Archive

  • The changing face of the local shop

    By Community Correspondent William Dyson Having lived in Southfields almost all of my life, I have seen the local area change dramatically over the last 17 years. This has become an issue of great importance in society today due to the rise of

  • Halloween v Bonfire Night

    By Community Correspondent Sam Brougham The past month has seen two of the largest events of the year battle it out, in a fit of decorations, fireworks and commercialisation. Yet whilst both Bonfire Night and Halloween reach massive audiences

  • Remember, Remember…

    November is the month of Remembrance. Remembering the lives and years of service of soldiers who have died fighting for this country. Commemorating the achievements of every soldier who has stepped onto a battlefield, giving their life for this

  • A stressful Christmas for Oxbridge candidates

    By Community Correspondent: Hannah Davies An offer to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world: that’s what will be on the Christmas list of every Oxbridge applicant this year. However, before that moment a gruelling procedure

  • Fireworks Night a Blast in Merton Park

    The nights of the 5th, and in fact the 6th, 7th and 8th of November were filled with the annual cacophony of noise and rainbow of colours. Yes, it was fireworks night once again. Dogs were locked away in sheds and children gazed up in amazement as Catherine

  • Save our Ice rink!

    By community correspondent Catherine Rowland The latest concern to hit members of the Streatham community is the plan to shut down the ice rink: a place that has been the venue for many social occasions such as birthday parties, discos and school

  • ACS Cobham students cooking with gas

    Students at ACS Cobham were cooking up a storm last week as part of a healthy eating workshop hosted by food educationalists Kids Can Cook (KCC). More than 80 students aged eight and nine took part in the workshop to learn kitchen basics, including

  • Record turnout wanted for Wimbledon Common Parkrun

    Residents are being asked to get into the charitable Christmas spirit and take part in the Wimbledon Common Parkrun for charity. The 5km event is due to take place on Saturday, December 19, and this year it is raising funds for children’s mobility

  • Children In Need By Community Correspondent Bronte Walker

    Although Children In Need took place on 20th November 2009, it still holds a major role in helping children. Children In Need is a British charity that works with children in the United Kingdom. It is organised by the BBC. Since the 1980s,

  • Palace's McCarthy to have surgery

    Crystal Palace will be without the services of Paddy McCarthy for three months after it was confirmed he will have an operation tomorrow. The defender visited specialist David Potter this morning after injuring the same shoulder he had surgery

  • Cleaner cleared of pensioner's murder

    A cleaner accused of killing her 81-year-old employer has been cleared of her murder today. Nicola Bushnell, 44, of Middleton Road, Epsom, was found not guilty of the murder of Joyce Cregeen, also from Epsom. Mrs Cregeen, a retired police

  • Assaults on staff fall at Tolworth Hospital trust

    The number of violent attacks on staff at the trust which runs Tolworth Hospital decreased last year. There were no new figures for Tolworth Hospital itself, which saw 74 assaults between April 2008 and March this year. But South West

  • Plucky Sutton just miss bonus point

    Struggling Sutton & Epsom were unlucky not to get any reward from their best National Three performance of the season against a well-drilled Bracknell side on Saturday. Against opposition who not long ago were in National Division One, the fully amateur

  • Sutton's Munford confident of beating drop

    Sutton & Epsom skipper Steven Munford reckons his squad is 100 per cent confident of National League Three London survival. The 20-year-old scrum-half, fully fit from a recent foot injury, played his part in an encouraging performance on Saturday that

  • Blenheim helps Children In Need.

    By Jenny Bartlett It was recently the time of year for our favourite TV show, Children In Need. Everyone plays their part, and Blenheim High School promoted this throughout the week. For the week of the 19th November, there were various

  • Walking in a Wimbledon Wonderland!

    By Community Correspondent Jennifer Pinto A night of festivities got everyone in the mood for Christmas 2009 at the Wimbledon Winter Wonderland event on Thursday 26th November. The evening was filled with celebrations for all the family,

  • Thames Ditton get £50k grant for floodlights

    The Lawn Tennis Association has announced a £50,000 investment into Thames Ditton Lawn Tennis Club to help install floodlighting over three courts and build a new junior pavilion. The three-month long project begins this month and will be completed

  • Young Epsom drivers hear how to 'Safe Drive' to 'Stay Alive'

    By Hannah Woolridge During November local Sixth Forms from Epsom were invited to Dorking Halls to experience a Surrey County Council presentation called 'Safe Drive Stay Alive'. This is a live stage show and is based around the filmed reconstruction

  • Kingston College's focus on football pays off

    Kingston College is among 10 in England to be awarded the Focus College status by British Colleges Sport and The Football Association. It is the top level that can be awarded to an FE college for their commitment to football development provision.

