Harrow School may be all some people have ever known. Yet when Molly Harris, Olivia Jenkins and I travelled up there on Sunday to take part in the South East Schools Chamber Music Competition, accompanied by our dedicated Head of Music Mrs Cohen, we
By Jonny Muir Herne Hill Harriers' defence of the men's Surrey Cross Country League ended in disappointment on Saturday - but strong performances by the club's senior women and juniors proved there is room for optimism. The senior men's team
Contrary to Councillor Jonathan Cook’s letter last week, it is a nightmare to order new recycling bags. I ran out of bags three collections ago. I have telephoned and emailed each Friday since and still no bags have appeared. I spoke to a woman
Police investigators have made a dramatic u-turn and are now considering the death of Adriano Bussandri to be "unexplained rather than murder". Mr Bussandri, 51, from Holroyd Road, Putney, was found dead in his property after a blaze ripped through
A man has been reunited with precious family photos stolen from his home after a Twitter appeal went viral. A blue Ikea bag was found dumped by the River Wandle in the Haslemere Industrial Estate in Wandsworth on December 23 by a dog walker which
James Dasaolu has his sights firmly set on a medal at next month’s European Indoor Championships after claiming the UK 60m title last Saturday at EIS, Sheffield. The in-form 25-year-old 2012 Team GB Olympic Games representative from Croydon booked
Gatwick Airport should be renamed Croydon International, a politician has suggested. Councillor Steve O'Connell, the borough's London Assembly member, urged rebranding coupled with expansion to see the airport reborn with closer links to the "economic
Epsom’s doctors do not support their threatened hospital’s inclusion in the Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review and believe attempts have been made to silence opponents, according to an open letter by doctors involved in the process. Hassan
The work of an Epsom artist is to be celebrated with a posthumous exhibition. Leslie Worth, who died in 2009, is to be honoured at The Royal Watercolour Society Spring Exhibition at the Bankside Gallery in London. Leslie Worth, who was a former
Two former News of the World journalists have been arrested in Wandsworth as part of a new police investigation into phone hacking. Two men, aged 45 and 46, were arrested at their homes in the borough this morning in the latest wave of arrests
A pensioner has died after falling into the River Thames this morning. Police were called to Putney Bridge just after 8.30am to reports of a stricken man in his 70s in the river. Lifeboat crews managed to fish him out of the water by about
A vulnerable pensioner has been found safe and well. Lloyd Downes, 72, from Surbiton went missing yesterday and was last seen in Ewell Road. Kingston police confirmed he had been found today and returned to his family. The police have
A suspected burglar was scared off after a homeowner disturbed him near a New Malden home. Police are searching for the suspected burglar believed to be in his 20s who was spotted in South Lane on Monday, February 11 at 9.35pm. The suspect
Dulwich Hamlet are in the driving seat for the Ryman League Division One South title after a 4-1 demolition of Merstham at Champion Hill. Nyren Clunis scored twice, while Xavier Vidal and Danny Carr’s penalty – his 10th League goal of the season
A woman will be celebrating her birthday in style by riding down the Champs Elysees in Paris at the end of a charity bike ride. Ruth Trippitt, 25, who has lived in Epsom since she was 8 years old, is aiming to raise £2,000 for charity Kidney Research
Officers were able to make arrests just three minutes after someone called them with concerns someone was breaking into his car. A motorist from Surrey Grove in Sutton called police at 1.10am today after he saw a suspect man looking into his car
There was a host of fun activities at the grand opening of the Waddon Leisure Centre on Saturday. The Crystals cheerleaders, from Crystal Palace Football Club, were at the leisure centre from 10.30am. Those who attended the opening were able
Children are being enlisted in a museum club’s gladiator school to discover more about fighting and weaponry. Resident gladiators will show their skills at two sessions on Tuesday, February 19, at Bourne Hall in Epsom. It is a chance for the
Theo the Mouse is coming to the Epsom Playhouse for an afternoon of family fun and laughter. The cheeky and very loveable mouse and his best friend Wendy Abrahams will arrive on Wednesday, February 20. The show is filled with jokes, songs and
Toy Story and Shrek drama workshops for children are taking place next week. Dandelion Theatre Arts is offering workshops for children aged 4 to 11 years old at Vale Primary School in Langley Vale, Epsom. Children aged four to seven can take
This is the leaked document showing the options a healthcare review is considering as part of its plans to axe frontline services in the region - On Monday an “expert panel” of eight people from the Better Services Better Value review (BSBV) met
