbledon?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition. I hope you enjoyed our interview with Helen Matravers. Do book tickets for Polka’s upcoming shows, you won’t regret it. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.

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I hope that we’re all having a good week so far. This week, I met with Wimbledon’s town centre ranger, Tom Ruffell. In a bid to see what a day in his life looked like, I joined him on one of his patrols around the centre. Scroll down to read all about the incredible work Tom does for our community.

We’ve also got your usual news snippets and some great recommendations to keep you busy as the weather (hopefully) gets better.

The Wimble’s sponsor of the week 💪

This week’s sponsor is Strong Pilates. Some of our readers might remember that we featured Strong Pilates last year when I took on one of their sessions (read it here). Now Strong are back again with a limited time offer. Book seven classes for just £49 using this link here.

News snippets 🗞

🗑 Every household in Merton is now able to book one free bulky waste collection per year, allowing for up to three household items. This includes items such as sofas, mattresses, fridges and other large household furniture. Read more about Merton council’s wider work to improve street cleanliness here.

🎨 King’s College School is once again hosting its annual celebration of culture and the arts this summer, with the dates just announced. The festival will run from Monday 22 – Saturday 27 June and will include a rich mix of events, performances, exhibitions, concerts and workshops. There’ll also be three “in conversation with” events, featuring Judy Murray OBE, Dame Mary Berry and David Olusoga OBE. Click here to see the full programme and book your tickets.

🎸 Van Morrison has announced a show at the New Wimbledon Theatre. That’s right, the creator of “Brown Eyed Girl” is coming to town this September with a one-night-only show in SW19. Fun fact: “Into the Mystic” is one of my go-to karaoke songs (if only I had the pipes to sing it). Check out more details here.

🧑🏽‍🔧 Wimbledon Repair Café, based at St Mark’s Church Hall on Compton Road, launched last Saturday. The café aims to cut waste and extend the life of everyday items. Volunteer repairers aim to fix a range of household goods, including electrical and mechanical items, clothing, toys and bicycles. Repairs are offered free of charge, but donations are encouraged. Read more about the monthly pop-up here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

🎨 Matisse: The Poetry of Colour: Ad Lib Gallery presents a special exhibition of Henri Matisse’s celebrated Verve publication. The gallery wrote, “These works reflect the playful energy and poetic simplicity that defined Matisse’s later career . . . This intimate presentation offers collectors, art enthusiasts and new audiences alike the chance to experience the spirit of Matisse up close — works that continue to inspire contemporary art, design and culture around the world.” Click here for more details.

Where: Ad Lib Gallery

When: Friday 5 – Sunday 21 June

🧑🏻‍🎨 Drawing with Miguel: The Quarter’s artist in residence is back again this week with another creative class. Tickets are £15 and equipment will be provided (as well as snacks — lucky you!). Book your spot here.

Where: Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 6 June, 11am – 12pm

🎶 Songs of Light: The Academy Choir Wimbledon are joined this Saturday by the Britten Sinfonia for a night of English music, conducted by their Music Director George Inscoe (sub-organist at St Paul’s Cathedral). Tickets are £20 per person.

Where: St John’s Spencer Hill

When Saturday 6 June, 7pm

🧺 Love Wimbledon Local Market on The Piazza: Think artisan stalls, hot food, and baked goods, plus homeware, art, clothing and accessories. Each market is different and brings with it new traders and seasonal goods. Pop along and have a gander.

Where: The Piazza, Wimbledon

When: Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June, 11am – 6pm

🛫 Swords Travel: Afternoon Tea with Kirker: Join the Swords Travel team (along with their partner Kirker) for a spot of afternoon tea. You’ll have the chance to enjoy cakes, sandwiches and tea (of course), all while imagining your next travel adventure. Kirker offers a bunch of travel options, from city breaks to cultural tours and classic rail journeys. The event is free, though you will need to register here.

Where: Swords Travel

When: Friday 12 June, 2.30–4.30pm

🍸 Marrakech Gin & Martini Sampling: CBA Gin Co’s Marrakech Gin was developed during lockdown to capture the flavours and atmosphere of Morocco at a time when travel was prohibited. Now you can try their delicious gin for yourself . . . for free! Join CBA Gin’s co-founder Peter Barney as he mixes up a Marrakech dry martini and classic G&Ts for you to try. No booking required: just walk in.

Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village

When: Saturday 13 June, 12–5pm

🧑🏽‍🌾 LCAW Rooftop Farm Tour: Led by the farm’s experienced team and in collaboration with LCAW (London Climate Action Week), this local tour is a fun and insightful exploration of sustainability, growing in an urban environment and the positive effects of urban farming. Tickets are £15 and include 50% off your coffee upon arrival at The Fire Station Café as well as a 50% discount voucher for the farm’s honey and mushrooms (sold at the café). Book your spot here.

Where: Rooftop Farm, Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 27 June, 10am–11.30am

On patrol with Wimbledon’s lone ranger ⭐️

It’s a sweaty May afternoon when I meet Tom Ruffell outside of Wimbledon Quarter, and I’m immediately questioning my choice of jeans and leather boots. Tom has been Love Wimbledon’s town centre ranger since 2013. For those unfamiliar with Love Wimbledon, the organisation is Wimbledon’s Business Improvement District (BID), and it looks after more than 600 independent businesses in Wimbledon Town Centre to protect the area and promote all the great initiatives taking place in SW19.

The Wimble has worked with the team at Love Wimbledon many times over the past two years, but I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Tom before. He has very kindly agreed to let me shadow him for a couple of hours and see what a day in his life looks like. “I resolve about 150–250 issues each month, working with partners to resolve them” he tells me as we make our way along The Broadway. “And these issues really vary. They could be anything from graffiti on private or public land, fly-posting, fly-tipping, leaks, overflowing bins, commercial waste, cracked paving stones … that’s a big one.”

We’re on a patrol of Wimbledon Town Centre to identify any issues and engage with the business owners and managers. Our first stop is The Old Frizzle. I stand beside Tom as he chats with the staff. They smile, recognising him immediately. “I really think you guys should enter the Merton Best Business Awards this year,” he says to a member of staff. “Your retro football quiz is a great example of innovation.” It’s clear that Tom has a rapport with many of the businesses in the area, and their appreciation for his support is palpable.

As we continue our walk, I ask Tom why he thinks having the BID is important for the area. “The most important aspect of the BID for me is being able to give businesses a voice — to make sure their priorities are heard,” he explains. “We’re here to support them, to get in touch with the right people and to have the answers to any of their questions.”

But Tom’s job goes beyond businesses. As the sole town centre ranger, he is responsible for making sure that everything in the area is running smoothly. In May alone, he managed to resolve 185 issues. “Fly-tipping was one of the worst in May,” he says. “And fly-tipping can be so strange. I’ve found everything from mattresses to push chairs and, ironically, brooms. We tend to find a lot of brooms.” When issues of antisocial behaviour (ASB) arise, the ranger has a relationship with the local police and Merton’s neighbourhood wardens, who were introduced in June last year.

Tom was in his early twenties when he took on his current position. Thirteen years later, and he’s seen much of the town centre change. “One of the best changes I’ve seen in this part of Wimbledon is the money and time spent on refurbishing or developing this area. Just look at the events and businesses we have here.”

I ask him if he thinks Wimbledon has managed to escape the “death of the high street”. He says it has. “I think a part of that is the community here,” he explains. “It really hit home during Covid. It was a challenging time for everybody, not least for businesses. But so many shops and restaurants provided for those less fortunate during that period. The charity that came from the community was really remarkable. I think that’s just another thing that makes Wimbledon so great.”

Our patrol is coming to its end. “That, and also everything that’s on offer — from transport links and green spaces to markets and festivals,” he continues. “I mean, that’s why I’m still here. I love my job, and I love what the area has to offer. I’m very lucky that I can say that.”

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I gave you a list of books and asked which one has a scene involving Wimbledon. The answer: War of the Worlds.

Q: When was the final dog race held at Wimbledon Stadium?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition. I hope you enjoyed our piece with Tom Ruffell. If you do see him around, give him a wave or say hello; I’m sure he’ll be happy to have a chat with you. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.

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We’ve been busy this week working on the print edition. That said, we’ve still managed to pull together a short but snappy edition with your usual news snippets, some recommendations to keep you busy in this overwhelming heat, and a list of our top dinner spots going into summer.

Do get in touch if you have any ideas or stories you think we might like to feature: zak@thewimble.com.

Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🗳 On Wednesday 20 May, councillor Shuile Syeda was elected as the mayor of Merton, making her the first Muslim mayor in the borough’s history. Born and raised in the area, Syeda represents St Helier Ward and has served as deputy mayor for the past year. Addressing the annual council meeting, Councillor Syeda said: “Being the first Muslim mayor [in] Merton’s history is not simply a personal achievement – it reflects the diversity, openness and unity that define our borough.” Read more in the council’s press release.

🔍 What happened to the AELTC during the Second World War? While it may not be breaking news, this week the BBC has produced an interesting article highlighting the roles of major British sports stadiums during WWII. During the war, Wimbledon’s AELTC was transformed into a civil defence and military centre. The clubhouse was used by the Home Guard, decontamination units and emergency services, while parts of the grounds were turned over to food production (including livestock like pigs and rabbits). The club was actually hit during the Blitz: on 11 October 1940, bombs struck the grounds, including Centre Court. Click here to read more.

The Wimble’s sponsor of the week ☕

This is a unique Wimble reader offer for Urban Baristas in Wimbledon Quarter. Just walk in, show them this image from the edition and claim that free lamington. Who doesn’t love a cheeky lamington (the classic Australian sponge cake dipped in chocolate icing and rolled in dessicated coconut)? Big thanks to our friends at Urban Baristas for this giveaway!

Property of the week 🏡

It’s hard to resist the allure of a penthouse in the heart of Wimbledon on one of SW19’s most sought-after roads. This two-bedroom property comes with two bathrooms, a communal garden, wonderful views and two parking spaces. But all of this doesn’t come cheap. This particular home is on the market for £2 million. Check out more pics here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

👗 May Pop Up Market: The Wimbledon Quarter pop up market is back this weekend, bringing you the very best of local shopping, artisan food and family-friendly entertainment to the heart of Wimbledon.

Where: Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 May

🌭 Sausage and Cider Festival: Join the team at the Hand in Hand next weekend for their first ever sausage and cider festival. There will be a line-up of delicious craft ciders as well as gourmet sausages, live music and sunny summer vibes. Book a table here.

Where: Hand in Hand, Wimbledon Village

When: Friday 5 – Saturday 6 June

🏎 Southside Hustle Classic Car Meet: This informal meeting of classic car owners in Wimbledon (and the surrounding areas) features a stunning array of cars — some of which are extremely rare. If you’re a petrolhead, or you just like the idea of a bunch of classic cars in one place, then head to Wimbledon Village next Sunday.

Where: Wimbledon Common Southside near the farmers’ market.

When: Sunday 7 May, 8–11am

👑 Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots: The Art of Diplomacy: Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I may have been rivals, but as two women attempting to rule courts full of hot-headed, ego-driven men, they also saw the powerful role that art could play in maintaining control and shaping their self-presentation. Join Dr Christina Faraday’s lecture to discover how these two figures used the visual arts to condemn and also negotiate. Members go free; otherwise, it’s £10 per person. Book

Where: The Sacred Heart Church Hall

When: Wednesday 10 June, 8pm

🍷 Elite Wines of Italy: Barbaresco and Barolo: This is your chance to try some of northern Italy’s finest wine. Taste six premium wines from both Barolo and Barbaresco, showcasing wines with floral delicacy, tannic power and everything in between. You will also hear about the wine’s relationship with the local cuisine with a few examples of food from the region. Tickets are £48 per person.

Where: Jeroboams, Wimbledon Village

When: Friday 12 June, 6–7.30pm

Best spots for a bite this summer 🍕

The Black Lamb — 67 High Street, Wimbledon Village

With an onus on British farmers and sustainable produce, the Black Lamb’s à la carte menus change seasonally and are accompanied by a vast, well-researched choice of drinks. This year, they’re doing a “4-course Wimbledon Set Menu” with standout dishes such as confit Chalk Stream trout with elderflower and cucumber and pork tenderloin with broad beans, tomatoes, fennel and marjoram salsa. They’ve even got their own twist on strawberries and cream with their “Wobbles of Wimbledon” Sussex strawberry and cream jelly.

Orion by Alex Webb — 75-77 Ridgway

Alex Webb — winner of 2020’s MasterChef: The Professionals — opened his first restaurant in Wimbledon Village late last year. His new venture is a French-inspired, British-seafood-led neighbourhood restaurant right in the heart of the village. The menu offers a range of plates designed for sharing, shaped by both the seasons and by Alex’s ties to local producers. And if you’re looking for suggestions, you can’t go wrong with their signature lobster and prawn toast.

Fox & Grapes — 9 Camp Road, Wimbledon Village

Think gastropub classics with contemporary twists at this village pub. And if you see an advert for their supper clubs, don’t question it — grab a ticket now. In fact, last year I had the pleasure of visiting the Fox & Grapes and partaking in their Sourced & Found supper club. It was delicious. Click here to read that review.

Black Radish — 12 Watermill Way

Black Radish offers an intimate 12-seat Anglo-French dining experience. Co-owner and head chef Toby Cartwright has created a warm and inviting oasis in the heart of Merton Abbey Mills. The result is an exciting and thoughtful set menu with everything from wild Cornish sea bass to beetroot sorbet.

Dalchini — 147 Arthur Road

In 2024, Dalchini celebrated 25 years in Wimbledon. The UK’s first Indo-Chinese restaurant, the team are masters of their craft, and the menu is a perfect culinary fusion. Standout dishes include the Mahim Fish Koliwada, Chicken Lollypops and Lamb Dry Red Chilli. Back when The Wimble was incredibly new, I went and reviewed Dalchini (and their not-so-secret speakeasy). Check it out here.

Oy Bar — 66, The Broadway

Whilst we’ve already included Oy Bar’s owner Evegeniy Zukin in this edition, it would be remiss of us not to include this authentic bistro too. The atmosphere is about as chilled as it gets. Order a few small dishes with a glass or two of wine, or perhaps try their new and improved brunch menu. Oh, and don’t forget about the shellfish. After all, this is an oyster bar.

Bombay Delight — 271-273, The Broadway

Owner Ajay Chaurasia has been a pro-chef for over 25 years, creating menus for hotels, cruise ships and even the BAFTA film and TV awards. Winner of “People’s Choice” at the 2025 Merton Best Business Awards, it should come as no surprise that Bombay Delight is a favourite among locals in SW19. The monkfish alleppey and the lamb angara are particularly delicious (and a firm favourite of yours truly).

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I gave you a list of events and asked which had occurred at the former Wimbledon Stadium. The answer: stock car racing.

Q: Which of these books has a scene involving the Wimbledon area?

You’re up to date 👋

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition. We’re still working hard behind the scenes to get our content ready for print. Keep your eyes peeled for any updates or announcements. Other than that, have a great rest of the week, and we’ll see you next Thursday.

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This week we’re bringing you a slightly snappier newsletter, as we continue to beaver away behind the scenes on our upcoming print edition. We’re almost done with pulling it together, so do keep your eyes peeled for any updates about distribution and dates.

Of course, we still have your usual news snippets, some great recommendations to keep you busy, a list of our current top five bars for the summer and more.

Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🚨 The men who stabbed a journalist in Wimbledon in 2024 were working for Iran as part of a campaign of “Iranian terror”, a court has been told. In March 2024, two Romanian men — George Stana, 25, and Nandito Badea, 21 — were accused of attacking Pouria Zeraati, a journalist for a Persian-language television station. Stana and Badea have both denied charges of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding. In March 2023, officers found Stana in a rear communal garden at Zeratti’s address wearing gloves, a blue surgical face mask and carrying a pair of scissors in his pocket. Stana left the UK for Romania soon afterwards. Now Stana and Badea are on trial at Woolwich Crown Court, which is expected to last up to four weeks. Click here to read the full details.

❌ A number of Wimbledon roads will be closed this summer for essential works. These include Copse Hill, Hartfield Road, Kingston Road, Lambourne Avenue, Quicks Road, Thornton Road, St Johns Road, Wimbledon Road, Wimbledon Bridge, St George’s Road and Alexandra Road. Click here to see the exact date of the closures.

🏈 American football is on its way to Wimbledon. The London Warriors will play the first game of their new season at the Cherry Red Records Stadium (home of AFC Wimbledon). The Warriors were recently announced as part of a brand new league known as the American Football League Europe (AFLE). Click here to read more.

🎭 Polka Theatre has announced its packed autumn and winter season for 2026–27. Leading the season is the new musical Toto, which will begin in October. Theatre-goers should also look out for Rebel, Rebel (directed by Polka’s Artistic Director Helen Matravers); Colours, Colours Everywhere; Blub; The Three Little Pigs; At Sea and The Sleep Show, alongside international work including You’ll See by Branar. Click here for the full list and dates.

Property of the week 🏡

This house is all about modernity — just look at that indoor gym. In fact, the property is brand-spanking new, and was only completed in 2018. There are six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a huge garden and underfloor heating for when the cold sets in. But I warn you, reader, this is not a cheap house. Currently, they’re looking for £4.5 million. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

🍷 Spotlight on cabernet franc: Cabernet franc is an ancient grape variety often overlooked by its cousin cabernet sauvignon. But for those who haven’t tasted cabernet franc, you are truly missing out. It’s a complex grape with more variation and expression than many of its neighbouring varieties. Tickets are £35 per person.

Where: Jeroboams, Wimbledon Village

When: Friday 22 May, 6–7.30pm

🥕 Wimbledon Village Farmers’ Market: The farmers’ market is a classic weekend activity. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for that strange bespoke veg item from BBC Good Food or just a plain old carrot, the farmers’ market will surely have it. Get yourself along this weekend and pick up some groceries to assemble an extravagant spring salad as the weather warms up.

Where: Wimbledon Village

When: Sunday 24 May, 10am – 3pm

🍸 Bring your own booze comedy: You’ve heard of BYOB restaurants, but have you heard of BYOB comedy? Join this event for a high-energy night of laughs at Wimbledon Reference Library. Tickets are £5 and are available here or on the door.

Where: Wimbledon Library

When: Wednesday 27 May, 8pm

🏆 Wimbledon Society Lecture: Josephine Butler: In Victorian times, a woman living quietly at North View on Wimbledon Common was stirring up a national storm. But Josephine Butler wasn’t content to accept the injustices of her age. Join Susanna Rustin, social affairs leader writer at the Guardian and former arts journalist at the Financial Times, as she takes you through the extraordinary life of this Wimbledon heroine. Click here for more details.

Where: Emmanuel Church

When: Wednesday 27 May, 7pm

❤️‍🩹 Understanding self-harm in young people (webinar): This is a free webinar covering the causes, risk factors & triggers of self-harm — as well as strategies to support young people who self-harm. The session will be led by Stephen McCluskey, a highly experienced mental health nurse who has spent the last 30 years working within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This webinar is free to join, but you must reserve a spot here.

Where: Online

When: Wednesday 27 May, 12–1pm

Best spots for a drink this summer 🍹

Vineria @ Vallebona — 70a High Street, Wimbledon Village

Stefano Vallebona moved to the UK in 1997. Borough Market's first Italian trader, he then opened a shop in Wimbledon Village with his wife, Naoko. Vineria is the attached wine bar. Expect romantic tables, five-star ingredients, stunning wines (many from rare regions), and a sleek pizza and small plates menu.

601 Queen’s Road — Wimbledon Quarter

Potentially one of the most aesthetically-pleasing venues in Wimbledon, 601 Queen’s Road is the perfect place for some light food and a couple of drinks bang in the centre. Head here if you’re a fan of small plates, picky bits and delicious cocktails. Oh, and make sure to check out their beautiful roof terrace.

The Sultan — 78 Norman Road

There are few proper boozers left in London like The Sultan. Having won the South West London Camra Pub of the Year four times, it’s no shock that this watering hole is one of Wimbledon’s finest. I first popped in here when I visited Wimbledon’s Greensleeves Morris Men. If you’re a fan of real ale, this is the place to be.

Artisans Depot — 154 Merton Hall Road

We’ve been a fan of this intimate wine bar since it reopened last year. Led by two local fathers, Artisans Depot has broadened its horizons with themed tastings and tapas (and pintxos) nights. Whether you fancy a glass in or want to pick up that perfect bottle for dinner at home, Artisans Depot is the place for you.

The Loft at The Alexandra — 33 Wimbledon High Road

The Alex has always been at the heart of Wimbledon’s community. At Christmas, they serve nearly 180 free lunches for those who have found themselves alone during the holidays. But beyond community, The Alex is one of the loveliest places for a pint or a glass of wine in south London, and their Loft rooftop bar is particularly charming during the warmer weather.

The Trafalgar — 23 High Path

Another winner of CAMRA’s South West London Pub of the Year, The Trafalgar reopened in 2023 when Oli Carter-Esdale took the helm. The Trafalgar is a real neighbourhood spot, though it has faced uncertainty in recent years as developers have sought to turn the pub into a block of flats and a café. But locals have shown their support for this gem, and all it takes is popping your head in to see how beloved this SW19 pub is.

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you how many kilograms of strawberries are consumed at Wimbledon each year. The answer: 28,000kg.

Q: Which of these events took place at the former Wimbledon Stadium?

You’re up to date 👋

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition. Do keep sharing The Wimble with your friends and family so we can continue to grow our newsletter. Keep your eyes peeled for updates about our print edition, have a great week, and we’ll see you next time.

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This week, The Wimble spoke with Evgeniy Zukin. Evgeniy and his family moved to south London at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Some of our readers might remember Evgeniy from our piece early last year focusing on the launch of his Wimbledon restaurant, Oy Bar. But this week, I sat down with Evgeniy to talk about tennis and how he wound up running the Ukrainian Tennis Federation from SW19.

We’ve also got a breakdown of last week’s local election in Merton. Check out our news snippets to see how the council has shaped up after your votes.

Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞️

🎉 It’s official: The Wimble is launching another summer print edition! This will be our third print edition in 18 months, and we couldn’t be more excited. Look out over the next few weeks for updates and info about where to grab your copy and what to expect.

🗳️ Labour has secured another four years in control of Merton Council. The party returned 32 councillors across the authority’s 57 seats (a small gain on 2022’s results). The Liberal Democrats — who made a concerted effort in this year’s election to unseat Labour — won 19 seats (also an improvement on 2022’s results). The Conservatives retained their foothold in Wimbledon Village but lost three councillors elsewhere in the borough (notably Nick McLean, who was defeated by the Liberal Democrats in Cannon Hill). Stephen Alambritis, former leader of Labour-run Merton Council, said, “This is about local issues, this is all about the street on your road. I think if you make that differentiation, people will think and not want to gamble it all away.”

