💌 Hello from The Nugget,

Well… of course we were going to have another heatwave. It's Wimbledon fortnight.

As is British tradition, Wimbledon is either accompanied by two weeks of torrential rain or temperatures that make Centre Court boil.

Normally we'd also be recovering from the annual Hampton Court Flower Festival traffic, but with the show having a fallow year (rather like Glastonbury does), the grounds are getting a well-earned rest. it's been quite nice crossing Hampton Court Bridge without wondering if you'd accidentally joined the M25!

Anyway, enough about the weather and traffic... let's crack on with what you came here for.

The Nugget. 💛

Sometimes the best community ideas are the simplest ones.

About a year ago, Rhea, the Community Outreach Worker at Refresh Church, realised that Molesey was one of the few local areas without somewhere people could enjoy pottery painting. Rather than seeing it as something the community was missing, she saw it as an opportunity.

Working with Michele from The Pottery and Craft Studio in Long Ditton, they created the Pottery painting Café – a monthly Saturday session where children, adults, families and friends can relax, get creative and paint pottery together.

The atmosphere is wonderfully calm and welcoming. There are affordable hot drinks for the grown-ups, free squash and biscuits for the children, and no pressure to be artistic. Whether you're painting your first mug or creating a masterpiece, everyone is welcome.

Once you've finished painting, Michele takes all the pottery back to her studio to be professionally glazed and fired in her kiln before bringing everything back, ready for collection.

Over the past year, it has grown into a much-loved community event, and now they are hoping to find a few volunteers to help keep it going.

Rhea is always looking for ways to create new opportunities for local people. By finding volunteers from our community to help run the Pottery Café, she hopes to create an even more welcoming space where people can build confidence, gain experience, reduce isolation and strengthen community connections.

They're looking for two or three reliable, friendly volunteers for each session. You don't need to be artistic or have any pottery experience, as they will show you everything you need to know. If you enjoy meeting people, making others feel welcome and being part of a friendly community, you'd be a great fit. As a thank you, volunteers also receive 25% off any pottery they choose to paint themselves.

They'd also love to hear from creative teenagers aged 15 and over who would like to volunteer. They'll always be supervised by adults, making it a great opportunity to gain experience, build confidence and support a well-loved local activity.

The next Pottery Café sessions are:

• Saturday 18th July – 10.30am to 2.30pm

• Monday 3rd August – Summer Pottery & Crafts Session, 10am to 2pm

• Saturday 15th August – 10.30am to 2.30pm

If you're interested in volunteering, email Rhea at [email protected]. She would love to hear from anyone who'd like to help this wonderful community event continue to grow.

Back in 2018, Laura was looking across the gym at the weights area thinking, "I'd love to try that, but I have no idea where to start." Fast forward to April this year, and she's the proud owner of Strong Ladies Club, a women only strength training gym, with its HQ right here in West Molesey.

This week, Laura explains why strength training doesn't have to be intimidating.

1. Why should women do strength training?

As we get older, we naturally lose muscle if we don't use it. Building strength helps you:

2. Do I need a gym?

Not at all. You can start wherever you are, using whatever you have.

3. How do I make it a habit?

The secret isn't doing loads – it's doing a little, consistently.

4. The most important thing? Just start.

It doesn't have to be perfect, and it doesn't have to be complicated. If you'd like a little more support or confidence getting started, Laura and the team at Strong Ladies Club specialise in helping women with strength training, in small fully coached group sessions, designed to make getting stronger feel far less intimidating.

To find out more I'd really recommend watching the short video below and visiting the Strong Ladies Club website – it beautifully explains why getting stronger isn't about lifting weights, it's about living life well.

Here's another chance to give your favourite local independent businesses the recognition they deserve.

Voting is now open for the Love Elmbridge Awards 2026, celebrating the brilliant independent businesses that go the extra mile for their customers.

Whether it's your favourite café, hairdresser, butcher, florist, gift shop… or any other local gem, now's the time to show them a little love.

Voting is open until 31 July.

