Anyone who has wondered what mental health patients are experiencing can find out at Invisible Arts Denial 'N' Acceptance exhibition. The multi-media exhibition is being held at the Croydon Clocktower until Wednesday, August 30. It shows people's journeys
South African artist Adrienne Parker is due to exhibit her work at the Fairfield Halls. Adrienne, 32, has been painting commissions for a number of years and teaching fine art for the past four. She has to choose 80 of her best canvasses for her exhibition
Young urban act Kontagious have been making huge strides since we featured them earlier in the year, writes Ali Masud. On Sunday, August 8, they'll be appearing on satellite TV to promote their new track. The locally-based quartet will be the subject
The Oracle are playing a series of warm-up gigs before the taking to the stage at the Battle of the Bands at the end of the month, writes Nick Rutherford. The five-piece band from New Addington have been together for two years playing what they describe
Talented young Yorkshire rapper Verbalicious is to make her debut appearance at Blue Orchid nightclub on Friday, August 13, where she will be performing her new track Don't Play Nice. She first made her impact in June 2003 where One Music and Radio
Tom's Midnight Garden is about two friends separated by time. Tom hears the grandfather clock strike 13 and travels back to the Victorian era, to a wonderful secret garden and a new and exciting friendship with orphan Hatty. We have a family ticket
Jomal Hue-Bonner and Jolene Khor from Croydon are set to star in Kenneth Grahame's family favourite Wind in the Willows at the Regent's Park open-air theatre this summer. After taking part in the open auditions in May, Jomal and Jolene impressed the
The Warehouse Theatre has welcomed a report on the Gateway site which recognises the playhouse's importance to Croydon. The inspector from the Deputy Prime Minister's Office wrote following an appeal over what should become of the 12-acre area: "The
The interview gets off to a great start when I tell David Essex that Gonna Make You A Star, his 1974 number-one hit, was the first record I ever bought. "Good man, you've obviously got good taste!" he chuckles. I'm the last of six journalists to interview
M F Wharton complains about the tall grass at South Norwood Country Park. I would like to know which area is being complained about and perhaps he could raise this with the on-site wardens or with the Friends of SNCP. Before doing so, however, I must
I noticed another of Croydon's anti-cycling practices the other day, in Whitehall Road near Thornton Heath Pond. Most of the road is two way, so that buses can get in and out of the garage, but the last few yards are one way, to stop drivers using it
We're writing to take issue about a comment made about actor Marc Warren printed in the article Paul goes back to caf after finding fellowship with Elijah' (Guardian, July 28). To print one man's formed (for whatever reason) opinion without a follow-up
I'm writing about the article regarding Paul Row and the friendship he formed with Elijah Wood during the filming of The Yank (Guardian, July 28). While it was interesting to read about his experience, I was very surprised to see him quoted as saying
What a pleasure to be able to congratulate the council for once. Its latest multi-million pound initiative to upgrade street lighting is very courageous in the light of current financial difficulties but will be a real improvement in the quality of life
Martin Taylor reckons that all cyclists should be forced to take a driving test (Guardian, July 28) reasoning that this would make them "more aware of the dangers they pose on the roads". However, according to the AA, 85 per cent of drivers admit to
Thank you for your letter (Guardian, July 28) regarding the broken gym equipment at South Norwood Pools. I will explain to you the process that we have to go through every time we need to order equipment, stationary, stock or arrange for any maintenance
The council in its wisdom and no doubt at great expense, has decided to replace the awful patched asphalt pavements in London Road, Norbury, with paving slabs in an effort to brighten the place up. It has not taken long however, for horrible black blobs
I am trying to find a copy of a seven-inch single that was recorded by a Croydon-based rock band in 1980. The band was called Slowtrain and the A-side of the record was entitled Ronnie. I think it was about a runaway/homeless person. The singer of the
So Councillor Dennis tells us that everyone wants an arena at East Croydon (Guardian, July 28). Not true. I do not want an arena there, nor do many people locally to whom I have spoken. I fear that, not for the first time, the council (or rather the
In the latest edition of Croydon Reports we are treated to the spectacle of four members of our Politburo, sorry Cabinet, sporting the colours of promotion-winning Crystal Palace FC. While I can appreciate that they are desperate to be associated with
Councillor Adrian Dennis's public statement that pedestrians are given top priority by the council is welcome (Guardian, July 14). Can he confirm that the council will now move quickly to introduce safe pedestrian crossing facilities at Coombe Road's
A South Croydon student has enjoyed soaking up the Caribbean sun after winning a trip to a medical summer camp in the West Indies. Rina Endo, who is planning to become a doctor, won the trip after attending Medsim, a conference at the University of Nottingham