Councillors Anthony Fairclough, leader of the Merton Liberal Democrats, said, “These results show that more and more residents across the borough are putting their trust in the Liberal Democrats to stand up for them and focus on the issues that matter most locally.”

The voter turnout was 45.15 per cent (up 40 per cent from 2022). The election also saw a record number of candidates (271) standing for election across all 20 of Merton’s wards. Read more here and click here to see the full breakdown of votes.

👩‍🌾 On Tuesday, Wimbledon Quarter hosted the Taste of the Rooftop Farm spring event. It was a sold-out evening full of conversation, samples and talks from special guests Vanessa Marx (Bingham Riverhouse) and Toby Cartwright (Black Radish). If you missed this event and would like to attend the next one, check out the Quarter’s page here for the next tour on Saturday 30 May.

Property of the week 🏠

This five-bedroom house is undeniably beautiful (though I’d probably get rid of the flower wallpaper in the reception room). It comes with three bathrooms, four reception rooms, a garden and a cellar. This place really doesn’t skimp on the space. But at £2.5m, you’d hope they wouldn’t! Check out more pictures here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

🎶 Merton Singfest: This event, organised by Wimbledon Choral in partnership with Merton Music Foundation, involves everyone from schoolchildren and young people to adults and seniors within the borough, celebrating the rich diversity of choirs in Merton. Each of the 15 participating choirs will have 15 minutes to sing their chosen music. Entry is free, though attendees are encouraged to purchase refreshments and cakes to help pay for the event! Check out more info here.

Where: St Mark’s Church, SW19 7ND

When: Saturday 16 May, 10am – 5.30pm

🥳 Family activity day: Spend a day enjoying Cannizaro Park’s pond with water conservation experts from the South East Rivers Trust. There will be lots of pond-habitat-focused activities for all of the family to enjoy. This event is free, though booking is required for the three pond dipping sessions that day (click here).

Where: Cannizaro Park

When: Sunday 17 May, 11am – 4pm

🍻 Pub quiz at The Hand in Hand: Gather your smartest friends, grab a couple of beers and compete in one of Wimbledon’s most competitive pub quizzes. I’ve been out of the pub quiz circuit for quite some time now, but last week I donned my quiz cap and tried one in the city. Let’s put it this way: I’m not half as good as I remember.

Where: Hand in Hand

When: Tuesday 19 May, 8–10pm

🥂 Grower Champagne Tasting: Growers are increasingly focusing on making their own Champagne rather than supplying their grapes to Grande Marques. With a focus on terroir and individuality, they’re producing some stunning wines, often in tiny amounts. Tickets are £50 per person and include a guided tasting of five different Champagnes.

Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village

When: Thursday 21 May, 6.30–8pm

🎼 St John May Lunchtime Recital: This event is one of a series of lunchtime recitals held on the fourth Friday of each month, featuring local and international professional musicians. This month will feature Jane Faulkner (violin) and Gary Peacock (piano). These events are free but donations are strongly encouraged.

Where: St John the Baptist

When: Friday 22 May, 1pm

How does the CEO of the Ukrainian Tennis Federation end up running an oyster bar in Wimbledon? 🦪

It’s a bright spring morning. I’m sitting with Evgeniy Zukin in his Wimbledon restaurant, Oy Bar. I first met Evgeniy about a year and a half ago, right after Evgeniy opened the restaurant. I’d visited then to talk about the food. What I learnt on that occasion was Evgeniy’s backstory: his meteoric rise in the world of Ukrainian tennis, his experience of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and how his family wound up running an oyster restaurant in SW19. The interview last year was short and oyster-heavy. But I made a promise to myself to come back for the full story. So here I am. And all I can think to say is: “Where did it all start?”

Evgeniy Zukin was just seven years old when his mother introduced him to tennis. Very quickly, the sport became his life. Playing in Kyiv’s Republican Stadium (renamed the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex), Evgeniy proved himself from a young age, ranking in Ukraine’s top 10 players under 12. But by 14, Evgeniy and his family began to struggle with the financial burden of nurturing a young athlete. “I realised that without a bigger financial investment, my career as a player wasn’t going to reach the heights that I wanted. So I pivoted and started my master’s degree when I was only 16 years old.” Evgeniy packed his bags and spent five years studying physical rehabilitation at the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (potentially the longest name for a university that I’ve ever heard). But he couldn’t stay away from tennis for long. By 18, Evgeniy was back on the court as a hitting partner and coach.

“It was also around this time that I got my certification as a chair umpire. I was 19, which meant I was the youngest person in the entirety of the post-Soviet states. I know this might not sound like a lot, but it was a huge deal for us in Ukraine. This was in 2003, and I was the second person in Ukraine at the time to get this qualification from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).”

So where did life take him next? Evgeniy spent the following ten years travelling the world and umpiring tournaments as big as the Davis Cup. During his stint as a tennis official, in 2009, Evgeniy and a friend launched the only print magazine for tennis in Ukraine. They kept the name simple: Tennis Club. “There had been a magazine before, but when the financial crash hit in 2008, it shut down. But our magazine was a grassroots project – the budget was small. Tennis clubs across the country would kindly lend us their rooms to work in. The designer would come in at night after his day job. And all the while, I was still working internationally as an ITF-certified official.”

In 2013, the Ukrainian Tennis Federation (UTF) called and asked if he’d like to be their CEO. “The rhythm of my life completely changed when I joined the Ukrainian Tennis Federation. I had been on the move for the entirety of my adult life. For the first time, I was being asked to work from an office. But it was a job I really wanted to do. In my first two years, we tripled the number of international tournaments, concentrated on rising junior talent by investing in them, and kept our eye on the grassroots of Ukrainian tennis.” From 2013 to the outbreak of the war, Evgeniy and his team fought tirelessly to put Ukrainian tennis on the map, both nationally and internationally. And they did.

But in February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and started the largest and deadliest war in Europe since WWII. At the time, Evgeniy was gearing up to host Ukraine vs Barbados in Kyiv for the Davis Cup play-offs.

“Do you remember when all of the embassies started to evacuate their staff?” Evgeniy asks.

I nod.

“Around this time, the ITF Davis Cup committee scheduled a meeting to discuss the challenges in organising the title. As a member of the committee, I proposed to organise the tie on neutral ground due to the significant security threats posed by hosting it in Kyiv. I had experience with this: when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, we were forced to host matches in Estonia because that was ‘neutral ground’. So, with the full-scale invasion, I spoke with the rest of the Davis Cup committee and told them I would host the match against Barbados in Turkey.”

Evgeniy, his wife, Vladyslava, and their two children packed three suitcases and flew to Turkey to find a suitable venue for the match within three weeks. By the time Evgeniy and his family made it to Turkey, the war had already begun. I ask Evgeniy if he had any urge to go back to Ukraine at the time. “No, the risk was too high. I had my family with me and thankfully we were safe.”

Surprisingly, the tie against Barbados went ahead. Ukraine won. There was little time to celebrate. Immediately, Evgeniy was flown to Portugal, where he met with the ITF and made a few statements to the press regarding the war and the next steps for the Ukrainian national team. But what were his next steps? “We knew we couldn’t go back to Ukraine,” says Evgeniy. “Our national tennis club in Ukraine – the one that my wife and I set up – had been destroyed by Russian artillery. So we looked for somewhere in Europe, and that’s when an old friend of mine from the ITF gave me a call and invited me and my family to stay at his house in Tooting. The anniversary of us moving here will be at the end of the month.”

They stayed in Tooting before finding a house in Colliers Wood, which is where Evgeniy’s family live now. I ask Evgeniy what that time was like and how the idea for an oyster restaurant came to him amidst all that chaos. “I didn’t know what was going to happen with my job at the Ukrainian Tennis Federation. As it turns out, the president asked me to stay on in my role and I’ve worked from here ever since (I still do that full time every day). But at the same time, we needed to integrate here. And it felt like starting a small restaurant was the best way to do that. I put everything I loved into this menu and wine list, and it makes me happy to see when our customers are happy.”

Evgeniy and Vladyslava are hands-on owners. They both do shifts at the restaurant when needed, and they play an active part in Oy Bar’s day-to-day direction. Evgeniy tells me that the restaurant – as well as his and his wife’s membership at Spencer Lawn Tennis Club – has been a great way to meet local people and integrate into the community. I ask him if he finds it strange that of all places to wind up, he winds up in one of the world’s most famous tennis locations. “Probably the most famous tennis location,” he interjects. “I first came to Wimbledon in 2014 with the UTF to look after Ukrainian players and meet with the other federations. I never imagined then that I’d be back here less than 10 years later, living down the road and running a restaurant!”

Are you happy here? “We have our close friends now,” says Evgeniy. “That community has really helped us, and we’re very grateful to everyone who welcomed us so nicely back in 2022. We’re very happy here. And with the Oy Bar, we feel as if we’re giving back a little. It’s not a business that brings in a lot of money, if I’m being honest. But it does enable us to give something back.”

Oy Bar is located at 66 The Broadway. Check out their Instagram here.

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I presented you with a list of famous singers and asked which one was born in Wimbledon. The answer: Quincy Jones III.

Q: How many kilos of strawberries are consumed at the tennis each year?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition. I hope you enjoyed Evgeniy’s story. We’ll also be featuring a similar version of that article in our forthcoming summer print edition, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next Thursday.

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Today is the big day. It’s the local elections. There are 57 seats up for grabs in Merton, and you get to decide who takes control of our borough. Polling stations are open from 7am–10pm (or 9am–5pm if you’re voting at the Civic Centre). Scroll down to get a sense of each party’s manifesto.

This week, I sat down with Ekaterina Botziou Pilalis, a local author who has just released a new children’s book, The Wolf Who Ate Alone. If her name sounds familiar, that’s because she’s also part of the family that runs the Stage Door Steakhouse. Scroll down to read about her life in Wimbledon, why she decided to write a children’s book about individuality and what it means to not follow the crowd.

We’re gearing up for our summer print edition, so please do get in touch if you have any human interest stories that we could feature: zak@thewimble.com.

News snippets 🗞️

🚨 The driver of a car that crashed into a local school has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after two eight-year-old girls – Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau – were killed. Claire Freemantle has been accused of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and seven counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving following the crash at the Study Prep School in July 2023. It has been indicated by Freemantle’s lawyers that she will plead not guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 June.

Freemantle was rearrested and then released in January last year. The current charges come after evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on 17 March this year. Click here to read more.

🗳 Today is the day! Local elections are taking place across the UK today (including in Merton). Residents will have the opportunity to decide whether to stick with our current councillors or take the borough in a new political direction. Labour has held overall control in Merton since 2014 (Ross Garrod has been the council leader since 2022). Currently, the 57-seat council is made up of 30 Labour councillors, 17 Liberal Democrats, seven Conservatives, two Merton Park Ward Residents and one other independent. Voting is never easy, but it’s incredibly important. Click here to read each Merton party’s manifesto to help you decide (if you haven’t already).

Click here for timings and polling stations. The declaration is expected at 5am tomorrow.

The Wimble’s sponsor of the week 💼

Huddle, located in Wimbledon Quarter, is offering Wimble readers a free day of coworking (T&Cs apply). All you have to do is email wimbledon@huddle.co.uk to arrange your free coworking trial (exclusive to Fridays).

Property of the week 🏡

This is a rather lovely detached period property, if you ask me. This five-bedroom home is located just off the desirable Copse Hill and has enough space for the Partridge Family. But how much, I hear you ask. £2.15 million. Sheesh. Looks like most of us will be saving up for a while. Check out more pics here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

🖌 Sketching workshop on Wimbledon Common: Spend some time outside, observe nature and create some wonderful sketches. What’s not to love? Join local artist Katie Preston as she teaches you some simple ways to realise your sketching potential. This event is suitable for anyone 16+. Tickets are £20 per person and can be bought here.

Where: Wimbledon Museum

When: Friday 8 May, 11.30am–1.30pm

🌳 Forest bathing at Cannizaro Park: No, it’s not what you think. This event is not about having a bath in the forest. Instead, it’s about “bathing” yourself in nature. Join Susanne Meis, founder of Meet in Nature, for a day of woodland immersion. Tickets are £15 per person and can be bought here.

Where: Cannizaro Park

When: Saturday 9 May, 10.30am–12.30pm

🕵️‍♀️ Do We See What They Saw? Experiencing Paintings in the Past: Contemporary painting is wildly different to what came before — but so is the context we view paintings in. We don’t use magnifying glasses, conceal pictures behind small curtains or hang pictures incredibly high up. How does our experience of looking at works of art today compare to the viewing experience of earlier centuries? This Arts Society Wimbledon lecture, led by Dr Chantal Brotherton-Ratcliffe, considers the very different conditions in which art was displayed in the past. Tickets are £10 per person (book here). Members go free. Members go free.

Where: The Sacred Heart Church

When: Wednesday 13 May, 8pm

🎤 The Rapping Princess at Polka: We’re promoting this again in case parents missed out on the recommendation last week. The age range for this show is 3–6 years old. Tickets can be bought here. We really are lucky to have Polka on our doorsteps, so please do get yourself along to the theatre as much as you can to support such an amazing and enduring staple of SW19.

Where: Polka Theatre

When: Saturday 16 May – Sunday 21 June

🥳 Family activity day: Spend a day enjoying Cannizaro Park’s pond with water conservation experts from the South East Rivers Trust. There will be lots of pond habitat-focused activities for all of the family to enjoy. This event is free, though booking is required for the pond dipping sessions (click here).

Where: Cannizaro Park

When: Sunday 17 May, 11am–4pm

The Wolf Who Ate Alone: In conversation with local children’s author Ekaterina Botziou Pilalis 🐺

Ekaterina Botziou Pilalis is a local mother of three, a learning support assistant and part of the family that runs the beloved Stage Door Steakhouse restaurant on The Broadway. But she has also been quietly building a body of children’s books and creative work over the past decade, from her Greek mythology chapter book series The Adventures of Omicron to her most recent picture book, The Wolf Who Ate Alone.

The Wolf Who Ate Alone is a simple but profound story about a wolf who chooses to sit alone, not out of loneliness or fear, but because he is content in his own space. It’s a book which was inspired by Ekaterina’s own children, as well as the social dynamics she sees every day while working in schools. This week, I sat down with Ekaterina to talk about the message behind her latest book.

Let’s start with your background. How did you end up in Wimbledon writing children’s books?

I moved to Wimbledon in 2011 after finishing my law degree and taking on a job with an American finance company in Mayfair. I started a blog that same year, and from there my writing started to become a main focus. I wrote for an English Cypriot fashion-lifestyle magazine (my husband’s family is from Cyprus; mine are from Greece), as well as other publications including The Huffington Post and Love Wimbledon, focusing on local businesses and fashion features.

And how did your career as a learning support assistant start?

After having my second child, I decided not to return to work in finance and instead continued with my writing and supporting the family business. My eldest son (11) has dyslexia, and from early on, I became very interested in education at home and what I could do to help him. Schools do all they can to support children with learning difficulties, but it’s very difficult if they don’t have the right resources and proper funding. I did a lot of research into the education system, and, without realising it, I was slowly putting myself on a pathway to working in education.

Although I was writing different books at the time, I was also researching educational materials and different teaching methods online and creating my own interactive toddler learning book. When my youngest child started reception, I decided that I wanted to go back into work outside of the family business. At first, I volunteered at my children’s school in Wimbledon and, after completing a qualification in SEN (special educational needs), began working as a general teaching assistant and then a learning support assistant at a local school. It’s been an incredible experience. I’ve been able to see both sides: the experience of having a child with SEN and the experience of seeing what schools are up against in terms of financial constraints and other mounting pressures.

Do you think your experience as a learning support assistant has informed your latest book, The Wolf Who Ate Alone?

Most definitely, but the book has also come from being a parent. It’s so common for our children to come home and tell us things that have happened at school. Often, I would link what my children told me with the experiences I had as a learning assistant. All children go through phases where they feel included and then excluded by their friends. And I find that the lunch hall is where those experiences and emotions are really exasperated.

The Wolf Who Ate Alone is about self-assurance. It’s about individuality and what it means not to follow the crowd. The story takes place in a lunch hall where the sheep sit together and one wolf sits alone. He’s not sitting alone because he’s lonely but because he’s happy in his own space (and happy in himself). The dynamic changes when another wolf enters the lunch hall, who also sits alone. The story develops without dialogue. I wanted it to be as simple as possible. All it takes is for one of the wolves to stand up for the sheep to sit with them. It’s really based off something I see a lot. Not every child wants to join in in the same way. And sometimes that’s misunderstood. The wolves aren’t isolated; they’re just respecting their individuality. And in the end, the sheep and wolves share a table, not necessarily to talk but to sit wherever they please and to not feel as if there’s this huge unspoken space between them.

The book isn’t about right and wrong or wolves against sheep. It’s about knowing that you don’t have to do what everyone else does in order to fit in. It’s a book about the strength that comes from not conforming. It’s a book designed to speak to children who are looking for guidance.

Ekaterina has had an incredible career and journey so far. If you want to read more about her work, her writing and her projects, head to her website here. To grab a copy of her newest children’s book, The Wolf Who Ate Alone, which she illustrated herself, click here. You can also visit her Instagram for updates and hear her read it aloud here (for free!).

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you how many water wheels the River Wandle powered in the Victorian era. The answer: 68.

Q: Which of these famous singers was born in Wimbledon?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you enjoyed our interview with Ekaterina. Do visit her website to get your copy of The Wolf Who Ate Alone. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next Thursday.

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This week, we ask the question: How does a church turn green? I sat down with Trinity Church’s Elizabeth Scharinger to talk about how religious centres are pulling their weight when it comes to sustainability in the borough. Scroll down to read about pop-up markets, local food banks and why grassroots activism can affect a global change.

We’ve got updates on the Wimblers who ran the London Marathon on Sunday. Scroll down to see how much they raised and how fast they ran. Thank you to everyone who donated and showed support!

As always, please get in touch with stories or ideas: zak@thewimble.com.

Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🏅 The former mayor of Merton (2017-18), Councillor Marsie Skeete, has sadly passed away. Councillor Skeete has served as a councillor in Longthornton since 2014. She also held the roles of Cabinet Member for Women and Equalities and Chair of the Joint Consultative Committee with Ethnic Minority Organisations. Her passing was announced by the council, where Councillor Ross Garrod paid tribute to her work. Click here to read more.

⚽ AFC Wimbledon have secured their safety in League One! The Dons won their last match against Wigan Athletic, meaning they won’t be going down this season. Check out the team’s press release and interview with Johnnie Jackson.

🔥 Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a blaze at a property on St Helier Avenue in Morden on Sunday. Control officers took the first of 14 calls at 1.13pm and mobilised crews from Wimbledon, Mitcham, New Malden and Tooting fire stations. The fire was extinguished by 1.43pm, although most of the ground and first floors were destroyed. So far, there have been no reports of any injuries. Click here to read more about fire safety and how to protect you and your loved ones from danger.

🎤 Mitcham’s rather colourful bandstand won a prestigious national award this month. The bandstand, called ‘What Goes Around’, won in the best ‘Activation’ category of the Pineapple Awards, which recognises excellence in placemaking, community-led projects and urban design. The judges found that the bandstand offers “a striking focal point for the community, and it was clear from the presentation how joyous this project was – for the team delivering and the community it has provided for.” Click here to read more.

This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️

We are absolutely in golf season right now, and what better way to practise your swing than with a spot of golf at Caddi Club? Even if golf isn’t your thing, their bar and restaurant (with its beautiful rooftop terrace) is a great place to whittle away a sunny afternoon. Check out their website for deals, events and booking.

Property of the week 🏡

You may be looking at this GIF and saying, “Hang on, Zak . . . I’ve seen this one before!” And you’d be right. You have. But it’s still on the market, and I like this house quite a bit. This four-bedroom fully detached home is the last remaining part of the former Belmont Estate. Originally built in 1864 for merchant banker Daniel Meinertzhagen, the lodge has had a long list of owners from the Holloway family and members of the Orléans branch of the French royal family. Chapman Lodge is a Wimbledon gem. But what does a gem cost? £2.5m. Which is probably why it’s still available. Check out more pics here.

Updates on our runners 🏃

Many of you will hopefully remember that two weeks ago we featured four Wimblers running the London Marathon. How did they do? Did they manage to hit their targets? Don’t forget that you can still donate to each of their running pages even though the marathon is over!

Dean Parson (Haydon the Womble)

Dean’s initial plan was to raise £10,000 for Dons Local Action. Dean smashed his target and raised more than £16,500! He completed the marathon in 7 hours, 42 minutes and 24 seconds (wearing the full Haydon the Womble gear). Dean said, “A huge thanks to AFC Wimbledon fans who seemed to be everywhere to give me a lift when I needed it, even when I didn't know I needed it!”

Dean's Page

Wayne and Lauren Weaver

Wayne and Lauren ran the London Marathon in support of Anaphylaxis UK. Lauren suffers from a severe nut allergy, and the family says they have benefited from the charity’s work for over 20 years. The duo finished in 5 hours, 20 minutes and 17 seconds. The combined target was to raise £4,000. The pair exceeded their target and are so far at £5,097. Well done!

Lauren's page

Wayne's page

Chrissie Ely

Chrissie ran the London Marathon in support of Street Child, an international children’s education charity active in more than 20 of the world’s most low-income and disaster-struck countries. Her goal was £2,500. I’m pleased to say that Chrissie has so far raised over £4,750 and completed the marathon in 3 hours and 45 minutes. She said it was a “fantastic day & incredible experience”.

Chrissie's page

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

🎨 Exhibition: Impressions of Wimbledon Common: The beauty of Wimbledon Common has been brought to life by local print maker Katie Preston in her new solo exhibition. Katie has captured the common’s shifting seasons through her screenprints, monotypes and drawings, and locals have the chance to meet with her and talk in person about the work every day throughout the exhibition. Entry is free, and 15 per cent of print sales will be donated to the Wimbledon Museum, which is just next door to the gallery.

Where: The Norman Plastow Gallery

When: Tuesday 28 April – Sunday 10 May, 2–5pm

☕️ Coffee in the Garden in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support: Have a cup of joe or a nice brew as you stroll around the beautiful gardens at 61 Arthur Road. There will be homemade cakes and other treats for sale, plus shopping from the bespoke stalls. The event is free but there is a suggested donation of £5 to cover the cost of the tea and cakes.

Where: 61 Arthur Road, SW19 7DN

When: Wednesday 6 May, 9am–1pm

🌳 Forest bathing at Cannizaro Park: Join Susanne Meis, founder of Meet in Nature, as she guides you along a slow, sensory walk in the wooded world of Cannizaro Park. Tickets are £15 per person and can be bought here.

