Archive

  • VOX POP: LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES TO INTEGRATE?

    Despite being uniquely placed to cater to the needs of some of London and Surrey’s most vulnerable residents, Social Services has had its budget slashed numerous times in the wake of the 2007 financial crisis. Employees have been laid off, services

  • New Year - New Resolutions

    Having successfully battled our fates and saved the world from its imminent end in December 2012, we found the Christmas days swiftly flying past until all too soon it was time to replace the old calendar on our bedroom wall and put up a brand new

  • LIFE OF PI-SPILLER!!!

       Life of Pi, a recent released movie, nominated for 9 Golden awards from academy-winning director Ang Lee, original book by Yann Matel is a wild and fast-paced survival life of Pi and the 450 pounds Bengal tiger, Richard Parker. In a shipwreck, Pi

  • START AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON

    Many of us welcomed the New Year in with a bang, but how do we intend to carry on the rest of the year? After the excitement of Christmas and New Year has died down, and we have stripped the house of all the festive decorations, we should ask ourselves

  • COMMUNITY SPIRIT IN HINCHLEY WOOD

    Twelfth night may have past, and Christmas may firmly be behind us, but the New Year is a time for reflection. Reflection on the happy moments of the festive season, and one of the community’s December highlights was certainly the Mayor of Elmbridge

  • WHY REVISION DOESN'T EQUAL TOP GRADES

    Writing after I have just finished a AS Biology exam, my work has finished. For the exam board and their legions of markers, there job has only just begun. Recent outrage at English GCSE results and the exam system in general has caused many students

  • From January With Love

    The January sales are here and everyone seems to have been overwhelmed by the desire to spend, spend, spend!  Shops across London have been bursting at the seams since December and there is no sign of it letting up! On the 22nd, I took a trip down

  • HALLO HOLA HELLO!

    Khmer, Lei ho, Dobur den, Bula bula, Ni hao, Shalom, Bore da, Tashi Delek, li ho bo, Selamat pagi and Kia ora. You may be thinking what one earth are these names or words suppose to mean or rather, if they have any relevance. No? Well think again

  • A sweet surprise revealed on the Super Mum’s new power!

    Shanaz Ali, local mother of three unleashed her creative skills into her own part-time catering business in Cheam.   The self-taught founder of Shanaz’s Creative Catering works from her husband’s Indian cuisine restaurant, Saregama in Carshalton

  • RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN SCHOOLS: WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE?

    As a fellow British citizen, you may well agree with me when I say that with regard to our lifestyles, most of us enjoy a certain degree of freedom. Particularly in terms of religion - be it freedom to worship, freedom to believe in any, if any God

  • FEATURE: MENTAL HEALTH

    The stigma surrounding mental health As a result of the ongoing government cuts, Britain’s National Health Service has been severely affected and with the increasing number of people being diagnosed with a mental health problem, the mental health

  • ARCADIA BY LAUREN GROFF - A BOOK REVIEW

    Arcadia is often defined within the parameters of ‘any real or imaginary place offering peace and simplicity’. In this sense, the characters in Lauren Goff’s new novel are in search of just that, a place where hierarchy, social constrains and restrictions

  • Find Your Tweet

    In a world dictated by social networking sites, it is natural to attempt to investigate just why this is. The aim of this feature article is to balance up contrasting and conflicting views and arrive at some sort of concluding thought.    Twitter

  • Are they taking over?

    KFC, Burger King, McDonalds. Easily recognisable. But are they too recognisable? Everywhere you turn, every street corner, every shopping centre, every high-street there they are.  They have recently infiltrated a local pub in Hampton Hill and replaced

  • The Charlie Hutton Festival of Hockey

    On the 21st of July the Whitgift community suffered a tragic loss. Charlie Hutton, 14 died while on holiday. He was with his family and friends travelling on a boat from Mudeford, Dorset to the Needles landmark off the Isle of Wight when he tragically

  • New Years Resolutions!

    The New Year; a brand new beginning for some, whilst for others its the continuation of a cycle. Starting off with celebrations, it is a joyous occasion. A time where people promise to outdo themselves from the previous year... but how many of you

  • NEW YEAR'S RAVE SHUT DOWN BY POLICE

    On New Year’s Eve, a squat party which took place in a disused warehouse in Brentford was shut down early by police. London is the central location for those types of raves, which take place in either disused buildings (like the warehouse on the

  • A Revolution in Resolutions

    It’s a new year and a fresh start but what do we do at the start of a new year? We make a New Year’s resolution. Whether it’s to lose weight by eating less chocolate or spending more time with family and friends about 45% of people set themselves New

  • It's Maya Madness!

    Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! We have made it to 2013! After all the drama of the end of the world we are still standing. But what was all this big news with the ending of the Maya Calendar thus creating the hysteria of the

  • Cafe owner charged £2000 for disregarding ban

    The owner of the Ace Cafe in Kingston has been fined £2000 for allowing customers to smoke a hookah, a pipe used for smoking shisha tobacco, in an enclosed tarpaulin space beside the cafe. Keyvanfari Nima, the owner of the Ace Cafe, was also found

  • INTERVIEW: WHAT WAS OUR LOCAL STREET LIKE?

    I am living in the local area of Fulham in Broughton road for what seems like a long 14 years, although  not very much has changed from what I experienced. However, curiosity took the best of me as to what had been changed overtime, so  I interviewed

  • REFORM, REALLY?

    Michael Gove, education minister for the Conservative Party announced an education reform. There are many different viewpoints on this issue and it is a controversial topic. Michael Gove believes that exams are simply too easy to pass and that coursework

  • Has the Olympic spirit vanished forever?

