A spiteful murderer has boasted how he murdered a mother of three to other inmates in his cell. Reece Ludlow a mere man of twenty was jailed for life for the murder of Louisa Brannan. He was sentenced to a minimum of seventeen years at Belmarsh prison
In this day and age, in the midst of the recession, money is tighter than it has ever been before. People are taking measures left, right and centre to save their cash, and yet still more money than ever is being donated to charities. Last year £26.8million
After disappointing sales MHV are said to close 40 stores, including one very close to home in Croydon, Centrale. On 15th January 2013 HMV went into administration after disappointing Christmas sales and the VAT rise left them well below desired
Putney's shopping centre is to have a brand spanking new shop front as well as a new name. The Putney Exchange's new frontage, as pictured above, received planning permission in 2012 and will be completed by spring 2014. Popular high street brand
Olympic medallist Daley Thompson offered his running tips to London Marathon participants. The former decathlete ran a circuit training course in Battersea Park Athletics Track last week for Barnardo's London Marathon runners. About 20 fundraisers
The organisers of Crystal Palace Festival have announced the dates for this year's event. The four day Crystal Palace Overground Festival will take place from Thursday June 27 until Sunday June 30, and will include a range of free events across
Putney Park School is to close at the end of the academic after its owners told parents they have decided to sell up. The decision means all staff will be made redundant in July and more than 100 pupils will have to find a new school at a key stage
Do you know an outstanding young person? Nominate them for this year’s Wandsworth Young Person of the Year award. The award, in its 21st year, honours those young people in the community who deserve recognition for their achievements, courage, generous
Merton council has tweeted a warning to local businesses that a ‘conman, posing as a Merton Council worker’, is calling round trying to sell adverts. An estate agents and veterinary practice were the first to report the scam to the council yesterday
Regarding the article on the Jubilee health centre (Health centre troubles to be resolved, February 21) in which Mr Tom Brake MP has said the blood testing facility problem will hopefully be resolved by March and the service will be up and running
A new free school in North Kingston is one step closer after campaigners were invited to meet with the Department for Education. The school would be run by the Kingston Educational Trust - a partnership between Kingston University, Kingston College
A woman was bound and gagged in her own home this week, while two men stole jewellery from her flat. Police are investigating the aggravated burglary which took place on Tuesday, January 29, between 7.45pm and 8pm at White Hart House in Hampton
I disagree with Tom Brake MP when he states that the amount of doctors in England has increased by 2,642 (Committed to protect our NHS, January 24). In the figures he does not show how many people have left the NHS. The part of the NHS I worked
Is Teaching Cruel or Kind? Miss Dobinson is our Acting Head of Sixth Form here at the Ursuline, I interviewed her as I wanted to find out what are the biggest joys of being a teacher but also what qualities makes it one of the hardest
As a Sutton South Councillor, I have followed your correspondence on the future of the Brighton Road car cark. While the recent study showed Sutton has excess capacity in car parking provision in the town centre and close to the station, so we
I have to admit it, I love formal gardens, those with a definite structure, sense of purpose and everything in its place, writes Hannah Stephenson. Clipped box hedges, strong geometry using evergreens shaped carefully into balls and pyramids, evenly
In response to Anya Rowson’s letter about parking at Earlsfield station (Station parking chaos, February 14) I am happy to clarify that vehicles are allowed to stop on waiting and loading restrictions – indicated by yellow lines and yellow kerb “blips
Twickenham head coach Clive See is reluctantly throwing in the title towel after losing the London Division Three North West top of the table clash at Old Priorians. A 39-10 defeat on Saturday saw Twickenham knocked off the summit, and See admitted
A biker was taken to hospital after a crash with a car last night. The 20-year-old rider and the car collided at the junction of St Dunstan's Hill and Alberta Avenue in Sutton at around 10pm. The biker was taken to hospital and was
There is absolutely no need to close Battersea Park adventure playground for financial reasons in a borough where the community charge is so low, and flats go on sale for £6m. This was raised in a letter last week (Council acted shamefully on adventure
A scooter was seen crumpled underneath a car after a very serious accident seen by shocked passersby. The driver of the light motorbike was seen being treated by paramedics on the roadside near the Brown and Root tower in Colliers Wood at about
We are a citizenship group form Carshalton High School For Girls. For our project we are trying to raise awareness of smacking. We feel very strongly about this topic and the fact that it can easily turn into abuse. We would like to know your
Luke Wallace is more than happy filling the sizeable shoes left by Chris Robshaw, who is captaining England to what could be a first Six Nations Grand Slam for a decade. But the Harlequins flanker admits he dreams of the day the two can star side-by-side
A pair of violent robbers who assaulted a mini-cab driver with a concrete block have been sentenced to more than three years in jail. Aaron Mizen, 32, and Natalie Bivand, 31, of no fixed address were given three and a half years in prison.