Where: Cannizaro Park

When: Saturday 9 May, 10.30am–12.30pm

🍷 Australian wine tasting: Australia has been producing some of the world’s best wines for decades. Head down to Artisans Depot to sample some of their classics. Tickets are £35 per person and include a relaxed guided tasting of 6+ wines (and a glass of bubbly on arrival). Book at the bar or email artisansdepotwimbledon@gmail.com.

Where: Artisans Depop

When: Saturday 9 May, 7.30pm

🥕 Wimbledon Village Farmers’ Market: The farmers’ market is a classic weekend activity. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for that strange bespoke veg item from BBC Good Food or just a plain old carrot, the farmers’ market will surely have it. Get yourself along this weekend and pick up some groceries to assemble an extravagant spring salad as the weather warms up.

Where: Wimbledon Village

When: Sunday 10 May, 10am–3pm

🎤 The Rapping Princess: “Shiloh is a little princess with a big love for music. She’s got one problem though, she can’t sing…” Join Shiloh at Polka Theatre as she adventures through all genres of music to discover a love for rapping, with a little help from some singing friends and puppets along the way. The age range for this show is 3–6 years old. Tickets can be bought here. We really are lucky to have Polka on our doorsteps, so please do get yourself along to the theatre as much as you can to support such an amazing and enduring staple of SW19.

Where: Polka Theatre

When: Saturday 16 May – Sunday 21 June

What makes a church green? 🌿

What does it mean when a church goes green? Trinity United Reformed Church in Wimbledon – ‘Trinity’ for short – was founded in 1884 as a Presbyterian church. When the United Reformed Church was created in 1972, Trinity became a member of that denomination. In 2007, the Mansel Road Centre was built next to the church as a multi-purpose community hub, offering everything from dance, drama and music to language lessons and even Pilates. But over the past few years, the church has taken on a new endeavour: to go green. More specifically, the church is aiming to achieve a gold Eco Church award.

This week, I sat down to talk with Elizabeth Scharinger — church administrator and Green Group leader — to find out all about grassroots environmental projects and why community centres like Trinity are helping to pave the way for sustainable living in the borough.

When did Trinity turn its attention towards the environment and sustainability?

I suppose it’s happened gradually, but the biggest driving force behind it is A Rocha. A Rocha is an international charity – we work with the British arm – that focuses on conservation and restoring the natural world. They run a scheme called Eco Church, a community of churches from all denominations aiming to be more environmentally conscious. In 2016, we were awarded our bronze accreditation. Then came silver. But what we’re really aiming for is gold. To become an Eco Church, you have to make sure you’re performing in five areas: worship & teaching, buildings & energy, land & nature, community & local engagement, and lifestyle.

But how does a church prove it’s being sustainable in its worship, for instance?

Worship is actually one of the areas we’re doing really well in. We hold services dedicated to the environment; we have a prayer tree for people to pray for the climate crisis, and we’re providing resources (like our outdoor space or the Mansel Road Centre) for those who require more support. When it comes to buildings and energy, we’re actively reducing our carbon footprint every year. How do we do that? Well, one example is our NEST heating system, which makes sure the heating is only on when needed. Another example would be the Perspex we’ve put over our glass windows to help insulate the building all year round. It’s easier at the church’s Mansel Road Centre: we have LED lighting, we recycle, we get our milk delivered in glass bottles so as not to use single-use plastic, and we have a reusable party kit which anyone can hire (part of the Party Kit Network).

Do you think churches and other places of worship should be leading the community when it comes to sustainability?

I think community & local engagement is a very important part of what we do. We recognise the impact locally, nationally and internationally that the climate crisis is having. Once a year, we work with Sustainable Merton to host an eco winter pop-up market in Wimbledon Quarter (which has been great to us for these events). We sell ecoLiving and Fairtrade products at these markets, host a clothes swap and spread the word to the community, all the while raising money for Sustainable Merton. We’re also actively trying to create and educate the future caretakes of the planet with our Junior Church: planting a bee-friendly garden, doing litter pick-ups with the children.

I just think it’s so important for institutions like ours to be involved in the community, create those links and help others – and, by doing so, help the world.

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you which Wimbledon pub was a stop for stagecoaches before the area had a train station. The answer: Dog & Fox (though Rose & Crown would also be an acceptable answer).

Q: How many water wheels did the River Wandle power in the Victorian era?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you enjoyed our feature on Trinity United Reformed Church and all the fantastic work they’re doing for the community. If you’ve got similar stories, please do get in touch with zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.

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If you’re a foodie, then you’re in for a treat. A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of dining at Black Radish in Colliers Wood. Having nearly exploded after six courses, I decided it might be worth writing about my experience. Scroll down for some insight and pictures.

Of course we have your usual news snippets, a great property of the week and some lovely and varied recommendations for the coming days.

Oh, and one last thing. We put the spotlight on some locals who are running the London Marathon this weekend. If you have the capacity, please click here and scroll down to read their stories and donate (if you can).

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News snippets 🗞

🚦 Good news! Passengers on the District Line should soon see long-awaited improvements after TfL and Network Rail confirmed plans to improve the signals that control the Wimbledon branch of the line. The upgrade will focus on the most failure-prone part of the line between Wimbledon and East Putney. For far too long, the Wimbledon branch has been reliant on Victorian-era track layouts and outdated equipment. The project will not involve a full resignalling, but it will bring the infrastructure closer to modern standards. Read more here.

🗳 It’s a “battle of step counts” for the May elections in Merton. Liberal Democrat leader on the council, Anthony Fairclough, said he is doing 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day. Labour's Ross Garrod, the current council leader, says he is doing the same. Click here to read the BBC’s behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming elections.

🪧 A teacher’s strike in Merton is set to go ahead next month. School support staff at 22 primary schools in Merton have voted to strike for one day – on Friday 1 May – because of a pay dispute affecting several outer London boroughs. In a press release, the council urged GMB to cancel the strikes and instead take up mediation with local government. Check out more details here.

🎓 Eighty-six per cent of children in Merton receive offers from their first-choice primary school, according to new data from the council. More than 95 per cent of children have been offered a place in one of their top three preferred primary schools, and 86 per cent received their first-choice place. Parents, of course, will need to take up offers for their children, and responses need to be received by 30 April.

🎉 Three new stores are set to open in Wimbledon Quarter this year. The first (coming early summer) is Jungle Berry, a healthy, sustainable açai store offering healthy food and refreshing drinks. The second (coming late summer) is Lovisa, a fashion-forward Australian jewellery brand. The third (coming in autumn) is Inner Strength, a space dedicated to teaching yoga to athletes.

Property of the week 🏡

This is certainly one of the most modern properties we’ve featured. This five-bedroom semi-detached house comes with everything from a built-in wine fridge to artificial grass and a dedicated patio area for barbecuing in the garden. But what about the price. This one comes in at a cool £2m. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

🎨 Exhibition: 20th Century French & Italian Paintings: Head to Wimbledon Fine Art as they host a new exhibition of 20th-century French & Italian paintings from a range of artists including Regis Bouvier de Cachard, Andre Raffin, Maurice Boitel, Roberto Ferruzzi and Michel Maly.

Where: Wimbledon Fine Art

When: Sunday 26 April – Sunday 10 May (12–3pm on Sunday 26 April)

🎶 The Making Of ABBA: The Story Of The Band’s 1975 Breakthrough Album: Author Joe Matera is at Wimbledon Library, sharing the story of ABBA’s self-titled 1975 classic, from writing to global commercial breakthrough. The event is free, but you’ll need to book a space here as it’s a highly sought-after event.

Where: Wimbledon Library

When: Tuesday 28 April, 7.30pm

🥂 La Crème de la Crémant: Crémant generally specialises in the grape varieties of the region and is made in both white and rosé styles. It’s almost always cheaper than champagne, but it is often equally as high in quality. Head to Amathus next week to try six varieties from different regions. Tickets are £40 per person.

Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village

When: Wednesday 29 April, 6.30–8pm

🦪 Rocks x Guinness: It might shock you, but oysters and Guinness are actually a fantastic combination. Get yourself to the Rose & Crown next week to find out for yourself! Watch professional shuckers at work as they prepare the freshest oysters, served both beautifully chilled and indulgently hot. Expect bold pairings, including rich Guinness Welsh Rarebit, crafted to elevate every bite and sip. Book here.

Where: Rose & Crown

When: Saturday 2 May, 2–4pm

🏎 Southside Hustle Classic Car Meet: This informal meeting of classic car owners in Wimbledon (and the surrounding areas) features a stunning array of cars — some of which are extremely rare. If you’re a petrolhead, or you just like the idea of a bunch of classic cars in one place, then head to Wimbledon Village next Sunday.

Where: Wimbledon Common Southside near the farmers’ market.

When: Sunday 3 May, 8–11am

🦅 International Dawn Chorus Day Bird Walk: This event has the earliest start of any we’ve promoted. Join local volunteer bird expert Les Evans-Hill at 4.45am next weekend to celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day 2026. The walk will cover some different terrains, and some areas may be wet underfoot, so waterproof footwear is recommended. And bring a pair of binoculars if you have them.

Where: Commons Rangers’ Office

When: Sunday 3 May, 4.45am

An evening at Black Radish: Good things come in small packages 🫑

It’s an unusually warm spring evening as we make our way from Colliers Wood to Black Radish. We take our seats by the window and look out at the bustling traffic along Merantun Way.

Black Radish is an intimate 12-seat Anglo-French dining experience. In layman’s terms, that means you pay £85 for six courses and don’t ask if they “do chips with that”. The first dish – which is not actually part of the set menu but is given to tables as a quasi-amuse-bouche – is a selection of pickled beetroots. I’ve never been a fan of beetroots. But in this instance, the pickling has worked wonders, and I find myself genuinely enjoying the experience (for the first time in my life). The first “official” course is a selection of Mexican marigold-smoked eel croustades and canapé-sized portions of cultured butter Cornish sea bass. It might be small, but it’s an exceptionally well-balanced dish and the perfect way to start the meal.

We then move on to one of Black Radish’s showstoppers: agnolotti (pasta) filled with Wimbledon Quarter Rooftop Farm’s mushrooms and wild garlic. This is a real sit-back-in-your-chair-in-disbelief kind of dish. With so few ingredients, Toby and the team have done something magnificent. It’s a dish that works perfectly this time of year – hearty enough for the colder evenings but with that fresh zing you expect during springtime.

Throughout the meal, we sample a few glasses of wine (a makeshift “wine flight”, if you will). The first glass we order is the Tokaj Dry Furmint from 2020. Tokaj is a legendary Hungarian wine known for its intense sweetness and aromas of citrus fruits (chiefly orange peel) and honeysuckle. Tokaj tends to be drunk as a dessert wine, but in this case we’ve got a dry variety that works and pairs perfectly with our next dish: line-caught pollock, Cornish lobster and Datterini tomatoes.

I am already starting to feel slightly full when the next plate arrives: rose veal, sweetbread, asparagus, and broad beans paired with black garlic. Without a doubt, this is one of the finest cuts of meat I’ve had in years. The expression “melt in your mouth” is overused when talking about food, but in this case it really is the only descriptor that does the veal justice. The sweet molasses flavours from the black garlic offset the richness of the meat perfectly. It’s a dish I’ll be thinking about for a long time. For this dish, the sommelier recommends an orange wine from Portugal. Orange wine has become something of a trend in recent years. But what people don’t tend to realise is that orange wine can vary significantly in its flavour. I prefer a lighter orange wine – they tend to have less of that cidery-tannic aftertaste – and this one is just that. At the same time, it’s got enough of a body to stand up to the meat course.

Then we’re on to the beetroot sorbet. As I said before, I’m not a beetroot guy – but whatever they’re doing to the beetroots in the kitchen has me questioning my former convictions. It’s an earthy and sweet dessert that cleanses the palate after all the rich and delicate flavours from the previous courses. It is also delicious. This is followed by a rich chocolate dessert that I adore but struggle to finish – I’ve been eating for nearly three hours at this point, so you can hardly blame me.

We leave Black Radish slightly dazed after such an immersive experience. I wave goodbye to Toby, though he’s got his head down fixing up a table’s dessert from the open kitchen. Black Radish is one of SW19’s finest restaurants — there is no doubt about that. And while it may not be the cheapest restaurant, it’s certainly one that you won’t forget. Let’s hope for Black Radish’s continued success — and for many mouthwatering multi-course dinners to come.

Check out Black Radish’s website for opening times and for booking.

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you which sport was the favourite among locals before tennis? The answer: croquet.

Q: Which pub in Wimbledon Village was a stop for stagecoaches before the area had a train station?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you enjoyed our little feature on Black Radish. Do book yourself a spot – tables tend to go quickly. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time. Oh, and good luck to all the locals running the marathon this weekend!

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We’re keeping it compact for this edition, with a feature on several readers running this year’s London Marathon. Scroll down to hear about their charities, training and targets. We’ve also got a packed list of recommendations for the coming days (many of which are free to attend), a stunning property of the week and your usual news snippets. There’s been an update on the crash that occurred at the Study Prep in 2023, which claimed the lives of two eight-year-old girls. Scroll down to read more.

Other than that, do get in touch if you have any stories you think we should cover: zak@thewimble.com.

GET IN TOUCH

News snippets 🗞

🚔 Eleven police officers are being investigated by the institutional watchdog over their handling of the crash at the Study Prep School in 2023. Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau (both eight years old) died after a Land Rover driven by Claire Freemantle ploughed into the school as the students were celebrating the last day of the summer term. Freemantle was arrested, but police later said that she had suffered an epileptic seizure and would face no criminal charges.

Now the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is looking into “concerns about the standard of the investigation”. It is also investigating whether the Met provided false and misleading information to families, and whether the officers’ treatment of them was influenced by their race. After pursuing “new lines of inquiry”, Freemantle was re-arrested in January last year on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on bail. Evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on 17 March this year, and it is aiming for a decision by the end of this month. Click here to read The Times’ deep-dive into the ongoing situation.

⚽️ As part of a new multi-year partnership, AFC Wimbledon will work with Big Motoring World, one of the UK’s largest independent used-car supermarkets, for a range of community-focused projects. Special events will be held at Big Motoring World’s “supermarket” across from the stadium on Waterside Way. Click here to read more about their upcoming events.

🐣 Wimbledon Quarter had a record-breaking year this Easter. From Saturday 28 March to Sunday 12 April, the Quarter had over 301,943 visitors (that’s a lot of people joining in for the Easter egg hunt). Over the two-week period, 14,500 Easter eggs were handed out for free, with 350 children taking part in the activity. And perhaps the highlight for the little ones was their chance to meet the Easter Bunny himself! Well done to everyone involved for bringing joy to the area this holiday season.

Property of the week 🏡

You really couldn’t get much closer to Wimbledon station if you tried. This four-bedroom, semi-detached house on Courthope Villas is a lovely blend of spacious and homey. You’re also right on top of the shops and Wimbledon’s town centre, which is always a plus. But how much? £1.8m. Affordable? Not really. The most expensive property in the area? Far from it. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

🖼 Cover Stories by Cathy Corbishley Michel: This exhibition brings together 30 years of art quilts from small wall hangings to bed-sized quilts. Some of our readers may remember Cathy from our piece last year, when we went to her previous exhibition, Blueprinting History. Click here to give it a read. Make sure to get down to this new one — it’s also free!

Where: Stableyard Exhibition Space, Morden Hall Park

When: Sunday 29 March – Sunday 26 April, 10.30am – 3pm

♠️ Whist with a Twist: Enjoy a sociable night of cards with a twist (a tasty meal) in aid of Merton Winter Night Shelter. The suggested donation price is £25 for adults and £15 for children. Tickets include wine, nibbles and a two-course meal. Contact Jane Long (jane.long@me.com) for further details and to reserve tickets.

Where: St John the Baptist

When: Saturday 18 April, 7–10.30pm

🎨 Worple Art Group Spring Exhibition: Head to St Mark’s Church for a showcase of over 200 original paintings and drawings by 17 local artists. Admission is free, so bring whoever you want. Click here to read more.

Where: St Mark’s Church, Wimbledon

When: Friday 17 April, 3–7pm & Saturday 18 April, 10am – 5.30pm

🥃 Silkie Irish whiskey sampling: A collection of exceptionally soft whiskeys, the Silkies give an insight into the rich, smoky style of whiskey for which Donegal distillers were once famed — and which the Sliabh Liag Distillers are now reviving. Alan McHugh will guide you as you try all three of the core Silkie whiskeys: the Legendary Silkie, the Legendary Dark Silkie and the Legendary Midnight Silkie. Alan will also be mixing up some delicious whiskey-based cocktails for refreshing summer drinking, along with a Silkie take on a classic Manhattan. And the event is entirely free!

Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village

When: Saturday 18 April, 12–5pm

💍 Wedding showcase at the Coach House: Thinking about popping the question? If so, head to see the beautiful Coach House, a wedding venue located in the heart of Wimbledon Village. This is your chance to talk to their wedding team and meet local suppliers. And even if it’s not for you, it’s still a nice day out.

Where: Coach House at the Dog & Fox

When: Sunday 19 April, 12–3pm

🌲 Guided tree walk at Cannizaro Park: Join arboriculturist Greg Packman in exploring the park’s tree collection, which just so happens to be one of the most diverse collections in Greater London. There are over 200 species originating from all over the world. Tickets are £10 per person and can be booked here.

Where: Cannizaro Park

When: Saturday 25 April, 11am – 1pm

🛍 Community markets at Wimbledon Quarter: The markets will showcase around 30 carefully selected stalls celebrating the very best culture, fashion, arts and crafts, lifestyle and artisan food that Wimbledon and Merton have to offer. Families are warmly welcomed, with live DJ sets and children’s craft activities running across both days.

Where: Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 April, 10am–6pm

Meet the Wimblers running the London Marathon this year 🏃‍♀️💨

Running the London Marathon is no walk in the park (literally). It takes courage and determination to get across that finish line, and the runners need as much support as they can get. As the marathon is next Sunday, I thought it would be a nice idea to spotlight some of the Wimbers running this year and show them some support. Click on the button below each profile to visit their fundraising pages and read more. The Wimble and Wimbledon Quarter are also donating £50 to each of these runners to keep the ball rolling on their fundraising!

Dean Parson (Haydon the Womble) — Dons Local Action (£10,000 target)

Dean has been the man behind the mask of Haydon the Womble since 2006. To celebrate, Dean (and Haydon) are running 26.2 miles… in the full mascot suit. It’s hard enough to run a marathon as it is, but doing so with a huge Womble mask on your head is taking it to the next level. Haydon the Womble is the embodiment of community spirit, and so it makes perfect sense that Dean is running the marathon this year to raise money for Dons Local Action. Dons do so much for our community, but they need our support to keep going. The Dons are also no strangers to physical feats. Last year, their co-founder Xavier Wiggins walked to all 92 professional football league clubs in the EFL over 92 days (read our interview here).

Dean's (Haydon's) page

Wayne and Lauren Weaver (father and daughter) — Anaphylaxis UK (£2,000 target)

Wayne has lived in Wimbledon for over 27 years, and his daughter, Lauren, has spent most of her life in SW19. The father-daughter duo are running the London Marathon for the first time this year in support of Anaphylaxis UK. Lauren suffers from a severe nut allergy, and the family says they have benefitted from the charity’s work for over 20 years. Anaphylaxis UK is the only UK-wide charity operating solely for the growing numbers of people at risk of serious allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. As Wayne points out on his fundraising page, over 2 million people have a food allergy in the UK, and hospital admissions due to allergies and anaphylaxis in England have nearly doubled in the last 20 years.

Living with a severe allergy can cause significant amounts of stress, as Lauren explains “While it is something I have learnt to manage, it adds a layer of persistent stress to everyday activities. Simple things that many take for granted – such as eating out with friends, attending social events, or travelling — require constant vigilance and forward planning to ensure my safety.”

Wayne's page

Lauren's page

Chrissie Ely – Street Child (£2,500 target)

This is Chrissie’s first ever marathon. For the past year, she has been developing herself as a runner and has been training hard in anticipation of next Sunday’s challenge. Chrissie is running the London Marathon for Street Child, an international children’s education charity active in more than 20 of the world’s most low-income and disaster-struck countries to try and break down all the barriers that prevent a child from being safe, in school and learning. Chrissie wrote that she was drawn to Street Child because of their focus on education in emergencies: “This includes children currently living on or near the front line in Ukraine, where Street Child (with their corporate partner Infosys) established digital learning centres providing access to educational and mental health support.”

Chrissie's page

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I gave you a list of actors from The Crown and asked which of them was born in Wimbledon. The answer: Ben Miles (who played Peter Townsend).

Q: What was the original local sport of Wimbledon (before tennis)?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition. Please check out the fundraising pages for all our readers running the London Marathon this year. And get yourself along to some of the activities recommended in our to-do list. If you have a story or an idea, please get in touch with zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you on Thursday!

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This week we’ve got a rather special piece about Cerys San Martin-Davies. Cerys is a local nine-year-old girl who was just awarded runner-up in the Mini Maestro Awards. Her work has also been presented at the Royal Academy of Arts Young Artists’ Summer Show, and she previously received a special commendation from the Royal Society of Biology at age six for her depiction of the Great Barrier Reef. In short, Cerys is making waves in the art world — and she’s not even 10 yet! Scroll down to read about when I met the San Martin-Davies family.

We’ve also got your usual news snippets, a beautiful property of the week and some post-Easter recommendations to keep you going as the weather gets lovelier.

Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🗳 The local elections are being held on Thursday 7 May. Merton’s voting history has been interesting over the years. The borough switched between Conservative and Labour in the 1960s and early 1970s. It was then controlled by the Tories from 1974–1990, where it then switched back to Labour. It was under no overall control from 2006–2014 but has been Labour-controlled since then. Of course, it’s incredibly hard to accurately predict elections, but the BBC has put together a rather informative profile on Merton which you can read here. Click the link to learn about Merton’s electoral history, population size and more.

↗️ After receiving funding from Merton Council, Love Wimbledon started the refresh of Hartfield Walk (the space next to Robert Dyas). The work started on Monday 30 March and will last for several weeks. It will include rebuilding the entrance arch, renovating the kiosks and removing rotten seating. Once the seating has been removed, the team will survey the site to establish what remedial works are needed before planters are added and they install new seating. Click here to read more.

🎉 This year, Merton Park Bowls Club reached a significant milestone: its centenary year. For 100 years, this club has been a quiet but enduring presence in the heart of Merton. Founded in 1926, the club began modestly, originally playing on a green near what was then little more than a car park. Like many bowls clubs of its era, Merton Park initially reflected the social norms of early 20th-century Britain, operating as a men’s club only. However, a significant moment of progress came in 1962 with the formation of a women’s section. The club will be holding an open day on Saturday 9 May to allow local members of the public to visit, try their hand at bowls and get a feel for the club. In addition, they run regular introductory sessions on Monday evenings from 6pm until dusk, starting on Monday 4 May, 2026. Find out more from their website: www.mertonparkbowls.com. Also, check out our piece with the club from last year.