    Bang goes the gun, and they're off. Racing down the 100m track, adrenaline pumping, the finish line in sight. Ready, set, go. The swimmers fly into the water, a moment of silence is broken by the wild explosion of merriment. The public cheering and

  • Internet Shopping. Revolutionary or Conventional?

    Boxing Day. The 26th of December, when presumably hundreds of crazy shoppers head out to Croydon to grab a nice bargain. And obviously, I was one of them. Shopping pleases the female soul, for reasons only a female would understand. Entering a room

  • SHINING ALLEY WAY HOPES TO LIGHT UP CRIME

    New lighting in local alley way are installed along with renovation in an attempt to combat rise in cases of mugging.   The alley way between Graham Road and Dundonald Tram stop on Hartfield Crescent in Wimbledon has had its floor re-tarmacked

  • Food: from fuel to fun

    Rather conveniently, as the New Year begins, the predictable propaganda for enhancing our lifestyle springs up all over the country. People are looking to reinvent themselves, the jump back to January from December is something everyone connotes with

  • IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, PLAY ON.

    Twelfth Night is one of William Shakespeare’s most famous romantic comedies.  September2012, English Literature AS level students at the Ursuline High School have become more than familiar with the play. Having studied the play in great depth, the

  • Under Pressure *break out into song*

    January is one of the busiest and most stressful months of the academic year for many year 10 and year 11 students across the country. With the exams generally following a modular structure, January seems to be one of the busiest months, with course

  • Heavens Open for New Years Day

    As students go on their Christmas holidays and prepare for the upcoming spring term, there is one thing that all people will wish for in the New Year, sunnier days. 2012 alone was the wettest year in England since records began and the second biggest

  • 2013 - MAKE A RESOLUTION THAT LASTS.

    New years resolutions all seem to be the same each year: lose weight, give up chocolate, and join a gym. After indulging too much over Christmas, people feel guilty as the New Year hits and therefore commit to these resolutions. However in my own case

  • Procrastination Pandemic

    With flocks of exams flying in on the horizon, the world of students and teachers alike enters a new phase: Revision. Not being everyone’s cup of tea, the single word has the power to create a sound wave of moans from every direction. For teachers

  • THE SOUND OF CHRISTMAS

    Leading up to Christmas St. James the Great Primary School in Thornton Heath performed their annual carol service. This year it was held at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Streatham.  There was a large turn out, with some people having to stand in the

  • Dalchini: An Experience Unlike any Other

    Is anyone in need of an intimate meal to spend with a loved one, away from the children? Or what about inhaling exotic aromas from areas some 3,000 miles from home? The Dalchini restaurant situated in the heart of Wimbledon Park High Street is a prime

  • Do students today prefer mixed or single sex schools?

    A common point for debate within the education industry is whether students thrive in mixed schools or a single sex environment.  There are arguments for both cases, and with 24,605 schools across the England as of January 2010 all utilising different

  • BREAKING NEWS - A SPECTACULAR END TO 2012

    The recent end to last year may have seen the busiest Boxing Day sales to day, as shoppers did not fail to impress staff with their outcome on Wednesday. Even though Christmas fell on a Tuesday, shoppers woke up early to try and catch some great bargains

  • THE SAD FATE OF THE R&B ARTISTS OF YESTERDAY

    Contemporary R&B once took over the world. Well for a short-lived period of time. Between the late 1980s and the early 2000s, the genre was at its peak, and seemed to be the most popular genre of the time. But in a space of just 10 years

  • TEENAGERS IN ACT OF FESTIVE GOODWILL

    During recent years, teenagers have often been given a hard time in the press – stereotyped as lazy, binge drinking yobs. It is refreshing, then, to see an example of young people giving up their spare time to help another generation, as a group of

  • MESSI WINS 4 TIMES!

      On Monday 7th January 2012, many people watched the FIFA Ballon D'or awards ceremony. The FIFA Ballon D'or was giving awards to football players that have performed very well in the last season. Football players are voted and nominated by captains

  • AMAZON LOCKER’S EXPAND TO CARSHALTON

    In October 2012, The Co-operative expanded its Amazon Locker’s system to more stores across the United Kingdom. One of these stores was The Co-operative Food in Carshalton High Street.   Earlier in the year, The Co-operative came together with

  • THE RIVALRY

    The Rivalry On the 6th of January 2013, India faced Pakistan in the third and final One Day International in Delhi, India. To some it was just a cricket match following the Christmas period; however to many Indian and Pakistani people it was the

  • A SPECTACULAR END TO 2012- BREAKING NEWS

    The recent end to last year may have seen the busiest Boxing Day sales to day, as shoppers did not fail to impress staff with their outcome on Wednesday. Even though Christmas fell on a Tuesday, shoppers woke up early to try and catch some great bargains

  • THE SCIENCE OF BEING SCARED

    Why do we love horror? Is it the rush of adrenaline? Our disgust at violent deaths? The reminder of how safe our own lives are? For me it’s that sense of unknown. Peering out from a gap in my hands or cowering under my duvet; never sure of what is

  • PET'S AREN'T JUST FOR CHRISTMAS - VOX POP

    Christmas is now over and with the January blues upon us, how many of us, although we are grateful, can truthfully say that we remember all of our presents and who gave them to us? When the Christmas buzz dies down many young children forget about

  • FUR: FASHION STATEMENT OR FOX SLAYING?

    Fur is one of man’s oldest and primitive resources, dating right back to the dawn of humanity when it was worn simply as a measure of practicality and necessity. Through the ages it has developed, with its difficulty to acquire and high price marking

  • Half Price: Better Value?