An MP went for a walk blindfold last week in order to experience what it is like to have sight loss. The Carshalton and Wallington MP, Tom Brake, has been trying to raise awareness of the challenges facing blind people in Sutton. He was helped
I would like to add my voice to the protest at the great loss of trees along the Wandle. Are trees not protected by our sense of their innate aesthetic and ecological worth? Why is it that no plan was made to replace them? There are many unwanted
Regarding the article in the Sutton Guardian about the fate of the old Dolphin pub (Pubs face a supermarket sweep, February 21)... It is a crying shame that this historic building – which has a lot of character – is due to be levelled, yet
Police will be given new powers to stop people drinking in the street anywhere in Merton under a new by-law. Today, Merton Council launched a formal consultation into a borough-wide controlled drinking zone (CDZ), currently in force in Mitcham
It would appear that the Department for Education, Michael Gove and the Harris Federation have reached a new low over Roke Primary School. They are ignoring reasons for previous lower Ofsted Reports, and current Ofsted reports that show improvement
A community group welcomed the High Commissioner of Jamaica to their event last week. The Croydon African Caribbean Family Organisation (CACFO) invited Her Excellency Aloun Ndombet to talk about Jamaica. A number of councillors attended the
Today is the day many parents across Sutton will discover which secondary schools their children will be starting in September. A total of 2,808 children will be offered a place at one of the borough’s 14 secondary schools – which are some of the
Although Ben Hawes announced his retirement from Team GB duty last week, he has known for some time that the London 2012 Olympics was going to be his international swansong. The Kingston-based star of three Olympic campaigns is enjoying his club
Met Police boss Jim Cooper admitted blowing his top at half-time after his promotion-chasing team found themselves 1-0 down at home to Wingate & Finchley. However, after two late goals turned the scoreline on its head, the Imber Court side
Having received the Sutton Guardian on Friday, I was interested to note your front page article about the postponing of a decision by the BSBV team - that it had been due to recommend formally the closure of St. Helier Hospital's A & E and maternity
I am searching for an old friend Tracey Anne Brown who used to live in the Wandsworth area. Tracey used to live in Putney near the bridge, then moved to Wandsworth near the Newcomen Road, Ganley Court area. This would have been in the mid
New tougher regulations designed to stamp out illegal scrap metal trading are to come into force after a bill tabled by a Croydon MP became law yesterday. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act will require all traders hold verifiable indentification when
I was interested to read Hilary Wortley’s letter (Tit for Tat, February 7) about the Lib Dems voting against the boundary changes for Carshalton and Wallington. I was so interested in fact that I Googled Ms Wortley, only to find out that she is
I have visited St George’s Hospital several times in the past few years. I am just back from one of my visits. At this time, when the NHS, hospitals and carers are so often criticised, I feel I have to make public my deep appreciation of the care
A drug smuggler who tried to import heroin worth more than £80,000 has been jailed. Worcester Park restaurateur Brendan Conrad, 40, was stopped by police at the docks in Dover after he arrived on a ferry from Calais in his Audi on May 17 last
Driving into Las Vegas you can be forgiven for wondering exactly which city you've arrived in. On one side the Eiffel Tower decorates the skyline, while elsewhere the Statue of Liberty looms proudly above neon-lit buildings. Then you catch a glimpse
There’s a paradox at the heart of Chelsea Football Club, and it concerns Mr Interim, Rafa Benitez. Fans want rid of the temporary manager, believing the team is barely treading water at present. They are marking off the remaining dozen fixtures
A 15-year-old Kingston boy has been arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply. The boy was arrested in Chatham Road, Kingston, at about 5.30pm yesterday. A witness said: "There was one guy being pushed into the back
An application has been submitted to the government for a 20 mile long super sewer snaking across London. The 50,000 page document, submitted by Thames Water, will be analysed by a Planning Inspectorate with a decision to be made within 28 days
Brentford goalkeeper Simon Moore may be earning the plaudits between the sticks this term, but he admitted he would not be there without a little help from his friends. The 22-year-old kept his 10th shutout of the season in the 0-0 draw with Walsall
In setting the record straight as Toby Hull claims in his letter 'Tree work will benefit the Wandle', he fails to mention the word trout, despite the Wandle Trust's mission statement: 'We inspire and help people to protect wild trout and their habitat
At the packed public meeting held last Thursday evening at Carshalton Sports College to discuss the future of St Helier Hospital, by a show of hands those present unanimously supported a vote of ‘No Confidence’ in the infamous Better Services Better
I suggest that anyone concerned about health effects due to emissions from the proposed Beddington Farm incinerator asks the three Beddington North Councillors I e-mailed last week whether they'll look carefully at the infant mortality section