This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️

The Masters kicks off today. What better way to spend the tournament than at Caddi Club in Wimbledon Quarter? There will be speciality cocktails, food aplenty and competitions to win drivers, lessons and golf balls. Plus, Caddi has a fully stocked bar and a cracking food menu, so they’ve got you covered for replenishments.

Property of the week 🏡

It’s incredible how property prices change over such short distances. This three-bedroom brick-fronted Apostle house is in great condition. It’s even got a modern loft extension. But it’s half the price of a property in Wimbledon’s centre. This particular home will set you back £900,000. I’m not saying that it’s cheap, but it’s certainly better than your average property in SW19. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

🎭 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: Separate from Polka’s Easter workshops, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt returns to Wimbledon after a hugely successful spring run in 2022. Little Angel Theatre brings Michael Rosen’s thrilling and funny adventure to life in this puppetry production. Directed by Peter Glanville, it features music and lyrics by renowned singer-songwriter Barb Jungr. Book your tickets here.

Where: Polka Theatre

When: Wednesday 25 March – Sunday 12 April

💃 Easter dance camp: The holidays are coming to an end, but we’ve still got a few days to go. If you’re wondering what to do with your little ones, look no further. These two days of dancing fun are suitable for children aged 3–12 years old. The camp costs £132 per child (so not the cheapest of Easter activities), but it promises to create some great memories, both for kids and relieved parents who can pack them off for a 48 hour stretch! Book here.

Where: St Mary’s Church Garden Hall

When: Thursday 9 – Friday 10 April, 10am – 4pm

🇮🇹 ‘Unsung Italy’ wine tasting: Italy produces some of the world’s finest wines (and I’m not talking about the paint-stripper Chianti you get at your local pizzeria). Every region of Italy produces fascinating and distinctive wines, many of which fly under the radar. This tasting focuses on the lesser-known appellations: Umbria, Campania and Friuli. The team will also provide nibbles. Tickets are £35 and can be bought here.

Where: Jeroboams, Wimbledon Village

When: Friday 10 April, 6–7.30pm

🎻 Bach to Baby: The critically acclaimed concert for babies, toddlers and their parents or guardians comes to Wimbledon this Easter. Enjoy outstanding musicians and performances designed for the whole family. Tickets are £17.70 and can be bought here.

Where: Trinity United Reformed Church

When: Saturday 16 April, 3–3.45pm

🎨 Worple Art Group Spring Exhibition: Head to St Mark’s Church for a showcase of over 200 original paintings and drawings by 17 local artists. Admission is free, so bring whoever you want. Click here to read more.

Where: St Mark’s Church, Wimbledon

When: Friday 17 (3–7pm) — Saturday 18 April (10am – 5.30pm)

🥕 MasterChef: The Professionals Six Hands Supper Club: Orion’s Chef Patron Alex Webb is joined in Wimbledon by his fellow MasterChef: The Professionals finalists Bart and Philli. Three chefs. One menu. A celebration of the finest culinary skills. Book a table here.

Where: Saturday 18 April, 12.15–1.45pm

Meet the Wimbledon nine-year-old making waves in the art world 🖼

It’s one of the nicest days of the year as I make my way from Wimbledon South to Merton Park. I’m heading to the San Martin-Davies household to meet Cerys and her family. Cerys is a nine-year-old artist who is having something of a moment in the art world right now. Just two weeks ago, her life-size painting was awarded runner-up at the Hari Hotel Mini Maestro Awards. But this isn’t Cerys’s first taste of success. At age seven, her work was presented at the Royal Academy of Arts Young Artists’ Summer Show. She also previously received a special commendation from the Royal Society of Biology at age six for her depiction of the Great Barrier Reef. In short, Cerys has racked up a huge list of achievements, and all before the age of 10. When her father Gonzalo got in touch with The Wimble, I decided to pay the family a visit and see Cerys’s art first-hand.

Gonzalo and his wife Julia greet me at the door. Behind them stands Cerys and her twin brother Rhys, who has just got back from playing touch rugby and fancies a go on his electric guitar. Julia tells me that they only moved into this house at Christmas. “It took a lot of work,” she says. It has evidently paid off: the converted space at the back of the house pools with natural light, and the table covered in art supplies gives it the feel of a painter’s studio. And, in essence, it is. When the four of us sit down at the table, Cerys’s piece “Maths Blanket” leans against the wall beside me. “She was six when she made that… seven when it went up,” says Gonzalo. “We realised then that it wasn’t just us seeing Cerys’s talent.”

“I had some help,” chimes Cerys. “But the ideas are always mine.” Gonzalo and Julia laugh. Cerys has been creating since she was a toddler. Gonzalo explains she has always had an incredible command of colour. “She would tell us that these colours actually meant something. Even when she was tiny, she would say things like ‘that’s a house’ and ‘that’s a mountain’.” At first, Julia and Gonzalo thought it was just a cute hobby. Their backgrounds are in science and, by their own admission, not creative. When Cerys had her work accepted into the Royal Academy, her parents thought it was a one-time thing. But then the art kept on coming.

I ask Cerys why she decided to make that first tapestry. Rhys, who has now finished playing guitar and joined us, is the mathematician out of the two of them. “Rhys likes maths. I like art and joining things together,” Cerys tells me. It would seem “Maths Blanket” was, for Cerys, a way of bridging the art and science world. Gonzalo then brings out a scrappy piece of paper. On it is a small, delicate drawing of a vase and flowers. “I find this astonishing,” says Gonzalo. “Cerys was just doodling this. We thought nothing of it. We were about to throw it away when she said, ‘Wait, I might do something with that.’ Then a few weeks ago she did this.” Gonzalo and Julia show me a canvas with a flower assembled through textiles. Cerys had used the fabrics from when the family were picking material for their new sofa, and it’s striking how meticulous her colour choices are.

But what’s it like to be the parents of a rising star? What advice would Julia and Gonzalo give others who are just realising that their little one has a knack for a particular field? “I think it’s about paying attention,” says Julia. “We didn’t to begin with. Cerys has been drawing, painting and asking for art equipment since she was teeny. As important as school is, children are capable of doing a lot more than you think they are. I think unless you’re artists or creatives yourself, you’re in danger of minimising it because you don’t understand.”

Gonzalo nods. “And let them lead a little bit,” he adds. “It’s easy for parents to over-schedule their children and, by accident, tell their kids what it is that they should focus on. Some things you can’t avoid. We all need to reach a certain baseline at maths and English to get on in this world. But beyond that, let them lead a little bit and see where their passion takes them, not your passion.”

I say my goodbyes to Cerys and Rhys (who has also shown me some of his awesome drawings of beasts from video games) and make my way back to Wimbledon South in unusually sunny weather. As I walk, I reflect on the fact that we often forget how capable children are at creating their own work and how important it is to nourish talent from an early age. Meeting the San Martin-Davies family was more than just the highlight of my week; it was a reminder to champion all of the talented members in our community, whether they’re nine or 90.

Check out Cerys’s art Instagram here (run by her parents).

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you what the name of the Roman road that passed through Colliers Wood to Chichester was called. The answer: Stane Street.

Q: Which of these stars from The Crown was born in Wimbledon?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you enjoyed our spotlight on Cerys San Martin-Davies. Do send in local success stories for your chance to be featured: zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.

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This week we’ve got an interview with Richard Cohen, the chair of SW19’s largest running club, the Wimbledon Windmilers. Formed in 1980 and now with over 550 active members, the Windmilers are nothing short of a Wimbledon institution. But not all of us are avid runners. In fact, many of us — myself included — are out of practice when it comes to running. Sitting down with Richard, I asked him how such a large group of runners deals with novices (like myself) joining. Scroll down to see what he said.

We also have your usual news snippets, a great property of the week and some recommendations to keep you busy in the days ahead. Let us know in the comments below if you have any Easter activities or traditions that you fancy sharing with other readers.

Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🏗 Construction begins on Merton’s first new council homes in a generation. The work is being carried out on 75 new council homes across three sites in the borough. The developments are supported by a multimillion-pound investment from the Mayor of London’s Affordable Homes programme (2021–26). Each home will have “PassivHaus” principles, which means they will be energy-efficient and more sustainable, and are set to be finished in 2027. Elm Nursery in Mitcham will have 21 homes, and Raleigh Gardens in Mitcham will have 36 homes made up of one and two-bedroom flats. Farm Road in Morden will have 18 new council homes made up of one and two-bedroom flats and larger homes for families. Click here to read more.

🌳 New “pocket parks” have been opening across Merton. These small but impactful spaces aim to bring nature closer to communities by supporting wellbeing and creating habitats for wildlife. There are 20 locations across the borough (one in each ward) and have been introduced as part of Merton’s 60th anniversary. Click here to see where your nearest “pocket park” is.

🗳 Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler, is among 12 councillors stepping down from Merton council ahead of the upcoming local elections. The 12 known departing councillors come from Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Kohler, a Lib Dem, is stepping down to focus on his parliamentary duties full-time. Click here to read a full list of those stepping down.

🐄 The date for Deen City Farm’s annual fundraiser event “Farm Fest” has just been announced. Join the farm on Saturday 27 June for a day of fun and celebrations. The itinerary is yet to be revealed, but if it’s anything like last year, we’re in for a treat. Tickets are £2 for 16+, £1 for those ages 12—15 and children under 11 go free. The festival will last from 10am – 7pm, with the last entry being at 6pm. Keep your eyes peeled for more info.

Property of the week 🏡

This three-bedroom Grade II-listed apartment is only a short walk from Wimbledon town centre and south Wimbledon. It has a great amount of space for an apartment, though I think its most winning feature is that metal spiral staircase that leads to the upstairs bedroom. But what does it cost? This particular flat will set you back just shy of £1.1m. Not the cheapest flat in Wimbledon. Not the most expensive, either. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯

🎨 Easter face painting: Join the landlady of the Rose & Crown and the rest of her team for a day of face painting and Easter celebrations. There will even be a chance for your children to show off their Easter card-making skills. This event is free, and no booking is required.

Where: Rose & Crown

When: Saturday 4 April, 12–3pm

🐇 Meet the Easter Bunny: Celebrate the magic of Easter with a special “Meet the Easter Bunny” event. There will be an Easter storytime, a meet and greet, arts and crafts, magic tricks, face painting and more. Tickets are £10 per child. Book here.

Where: Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 4 April, 11am–5pm (each session is 45 minutes)

🐴 Holistic horse care: This is your chance to spend a calm 75 minutes connecting with horses in a safe and relaxed environment. The session begins with an introduction to horse behaviour, including flight instincts, body language, and how horses perceive their surroundings. Then you will move on to hands-on time with the horses, guided by experienced instructors, where you’ll learn the basics of safe handling and grooming, observe how horses respond to calm, consistent communication, and discover techniques that promote horse well-being. Note that there is no riding involved. Tickets are £40 for non-members. Book your spot here.

Where: Wimbledon Village Stables

When: Tuesday 7 April, 1.45–3pm

📜 Cleopatra: Image and Reality: Cleopatra is undeniably one of the most interesting figures in history. This lecture by Dr Stephen Kershaw will focus on her personality, the events of her life, the men in it and the cultural context of the time. Members go free. £10 for everyone else. Click here for more information.

Where: The Sacred Heart Church Hall

When: Wednesday 8 April, 8pm

🍾 Castelnau Champagne sampling: A grower cooperative, Champagne Castelnau sources their grapes from over 800 hectares across 150 crus, producing some exceptional-value and highly acclaimed Champagnes, well known for their extensive lees ageing. Some very technical words there, but all you really need to know is that it tastes delicious. You’ll be guided through three of Castelnau’s cuvées – their Brut NV, Rosé NV and exceptional vintage Blanc de Blancs – and understand what all the fuss is about. Oh, and did I mention that this tasting is free? That’s right. What are you waiting for?

Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village

When: Saturday 11 April, 12–4pm

🎉 2026 Songkran Festival: Celebrate the Thai New Year and experience the beautiful traditions of Thai culture. Join others at Buddhapadipa Temple for traditional blessings, Thai food and community celebrations. Members, volunteers and children under 12 go free. Tickets are £3 for non-members. This year’s event also coincides with the temple’s 60th anniversary.

Where: Buddhapadipa Temple

When: Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 April, 10am – 5pm

🥕 Taste of The Rooftop Farm: Join The Rooftop Farm for an exclusive evening to taste a variety of dishes made using ingredients from the farm. The event is hosted in The Fire Station Café, located on Queens Road on the ground floor of Wimbledon Quarter (opposite the police station). Expect cocktails and mocktails made with the farm’s honey, tasting bites with fresh farm produce, talks by special guests Vanessa Marx (Bingham Riverhouse) and Toby Cartwright (Black Radish), a chat with resident beekeeper Barnaby and a guided tour of the farm itself. Tickets are £27 per person and will sell out very fast, so grab them here now!

Where: The Fire Station Café, Wimbledon Quarter

When: Tuesday 12 May, 6–8pm

‘We believe that running is for everyone’: Meet Wimbledon’s largest running club 🏃 💨

Formed in 1980, Wimbledon Windmilers are one of SW19’s oldest and biggest running clubs. I think the name “running club” can be a little scary for people (like me) who consider themselves “bad” at running. But it needn’t be that way. In fact, running clubs are for people of all abilities. They are spaces where everyone should feel welcome. And that ethos is at the heart of the Wimbledon Windmilers’ mission. This week, I sat down with Richard Cohen, the club’s chair, to talk about the impact of running on the community and what it means to be a Windmiler.

Let’s start with your backstory, Richard. How did you join the Windmilers?

I always ran growing up. When I moved from South Africa to the UK, I started running with a friend. But I wanted to build my network. I wanted to find a community of like-minded people that I could call friends. This was over ten years ago, and you didn’t have the running influencers of social media that you see today. You had to rely on more traditional groups like the Windmilers. So I was offered a free trial and was hooked from there. And it was just over a year ago that I took on the role of chair.

What would be your elevator pitch for the Wimbledon Windmilers?

So we’re a running and multi-sports club. Having “multi-sports” adds an additional dimension to the club. First and foremost, we are primarily a running club, but within that we have aspects of swimming and cycling too — and therefore we offer a broader range of activity. Our schedule is very accessible and provides options for everyone. For instance, there are the Tuesday and Thursday night runs around the streets of Wimbledon (or the common during the summer). On a Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, we’ll have track sessions at Wimbledon Park’s track. And on Sunday, we tend to have the social runs. That can be anything from a three mile to seven mile social jog — accommodating all speeds — through to some longer 11+ mile options for those wanting to go longer. If marathons and personal bests are your thing, we can accommodate that. But if you’re just looking for a sociable club to run with once a week, we can be that too.

And what sort of impact do running clubs like the Windmilers have on our community?

Personally, it helped me to be a better and healthier person. I think the community makes you more accountable in a way. I think the communities that form within the club also push you to be better. And these micro-communities work in different ways. There’s a group of Windmilers who meet every Tuesday lunchtime. It’s a very casual social run with a coffee afterwards. Most of these runners are retired or working from home, and thus they have less of an opportunity to meet people. That’s where a club like ours can have a profound impact on the community. It’s a really lovely thing to see. So many of my closest friends have come from the running club.

What I love about our club specifically is how we support one another. Unlike clubs that are focused primarily on performance, our club looks out for our runners. We will always stand by the finish line of a race waiting to clap the last Windmiler in. That sense of community — of cheering people on — is so important to us.

Even now, if I head up to the common for a solo run, I’ll bump into someone I know from the club. To me, that’s so special. When you live in a city that’s as big as London, that feeling of locality is integral. It’s also worth noting for your readers that “running clubs” can sound quite elitist. That’s really not what we’re aiming for. As a club, we’ve got runners who run ultra marathons on a regular basis and people who can complete marathons in two hours and thirty minutes. But we also have people who join us for a short jog each week.

We want a broad range of people joining our club, people from all walks of life. As we continue to grow, I’d like to see even more diversity and variety in the Windmilers.

Membership for Wimbledon Windmilers starts at £37 per person. Anyone interested is welcome to attend a trial session. Membership gives you access to unlimited running and coaching sessions.

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I gave you a list and asked which of the films was shot locally. The answer: Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa

Q: What is the name of the Roman road that passed through Colliers Wood and connected London to Chichester

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. We hope you enjoyed our interview with Richard Cohen, chair of Wimbledon Windmilers. We’re currently getting back to those of you who reached out about the London Marathon. If you haven’t got in touch yet but would like to share your reason for running, email zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next Thursday!

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Easter Sunday is upon us very soon, so this week we’re rounding up The Wimble’s top picks for the holiday weekend. Scroll down to find out about the best family activities, the perfect spots for lunch and all the great activities throughout the Easter period.

Don’t worry, we also have your usual recommendations for the coming days, a one-of-a-kind property of the week and this edition’s news snippets.

Call-out: we’re still searching for readers who are running the London Marathon. Do get in touch and tell us who you’re running for, if you’ve taken part in the marathon before (or any marathon) and what your training schedule looks like. Email zak@thewimble.com.

Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🎾 The AELTC’s £200m expansion plans have cleared a major hurdle after the High Court’s judgement last week. The plans aim to treble the size of the site of the Championships by developing a former golf course to include 39 new courts. The campaign group Save Wimbledon Park argued that the land is actually subject to a statutory public recreation trust and thus must be preserved for public recreation. The AELTC argued that the land had never been used for such purposes. Following a hearing in January, Judge Nicholas Thompsell sided with the AELTC.

But the story doesn’t end there. SWP has announced it will apply to the Court of Appeal following last week’s judgement. SWP’s co-director Jeremy Hudson said, “We love tennis but we continue the fight after this news because there is a strong case for protecting this precious open space from development. Wimbledon promised they would never build on this land.”

Whilst last week’s judgement was a victory for AELTC, it would seem both sides have a long way to go before any clear resolution is made. Click here for a very thorough breakdown of recent events and here for a short summary on last week’s ruling.

🏎 Wimbledon High School has launched the Goblin Car Project, a 17-week all-girls engineering project giving students the opportunity to design and build a real electric car. The project, which brings together girls from Granard, Sacred Heart and West Wimbledon Primary School, will see the students construct a battery-powered Goblin car, which they will race at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in June. Wimbledon High School said the project was about more than engineering, with the scheme aiming to connect classroom learning with real-world challenges. Click here to read more.

🎥 Video review technology will be introduced at the Championships for the first time this year. This means that players will be able to challenge decisions made by umpires, something that they can already do at the US Open and the Australian Open. The players will not be able to challenge the accuracy of the recently introduced electronic line calling system, but they will be able to ask the umpire to review certain calls. A review will also be allowed at the end of a point if a player feels their opponent may be guilty of hindrance. Check out the full story here.

Property of the week 🏡

This house is utterly ridiculous. In fact, I don’t even want to call it a house. It feels more like a mini estate. Click the link further down and take a look at that floor plan if you don’t believe me. And how chic is that hut at the back of the garden? But, as you might have guessed, this property is not cheap. More specifically, it will set you back £3.75m. Click here to salivate over more pictures.

The Wimble’s to-do list

📚 Waterstones monthly book club: This month’s book is Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object by Laurie Colwin. The novel follows twenty-one-year-old Olly. She meets Sam Bax: fearless, goofy and risk-taking, he arrives in her life on the back of a huge motorcycle. By the end of the day, the pair are kissing in an apple orchard. A year later, they are married. Five years later, Olly is a widow and left to grieve her husband alone. Head down this evening if you’ve read the book to discuss the intricacies of Colwin’s 1975 novel, and keep your eyes peeled on their Instagram for next month’s book.

Where: Waterstones, Wimbledon

When: Thursday 26 March, 7–8pm

👗 Sample sale in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support: Find one-off clothing items for ladies at this sale of Danish brands Pulz Jeans & b.young. 10% of all sales profits will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support in Merton for the latest fundraising project at Kingston Hospital. The Macmillan team is also collecting unwanted foreign cash to convert into sterling and would welcome any contributions.

Where: The Coach House at the Dog & Fox, Wimbledon Village

When: Friday 27 March, 10am–3pm

🎻 St John’s lunchtime recital: St John’s church concerts are back again this month with another free lunchtime recital. This performance will feature Romana Szczepaniak on violin and should make for a lovely Friday afternoon. This event is free and no booking is required.

Where: St John the Baptist

When: Friday 27 March, 1pm (snacks at 12.30pm)

🏎 Southside Hustle Classic Car Meet: This informal meeting of classic car owners in Wimbledon (and the surrounding areas) features a stunning array of cars — some of which are extremely rare. If you’re a petrolhead, or you just like the idea of a bunch of classic cars in one place, then head up to Wimbledon Village next Sunday.

Where: Wimbledon Common Southside near the farmers’ market.

When: Sunday 5 April, 8–11am

🎶 The Making Of ABBA: The Story Of The Band’s 1975 Breakthrough Album: Author Joe Matera is at Wimbledon Library, sharing the story of ABBA’s self-titled 1975 classic, from writing to global commercial breakthrough. The event is free but you’ll need to book a highly sought after spot here.

Where: Wimbledon Library

When: Tuesday 28 April, 7.30pm

This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️

The weather has been strange these past few weeks. Rain. Sun. Hail. Sun. Rain. Clouds. You get the point. With this sort of capricious weather, it makes sense to book an activity inside. Enter Caddi Club. If indoor golf sounds like your jam, then this is the place for you. And even if it doesn’t, you can still pop in for a bite to eat and something to drink (kids are also welcome!). Just click the button below to learn more and book your table or bay.

BOOK YOUR SPOT HERE

The Wimble’s guide to Easter 🐣

For the kids 🚸

Bach to Baby: The critically acclaimed concert for babies, toddlers and their parents or guardians comes to Wimbledon this Easter. Enjoy outstanding musicians and performances designed for the whole family. Tickets are £17.70 and can be bought here.

Where: Trinity United Reformed Church

When: Saturday 28 March, 3–3.45pm

Self-guided Easter egg hunt: Wimbledon Quarter is hosting a free family-friendly Easter egg hunt this year. All you have to do is pop into Wimbledon Quarter between 10.30am–4.30pm, head to the ground floor via the M&S or Boots entrance to collect your map, and then just follow the clues. This event is for children aged 3–12 years old (children must be accompanied by an adult to take part).

Where: Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 28 March, 10.30am–4.30pm

Free Easter craft workshops: Community markets, crafting activities, hatching chicks workshop, egg painting and Easter colouring, meeting the Easter Bunny and so much more! Over Easter weekend, the Quarter is hosting a variety of activities for you and the family. The only event that isn’t free is ‘Meet the Easter Bunny’ — as an A List name, there’s a price tag attached (tickets are £10 per child, which you can grab here).