    On the twelfth day of Christmas, locally the collection of festive decoration that festooned the streets of Cheam Broadway painted - even in this small village - the enthusiasm for the celebration of Christmas in Great Britain. Hence the emphasis of

  • Should Prisoners be given the right to vote?

    I think it is wise to say that there are a lot of grey areas where this controversial matter is concerned. When convicted of a crime, some civil rights for prisoners are taken away as a punishment, this includes voting rights. In Armenia, Bulgaria

  • LIVING OUT SERVIAM; VOLUNTEERING AT PERSEID SCHOOL

    School is not just about academics; it is also about working to be the best you can be and finding out how to give something back. Although I may not admit it often, I’m very fortunate to study at Ursuline High School Wimbledon. The school has opened

  • ANYTHING GOES

    Students at Ursuline high school in Wimbledon put on their winter production from the 7th to the 9th of December. The 2012 performance was of the 1930s musical ‘Anything goes’, with an incredible total cast of 195 actors!  The show is set on a

  • How many of you know the name of this flower?

    So, how many of you really did know the name of the flowers in the picture? Did you see them and immediately think, ‘I know this one! It’s a French Marigold!’ Some of you may have, but the chances are very slim. If you didn’t know, then you may find

  • When will the fast food offensive stop?

    It is a well-known fact that fast food brings with it a multitude of health problems. Obesity, diabetes, the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke are cited most often (to the point it can get on the nerves), but they are small in number compared

  • Christmas trees are the last to go

    It is at this time of year the last of the discount Christmas chocolates disappear from our shelves; the lights are taken down from shops and houses. It seems only yesterday the Christmas lights were switched on in Kingston by Cinderella, yet it was

  • A PATH LESS TRAVELLED

    In modern times there is almost no where that has not been discovered. Everywhere and everyone is interconnected, this leads to mutual understanding and respect, which is vital for humanity. On the other hand, it is also a sad fact that the excitement

  • Les Misérables: too miserable for a teen?

    Wondering whether to go see Les Misérables? Read on to find a teenager’s opinion on the film. I was lucky to have the opportunity to watch Les Misérables before the general release this Friday or was I? It was three hours long! The story has

  • A Day In The Life Of A Science Teacher

    I've always wanted an insight into the life of a teacher, so took matters into my own hands by interviewing my science teacher and form tutor, Dr. Rahman. ME: Why did you choose teaching as a profession? DR. RAHMAN: I love science, and engaging

  • Spontaneous Christmas Celebrations

                                                 Spontaneous Christmas Celebrations! Christmas is very exciting time of the year, when people get presents from the ones they love. People go out shopping, spending money everywhere for everyone.

  • A Chat with a Children's Charity

    The Children’s Trust Tadworth is a national charity that gives specialist services to children with acquired brain injury, multiple disabilities and complex health needs. They are currently based at a 24 acre site in Tadworth, Surrey, but supply their

  • VOX POP: CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS?

    Currently, girls and boys all over the country are doing their controlled assessments, in replacement of coursework. Controlled assessments are when the students are given a title to write about a text or a project, for example Macbeth or Carol Ann

  • HANWELL'S HOMELESS AT CHRISTMAS

    While most had a cosy home to go to the homeless had nowhere to spend their Christmas. Hanwell has recently taken away benches by lidl to provide a clean and open space taking away a place for the homeless to sleep, also council refurbishing king Georges

  • A 'New' Year

    A New Year comes with the inevitable New Year resolutions. After talking to a group of girls from my school about what they would like for this year; to be fitter, work hard and get good results etc. I decided to look a bit deeper. What are resolutions

  • INSPIRED A GENERATION?

    London 2012, the talk of the year, millions of pounds went into building the stadium, thousands of volunteers helped to build it, and we helped make the games what they were. Did they make people want to be like the Olympic medallists? Were they inspired

  • FLOODING IN SUNBURY

    At 08:28 on the 26th of December flood warnings were issued to the area of Sunbury due to rising water levels in the River Thames. The main reason for this is because last year there was a drought and the ground dried up however this year there has

  • WHY READING?

    With the refurbishment of Croydon High School’s library now complete it draws attention to subjects of reading, books and learning.  It seems that in modern day life the act of reading either a hard-back or soft-back book has become much less frequent

  • WE WISH YOU A MERRY EASTER AND A HAPPY HALLOWEEN

    The boxes of mince pies and Christmas chocolates may have only just vanished from our shelves, yet suddenly mini eggs and chocolate bunnies are taking over. No sooner is the Quality Street tin emptied on New Year’s Day; we are then tempted to buy a

  • THE ART OF PROCRASTINATION

    The power to influence is in your hands… The word procrastination gets unfairly thrown around by people all the time. But have you ever considered the view that this term; which is commonly thought of as negative and is often used in the place

  • The Famous 'Life of Pi'

    In November 2012, a new film was released into the box office: Life of Pi. This film has become hugely popular throughout the month of December, and its popularity has continued into 2013 with a BAFTA nomination. It is currently tied with Les Miserables

  • SOUTHFIELDS' SUPERMARKET BOOM

    For the past years, shops have become even more competitive than ever. One of the most being supermarkets, popping up on every corner and comparing their prices on 'big brands' with their competitors weekly. Residents and shop keepers in Southfields

  • PET'S AREN'T JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

    Christmas is now over and with the January blues upon us, how many of us, although we are grateful, can truthfully say that we remember all of our presents and who gave them to us? When the Christmas buzz dies down many young children forget about

  • BREAKING NEWS: CRIME IS GETTING WORSE!!

