Archive

  • Fund Our Future

    The 2011 university budget cuts have been deemed “unavoidable” by David Cameron, due to the poor state of public finances. The coalition government passed, on 9th December, that the minimum annual university fee be raised from a maximum of £3,525 to £9,000

  • Priceless Presents and Gratituous Gifts

    The season of giving has just past and we've all given presents and gifts for the joy of a loved one's smile (and secretly, in expectation of receiving somthing ourselves). But are you prepared to give without receiving, especially to someone you barely

  • ‘CHRISTMAS HAS LOST VALUE’ SAYS LOCAL CHURCHMAN

    The administrator for St Marks Church in Surbiton has stated in an interview that he believes that Christmas is now heavily devalued due to the commercialisation of the festival. ‘People take it (Christmas) for granted due to the commercial aspect

  • Coalition Causes University Uproar

    Like many students, this year I began my GCSE’s and after hectic months at school the effect the next years are going to have on my life began to sink in. With that in mind I took an interest in the proposal of increasing university tuition fees

  • House safe for Santa after bomb removed from chimney

    Friday 17th December saw emergency services swarm to a residence in Surbiton Hill Park, Berrylands, after a local resident discovered an unexploded bomb in their house. At 5:40pm, a host of emergency vehicles filled the street, including four police cars

  • West Molesey man jailed for part in £100m cocaine ring

    A taxi manager who was part of one of the UK's biggest drug trafficking gangs has been jailed for 10 years. The £100m cocaine smuggling ring was smashed in February 2008 when hundreds of officers swooped on homes and businesses in simultaneous

  • Carpenter can solve Hampton keeper crisis

    Hampton & Richmond Borough boss Alan Devonshire says he has every faith reserve team keeper Adam Carpenter can solve his goalkeeping injury crisis. Youngster Joe Talbot is set to sit out Saturday’s clash with Havant & Waterlooville after pulling

  • Whitgift Charity Trip to South Africa

    Between 15th and 25th of October this year, a group of students from Whitgift School went on a trip to Tsholofelo in Rustenberg, South Africa. I interviewed two of the students who went, Tom Dawkins and Nick Francis, in order to find out what their experiences

  • Two shot in armed attack on New Year's Eve party

    Witnesses have described the moment gunmen opened fire on teenage revellers at a New Year's Eve party, leaving two people seriously injured. A 22-year-old woman was shot in the leg at the house party in Waddon New Road, and an 18-year-old man was shot

  • Armed robbers make cash grab from hotel

    Armed robbers escaped with a small amount of cash after holding up a hotel in a terrifying night time raid. Five masked men burst into the lobby of the Queens Hotel, Upper Norwood and demanded staff hand over money from the reception area.

  • Starting the year with a Bang!

    The quaint tradition of making a new year’s resolution, which probably only last for a week if we are lucky allows us to embrace the fact that it is a new year, literally. Resolutions are made to enhance our lifestyle, to accomplish our long time ambitions

  • Give a helping hand in Twickenham this New Year.

    “A new year, a new you”. The quintessential ideology that seems to instil in each and everyone of us as we come to the end of another year, and look ahead to a new one on the horizon. A recent Times article was wholly devoted to discussing means of

  • Scouts splash for charity

    Scouts braved sub-zero temperatures during a Christmas Day dip in the English Channel. The fundraising paddle by members of Merton Park Explorer Scouts raised cash to improve a community health centre in Kenya. The unit has been doing

  • Volunteers could counter library hours cut

    Volunteers could hold the key to saving opening hours at West Barnes library, a councillor said. Spending cuts are set to limit opening times at the West Barnes Lane centre and Donald Hope library, Colliers Wood. But the use of volunteers or

  • It's the big one at Lloyd Park

    Runners from all over Surrey and South London will be converging on Croydon’s Lloyd Park on Saturday to take part in the Surrey cross country championships. In addition to chasing medals, the runners will also be battling for places in the Surrey teams

  • Harriers mourn young runner

    Herne Hill Harriers are mourning young runner Sylvester Akapalara, who was killed in a shooting in Peckham last week. The 17-year-old had shown great talent as a middle distance runner for the Tooting Bec-based club since joining at the age