Where: Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 28 March – Sunday 12 April

Puppet-making workshop: Wimbledon Museum and Habitats and Heritage are teaming up to host a puppet-making workshop this Easter. The children will get the chance to make a likeness of Sir Joseph Bazalgette, the famed (and local) 19th Century civil engineer. Punch and Judys just don’t cut it any more . Spaces are £5 per child and can be booked here.

Where: Wimbledon Museum

When: Friday 10 – Saturday 11 April, 10.30am–12.30pm / 1.30–3.30pm

Easter dance camp: Are you wondering how to keep your little ones entertained for the Easter holidays? No problem: these two days of dancing fun are suitable for children aged 3–12 years old. The camp costs £132 per child (so not the cheapest of Easter activities), but it promises to create some great memories, both for kids and relieved parents who can pack them off for a 48 hour stretch! Book here.

Where: St Mary’s Church Garden Hall

When: Thursday 9 – Friday 10 April, 10am–4pm

Best spots for some Easter grub 🍖

The Black Lamb: Break your Lenten fast at The Black Lamb this Easter. Their four-course Easter set menu comes in at a rather reasonable £54 per person. Expect mushroom Marmite eclairs, Sussex lamb saddle, wild fallow croquettes and a dark chocolate mousse pudding. Book your table here.

Hotel du Vin, Cannizaro House: Pop in to Wimbledon’s only Rosette-awarded restaurant and indulge in a spot of afternoon tea. Included are a selection of elegant finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, cakes, seasonal desserts and some complimentary Easter eggs for the little ones. It’s £29.95 per person – book a table here.

The Alexandra: No list would be complete without local favourite The Alex. If you’re looking for a classic slap-up roast, then this is the place. Come for the roast, stay for the atmosphere. Book your table here.

Orion: The new and very charming Orion is offering its own unique Sunday menu this Easter. Alex Webb’s latest venture has been receiving rave reviews, and for good reason. Check out their Sunday menu here to get yourself in the Easter mood, and book a table through their website (tables go fast, so I’d suggest booking soon).

Best of the rest 🎈

Love Wimbledon Easter market: Each market brings fresh finds and seasonal favourites, with new traders joining regularly. Whatever it is that you fancy, this market has it: from Bombay Delight’s award-winning curries to secondhand vinyl classics courtesy of So Pop Vinyl. This Easter, the market will also include origami making with Polka Theatre (Friday) and Easter wreath-making (Saturday).

Where: The Piazza, Wimbledon

When: Friday 3 – Saturday 4 April, 11am – 6pm

Easter holiday workshops at Polka Theatre: Holiday programmes include one-off workshops where children of different ages are invited to discover and explore creative art forms ranging from musical theatre through to puppetry and storytelling. This Easter, Polka’s workshops are inspired by the childhood classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. This playful music and storytelling workshop invites children and their grown-ups on an adventure filled with rhymes, sensory play and imagination. Tickets are £13 (each ticket is for both an adult and a child).

Where: Polka Theatre

When: Tuesday 31 March, start times vary

The Princess and the Pea: We all know the story. It’s a classic for a reason. But this production brings us the Let’s All Dance Ballet Company’s signature tight narrative, fantastic dancing, beautiful costumes and lovely music to tell the fairytale in a new and exciting way. Book your tickets via this link.

Where: New Wimbledon Theatre

When: Wednesday 1 – Tuesday 2 April

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: Separate from Polka’s Easter workshops, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt returns to Wimbledon after a hugely successful spring run in 2022. Little Angel Theatre brings Michael Rosen’s thrilling and funny adventure to life in this entrancing puppetry production directed by Peter Glanville and with music and lyrics by renowned singer-songwriter Barb Jungr. Book your tickets here.

Where: Polka Theatre

When: Wednesday 25 March – Sunday 12 April

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you when the first game at the new Plough Lane (Cherry Reds Record Stadium) played. The answer: 2020.

Q: Which of these films shot scenes locally?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you’ve enjoyed our suggestions for Easter and that you get yourself along to one of them. Do keep getting in touch with ideas for features, interviews and events. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.

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This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Eamonn Newell, founder of Swans FC. Swans FC offers women a chance to play football, regardless of their ability or age. Whether you’re 18 or 81, Swans has a space for you — and they just so happened to launch their Wimbledon branch earlier this year. Scroll down to hear all about their work and how women’s football is bringing communities together.

We’ve also got your usual news snippets, a lovely property of the week and some great recommendations for the days ahead.

Reader call-out: As the London Marathon approaches, we’re looking to hear from any locals that are running this year. Get in touch and tell us who you’re running for, if you’ve run before and how you’re preparing for it. Email zak@thewimble.com.

Other than that, happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🚇 Wimbledon’s District Line gets urgent improvements by TfL. As many of our readers are aware, the Wimbledon branch of the District Line can be patchy (and that’s being kind): signal failures, engineering works, misleading timetables. Writing in London Now, the MP for Wimbledon, Paul Kohler has voiced his frustrations with the line, saying, “The root of the problem lies in the signalling between Wimbledon and East Putney, which is several generations out of date. Unlike much of the District Line, which benefits from modern automatic train management, our branch remains a technological outlier.”

But according to the piece, work is due to take place over the next few months and should hopefully be in place by the summer.

🏃 Thomas Cheetham, who has lived locally for over 20 years, is running the London Marathon to raise funds for Alzheimer's Research UK. Cheetham’s father has Alzheimer's, which he called a "cruel" illness that takes away one’s personality. This is Cheetham’s 24th London Marathon — he first took part in 1991. To sponsor him and show your support, head to his fundraising page here.

🏗 Prime Minister Keir Starmer has asked Housing Secretary Steve Reed to investigate claims that Criterion Capital, owners of Britannia Point in Colliers Wood, has evicted large numbers of its tenants ahead of new renters' rights coming into effect. In PMQs last week, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, Dame Siobhain McDonagh, raised her concerns about the reported mass evictions and called on Starmer to address the situation. The real estate company, founded by Asif Aziz, has reportedly served notice against at least 130 tenants in recent weeks, according to this article in The Standard.

Property of the week 🏡

This five-bedroom detached home is in one of Wimbledon’s most sought after locations. Only a few minutes from Wimbledon Village and with an outdoor pool, it’s no surprise that this humongous property is on sale for £4.35m. Check out more photos here.

Ask The Wimble❓

You asked us “when will The Wimble publish another print edition?”

The answer: we’re going to launch another summer edition in June to coincide with the tennis. Keep your eyes peeled for call-outs and other print-related messages!

Keep sending your “Ask The Wimble” questions to zak@thewimble.com. We’re working through them as they come. If you’ve already asked a question, keep your eyes peeled for answers in the coming weeks.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎨

🎸 The Choir of Man: Welcome to the Choir of Man, the best pub in the world… at the New Wimbledon Theatre. The show features “a wildly talented group of incredible instrumentalists, world-class wordsmiths, and sensational singers, this cast of nine (extra)ordinary guys serves it all... live!” The show received a 5-star review in LondonTheatre1 this week and tickets are selling fast, so grab them here.

Where: New Wimbledon Theatre

When: Sat 14 – Sat 21 March

🥃 Azaline saffron vermouth and negroni sampling at Amathus: This weekend, Amathus Wimbledon welcomes Steve Drawbell, owner of Azaline Saffron Vermouth, for a free sampling session to celebrate World Vermouth Day. If you’re interested in a few samples, then get yourself down to Amathus this Saturday.

Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village

When: Saturday 21 March, 12–5pm

🥕 Wimbledon Village Farmers’ Market: The Village Farmers’ Market is one of Wimbledon’s weekly highlights. In fact, many restaurants use this market to source their produce — so you know you’re in good company. Get yourself along this weekend and pick up some groceries to cook a delicious meal.

Where: Wimbledon Village

When: Sunday 22 March, 10am – 3pm

🐝 AELTC: Weekend of Nature: Join the AELTC for a nature weekend, celebrating the season’s wildlife and the role that water plays in helping nature flourish (in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust). Join the nature safari walks to scout for “mini beasts” and wildlife, speak with the AELTC’s horticulture and grounds teams for advice on water-friendly plants, and find out how they harvest water for their grass courts. This event is free to attend and no booking is required.

Where: The Clubhouse on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course

When: Saturday 28 – Sunday 29 March, 10am – 1pm / 2–4pm

🐣 Easter at Wimbledon Quarter: Meet the Easter Bunny!! Join the Quarter for a magical Easter experience filled with storytelling, crafting and family fun. Tickets are £10 per child and can be bought here.

Where: Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 4 April, 11am – 5pm

A new women’s football club in the heart of SW19 ⚽️

Eamonn Newell created Swans Football to give women the opportunity to learn or return to the game in a safe, friendly and accepting environment. Women’s football has gone from strength to strength in the past few years, but plenty of women over 25 still feel a huge lack of opportunity, especially at an amateur level. Swans FC’s mission is to rectify that. Having launched in Twickenham three years ago, the project has expanded to other areas of South London: Chiswick, Richmond, Kingston, Barnes and Kew. And their latest addition just so happens to be on our doorstep in Wimbledon. I sat down with Eamonn to talk about the club’s story, aims and how football can bring communities together.

Take me back to where this all started. What made you launch Swans Football?

It all started when one of my daughters came back from school one day. She told me she was disappointed that she hadn’t been selected for the football team. It was the first I’d heard of her liking football! So I looked around our area, Twickenham, but there didn’t seem to be many clubs for young girls. I called a few, and they all said the same thing: “Get her along for a trial.” And I thought: “She’s never kicked a ball before. She doesn’t need to go to a trial and have a group of middle-aged men tell her that she’s not good enough to play. What she needs is for a club to take her on and help her learn.”

I asked my daughter if she had any friends who’d be interested in starting a club, and it quickly snowballed from there. Quite soon, I realised I had a responsibility to take coaching courses and equip myself with the skills to train these young girls. And so with the help of some other local dads, we started Twickenham Cygnets FC in 2015. Back then, it was just me, my daughter and five of her friends. Today that club has 350 girls and 26 teams, ages 5–16.

And how did Swans come about?

About three years ago, some of the mothers of the girls at Twickenham Cygnets FC approached me and asked if I could start a club for adult women. They spoke about the lack of opportunities and setbacks they faced whilst growing up. So I started the first adult Swans FC in Twickenham, unsure as to what the uptake would be. 40 women came to the first session! From there, I expanded to Chiswick, Richmond, Kingston and now Wimbledon. It’s been a really amazing experience. Today, we have over 100 women playing across the boroughs.

What does a typical training session look like?

We follow the same session plan across all venues. This way, if you miss one session, you can always drop into another one on a different day at a different location. A typical session is 10 minutes of warming up before going straight into technical practice. That might be something as simple as learning how to pass, or it might be something a little more difficult, like shooting or defending as a unit. These sessions are always an hour, and the last 20 minutes is where the women get to play a game, which seems to be everyone’s favourite part of the evening.

How do you think the women’s game has changed in recent years?

It’s interesting: I think perspectives vary depending on age. Any female footballer under the age of 15 tends to see football as a sport for them — there’s not really much of a sense that it’s “a boy’s game”. But I think anyone older than 15 still has a bit of that imposter syndrome: “Are we fully accepted into this world?” Amongst the Swans — all of whom are over 18 — there’s definitely a sense that they have been excluded from the sport in the past and that now there is finally a chance for inclusion and acceptance.

Talk to me a little bit about the impact of the Swans on the community.

I think it’s really all about bringing people together. Some of the players have spoken privately about their personal battles and how the club is a beacon for them. But it’s also been lovely to see new relationships forming. The Monday night group doesn’t have a session on a bank holiday, but they’ll still all meet up to watch a game or go to the pub. There’s a real social bond with the Swans.

On a personal level, it’s been beautiful to see the little moments week in, week out. It can be as simple as someone turning up to their first Swans session having never kicked a ball before, the sheer joy on a player’s face after scoring her first goal or the friendships and bonds that develop amongst a group of women from many different backgrounds, now united by their love of football and the sense of belonging that comes with being part of a community. It’s these little collections of moments that remind me why I do it.

Swans FC practice every Thursday (7.30–8.30pm) at Wimbledon High School, Nursery Road, SW19 4JA. The sessions are for anyone aged 18 to 81+. Bring your trainers or astros (no football boots). The first session is free, and then prices vary depending on uptake. Click here to register and read more.

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you what year the District Line in Wimbledon opened. The answer: 1889.

Q: When was the first game at the new Plough Lane (Cherry Reds Record Stadium) played?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition. I hope you enjoyed our feature on Swans FC! Do check out their website to get involved. And get in touch if you’re running the London Marathon by emailing zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time!

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This week, The Wimble visited Deen City Farm. The farm has been a free resource for our community since 1978 and is perhaps one of Merton’s greatest assets. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to run a project on a shoestring budget, and they’re currently looking for donations to keep the farm alive. If you have anything to give, please do take a look at their appeal here. And scroll down to read about my day with the goats, rabbits, cows and other lovely animals at their farm.

We’ve got your usual news snippets, a lovely property of the week and some great recommendations for the days ahead as the sun (hopefully) continues to shine.

It’s Mother’s Day this weekend, so if you have a special day planned, please do send in your photos with a little caption to zak@thewimble.com to be featured next week.

Other than that, happy reading!

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News snippets 🗞

⭐️ Ssam Ssam at 149 Merton Road, SW19, has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand, an award recognising restaurants that serve high-quality food at an affordable price. It was just one of 37 restaurants awarded a Bib Gourmand in February’s announcement. Check out the news here and the restaurant here.

🍺 The Old Frizzle has launched a new community beer, Legacy Lager, in aid of inclusive sport across London. Livelyhood, the parent company of The Old Frizzle (which owns several pubs in south London), says it marks a “meaningful commitment” to community, inclusion and sport. The beer will be rolled out across all of Livelyhood’s pubs, with 50p from every purchase of a Legacy Lager going towards South London Laces, a women’s and non-binary football club built on community and inclusion.

🛀 Rituals opened in Wimbledon Quarter yesterday at 10.30am. The shop embraces the art of soulful living and aims to be your compass for personal wellbeing. Their bath, body and home products are designed to help you connect and bring more balance to your body, mind and soul.

📊 Merton Council has passed its budget for the next financial year. From April, the main element of council tax will be frozen from April. However, the picture may not be as rosy as it seems. On the issue of council tax, Lib Dem Opposition Leader Anthony Fairclough said, “People may be relieved that it is not five per cent, but they still know they are paying more.” Check out MyLondon for the full story.

🕺 In a new interview for LondonNow, the founders behind Merton’s Dementia Discos have explained the origins of their impactful initiative. Siblings Kate Darby and Nick Shaw started the project when they couldn’t find a dementia-friendly music activity for their father. They then decided to launch their own Dementia Disco in 2019, moving online during the pandemic before going back to face-to-face meetings. Check out their website. The next disco is on Sunday 22 March from 2.30–4.30pm.

🤳 A mobile repair shop in Mitcham wants to become an ‘artisan boutique’ so it can sell alcohol. Vijaykumar Patel, the owner of the businesses at 256 London Road, initially applied for an alcohol licence in January. Concerns were raised by the police that an alcohol licence would encourage drinking on the street in an area already suffering from anti-social behaviour. A month later, Mr Patel changed course and introduced the idea of an ‘artisan deli’ that would still serve alcohol. However, in February, PC Avril O'Brien said, "My opinion is that only since I have highlighted the licensing policy around the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) exceptions have you now adjusted your business to fit." Read more here.

Property of the week 🏡

This three-bedroom flat set within a Grade II listed building was once the home of Sir Edwin Saunders, the esteemed dentist of Queen Victoria. It’s all about opulence with this property. Just look at the front facade of the building — it looks more like something the National Trust might own than a home. It’s the bay windows that do it for me. Just look at the view. But how much does this extravagant flat cost? No less than a cool £2.275m. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎁

🎨 Drawing Enchantment: Workshop: Join Wimbledon Museum Artist in Residence Alastair Gordon as he shares valuable tips for creating observational drawings, using artefacts from the museum as subjects. Break down complex forms into simple shapes, lines and tones, and discover how the process of drawing unlocks the enchantment found in everyday objects. Tickets are £20 per person.

Where: Wimbledon Museum

When: Saturday 14 March, 10.30am–12.30pm

💐 Rituals opening celebrations: Join Rituals for their opening celebration this Saturday and enjoy special treatments, exclusive offers and surprises. The first 50 guests who make a purchase on the day will receive a goodie bag filled with products from Rituals’s award-winning collection.

Where: Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 14 March, 10.30am

🕺 Broadway Boogie at YMCA: Join Broadway Boogie for our unforgettable, show-stopping musical megamix class. This is a high-energy dance fitness workout inspired by musical theatre from stage and screen. Learn iconic routines from legendary musicals like Grease, Six, Mamma Mia, Moulin Rouge, A Chorus Line and more. Book your spot here.

Where: 196–198, The Broadway

When: Saturday 14 March, 9.30–10.30am

🌷Free tulip giveaway for Mother’s Day: This Saturday from 10am–3pm (or until stocks run out), those visiting Wimbledon Quarter can pick up a free individually wrapped tulip to gift to a mum, grandmother, guardian or any special maternal figure who deserves a little appreciation. Tulips will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so the Quarter recommends arriving early to avoid missing out.

Where: Wimbledon Quarter

When Saturday 14 March, 10am–3pm

🥂 Nyetimber masterclass at Amathus: If you haven’t tried Nyetimber yet, what are you doing? It’s a heavyweight among the English sparklings, and this masterclass gives you the chance to sample their world-renowned selection, including the Tillington Single Vineyard and the 1086. Tickets are £45 per person.

Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village

When: Wednesday 18 March, 6.30–8pm

🐴 Holistic horse care: This is your chance to spend a calm 75 minutes connecting with horses in a safe and relaxed environment. The session begins with an introduction to horse behaviour, including flight instincts, body language, and how horses perceive their surroundings. Then you will move on to hands-on time with the horses, guided by experienced instructors, where you’ll learn the basics of safe handling and grooming, observe how horses respond to calm, consistent communication, and discover techniques that promote horse well-being. Note that there is no riding involved. Tickets are £40 for non-members. Book here.

Where: Wimbledon Village Stables

When: Saturday 21 March, 1.45–3pm

🍃 Great British Spring Clean Womble Walk: The Wombles Walk is a new fun family trail exploring the Commons and its landmarks, while litter picking along the way. Find all the hidden Wombles and you’ll collect a treat. You’ll even have the chance to meet one of the Wombles. Entry costs £3 per person.

Where: Home Burrow by the Ranger’s Office

When: Sunday 22 March, 11am–4pm

‘An oasis in the heart of an urban landscape’: A day at Deen City Farm 🐐

Deen City Farm has been serving the community of Merton since 1978. For almost 50 years, the farm has been a free oasis in the heart of an urban landscape, where children can interact with animals for the first time, young people can learn about the environment and adults can find a calm connection with nature in between their busy lives. The farm offers work experience for over 244 students a year, 64 per cent of whom identify as disabled. They also welcome over 146,000 visitors a year (for free), support volunteer opportunities for over 190 people a year — of those 43 per cent in 2023/24 were unemployed and 56 per cent identified as individuals with additional needs — and host students who have lost their desire or ability to thrive in the mainstream education system.

As a registered charity, Deen City Farm has faced financial pressures over the past few years, and it needs our help to continue its wonderful work. The farm has just launched its spring appeal — which you can donate to here — and is always on the lookout for donations. I still remember visiting Deen City Farm with my school when I was around 6 years old. And speaking to the team over email last week, I realised that I hadn’t been back since. A visit was long overdue, and so on Tuesday afternoon, I hopped on the 200 bus to pay our friends at the farm a timely visit.

It’s a bright Tuesday afternoon as I cross the River Wandle and make my way through the gates of Deen City Farm. I’m here to meet Roxanne Cullen, the leader of the farm’s visitor services teams. I find her in the office, where staff wander from room to room covered in hay and other bits of detritus from a hard day’s work. She introduces me to Maria Day, land and livestock manager, and the three of us make our way towards the edge of the farm’s five-acre boundary. The land we’re standing on is called Bunces Meadow and is owned by the National Trust, and the farm has been here since relocating in the 1990s.

Maria points at two cows lounging on a stack of hay. “That’s Meg and Brie,” she says. “They’re our Shetland cows. Are you catching the last rays of sun?” she calls out to them. “Like everything from Shetland, they’re a little bit smaller than your average cow — not that cows ever come in ‘small’. These girls are basically two big organic lawnmowers.” Roxanne explains to me that the overarching mission of the farm is education. Children, often those who have never had the opportunity to see livestock before, are taken on guided tours around the farm. They get the chance to interact with the animals, feed them and learn about the phases that different breeds of livestock go through.

“The children love the sheep and cows because that’s what they’re used to seeing in books, but the goats are always the most fun. Goats are basically like dogs. Each one has its own unique personality.” The farm has nine goats: six pygmy, two Golden Guernsey, and one Nubian — a big fella called Jet (also known as “bag snatcher” on account of his cheeky tendency to steal bags of feed from the hands of children). I notice a ram in a separate paddock. He’s staring directly at me. “What does this little guy want?” I ask. Maria points at the plastic ball between his hooves. “He thinks you want his treat box, so he’s showing you that it’s his.” On cue, the ram begins pawing the ground.

The three of us step inside the goat enclosure and immediately the goats flock around Maria. It’s clear that the staff at Deen City Farm has a special relationship with their livestock, a relationship that is often forged over many years of hard work and caregiving. Fox, a Golden Guernsey, walks towards me and Roxanne explains that all I need to do is put my hand out and stroke her. We spend a good five minutes chatting about the goats. They’re excellent climbers, mischievous and naturally inquisitive — a dangerous combination. “That’s why the climbing apparatus is in the middle of the enclosure. If we put it by the sides, they would just jump out and escape,” says Maria. She also tells me that you can always tell which goat is boss by the length of its beard. The longer the beard, the more authoritative the goat. To make sure hierarchy is maintained, the goats will bite the beard hairs off a lowlier member of their herd.

We leave the enclosure and wander past two donkeys that were previously fighting over a welly boot. Then I meet the ferrets, guinea pigs and Continental Giant Rabbits. The rabbits are only a year old but they’re significantly bigger than your average bunny. They’re a curious bunch, and after sniffing my coat, the fluffle decides that I’m alright. We then walk past the chickens — one of their rare breeds here is the Indonesian Ayam Cemani, a chicken with black feathers, skin, meat and organs — as well as a pheasant who doesn’t really seem to know what’s going on.

