Local News

Thank you to everyone who entered this competition. Judging, according to the Chase Buchanan team, was exceptionally hard with so many quality entries.

Chase Buchanan's Michael Peacock stated:

"Although there were many many fantastic entries for this competition, the really hard task was getting down to the top five. And, here they are, the top five..."

As part of the celebrations in the success of the "heart" St Margarets shopping bag, the St Margarets Traders Association are to further promote the St Margarets shopper by giving away flowers and chocolates to "random" shoppers using the "heart" bag for their shopping – just to say "thank you for caring"...

I have lived in St Margarets for many years now and my family and I really enjoy the events that are held in our community, we loved the recent Christmas Fair in Crown road.

So how does it happen?

My St Margarets' latest competition is to win a Canon EOS 450D digital SLR camera! This competition is kindly being sponsored by Chase Buchanan with a total prize value of over £700!

The Mayor helped launched this new competition at the St Margarets Christmas Fair on Sunday 6 December.

"Answer the following question for your chance to win the camera package:

Tell us why you love St Margarets, what's special for you?

Use your imagination and be creative with your answer."

Visit www.mystmargarets.com/competitions.php for full details.

Closes 31 January 2010.

Don’t miss the Crown Road Christmas Fair 2009 this Sunday, 6 December 2009. The event starts at 11.00am and closes at 4.00pm when St Stephen’s Church will be holding an open air Carol Service.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Full of festive cheer? Then send me your favourite Christmas joke, whether it's a cracker or a bit of a turkey, if it makes me laugh till my belly shakes like a bowl of fruit jelly I'll put it on the website.

If you submit the Christmas joke of week then you're in for a treat - how about winning a kilo (yes, a KILO!) of pick 'n' mix from Cutters in Crown road.

Terms and conditions apply. Pink shrimps excluded. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or chocolate-coated peanut. The editor's decision is Haribo fried eggs. Employees of Cutters and chocolate-flavoured pink pigs may not enter. Always read the gummy cola bottle label.

Please send your joke, name, age and location to: traders@stmgrts.org.uk

...and don't fudge it!

Following a request for help from Santa Claus himself, the St Margarets Traders Association is delighted to announce that it has agreed to assist Santa this year by collecting children's letters written to him and forwarding them on to his Lapland address. Children will then be able to collect their personalised reply letters from Santa within a couple of days.

Television personality Lynn Faulds Wood lives with her husband John Stapleton, also a presenter, in St Margarets near Richmond. Come the weekend, they like to relax by grabbing a bite to eat, taking a leisurely walk along the river or frequenting the local shops

"...The area has a great village atmosphere and at weekends you’ll often find us in the lovely local shops – and pubs. You can buy anything in Cutters – I keep trying to catch Simon out but haven’t yet succeeded. Gift is perfect for last-minute presents as is Denham & Finney. John often wears Burkitt suits on TV and The Bead & Jewellery Shop has just re-strung several of my necklaces. What a great place to live!..."

From Friday 27th November we'll be stocking bread from our award winning bakers throughout the week. There'll be the usual full range on Saturdays with a smaller selection of the best sellers on week days.

You've asked us if we could provide a daily service, and now we will from Tuesday to Saturday.

If you're already a fan you're in good company - our bakers also supply The Dorchester Hotel, The Fat Duck, Le Gavroche, The Savoy Grill, Virgin Atlantic First Class, Browns Hotel, Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, The Lanesborough Hotel, and more - but now you can enjoy their superb wares right here in St Margarets five days a week. They're likely to sell quickly, so do call early to avoid disappointment.

The St Margarets Christmas Fair offers a festive day of fun, Christmas entertainment and great local Christmas shopping for all the family.

"Every empty shop in St Margarets has been filled - but calls have come for the council to do more to help recession-hit traders."

"Every available empty shop in St Margarets has been filled, thanks to the efforts of the St Margarets Traders Association and Richmond Council.

The Council has helped the organisation with funding for a number of schemes to raise awareness of the area. This has included match funded grants of £4,000 to help pay for St Margarets branded shopping bags, a magazine and several events during the year, including the summer and Christmas fair, which takes place on Sunday, 6 December."

"Every available empty shop in St Margarets has been filled, thanks to the efforts of the St Margarets Traders Association and Richmond Council..."

"In January about 15 per cent of the area's shops were vacant, so the St Margarets Traders' Association joined forces with Richmond Council to launch a range of initiatives to encourage residents to shop locally - and it seems to have worked..."

"An exciting new flower delivery service, Forgetmenot Flowers, has just been launched in St Margarets. Sign up for one of Forgetmenot Flowers' bespoke packages and there will be no excuse to forget a birthday or anniversary ever again..."

"Mrs Moon is a beautiful new shop at 41 Crown Road St Margarets. Selling sumptuous things to crochet, knit and sew, Mrs Moon is a haven where you can relax and immerse yourself in a wonderful array of yarns, patterns, fabrics, buttons and bows. Now open..."

"Coming soon through your letter box, My St Margarets, The Magazine, published this week by the St Margarets Traders Association. An essential guide to a St Margarets Christmas, the magazine is bursting with gift ideas, special offers, local news and features..."