Prepare for panda-monium when the loveable Mr Panda comes to town. Mr Panda and his friend Rainbow BigBottom have spent many years performing their shows for children aged three to nine years old. They teach their audiences about the giant
Teenagers will perform a play set against the backdrop of the London riots. We Lost Elijah tells the tale of teenager Elijah, his old older brother and two friends who have to get home safely while the 2011 riots are raging. However, somewhere
Love will be in the air tomorrow as a singer serenades visitors to the shopping centre in Epsom. Singer David Harrop is helping shoppers to get into a romantic mood on Valentine’s Day between 12noon and 3pm. David will take visitors on a Valentine's
Like Councillor Julie Morris, I too am a resident of Epsom and am sad to see its decline - but is there really a will to do anything about it? Getting in to Epsom from Sutton or Kingston is a nightmare. As soon as you hit East Street you come to
A disabled mother is becoming increasingly desperate because her family of five are squeezed into a single bedroom. Natalie Baker said she sleeps in the same room as her fiancé, her four-year-old daughter and her two-year-old twins, in a flat in
A leaked document has revealed Croydon University Hospital is still at risk of losing its accident and emergency (A&E) and maternity departments, while two others in the region are already safe. The document, seen by the Croydon Guardian, shows
The Local Government Ombudsman is to investigate alleged maladministration by the council over a £21m plan to redevelop a former hospital. Merton councillors approved plans in September 2012 to transform the former Nelson Hospital site in Kingston
Dog walkers are being invited to use their local knowledge to help police detect crimes and make Epsom, Ewell and Cheam safer. Owners are invited to meet the safer neighbourhood team at a Dog Walkers Watch event at Nonsuch Park, near Mansion House
Plans to turn a school into an academy have sparked anger from a group of parents. Burntwood School, in Burntwood Lane, Earlsfield, told parents in December proposals were in place to get academy status for the school in 2013. The school, which
A former O2 employee is facing a lengthy prison sentence after he admitted stealing £115,000 worth of new iPhone 5s. Usman Sethi, 23, from Ilford, was a sales assistant at the O2 shop in Colliers Wood when 252 new phones, due to go on sale the
Police have launched a new operation to tackle a spike in robberies, especially of mobile phones and cash from schoolchildren. A new police unit has been formed as part of Operation Zeus, which was launched last week and will run until the beginning
An operatic society is hoping to dispel the winter blues by transporting the audience to Venice during its 10th annual visit to Leatherhead this month. The Godalming Operatic Society are set to perform Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers, one
Businesses could face action for letting the alley behind their shops become filthy and rat-infested. Shoppers say the alley running behind shops including Greggs, Finnigan's fish and chips and The Sutton Arms in Sutton High Street is so filthy
Good causes in Wandsworth received more than £3.5 million of National Lottery funding in the last year. In the past year 64 grants were awarded across Wandsworth, helping to support the area’s vulnerable people. The projects awarded Lottery
The appointment of Nonsuch High School for Girls' first male head teacher looks to have ended a difficult chapter for the school. Mystery still surrounds the departure of the school’s former headteacher, Karin Rowsell, who went on indefinite special
A mob of nearly 100 football yobs terrified commuters by letting off fireworks at a packed railway station and tearing apart a train carriage, a court was told last week. Police had led the throng of Crystal Palace fans to London Bridge station
Humanist celebrants, like myself, are asking couples who have had a humanist wedding ceremony to write to their MPs to support the amendment tabled by Stephen Williams MP that humanist celebrants should be allowed to perform legal same-sex marriages
Downgrading both Epsom and St Helier Hospitals “makes no sense”, clinicians actually involved in the Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review have claimed. The clinicians, from Epsom Hospital, are members of BSBV’s Clinical Working Groups which
Patients at Croydon University Hospital have not been served meals containing horse meat, suppliers have assured. Bosses at Croydon NHS Trust sought assurances that none its beef products were implicated in the contaminated meat scandal after
This is a really simple and quick dish to make but looks and tastes beautifully fresh and that delicate picante bite from the chilli and the radish gives it a nice edge! Reduce the amount of chilli and it works really well for the whole family.