After reading the article on Croydon University Hospital accident and emergency (A&E) department (Hospital ‘in need of drastic care’, February 6) I felt I must write to say how impressed I was by the A&E department and my subsequent treatment
Hampton & Richmond boss Mark Harper is no longer fearing the Sword of Damocles despite suffering back-to-back defeats in the Ryman Premier Division. At the turn of the year, Harper was given three matches to turn the Beavers’ fortunes around
A pavilion was reopened last week after a £64,000 revamp. Gibraltar Recreation Ground Pavilion now has sports male and female changing rooms as well as new water heaters, flooring, toilets and hand basins. Councillor Jan Mason, chairman of
A post-mortem examination has failed to establish a cause of death for the fitness fanatic Epsom student who died hours after allegedly praising deadly body-building pills on Facebook. Sarmad Alladin, 18, who was an art and design student at the
I was sorry to read of the fox attack on a baby in Bromley, but I wonder how it entered the house – this is winter, after all, and not a time when doors and windows are likely to be left open. I daresay there are, as Paul Reed says, lots of near
Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson remains a contented man despite three Ryman Premier Division defeats in seven days. Dowson’s men have dropped to ninth in the table, although they remain just two points off the play-offs. Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat
London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones admits the Exiles produced their worst Aviva Premiership display of the season as they were well-beaten by Exeter Chiefs on Saturday. Back in September Welsh had picked up their first win in the Aviva Premiership
I am pleased plans are moving ahead to install the so-called Boris bikes at Clapham Junction. However, Wandsworth Council should only grant planning permission with one important condition – that all reference to Barclays Bank be removed. I find
As a director of Kippa Bid, representing over a hundred companies on the Kimpton Industrial Park, we have surveyed our members who are shocked and dismayed that St Helier Hospital’s A&E may be closed. Our members have serious concerns if it
A hearing loss charity are on the hunt for the purrfect home for a deaf cat. Action on Hearing Loss have joined forces with Caterham, Redhill and East Surrey Cats Protection to find a loving home for Sandy. The charity say the 16-year-old,
Esher head coach Ollie Smith is calling on the RFU to investigate referee Terry Hall after being suspended for verbally abusing the match official. Smith, although contrite over comments made to Hall after his side’s narrow 21-20 defeat at Old
Conor O’Shea has pledged his future to Harlequins and distanced himself from speculation linking him with the Ireland coaching job. O’Shea emerged as the bookies’ favourite this week to succeed Declan Kidney, whose contract ends in the summer,
Croydon Council has confirmed the appointment of Nathan Elvery as interim chief executive. Mr Elvery, 43, was approved by Full Council on Monday and will take over from outgoing chief executive Jon Rouse, who leaves the council on March 10.
Hopes are growing that the Tour of Britain cycle race could come through Epsom in September. Epsom Council has expressed an interest in hosting the start of the Surrey leg of the race which would draw huge crowds to the town. Organisers have
It is sad that I have to report that most of the Laurel bushes in the troughs outside Wallington station have been taken after just a few months!! Much attention has been focused on Woodcote Road over the past years, with new Xmas Lights, flower
It is very encouraging to see that with food waste recycling now in full swing in the borough, over 45% of household waste is now being recycled. This is great progress in a few short years and everyone involved, from the Council to the individuals
Sir, The replacement of Primary Care Trusts with new Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) like NHS Sutton CCG now serving the Sutton area is an important development in ensuring healthcare budgets are allocated locally. Doctors are best placed to
I am writing on behalf of the association of British Bookmakers (ABB). The ABB is the leading association for high street bookmakers and represents the operators of about 7,000 betting shops in the UK. Although we were quoted in the article
Crystal Palace winger Jason Banton is enjoying his time at Plymouth Argyle, even though it is a world away from life at Selhurst Park. Banton has one game as a Pilgrim remaining – this weekend’s visit of Barnet - before his month-long loan comes
The number of sofas and beds in Surrey thrown away last year was enough to stretch across the width of the county if they were laid end to end. The 30,000 pieces of furniture, which could have been reused in new homes, would have stretched for
British & Irish Lions hero Jason Leonard has likened England skipper Chris Robshaw to legendary Lions and England captain Martin Johnson. Johnson, a three-time Lions tourist, lifted the World Cup for England in 2003 having won a Lions series
Kingston AC & Polytechnic Harriers youngsters are in prime position for a clean sweep of medals going into the final round of the Downs League. After Sunday’s third round meeting, the Harriers lead all three younger age categories from U11s
