Jake Michael Christian. He is a bubble of fun entertaining those around him in a unique, open and charismatic manner. A warmth of friendliness as his adventurous nature sees him making friendships with many. Aged 18 and currently studying A2 Media,
Cuts, cuts and bust. This seems to be the route that the majority of the once renowned high-street brands, are concurrently taking. Throughout the duration of the current year alone, it is estimated that around 14 companies, most of which, were once
On Monday 2nd of July, a new building was opened on Clapham High Street. This building was not only delayed by 10 months but something that the people of Clapham could see building every day. This increased the long awaiting and made it difficult for
The Year 11 GCSE exams are fast approaching, and so is the exciting reward of Prom that will be upon the tired students. Everyone knows that Prom is an event of glitzy dresses, smart tuxedos and wacky vehicles where students come together to celebrate
This year in the bitter cold, London Fashion Weekend turned up the heat at Somerset house. Eager fashion addicts scurried to London on the 22nd to the 24th February to seek out the latest trends and hottest looks for this year’s upcoming Spring/Summer
Those lanky, towering, obscure lights illuminating lonely, gloomy passages which would otherwise be enveloped in a dark, atramentous shadow are often forgotten and taken for granted. Yes, it is street lights that I am talking about. They take the fright
Is the Royal Academy’s Manet exhibition really worth the hype? It is worth queuing in the cold to try to see paintings surrounded by crowds sometimes five people deep? The exhibition times have even had to be extended due to a surge in ticket sales
At the beginning of the Michaelmas Term, students at Streatham and Clapham High School found a new subject added to their timetable: Kinza. Scheduled every Wednesday, it was promoted not as a lesson, but as a unique opportunity for enrichment, as ‘
The NHS is proposing to terminate four hospitals in North West London. They currently want to close down the Accident and Emergency departments at Ealing, Central Middlesex, Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals – that is four out of the nine currently
The heart of London was filled with thousands of visitors, eager to witness the exciting Chinese New Year celebrations Trafalgar square had to offer to mark the arrival of 2013. The crowd was of all ages and backgrounds, and the festivities had something
There have been discussions and debates on the subject if gay marriage for many years now, and though a few countries took the leap and legalised same-sex marriage, the UK only took the first step towards that goal at the beginning of this month
On Sunday, the 10th of March the local company, Cobham Pilates, is going to attempt to break the Pilates World Record for LARGEST PILATES CLASS EVER, in aid of Comic Relief! This is a serious record-breaking attempt, and all participants will receive
What’s the point of having 12 months of the year when you can squeeze it into just 2 months? Doesn’t the thought of having your birthday and Christmas every 2 months sound wonderful? Can you feel the urge to go and buy a bigger wallet blowing up inside
People seem to be desensitised to talk about women’s rights, the effect the media have on body image and other ways women feel hard done by. Even some women think feminists are just complaining and stuck in old-fashioned views, people think equality
There is a lot of press at the moment about exam results, the education system and children in general. The youth of today often get bad media attention due to the riots, the general rise in antisocial behaviour and other misdemeanours. Teen pregnancy
One evening in January I was coming home later than usual following a play rehearsal at school and decided to reward myself with a KFC before walking from Purley Downlands precinct back home – about a 15 minute fast walk. Some of the route is not
What would it mean to break a Guinness World Record? To many it would be the beginning of a very successful life in their respective fields. To others it would be another award to a mantel full of trophies and certificates. It is evident that at some
The Kingston rotary club are committed to help worthwhile good causes in Kingston, in the UK and around the world. “Through strong friendships and with enthusiasm to get involved, we search out new projects to support, promote and enhance. We focus
Taking part in extra-curricular activities is a difficult task for any busy, pressured teenager, but Eugene Smith thinks there should be a change in attitude by school pupils towards the opportunities available to them. Before you click the blue
Known for its multicultral community and green spaces, Acton is an up and coming area in a prime location. A local resident, Sheryl Hall, gives her views on the area. How long have you lived in your local area? I grew up around this
Over the Febuary half term, 9 girls from Old Palace of John Whitgift School embarked upon a 12 mile walk from East Croydon Station to Trafalgar Square to raise money for the Wings of Hope Achievement Award (WOHAA). WOHAA is a scheme set up by the