Young chefs had their frying pans at the ready as they marked Shrove Tuesday with a pancake race. Children from Morden Primary School's Year Four class even had specialists to help them with their flipping, as they were helped by chef lecturers
Mayor of London Boris Johnson says he is still keen on a Tramlink extension but funding remains an issue. Mr Johnson was responding to an open letter from Richard Plant, chairman of the Develop Croydon Forum. Mr Plant called for the Crystal
Sutton United boss Paul Doswell insists that Tuesday night's 2-1 win over promotion-chasing Welling United sent a message to his own dressing room, rather than other teams in the Blue Square South. Craig Dundas, with his 50th for the club, and
Ian Holloway wants his Crystal Palace charges to shed the shackles and go for broke in the chase for the Premier League. After watching a proverbial game of two halves at Vicarage Road, where Watford stormed into a 2-0 lead, only for goals from
The Mayor of Sutton donned a flashing bow tie for a Brazilian carnival themed dinner dance. Around 90 guests attended the event organised by Carshalton South and Clockhouse councillor Moira Butt in order to raise money for Sutton Mental Health
A historic rugby club is raising money to erect a WW1 memorial in honour of 86 club players who lost their lives in The Great War. Rosslyn Park Rugby Club lost its original memorial when it moved from Richmond to Roehampton in 1956, inspiring author
It is tremendously good news (Archive Service to move in to gallery, February 6) that the worst fears of all of us who really do 'Love Croydon' and especially its artistic and historic heritage are not to be realised. The Local Studies and Archives
A gym has joined the fight to save a hospital radio station by encouraging people to donate their old phones. Go-Gym in Sutton Park Road has launched the Fit for Phone appeal, which will give fitness fans the chance to donate their old phones to
Students at Trinity School hosted an evening full of tradition to welcome in the Chinese New Year. To celebrate the year of the Snake, parents and guests were treated to an evening of martial arts, dancing, singing, Chinese plays and traditional
The normally affable Mayor of Wandsworth cut a menacing figure as he chatted to two Territorial Army officers while brandishing a semi-automatic rifle last week. Councillor Adrian Knowles was speaking to Corporal Herdrick Agyapong and Fusilier
I would like to alert all readers to the unfortunate event which happened to myself this week and which seems an all to common occurrence in this economic climate. Having left my baby's pram outstide my front door for no more than 20 minutes, I
From the article (Hospital in need of drastic care, February 6) it is becoming more and more apparent that there is little care for maternity services. With the impending closure of St Helier maternity unit, and the damning reports and stories
With regards to the proposed incinerator in Beddington, if any readers doubt the adverse effect of incinerator emissions on health, I suggest that they consider the changes in infant mortality rates in the Boroughs of Lewisham, Newham, and Tower Hamlets
Self appointed Crystal Palace spokesman John Payne states that the future looks bleak now that the last major athletics meeting has been pulled from the stadium (Question Mark hangs over Stadium Future, January 30). What a contadiction! He speaks
"Ageist” plans to withdraw support for Merton’s bowls clubs have been met by fierce resistance from club members, who claim the elderly will have even less opportunity to exercise and socialise. Merton Council is holding talks with the eight clubs
MP Gavin Barwell’s response to my letter has let the cat, or rather the fat cat, out the bag. I think he is misguided if he thinks readers find it acceptable that a director of the Harris Foundation, which runs three schools in Croydon, pays
Carole Mauger; Mitcham Having read the 'One Stop Shop' article in the Wimbledon Guardian I am delighted by the proposals to regenerate Mitcham town centre. I am also pleased to see that so many people support these innovative proposals that
Metal thieves appear to be going to new heights - or lows- after stealing a 300-year-old bell from the roof of a church. Last week thieves stole the bell from the tower of St Olave’s church in Church Walk, Mitcham. It is believed the thieves
Smoking and drug taking among the borough's teens is well above the national average a survey of school children has shown. A survey conducted by Wandsworth council at 10 schools questioned students on their alcohol, smoking and drugs habits, as
The Wandle Trust would like to set the record straight following the article published last week entitled ‘Trees “should not be sacrificed for trout in river” ‘ – a title which we believe is misleading and far from the truth. As a Rivers Trust