    In all my years in living in Kingston upon Thames it has been considered the safest Borough in London and I personally can relate to that. In recent years however, I have noticed much more crime. So is crime getting worse, or am I just ‘growing up’

  • THE MYSTERY OF THE SURREY PARAKEETS

    Every town or region seems to have some kind of elusive person or creature that eventually falls into myth and is forever surrounded by a fog or urban legend explaining its origins. Scotland has the Loch Ness Monster, Mexico has the Chupacabra, United

  • 4 Times In A Row!

    On Monday 7th January 2012, many people watched the FIFA Ballon D'or awards ceremony. The FIFA Ballon D'or was giving awards to football players that have performed very well in the last season. Football players are voted and nominated by captains

  • A MOVE TOWARDS MODERN TIMES

    The Royal Star and Garter Home has been a familiar landmark in Richmond for more than 90 years. It was initially established in 1916 to care for disabled young men returning from the battlefields of the First World War. The home officially became an

  • MANKIND ON NEW YEAR'S EVE

    People at New Year’s Eve pub parties tend to fall into 3 distinct categories.   While the 31st of December follows a fairly regular schedule for my family: we stay up late, watch people celebrate New Year’s Eve on the TV and sing Auld Lang

  • Points of View- American Gun Laws

    With around 40% of American households owing a gun, and the recent tragic shootings, does America need to change its laws? December the 14th saw a horrific event, resulting in 26 deaths, 20 of which where children. Adam Lanza, aged 20 shot himself

  • QUINS WIN

    After ending its life as a cabbage patch, Twickenham Stadium has been the home of English rugby since it held its first game between local sides Harlequins and Richmond in 1909. Now that it can seat a massive crowd of up to 82,000 rugby fans it has

  • Showtime 2013 at the Montford Academy

    As is the tradition, the Montford Dance and Stage Academy is preparing for its biyearly Showtime. Every two years, dancers of all grades and types grace the hallowed halls of the wings to the stage at Leatherhead. This particular year, the Academy

  • THE WRITER'S DILEMMA...

    The Writer’s Dilemma…   Sometimes it can be hard when reading other articles to acknowledge the challenges and time gone into their writing. It can take a lot of effort, motivation and determination to finish an article, especially with scary

  • WHY DO WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS?

    As that festive time of year comes to an end for the two thousand and twelfth time; the population of Carshalton prepares, no doubt grudgingly, to return to the routine of work, sleep and roasts dinners with no pigs in blankets. Indeed, January is

  • World Record Attempt

    Local school Sutton High School recently attempted to break a world record! The record attempted to be broken was the record for having the biggest number of people participating in a memory game. Most of year 11, 12 and 13 were asked to take part

  • Half Price: Better Value?

    On the twelfth day of Christmas, locally the collection of festive decoration that festooned the streets of Cheam Broadway painted - even in this small village - the enthusiasm for the celebration of Christmas in Great Britain. Hence the emphasis of

  • DO DREAMS HAVE MEANING?

    Dreams, we all have them, some are nicer than others but they are usually quite weird. Dreams come in the form of thoughts, images or sensations running through your head when you are sleeping. They are fascinating and have inspired many sci-fi movies

  • WHEN WILL IT SNOW?

    The month has came to January however there is no sign of snow which means a disappointment to students but a relief to the public, which is the teachers and school and others who go to work. However, the weather has been decreasing and the weather

  • The Arrival of Balham Farmers' Market

    Balham has recently set up a Saturday Farmers' Market, located at Chestnut Grove School. It offers so many astonishing goodies for everyone, with opening times running from 9am-2pm. Chestnut Grove School is the perfect location as there is lots of

  • THE CINEMA

    Last weekend, I went to the cinema. Hardly ground breaking, I know. Yet, I felt as if I must make some sort of note about the, what I can only call, monstrosity that I watched. ‘Playing for keeps.’ You may have heard of it or even seen it yourself.

  • 48 Frames Per Second- the future of cinematics?

    Being an avid Lord of the rings fan for the majority of my life I was extremely excited for the prequel to the films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, to finally reach the cinema. Upon hearing about the news that it was to have a higher frame rate

  • Film of the Year

    Skyfall, the most recent James Bond film, directed by Sam Mendes and released in the UK on the 26th of October 2012, was one of the most talked-about films of the year. With an estimated budget of $200,000,000, the film left its audience with mixed

  • OBESITY EATING UP NHS FUNDS

    22% of our population are obese – that’s over thirteen million people. If the majority of these people are treated in some way, imagine the price the NHS is having to pay – £4 billion a year - and that is coming from your taxes. But should this self-inflicted

  • REFLECTIONS OF KINGSTON YOUTH

    ‘Young people are the people of the future.’ How often have we heard that phrase? It rings through society; parents tell it to their children; teachers to their students; politicians to the world. But how young people actually respond to this casually

  • REFURBISHMENT PLANS FOR HESTON POOL CREATING A SPLASH

    Heston Pool is a facility that has served our local community for many years, as far back as the 1930s and has even survived World War 2. It has been open to the public for a long time now and it has continued to be a jewel in the heart of the community

  • THE GIRL WITH A UNIQUE VIEW ON SELFHARM

    Selfharm is a lot more common than you would think. It changes people's lives and in some cases, can destroy them. People suffer in silence, afraid of what people may say about them if they were to tell anyone. But how do you tell someone? Who do

  • KFC OPENED IN HAMPTON HILL

    Recently a KFC opened up in the Hampton Hill area. Many people such as the youth society really liked the idea of having a KFC on their door step. However the parents of those youths and many locals disliked the idea as it was deemed to be unhealthy

  • OUT WITH A BANG WITH BIGBANG!