An exciting new trip has been popularised by students of tiffin school as of Monday the 25th. A trip has been offered by the school science department to attend the science talks by eminent professors and famous scientists in the prestigious Dominion
Many students in Merton are now experiencing have done their mock GCSE, A-level or AS exams or they are going through the procedure of currently revising for them. And from someone who has been doing mocks from GCSE’S since my GCSE exams last year,
There just aren’t any. There is not a single public toilet in Putney. This is proving an immense problem for people. The absence of these toilets has absolutely no logic. Everybody needs to go to the toilet but, when out and about, there is no viable
From the first small store on Hammersmith Broadway to the streets of Soho; Crepe Affaire has finally arrived in Wimbledon situated on the Broadway opposite centre court, and I just cannot wait to buy my first crepe. At first I though ‘Great! Another
Hackbridge. The home to BedZED. Opened in 2002 and one of the first EcoHomes in the UK, Hackbridge appeared to be ahead of the times. The area boasts its very own Beddington Park with its picturesque landscape of St Mary’s Church and historical Carew
Many secondary schools travelled across London today and will be travelling for both Thursday and Friday to visit the UCAS Convention at London Olympia Centre. After visiting it proved to be extremely beneficial in order to provide students
While our hard-working PM David Cameron is beavering away in India selling off more of the UK family silver - all euphemistically called exports or inward investments, our electricity supply is about to be substantially reduced or even cut off at
On Friday 15th February, a group forty girls from Surbiton High School including myself, set out on an exciting trip to Iceland; it was an awesome and unique experience for us all. We visited some amazing places and saw breath-taking scenery that was
In 2012 we faced some truly chilling weather with the temperature dropping to sub-zero temperature and at one point -18oC in Redhill; With the temperature going lower than what our buy one get one free gloves could bare, we dusted off the cobwebs of
Last week, Blockbuster announced that they had gone into administration. This means the loss of numerous jobs and another shop in Twickenham. Blockbuster has been located in Heath Road, Twickenham for over 20 years and many people will be sad to see
This month London Citizens branch in Coulsdon College have been focusing on improvements that can be made regarding transport to college. London Citizens is a charity with the largest alliance of community organisations in London. Their goal is
Are you worried about what you put in your body? Many people, such as yourself, may check the amount of calories that your chicken sandwich has, or check the ingredients of a suspicious looking smoothie. However we, as a society, never really think
I want this, I want that. It’s bad enough having to listen to someone’s constant whining without voluntarily having to listen to a dozen spoilt rich kids on television. Not only do these spoilt rich kids whine and complain to their parents, but they
I would guess that 99% of school students who wake up before 8 o’clock are too tired throughout the day – and in the morning especially. I think that starting school an hour later, half nine, would be far easier for everyone and we might even be able
A group of local students have created an art exhibit inspired by newly-discovered letter from the late writer Iris Murdoch. The Iris Murdoch Archive, in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections, had acquired approximately 250 unseen
I interviewed an Italian civilian about the situation in Italy for the elections. The problem is that there is a deadlock between two parties from opposite wings. ‘The Italian elections are completely useless and no one has won.’ ‘The winner
5 of you will get it. 4 of you will die from it. All of you will know someone affected by it. Cancer is more than just a disease; it’s a generic life-threatening illness. With 100 different types of cancer and your whole body vulnerable to it, cancer
Here in West London - Brentford to be more precise, there has been an ongoing redevelopment revolution. Old shop fronts have been updated and a selection of streets have been repaved in order to spruce the town up. Some believe the Olympic fever from
Students in year 8 and 9 got to experience the time of their life, with the opportunity to experience a wonderful week skiing in one of the countries known for their snow. Bishop Thomas Grant School has held this trip for the second time now and
Media is such a big part of people’s lives. But do they know how much the media could really be influencing them? The media can influences people’s behaviour, appearance and many other factors of people lives. As a result, media is very important
Over the years, the Italian government has never been shy of controversy but the newest chapter of the government’s show is indeed, from a show. Beppe Grillo, a comedian, has now had the last laugh when his campaign, at first pushed aside as a joke
