Every spring our gardens become awash with bright yellow flowers promising the hope of a new year and the end of a cold winter. They have inspired famous poetry and art and continue to inspire everyone in Sanderstead, and throughout Britain, in the few
Christopher Tower, born in 1915 to a family of affluent, property-owning diplomats, was a reclusive Englishman with a profound love of poetry. Studying first at Eton and later at Christ Church, Oxford, he won numerous prizes for poetry; an interest and
Mother’s Day is just round the corner and it is, of course, the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your love and devotion. And you don’t even have to leave Thames Ditton to make the day fantastic. Flowers are a much loved gift and The Secret Garden
Newsquest South London has teamed up with Disney and Odeon Cinema to offer three readers the chance to win exclusive JOHN CARTER movie merchandise PLUS Odeon Cinema tickets. • First prize: Four tickets for the IMAX and a goody bag. • Two
Chocolate heaven greeted business students on a three-day trip to Brussels. Brooklands College sent 25 students to the Atomium, the European Parliament and the chocolatier Duval, where they learned about the history Belgium chocolate manufacturing.
Fly half Dan Mugford gave London Scottish’s Championship survival hopes a boost as his five penalties proved decisive in a 20-16 win at Esher on Saturday. Mugford – recently returned from injury – capitalised on the hosts’ poor discipline as
Richmond-based single scuuller Alan Campbell reckoned winning the British senior trials is close to beating the world’s best. The Irishman won his eighth British senior single sculls trial on the Olympic course at Eton Dorney on Sunday, putting himself
Walton & Hersham striker Greg Andrews fears he may return to Leatherhead too late – if at all – to save them from the Ryman Premier League drop. The former Fetcham Grove favourite is currently on loan at the Swans where he smashed in four goals
Boss Alan Dowson will stop short of dismantling his current Ks squad next season, but it depends on how his side finish this term. Kingstonian face an uphill struggle to make the Ryman Premier League play-offs after an 80th minute Louis-Rae Beadle strike
The chief executive of St Helier Hospital has said we all have a collective responsibility not to talk about a “doomsday scenario”. The statement came at last night’s Health and Well Being Scrutiny Committee where Matthew Hopkins, the chief
Hampton School first team coach Carlos Mills hailed his Independent Schools FA U18s Cup winners after Thursday night's emotional triumph over Millfield School. Goals from Charlie Gerson and Dec Ryan secured a 2-1 win in front of more than 600
A pub landlady is running the North Pole Marathon in memory of her sister who died from a brain haemorrhage. Becky Newman, 44, of Putney, plans to run 26.2 miles over four days to raise money for Headway South London, a charity that supports
London Welsh managing director John Taylor has described Wales & British Lions legend Mervyn Davies's death as akin to losing a brother. Davies, one of seven London Welsh players - including Taylor - to be selected for the Lions in their victorious
An unknown person came from upstairs to shoot a man as he was buying Rolexes a court heard yesterday. Daniel Tesfay is accused of shooting his friend Jonathan Barnes, 20, during a bungled robbery at an address in Morland Road, Croydon last
The keys to a new home are finally about to be handed over to a charity for adults with learning difficulties. Fircroft Trust will start moving residents, like Sally Piercy, 51, many of whom have Down’s syndrome or other learning difficulties
If there’s one thing my love of cooking has taught me it is that everyone loves pie. And why on earth not? Pie is a most guilty of pleasure, but a pleasure it certainly is. And the real beauty of it is that most of the hard work can
A plumber has gone on trial accused of causing the death of a woman by failing to notice a poorly installed gas boiler in her flat. Elouise littlewood, 26, was found dead in her bathroom in a new build development in Bedfont on February 27 2008.
