Archive

  • Man charged with murder of teen found stabbed in stairwell

    A Thornton Heath man has been charged with the murder of a teenager found stabbed to death in a stairwell. Peter Hagan, 16, was attacked in the ground floor stairwell of Albon House in Neville Gill Close, Wandsworth, in the early hours of Sunday

  • Olympic torch relay cost council £12,000

    It cost nearly £12,000 to host the Olympic torch parade as the flame passed through Mitcham, Colliers Wood and Wimbledon on the eve of the London 2012 Games. Figures released by Merton Council under Freedom of Information laws showed  road closures

  • Charity worker cycles for 24 hours at Asda

    A charity worker who cycled almost non-stop for 24 hours on a gym bike has raised more than £500. Nick Searing, 22, community fundraiser for the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity in Leatherhead, finished the challenge at noon on Wednesday at Asda

  • MP starts petition against police reforms

    An MP has launched a petition against changes to the way the borough is policed. Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake says plans to adjust the way neighbourhoods are policed and to close the front counter at Wallington Police Station could be

  • LISTEN TO THE GIBSON GUITARIST

    Jack Gibson is a Coulsdon College student who wants to be in the music industry. He plays the guitar and is keen to improve: “Right now I'm studying music technology at Coulsdon College. I have a few song ideas that I can record at the college. They

  • Group calls for cut in council top earners

    More than 120 staff at Sutton council earned more than £50,000 last year. The 122 staff on more than £50,000 per year cost Sutton people a total of £8,570,000 - an average of £70,245 each - in the 2011/12 tax year, although that was down by £540,000

  • Fox attack as woman walks her dog

    The urban fox debate has been reignited after an unprovoked attack by one of the animals left a dog with a cut face and a woman afraid to go walking in her local park. The fox jumped out on Mandy Aylett as she walked with her beagle Labrador cross

  • Bestival announces an exciting 2013 line-up

    Elton John and Snoop Dogg have been announced as headliners for Bestival 2013. The musical festival, now in it's tenth year, will be the first major UK festival Sir Elton John has headlined. Bestival takes place from September 5-8 within picturesque

  • Accused of manufacturing EU statistics

    Mr Wingfield in his letter last week accused me of "manufacturing" statistics to make my case despite my having explained in my previous letter, kindly published by the Sutton Guardian, how I arrived at my figures. After quoting my figures and

  • Pot and Patch: Last chance to plant cane fruits

    Best of the bunch - Witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) Witch hazels brighten up the garden at this time of year, with their spidery and fragrant yellow, orange or red flowers. These slow-growing, deciduous shrubs are striking in the late

  • We need to keep an eye on academy paychecks

    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 themselves

  • Gardening leave: Horticulture holidays

    Themed holidays have been around for a long time, suited to hobbyists whose pastimes have included painting, cooking or indeed gardening. While garden-themed holidays simply used to involve trips to well-known gardens to admire the scenery and

  • Another ‘victim’ of NHS

    I read with great sadness the article (Cancer missed by doctors, February 7) regarding Mrs Eileen Vahey. This lady seems to be a "victim" of our caring NHS, where at most GP appointments are 10 minutes, you are rarely seen on time, and the doctor assumes

  • Wimbledon HMV spared after second round of closures

    Wimbledon’s HMV store has been spared once more after a second wave of store closures were announced today. HMV brought in administrations last month and soon announced the closure of 66 stores which included Wandsworth, Croydon Centrale and the

  • Church regular killed in "tragic accident"

    A parish is in shock after a woman in her 70s was knocked down and killed by a car. Lynne Anderson, 75, of Barrow Hill in Worcester Park is believed to have been leaving a friend's house on foot when she was struck by a car in icy conditions in

  • Pub company sold out of administration

    A number of pubs in the borough have been saved after being sold out of administration. Gregarious Limited has bought the assets and leasehold of Antic Ltd after the company went into administration last month. The pubs include Balham Bowls

  • Muslim community condemns MP death threats

    The Imam of Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre has condemned extremist Muslims who have issued threats against an MP. A fatwa has been issued against Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting and a worshipper at the Balham Mosque, after he voted for gay

  • Hospital agrees to develop private patients' wing

    St George's Hospital Trust Board have agreed plans to develop a private patients' wing. A panel of trustees made the decision during a meeting last month, with plans to create 40 beds, two operating theatres and an outpatients department. The