As a long term sufferer of mental health problems and a benefit recipient, I would like to share my frustration and anger with Epsom Guardian readers concerning my personal experience with the coalition government’s welfare reform programme. I
A 27-year-old man was robbed on his way home from the pub. Police want to speak to the three men in these photos in connection with the robbery which took place in Woodcote Road, Wallington, on Saturday January 12. The victim had left the Melbourne
What another fiasco and another example of another MP, who most probably built his pointless and bland career as an MP on lies, meeting an inglorious and, for us, pleasing end. When he was likely advised that he could no longer lie to the people
In response to L.Warr's letter, (about the closure of Tattenhams Library in last month’s snowfall) my husband is one of many volunteers at Tattenhams Library. He is retired and elderly like so many of the other volunteers. In adverse weather
A Residents’ Association campaign to include Epsom Station in Zone 6 was started by Cllr. Derek Phillips who tragically died from cancer in December 2008 at the early age of 43. Since then the Residents’ Association has
My wife and I attended the Public Meeting at Blenheim School and can understand the concept of providing specialist centres of excellence. We thought that we already had one in Epsom. We realise that we originally had two, but the fairly recent state
I have recently attended 2 meetings where the NHS Better Services Better Value team detailed their plans for the future of healthcare provision in SW London and Surrey Downs. At both meetings we were assured that no decisions had been made on the
Firefighters were called to reports of ‘helicopter’ noises in a loft at sheltered accommodation last night. Worried residents were keen to identify the cause and called firefighters to Griffin Court, the Warren, Ashtead, at 9.30pm. It is emerged
Thousands of motorists may have been stung with unlawful parking fines, it has emerged. Drivers issued with penalties for leaving their cars in suspended parking bays may be able to fight for a refund after it was revealed that Croydon Council
Jazz Richards learnt more about redemption in only his third appearance for Crystal Palace than some players do in their entire careers. For it was in front of the Sky cameras on Friday night that the full-back’s slack clearance found only Almen
Masked raiders hit three convenience stores in a single day, punching staff in the face and smashing a door with a hammer. Robbers burst into Danny's Store in Churchill Road, Cheam, and punched a member of staff in the face before grabbing a woman
A former dairy, milk float depot and builder’s merchant yard could be turned into 36 new homes. Developer London Square has applied for planning permission to demolish the existing buildings and redevelop the site at 101, 103 and 105 Waldegrave
A woman was allegedly raped in the front garden of a property in Addiscombe on Saturday night. Police and London Ambulance were called to Outram Road at 11.30pm to reports of an assault. A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene of the alleged
A suspected electrical fault caused a car to catch fire as a driver set out for work this morning. Sutton firefighters were called to Fieldsend Road in Cheam where the Vauxhall Vectra had caught fire at around 7.15am today. The crew sprayed
A pregnant teenager could be jailed after admitting carrying out a racist attack. Skye Broom, 18, of Solna Avenue, Putney, pleaded guilty to assault by beating, as well as to hurling abuse at another person and racially aggravated violence.
Three robbers have been jailed for stealing a teenager's iPod, wallet and phone as he walked past a hospital. Reece Stace, 21, of Claret gardens in South Norwood, Alex day, 19, of Wingrove Road, Lewisham, and Joshua Daniel, 19, of Thorpe Road,
By Councillor Philip Jones Contrary to your headline (February 7), the Cricketers pub has not been ‘finally saved from the bulldozers’. To quote the inspector who upheld Merton Council’s refusal of its demolition, the building is "architecturally
Part of disused Putney Hospital has collapsed forcing Wandsworth Council to bring in demolition experts. Concerned dog-walkers and residents inundated the Wandsworth Guardian news desk on Monday morning after spotting the building's crumbling walls
Students at a South Croydon school got the chance to quiz their local MP about politics last week. Richard Ottaway visited Royal Russell School in Coombe Lane on Friday to chat to post-16 pupils about the role of MPs and the select committee system
Brentford got back to winning ways in the league with a 2-0 win over Stevenage at Griffin Park on Tuesday night. Two quality goals from Tom Adeyemi and Marcello Trotta towards the end of each half were enough to keep the Bees tucked in 6th place
