Hersham

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.3681
longitude= -0.4008
official_name= Hersham
map_type= Surrey
population = 11,913 [ [http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspublications.nsf/591f7dda55aad72a80256c670041a50d/1c602ea59c869c9180256e600054b26c/$FILE/Town%20populations.pdf Surrey County Council census data] ]
shire_district= Elmbridge
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Esher and Walton
post_town= Walton on Thames
postcode_district = KT12
postcode_area= KT
dial_code= 01932
os_grid_reference= TQ114641

Hersham is a village in Surrey, England, lying on the A244 between Esher and Weybridge. Other neighbouring towns include Cobham and Walton-on-Thames.

It has a growing population and is at the rural/urban fringe; where town meets country. The major roads, the A3 and M25 are near the town.

Hersham Green, which is within the town, is three and a half acres of open space where regular events take place throughout the summer months. Within a few minutes walk of the built-up area of Hersham to the east are green fields and meadows alongside the River Mole and open countryside.

House prices vary from small bedsits at £139,000 to popstar mansions in Burwood Park at £10 million. Many stars use the Hersham Village Golf Club where snooker player John Virgo is the president. Another golf course is Burhill near Burwood Park.

Hersham is served by Hersham railway station and Walton-on-Thames railway station both on the main London Waterloo Southwest line.

Politics

On Surrey County Council, Hersham has a Conservative representative,and since May 1st 2008 now holds all six councillors on Elmbridge Borough Council, where there are two wards. Hersham North ward is the area between the A244 Esher Road /A317 Queens Road and the railway line at
Walton on Thames and Hersham railway stations. Politically the ward often splits its votes between Labour, Conservative or Residents according to the candidate and popularity of the national parties. Labour councillors were regularly elected in this ward from the 1950s until 2000, notably Paul Vanson and Irene Hamilton. A born and bred local independent Roy Green of the Hersham Village Society (HVS -founded 1980) [http://www.hershamvillagesociety.org.uk/5.html] with a couple of short breaks represented Hersham North from 1979-2008.

In 2000 Green's HVS took two of the three seats leaving Irene Hamilton as the Borough's sole Labour councillor, but she lost her seat to Bob Mott of the HVS three years later. HVS in turn lost all three seats to the Conservatives between 2006 and 2008,(Mary Sheldon, Ian Donaldson and Doug Packer) the first time the ward had been represented by more than one Conservative.Roy Green's heavy defeat in 2008, which he attributed to illness and inability to canvass, was one four gains which gave overall Conservative control of Elmbridge. In Hersham South, which extends from the village centre through Burhill and Burwood Parks right down Seven Hills Road to the edge of Cobham, the Conservatives - currently Lara Conaway, John Sheldon and John O'Reilly - have regularly polled well over 50%. (Although they did come close to losing one of their seats to the HVS in the 1980s when they won by just two votes).The May 1st 2008 elections saw the Conservatives winning all six Hersham seats with large majorities. In Hersham North, Doug Packer beat Roy Green by 846 to 436 with Labour and LibDems far behind. In Hersham South, retiring Conservative Derek Denyer is replaced by Lara Conaway who won almost 65% of the vote.

Famous people past and present

*US President Herbert Hoover, also lived in Hersham around 1904 (in West Grove - his home is now known as the White House, there is a plaq on the wall of this house to commerate this) before he returned to United States to become President 1929-33Fact|date=July 2007
*Gordon Mills, Tom Jones's manager lived here and is buried in Burvale CemeteryFact|date=July 2007
*Frederick Wicks (1840-1910), author & inventor, retired to the town and died there.
*Sarah Payne, (1992-2000), English murder victim, was born in Hersham.

Claims to fame

King George III visited Weylands farm in Hersham where he saw the first drill plough. Queen Victoria wrote in her diary how she saw her first steam train in Hersham when she was a young girl.

In more recent times the punk group Sham 69 with lead singer Jimmy Pursey, had its home roots in Hersham. The band's biggest hit was "Hersham Boys". Sham 69 took their name from a partially remaining piece of graffiti in the area which made reference to when Walton and Hersham football club secured the Athenian League title in 1969.

Due to its proximity to London and Shepperton Studios, Hersham is frequently a filming location for film and television productions including "Nighty Night", "The Glass", "Monty Python" and "Being April".

Hersham is also home to Britain's largest colony of feral parakeets near Esher Rugby Club. This is estimated to consist of around 7,000 birds. [ [http://www.moleseyonline.co.uk/news/51/51624/parakeet_population_booming_in_borough Parakeet population booming in borough - Molesey News & Mail, 7 July 2004] ]

Pop singer Mick Hucknell, Comedian Bobby Davro and Max Clifford all live in Hersham at the present time.

Education

Hersham is served by the mixed, secondary Rydens School. The school holds specialist Business and Enterprise College status, and boasts an impressive drama program. The roll holds approx. 1200 students.

port

Esher R.F.C is a rugby club situated in Hersham who are currently spending the 2006-2007 season in the English National League 1. Esher play at The Rugby Ground, 369 Molesey Road. The 1st XV play in a black-amber strip.

TV presenter John Inverdale has long been associated with the club and to date still remains partially involved.

References

External links

* [http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk Elmbridge Borough Council]
* [http://www.hershamonline.co.uk/ Hersham News & Mail] .
* [http://www.hershamvillagesociety.org.uk/ Hersham Village Society]