A Streatham Hill bookworm has been given an MBE for her work with libraries. Former librarian Dorothy Jane Allen, 60, from Kirkstall Road, was named on the Queen’s birthday honours for services to local government in south west London.
The Environment Agency has warned that "localised" flooding could occur in the London area this evening (Thursday) as forecasters predict heavy rain. The agency has put nine London rivers on flood watch in Sutton, Merton, Wandsworth, Kingston
Patrol Base South-West is a tiny compound 2km west of the Musa Qal'eh District Centre. I travelled with the 3 Scots on a resupply convey to remote Afghan National Army and British outpost. We drove in a some of the newly delivered Jackal
A new play that poignantly explores the role of fatherhood in a child's life, Miller, is showing at The Landor Theatre in Clapham this week. Miller is performed and staged by recent graduates from Thames Valley University who formed the theatre company
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock does not expect Preston North End to make a bid for Neil Danns, but has admitted everyone at the club is for sale. Alan Irvine's side, who made the play-offs last season but lost out to Sheffield United, were rumoured
A collision between a motorbike and a car forced the closure of a busy Twickenham road last night. A single responder and an ambulance crew treated the rider, who was seen by passers-by lying in Staines Road, at about 7.10pm. A spokesman for the ambulance
Croydon Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts has had his acting position of Borough Commander made permanent. The former Territorial Support Group officer takes over the role from former Borough Commander, Mark Gore, who was promoted to one
The body of a “legendary” Hounslow soldier killed in Afghanistan was returned to his homeland to be buried. The wife of Fusilier Petero ‘Pat’ Suesue, of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, who was killed while on patrol in Helmand
Sutton-based Alex Slabinsky’s Wimbledon dream moved a step closer as he battled through the first qualifying round at the Bank of England Sports Club in Roehampton. The 23-year-old, who used to train at the Sutton tennis academy, got his debut Wimbledon
A police car flipped onto its roof in Hounslow this morning - in the second cop car smash in just a month. Two police officers were repsonding to an emergency call when they collided with another car, at the A4 junction with Lampton Road, at 8.40am
• Which landmark do you want Sutton to have? Do you think there should be one at all? Click here to vote Voting has begun on a campaign to find a landmark to champion and symbolise Sutton town centre. The Sutton Guardian has launched
A year-long sculpture exhibition by renowned sculptor Peter Logan is to open in the grounds of Fulham Palace. The free exhibition, entitled Drawing on the Wind, will be the first sculpture exhibition to take place in the grounds of Fulham Palace
Melanie South is refusing to set any targets ahead of this year’s Wimbledon Championships - but is confident she has the game to trouble anyone she may come up against. The New Malden star will enter the tournament at the first round stage
Sutton schools competed in track and field events as part of a national drive to get kids into sports. Fifteen schools in Sutton took part in the National Schools Sports Week, a week of fun and activity in schools, facilitated by the Youth
Chad Randall admits the willingness to play through the pain barrier has been the decisive factor in his racking up 100 appearances for Harlequins RL. Randall celebrated his ton in style, darting over for the first try as Quins romped to a 40-10 win
Another person has been arrested in connection with the murder of a South Norwood private detective found dead a pub car park 22 years ago. Metropolitan Police Service officers arrested a 50-year-old woman in connection with the Daniel Morgan
More than 50 unsung heroes were honoured last Monday night as Sutton marked the 25th anniversary of National Volunteer Week. A reception was held at the Europa Gallery for volunteers who have helped others for more than a quarter of a century
The perils of carrying a knife were highlighted by students at Battersea Park School in their short film made with the help of local police. The production, part of a series aimed at young people called Every Choice Matters, shows a frightening
A mother desperate to move her family out of a cramped, mould infested flat has called for more help from Merton Council. Kelly Barnes, 24, lives in a one-bedroom council flat in Raynes Park with her two daughters aged two and five. Teachers
Residents have reacted with anger over “draconian” parking restrictions and charges, claiming pensioners and those on a low income will suffer. Visitors to Merton houses have to fork out for day permiat costing £2.50 even if they stay for a
Harlequins' Ugo Monye is still a chance to start the British & Irish Lions' first test against South Africa on Saturday after being named on the bench for the final warm-up game tomorrow night. Monye, 26, scored his third try of the tour in the Lions
Vulnerable and disadvantaged students could benefit from improvements to Sutton schools if the Government gives the green light to funding. Sutton Council has bid £3m from its own budget in an attempt to attract a further £80m from central