I ask Roxanne why she thinks the farm has managed to last so long. “A couple of years ago, we had a massive electrical problem where we lost a lot of electricity coming into the site. We were forced to ask the public for help, and what we found was that the farm really resonated with the local community. We had people writing in saying things like, “Please don’t go. We need you here. I’ve got memories from when I was a child of this place!” I think that’s what keeps us going. We’re part of the heart of this community. We’re free to enter, we’re always accessible — and we want to keep it that way. We’re next to one of the most deprived areas in the borough, and so we’ll always steer away from charging people to come here. It’s also why our riding lessons are subsidised.”

The riding school is a significant part of Deen City Farm. Joanna Henbrey has been running the school for 20 years, and with 12 horses and ponies, it’s no small operation. Lessons are offered to beginners as young as two years old and go all the way up to expert adult riders. They’ve even got RoboHorse: an equestrian simulator that helps people get to grips with horse riding if they don’t fancy getting on a living creature. I’m tempted to give it a go, but we’re running out of time.

After a few hours at Deen City Farm, it’s clear to me how important this oasis is for our community. The work that they do — which you can read even more about here — supports all of us, and will continue to support us for years to come if we support it in turn. Not everyone is in a position to give, but if you are, I urge you to have a look at their appeal and offer what you can. We’re incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful resource in our borough, not least at a time when cuts and closures across the capital are in abundance. And even if you can’t give, do treat yourself to a visit at the farm. It’s free, and it really is a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Deen City Farm is open Tuesdays–Sundays from 10am–4.30pm. Check out their about page to read more about the farm’s mission and the work they have already achieved.

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you which restaurant in Wimbledon has been awarded a Rosette. The answer: The Orangery at Cannizaro House, though I understand why many of you assumed it was The Black Lamb (their food is excellent).

Q: What year was the District Line in Wimbledon opened (clue: it was the same year that it opened in Wimbledon Park)?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you enjoyed our feature on Deen City Farm. Do pay them a visit if you get the chance, and donate to their appeal if you can. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.

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Great news! We’ve broken our 10K subscriber mark. Thank you to all of those who have shared and supported our mission so far! None of this would have been possible without you.

This week, we sat down with Diana Sterck, CEO of Sustainable Merton, to discuss what environmental action looks like at a local level. Scroll down to read about the triumphs and tribulations of running an environmental charity in 2026.

Britannia Point in Colliers Wood has been in the news these past few weeks, as it has been reported that the residents of the high-rise are being evicted en masse. According to London Centric, Criterion Capital, owned by billionaire Asif Aziz, is issuing residents with Section 21 notices, also known as “no fault” evictions. Scroll down to read about the latest updates. If you or anyone you know has been affected by this recent news, don’t hesitate to get in touch: zak@thewimble.com. I have already received an email from one reader voicing her concerns for what this means for the borough.

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Other than that, we’ve got your news snippets, a lovely new-build property of the week and some great recommendations for the days ahead. Keep sharing and subscribing if you haven’t already.

Call-out for readers: as Mother’s Day is coming up, we’re looking to champion the amazing women in our borough. If you’d like to nominate your mother or another woman that you know, then get in touch and tell us why: zak@thewimble.com.

News snippets 🗞

🌆 Are the tenants of Britannia Point being “mass evicted”? Private tenants in the block have told outlets that they had been given two months’ notice as part of a spate of “no fault” evictions, also known as Section 21 notices, which are set to be banned from 1 May under a new tenants’ rights bill. Britannia Point is owned by Criterion Capital, a company controlled by billionaire landlord Asif Aziz. An email sent to one tenant confirmed that Aziz was seeking “vacant possession of the entire building”. In other words, it was rumoured that all tenants were to be evicted, despite being up-to-date on their rent and keeping their property in good condition..

Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development in London, wrote to Aziz directly, urging him to rethink the move. Copley said, “To evict tenants shortly before the implementation of the Act would be a short-sighted and cynical attempt to bypass the rules and show a disregard for the very spirit of this much-needed legislation.”

On Monday 23 February, it was reported that Aziz and Criterion had made a U-turn. Residents of Britannia Point received door-to-door visits from representatives of Criterion Capital, who told them that their “mass eviction” was just “rumours”. It was later revealed that the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, had written to Aziz personally to ask him to stop the mass evictions: “The right to a good, safe and stable home is fundamental and I am steadfast in my opposition to the use of Section 21 no-fault evictions, let alone their potential use on a mass scale,” said Khan. Last week, London Centric sent their reporter to knock on the doors of Criterion’s Delta Point high-rise in Croydon. After visiting more than 200 flats, their reporter found a vast number of units that had been vacated by private tenants in recent days, suggesting that Criterion’s mass evictions were already underway and happening across London. Merton Labour councillor Stuart Neaverson has called the Aziz family “the cruellest landlords in London” and that the “attempt to put so many people onto the streets is reminiscent of something from Dickensian times.”

It’s unclear what all of this means for the residents of Britannia Point; the tenants facing eviction say it’s up to Sadiq Khan to take the lead and put a stop to this. Whether he can remains to be seen. Follow London Centric’s ongoing updates here to stay in the loop about the situation.

Note: If you or anyone you know has more information about the reported mass eviction of Britannia Point, then let us know by emailing: zak@thewimble.com.

🍷 Vallebona has launched a 12-seat counter for intimate dining alongside its deli, retail and wine operations. Check out this article in Restaurant to read more about the expansion.

🎥 The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour will visit the New Wimbledon Theatre on Wednesday 16 November. It promises to be a night of heart-racing storytelling through short films about climbing, mountain biking, kayaking and more. Read more about it here.

Property of the week 🏡

This four-bedroom new build is rather stylish, don’t you think? I’m used to new builds looking devoid of character, but this one has charm, from the jacuzzi bathtub to the Japanese-style garden. This house is part of Olias Court, a boutique development of 6 apartments and 3 houses just minutes from Raynes Park station. But what’s the price? This particular property will set you back £1.3m. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🎉

🎤 The Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella: The biggest a cappella competition in the country will be hosted at the New Wimbledon Theatre this year! This is the competition that supposedly inspired the hugely popular Pitch Perfect films. Whoever wins on the New Wimbledon stage will have the chance to advance through the competition, singing off against the top groups in each region for the chance to be crowned World Champions on a Broadway stage in New York. Tickets range in prices and can be bought here.

Where: New Wimbledon Theatre

When: Saturday 7 March, 7pm

🎶 Magnificat! Academy Choir Wimbledon: The Academy Choir Wimbledon with the Academy Baroque Players will perform a feast of choral music, including pieces by JS Bach, CPE Bach and Buxtehude. Tickets are £20–35 for adults and £5 for under-18s and students.

Where: St John’s Church, Spencer Hill

When: Saturday 7 March, 7pm

🖌 Meet Jack Frame at Clarendon Fine Art: Renowned for his striking portraits, Jack captures the beauty, strength and subtle intricacies of nature with vivid colour and meticulous technique, celebrating the quiet drama of the natural world and the shifting moods of the seasons. Get yourself down to the lovely Clarendon Fine Art venue to check his work out!

Where: Clarendon Fine Art

When: Saturday 7 March, 1–3pm

🚴‍♀️ Cycle marking or registration scheme event: We know bikes are stolen across the borough all the time — this is the case for most parts of London. But what can we do to deter thieves? Well, you can start by visiting the Village Ward Police team this Sunday and getting a free theft-deterrent bike marking.

Where: Village Ward Police stall at the Farmers Market

When: Sunday 8 March, 10–11.30am

🐉 Bhutan: Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon: The Buddhist kingdom Bhutan is known as Druk Yul, the Kingdom of the Thunder God. This lecture by Zara Fleming journeys through the history, art and culture of this extraordinary country. In recent decades, the kingdom has undergone significant change, and this lecture poses the question: will Bhutan be able to maintain the fine balance between tradition and modernity without diminishing its culture? Members go free and tickets for everyone else are £10. Grab them here.

Where: The Sacred Heart Church Hall

When: Wednesday 11 March, 7.30pm

🥕 Wimbledon Village Farmers’ Market: It’s that time of the week again! Pop on your wellies, flat cap, best Barbour jacket and make your way up to the village this weekend for a chance to pick out the best local produce.

Where: Wimbledon Village High Street

When: Sunday 15 March, 10am–3pm

Through the eyes of Diana Sterck, CEO of Sustainable Merton 🌿

Founded in 2007, Sustainable Merton is a charity that’s dedicated to promoting sustainable living across the borough. It’s a community-led charity that has had a deep and meaningful impact on locals since its foundation. In 2017, Diana Sterck took over as CEO. Since then, she has stacked up a long list of achievements: launching Merton’s “Community Fridge” in 2020; planting 8,000 pollinator-friendly plants and bulbs across the borough with the help of Merton Garden Streets volunteers; setting up the “Preloved Studio” to reduce textile waste, save money and give old clothes new life for residents across the borough.

In short, Diana Sterck has led the charity to achieve great things. But what does environmental action look like at a local level? How does one’s economic situation affect their ability to live sustainably? What are the challenges that a charity such as Sustainable Merton faces? And crucially, what can we do as locals to help out? I sat down with Diana last week to find out.

Straight in with a big question: what does sustainability look like at a local level?

It can be tricky to understand sustainability at a local level. We all get distracted by global policy, fossil fuel emissions and current affairs. What we have to do is drill down and ask ourselves what we can do as individuals or businesses at a local level. If we all made small changes in our lives, that combined effect would be quite substantial. For us, it’s all about getting the community involved and understanding what the effects of our behaviours have on the environment and the people around us. But in terms of what sustainability means: sustainability is simply about leading better lives, respecting our environment and actually living lives that are more affordable. So much of the world we live in is about money. But we can actually save a lot of money by changing our behaviours at a local level: growing our own food, volunteering and not buying so many new clothes, for example.

And how does sustainable living at a local level work in practice?

I think making local connections and having more of a circular economy are crucial. Someone’s waste material may be someone else’s core material. So much of our waste can be repurposed by someone else. I think food miles are also particularly important. We needn’t import food from thousands of miles away when we can potentially grow our own produce or source it locally.

Do you think the education around sustainability is better now?

I think young people are pretty clued up about the environment and climate change. In fact, I’d wager that it’s young people influencing their parents for the better. But I do think sustainability as a concept is still quite niche. We tend to behave collectively: we still buy coffee in throwaway coffee cups that can’t be recycled; we still buy new clothes and throw them away with the slightest tear.

What are some of the powerful wins that you’ve had in our community?

We’ve had a lot of success in stopping textiles from going into the waste stream, and we’ve done this by influencing people to repair, repurpose or swap their clothes. One of our biggest achievements has been the Community Fridge, which we run out of Morden Baptist Church twice a week. We launched that in 2020. The idea is simple: one person’s surplus food is another person’s meal. We have a team of volunteers that collect food that would otherwise be thrown away but is still safe to eat. We tend to collect this food from supermarkets, restaurants and local cafés. Our focus is primarily on people who can’t afford the weekly shop. In the last year, we’ve distributed 63,000kg of food that would otherwise end up in the waste stream. That’s equivalent to 153,000 meals across the borough.

And what are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a local charity?

As a charity, we have to leverage funding that is either grants or donations. In that sense, we’re only as good as the money we get. It can also mean that our projects are a little stop-start. But I think another key challenge is changing people’s behaviours. Air quality is a good example. We know that the air is polluted, but I don’t think the majority of people know just how bad it is. And we can have a huge impact in reducing pollution on a personal level by switching our car engines off when we’re picking up the kids from school or just slowing our driving speed down. A key challenge for a local charity like ours is that we can’t affect change on a global or corporate level. Corporations will keep packaging produce in wasteful plastic, for example, and it’s really only the government that can stop that.

Do you think disparate economic factors across the borough make it harder for some people to lead sustainable lives?

Most definitely. The life expectancy in Wimbledon is 10 years higher than in Mitcham. That’s a stark statistic. It may have got a little bit better over the past 15 years, but not significantly. And in some of the poorer areas of the borough, we see higher rates of pollution. We’re very lucky to have electric buses serving the majority of the borough, but in those areas with weaker transport links, we see higher rates of petrol emissions, which in turn negatively impacts the lives of local residents. It’s really important that we support those parts of the borough that need more help.

For someone reading this who is new to sustainable living, what can they do right now to make an active change in their life?

I think it’s about asking a person what’s important to them. Do you spend too much on clothes? Have you got clothes that you could wear with a bit of repair? Come along to one of our drop-in sessions and see what you can do with just one item of clothing. Is your toaster or kettle not working? Don’t throw it away; bring it to one of our Repair Cafes. In terms of food, if you’re concerned that there are people in the borough without access to good produce, come and volunteer with us and you’ll be making a difference. We’re very accessible, we’re very friendly and we’re very diverse at Sustainable Merton. I would just say come along to something that appeals to you; join us in the garden, walk around, observe nature and feel good. You don’t even have to do any gardening. But taking the action to do something that makes us feel better about ourselves and our community is really what sustainability is all about.

If you’d like to get involved or learn more, head to Sustainable Merton’s website here.

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Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you what road Wimbledon Fire Station is now located on. The answer: Kingston Road.

Q: Which restaurant in SW19 has a Rosette award?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. If you have any ideas for features or stories, get in touch with zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.

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Last week, I attended a celebration in honour of Bob Stone, who was a firefighter at Wimbledon’s Fire Station in the 1970s. We interviewed Bob last year — read the piece here — and I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to highlight his story again. Scroll down to read about Bob’s achievements and to see a few snapshots from the evening.

We’ve also got your usual news snippets, a fantastic property of the week and loads of recommendations for the coming days.

As Mother’s Day is coming up, we’re looking to champion the amazing women in our borough. If you would like to nominate your mother or another woman that you know, then get in touch and tell us why: zak@thewimble.com.

Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🚨 Luke Brereton, 40, from Mitcham, was fatally stabbed on The Broadway in Wimbledon’s town centre on Sunday. Police officers were called at 12.37am and attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service. Sadly, Brereton died at the scene. Amar Zaraf, 35, from Kingston, has been arrested and charged with murder and possession of a bladed article, appearing at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Monday 23 February. The first image of the victim was released earlier this week.

🏗 Neighbours of the disused gasworks in Motspur Park fear redevelopment plans for the site could cause a “nightmare” for locals. Gas firm SGN and developer Berkeley Homes submitted plans to demolish the three gasholders to make way for five apartment towers containing 586 homes. Some local residents say that the buildings would be too tall, overlook people’s homes and change the character of the area for the worse. They have also claimed that the development would threaten wildlife, including peregrine falcons, bats, newts and slow worms. Read more about the situation here.

⚒️ A £12 million cable upgrade is making electricity supplies around Wimbledon and Wandsworth more secure. The upgrade reinforces two major substations in south west London and will supply electricity to more than 57,000 residents (including businesses). The first circuit has already been energised, and the second is due to be turned on in the summer. Once complete, the circuits will form an 8 kilometre route between Wimbledon and Wandsworth. Read more details here.

🚓 Two boys aged 15 and 17 were rushed to hospital after being stabbed in Mitcham last Thursday evening. The 17 year old was found in Lindsey Close at around 6.40pm and was rushed to a major trauma centre in an unknown condition. Another 999 call later came in at 7.05pm reporting a second boy, aged 15, with stab wounds on Radnor Close. He was taken to hospital, where his injuries were deemed not to be life-threatening. Two men, 19 and 22, were later arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Read more about it here.

🇰🇷 A Korean-themed waiting room has been unveiled in New Malden station in recognition of the area’s Korean diaspora: the largest, most concentrated community of its kind in Europe, with an estimated 20,000 people of Korean heritage (hence it being nicknamed “Koreatown”). The reopening coincided with the Lunar New Year — known as Seollal in Korea — which is considered one of the country’s most important holidays. The waiting room has an illustration by artist Meekyoung Shin, as well as a sign in the modern Korean writing system, Hangul. Click here to see some photos of the new room.

This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️

Caddi Club is back with a new deal for the Six Nations! A burger and a pint is just £17 on any given match day. Of course, if rugby isn’t your thing, you can still pop in for a spot of golf, a bite to eat and something to drink. Just click the button below to learn more and to book your table or golf bay.

BOOK YOUR SPOT HERE

Property of the week 🏡

Just looking at the floorplan for this five-bedroom detached home gives me the spins. This place is huge; we’re talking Dallas big. Built in 2002, it’s just a few minutes from Cannizaro House and the common. While it may have an air of landed gentry, the inside of this house is about as modern as they come: Honeywell Evo heating, air conditioning, a media room, a 4K projector and a 65’ 4K OLED TV. To top it off, take a look at that separate garage at the front of the building — it’s bigger than most flats. With all of that considered, it should come as no surprise that this house is listed for £5 million. Check out more photos here.

Ask The Wimble❓

You asked: Do you know of any new openings in the town centre?

Answer: The Wimble got in touch with Craig Hurring (Chief Executive of Love Wimbledon) who recently attended the London Borough of Merton’s Wimbledon Community Forum. He confirmed with us that there will be 10 new openings. Here’s a list of the confirmed brands coming within the next year:

1. Rituals

2. Primark

3. Barclays

4. Office (the shoes retailer)

5. Wellface

6. Pitter Potter Cafe

7. Pizza Pilgrims

8. New hotel (name tbc)

9. Offices at 247 The Broadway

10. Fortius Private Hospital.

Do keep sending in your questions to zak@thewimble.com with the subject heading: Ask The Wimble

The Wimble’s to-do list 🌳

🏺 Exhibition: Objects of Enchantment: This exhibition encourages visitors to look closely at how the ordinary becomes the extraordinary. What happens when a simple object is lifted from daily life and placed on a museum plinth or turned into a painting? Local artist and artist in residence Alastair Gordon turns his eye to the museum’s collection, reinterpreting familiar objects and inviting viewers to reconsider what makes something worthy of attention, revealing how context, perception and imagination can turn the mundane into the marvellous. This event is entirely free and is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2.30–5pm.

Where: Wimbledon Museum

When: Friday 6 February – Sunday 29 March

🎻 The Jigsaw Players: String Quintets and Art: The Jigsaw Players will be joined by Alison Clarke, a Wimbledon-based landscape artist who was chosen to appear on Sky’s Landscape Artist of the Year 2026. On the programme are Mozart, Bruckner and Brahms. Tickets are £15 (£5 for students and under-18s go free). Grab them here.

Where: Christ Church, West Wimbledon

When: Saturday 28 February, 7.30–9.30pm

🧺 Love Wimbledon monthly market: Each market brings fresh finds and seasonal favourites, with new traders joining regularly. Whatever it is that you fancy, this market has it: from Bombay Delight’s award-winning curries to secondhand vinyl classics courtesy of So Pop Vinyl.

Where: The Piazza, Wimbledon

When: Saturday 28 February – Sunday 1 March, 11am – 6pm

🏎 Southside Hustle Classic Car Meet: This informal monthly gathering of classic car owners in Wimbledon Village features a stunning and eclectic array of motors, some incredibly rare. And even if you don’t own one, it’s still worth making the journey to watch.

Where: Wimbledon Common (the village end near the farmers’ market)

When: Sunday 1 March, 8–11am

🌳 Wimbledon Common Nature Club: Trees: This March get-together is all about trees — children will try bark rubbing and learn how to identify different trees across the common. The club’s events are suitable for 6–14-year-olds, and parents are welcome to come along too. Note, these events are free but donations are always encouraged.

Where: Information Centre, Windmill Road

When: Sunday 1 March, 10am – 12pm

🥩 The Black Lamb x Vallebona Supper Club: For one night only, Oliver Gladwin welcomes Stefano Vallebona into the Black Lamb kitchen for a special supper club event. The menu brings together local and wild cooking with Vallebona’s Italian soul as well as some Japanese flair woven in along the way. Think relaxed, thoughtful cooking: fresh pasta layered with mushrooms and truffle and a main course that feels quietly indulgent without being showy. Tickets are £64 per person and can be booked here.

Where: The Black Lamb

When: Wednesday 4 March, 5–9pm

📚 Magic Quests presents World Book Day: Come and celebrate World Book Day at Merton Arts Space with a special bookish mash-up by Magical Quests. These are not quite the stories you think you know… What happens when Goldilocks enters the wrong house or Puss in Boots gives up his boots? Expect surprises, mischief and mayhem at this free event for children aged four and up.

Where: Wimbledon Library

When: Friday 6 March, 4.30pm

Celebrating a Wimbledon hero 🍾

Last April, The Wimble met with Robert (Bob) Stone for a piece about his life in Wimbledon and his service as a local firefighter in the 1970s. The interview generated a huge amount of positive comments and feedback, and we selected it as a piece for our summer print edition that year (you can read the full article here). A few weeks ago, I received an email from The Fire Station Café with the subject heading “Bob Stone — Fireman Thank You”. It was an invitation to an event celebrating Bob and the other firefighters who worked at The Fire Station Café when it was still an active station. I hadn’t seen Bob since our initial meeting last year, and I was keen to catch up with him and shine a light on the hard-working members of our community (retired or not) who have helped to keep our borough safe. Here is how it went.

Our reader base has nearly doubled since we first ran Bob’s story, so for those of you who are new, I thought it might be wise to recap Bob Stone’s life and achievements. Here’s the very abridged story.

Robert (Bob) Stone was born in Wimbledon in 1947. After leaving school at 14, he took on various jobs (including at the London Stock Exchange) before joining the London Fire Brigade in 1974. He worked in fire stations all over London — from New Malden to Fulham — but was instrumental in his service at Wimbledon’s fire station in the 70s.

When Bob was fighting fires in Wimbledon, the brigade’s equipment was nothing like it is today — for one, their rescue kits were only a fraction as practical as they are now. While house fires were the bread and butter of firefighting in the 70s, Wimbledon had its fair share of big fires too. Much of the Wimbledon brigade’s time was spent fighting fires at the old Merton Board Mill — apparently the mill stacked its paper very tightly, which was often the cause of a fire.

But even when Bob was off-duty, he was still fighting fires. When we met last year, I asked him to recount his “proudest moment” serving the community: “There used to be the Manor Club on Kingston Road. Now it’s a block of flats. I was off-duty and drinking there one day with a colleague from the Fulham station.” The day in question was barrel delivery day, and as Bob and a colleague enjoyed their beers, the smell of smoke began to creep up from the cellar. “We went to the cellar door, opened it, and the smoke came billowing out.” The cellar man, known to locals as Paps, was down there. Bob sprung into action, his firefighter brain taking over, and managed to get through the smoke to rescue Paps. When Bob retired years later in 2000, the London Fire Commissioner sent him a personal letter. In that letter, the commissioner drew special attention to Bob’s heroism that day when he was off-duty and drinking at the Manor Club.