Football fans in Wimbledon on Friday 22nd February 2013 were lucky enough to have the chance to have their photo taken for free with the Premier League Cup thanks to the Wimbledon branch of Barclays Bank. As the sponsor for the Premier League, Barclays
On Tuesday 19th February, a 50-year-old woman caused travel disruption as she wandered onto the train tracks at Mortlake. The power had to be turned off when the officers from the British Transport Police came to retrieve her. The incident
After years of hoping to see the wonders of the ‘Land of Opportunity’ my chance finally cropped up in the February half-term. Skiing in New Hampshire, located conveniently three hours away from Boston, was on my agenda. Since my days as I child
We should always remember to live like it’s our last day! However do we really get the opportunity to do what we really want to do in life and make the most out of it? Well here’s something to think about! We all have a dream- a must do dream! I’m
Ever felt like you need to donate to charity but just don’t have the money? Well, by volunteering for a local charity you could give something back to the community, without having to spend a penny. Many charity shops are always looking for volunteers
How prepped are you? Having spent a week in a major law firm in Chancery Lane as part of my work experience, I have been thinking...how far does living in Croydon prepare you for life in the city? It absolutely doesn’t, my first day through
Excitement gripped the river community in Putney after a porpoise was spotted near the embankment. The porpoise, whose Latin name is phocoena phocoena, was seen by eagle-eyed members of the public at various points along the river in Putney last week
A popular corner shop on Leopold Road is shutting its door’s for good. Many would be quick to blame Waitrose for Your Local Newsagent’s closure, as the large supermarket opened only in the summer of 2010 offering many services the newsagent did. When
Les Miserables, the timeless novel by Victor Hugo, has recently been adapted into a new musical film by Tom Hooper with Universal Pictures. It stars Hugh Jackman as Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, and Amanda Seyfried as
In year 10, students all over the country apply for the duke of Edinburgh’s award, hoping for the opportunity to gain a valued qualification, learn new skills, and go on an exhibition with their friends. However, due to its popularity, places are
As part of its increasing recognition as the FA’s charter community club of the year, Carshalton Athletic are set to welcome ex-Chelsea and England star Ray Wilkins MBE to Colston Avenue this Saturday. The Robins scooped three FA charter titles
Ikea have stopped the sale of their wiener sausages at their Croydon branch. On Monday the company have stopped selling all meatballs after the Czech State Veterinary Administration found the traces of horse during tests on Ikea’s beef and pork
As A-level exams are drawing ever closer, my life outside of school work is rapidly decreasing, whist the piles of homework and revision to be kept on top of are increasing. It is very easy to fall into the trap of leaving homework to the very last
Twickenham, the home of British Rugby is set to undergo major developments concerning the transport facilities within our town. The redevelopment project that has just been given a 1.6 million pound injection by the Mayor should take place within the
It is absolutely insane how many people go through 'the phase'. You know, the “battle to defeat age” phase. The phase in which middle aged women and men alike go crazy, running to their local drug stores, grabbing frantically at anti-ageing products
Beddington Lane will not be the same! Proposed by South West London Waste Partnership there are currently plans for an incinerator to be built in Beddington Lane, Sutton to the dismay of ‘Stop the Incinerator’ campaigners. Viridor, a waste management
Far from the exotic and refreshing proposals which have been featuring in the local press, the reality is that Hounslow’s high street and town centre are ever deteriorating, following a raft of store closures. The face of British retail, as seen
School When you’re younger, you always moaned about school. You absolutely hated it. Having to go there and learn, you thought it was boring! However what you didn’t know is. While that was happening, you were learning and developing
Most watched sporting events Recently, we have had the Super bowl in America, which the Baltimore Ravens won. While everyone was talking about this show piece, I overheard that the Super bowl was one of the most watched sporting events of the
A homeless man forced to sleep rough outside his former home has finally got a roof over his head. Leslie Hillsley, 53, was evicted from Connor Court, Alfreda Street, Battersea, following the death of his mother and brother. He had been living
A teenager fought off armed men who held a gun to his friend's mums head at the door of her home. Widow Faiza White described the terrifying moment three men tried to break into her home in Whitby Road on the St Helier Estate at about 7.30pm last
On the 25th January, Carshalton High School for Girls, a visit from Aneeta Prem who is an author giving out books on “it’s not fair”. Aneeta Prem presented an assembly to students about forced marriages; the book is also based on forced marriages.