Delivered by Speakers Trust and funded by the Jack Petchey Foundation, Daniel Emery, aged 15 from Sutton Grammar School for Boys scooped top prize in the Sutton Regional Final of Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! 2011-12, Held at Carshalton Boys Sports
People wishing to vote in the forthcoming Southfields ward by-election should apply now for a proxy vote if they are unable to get to a polling station that day. The by-election, which is on Thursday, March 29, is being held following the resignation
The warmest day so far this year saw sun-seekers flocking to Battersea Park yesterday. The borough basked in temperatures of 20C, double the normal peak for this time of year. Beatrice Plathner, of Clapham, is pictured spending the afternoon
A local boy has written a global book and dedicated it to his old English teacher, writes Sophia Sleigh. Tim Griggs, 63, was born in Sutton and went to Sutton Grammar School. He now lives in Oxford and spent most of his life in Australia
A birthday party ended in chaos when a mass brawl left a man with a fractured eye socket. A 21-year-old man was kicked and punched after the 21st birthday party spilled out into the streets in North Cheam in the early hours of Saturday morning
A 37-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a man at the YMCA Croydon. Daniel Bannister is charged with the murder of Rajendra Patel. He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address, at the brief hearing
A campaign has been launched to combat “environmental crime” as the council tries to shrink its £3m annual street cleaning bill. Last week, Merton Council ran publicity roadshows in Morden and Wimbledon to highlight the scourge of chewing gum
The boss behind a scheme to transform part of West Croydon has spoken of his belief in the borough. Berkeley Homes have unveiled the latest images of their proposed Saffron Square development, which includes a 45 storey tower and new public
Volunteers have been planting edible trees at Sutton Community Farm. Over the last weekend in February, 20 volunteers planted 400 trees including Blackthorn, Japanese Rose and Rosa Eglantine. It was all part of the Woodland Trusts commitment
The dangers of mixing drugs and alcohol have been highlighted in an art competition for young people. Youths from across the borough were invited to design posters showing the danger of binge drinking and mixing alcohol with prescription drugs
Conor O’Shea may think Stuart Lancaster has been a breath of fresh air to the English game, but he hopes the winds of change are not strong this weekend. The Harlequins chief is part of a five-man panel charged with helping the RFU appoint
An 85-year-old disabled woman was left sitting alone, frightened and confused in a chair in her flat for 18 hours after a carer failed to gain access to her house. Iris Needle, who is diabetic and infirm, was hospitalised in February after
Trains from East Croydon to London Victoria have been delayed due to signal failure in the Balham area. The line had to be blocked for seven minutes between 9.03 and 9.10 this morning. Workers were quick to rectify the problem but still
Shocked shoppers looked on as a car burst into flames in a supermarket car park yesterday. Firefighters were called to the car park of Asda supermarket in Beddington Lane at 6.50pm to reports of a car on fire. An eagle-eyed shopper spotted
A former Tooting charity worker woke up as a culinary celebrity this morning after being crowned as this year's Masterchef champion last night. Shelina Permallo, 29, a British-born Mauritian originally from Southampton, is only the second woman
A bank executive who shattered her ankle leaping five feet from a low-level climbing wall during a team-building exercise has won the right to compensation. Louise Pinchbeck, 44, of Harefield Avenue, Cheam, now walks with a limp, and cannot
Jane Austen’s classic story of two sisters’ search for love is coming to the Vera Fletcher Hall. The Yvonne Arnaud and Rosemary Branch theatres present Sense and Sensibility on Friday, March 23. It has received rave reviews and been nominated for best
The men accused of attacking Kingston Mosque told police they had come to the town for a peaceful protest against extremist Islam. The attack came hours after a peaceful English Defence League (EDL) rally in Kingston. In the five police
Evidence in the Kingston Mosque attack trial may have been destroyed by Kingston police’s property store, a court has heard. Nine people deny being part of a violent mob that chanted English Defence League slogans as elderly worshippers cowered
The devastated mother of Ali Nasralla has opened up for the first time about the loss of her loving son. Grieving mother, Susan Nasralla, 44, said: “I still cannot believe he has gone forever. It is heartbreaking. “I feel like it is
Labour Mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone was left red-faced this week after he published a campaign leaflet with a five-point plan for Sutton – that contained only four points. The leaflets were handed out around Sutton over the weekend.
An octogenarian incensed by his noisy neighbours' building work flipped and attacked him with a baseball bat. Croydon Magistrates Court heard on Thursday (March 8) how John Payne, 82, layed into his neighbours' builder Lukasz Nochowicz punching
A 37-year-old man is to appear in court this morning charged with the murder of man at a YMCA in Croydon. Daniel Bannister, of no fixed address, will appear in custody at Bromley Magistrates' Court, charged with murdering Rajendra Patel.