A few weeks back, I attended a morris dancing session with the Wimbledon Greensleeves. There, I got talking to a member of the troupe called Tim Edwards. Sitting down in between dances, Tim leaned over and said, “I’ve been reading The Wimble. I was particularly interested in the story you ran about Bob Stone, the firefighter. I used to know Bob… we’re talking 40 years ago. We used to drink at the Manor Club on Kingston Road. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him; it was nice to find out that he’s doing well.”

At this point, I was already aware of the celebration happening at The Fire Station Café in Bob’s honour. Speaking with Tim, a thought occurred to me: “Why don’t you come to The Fire Station Café on the 18th? We’re doing a celebration for Bob and the brigade members. Come along! You can see if he remembers you after all these years.” Tim was more than happy to accept my invitation.

Twelve days later, in the pouring rain, I made my way to The Fire Station Café to see Bob again. I arrived a little early. Bob was already there with two other ex-members of the Wimbledon Fire Station as well as his family. The café had laid out a beautiful platter of food — though the cake was the real showstopper.

Bob introduced me to some of the other firefighters. Each of them regaled me with stories about their time in the brigade: different departments, the old teleprinters with their green and red lights, the shoddy equipment in London compared to other, smaller stations across the country. It was also interesting to learn that other firefighters across the UK were met with hostility from the local community when the first strike began in 1977. Not in Wimbledon: I recalled how Bob told me that the reception in SW19 was far kinder. In fact, the Alexandra pub (a favourite among locals even then) served the firefighters pints during the strike.

Tim arrived not long after me. I watched as Bob pointed at him and said, “Hang on, I remember you. How do I remember you? Where do we know each other from?” And then I continued to watch as the two of them swapped stories about the Manor Club and their lives since then. Forty years is a long time, but it’s also just yesterday for those that remember it.

It was a beautiful evening, and a reminder that we need to celebrate our local heroes. There’s not much more that needs to be said than that. Without events like these, the stories of our community are often lost or misremembered. Every area is rich with history, but as people move in and move out, we are prone to forgetting it.

Bob’s story touched a lot of our readers when we ran it last April, and we’d love to run more of these kinds of pieces. So I’ll take this opportunity to once again ask if anyone would like to nominate a local hero for a feature in our newsletter. If so, click the button below and drop me an email.

Other than that, let’s hear it for Bob, a real local hero.

NOMINATE YOUR LOCAL HERO

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you what the tallest building in Merton was. The answer: Britannia Point in Colliers Wood.

Q: What road is Wimbledon Fire Station now located on?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition. I hope you enjoyed our recap of Bob’s story and the snippet from his celebration at The Fire Station Café. If you know of any local heroes, get in touch: zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great week and we’ll see you next time!

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This week, we’ve hit the streets of Wimbledon to ask locals how they feel about the imminent closure of the Wimbledon police station front desk. We’ve also got your usual news snippets, a great property of the week and some fantastic recommendations for the weeks ahead.

We’ve answered a recent Ask The Wimble question below. If you have questions about the area, do get in touch by emailing zak@thewimble.com with the subject line “Ask The Wimble”.

We’re still on the lookout for great local heroes. Thanks for your nominations so far! If you or anyone else might be a good fit for a story, get in touch.

NOMINATE YOUR LOCAL HEROES

Other than that, happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🚑 A person was left fighting for their life last week after an incident at Raynes Park station. Emergency services were alerted shortly after 10am on Wednesday 11 February after reports of a casualty on the tracks. Police later confirmed that the person’s injuries were life-threatening and that they had been rushed to hospital. Read more here.

🎾 Wimbledon has said that it will keep its backstage cameras despite players voicing their concerns. Debate about their use was sparked after Coco Gauff was filmed at the Australian Open this year smashing her racket in frustration after her quarter-final defeat to Elina Svitolina. After the video quickly went viral, Gauff said that she “tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera, because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets”. But despite concerns, Wimbledon highlighted the benefit of having backstage cameras in warm-down areas, while stressing that it was aware of the need to prioritise players’ welfare. Read more about the situationhere.

🎭 The Bodyguard is officially mid-run at the New Wimbledon Theatre. You probably know the songs. You probably know the highs and lows. You probably even know how it ends. But you still want to see it again anyway! Grab your tickets here.

This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️

Caddi Club is back with a new deal for the Six Nations! A burger and a pint is just £17 on any given match day. Of course, if rugby isn’t your thing, you can still pop in for a spot of golf, a bite to eat and something to drink. Just click the button below to learn more and to book your table or golf bay.

BOOK YOUR SPOT HERE

Ask The Wimble❓

You asked: What is happening with Crossrail 2?

Answer: Unfortunately, not very much. Whilst there has been renewed excitement for the project (see here and here), Crossrail 2 remains largely unfunded and deprioritised. It’s also worth noting that the Elizabeth line (Crossrail 1) missed its original opening date by four years and went £4 billion over budget. There is a preferred route for the proposed Crossrail 2, but this remains unconfirmed (see image below).

If you have any questions about the area, send us an email with the subject line “Ask The Wimble”: zak@thewimble.com. These questions can be about anything: Do you know when X bus route will return? Do you know how many strawberries are consumed at Wimbledon each year? Do you know when X restaurant is opening? These questions are entirely up to you.

ASK THE WIMBLE

Property of the week 🏡

Well, what do we have here? This five-bedroom terraced house, just off The Broadway, is only a brief walk to Wimbledon and South Wimbledon station. So far, I’ve counted three fireplaces (but there could be more), and I’m particularly fond of that exposed brick in the kitchen-dining room. This particular home will set you back £1.195m, which, for Wimbledon, is not beyond the pale. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 🐶

🍷 Wine tasting: Rosé champagne and sparkling wines of the world: This is for the pink fizz lovers among us. Rosé champagne is actually rarer than many of us realise, and it can come in many different styles and shades. This tasting will showcase six different wines from vineyards in France, New Zealand, England and more, paired with nibbles from Jeroboam’s deli range. Tickets are £40 per person — reasonable, when you think that a glass of champagne will set you back £20 in most central London bars these days.

Where: Jeroboams, Wimbledon Village

When: Friday 20 February, 6–7.30pm

🐶 Puppy yoga: Yes, this is as adorable as it sounds. And what’s more: you don’t even need to have a puppy to attend! This yoga session is all about reducing your stress and anxiety as well as helping the little pups to socialise. If you want to know which puppies will be in attendance, check out Puppy Yoga’s socials. Tickets are £35 and can be bought here.

Where: 12–14 Hartfield Rd

When: Sunday 22 February (at various times)

👩‍👦 Calm Parenting: Understanding Stress and Emotional Regulation: This webinar offers a space to explore why moments of stress between parents and children can happen and how to respond with a sense of calm and connection. The webinar will be hosted by Dr. Kerri Walster, who specialises in supporting families with children under the age of 10. This event is entirely free and can be booked here.

Where: Online

When: Tuesday 24 February, 10am

🩺 Prostate health webinar: Register for this free Prostate Health Webinar from Nuffield Health and hear their specialists discuss revolutionary treatment options for an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. You can get guidance from specialists, understand your treatment options and hear real patient stories. Book your spot here.

Where: Online

When: Thursday 26 February, 7pm

🍰 Love Wimbledon monthly market: Each market brings fresh finds and seasonal favourites, with new traders joining regularly. Whatever it is that you fancy, this market has it: from Bombay Delight’s award-winning curries to secondhand vinyl classics courtesy of So Pop Vinyl.

Where: The Piazza, Wimbledon

When: Saturday 28 February – Sunday 1 March, 11am – 6pm

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Wimbledon police station is closing its counter: What does this mean for you? 🚨

The news broke at the end of January that Wimbledon and Mitcham would lose their police counters. In a letter published on Friday 30 January, the Met confirmed that neither station will retain a public-facing counter. The closest 24/7 police counters will now be in Charing Cross and Lewisham. London Now reported that these closures breach a previous commitment made by the Mayor of London that every London borough would retain at least one 24-hour police counter. But it seems they’re going ahead nonetheless. This week, we hit the streets of Wimbledon to ask locals how they felt about this.

Kristine (manager of The Fire Station Café)

Personally, I think the counter’s closure is ridiculous. People need the option to go inside the police station and speak to someone about the issue they are having. It’s really important to have the option of face-to-face interaction because people feel safer that way. Let’s just hope the police station stays open as a whole — we have police now, and people still feel unsafe in this area. If the police station closes, I think crime will only get worse.

Bob

The crime round here is not as bad as other areas in London, but we still have crime: bikes, violent attacks, theft. I remember a time when people were arrested and held in the cells at the police station before being taken to the courts down the road… all on the same day! My worry is that this is just the start of them closing the whole station down. And what will we do then?

Ed

To be fair, I haven’t had to use the police station’s counter apart from one time when I was handing in a lost wallet. But whilst it probably won’t affect me personally — and hasn’t impacted my life so far — I think it’s a shame. I think it’s important to have someone you can speak to in person for a lot of people.

Elizabeth

People want to fight this decision. Now all we can do is ring 999 if we have a problem. And in the past I’ve popped in and used that counter. It’s sad that it’s gone. I also think that people are starting to feel as if they can’t affect anything. Locals have tried to keep the counter open, but no one has listened.

James

I don’t actually think it’s a huge issue. I rarely use the counter, if ever. What’s more important is that they retain their operational presence in the area. I think we should focus on just keeping the station open. That said, I do recognise that this will make admin a lot harder for people. The nearest 24/7 counters being in Charing Cross and Lewisham is definitely a nuisance.

Marc

If they closed the whole station, that would be terrible for the area. I think even with the counter closure, it’s still a problem. To know you have somewhere and someone to talk to if a problem arises is very important. Think about the people who live alone, particularly the elderly, who rely on that service. Younger generations are used to calling up the police and getting a reference number, but I fear that older people will take that as being fobbed off. Having a counter also gives a calming presence to the area. Think about the smaller retailers who can’t afford security — being able to walk in and report an incident is something that they need. Regardless of whether or not the closure makes a massive difference, perception will now be that there is less of a police presence in the area, and I think that quite a few people will see this as the precursor to the station closing entirely.

Laura

I’ve just moved to the area, so it is a bit frustrating. I don’t really know why they’ve decided to close it. It’s doing far more good than harm, so it seems unnecessary to get rid of it. Having a counter gives you a certain feeling of safety and security, and it’s annoying now that it’s gone.

If you have any thoughts about the station closing, do drop a comment below.

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Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you which Wimbledon pub won the CAMRA South West London Pub of the Year in 2025. The answer: the Sultan (they also won in 2023).

Q: What is the tallest building in Merton

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. Do keep sharing our newsletter with friends and family. If you have a story that you think is right for The Wimble, get in touch: zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.

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This week we’ve got something a little different for you. Last Friday, I popped down to Victory Road in South Wimbledon to dance with the Greensleeves Morris Men. This year marks their 100-year anniversary, and so it seemed fitting to check them out and see what’s kept them going this long. Scroll down to read all about their colourful history and to watch a few clips of me learning the dances.

We’ve also got your usual news snippets, some great recommendations for the weeks ahead and another wonderful property of the week.

CALL OUT FOR READERS: We’re looking to interview some local heroes with great stories. We’re not stuck on any theme yet, so do get in touch if you or someone else might be right for a story in The Wimble: zak@thewimble.com.

Other than that, happy reading!

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News snippets 🗞

🏃‍♀️ A major new half-marathon is set to launch in our borough! The new closed-road event is set to come to Merton thanks to a collaboration between Merton Council and the Great Run Company, and will launch in the spring of 2027. Thousands of runners will take on the 13.1-mile route, which will take them through Morden, Wimbledon and Mitcham. Runners of all ages and abilities are welcome, from those who are starting their running journeys to experienced athletes. Read more here.

👨‍🏫 Teaching assistants and school support staff in Merton are to be balloted for strike action over long-standing pay discrepancies. The staff receive London Weighting at the Outer London rate, however, their teacher colleagues in the same schools receive the higher Inner London rate, which works out at a difference of £1,400 per year per employee. The GMB’s members’ ballot will open on Friday 27 February, with any action to take place in the run-up to the upcoming local elections in May. Click here to learn more.

💝 Wimbledon Quarter’s Valentine’s Day hamper competition will close at 11.59pm tonight, so enter now whilst you can! One lucky winner will win a luxurious hamper filled with luxurious treats, romantic date-night (or mate-date!) experiences and exclusive gifts all from inside Wimbledon Quarter – with a total value of over £1,500. Included in the prize: The M&S Collection Hamper & selection of Valentine’s treats from M&S Simply Food, The Duchess Valentine’s bouquet from Blooms Wimbledon, a £100 voucher for 601 Queens Road, 2x 10-Day Experience Passes at STRONG Pilates, 50x Free Coffee Vouchers from Urban Baristas and much, much more. Click here to find out how to enter.

🍷 Local gem Artisans Depot have launched their new wine club. Sign up to receive a case of six different wines to your door on a regular basis with a 15% discount off normal prices. They have three options: monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly. To join the club, email artisansdepotwimbledon@gmail.com.

This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️

Caddi Club is back with a new deal for the Six Nations! A burger and a pint is just £17 on any given match day. Of course, if rugby isn’t your thing, you can still pop in for a spot of golf, a bite to eat and something to drink. Just click the button below to learn more and to book your table or golf bay.

BOOK YOUR SPOT HERE

Property of the week 🏡

This three-bedroom Victorian terraced house is a fine example of what Wimbledon has to offer. Located within the Poets, it’s perfect for those wanting a bit more space while remaining close to central London. I’m a big fan of that Juliet balcony too. But how much? This home will set you back £799,950. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list

🎻 Bring Up the Music Love: This Valentine’s concert explores love in all its forms — and in all genres of music. Ten exceptional performers will perform pieces in genres as diverse as classical, jazz, country, folk, rock and pop. Tickets are £25 and can be bought here.

Where: St John the Baptist

When: Thursday 12 February, 7–9pm

🥃 Valentine’s Day Whisky and Wine Tasting: Amathus in Wimbledon Village will be hosting various free wine and whisky tastings this Valentine’s Day weekend. There will be the award-winning whisky bottler the Heart Cut, natural wine tastings and even some sweet wine tastings. Click here to check out timings and events.

Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village

When: Friday 13 – Saturday 15 February

💪 The Little Gym Valentine’s Day Special Sessions: Join The Little Gym this Valentine’s for two themed sessions for babies and toddlers. Expect fun activities, movement sessions, refreshments and more. “Toddler’s Valentine’s” is from 10–11am and “My Berry First Valentine’s” is from 11.15am–12.15pm. Tickets are £25 per child and can be booked here.

Where: The Little Gym, Wimbledon Quarter

When: Friday 13 February

🥳 February half-term “Love Camp” with Planet Art: Sign your kids up for these four heart-filled days of arts and crafts where creativity, kindness, and colour take centre stage. Your kids will dive into the world of hearts, happy vibes, and imaginative fun. This half-term camp is suitable for children aged 4–9. Each day costs £65. Sign up here.

Where: The Garden Hall, St Mary’s Church

When: Monday 16 – Thursday 19 February, 9.30am–3.30pm

🐴 Holistic horse care: This is your chance to spend a calm 75 minutes connecting with horses in a safe and relaxed environment. The session begins with an introduction to horse behaviour, including flight instincts, body language, and how horses perceive their surroundings. Then you will move on to hands-on time with the horses, guided by experienced instructors, where you’ll learn the basics of safe handling and grooming, observe how horses respond to calm, consistent communication, and discover techniques that promote horse well-being. Note that there is no riding involved. Tickets are £40 for non-members. Book here.

Where: Wimbledon Village Stables

When: Saturday 21 February, 1.45–3pm

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Dear England at the New Wimbledon Theatre: Dear England tells the uplifting, at times heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring story of Gareth Southgate’s revolutionary tenure as England manager. After winning an Olivier Award for its run at the National Theatre, the show comes to the New Wimbledon Theatre at the end of February for a limited time. Grab your tickets here.

Where: New Wimbledon Theatre

When: Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 February

My evening with Wimbledon’s Morris Men ⚔️

Greensleeves Morris Men was formed in 1926 in central London, though their first performance was actually in Wimbledon. In 1980, they permanently relocated to SW19. The troupe has danced all across the country and beyond, going as far as Northern Europe and even Canada. Many of our readers have probably seen the Greensleeves in action on The Piazza or around the local pubs with their piano accordion, pipe and tabor, handkerchiefs and sticks. A few weeks ago, the Greensleeves’ squire, Neil Barrett, got in touch to talk about their centenary celebrations. Over coffee, we decided that it might be fun if I were to pop my head in one Friday evening for a little dance practice. So last week, that’s exactly what I did. And let me tell you, it’s a lot harder than it looks.

It’s a Friday night at the end of a very long, very wet week in London. I’m on my way to South Wimbledon Community Association Hall to meet with some morris dancers — not a sentence I’m used to writing.

The Greensleeves are already getting started when I enter the rehearsal room. Neil, my contact in the troupe, greets me immediately with a warm smile. The rest of the group follow suit. In honour of the dancing side’s name, I’ve decided to wear a green roll neck, though Neil assures me that it doesn’t matter what I’m wearing so long as I’m comfortable. “Shall we start with a warm-up dance?” asks Neil.

We launch into a rhythmic routine that involves timed clapping and slapping of various limbs. I’m ashamed to admit this, but I was already out of breath by the time the warm-up ended. (This might be a sign that I need to reinstate my gym membership.) What strikes me immediately is the camaraderie of the group. There’s light-hearted banter from the get-go, but also an overwhelming sense of support. It was clear that every person in the room wanted me to enjoy my time as much as possible.

The first dance I learn is called Balance the Straw. We start with the sticks. For those of you unfamiliar with traditional morris dancing, sticks and handkerchiefs are predominantly used in a form known as Cotswold Morris. The Greensleeves in Wimbledon mostly dance in this style, though they also dance another form known as Longsword, from North East England. But we’ll get onto the swords later.

The Greensleeves show me a polished performance of the dance first before taking me through the movements step by step. It starts simply enough with the chorus: I take a stick, bang it on the ground twice, clash twice (hit my stick against another dancer’s), bang it on the ground twice again, and then clash three times. A member of the group plays the melody to Balance the Straw on a pipe, which keeps us in time — though he kindly plays it slower than usual for my benefit. Neil tells me not to worry about the footwork for today: “If you can get the movements and the clashing right, then you’re already doing a great job.” There are more moves to the dance, but I’ll let the video below explain the rest.

After we finish and I’ve understood the moves, I get a few minutes to catch my breath before we’re back in with a rendition of Blue Eyed Stranger, only this time using handkerchiefs. This is probably a personal thing, but I find them far harder to use than the sticks. The moves to the dance are exactly the same, but something about handkerchiefs throws me, and my timing is a little off. But the Greensleeves are patient and encouraging, and after a while I get there — though I think I’ll have to come back for a few more practices before I share a video of that routine.

I take a seat. I might have worked up a sweat, but I’m having too much fun to care. The dancers then get ready to practise the Longsword form. Six beautiful swords are removed from a bundle and given to the dancers. Neil tells me that they contacted an armourer in Whitstable to make the swords — like something from the days of yore. I sit this routine out; I don’t fancy mistakenly impaling myself or, worse, anyone else on a random Friday evening in South Wimbledon.

Morris dancing has been around for at least 500 years — the earliest records of the tradition date back to the mid-15th century — but most people only know it for bells, handkerchiefs and brightly coloured costumes. People don’t tend to think of swords when they think of morris. But they should. The Longsword routine is incredibly intricate: towards the end of the dance, each morris man holds the hilt of his sword and the tip of his neighbour’s sword and weaves over and under until the blades form what is known as a “lock” (see image below). After the routine is finished, one of the dancers jokes, “It’s all done with magnets.” I can assure you, it is not.

By this point, I’m really getting into it: as unorthodox as it may be, it’s one of the best Friday nights I’ve had in months. Before the practice finishes, the Greensleeves decide to teach me one last dance called Vandals of Hammerwich. It’s the hardest dance of the evening, as it involves multiple movements and the swapping of positions. But I’ve got good teachers, and by 10pm — which is when a practice session usually ends — I’ve managed to do a full run-through without making a complete fool of myself. When the practice is over, the Greensleeves invite me to the pub. This is part of their Friday tradition, and I’m more than happy to oblige. We make the short pilgrimage to The Sultan, one of Wimbledon’s finest pubs (and a CAMRA winner, for the beer lovers among us). The Greensleeves have a rule: if you come to practice and learn a dance, they’ll buy you a pint. I’ve learnt three. We sit around a table, and I listen as the group shares stories about their dancing over the years: the journeys, the friends made, quaint small villages in the far reaches of England, the history, the tradition and the importance of the folk revival scene in the late 1960s and early 70s.

“You’re welcome any time, Zak,” says Neil. “If you just want to pop in on another Friday for a dance, please do. That’s what we say to anyone who wants to join in: there’s no pressure, we’re free, and we’re open to everyone.”

I take my time enjoying the three pints of bitter at The Sultan: my aching legs tell me I’ve earned them. And I’d urge anyone who wants to meet some friendly faces, hear some wonderful stories and have a dance to get in touch with the Greensleeves and pop down to South Wimbledon one Friday to check them out. You won’t be disappointed.

2026 marks the Greensleeves’ 100-year anniversary. They practise most Friday evenings from September to April and then spend the summer months travelling around different areas in south London to showcase their routines. If you want to learn more about the troupe or to see their upcoming events, head to their website here.

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I presented you with a list of celebrities and asked which one was born in Wimbledon. The answer: Davina McCall.

Q: Which pub won CAMRA’s South West London Pub of the Year Award in 2025?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition. If you or any of your friends are interested in getting involved with the Greensleeves, get in touch with them here. Do keep sharing The Wimble with your friends, family and neighbours — we’re inching ever closer to that 10,000 weekly subscribers mark. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.

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This week, we’ve interviewed Alex Edmans, an award-winning academic and economist best known for his second book, May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics and Studies Exploit Our Biases - And What We Can Do About It. Edmans moved to Wimbledon in 2022 and wrote a large chunk of this book in Wimbledon Library — so we sat down with him to discuss how we, as locals, might find ourselves victims of our own biases and what we can do about it. Scroll down to hear his perspective.

We’ve also got your usual news snippets (including some very important news about Wimbledon and Mitcham’s police counters), some great recommendations for the weeks ahead and a beautiful property of the week.

As always, please do share The Wimble with your friends and family, and subscribe if you haven’t already. We’ve seen a lovely increase in subscribers over the past week, and we’re just a few hundred readers away from breaking that 10,000 mark!

Other than that, happy reading!

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This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️

Fancy yourself as the next McIlroy? Or maybe you just want to take your frustrations out on the driving range. Either way, Caddi Club is the place for you. At Caddi, you can learn at your own pace. It doesn’t matter if you’re a golfing aficionado or a novice (like me); there’s room for everyone. And if you’re feeling thirsty or peckish, they also have an excellent selection of food and drinks.

