Richmond Street Pastors

02/12/2025

A busy, fun patrol on Friday night Halloween!
Richmond was packed with a large number dressed up for Halloween and few extra early rugby fans ahead of today's game. The police were out on the high street and on the green (with a flat tyre on their shiny 4x4).
Our team of Daniel, Felicity, Ruth and I were immediately in action helping some girls get their collapsed friend into an Uber. Which gave me my first opportunity to deploy a shiny foil blanket, they take a lot of unrolling, needing two people.
On the green there were a lot of young folks and a few fireworks mostly away from the crowds. We ran out of lollipops but not smiles.
After restocking it was up the hill to a busy Viva full of adults in custom as well. Good chats there and then quickly down the hill before the next monsoon at 1pm. Perfectly timed patrols to miss all the rain thanks to the Met Office.
Thanks to Thelma and Victoria for all the prayers and the Lord for a rewarding evening.
Clive

01/12/2025

The Richmond Street Pastors had a nice nigh, t meeting several youngsters on the green who had met us before. One young man was on an Alpha course at HTB and expressed a desire to serve as an SP later on his life. We met one man who was convinced that we were there to break up fights and wouldn't be convinced otherwise.
Generally though it was a peaceful and pleasant night. Good to serve with Linda (our latest recruit) for the first time.

24/11/2025

On Saturday after the Rugby match between England and New Zealand, the pubs were all very full when we first set out, especially the Orange Tree and The Sun, had people standing outside, but all was good natured. The Green was very quiet as was the riverside. On the first round Viva had not opened and So Bar were relatively quiet. Returned via The Tap which was relatively busy. After a short break back at St John’s we went out again and the bars were beginning to clear as the televised Wales v Japan game was finishing. Had a number of people ask what Street Pastors are and one gentleman in his thirties come up and ask if we had a lollipop. He was from Nottingham and not seen a Street Pastor there for about 10 years, but had good memories of them when he had been a student.

01/09/2025

The summer is slowly coming to an end, children are going back to school, normal life returns as the holiday season comes to a close. But, the street pastors are still here, walking the streets. Always there ready to help you in whatever situation you ae in.

please say hi if you see us!

19/05/2025

10th May was Richmond's Annual May Fair!
Richmond Street Pastors were on their stall from 9 o'clock til the end of the day.
The sun was out! This meant everyone was feeling quite merry and jokes with passersby were many, as were the chats. It was lovely to speak to so many people.

But!

We did have an added attraction to the Stret Pastors!

Suzie brought along her stickers which young and old enjoyed having plastered on! I hasten to add taht they were temporary! We didn't want the more senior of our recipients to turn up at church the next day all tattooed up!!

We had a lovely day. A very big Thank You to St Mary Magdalene's for enabling us to have a stall by the church and keeping us going with lots of hot cups of coffee!

31/03/2025

14/03/25
We went out soon after 9.30 and stayed a while chatting at the Safe Space, there were a number of police & Transport Police there.
Heading up towards McDonald's, there were a lot of young people in various groups. We spoke to one group who were from the German school in Ham and were celebrating having done their iGSCEs early, they gratefully accepted lollipops and were in good spirits, no alcohol around.
We then gave out more lollies to others hanging around and moved slowly along the main road. There were more youths walking along towards us and we all picked up a certain 'vibe' around that time, as though something was 'brewing' but we didn't know what? All groups were mixed, m/f around 16-18, and mixed colours. We asked for prayers & prayed ourselves.
We decided to go straight to riverside to assess and then straight back up main road via the Green briefly. Met a local mixed group at Riverside who'd just done mocks and had felt intimidated by earlier groups. Other groups there were slightly older and all was peaceful. Group on the Green were in good spirits but no concerns.
Back up towards station around 10.40 and police had packed up and all was peaceful, no groups left hanging around! An answer to our prayers.
Ambled slowly around via usual sites and clubs, all quiet, nowhere busy at all but good to chat to usual door staff, etc.
Back to base around 11.40 and closed the night with thankful prayers and blessings 🙏

31/03/2025

Christmas Eve 2024 ...... It was very quiet. And felt like a bit of a ghost town compared to what we had expected. Probably with all the public transport challenges people had left London earlier than usual. Anyway, it was a pleasant mild night for Felicity, Colin, and I to stroll around with the help of Helen and Ruth. We did manage to aid one young lady with her very drunk friend and no phone/money plus three new and keen male friends. Successfully ended with two ladies dispatched, having spoken to home, in a taxi less three admirers. One admirer was so full of Xmas cheer he generously paid for the taxi.

31/03/2025

Last Friday, we had a four strong team out in Richmond on rather a damp and cold evening. A few Xmas jumpers and Santa hats were spotted amongst the revellers.
We were able to assist a couple of French ladies with a persistent admirer and get them safely on the 33 bus. Otherwise, it was a present night. Thanks to the team Colin, Felicity, Jess, Helen,John and Clive.

31/03/2025

15/10/2024

this is Julie Bishop who came out with us , she is the first Licensed Lay Minister in Southwark to use Street Pastors as her ministry base and she was licensed tonight at Southwark Cathedral

15/10/2024

The Richmond street pastors were out this friday. A cold night! Time for the thick jackets to be worn.
They were led by John as they walked through Richmond Town. the safe space was up and running and Kat was there handing out information and night shelters to the homeless.

As they walked through town it was very quiet. Only a few lads on the green. It appeared most people were down by the riverside. Lots of teenagers, very well behaved and jovial, who were delighted with their lollipops! As were the adults.!

Visited the clubs, pubs and coffee bars. They had lovely chats with the doormen who have come to expect a lollipop each ....... we certainly cant disappoint them!

Came back for coffee at 12 midnight and to refill their pockets with lollipops. 12.20 back out on the beat. Very quiet. Even Macdonalds were quiet. We think it was the rain keeping everyone at home. So after making sure the safe space was packed away safely and after their usual walk round it was time to go home for some sleep.

08/10/2024

Richmond Street Pastors go out regularly, dealing with crowds (100/200) of raucous teenagers, homeless, the lonely etc We have the time to chat, support and help.
What is so lovely is when we meet such people in another situation and their delight at seeing us makes all those late late nights worthwhile.