Take it easy and go see a band dedicated to the music of 1970s rock legends the Eagles. The Alter Eagles’ two hour show will feature all of the original band’s biggest hits including Hotel California and Life in the Fast Lane. Singer Sam Confrey
Terence Rattigan’s masterpiece, Separate Tables, is coming to Carshalton. The play is set in a Bournemouth hotel, in which the residents are obliged to take meals at individual tables, symbolising the isolation of the individuals. At table
Guess who just got back today? Them wild-eyed boys that had been away. Dizzy Lizzy will recreate the hits of Thin Lizzy from The Boys Are Back In Town to Whisky In The Jar. Dizzy Lizzy will celebrate the music of the Irish rock band, originally
More than 50 years of Motown hits will be recreated by the all singing and all dancing Motown Sisters. All profit will go to St Raphael's Hospice as part of the Guardian’s Give Your Quid appeal. The event is taking place at the Secombe Theatre
Croydon Tech City hosted their first education event earlier this month. 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 - which met fo the first time
AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley wants five wins from the remaining 12 League Two games, and he is handing out the shovels to help his team dig in and fight for each one. After Harry Pell’s first Dons goal secured a dogged 1-1 draw with fellow relegation
Les Miserable, a French revolutionary play has been shown all around the world especially in the US and here in London because of its valuable story of love, war, and especially freedom. The play turned movie was a great success according to
Stop the Incinerator Campaign is inviting residents to a screening of 'Trashed- a story of American Garbage.' The award winning documentary about rubbish will be shown at Fairfield Halls on Friday, March 8 at 7.30pm. There will be a discussion
Meatballs are off the menu at Ikea after a batch was found to contain horsemeat - but many dedicated fans have said they will still be coming back for more. Ikea's Valley Park superstore stopped selling all meatballs on Monday after the furniture
A teaching assistant has been found guilty of faking terminal brain cancer to con her colleagues out of £20,000. Mum-of four Ursula Rose of Westgate Road, South Norwood, told sympathetic colleagues at St Thomas Becket School, she had terminal brain
Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam has been showing his support for the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Mr Burstow visited the BH on Friday, February 15, to encourage people to volunteer and support the charity. To get involved with the
Crystal Palace co-owner Martin Long will be imparting his business acumen to guests at Selhurst Park next month. Crystal Palace Football Club are holding their next Business Club event on March 12 at Speroni’s restaurant. Mr Long will share
Library services in the borough are to go back out to tender after the council's preferred bidder changed its offer at the last minute. The council is to reconsider selecting John Laing Integrated Services to run the libraries after the private
The biggest charity book fair in Britain brought bookworms from near and far and raised £26,500 for good causes last week. The annual event, held over three days at Epsom Methodist Church, in Ashley Road, Epsom, attracted 3,000 visitors and raised
Hercules Wimbledon AC runners took both the men's and women's honours in the Wimbledon Common parkrun. Ben Green headed home the 265-strong field in 17 minutes dead, while Ruth Clifton was first woman finishing third overall in 18:14 and posting
Proposals to raise Council Tax in Kingston by almost two per cent have been approved. The 2013/14 budget, which included a 52p a week rise for residents in Band D properties, was passed by Liberal Democrat members at a full council meeting last
Fresh from his silver medal-winning performance in the Surrey indoor championships, Hercules Wimbledon AC teenager Theo Etienne snatched a superb bronze medal in the England Indoor Championships in Birmingham on Saturday. Etienne, 16, taking part
Yesterday at 6.05pm a motorbike lay upturned on Queen Elizabeth Road, Kingston upon Thames. Although its owner had walked away undamaged by the accident, I amongst other people waiting for the bus stood horrified at the scene as other onlookers took