  • How to avoid a stop at the procrastination station

    To procrastinate is to defer or delay an action. I personally am a major procrastinator, as are many teens, which means it takes me ages to do anything, including writing this article! Because of this annoying habit I have decided to share with you

  • Hollywood stuntman shares set secrets

    Not many people can count Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Kevin Bacon as workmates, but a Southfields stuntman has worked with all three. James Embree, 34, has body doubled for the likes of Willis, Colin Farrell and Jason Statham, and worked

  • HMV Kingston escapes second wave of store closures

    Kingston's HMV store has survived a second wave of closures announced today (Wednesday). Administrators Deloitte have confirmed a further 37 of the music retailer's stores will cease trading, along with the 66 outlets already marked for closure

  • Plans for community sports ground given a boost

    Plans for a new community sports ground in Thornton Heath have been helped with the award of a grant. Streatham-Croydon Rugby Club have been given a £90,000 grant from the Rugby Football Union’s Capital Investment Programme (CIP) to put towards

  • Take a walk on the Wilde side

    Oscar Wilde’s life will be brought back to Walton for a one-off performance. Commissioned and first performed at the National Theatre, In Extremis tells the story of how Oscar Wilde consulted society palm reader Mrs Robinson on March 24, 1895,

  • Sports fans welcome Six Nations trophy to rugby club

    Sports fans gathered at a Mitcham rugby club this week to catch a glimpse of the official RBS six Nations trophy.  With the six nations tournament well underway, the trophy has been touring the UK stopping by rugby clubs, shopping centres and landmarks

  • Former council candidate convicted of benefit fraud

    A former Croydon Council election candidate has been found guilty of wrongly claiming housing and council tax benefit while failing to declare he had a mortgage. Graham Axford of Belgrave Road, South Norwood, denied six counts of fraud by false

  • Recipe: Warm Radish, Halloumi, Potato and Cherry Tomato Salad

    Colourful and deliciously warming, this salad has a beautiful balance of flavours across the potatoes, the salty Halloumi and the little bite of the radish and mustard. This dish is not only healthy, thanks to the vitamins, iron and potassium of the

  • Lawnmower cattle moo-ving on

    The cattle brought in to replace lawnmowers in order to keep the borough's largest nature reserve in fine fettle are moo-ving on. Five Sussex cattle, brought in to improve the habitat for rare plants like the greater yellow-rattle flower and the

  • SAQUI RESTAURANT

    Saqui Restaurant, previously named Saqui Tandoori Restaurant, is a place that deserves more praise.  Situated in 312 Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5QU, this restaurant has been standing for 32 years, a true testament on just how good this

  • Council spread some food love on Valentine's day

    There was a whole lot of love in Surrey Street Market on Valentine’s Day as the council gave cash-saving tips on food waste. Around 500 people visited their stall, with 200 people signing the ‘Love Food, Hate Waste’ pledge. The event had a

  • Woman wanted by police over theft charges

    Police are appealing for help in tracing a woman wanted over charges of theft. Victoria Bunton, 25, was due to appear at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court on February 15 to face charges of theft from a motor vehicle, but failed to attend.  If

  • Is advertising board reduction wise?

    I notice the council is considering limiting the placement of advertising boards on the pavement outside shops. Whilst welcoming the need to improve the appearance of the locality and understanding health and safety considerations, why charge small

  • Boozy school nurse suspended for a year

    A school nurse who was caught boozing on the job has been suspended for at least a year. Susan Dempsey was working at Sutton's Orchard Hill College for children with severe learning disabilities when colleagues spotted her filling up a water bottle

  • VIDEO: Malaysian Masterchef

    A Masterchef champion brought a flavour of Malaysia to Croydon on Saturday. Masterchef 2010 winner Dhruv Baker, who has teamed up with Malaysia Kitchen, a campaign to promote Malaysian food in the UK, visited oriental supermarket Wing Yip on Purley

  • Don’t let the music die

    The Day the Music Died? NO! The Music Lives On. I was very disappointed to read that the Rotary Club of Carshalton Beeches has decided to cease running this event.  It has been a great attraction for the area for many years. However, all is