Cast your vote here

Here's a lovely local initiative that's now reached an impressive milestone.

The Surrey Bike Bank has donated 1,000 refurbished bikes to children and adults across Surrey since launching in 2022.

It's a simple idea. Unwanted bikes are dropped off at Surrey's recycling centres, refurbished by prisoners at HMP Ford as part of a skills programme, then passed on to people who need them to get to school, work or access local services.

One of the scheme's biggest successes has been supporting Bikeability – the modern-day version of Cycling Proficiency. Organisers found that many children were missing out simply because they didn't own a bike, so the scheme now provides 95 bikes that can be taken into schools for training. Even better, children who complete Bikeability Level 2 receive a free bike, helmet and lock to keep.

So, if you've got an old bike gathering dust in the shed, don't send it to landfill –drop it to the recycling centre at Shepperton, it could help change someone's life and give another child the freedom to get out on two wheels.

Tom's good at balancing on rooftops, climbing very tall ladders and fixing the things the rest of us hope we never have to think about! He's sorted a number of leaks for me in the past and is now building the roof on my extension. More importantly, he's a genuinely lovely local family man who takes huge pride in his work. If you're looking for a roofer you can trust, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him.

07904 394111 or [email protected]

From coffee mornings to community fairs, here’s where Molesey gathers.

*Event details may change. Please check with organisers for the latest updates. Listings are shared in good faith but may not reflect last-minute changes

Molesey Farmers & Artisan Market – Walton Road Car Park, Molesey · Sat 11 July, 10am–2pm · A relaxed Saturday market with food producers, artisan makers and independent traders. Expect fresh produce, handmade goods and plenty of food and drink ·

Group Reiki & Oracle Card Session – Studio 366, West Molesey · Saturday 11 July, 11:00 AM · Relaxing group Reiki session with oracle card guidance · More info

Paint a Yummy Cocktail – Imber Court, East Molesey · Saturday 11 July, 6pm - 8pm · Beginner-friendly art party where you'll paint a colourful cocktail while enjoying a relaxed social evening · More info

Infant Feeding Workshop – The Little Borough, Weybridge · Tuesday 14 July, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM · Interactive workshop led by Surrey Birth Club midwives covering breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combination feeding and practical newborn feeding skills · More info

Sat 18 – Sun 19 Jul
• Molesey Regatta – Molesey Regatta, East Molesey · More info

Sat 18 Jul
• Summer Feast 1.0 – Little H, Molesey Lock, East Molesey · 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM · Click the poster below for menu & tickets

From toddler bounce sessions to midweek mischief, here’s what’s happening in and around Molesey

The Lion Inside – Rose Theatre, Kingston · 9 July - 12 July · Family stage adaptation of the bestselling children's picture book · More info

Henry VIII's Joust – Hampton Court Palace · 11-12 July & 18-19 July · Watch fearless knights compete in a spectacular Tudor tournament · More info

Home From Home Nursery Grand Opening – 27 Mole Place, West Molesey · Saturday 11 July, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM · Explore the brand-new nursery, meet the team and celebrate the official opening · More info

Sat 15 Aug
• Wild Weekend – Walton Firs Activity Centre, Cobham · 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM · More info

This section was getting a bit too big to keep here every week!

I’ve created a new page for regular /weekly activities, such as playgroups- Just CLICK HERE to view

I’ll keep this week’s goodbye short… partly because I’ve genuinely run out of space. If I squeeze much more into this edition, your inbox might decide it’s had enough of me.

A little bit of excitement though… this week I’m being interviewed by a real journalist! My lovely friend Jo , who I’ve known since we were about three and now writes for olympics.com, is interviewing me about my experience of the unforgettable Super Saturday at the London 2012 Olympics.

Before you all start Googling which event I competed in and what medal I won… I should clarify that my role was cheering very, very loudly from the stands. Gold medal standard, obviously.

Have a lovely weekend.

Jules

Founder & Editor

(all the mistakes are mine!)

Email me [email protected] or find out more The Molesey Nugget

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