Vision Express has been warned for allowing an unqualified student to work as a dispensing optician in Croydon. The General Optical Council said the company had committed serious misconduct for allowing Mohammed Sheikh to practice in its Centrale
A man has been sent to hospital after colliding with a tram heading to Wimbledon at Reeves Corner this morning. The collision occurred at approximately 7:20am this morning as he was travelling to work. The man, who is said to be in his mid-forties
On the 23rd and 24th February 2013, the hip-hop legend, Kanye West, came to the Hammersmith Apollo in London. The show was thoroughly enjoyable, pleasing on the eye, at times mysterious and breathtakingly energetic. Now that he has got past the phase
A mum may have killed herself after a decision to dismiss her from her job at Croydon Council was upheld, an inquest heard. Nadine Graham was found hanged at her home in The Lawns, Upper Norwood on November, 5, last year. Prior to her death
Four people have been arrested and more than 50 drivers stopped as part of a giant police operation. Officers in Sutton have been taking part in Operation Big Wing, a day-long drive to catch criminals across London, which kicked off with raids
Two police officers have been hailed as heroes after rescuing two men and a two-year-old boy trapped above a shop fire. High Street in South Norwood was closed off as eight fire engines and 58 firefighters tackled the blaze at the Nisa Supermarket
A woman and three men have been released on bail after a taxi driver was robbed at gunpoint. The driver was threatened and forced to hand over his wallet and mobile phone when he dropped off three passengers on Friday night. Four people, aged
Six people have been arrested and 10 warrants have been executed by police in Croydon, as officers crackdown on criminals in a day of action. Officers in the borough have been joined by specialist colleagues to carry out arrests, search warrants
As if you didn’t know, Hollywood held the 85th Academy Award ceremony (or Oscars as they are more commonly known) on Sunday night. This is when America celebrates the best of the best in the movies that hit the big screen in the previous year. Some may
Taxpayers’ will spend £11.5m on a delayed healthcare review which is threatening to strip two hospitals of vital services. The Better Services Better Value Healthcare Review (BSBV) wants to centralise health services in south London by closing
A Carshalton man has appeared in court charged with more than 50 counts of fraud. Hassan Salimi, of Stanley Park Road, is alleged to have committed 58 counts of fraud from his home. Many of the counts relate to allegedly counterfeit goods including
Crystal Palace may not get a better chance to reach the promised land of the Premier League than the one they have right now – according to co-chairman Steve Browett. The Eagles sit fourth in the Championship, only four points behind the automatic
The owner of a kebab shop has appeared in court charged with several food hygiene breaches. Shakeel Ahmad, of Surrey Chicken and Kebab in St Duntan's Hill, is alleged not to have kept the shop clean and not to have provided soap in the kitchen
A passionate and active tennis player from Surbiton died while playing a match at a Weybridge tennis club on Sunday. Philip Hanna, 61, originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, had been a member of the Coombe Wood Lawn Tennis Club since last spring
Firefighters spent two hours releasing a driver trapped in a car following a road accident. They were called to Clapham Common West Side, Clapham, at about 2pm yesterday afternoon after two cars crashed into each other. Fire crews had to cut
The A316 is partially closed after an accident this morning. Two lanes in Country Way are shut in the eastbound direction towards Twickenham and Richmond at the Snakey Lane flyover. The road is blocked after the M3, traffic is queuing and drivers
Councillors approved a 1.85 increase in council tax last night. The hike was voted through 36 to 33 in a heated full council meeting preceded by union protests and ended abruptedly by Labour councillors walking out en masse. All Conservative
The Brooklands College motorsport team made their first outing of the season at Silverstone. The day was a full test to evaluate the performance of the team’s car prior to the first race of the season and to develop pit stop techniques. After
