Archive

  • The Burger Boom

    ‘Boom’ was the sound made when Notting Hill’s Jamaican inspired burger bar opened on February 19th. Boom Burger, previously a burger pop-up in the kitchen of a local pub, has found residence on Portobello Road and is open Tuesday to Sunday from noon

  • Rowing, could it be for you?

    If you are looking for an exciting sport to help you keep fit and healthy, you might like to consider rowing. It is not a mainstream sport such as football or hockey but it is popular amongst teenagers in the UK. To find out more about it, I have interviewed

  • Could Sutton’s 2014 Local Elections Surprise?

    As the calendar counts down towards the 2014 local elections in May, here is a history of Sutton’s recent elections. Since the London Borough of Sutton’s establishment in 1965, there have been just two political parties in power of the borough

  • Too much pressure on students?

    As exam period looms A-level and GCSE students like me begin to revise non-stop as the rest of their future is supposedly dependent on effort and choices today. But how can a 16 or 18 year old make the decisions which shape the rest of their lives

  • Fate of local girls school takes an unexpected twist

    After much debate surrounding the outcome of a six-week consultation period in which closure appeared imminent to Reigate’s Dunottar School, it now appears that the possibility of revival has emerged. There is speculation that United Learning, a company

  • March Music Madness

    The coming month of March promises to be an exciting and thrilling one for music lovers who are currently living in the Epsom area. Kicking off the musical month of March is the Ed Hudson Band, the hugely popular classic rock band whose lead singer

  • Receding Flood Waters: Danger to Pets and Road Users

    Flooding may have started to recede, but has left a multitude of problems with its exit. There has been serious damage to property, possessions and people. The cleanup has just begun, yet there are still issues that remain in the local area.

  • The Importance and Influence of Books

    I think that books have a massively positive influence over young people - take Harry Potter, for example. J.K. Rowling single handedly helped six in ten children improve their reading skills, and the book series helped me, personally, during a tough

  • Babysitting: Lucrative or Lousy?

    Teenagers are always on the lookout for small jobs to earn them a bit of cash, and babysitting is an ideal opportunity to do just that. When parents with young children go out, there is often the problem of finding a responsible and reliable babysitter

  • Cuts Above at Carshalton College

    Mullets, beehives and bobs are likely to be on display in Carshalton as hairdressing students prepare to battle it out at a fashion show competition. The annual contest is being held by Carshalton College on March 10 when more than 100 students

  • Young reporter: An interview with news presenter Nicholas Owen

    Reigate hasn’t exactly been a hub of worldwide, famous talent; however, there is one local, charming man who has made his way through the ranks to become one of the most admired and respected men in his profession. Nicholas Owen is a sixty-seven year

  • Nonsuch Girls secure a place in the Finals

    The beginning of term has started with success for the year 9 and year 11 product design girls at Nonsuch High School. On Monday the 24th of February over thirty different schools took part in the Surrey Schools problem solving Challenge Area Heat

  • The Race for Rileys

    The residents of Southfields have long wondered what was to become of the building commonly known as 'Rileys', which has stood strong for as long as I can remember, void of any activity. The building was first erected in 1916, and still holds many

  • Order and Disorder in London

    This year the GCSE art exam theme is ‘order and disorder’, so in order to explore that theme, 23 year 11 students from Cheam High School went on an art trip to London to visit the Saatchi gallery on Thursday 27th February 2014. They took the tube

  • Stories of the Green

    In the centre of Thames Ditton, adjacent to the Portsmouth Road, a picturesque triangular park can be found named ‘Giggs Hill Green’. Although implied in the name, the green is not on a hill and it remains a mystery to this day why it was given this

  • The Not So Great British Weather

    As a nation and especially here within the capital we often experience a whirl-wind of different weathers each year, but over recent weeks some parts of London and the UK in general have experienced a whirl-wind quite literally with extreme gale-forced

  • Adoption- a long road to happiness

    “It seems we went through every single option to getting our beloved adopted child. After the tiresome three years, we have finally got what we have wanted all our lives,” said a couple from Croydon. Adoption.  Adoption is a fall back. Can’t have

  • My Volunteering Experience

    Last term, a few lucky students at my school (Tiffin Boys) were allowed to take part in the prestigious duke of Edinburgh scheme. Thankfully, I was one of these boys. The prospect of having to spend a whole day walking 20 miles did seem daunting at

  • Flooding comes again!