AJ Sports Surrey Cricket League results from June 13 Premier Division: John Fisher 241 beat Balham & Tooting SSC 130 by 111 runs. Economicals 152 beat Old Thorntonians 114 by 38 runs. Sheen Park 230-8 beat Osterley (2000) 201 by 29 runs. Putney
Photographic awards have been presented to sharp-shooters at Carshalton Camera Club before its 54th annual exhibition last Saturday. The eight winning entries will be among a selection of arresting prints and digitally-projected images on display
A student kicked out of school for dealing “fake” cannabis won the right to challenge his expulsion. London’s High Court this week granted the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, the chance to clear his name by ordering a full re-hearing
The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in Belmont is launching an emotive campaign last Monday to educate the public about its scientific work. The One Hundred Faces campaign, marking the centenary of the ICR, will feature pictures and tales
Overton Grange School in Sutton has been graded “good with outstanding features” after Ofsted inspectors turned up without warning. The education watchdog has been trialling no-notice inspections to prevent teachers rehearsing and giving skewed
A shop owner has pleaded guilty to selling knives to two 15-year-olds. Sivarajah Devarajah, 49, owner of the STR Pound Plus store in Lower Addiscombe Road, was in court after he sold the utility knives to a boy and girl working as volunteers
It seems the indignant act of re-writing your favourite book to suit a Hollywood audience - Captain Corelli's Mandolin anyone? - was happening way back in the 19th Century as told in the new play, Jane Eyre and the Secrets of Thornfield Manor,
Malden Wanderers collapsed to a crushing 108-run defeat at the hands of Guildford in Saturday’s Surrey Championship Premier Division clash. The day’s events started well for Malden, with David Balcombe and Neil Mander bowling exceptionally well in tandem
Shahin Khan’s 67 for North Middlesex proved the crucial contribution as the visitors came away from Twickenham Green with a hard earned 10 points. Five Twickenham batsmen got past 30, but none made it to 50 as the hosts posted 230 in four balls
A quiet village was shaken at the end of 2007 when reclusive Sharon Birchwood was violently murdered for her money. Sharon, 52, married her killer Graham Birchwood, 55, in 1977, and bought the bungalow where she was found dead, on Harriott’
Police are trying to extradite Paul Cryne the 58-year-old former lifeguard from Thailand whose DNA was found at the crime scene and who was named in court as an associate of Birchwood. Mr Cryne, a former lifeguard, swimming coach, nurse and
Elliott Godfrey has vowed to wow Dons fans next season after admitting the Kingsmeadow hordes have far from seen the best of him. Midfielder Godfrey struck seven goals in 32 starts for Wimbledon last season in a campaign blighted by a groin injury and
A man who has three cars parked in his own driveway is being forced by the council to get rid of one of them. Rob Armour, 34, of Eastdean Avenue, Epsom, used to store several cars at the front of his house, but brought the number down to three
Creative kids have helped a Wimbledon school achieve a special award. The Study prep school in Peek Crescent has been handed the Artsmark Gold Award by the Arts Council England for its commitment to creativity. Vilma Zarkovic, the school
Roehampton children paid tribute to a teacher they lost to brain cancer with the opening of a memorial garden last Friday. “Tracie’s Garden” is dedicated to Tracie Taylor, who worked as a nursery nurse at Alton Primary for 20 years and died
Students at Ernest Bevin College held a basketball competition with celebrity guests earlier this month. A new way of playing, called B2B, pitches teams with a maximum of four players against each other. More than 150 people took part
A soldier who helped build a strategic airfield near Caen during the D-Day landings said his regiment’s contribution to the historic moment has been forgotten in history. Lindsey Jones, 85, from Ewell, helped build an airfield near Caen which
From chic evening wear to the season’s must-have safari look, the latest summer trends were on show during a unique event at Ely’s department store in Wimbledon last week. The fashion and beauty editor of InStyle magazine, Sophie Hedley, was
A Trinidadian entrepreneur is hoping his new business will attract people back to St George’s Walk. Trevor Bobb has moved his Rotimaster business into the maligned shopping precinct, and believes it can once again be a shopping hotspot.
Morden’s Lee Cook admits he will be taking a huge risk when he steps between the ropes for a hastily-arranged six round fight this weekend. Cook, the Southern Area lightweight champion, will face Ireland’s Mark McCullough in a non-title bout
A one-mile track race will take place as part of Herne Hill’s open track and field meeting at Tooting Bec on Saturday. As British runners line-up at the South London track at 1.20pm, so will runners in Eldoret in Kenya, hundreds of miles away, and
A building scheme has increased its free training courses after an upsurge in demand for skilled workers. The Building Enterprise scheme, based in New Addington, has been inundated with requests from construction firms for employees.
