For our latest Up Close With feature, Nub News reporter Eleanor Veness interviewed East Sheen Councillor Seamus Joyce who removes graffiti around Richmond and leads other community actions to 'get things done', while always accompanied by Storm, his 'very lovable' dog...

Seamus Joyce, a Councillor for Richmond Park and Kingston Conservatives and father to two teenage boys, regularly removes graffiti from post boxes, park signs and other public areas. These projects, along with other independent community-giving acts, are always accompanied by his dog, Storm, a 4-year-old Irish setter.

Cllr. Joyce describes himself as someone who has always been in the public eye.

He says: "Since I came to Richmond, I've been out and about doing stuff.

"If I pass by something and I feel I can fix it, I just go and do it."

On the art of removing graffiti, Cllr. Joyce added: "It's not for the faint hearted, you have to be so careful because you're sometimes using corrosive chemicals.

"It just gives me satisfaction.

"I suppose, in a way, one good turn deserves another, and Richmond has been very good to me throughout my life.

"I feel that the more you give to a community, the more you take back."

Following our interview, Cllr. Joyce posted a self-made video on the local community social media website Next Door, giving instructions to viewers on how to remove graffiti from public areas. (You can watch the video at the top of this article.)

Cllr. Joyce said: "Some people are keen to get involved now and to join my crusade against graffiti in the borough."

"As a local councillor, some residents complain to me about graffiti. They complain to me about all sorts…planning issues, wrong trees being cut down on the roads and the new e-scooters.

"Even when my children were young, I went to attend my son's first school assembly when he was four and I left the assembly being elected a parent governor of the school. I got sucked in because I'm just locally known as a doer."

Cllr. Joyce has been living in the Richmond area since 1999, when he became the manager of Molly Malone's pub before he worked in local government.

Cllr. Joyce describes his dog Storm, who features in his social media community engagement posts, as a "breath of fresh air" for his family after the tragic loss of their previous dog, Molly.

He said: "We weren't a complete family unless we got a dog again. He loves people. He loves being out and about. He loves going to local pubs and restaurants. And he's such a very loveable dog."

As a stud dog, Storm's pedigree breed is highly valuable. Cllr. Joyce added: "I'm going to donate £500 for each of his services to guide dogs for the blind."

Living in his beloved Richmond has also became a key motivator for Cllr. Joyce's community actions. He said: "As a family, we love [Richmond] for taking Storm out for walks.

"It's not expected of residents, really, or councillors, to remove graffiti. But I think it's just the right thing to do."

Nub News asked Cllr. Joyce how he distinguishes graffiti from street art, he said: "I would take a photograph and would inform the council to act to protect a Banksy.

"There's no pattern I haven't removed. I haven't ever had to remove the same 'tag' (a simple form of graffiti usually the artist's signature) twice."

Cllr. Joyce regularly leads and helps organise other team voluntary community acts. He said: "Recently many local residents are keen to help on graffiti removal in their area.

"So, I have decided to have a graffiti removal morning where residents can attend and pick up some graffiti removal tips."

As part of National Clean-Up Fortnight, Richmond Rotary Club cleaned a stretch of the towpath between Richmond and Twickenham on Sunday 6th June 2021.

Following a successful litter pick, Cllr. Joyce and Richmond Rotary club met for drinks at Richmond Green while the collection of waste was dealt with by Richmond Council services.

The date and location for the start of Cllr. Joyce's weekly graffiti removal mornings will be confirmed once he finds a suitable location for everyone to meet, with a variety of graffiti to remove.

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