    The destructive amount of rainfall which happened early winter 2013 which is still occurring, has caused us to receive another burden of flooding. All across the UK many places have been affected by the flooding. In the county of Surrey, locations

  • Longer days, Shorter holidays

    The proposal for longer school days and shorter holidays is one that has been met with a lot of controversy. Minister for education Michael Gove has proposed that school days should be extended and holidays reduced, the days could last from 9am-6pm

  • Man stabbed in fight in Fieldway

    A 32-year-old woman suspected of stabbing a man in Fieldway has been bailed by police. Emergency services were called to reports of a fight in Pirbright Crescent and found a 28-year-old man who had been stabbed in the arm. He was taken

  • Herne Hill Harriers rule England

    Herne Hill Harriers coach James McDonald says his all-conquering U13 girls cross-country champions will one day take on the best in the world. The quartet of Alex Brown, Eloise O’Shaughnessy, Kayah Wilks and Ella Newton defended their ECCA English

  • Carshalton boss Massey owns up to the tough task ahead

    Carshalton Athletic boss Stuart Massey has admitted it will be tough to stay in the Ryman Premier. He delivered the damning verdict after the Robins’ relegation woes were compounded by a 4-0 defeat at home to Dulwich Hamlet on Tuesday night.

  • Amateur Edwards is on fire in the ring

    Sunny Edwards is making a name for himself, although the Beddington boxer is already well-known in amateur circles. That is because the 18-year-old is now a five times amateur national champion after a straightforward win at Sunday’s AIBA Youth

  • Glenn’s the silver lining to Manchester United defeat

    Eagles boss Tony Pulis was left disappointed in defeat to Manchester United, but took some crumbs of comfort from the continuing return to form of Glenn Murray. The striker lasted 66 minutes in his first start since injuring his knee in the play-off

  • Battersea residents say 'bring on the bulldozers'

    Hundreds of homes on a set of council estates could be demolished following backing from residents. About 70 per cent of respondents to a huge council-led survey said they want to see housing blocks and shops on the Winstanley and York Road estates

  • Man arrested with suspected imitation gun in Kingston

    A man has been arrested in Kingston on suspicion of having an imitation gun this morning. Police were called to an address in Richmond Road at about 7am following reports of a domestic incident. A 23-year-old man has been arrested and is currently

  • Smash and grab on M&S - £2,000 swiped from tills

    Burglars stole just under £2,000 in cash during a smash and grab raid on Marks & Spencer last night. A pair of thieves, believed to be men, forced entry to the front door of the M&S in Banstead High Street just before 10pm. The intruders

  • Croydon businesses affected by floods to get compensation

    Businesses indirectly hit by the floods in Kenley and Purley will be entitled to Government compensation, Eric Pickles has confirmed. His confirmation came at the House of Commons yesterday after being asked by the Croydon South MP Sir Richard

  • Croydon academies 'weeding out' GCSE students to improve grades

    Academy chains are making poorer performing teenagers “disappear” to improve schools’ average grades, it has been claimed. GCSE student numbers dropped sharply at four Croydon academies in the 12 months before sitting the exams last year, provoking

  • Is Prince still the King of the music world?

    After his phenomenal success throughout the 70’s, 80’s 90’s and noughties, Prince has become a worldwide legend with hits such as ‘Purple Rain’ and ‘Little Red Corvette’ remembered for their lyrical genius as well as their infectious melodies.  Whenever

  • You're a mug if you vote for 'parking bombshell' councillor

    In response to Councillor Tony Shields’ letter: thank goodness Coun Shields, the resident mystic of Sutton South, has looked into his crystal ball and helpfully told us what will be happening in a year’s time. Although I can certainly

  • New Beginnings?