  • Decaying Christmas trees left uncollected by council

    Christmas just refused to leave one street last week, where eight decaying trees lay uncollected by the council. Despite offering to collect trees at the start of the year, Merton Council has been unable to collect many of them because of “severe

  • Doctors' failings not to blame for great-grandfather's death

    Doctors who placed a 'do not resuscitate' notice on a great-grandfather's medical records but failed to tell his family were not to blame for his death, an inquest heard. Desmond Dudley, 93, from Sanderstead, died in Croydon University Hospital

  • Croydon Tech City to host education event

    Croydon Tech City will be hosting their first education event this Thursday. Six volunteers from the group, which aims to turn the town into a technological hub, have set up the Croydon Code Club. The aim of the club is to go into primary schools

  • Firestarter runs amok

    An arsonist is thought to have started four separate fires in an area around derelict flats last night. The firestarter set alight to bin stores, a shed and a garden around Durand Close, Buckhurst Avenue and Culvers Avenue in Carshalton at around

  • Boys help firefighters out of a tight spot

    A 10-year-old boy came to the aid of the fire brigade after their engine got stuck in a narrow road while they were on their way to a fire. A fire engine from Esher was sent to a shed fire in Spring Gardens, West Molesey, on Thursday, February

  • Teaching assistant's alleged £20k lie about terminal cancer

    A teaching assistant conned colleagues out of £20,000 after lying to them saying she was fighting a terminal brain cancer and needed money for treatment, a court heard. Mum-of-four Ursula Rose, 42, of Westgate Road, South Norwood, told sympathetic

  • What is happening to Carshalton High Street?

    I cannot be the only person to be wondering what is happening in Carshalton High Street! Not only the for Auction notice on the old forge but the recent departure of the greengrocers following that of the butcher and the dry cleaners. I understand

  • Litter crackdown is like North Korean totalitarian regime

    On February 13 you ran an article stating Croydon Council will start using a private firm to control litter (On patrol with the litter army). I have no objection to that. However, I do have an objection that someone, could in theory, drop a £10

  • Time for council to support reducing speed limits

    The Labour Party has belatedly followed the lead of the Green Party in supporting the campaign for Twenty is Plenty in Croydon: Better late than never! But Conservatives have so far resisted constituents’ wish for this simple measure to make our

  • Purley Rotary club swimathon

    On the 2nd March, Purley rotary club hosted its annual swimathon. Three sessions of six teams, each team swimming as far as they could in 55 minutes. Many varieties of charities were represented, some were represented by the swimming pools own

  • Three injured in three car crash

    A man in his late 30s was taken to hospital as a priority following a car crash in Clapham last night. Three cars were involved in the incident in Clapham Road at about 9.30pm. Firefighters had to cut off the roof of a Jaguar to free the driver

  • Don’t forget debate over good GCSEs when judging academies

    Gavin Barwell, in his support of the two Harris Academies, forgets that taxpayers paid £10m's for new facilities and equipment, and that the academic ability of students there now is different from that in the past. League Tables do not include

  • VIDEO: Wallaby my Valentine?

    These are two youngsters who will not get in trouble if they are caught canoodling on school grounds. Love was in the air when a new albino Wallaby arrived at Whitgift School just after Valentines Day last week. The one-year-old female

  • PICTURED: Have you seen this stolen jewellery?

    Commemorative jewellery was stolen during a burglary. Police want any information about the distinctive items taken from a home in Burdon Lane, Sutton on Wednesday 13 February after intruders kicked in a front door panel. If you have any information

  • Approval for Chelsea Football Club's greenbelt development

    Chelsea Football Club’s plans for an indoor pitch and sports research centre have been approved by Elmbridge Council. The plans, approved at a full planning meeting on Tuesday, February 12, will now have go to the Secretary of State, because the

  • Father runs in memory of baby son

    A father is running a marathon in memory of his baby son. Roger Gibbs, 56, from Wilmot Way, Banstead, is training to run the London Marathon this April, 32 years after his son Kevin died suddenly aged just seven weeks old. Mr Gibbs, who has

  • Oceana nightclub invites residents to talk

    Oceana bosses have agreed to meet with people opposed to the nightclub’s licence being reinstated. Luminar Leisure, which owns the Clarence Street venue, will speak with residents ahead of the company’s appeal against its licence being revoked