Hi there! Welcome to The Brinkster blog. Please feel free to leave messages below.

Dear Brinkster,
The Royal Borough of Kingston has received a planning application for the change of use of the BBC Sports Ground at Motspur Park to cemetery:
http://maps.kingston.gov.uk/isis_main/planning/Planning_DETAIL.aspx?strCASENO=0814168&strHeader=Y and local residents have submitted an online petition to oppose this ill thought out plan collecting signatures now: http://epetitions.kingston.gov.uk/list_petitions.asp
I am writing to you about this since in the past you showed interest in this issue and in the hope that you give a bit of publicity and support in your blog to our petition to oppose this nonsense.
I would be very grateful if you can post your comments to this issue and links to the planning application and the petition against it.
Thank you
Giuseppe

is there a video rental place near worcester park....as choices and blockbusters are both closed now

Anonymous
The only video rental places I know of are BLockbuster in North Cheam and New Malden and I'm guessing from your comment that one or both of those has closed. I've used Lovefilm to rent DVDs from in the past and the service has been pretty good but if you just want to wander out at the last minute and rent a DVD then I don't think there's anything around here any more :(

Dear Brinkster,
Having grown up in Donnington Road, Worcester Park, I was interested to learn that some of the Pre-Raphaelite painters came to Worcester Park Farm to paint. However, I have been unable to find the exact location of the farm. Do you know it, and also the location of the background scene to 'Ophelia'? I would be grateful for any help you can give. I have a postcard of the farm which states on the back that it was on the left of Central Road (going downhill) beyond the junction with Windsor Road, but I haven't been able to narrow it down more than that.

Hi Eric
Your postcard is correct in that it was in the space below Windsor Road just set back from Central Road, pretty much where the waste ground behind the row of shops is now, stretching down into Waitrose car park. I can't claim any great historical talent on this because it's actually shown quite prominently on the map adorning the front cover of David Rymill's excellent book Worcester Park and Cuddington: A Walk through the Centuries. If you don't have a copy yet I'd recommend it.

Thanks very much for that. I shall certainly get hold of that book.
Best wishes

Eric , I went on a walk last Sunday where we were shown where he painted the background for Ophelia and took some photos, see my blog for details. Drop me an e:mail if you want details of exactly where it is.

Hi again Eric. After further discussion with David Rymill the farm on the front of his book isn't the Worcester Park Farm that Holman Hunt stayed at. At that time the name Worcester Park Farm belonged to premises at the top of The Avenue south of the church and part of the original wall can still be seen. Hope that helps clarifies things.

...the fox in Brinkley Road is being picked up by the council...I hope..starting to smell. Aww.

Has anyone heard what was happening at the station tonight approx 7.00pm. Road was closed & I was diverted up Church Road. I managed to come back out onto Malden Road via The Manor Drive. There were 2 ambulances approx 100 yards to the left on carner near where the green starts & the police had cordoned off the station. Then as I got to top of Central Road 2 more police cars sped past nearly taking me out ! presumable on way to station ?