  • Schmid buzzing after Bees win

    Mike Schmid believes the crucial New Year’s Day triumph over Birmingham and Solihull can spark the Great Championship Escape for Esher. The nailbiting 21-13 victory over the Bees in the bottom-of-the-table clash ended a run of eight straight defeats

  • Banstead's Lancefield targets summer of success

    Banstead Cricket Club's Tom Lancefield says a winter in Sri Lanka is about preparing him for life in the Surrey first eleven. The 20-year-old made his Lions first-class debut last summer and ended the season with a seven LV= County Championship

  • Woman killed by dog had 'a smile for everyone'

    A woman mauled to death by a dog at her Wallington home was "cheerful with a smile for everyone", according to the headteacher at the school where she volunteered. Barbara Williams, 52, was savaged by her landlord Alex Blackburn-Smith's Neapolitan

  • Hughes pleads for calm at Fulham

    Mark Hughes has called for calm at Craven Cottage after Fulham eased themselves out of the Premier League relegation places with a win over West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday. The 3-0 triumph in London rocketed the Cottagers from 18th to 13th as Fulham

  • Croydon HMV stores future uncertain

    The future of two major retail stores in Croydon is in doubt after HMV announced that it will close 60 stores across the UK. The two stores are located only minutes from each other in North End, and the company's Christmas sluggish sales, combined

  • Landlady renting out luxury home exposed as benefits cheat

    A landlady who made thousands of pounds renting out bedrooms in her luxury home with its own swimming pool while claiming benefits has been exposed as a cheat. Lynne Hampson, of Langley Avenue, Worcester Park, cheated taxpayers out of more

  • Pair face payback for benefit claim fraud

    A benefit fraudster who falsely told the council her partner was out of work has been prosecuted. Paula Winsall, 35, of Cottimore Lane, Walton, pleaded guilty at Staines Magistrates’ Court on December 23, to failing to inform Elmbridge Council

  • Sutton look to extend Forbes loan deal

    Sutton United player-coach Steve McKimm is certain boss Paul Doswell will move heaven and earth to secure the services of on-loan striker Andy Forbes. The Woking frontman sees his three-month spell at Gander Green Lane expire next week having scored

  • Collingwood runners in new year action

    Thirteen members of Collingwood AC took part in the Tadworth 10 race around Epsom Downs, Tadworth and Walton on Sunday. Times and positions: 61 Martin Lloyd (M50) 1:10:06, 62 Richard Fox (M40) 1:10:13, 75 Bill Walsh (M45) 1:11:11, 154 Nigel Wood (M50

  • New Year, New Rules

    Felicity Fox is continuing her search for true love in 2011 but this year she's going about it in a completely different way.... Firstly, happy new year to everyone reading this column and do stick with me in my quest for love... I feel this

  • Family raise money for disabled son's wheelchair

    The parents of a 21-year-old with a muscle wasting disease are desperately trying to raise £14,000 for a new wheelchair to give him some independence. Daniel Stenning, from Thornton Heath, suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and has been

  • Tadworth Ten proves popular

    A total of 540 runners took part in Sunday's Tadworth Ten, the annual 10-mile run around Epsom Downs, Walton-on-the-Hill and Tadworth. The race was dominated by Newham & Essex Beagles runner Abdi Amare Madar, who finished in 56 minutes, two seconds,

  • UPDATE: Mother of found girl speaks of relief

    The mother of Serena Beakhurst has said she is “one of the happiest women alive” after her daughter was finally found after going missing for three weeks. The 14-year-old was found at an address in Wandsworth in the early hours of this morning and

  • Newport County v AFC Wimbledon match stats

    Newport County 3 (Chris Todd 10, Jamie Collins 18 & 36) AFC Wimbledon 3 (James Mulley 18, Sam Hatton 47, Rashid Yussuff 82) Newport County: Glyn Thompson, Paul Bignot, Jamie Collins, Gary Warren, Chris Todd, Danny Rose, Craig Reid, Robbie Matthews (Curtis