    The world-wide Korean pop stars, BIGBANG, made their entrance at the Wembley Arena last month. The tickets sold on fire, as we realise how Asian culture is known worldwide from the food to the music, as many BIGBANG fans gather in the middle of a cold

  • Train delays to continue all night

    Delays on trains caused by a faulty track circuit will continue all night, South West Trains has said. There are no trains running from Waterloo to Richmond and Twickenham via Brentford. The Reading and Windsor and Eton Riverside services from

  • A Christmas To Remember

    Christmas. It seems long gone. The schools are going back and the trees are coming down, and I’m beginning to order regular lattes in Starbucks instead of the infamous gingerbread variety. Yet although the New Year is already underway, I am still concluding

  • Local School Girls’ Missing Phone

    On Tuesday 11th December, a local student was on the 213 bus to Kingston on her way home from school. She found a seat on the bus with a friend and she said that a man who was already on the bus followed her to her seat and stood behind her.

  • KFC For Keeps?

    KFC  For Keeps? As the New Year 2013 has arrived, so has the presence of a brand new KFC to the always loved Hampton Hill high-street. After the closing of the old Jenny Lind, the abandoned, unused building has been replaced with Hampton Hill’s

  • HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS

    Located in Heath Road, Twickenham, SPEAR- Single Persons Emergency Accommodation in Richmond- is a homeless charity which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012. The charity was set up in 1987 after two homeless people died whilst sleeping on the

  • 2013: The Year with an Attitude

    So here it is, we made it to the year 2013 after all, in spite of the many predictions that the world, as we know it, would end on 21st December 2012. Looking at this still fresh and unfamiliar number ‘2013’, we can’t help reflecting on the many connotations

  • Anything less than fraud?

    Charity shops are still, undoubtedly, a long-lived novelty in any town. They bring not only closure, but a sentiment no longer found in any ordinary shop on the highstreet these days. A sense of magic and vintage uniqueness can be found from the moment

  • A Day In the Life of A Chief Bridesmaid

    Wedding – a ceremony in which two people are united in marriage.   A very simple description for quite a simple concept. But who knew how much was involved in wedding planning…until my sister got engaged. This time last year my mum was

  • IS X FACTOR LOSING ITS X FACTOR?

    The last series of singing contest X Factor has seen its worst viewing figures since 2006, with 8.2 million viewers on average tuning in to the weekly Saturday night episodes. This was disastrous news for the ITV1 show as for the first time in years

  • TEENS REACT TO CHILD BENEFITS

    Recently, news has spread on the change of Child Benefit in the UK. Originally child benefit was at a rate of £20.30 a week for the first-born before it became £13.40 subsequently after each child. It lasts until each child reaches 16 or 18 years of

  • Parental Guidance

    Parental Guidance is a brand new comedy, released on Boxing Day 2012, and starring Bette Midler and Billy Crystal, alongside Marisa Tomei and Tom Everett Scott. The children are played by Bailee Madison, Joshua Rush and Kyle Harrison Breitkopf. The

  • CHARITY GROUP HOLDS RAFFLE

    Friday December 14th saw Nonsuch High School for Girls have their annual Christmas fair – an event hosted by the PSFA.  All of the students got involved and made stalls amongst their individual forms, for the purpose of buying beneficial equipment

  • WHO MADE YOUR CHRISTMAS DINNER?

    Who Made Your Christmas Dinner?   While most of us were at home this Christmas, with friends and family, having a good time, the same cannot be said for others. Many people in London are living with HIV. People living with HIV often struggle

  • Police counter closures 'a betrayal'

    Mayor of London Boris Johnson has "betrayed" Croydon with plans to close five of the borough's public police desks, opponents said today. Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the council's Labour group, described proposals to axe counters at Purley

  • WEATHERING AN INEVITABLE STORM

    They say Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and who can argue with that? Despite all the problems that Croydon and Greater London face, Christmas has done a rather sterling job of heightening the moods of many for the past month. However

  • HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIST'S SCHOOL

    We are now coming up to Chirst's School's 300th birthday, and as the date is quickly approaching I have decided to look back on some the school's amazing history. On the 25th May, 1713, a charity school was established in the Parish of Richmond

  • School's design competition to mark Holocaust Day

    To mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2013 pupils are being invited to take part in a special design competition. Students are being encouraged to create a piece of work based on the theme for the January 27 memorial day, called Communities Together -

  • FLOODS THREATEN ELMBRIDGE

    December 2012 was a month of wild winter weather with howling winds, odd snow flurries and heavy rainfall plaguing all of Southern England. Though this wet weather front made for a cosy Christmas, it was also directly responsible for the Thames River

  • CLAYGATE ROYALS FC......THE PLACE TO BE

    Claygate royals FC is the local football club in the Claygate area. It is hugely popular with kids of all ages and even hosts veteran games for senior players. Claygate Royals is a great club for players who are new to football. It is a very

  • Family Business Launches into the 21st Century

    Since 1929 the Bevan family has run what has been hailed as “the Harrods of Kingston”, and has taken pride in being a local family-run business. But over the past few months, this traditional butcher’s shop gained a modern and innovative new look.

  • New Year Resolutions?!

    With a new year brings new thoughts and fresh ideas.  Something we are all familiar with is the concept of the ‘NEW YEAR RESOLUTION’, a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects or the reforming of a habit. However, it

  • LONDON'S BURNING!