BOOK YOUR SPOT HERE

News snippets 🗞

🔒 The Met Police counters in Wimbledon and Mitcham are set to close on Saturday 28 February. In a letter published on Friday 30 January, the Met confirmed that neither station will retain a public-facing counter. The closest 24/7 police counters will now be in Charing Cross and Lewisham. The possibility of closure has been on the cards for some time, and local residents have already made their opinions clear. Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler (and his fellow Merton Liberal Democrats) have campaigned to keep the police stations open, launching a petition that has already received thousands of signatures. Despite this, it appears the plan to close both counters is going ahead. London Now reports that these closures breach a previous commitment made by the Mayor of London that every London borough would retain at least one 24-hour police counter. Click here to read more.

📚 The headteacher of Hall School Wimbledon has pledged to lead the school into a new “era of excellence”, according to this interview with the Wimbledon Times. Jack Tyson — who was appointed permanent headteacher after a period as interim headteacher — said, “There is a magic here, created by the people, the ethos and the care that runs through every aspect of school life.” The school was founded in 1991 and is a non-selective independent day school for boys and girls aged 7–18. Click here to read more about Tyson’s plans.

💞 Wimbledon Quarter’s Valentine’s Day hamper competition is now live! One lucky winner will win a luxurious hamper filled with luxurious treats, romantic date-night (or mate-date!) experiences and exclusive gifts all from inside Wimbledon Quarter – with a total value of over £1,400. Included in the prize: The M&S Collection Hamper & selection of Valentine’s treats from M&S Simply Food, The Duchess Valentine’s bouquet from Blooms Wimbledon, a £100 voucher for 601 Queens Road, 2x 10-Day Experience Passes at STRONG Pilates, 50x Free Coffee Vouchers from Urban Baristas and much, much more. Click here to find out how to enter.

🚇 Have you ever wondered how the Northern line got its name? Well, wonder no more. A recent article in the Londonist outlines the process that took place in 1926. It also contains details of a suggested alternative: as the Bakerloo portmanteau of Baker Street and Waterloo had proved to be popular, some suggested the Northern line should follow suit. One person, responding to an article in the Express, argued that Balhamstead would be a fitting name: “The two districts honoured [Balham and Hampstead] are probably the most important at each end of the line, and the name is more informative than any combination of the names at the terminus stations." Click this link to read more.

Property of the week 🏡

The sheer size of this garden is what does it for me; that and the charming log burner in the living room. Then again, that summer house isn’t too shabby either. Situated on a leafy street just a few minutes away from Colliers Wood tube station, this four-bedroom home is perfect for those wanting space in a quieter area with access to central London. What’s more, you’re only a stone’s throw from Merton Abbey Mills and the brilliant new restaurant Black Radish, which we featured a few weeks back. But how much? This modern home comes in at £1.25m. Not cheap, but hardly the most expensive property in SW19. Check out more photos here.

The Wimble’s to-do list 💘

🏺 Exhibition: Objects of Enchantment: This exhibition encourages visitors to look closely at how the ordinary becomes the extraordinary. What happens when a simple object is lifted from daily life and placed on a museum plinth or turned into a painting? Local artist and artist in residence Alastair Gordon turns his eye to the museum’s collection, reinterpreting familiar objects and inviting viewers to reconsider what makes something worthy of attention, revealing how context, perception and imagination can turn the mundane into the marvellous. This event is entirely free and is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2.30–5pm.

Where: Wimbledon Museum

When: Friday 6 February – Sunday 29 March

🏉 Six Nations: Are you wondering where to go to watch the Six Nations this year? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of some of the best spots showing the games this year: The Alexandra, Wimbledon Quarter’s courtyard, Fire Stables, Rose & Crown, Caddi Club, The Old Frizzle, Crooked Billet, Dog & Fox and the Prince of Wales.

Where: See list

When: Thursday 5 February – Saturday 14 March

🍷 Prams & Pinot wine tasting: It’s been a while since we’ve featured the fan-favourite Prams & Pinot at Friarwood Wines. Learn about four seasonal wines accompanied by light nibbles in a relaxed and informal environment with plenty of pram space. Because why not start your week with a glass of wine? After all, you only live once. Tickets are £25 per person and can be booked here.

Where: Friarwood Wines

When: Monday 9 February, 1.30–3pm

🚨 Cuppa with a Coppa: This regular session is your chance to sit down with members of the local police force to ask questions and have your voice heard. The initiative is entirely free and no booking is required.

Where: Rose & Crown

When: Thursday 12 February, 10–10.45am

🐴 Wimbledon Village Stables Open Day: Once again, you have the chance to explore the yard, meet the horses and see how everything runs behind the scenes. It’s also a great chance to learn about membership options for the serious riders among us. No booking is required and the event is entirely free; just bring yourself!

Where: Wimbledon Village Stables

When: Saturday 14 February, 2–3pm

💋 Valentine’s Day at 601 Queens Road: We featured this last week, but it’s worth reminding our readers who have yet to make plans for Valentine’s Day. Spend the most romantic day of the year at 601 Queens Road enjoying a three-course menu with thoughtfully cooked dishes designed for sharing time. For £45 per person, choose from dishes such as Brixham crab tart and braised ox cheek vol-au-vent. Click here to view the menu and book your table.

Where: 601 Queens Road, Wimbledon

When: Saturday 14 February

📚 Waterstones Book Club: This month, head down to Waterstones on The Broadway to discuss February’s book, The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce. The story centres on four siblings who gather at their recently deceased father’s lakeside villa in Italy. They soon encounter their father’s secrets, their new stepmother and parts of themselves.

Where: Waterstones, The Broadway

When: Thursday 26 February, 7–8pm

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‘A statement is not a fact’: In conversation with author and academic Alex Edmans 📈

Alex Edmans is a bestselling author, economist, academic, professor and, among other things, a Wimbledon local. Edmans is the author of two books — Grow the Pie (2020) and May Contain Lies (2024) — and has spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos and testified in Parliament. He’s written for the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and Harvard Business Review, and been interviewed by Bloomberg, BBC, ITV, Reuters and Sky News, among others. In short, he has quite the CV.

Edmans and I made contact around six months ago to discuss his previous work and his relationship to Wimbledon. We finally sat down in January to discuss his research on biases, data, business and how we can apply his theories on a local level. Here is how it went.

I think we ought to start at the beginning. You’ve had an incredible career so far: where did it all start?

I grew up in Berkshire and went to a school founded on Montessori principles. It was an education based on asking questions. They encouraged us to challenge everything. We didn’t wear uniforms, you called your teacher by their first name, and the overarching idea was to lead the answer out of a student rather than instil it in them. I then went to St Paul’s on a scholarship. I’d wake up at 5.30am every morning to catch the bus to Hammersmith Bridge and walk across to school. This was a very different education in comparison to my primary school, but I’m incredibly grateful for it. I was also the only boy in my year to study English and Economics at A-level (the other two were Maths and German), and that’s largely why I studied Economics and Management at Merton College, Oxford.

I think the two subjects complement one another: you have a theory, and that theory is not set in stone — we can both see the same data and one of us could think taxes should rise and the other could think taxes should fall. We can have a respectful conversation, and the two of us can walk away having learned something.

My first job was in investment banking in Canary Wharf, and whilst it was a good job, I felt the bandwidth of my contributions was limited. I then decided to become a professor, and I studied for my PhD at MIT Sloan before taking on a professorial position at Wharton. But I wanted to apply my research to the UK, so I moved back home in 2013, took on another position at London Business School and then wrote my first book in 2020. I moved to Wimbledon in 2022 and wrote the majority of my second book from here.

Your second book, May Contain Lies, is about misinformation. There is so much information (and misinformation) online these days — how do we navigate that locally?

People tend to reduce one big problem to a single statistic. Take crime in London, for example: we can take the big crime stats from each borough, but we often don’t consider population density or other contributing factors. I think it’s really important to be curious. We have to ask why a question is being asked and try to understand what we’re looking at. On the point of information overload, I think the issue is not so much about being online but about getting your information from unreliable sources. We tend to curate what we see online, which then feeds into this sense of confirmation bias.

May Contain Lies discusses your theory of the “Ladder of Misinference”. Can you explain what that is and how we can apply it locally?

Before I wrote May Contain Lies, I read many, many books on misinformation. They were all great. In fact, they were so good that they went on to list the 259 ways in which we can be misinformed. But the average person is not going to remember 259 ways of being misinformed when digesting information. I wanted to break misinformation down into four points, and I chose the ladder because when we start from a statement and draw a conclusion, we are essentially climbing a ladder. There’s also the famous expression of the “Ladder of Inference”, so it was a wordplay on that. So essentially I break down how an individual can be misled through four steps. Here’s how we might apply them in our community:

1. A statement is not a fact. In a local context, it might be said that a person was “mugged down the street by a person who is from a certain ethnic background or of a certain appearance”. We have to ask what the evidence is behind that statement. We have to make sure we check the facts.

2. A fact is not data: it may not be representative. Whilst this person may have been mugged by someone who is from a certain background, has the overall crime rate fallen? What percentage of crimes committed were committed by people who are from this background?

3. Data is not evidence: it may not be conclusive. Even if you do have large-scale evidence, is it correlation or causation? Does it happen to be that more people from this background live in the area for a specific reason? At the same time, has the crime rate gone up for a different reason?

4. Evidence is not proof: it may not be universal. Even if something is true in one particular case, it may not always be the case. Even if something is true in New York, it may not be true in London.

Your first book, Grow the Pie (a Financial Times book of the year), argues that businesses do not need to choose between making a profit and serving their community. How can we apply that idea in Wimbledon?

Making profit and serving one’s community are not mutually exclusive concepts. In the local sense, it’s best not to think about what you can get out of your business but how you can benefit your community — even if you don’t see a way of monetising that benefit. The best goals are often pursued indirectly. Profit can be a by-product of fulfilling a community purpose. Say, for instance, a local food business decides to give its excess produce away to the homeless at the end of every day; while it may not be economically profitable, the benefits can hit you in unexpected ways.

Let’s flip it around for a second and look at it from a consumer’s point of view: what is the value of shopping locally and supporting independent businesses?

I think it’s important to stress that not everyone should feel morally obliged to shop at local independent shops when there is a cost-of-living crisis. If that cost-of-living crisis is biting for someone, then they must do what is affordable for them in order to put food on the table. For those of us in a more privileged position, of course it’s important to support our local independent businesses. For instance, I buy from Wimbledon Books in the village. I could buy from Amazon, which is cheaper and more convenient, but that’s not the point. It’s about a 45-minute round trip to Wimbledon Books for me, but I take my kids, and it becomes an outing. I remember recently giving my son my card and letting him tap on the card reader to buy his sticker book. Every time he uses that sticker book, we remind him that he “bought it”. Sometimes we have to look past what is convenient and cheaper when supporting our community.

Alex Edmans’s new book, The Madness of Markets: How Smart Investors Make Crazy Decisions – And How To Exploit Them, will be published by Penguin Random House in September this year. Check out his website here and make sure to pick up a copy of his previous books at your local bookshop.

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Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you which famous director (from a list) once called Wimbledon home. The answer: Ridley Scott.

Q: Which of these celebrities was born in Wimbledon?

You’re up to date 👋

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition and our in-depth interview with Alex Edmans. Please drop a comment below if you have any suggestions for upcoming events or ideas and everything in between. As always, drop me a line at zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time!

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Thank you to the hundreds of readers who have already filled out our survey. There’s still time to have your say before we take a look at the responses. Just click HERE — it only takes a few minutes.

This week, we have an interview with British ballet dancer Bayley Webster. Webster will be performing with Varna International Ballet at the New Wimbledon Theatre next month for three nights with three exciting shows: The Nutcracker, Cinderella and Swan Lake. I sat down with him to talk about life as a ballet dancer, performing at the New Wimbledon Theatre and what it’s like to tour so extensively.

We’ve got your usual news snippets this week, a ridiculously opulent property of the week and some great recommendations to see you through the following two weeks.

As always, if you want to get in touch, just email zak@thewimble.com.

Happy reading!

This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️

The weather has been horrendous this past week, and many of us are seeking activities indoors. Well, look no further than Caddi Club at Wimbledon Quarter. Golf is easier (and often more fun) than you think! At Caddi, you can learn at your own place, get real feedback, play with friends and build up your confidence, one swing at a time. And even if you’re hopeless at golf, Caddi has a fully stocked bar and a menu of delicious nibbles and larger meals. They’ve also got the launch of their new shop, Lemonade Golf Club, this coming weekend. Make sure you get yourself down there for your chance to win a £1,000 cash prize with a hole in one attempt.

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News snippets 🗞

🏡 Nearly 150 properties that have been approved to be built in Mitcham will be bought by Merton council for use as social housing. The planned development at the old Mitcham Gasworks had previously been stalled, but the council’s cabinet was able to approve the project last week. The council has also secured funding from the Greater London Authority to help buy nearly a quarter of the homes, so work on site will start sooner than planned. The homes will be built by St. William, part of Berkeley Homes Group. When finished, around a quarter will be bought and managed by the council, to be rented to local people in need of housing. According to the local authority’s press release, “The housing crisis has been caused by factors outside the council’s control – such as rising private rents. As a result, there are more than 10,000 households on the council’s housing register — a 10 per cent increase in the last five years.” Click here to read more.

👋 It looks like Wimbledon has lost one of its celebrity residents. Ant McPartlin, better known as one half of the iconic duo Ant & Dec, moved his family out of their Wimbledon home last November following a highly publicised dispute with his neighbours. In February 2024, it was revealed that Ant and his wife Anne Marie were granted permission to cut down six trees that were protected by a Tree Preservation Order. Neighbours then accused McPartlin of seeking permission to fell healthy trees. As a result, a new plan was submitted wherein the trees would not be cut down, but an existing garden studio would be extended to form a gym, study, games room and studio. Despite all of this, a representative for the star confirmed that McPartlin and his family had moved out for “family reasons” and not because of planning issues. Read more here.

🎉 Soul II Soul, The Hoosiers and Billy Nomates have all been announced as the first major acts for Start of the Line, Merton’s brand-new music, arts and culture festival. Acclaimed local rapper and songwriter RAMZ will also curate and perform on the Mitcham Dreamer Stage, and famed musician Jah Wobble, who has a long connection to the borough, will be delivering a unique performance with special guests. The festival will take place at Morden Park and tickets are £20 per person (children 12 and under go free).

💰 A new witness reward scheme in Merton has been launched in a bid to crack down on fly-tipping. Residents who provide information leading to fly-tippers getting fined could receive up to £200, according to this press release. The council said, “Fly-tipping is criminal behaviour… The scheme builds on the Council’s wider work to crack down on fly-tipping, including nearly doubling the number of waste enforcement CCTV cameras used to catch fly-tippers, many with night-time capability and automatic number plate recognition.” Residents who personally witness fly-tipping can report it by either completing the council’s online fly-tipping form, emailing details to waste.enforcement@merton.gov.uk, or calling the council’s contact centre on 020 8274 4901 and selecting environmental enforcement.

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Property of the week 🏡

The sheer size and location of this six-bedroom home is jaw-dropping, though I think there’s a lot more that could be done with the interior. That said, I wouldn’t touch that beautiful wooden staircase and chequered floor. But what will a six-bedroom home in leafy SW19 set you back in 2026? In this instance, it’ll be a cool £4m. Check out more photos here.

Through the eyes of a ballet dancer at the New Wimbledon Theatre 🩰

Bayley Webster was born in Northam, England, in 2000, and joined Varna International Ballet in 2023. The company is now in the middle of its tour, arriving at the New Wimbledon Theatre next month for three unique performances: The Nutcracker, Cinderella and Swan Lake. The Wimble sat down with Bayley this week to talk about performing at the New Wimbledon Theatre, life on the road and what it takes to be a professional ballet dancer.

Let’s start with a little bit about you. When did you know that you wanted to be a professional ballet dancer?

I never had the intention of being a ballet dancer when I was really young. In fact, I used to play for a football academy. On Saturdays, my sister would go and do two hours of dance class: ballet and jazz. And every Saturday, I would go with her and sit outside and wait. Without fail, the dance teachers would invite me in, but I’d think: “Oh no, boys don’t need to do ballet. That’s a bit strange. I’ll stick to my football, thanks.” But it got to the point where I thought: “Do you know what… I want to give this a go.” I started off with some jazz lessons, which I enjoyed thoroughly, and then I went on to tap dancing. Ballet was the one I approached last, and it was the one I fell in love with the most.

So from about the age of six, I started to do ballet. I was lucky enough to be invited to different retreats and programmes — even travel. And then there was this moment, I think I was about 14 or 15, where my parents said, “You know, you really ought to start thinking about what it is you’d like to do for a job.” I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a job. My parents pointed out that I seemed to love my dancing, [and that] there was a workplace for it and I could make a living from it. After doing some extensive work looking into professional training programmes, I realised it was what I wanted to do. And I haven’t stopped since.

What is it like to be a touring dancer? Is it gruelling at times?

I think we’re very lucky in this company. We’ve got a lovely tour bus, all the hotels we stay at have excellent facilities, and the team makes sure we get some proper recovery between shows. One of the most important things about our tour is the company’s physio. Let’s say you’ve got an acute pain in your hamstring; we’ve got someone we can go to directly, and she’s available pretty much 24/7. So when you have those days where you’re feeling 80% yourself, she’s there to help you get back to 100% for those really important shows. I also love touring. It’s taken me across the world. I’ve been to Mexico, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus… all of Europe and South America. Being able to see the world, and do so for your job, is such a privilege.

Do you get much time to explore the places you perform in?

It really depends on the day and the place. If it’s a double show day, we usually have about two or three hours to look around a city or a town. Some days are busier than others, and we only get about an hour and a half to eat, rest and give notes to the other cast taking over the evening show. I’ve performed at so many theatres across the UK that I struggle to keep up with knowing where I’ve been, but I’m pretty sure this is my first time visiting Wimbledon.

For our readers heading to one of your shows next month: What roles will you be playing?

So each ballet has multiple casts — this is to make sure that everyone gets an opportunity and that everyone has some time to rest. But in Swan Lake, I’m doing the Waltz and Mazurka; in The Nutcracker, I’m performing as the Rat King, Clara’s father and Drosselmeyer; in Cinderella I’m one of the clocks and bees, and I’m also in the ball scene — so Cinderella is probably the most intense for me.

Which of the three shows is your favourite?

I personally enjoy Cinderella the most. We’re performing Sergei Prokofiev’s adaptation. I think his concept and the way he’s thought about how to use the music is superb. He’s a very, very intense composer, and that shines through in his score.

And finally, do you have any advice for our Wimbledon readers who might be aspiring dancers?

One word — and it’s a word I run through every day before I go to work — and that word is “discipline”. Ballet is not something that you can do without giving 100%. There has to be an understanding of your craft and your body, and that takes discipline. Everything from your ankles to your knees to your hips needs to be symmetrical. Everything needs to be on point. I find that the word “discipline” encapsulates both the fight and the fun of a career as a ballet dancer.

Varna International Ballet will be at the New Wimbledon Theatre for three nights. Click the button below.

Monday 9 February — The Nutcracker

Tuesday 10 February — Cinderella

Wednesday 11 February — Swan Lake

BOOK HERE

The Wimble’s to-do list 🍷

🦐 Pintxo evening at The Artisans Depot: The Artisans Depot will become a Spanish-style pintxo bar once more! If you have never been to the Basque Country, now is your chance to sample some of their incredible cuisine from the comfort of SW19. The pintxos will be prepared by Ralph, who many of our readers will be familiar with for his tapenade and hummus. It’s a first come, first served basis, but you can reserve a table by emailing the bar (artisansdepotwimbledon@gmail.com) or getting in touch via their Instagram.

Where: The Artisans Depot

When: Friday 30 January, 6–10.30pm

🍋 Lemonade Golf Club Shop launch event at Caddi: Join the Caddi Club team this Saturday for their official launch of the Lemonade Golf Club Shop. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or new to the sport, expect a high-energy evening of golf, drinks, DJs and competitions in one of SW19’s most unique social venues. There’s even the chance to win a £1,000 cash prize with a hole in one attempt.

Where: Caddi Club, Wimbledon Quarter

When: Saturday 31 January, 6.30pm

🦜 Wimbledon Common Nature Club: Bird Feeders: The nature club meets once a month to host events for 6–14 year olds. Parents are of course welcome to attend as well. On the first day of February, the children are invited to feed the birds of the common. The event is free, though donations are welcome.

Where: Information Centre, Windmill Road, Wimbledon Common

When: Sunday 1 February, 10am – 2pm

🍷 California wine tasting at Jeroboams: Experience some of the hugely diverse wines of the Golden State. If any of you have seen the brilliant film Sideways, you may remember the infamous line about merlot. But have no fear, for Californian merlot is actually very delicious. See for yourself! Tickets are £45 per person and can be bought here.

Where: Jeroboams, Wimbledon Village

When: Friday 6 February, 6–7.30pm

⭐️ Ruby’s Worry at Polka Theatre: “Ruby had always been happy, perfectly happy… until one day… she discovered a worry… Ruby tries and tries to get rid of her worry, which grows bigger and bigger! Eventually she meets a boy who has a worry too. Together they discover that everyone has worries, and that if you talk about them, they never hang around for long!” Through the use of live music, song, puppetry and physical theatre, Ruby’s Worry takes the audience on an adventure based on the beloved book by Tom Percival. Tickets can be bought here.

Where: Polka Theatre

When: Wednesday 11 – Sunday 22 February

💕 The Little Gym Valentine’s Day Special Sessions: Join the Little Gym Wimbledon this February for Valentine’s Day specials, with two themed sessions for babies and toddlers. These sessions are gentle, sensory-led and full of movement – perfect for making special memories. Expect fun activities, refreshments and more! Click here to book and for more details on age suitability.

Where: The Little Gym, Wimbledon

When: Friday 13 February, 10–11am and 11.15am–12.15pm

💋 Valentine’s Day at 601 Queens Road: This is one for the lovebirds. Spend your Valentine’s Day at the chic and, if I say so myself, sexy rooftop bar at 601 Queens Road enjoying a three-course menu for £45 per person. Thoughtfully cooked dishes designed for sharing time, from Brixham crab tart or smoked duck breast to roasted cod with mussel chowder or braised ox cheek vol-au-vent. Click here to view the menu and book your table.

Where: 601 Queens Road, Wimbledon

When: Saturday 14 February

Question of the week 🔍

Last week, I asked you in what year the Wimbledon Windmill was built. The answer: 1817.

Q: Which of these famous directors lived in Wimbledon for a time?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. I hope you enjoyed our interview with Bayley about his upcoming shows at the New Wimbledon Theatre. If you haven’t already, please do fill out our survey. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.

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