A surge of energy will bring Battersea Power Station to life on 22 August 2009 as the dramatic setting is transformed to play host to the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour finale. Twelve of the world’s best Freestyle Motocross (FMX) riders will descend
Pedestrians looked on in horror as a woman was dragged under a lorry's wheels as she crossed Hammersmith Broadway on Wednesday last week. The collision, with an articulated Tesco lorry, happened at around 3.15pm. The victim, believed
Peter Willans has been named the new president of the Croydon and District Society of Chartered Accountants. The founder of accountancy practice is also a part-time director with a screen printing company in Purley Way, Croydon. He has
Mental health services have come up with a green way of getting people to fill out a form by planting a tree for every completed questionnaire received from patients in this year’s patient survey. More than 1,000 copies of the survey have been
Staines rugby star Chris Bishay admits his trip to Japan with the England Counties squad has given him renewed belief in his ability to make it as a professional. The 21-year-old winger was released by London Wasps at the end of the season and is yet
Brentford's Wolverine was last night hailed a hero after he confonted loud-mouthed lesbian housemate Lisa branding her a B-bully. Mullet lover Marcus Akin, 35, lost it with the former sex line operator, after she launched a scathing attack
Harlequins fly-half Rory Clegg says the prospect of swapping one world class mentor for another was behind his recent switch from Newcastle Falcons. The 19-year-old number ten has been a keen tutor at the hands of World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson
Help is at hand for the older, disabled or vulnerable residents who need small but essential work carried out in their home. Sutton Staying Put, the council’s in-house home improvement agency, offers financial aid to those on benefits or with
A devoted football fan who died after being dropped from the heart transplant waiting list has given up his organs for transplant to save the lives of three women. Michael Hills died at the age of 20 on May 14, after suffering a blood clot
Phil Lee, the chairman of Teddington Athletic FC, has been awarded a prestigious Simon Hedley Award by the Surrey Primary League for services to youth football. Three seasons ago he helped to found the club which supports children of all abilities.
A businesswoman is capitalising on the recession to boost her own business. Natasha Strachan runs Debtor Solutions, a business which helps small to medium sized businesses avoid the problems of poor cash flow, poor credit management, bad debts
Joe Vines reckons Tooting & Mitcham will have everything to play for when the Ryman Premier campaign begins in August, despite a recent raft of departures. With last season’s standout stars, defenders Andrew Howell and Justyn Roberts, along with striker
Harlequins ace George Lowe scored a try as England U20s hammered Samoa 52-7. Henry Trinder cut Samoa to pieces as England booked a place in the semi-finals of the IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship with their most ruthless display of the season
Harlequins stars Tom Guest and Mark Lambert were both involved as England Saxons enjoyed a much-improved Churchill Cup performance over USA, triumphing 56-17. After not performing to their best against Argentina Jaguars last weekend, where they
Ashford BC have been in action in a variety of different matches recently. LADIES' MATCH - ASHFORD 50 v WINDSOR GREAT PARK 60 Windsor won all three triples. This was sweet revenge for the defeat at Ashford at the end of last season. LADIES
Big-hearted employees from delivery company TNT are embarking on a drive to fight hunger around the globe. The team from TNT’s Croydon depot at Jessop’s Way, Beddington Lane, will be among those taking part in a week-long festival of fundraising
The demolition of 18th century Moore Place is a step closer after plans to build a new hotel for Esher’s "gateway" got the go-ahead on Tuesday night after a chaotic planning meeting. Moore Place holdings wants to build a 50-bedroom hotel with
The future of a decaying leisure centre has been secured for the next six years but threat of closure still looms over its long-term survival. Lib Dem councillors agreed on Monday night that Cheam Leisure Centre, known locally as Cheam Baths
Two Sutton girls have turned their lives around after taking part in a social inclusion programme. Kara Hitchin, 19, and Keeley Wilcox, 20, now represent the Youth Advisory Board, after being involved in the Positive Futures project, funded
An off-road cycling project and a bid to revamp a skateboarding area were granted more than £140,000 in funding. Beddington and Wallington Local Committee committee members approved a £110,000 scheme to refurbish a sports areas and provide