    Sad news like this might be coming back to our ears due to the long lasting economic crisis. A large amount of spending cuts have been issued in  many areas due to this.,  The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson has informed London’s fire service that they

  • Not Quite The End of the World

    On the 21st of December, 2012…nothing much happened. Why? Because the world didn’t end. Here in Twickenham, and indeed, Great Britain generally, we weren’t as worried about the world ending on that fateful Friday as the rest of the world, except

  • Last chance for primary school place application

    Parents are being reminded that they have just one week left to apply for a primary school place starting next September. People living in the borough who want their children to attend a state-run primary school in September must submit their applications

  • Viral Videos gone mad

    The song “One Pound Fish” has proved an instant success, with over 13 million views on YouTube in just one month it is a sign that more and more videos are becoming an instant craze, such as “Gangnam style”, which has over a billion hits on YouTube

  • UPDATE: Mansion fire under control

    Twenty fire fighters and four fire engines have been battling a blaze at a mansion. The fire was at a property in The Green, which is a private road, near the A240 Reigate Road in East Ewell. Although it is believed the fire has been brought

  • Croydon University Hospital possible contender to lose A&E

    Two south London Hospitals will lose their A&Es with Croydon University Hospital named as a possible contender. The healthcare review Better Services Better Value review (BSBV) announced today that two hospitals out of four should lose their

  • Precious jewellery stolen in burglary

    Precious family heirlooms, some up to 85-years-old, were stolen in a burglary last month. Thieves ransacked a three-bedroom house in Turpin Way, Wallington, and took jewellery from a retired couple while they were on holiday between December 4

  • Holy Smoke!

    It was curtain time for Saint Stephen’s Church in Warwick Road, Thornton Heath, when the church drapes suddenly caught alight... On the morning of Saturday 29th of December at 11.15 am, Saint Stephen’s Church curtains fiercely went up in flames

  • No transfers please, we're Dulwich

    Dulwich Hamlet manager Gavin Rose is hoping to get through the January transfer window without losing his headline-grabbing stars. For the past two years, Hamlet have watched their big names leave Champion Hill but Rose says the club’s ethos is

  • C'MON YOU BEES!

    On Saturday the 5th of November local club Brentford played away at Roots Hall, the home ground of Southend United, in the third round of the FA Cup. Around 1300 loyal Brentford fans filled one whole end of the Southend ground, to help make up the

  • Boss Rosler extends Brentford contract

    Brentford boss Uwe Rosler has admitted it was a simple decision to extend his contract at Griffin Park. The former Manchester City striker has led the Bees into the League One top six this season - his second at the club - and to the brink of a

  • IT'S A NEW YEAR

    It’s a new year; a chance for a fresh start, brand new expectations and goals. Every year, when January comes, I try to think of a New Year resolution. Whatever it is, and whether or not I actually do it, I always have one. If you don’t already have

  • Fears building plan could devalue homes

    Neighbours say plans to make changes to a storage building have been met with opposition from neighbours who say the changes could damage the character of the area. Sutton Councillors will decide whether to allow a plan to install skylights, a

  • Two A&Es and maternity units now face the chop

    Health chiefs announced this afternoon they now want to shut two A&Es and maternity units in the region. The healthcare review Better Services Better Value review (BSBV) programme board recommended on Wednesday, that two A&E and maternity

  • Police station could close to the public

    One of the borough's three police stations could be shut to the public in plans revealed this week. The front counter at Wallington Police Station in Crosspoints House, Stafford Road, is earmarked to be shut down at part of the Mayors Office for

  • Two hospitals could lose A&E and maternity

    The future of St Helier’s accident and emergency looks even bleaker after it was recommended that two A&Es should close in the region. The healthcare review Better Services Better Value review (BSBV) last year proposed St Helier Hospital should

  • Surbiton police office slated for closure

    The police office and front desk at Millbank House in Surbiton could close as part of Met Police cost-cutting measures, it was announced today. The office was only opened in February 2011 after the closure and sell-off of Surbiton police station

  • Pollution levels exceed yearly quota just days into 2013

    Pollution levels have exceeded the yearly Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) quota in Putney High Street within three days of 2013. The results are a mirror of last year, when the yearly quota had been reached within three days of the start of 2012. Results

  • Trains between Chessington South and Motspur Park suspended

    Trains between Motspur Park and Chessington South have been suspended due to emergency engineering work, National Rail has said. As a result Malden Manor, Tolworth, Chessington North and Chessington South stations will not be served, while some

  • Second body pulled from Thames

    The body of a young man was pulled out of the Thames in Barnes yesterday, January 8. RNLI lifeboat crews were asked by the coastguard to launch a boat to recover the body, which was spotted at Corney Reach near Barnes Bridge. Police were called

  • Festivities ended in a blaze

    The morning of December 26th, began with the news of a blaze which affected Jade pharmacy and the flats above it, on the parade of shops, of Heston Road. The blaze was not the only damage, as drugs were stolen too; it is thought that those responsible

  • THE BIG SOCIETY: ASPIRATIONAL WAFFLE OR A NECESSITY?

    On 10th December 2012, two boys from Whitgift school  and two girls from Coloma Convent Sixth Forms took part in a debate over the statement "the house beliefs that The Big Society is mere aspirational waffle". The Big Society is a policy idea

  • Councillor fights flooding

    A councillor is fed up of a roundabout which continually floods. Cheam councillor Mary Burstow is asking Surrey County Council to sort out the flooding around the Belmont roundabout at the junction of Belmont Rise and Brighton Road. When it

  • Firefighters called to shed blaze

    Firefighters attended a blaze in Norbury after two sheds and an out building caught fire this morning. Crews were called to Strathyre Avenue at 6.50am and managed to prevent the fire spreading to other gardens. One of the buildings was destroyed

  • Croydon Tech City movement gears up for 2013

    Businessmen behind a push to make the borough a tech-city have said their plans gained plenty of momentum last year and are hoping 2013 will be just as successful. Croydon Tech City, a forward thinking group headed up by Jonny Rose, has already

  • TACOS, ANYONE?