  • Man shot in hand in Tulse Hill

    Detectives are appealing for witnesses after a man was shot in Tulse Hill. Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Operation Trident team made the appeal after a shot was fired in Papworth Way at around 7.30pm on Monday, January 3. A

  • Wimbledon boss on lookout for defenders

    Terry Brown has set his sights on boosting his side's defensive options as AFC Wimbledon look to hold on to top spot in the Blue Square Premier. The Dons were forced to field a youthful back four in the 3-3 draw at Newport on Monday due

  • Quins must back up festive feeling

    Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care reckons wins over London Irish and Northampton Saints will count for nothing should they slip up against Wasps on Saturday. The 24-year-old England scrum-half collected an early birthay present in scoring the

  • Gas meter stolen by metal thieves

    A gas meter was stolen from outside a block of flats by thieves hoping to sell it on as scrap metal. The meter was stolen from All Saints Road, Sutton, between 9pm and 11.30pm on Thursday, December 29. A 76-year-old man discovered the

  • Commuters facing delays after burst water main

    Commuters are facing delays in Wandsworth this morning due to a burst water main. Two lanes of the A3 Wandsworth High Street, westbound at the A217 Garratt Lane, have been closed while repairs are carried out, causing heavy traffic. Are you stuck

  • BREAKING NEWS: Twitter appeal girl found in Wandsworth

    A Tulse Hill girl who was the subject of a Twitter campaign after being reported missing has been found. Serena Beakhurst, 14, went missing after leaving for a beauty therapy college course in Mitcham Road, Tooting, on December 15. The

  • Bees transfer targets will remain a mystery

    Andy Scott says he has a list of targets he wants to bring to Brentford during the transfer window, but is keeping his cards close to his chest. Midfielders David Hunt and Kirk Hudson joined Blue Square Premier Crawley Town and their title rivals AFC

  • Man fined for wasting police time

    A 48-year-old man who made two false allegations of robbery and theft has been found guilty of wasting police time. Leroy Watson, of Brigstock Road, pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court on December 22 and was ordered to pay £150 in compensation

  • Brave shopkeeper halts knife robbers with chilli powder

    A quick-thinking shopkeeper threw hot chilli powder in the face of robbers who tried to steal money from an East Hill off-licence. The three young men, who had their faces covered, attempted to hold up East Hill Food and Wine, on East Hill

  • Residents protest plans to close Norbury Library

    Plans by Croydon Council to close Norbury Library have been met with anger by residents. The library may be axed, along with five other local libraries in the borough, in a move proposed by the council in order to save up to £700,000.

  • Much-loved parrot stolen by thieves

    A well-known parrot was stolen on Sunday night from a pet store in Ewell. Charlie, a 15-year-old African Grey, was forcibly taken from his cage at Pets Choice on Epsom road by the thieves. The bird was hand-reared in the store and is

  • Robin Hood panto aims to give something back

    The Friends of Thames Ditton Hospital hope to raise £3,000 with a production of Robin Hood in January. The pantomime will show at the Vera Fletcher Hall, Thames Ditton, on Saturday, January 15, and money raised will go to toward the hospital

  • Bride-to-be searches for lost custom-made ring

    A bride-to-be is appealing for help after losing her bespoke engagement ring designed by her husband at a supermarket. Nicola Lyons, 30, from Worcester Park, noticed that the one-carat diamond ring was missing when she arrived home from work

  • Fashion designer set to inspire pupils

    A legendary fashion designer is set to deliver a lecture to inspire pupils at an Epsom university. Zandra Rhodes will talk to students at the University of the Creative Arts detailing her career in the fashion industry. The flamboyant

  • Man handed 30 month sentence after pub attack

    A man has been jailed for 30 months following an unprovoked attack on a customer in a pub toilet. Graham Langley, 39, of Cressingham Grove in Sutton, attacked his victim in a cubicle at the Prince Regent pub in Sutton High Street on February

  • Former gang leader publishes his autobiography

    A former gang leader is releasing his autobiography next month after turning his back on a life of crime. Justin Rollins, 26, who grew up in Carshalton, began his downward spiral when he discovered graffiti at the age of nine. He later