Your correspondent R Rogers (Guardian, February 20) is quite right to fear for the future of independent shops as the supermarkets move in ever larger numbers, and indeed the same issue of the Guardian highlights the imminent conversion of two Sutton
Last weekend a garden statue was stolen from outside the front of Cavendish Court in Wallington, the sheltered accommodation in which I live. I know this doesn't compete with the reprehensible crime of stripping the names from the Carshalton War Memorial
A vital advice service has had its funding cut just as it is faces a big increase in workload caused by benefit changes this year. Leatherhead and Dorking Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has had to accept 10 per cent less funding for the coming year
A golf club took a step back in time to the Edwardian era at the weekend. Epsom Golf Club held its annual Hickory Golf Day on Saturday to commemorate its founding 124 years ago. Head professional Stuart Walker dressed in tweed and used hickory-shafted
The cost of the BSBV review has escalated to £11.5m. In November last year the review had cost the taxpayer £2m however four months later the review has now cost £5.5m. With a three month consultation, expected to begin in the summer, the review
I am writing in response to the article about the influx of fake £20 notes (Traders warn of £20 notes scam, February 20) This criminal activity has been going on far too long. I have links to Streatham and know small businesses who have been
Parents recently received a copy of a letter about forced academy at Roke Primary school from Lord Nash, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Schools to Richard Ottaway, our Conservative MP for South Croydon. Lord Nash's letter casts Roke Primary
Sam Beare Hospice has launched its annual High Street or Hospice Shop? ladies lunch and fashion show, to show just how fashionable charity shops can be. The event will be the second time guests are invited to spot the difference between High Street
A Croydon MP is leading the way against mental health discrimination after having his bill made into law. Gavin Barwell, MP for Croydon Central, has been praised by leading mental health organisations and politicians for his Mental Health Discrimination
An electrocardiogram used to record the heart's electrical activity has been donated to a charity based in Tadworth. Rotary Clubs of Epsom and Ewell and Epsom Rotaract Club presented the ECG to Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) on Thursday, February
AFC Wimbledon full-back Chris Hussey praised team-mate Harry Pell after the midfielder redeemed himself in the 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle. On a tense Tuesday night in south-west London, the proverbial League Two six-pointer crackled into life
Efforts to overturn some of the results of the scoring panel in favour of St Helier Hospital have failed. An expert panel of eight met on Monday, February 11, and scored 11 options of hospital configurations against a range of criteria - including
Croydon Youth Theatre have received a £3,000 donation raised by an annual concert. The organisers of The Last Night of the Croydon Proms presented the group with the cheque at their Shoestring Theatre last week. The money was raised at the
By Alan Hutchings, Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage Councillor Andrew Judge is once again flying in face of public opinion regarding the bus lane through the heart of the Fair Green at Mitcham. It appears that his decision, along
Merton Council has announced plans to sell off a Wimbledon town centre car park making way for developers. The car park, behind the New Wimbledon Theatre on the Broadway and Russell Road, is expected to be put out for tender later this year, pending
Cars and property are being damaged by lorries driving down small residential roads and the council should do more to help, Wimbledon’s MP has claimed. Stephen Hammond said Merton Council should block lorries from going down Haslemere Avenue, Wimbledon
Men tend to leave their health to chance – with shattering consequences. For many, the findings of the Department of Health’s ‘gender and access to health services’ (2008) study will not be a surprise, as it has long been established that men are
A blind patient with severe health problems was forced to grope his way to the toilet while in hospital because there were no nurses to help him. John Allan, 72, was later found doubled up in pain in the toilet in Croydon University Hospital by
A killer’s boast in prison of how he murdered a mother-of-three has left the victim’s father calling for him never to be released. In July last year Reece Ludlow, 20, was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 17 years in Belmarsh prison for the
The fight to get Epsom station into Zone 6 will move up a gear next week when MP Chris Grayling meets the Government's transport minister to discuss the change. Epsom’s MP said he has a meeting with Norman Baker to discuss getting the station into
The Mayor of London and TfL have unveiled a host of measures designed to increase river journeys on the Thames. More than £10m has been allocated to river services in an attempt to double passenger journeys to 12 million per year by 2020. River
Three of Sutton’s leisure centres are taking part in this year's national Health Club Awards. The Phoenix Centre, Cheam Leisure Centre and Sutton Arena have all put themselves forward for the national voting stage of these awards. Mark Basker
Council tax in Elmbridge will rise by 1.95 per cent this year, after the council refused to accept the Government’s council tax freeze grant. People living in a band D property will pay 7p more a week. Delivering his budget speech, Councillor