    The trivial high school in Wembley which has gone through a battle with the council to avoid plans to turn what the school has been labelled as 'inadequate' to an academy has now been appointed with a new head ready for the new academic year. This

  • Ready, Steady...revise!

    Ready, steady…revise! Studies* have shown 100% of students perform below average when they fail to effectively revise. “Start revision early!” “Revise or fail, young man!” “Revise properly!” “You will not succeed unless you put in the

  • 'Bloody-minded' council hand disabled grandfather parking fine

    A disabled grandfather has accused the council of being ‘bloody-minded’ after issuing him with a parking ticket as he went to pick up his prescription. Brian Mutten, 77, a retired London Ambulance Service technician, parked outside the Lotus Chemist

  • Quiz the cops at Hinchley Wood community event

    People can address the police at a panel meeting in Hinchley Wood next month. The meeting, hosted by the safer neighbourhood team, aims to address issues in the community and people can ask questions and help decide on policing priorities.

  • Four pumps fail to clear six-week flooding in Ewell

    Four pumps have failed to get rid of a flood in Ewell Village which has now been there for six weeks.  An Epsom Council spokesman said it abandoned attempts to pump water from outside Bourne Hall Park into the horse pond on Friday. Two pumps

  • Met Police boss Cooper has a target in mind

    Met Police boss Jim Cooper reckons three points this weekend off bottom club Cray Wanderers will secure another season in the Ryman Premier League. After Tuesday night’s 3-1 win over Enfield Town at Imber Court – thanks to goals from Tom Bird,

  • Bullying row over caravan on private estate

    A caravan owner and a councillor have accused each other of bullying in a bitter battle over a caravan parked on a posh private estate. Nevil True, of Pine Hill, Epsom, was ordered to get rid of the large caravan in his garden in August but is

  • 'Jail bird' gets stuck in tree

    A jail bird made a ‘beak for freedom’ – only to get tangled in a tree. Misty, from Downview prison, was spotted by a member of the public 20ft up a tree in a garden in Box Ridge Avenue, Purley. She was hanging by her legs and struggling to

  • Fire at Twickenham train station causes 45-minute delays

    Trains travelling through Twickenham station have been delayed for up to 45 minutes because of a fire on the tracks. National Rail said trains on the Hounslow loop had been suspended. Trains from Reading and Windsor to London Waterloo will

  • Train failure causes Thameslink delays

    An earlier broken down train has caused delays on the Thameslink route this morning. Passengers on the First Capital Connect service have been told to expect delays of up to 35 minutes on the St Albans to Sutton line, which calls at Mitcham Junction

  • Battersea takeaway "festooned" in mouse droppings shut down

    A fast food restaurant in Battersea that had a serious rodent infestation has been has been shut down by food safety inspectors. Wandsworth Council took emergency legal action to close the Chicken Spot takeaway in Falcon Road after discovering

  • MP Brake backs children's charity Whizz-Kidz

    A disabled children’s charity has been backed by MP Tom Brake after it donated mobility equipment to a boy from Carshalton. The Liberal Democrat has committed to promoting and supporting Whizz-Kidz work in his constituency, as well as meeting

  • Boris Johnson praises Putney brain injury hospital volunteers

    Boris Johnson met with volunteers from the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN), to hear more about their work with patients. Volunteers at the hospital work with people living with severe disabilities helping to greatly improve their quality

  • Teens get taste of Parliament with Sutton Tory

    A group of teens got a taste of life in politics when they spent time with a parliamentary candidate. Paul Scully, prospective parliamentary candidate for the Conservatives in Sutton and Cheam, took a group of 18-year-olds on work experience over

  • Farmers' market makes welcome return to the Heart

    Foodies will be delighted to hear the farmers market will return to the Heart shopping centre once again. The best of British produce will be on offer, with a range of organic, home-grown, fresh and locally-prepared goods. With the sun peeking

  • Apothecary Gallery Exhibitions

    All around west London students have been putting their time and effort for an annual arts education programme from the Apothecary gallery. Pupils from Bridge Academy, Beachcroft School, Latimer Education Centre, Ealing Hammersmith and West London