    When someone mentions tacos, the first thing that comes to mind is the traditional Mexican fast food dish. This usually consists of a hard tortilla that is rolled around a filling. Tacos are especially popular in the United States, and many popular

  • Plans to downgrade Mitcham police station confirmed

    Merton is set to lose one of its two 24-hour police stations, it was confirmed today as the Mayor’s office begins a consultation into major cost-cutting at the Metropolitan police. As the Wimbledon Guardian revealed in December, Mitcham police

  • Nature Notes: Wetness wipeout

    Compared with previous years, the number and variety of birds visiting my garden is extremely disappointing. My feeders remain untouched for long periods with just one pair each of blue and great tits, the occasional coal tit, plus two feisty robins

  • An Interview With Michael Adekoya

    So, after the much needed introduction of new school meals in Wimbledon College, I managed to get to grips with a personal opinion; that of Michael Adekoya. When asked what he thinks about the revolution regarding school meals, he responded, in a pretty

  • It's balloon modelling... but not as we know it

    A world-renowned artist might find his ego ballooning now he has been given an international award. Sutton's Graham Lee is one of the world's leading balloon artists and has made models of everything from rocker Alice Cooper to a giant model of

  • Memorial garden treated with "no respect" by developers

    A memorial garden commemorating a historic water tower has been treated with "no respect" after being trampled by developers. Councillors Dan Stevens and Sheila Carlson were appalled to see that one side of the garden, situated within the Livingstone

  • Criminals clear litter in community payback

    Criminals have been repaying their debt to society by clearing rubbish from near a car park. On Tuesday January 8, low-level offenders filled about 30 bags and created a 5ft high pile of waste next to Wickes car park in Beddington Lane as part

  • Carshalton Athletic boss "could see win coming"

    Carshalton Athletic boss Tommy Williams admitted his charges needed Tuesday night’s 3-2 win over Enfield Town. Defeat in the Ryman League Premier Division six-pointer would have left the Robins languishing eight points behind Enfield at the foot

  • Men arrested after trying to steal fuel and flee police

    Three men were arrested overnight for trying to steal fuel from a lorry. Reigate and Banstead Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team posted on Twitter that the men were caught in Banstead after trying to run from police. Do you know more? Please

  • Family lead tributes to Janelle Duncan-Bailey

    The family of Janelle Duncan-Bailey have led tributes to the popular 25-year-old. The mum-of-two's cousin, Pat West-Allwood said the family were devastated by her death. He said: "We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful Janelle. The

  • Parents face 'truancy fines' for unauthorised school holidays

    Parents could be fined up to £120 by Tolworth Girls' School if they take their children on holiday during term-time without permission. The school is the first in the borough to trial the fixed penalty notices scheme, which it says will combat

  • Mother fears for autistic son over 'inappropriate' care

    The mother of a severely autistic man said she fears for her son's life after Croydon Council disputed an ombudsman ruling that he should receive 24-hour care. Deborah Fearn, 60, of Westleigh Avenue, Coulsdon, is convinced that supported living

  • MPs pile pressure on Network rail over Thameslink service

    MPs have put further pressure on Network Rail to keep services from Sutton to St Pancras and Luton Airport. MPs Tom Brake and Paul Burstow spoke at a meeting to discuss the future of the Wimbledon Loop services through Blackfriars station.

  • Thief steals cancer charity money from funeral parlour

    A callous thief stole a Christmas charity collection tin from a funeral parlour while staff were distracted talking to a grieving family. The brazen crook walked into Rowland Brothers in Central Parade, New Addington and bizarrely handed an employee

  • Sixty years of scouts invited to grand reopening

    Sea scouts old and new have been invited to a grand reopening of its historic headquarters in Mitcham. The sixth/12th Mitcham Sea Scout Group, based in Glebe Court, has spent last year fundraising and refurbishing its scout hall and will officially

  • 2013: Is it finally going to be the year things change?

    Is this finally going to be the year that things change for the youth?  Rather than being seen as a burden, nuisance or irresponsible, which we were known as since the awful 2011 August riots. I believe we have finally got our point across; we want

  • Cornish comedian coming to Croydon this weekend

    A Cornish comedian is coming to town this weekend in a show which is strictly for adults only, writes Andy Bloss. Jethro, heralded as Cornwall’s ambassador of comedy, is returning to Fairfield Halls once again for what is hoped to be an evening

  • Appeal to track key witness over train sex assault

    British Transport Police have released an image of a man they would like to speak to after a woman was sexually assaulted while she slept on a train. The incident is said to have happened on the 11.12pm service from Waterloo to Basingstoke on November

  • Wrestling comes back to Croydon

    It is time to get ready to rumble as wrestling mayhem comes to the Fairfield Halls once again, writes Andy Bloss. Title holders from All Star Wrestling will be battling it out once again to claim wrestling glory with some big head to heads set

  • Early morning sausages cause flat fire

    Firecrews rescued two men from a flat after fire broke out, caused by unattended cooking. They were called to the blaze in Winstanley Road, Battersea, just before 4.30am this morning. The men were given oxygen by firefighters and were treated