Croydon College offers access courses to provide adults who left school without formal qualifications to go into further education or change career. Access students vary in age, come from a variety of backgrounds and ethnic origins and have a wide range
A school trip to northern France brought home the horror of war for Old Palace School's year nine pupils. As part of their history studies girls from the school on Old Palace Road visited the French Memorial at Notre Dame de Loreette which commemorates
A modest glass jug engraved with the name of an old Croydon pub has prompted Heritage to examine the site's history. Phyllis White from Winchester wrote to the Guardian asking if anyone could shed any light on the origin of a glass jug she came across
Croydon's Jury's Inn Hotel is hoping to put itself a step ahead of the competition by booking a stand at this year's Business First exhibition. The 240-bedroom hotel in Wellesley Road, Croydon, hosted stars taking part in last week's international table
Tram passengers can now get a breath of fresh air after work was finished on all trams' windows. The 24 trams were unable to operate air conditioning systems because the doors open and close too often so Tramlink undertook work on the trams' windows
Small businesses hoping to keep up with new disability discrimination legislation can get free training. The RNID, a charity representing deaf and hard of hearing people, is offering disability awareness training to help firms with less than 250 employees
For Celestine Agbo celebrating the first anniversary of art-gallery-come-coffee shop is the realisation of a 20-year dream. The 45-year-old and his wife Beila Chakravarty-Agbo had planned for more than two decades to set up Pepperton UK a coffee shop
Shoppers are being asked to pick the town centre's top shops and favourite night-time venues in the second Croydon retail and entertainment awards. Building on last year's success, CMD and the Croydon Guardian are launching the awards in September 2004
Several major building projects will transform the face of our town by 2014, and you can get a sneak preview when the Future of Croydon exhibition opens in September. Croydon town centre is anticipating more than £2billion of investment in the next five
A residents' association in Shirley is planning to smarten up parks and roads this month with a spring clean. Spring Park Residents' Association (SPRA) says it's hoping to combat problems of crime and vandalism by organising a clean-up day on Saturday
The borough will soon be seen in a new light when Croydon Council ploughs £30million into improving its outdated street lights. In September Croydon Council's cabinet is expected to consider detailed plans to improve the town's street lights, most of
Former EastEnder Lucy Speed visited Croydon's PDSA to lend her support. The Croydon-based actress toured the hospital in Hurst Road and chatted to staff and visitors who had taken their dogs along for a free health check. The open day raised funds to
Sweeping 474 miles of road and twice as many miles of pavement has been one of the main tasks of the borough's army of street cleaners. Since Cleanaway took over responsibility for street cleaning, recycling and rubbish collection in Croydon last August
Croydon College has been an active sponsor of the Croydon Guardian's We Think Croydon's Champion campaign and for the second year in a row, it is the sponsor of the lifelong learning category. Mike says of the college's involvement: "The college is keen
Ten years ago Ian Brown was a promising but struggling actor so he decided to pack it all in and opt for the more secure option of teaching others how to act. He is now celebrating a decade of training up-and-coming youngsters at the branch of the Helen
South Norwood High Street is closed for 12 weeks. The road, which has been closed since Monday, will remain so while gas works are carried out between its junction with Norwood Hill and the Goat House Bridge. Maintenance to the road, which is expected
A 22-year-old man is to stand trial for grievous bodily harm with intent following an attack at the Powerleague football centre in Hannibal Way, Wallington, last December. James Freyone, from Exeter Road, Croydon, denied the charge at a hearing on July
The run-down youth club which nurtured the talent of former boxing champ Frank Bruno is to receive £2million to transform it into a state-of-the-art centre for youngsters. The future of the Sir Phillip Game Centre has long been uncertain, prompting years
It's been a bumper fundraising weekend for the Gannon family but thousands of pounds are still needed to pay for the operation Michael needs to ensure he is not paralysed. Seven-year-old Michael, from Kempton Walk, Shirley, has a condition called chiari
Police are hunting two armed robbers who trapped a lorry driver in a car boot. The driver, who has not been named, was taking televisions and equipment worth £45,000 from Station Approach, Coulsdon, along the Brighton Road on July 23 at approximately
A single mum from Thornton Heath has begun a six-month prison sentence for claiming nearly £24,000 in benefits while working as a classroom assistant. Tracey Gladwin, a 40-year-old mother-of-three from Earlswood Avenue, failed to declare she was working
A three-disc anthology of the late Croydon singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl will also raise vital funds for the campaign seeking justice over the musician's untimely death. A week after it was revealed that the inquiry into her death could be reopened