A hosepipe ban has been announced for householders from next month after autumn and winter rainfall was only two-thirds of the average. Thames Water and Sutton and East Surrey Water, which covers Merton and its neighbouring boroughs, has banned
A new pedestrian footway has been plastered with graffiti just days after it reopened. The old bridge walkway at Stones Road in Epsom was condemned as unsafe two years ago and plans were made to knock it down and open a subway connecting Stones
Kieran Djilali may have spent four months on the AFC Wimbledon treatment table, but his positive outlook on life never wavered. The 21-year-old has suffered a horrendous time with injury since joining the Dons in August, making only seven appearances
A little girl cannot sleep because her unique teddy bear is missing. Lily Baly, who is 20 months old, was out with her mum Kayleigh Steptoe, 22, on Thursday March 1 when she lost her beloved "Ticket". The pair were walking past Best
Hampton & Richmond Borough loan star Reece Jones may want a return to AFC Wimbledon, but that will not stop him from helping save the Beavers from the Blue Square South drop. The 19-year-old struck a last gasp winner in Saturday’s thrilling 4-3 triumph
The search for the next Kiss FM DJ is coming to Croydon. The London radio station has launched the Kiss Chosen One, which will unearth the next Kiss FM presenter. Aspiring radio presenters will be given the opportunity to follow in the
Vandals caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage after spray painting a number of vehicles in an overnight crime spree. The damage took place on Sunday night in three separate locations; Dorking Road, Leatherhead, The Street in Capel, and
A homeless man who outstayed his visa killed himself by jumping in front of a train, a coroner’s court heard. Emile Marciny, 45, of no fixed address, jumped in front of a fast moving train at Wimbledon station on July 18, 2011, and died of
The mother of Purley chef Kevin Boyle appeared on television to launch her campaign against online suicide kits. Kevin, 26, of Old Lodge Lane went missing last October and his body was found on January 23, at the bottom of a Coulsdon garden
Recent sunshine is set to make way for clouds and showery spells this weekend. South London and Surrey are waking up to a cloudy, grey morning, with sunny spells a possibility in the afternoon, according to Met Office forecasters. "Some bright
Volunteers cut back trees and planted new flowers to help restore an eyesore in time for Easter. Worcester Park Baptist Church launched the community project, which is aiming to tidy up an open space left damaged and derelict after past maintenance
The mother of a family whose flat was destroyed by the falling crane has told how she narrowly escaped being crushed to death. Mother-of-three Sharon Williams, of Thessaly Road, told how her husband was asleep in their bedroom at the time and
The Battersea crane disaster led to the setting up of the Strategic Plant Forum for Safety to regulate and monitor crane safety. Prior to the accident there was no recognised examination to be a tower crane supervisor and no guidelines when
The father of the driver of the crane spoke of the pain he still suffered because of the loss of his son. Joe Cloke, father of Jonathan, told the jury his son was a fan of outdoor sports and liked to “work hard and play hard”. He said
Fighting back tears, Liliana Alexa, who has campaigned tirelessly since her son Michael’s death in September 2006, said: "The thing I can’t get out of my head is that one minute he was with us and the next he was gone. "Living without him
A workshop designed to reverse and treat the effects of diabetes is coming to Sutton. Statistically one in 20 people in the UK are being treated for diabetes and a million people with Type 2 diabetes are not aware they have the disease.
Organisers of the Croydon Green Fair are looking for people to get involved. Following on from last year’s successful event, held in May at Bramley Hill, the event organisers are again looking to invite all the environmentally minded organisations and
A Japanese charity concert was held in Wallington on Sunday (March 11). The concert, Celebrating Life, raised money for people affected by last year’s earthquake, tsunami and radiation leak in Japan and the Utoya shootings in Norway.
An Olympic hopeful has been presented with a brand new sports car. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was given the BMW 3 Series by Cooper Croydon, as part of their sponsorship deal in the lead up to the London 2012 Games. The sponsorship aims to
By Councillor Suzanne Grocott, Merton Conservative group's finance spokeswoman The Labour administration running Merton Council lacks leadership, vision and integrity. They demonstrated that conclusively at the recent Budget meeting.