  • Opera fans can watch performances live at Vue cinema

    Music enthusiasts will be able to watch a live performance from the London Royal Opera House in the cinema, writes Andy Bloss. A performance of a La Boheme, will be screened live at the Vue Cinema, Purley Way. It is part of Vue’s biggest season

  • A storm is brewing as The Tempest rolls into Croydon

    Shakespeare is coming to the Fairfield Halls with a musical twist this month, writes Andy Bloss. The group Shakespeare 4 Kidz (S4K) returns to Croydon with its musical version of The Tempest. S4K, an award-winning theatre company, specialises

  • Cinema campaign announces January film dates

    A host of films will be on show throughout January courtesy of the David Lean Cinema Campaign, writes Andy Bloss. The campaign presented 31 different films in 2012 and hopes to continue its success this year. Four films will be screened during

  • Playhouse pantomine biggest success in a decade

    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs became Epsom Playhouse’s biggest-selling pantomime of the last decade over the festive season. The show, which finished its run at the theatre on Ashley Road on Sunday, proved to be a big hit with audiences, with

  • Borough's first bake off

    Cooks will be rustling up some treats this year as the first bake off comes to the borough. The Great Croydon Bake Off is inspired by hit BBC series, the Great British Bake Off, the first event of its kind to be held in Croydon and will be held

  • Sky is the limit for Quins' mature Care

    Director of rugby Conor O'Shea reckons scrum half Danny Care's sparkling form is down to the Yorkshireman's new maturity.   The 26-year-old, who celebrated his birthday last week, scored his eighth try in his past 10 appearances for the club

  • Man rescued after falling asleep while cooking

    Firefighters rescued a man from his ground floor flat this morning after he fell asleep while cooking. The crew from Croydon fire station were called to a small fire in Oakfield Road at 5.45am and broke in to help the man out of the property.

  • Promotion is Tolfrey's Ks target

    Kingstonian keeper Rob Tolfrey would love to cap his fourth season at Kingsmeadow with promotion to the Blue Square South. The 25-year-old made his 150th appearance for the club in the New Year’s Day 0-0 draw with Hampton & Richmond Borough

  • Tributes paid to scooter driver killed in crash

    Tributes have been paid to a scooter driver who died in a crash last week. Sanjay Vadher, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene following the collision on Thursday in Sutherland Grove, Southfields. It is believed the incident took place at 11.30am

  • Mystery romantic proclaims their love on giant billboard

    A billboard from a mystery romantic proclaiming their love for the most beautiful woman in the world has been intriguing motorists. The giant hoarding, beside the A217 in Banstead, is thought to have gone up earlier this week but drivers are not

  • Henry VIII wives explored

    The six wives of Henry VIII will be the subject of an illustrated talk by a well known author this month. Back by popular demand, Alison Weir's The Images of Tudor Queens: Portraits of the Six Wives of Henry VIII will illuminate the world of the

  • PROTESTERS SQUAT IN RUNNYMEDE WOODS

    Eco-protesters from the group Diggers continue to squat in the Runnymede woods, despite the abysmal weather and a court eviction order. The small group of 15 has erected an eco village in the shadow of the former Brunel University campus, which was

  • Recipe: Tenderstem and mozzarella pizza

    You can’t beat homemade pizza. This recipe is kept simple by using a bought pizza base mix; however you can prepare your own dough if preferred. Alternatively you can speed things up even more by using a ready prepared base. The toppings are just

  • Volunteers clean up town

    More than 50 volunteers took to the streets of Croydon on New Year’s Day to clean up following the festivities. On Tuesday, volunteers from Ahmadiyya Muslim Association (AMA) worked their way across the borough sweeping and litter picking after

  • Do-good gardeners sought to spruce up town centre

    Urban guerrillas are being sought to give neglected plots a little green-fingered love and attention. Twickenham Town Centre Business Association (TTBA) has a list of plots that need redeeming and plans to look after them all, but hopes some keen

  • Approval for new dementia care home

    A new £6.5 million dementia care home is to be built on the site of Franklin House.  Planning permission has been granted for a dementia care and supported living housing development in Redford Avenue, Sutton. Housing 21, a provider of housing

  • Croydon schools among most oversubscribed in UK

    Two Croydon schools are among the most oversubscribed in the UK, new figures have revealed. The Harris Academy in Maberley Road, Crystal Palace, is the fifth-most sought-after state school in the country, with 12 children applying for every place

  • Busiest Boxing Day ever for Kingston Bentall Centre

    The Bentall Centre boasted its busiest Boxing Day since it began trading on the holiday, as 59,952 shoppers poured through its doors for the sales. But the overall number of shoppers for the Christmas period was down compared to 2011. The busiest

  • St Peter's Hospital invests in birthing beds

    To help women through sometimes long and stressful labours, St Peter’s Hospital has invested more than £50,000 in eight new birthing beds. The labour ward invested in the beds, which can be set-up in several different ways to support women through

  • Make recycling your New Year's resolution

    Make recycling your New Year's resolution, that is the message coming from councillors as a campaign kicks off this week. Sutton Council has launched a joint campaign with Recycle for London to increase the level of recycling in the borough and

  • Are New Years Resolutions Destined for Failure?

    New year resoultions are common promise people make to themselves in order to better their own or others life. However, I personally have never managed to keep my new years resolution and wonder how successful they are. Doing further research I realised

  • Camera retailer Jessops goes into administration

    High Street camera retailer Jessops has announced it has gone into administration. Accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been appointed as the troubled company's administrator. The firm, which was founded in Leicester in 1935, has been