Sutton Runners claimed seven prizes in the Marathon Tour of Epsom last week. The tour started on Monday 8th June. This is a series of 5 races over 5 consecutive dates. Race 1 - 8th June 3.44 Miles - Horton Country Park. Steve Barber
Weybridge travelled to Banstead on Saturday hoping for a change of fortune despite the absence of several regulars. Weybridge won the toss and put Banstead in to bat. Henry Turner bowled a loose first over but had Dave Newton caught behind in
Croydon Harriers junior team excelled to a solid fifth-place finish in a high quality field at Ashford on Sunday, writes Matthew Kiernan. The 17-strong team picked up eight event victories at the National Junior Athletic League meeting and ensured
Six suspected youth gang members from Kingston were arrested in a series of lightning raids by police last week, as part of a huge campaign targeting the rise in violent crime in the capital. More than 140 people were arrested across London
Shabden Park Farm in Chipstead opened its gates to the public last Sunday, inviting people to see how food is produced. The farm, on Chipstead's High Road, welcomed more than 1,000 people. Visitors who braved the rain were treated to
An old lady had her credit card stolen at a supermarket in Epsom. The 78-year-old was shopping in Waitrose, in Ashley Centre, just after 3pm last Monday when a man approached her and asked if she had dropped £10. As the old woman removed
OLD MID-WHITGIFTIAN 109 CAMBERLEY 110-3 Camberley won by 7 wickets Old Mid-Whitgiftian look set for a difficult season after a diabolical batting performance saw them suffer a seven-wicket thrashing at the hands of Camberley,
A Canada goose was savagely attacked and killed by a crazed dog by the River Wandle. The male bird, which had been nesting with a female and five goslings by the Wandle at the end of Mill Lane, Carshalton, was killed by what was believed to
Two students from Nescot College’s computing department have been shortlisted for the national finals of WorldSkills UK. Elliot Becken, 18, from Epsom and Robert Simmons, 17, from Mitcham used their technical abilities to win a place in the
A father fears for the life of his wife and son after they were left stranded in Pakistan. Faridoon Muhammed, who lives in Norbury, believes his family are in danger in their home of Mansehra which is located near Swat Valley, the scene of
When an 18-year-old Reg Blake arrived in Normandy on June 6, 1944 as part of the Allied effort to liberate Europe from the Nazis, fear was not on his horizon. The Royal Marine landing craft coxwain had just sailed from Hayling Island to Sword
Streatham-Croydon Rugby Club are on the look-out for a new coach after sacking Doug Murray, writes Owen Jones. Despite a season that saw the club reach the final of the Surrey Bowl and the fifth round of the Junior Vase. they could only manage sixth
An area of Streatham built in Edwardian times has been made a conservation area to preserve its heritage. The network of nine streets immediately south of Streatham Common, making up the Streatham Lodge Estate, was given the conservation status
More than 60 operations had to be cancelled on the day at Mayday Hospital last year due to a lack of beds. A Freedom of Information request revealed 64 operations were cancelled on the day of admission in 2008 as a ward bed was unavailable,
The Terminator has made friends with Lambeth’s mayor. It seems California Governor, and former Hollywood superstar, Arnold Schwarzenagger, has signed up as a follower of Councillor Christopher Wellbelove, on popular blogging website Twitter
Calls have been made to improve road safety on a Long Ditton street after a car flipped on its roof this week - just yards from where a man was killed three months ago. The driver, a young woman, was taken to hospital by ambulance but is not
This former Catholic schoolgirl from Tooting is stripping her way to success as a page three girl. Georgina Darby, 20, who was once a strict church-goer as a pupil at John Paul II school, beat thousands of other girls to the semi-final of a
Morden Underground station has been identified as a “borough hotspot” for antisocial behaviour after an increase in reports of drunkenness, rowdy behaviour and fare disputes. In a bid to combat the problem, Merton Safer Transport Team joined
Police are searching for two young girls who went missing from separate care homes over the weekend. Natalie Mustafa, 12, who had run away earlier in the week, was last seen leaving her care home, Ingleside Children's Home in Mayfield Road,
The entrepreneurial challenge to make as much money as possible for charity from £100 is back. The Croydon C100 Challenge sees 14 teams compete to raise as much cash as they can from their starting capital of £100. Each team has six
Father of five, Dennis Harrington, is a Sergeant Major at Musa Qul'eh District Centre, he said: “I joined the army 23 years ago because the dockyard closed at Medway Kent. “My wife doesn't mind me being away, she likes me in small doses anyway