The Liberal Democrats held Berrylands last night as voters opted to keep faith in the borough's ruling party. Victorious candidate Sushila Abraham won by 187 votes. She said: "The campaign was fantastic and the response we had from the residents
The recent outbreak of a baby attacked by an urban fox had got many media coverage. Resulting in severed fingers this incident made London citizens reconsider fox hunting. Boris Johnson commented proper measures should be taken immediately to reduce
Ever since the idea of Scottish independence began to gain widespread popularity with the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, there has been a very real possibility of an independent Scottish state seceding from the UK. With the 2014 referendum
Local fans wrapped up in gloves and hats braved the freezing cold to witness the unique coming together of past rugby heroes, with the British and Irish vs French Legends battling against each other in aid of charity on 22nd February. The trophy of
St John’s Church in Belmont held a special talk by Lauren Booth on 3rd February 2013. Lauren converted to Islam in December 2010 and she is currently a journalist and broadcaster working for Press TV and a pro-Palestinian activist. After
It might not be your cup of tea, but cake making has taken the country by storm following the success of the great British bake off, with the growing cake craze spreading into our local area. Whilst the Cath Kidston’s shop in Wimbledon Villages
Spring your feet to a pleasant and peaceful walk, a picnic or a family get-together to find some peace and quiet at Wimbledon’s magically beautiful and historic Cannizaro Park. A Grade II listed landscaped Park of Natural Conservation interest in Wimbledon
Something that may be of no interest to many people, has caught my attention for the past few weeks and inspired me to write this article and even vent my feelings. Now, let me lay out the scenario for you. So I'm lying wide awake in bed at around
Every year AS level students get invited to one of the biggest University gatherings ever. The UCAS Conference is seen to help build up youngsters mind on whether going to university is the next step for them, doing an apprenticeship or taking a gap
‘Once in a Lifetime’ was presented by the senior group of Richmond Shakespeare Society Youth Theatre two weeks ago, for a limited run of four performances. As part of the theatre group this is not a review of the show but rather the experience.
Since entering the 21st century, a lot of us have spent majority of our time on the internet, and other forms of media such as television and radio as well as print are no longer our primary source of entertainment. Viral Videos are now the trigger
Pope to Retire Pope Benedict XVI, at 7pm UK time tonight, became the first pope in 600 years to retire. The 85-year-old hopped in a limousine before boarding a helicopter to the seaside retreat of Castel Gandolfo. He boarded the helicopter
Horse meat itself is not dangerous, and it should be the least of the public's' concerns as to what could be contaminating their food. Admittedly, it’s a problem of food mislabelling and a worrying reminder of the lack of control, knowledge and
It hit headlines up and down the country. Horse meat? Hidden in our burgers? It couldn't be... The breaking news that most of us have unwittingly been consuming meat from an entirely different animal than we expected left Britain reeling at the 'night-mare
Figures show that a third of the British population quit their new years get fit challenges after just one month. According to a poll carried out by Arthritis Research UK and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), 34% of those who started their
A positive spirit has begun to rise among the youth of Wandsworth borough. Could this be the effects of a new year and a fresh start? Or perhaps just a hidden sparkle never before acknowledged by the community? Either way, the numbers of youth getting
Technology has advanced dramatically over the past few years with information being just one click away. As everyone knows technology runs through an average person’s life everyday whether it be in the form of a tablet, computer, iPod or smartphone
Coursework has been criticised recently by senior political figures, such as Michael Gove, who has been seeking to phase out coursework, instead focussing on more rigorous end of year exams. But what do the pupils taking these public exams think?
After having heard about last weekend’s 2013 Epsom Book Fair, which raises money for charities like Action for Children, as an English student it really got me thinking about reading. Who is it that goes to these fairs to buy books? For a start, most
The hall in Kensington Olympia was transformed into a Higher Education Convention that started on Wednesday 27th February. The event is organised by UCAS and is entirely free providing the opportunity to all students who are interested. Lots of
The horsemeat scandal has been not only disgusting the nation, but also dividing opinion amongst people young and old. Some people feel let down by the supermarkets and restaurants that have either knowingly or unknowingly sold them meat with horsemeat
So the 85th Academy Awards were last weekend. All across the internet and in real life professional and amateur movie critics alike were weighing in on who would win and who should win. It is important to note that there are always those two categories
