“I moved to Chantry Road, Chessington when I was six. That house had views to Epsom Downs. Every year, we’d gather to watch the fireworks light up the horizon. Behind those houses was a hidden world of alleyways and garages where my friends and I would cycle, race and explore. It felt like our own little network of secret paths. You knew when the street lights came on, it’s home time.
“I went to Buckland Infants, Moor Lane Junior School and Chessington Community College. Each school played a huge part in growing up here. Chessington is a place I’m proud to call home. It shaped who I am, and it still holds a sense of belonging that’s hard to replace.”
Councillor Sharukh Mirza, Liberal Democrat councillor for Chessington South & Malden Rushett