A silver Porsche Boxster has crashed into a nail salon this morning. The car smashed through the window of Emma’s Nails in Victoria Road, Surbiton, at about 7am. The driver had turned right into the road from Brighton Road, red watch crew manager
An antiques dealer and his girlfriend were on board a hot-air balloon which caught alight killing 19 tourists in Egypt. Joe Bampton, 40, and partner Suzanna Gyetvai, 34, who lived in a flat in Venn Street, Clapham, were among 20 passengers on the
A biker has been taken to hospital after he collided with a tram near Reeves Corner. Ambulance and police were called to the scene at about 7.20am at the junction between Tamworth Road and Church Road where the collision happened. The man,
Romance blossomed when a whole café spontaneously burst into song for a flash mob wedding proposal. Jez Phillips, 35, took his unsuspecting partner and friend for a quiet brunch in Breads Etcetera, Clapham High Street, on Sunday. But when he
I know there have been letters before in your paper about high parking fees in Epsom. Last Saturday my daughter and I parked in the Ashley Centre. We had a lot to do and so expected to be some time. When we returned we were charged £17.50 for six hours
Drivers trying to find a community centre have been foxed by their sat-navs telling them to get lost. People trying to find the Riverside Centre in Carshalton have apparently been sent to the wrong addresses on numerous occasions despite putting
By Mike Tilcock, Pollards Hill Everyday there are literally dozens of learner drivers practicing their driving (three-point turns, reversing around a corner etc) in the streets of the old estate. Bear in mind there are two bus routes using
Charlie Edwards will begin his quest for another ABA crown tomorrow - and all he might have to do is weigh in. The 20-year-old from Beddington won the national light flyweight crown in 2011 but was away last year at the Olympic qualifiers and could
A Crystal Palace Foundation football tournament brought together young teams from Sutton, Croydon and Bromley. The event at the Sutton life Centre on Wednesday, February 20, was organised by the Kickz Project. Kickz is completely free and open
Striker Theo Walcott led an amazed seven-year-old on to the pitch in front of cheering fans before Arsenal clashed with Bayern Munich last week. Ryan Grant, from Epsom who attends Southfield Park Primary School in Long Grove Road, was blown-away
James Dasaolu has high hopes of flying under the radar and medaling at this weekend's European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg. The 25-year-old Croydon Harrier is ranked sixth in the 60m going into the competition but has been setting personal
A soldier from Esher was among reservists who tested their medical skills using the lightweight facilities the British Army deploys in support of airborne operations. Troops from 144 Parachute Medical Squadron were tested on their medical and soldering
Valentine’s Day. 14th February. This year it came and went just like any other year. But have you ever stopped to think about how this 'love day' trend started? The story starts in ancient Rome at a time of war and misery. Claudius the second,
Paralympic hero David Weir today officially opened the £11m state-of-the-art Westcroft Leisure Centre. The four time London 2012 Gold Medalist, who is aiming for his record seventh London Marathon title in April, unveiled a plaque to commemorate
Pensioners fled their homes fearing for their lives when a blaze believed to be started by arsonists ripped through their back garden. On Sunday Marian Martell, 65, and her husband Adrian were spending a quiet day at home in Green Wrythe Crescent
A "ridiculous big dog lover" has been tattooed with his sick dog’s name after he raised enough donations to have its leg amputated. Wayne Smith is a volunteer at Epsom Canine Rescue (ECR), an organisation run by volunteers which takes in unwanted
The knights are drawing in on Ewell Village and preparing to attend the first great fair of the year where the mysteries of medieval magic and medicine will be brought to life. The annual Herald of Spring festival, which has been running for 30
Global Warming is something that we, as British citizens; are pestered about continuously. Our country appears to be far behind others such as Germany and Sweden who seem to be doing all they can to make people understand that it TIME FOR CHANGE and