  • Graffiti gang jailed for £270k damage

    A graffiti gang has been jailed after causing £270,000 damage to trains - which led to disruption and delays for passengers as carriages had to be taken out of service. The prolific vandals, aged between 20 and 23, including yobs from Hampton

  • Big Cats In Town

    By Community Correspondent James O'Connor Three lions received a roaring reception when they arrived at a local school on Wednesday. Pupils were treated to a star-studded line up when the former British and Irish Lions Head Coach Ian

  • Seasonal Affective Disorder

    By community correspondent Sarah Tully For many many years I didnot realise that I felt much sadder and more miserable during the winter months. Now I know that I have Seasonal Affective Disorder which is recognized medically as a form of depression

  • Croydon man convicted of raping vulnerable woman

    A man who befriended a vulnerable woman only to assault her and rape her twice has been convicted at Croydon Crown Court. Michael Dunne, 38, of Epsom Road, Croydon was found guilty at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday, November 18 of two counts

  • Lucas lifts Old Wimbledonians out of the doldrums

    Matt Lucas scored a late try to give Old Wimbledonians victory over league newcomers Fordingbridge in a scrappy game on Saturday, writes Eddie Bell. The Old Boys drew first blood after early pressure on the 22-yard line allowed Matt Jones to easily

  • Depleted Kingston give Andover a scare

    Andover 16 Kingston 8 Kingston travelled to Andover with a number of their backline missing this week due to various commitments. It was left to others to fill their boots and Kingston very nearly pulled off an unexpected win. Kingston had the edge

  • Pole vaulter Jeff Fenge dies at 63

    Former international pole vaulter Jeff Fenge has died suddenly at the age of 63. The former Hercules Wimbledon athlete suffered a heart attack during one of his regular rifle shooting sessions at Bisley. He felt unwell and walked back

  • Striders impress in Brent Shield

    Striders of Croydon’s men finished fifth in the five-mile Brent Shield race at the South of the Thames inter-club race at Sparrows Den, West Wickham on Saturday. Striders times: 29 Lee Flanagan 30.32, 44 Tyler O’Callaghan 31.39, 55 Richard Lee-Smith

  • Grant setting his sights high

    History-maker Martin Grant insists he has shed the arrogant tag that blighted his early days at new club Walton Casuals, and reckons the Stags will continue to reap the benefits of his new-found humility. Grant etched himself into the Walton history

  • Wimbledon push title chasers all the way

    Cobham showed why they are London One South title contenders with a 21-11 win over Wimbledon on Saturday. Their strong-running backs look a constant threat, the hefty pack is mobile and well-drilled and the team’s defence is excellent. But Wimbledon

  • Gino aiming to conquer Asia

    New European Superstock 600 champion Gino Rea flies to Hong Kong this weekend to compete in the Asia Road Racing Championship in the Supersport 600s, which is the main class in the series. The FIM Asia Road Racing Championship is Asia's premiere motorcycle

  • Gargan bags hat-trick in Sutton romp

    Sam Gargan bagged a hat-trick as Sutton United stormed into a play-off position by sweeping aside Wealdstone in impressive fashion on Saturday. In a thrilling display, Sutton scored five goals in a home league game for the first time since thrashing

  • Theft of six superbikes in Sutton sparks police warning

    Police are warning owners of high-powered motorbikes to be vigilant following the theft of six vehicles from addresses across Sutton. Three Suzukis, two Hondas and a Triumph bike have all been taken during the hours of darkness from residential

  • Realistic Talent

    By Andrew Turner Continuing my pursuit into the musical goings on in and around Epsom, I headed to ‘Realistic Rock!’ Academy on East Street to sit in on a session with some 11-14 year olds taking part in the Live Performance workshop. This particular

  • Schmid guards against complacency at high-flying Esher

    Mike Schmid has told his Esher high-flyers to expect a backlash from struggling Nuneaton at Molesey Road on Saturday. Esher’s director of rugby was delighted with the 57-10 demolition of Otley last weekend that extended their lead at the top of National

  • Webb denies Molesey a cricket score

    Molesey struck four goals for the second successive Saturday - and it would have been more but for a man-of-the-match performance by Dorking player-manager Tony Webb, writes Andy Finch. The former Leatherhead and Tooting & Mitcham keeper, an emergency

  • Casuals switch off to let more points slip away

    RAMSGATE 3 CORINTHIAN-CASUALS 2 After another disastrous finale on Saturday, maybe the club should be renamed Capitulation-Casuals! Another good performance was ruined in two injury time minutes and left Casuals to rue what might have been. In

  • Tim leads Tadworth runners home

    Tim Wilkes was Tadworth AC’s first finisher in Saturday’s South of the Thames five-mile cross country race over a hilly woodland course at Sparrow’s Den, West Wickham, which attracted a field of more than 200. Tadworth finishers: 92 Tim Wilkes 34.48,

  • Surbiton battle the elements for gritty but crucial triumph

    Surbiton 2 Hampstead & Westminster 1 Leaders Surbiton overcame the elements, the absence of three England internationals and the loss of a key player to injury to grind out a narrow win on Sunday and stay two points clear of Reading in the England

  • Whitgiftians held to a gloomy draw

    Old Whitgiftians were held to a 3-3 draw at a Farnham side without a Surrey One victory all season on Saturday, writes Bob Schad. OWs made little headway against a Farnham side that defended with unexpected tenacity and the only score of the first

  • Epsom lecturer flying to India to film shouting matches

    A film lecturer at the University for the Creative Arts in Epsom is heading to Bangalore to film an earsplitting series of shouting matches for an unusually loud conceptual art film project. George Barber will film pairs of screaming volunteers

  • Abbey acrobats claim bronze medal

    Addlestone-based Kira Ballinger and Megan Davies finished third in the south-east Sports Acrobatic Championship at Sittingbourne in Kent. Representing Abbey Sports Acrobatics Club, nine-year-old Kira and Megan, 12, performed a choroegraphed routine

  • Quins winger Monye calls for change

    Harlequins winger Ugo Monye has urged rugby’s law makers to make changes that could help bring the return of free-flowing rugby. The 26-year-old cut a frustrated figure at full-back for England in the first two encounters of this year’s autumn

  • Hodgson: Fulham must battle on

    Roy Hodgson admits he cannot wait for the new year to roll around as his injury-hit Fulham side continue to battle for precious Premier League points. The Cottagers were held to a 1-1 draw by Bolton last Saturday when a win would have seen them climb

  • Costly defeat for Blues as injury toll mounts

    METROPOLITAN POLICE 1 CHATHAM TOWN 3 This game was as good as over inside the opening 20 minutes. It could have been so different. After only five minutes, Chatham Town defender Raymond Powell was very lucky to escape with just a yellow card following

  • Underwater shots breathe new life into marine conservation

    Stunning underwater shots of marine life around the world have been released in a 2010 calendar by a Kingston-based organisation. Photos from 12 of the world’s most highly acclaimed underwater photographers, and commentary, feature in the calendar

  • Plans to turn Kingston's Keep into new school dismissed

    Proposals from a Conservative parliamentary candidate to built two new secondary schools in north Kingston have been dismissed by his local party’s education spokesman. The council’s executive committee decided in September to draw up plans

  • Extra cash denied for Croydon walk in asylum centre

    Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the Government will not be giving Croydon much extra money to deal with the increase in asylum seekers coming into the borough. More than 3,500 extra asylum seekers could be visiting Croydon each year after

  • Bees get a Legge up in FA Cup

    Brentford 1 (Legge 13) Walsall 0 Brentford booked their place in the third round of the FA Cup, where they will host Championship side Doncaster Rovers, thanks to a Leon Legge goal against Walsall at Griffin Park on Saturday. In a match

  • Resident anger at Sutton Council 'propaganda signs'

    Neighbours keen to give Sutton Council a rude awakening over "propaganda signs" going up in their street got one of their own, when contractors took them down at 2am. Residents in Devonshire Road and Langley Park Road, Sutton, had complained

  • Livett pounces to give Vandals hard-fought win

    Full-back Darren Livett’s ninth try of the season ensured Weybridge Vandals returned to winning ways in London Division Two South West with a nervy 14-10 triumph over visitors Twickenham on Saturday. Head coach Ian Bardgett’s men were made to work hard

  • Hats on for Molesey's magical event

    People at this year’s Magical Molesey Christmas event in Walton Road on Saturday, December 5, will get the chance to win enough Tesco gift cards to buy their Christmas dinner. Prizes on offer for the Christmas Hat competition include £100,

  • Kingston developments in running for public spaces award

    Two town centre redevelopments in Kingston and Tolworth have been chosen in a London-wide celebration of newly improved public spaces. The Tolworth town centre regeneration and the Ancient Market Place have not been started but still made the

  • Traynor supplies finishing touch to Ks' smash-and-grab raid

    Kingstonian 1 Carshalton Athletic 0 A last-gasp audacious goal from striker Bobby Traynor was just enough for hosts Ks to squeeze past neighbours Carshalton, who had dominated the first half of this Ryman Premier League match. It was an important

  • Warlingham show they are the real Deal

    Having taken 30 minutes to get on the scoreboard, Warlingham’s superior fitness saw them seal an important 34-3 win over Deal & Betteshanger in London Two South East on Saturday, writes Peter Upton. On a chilly afternoon, injury-struck Warlingham eventually

  • Florent: Park need to adapt

    Florent Rossigneuax wants his Rosslyn Park side to become winter warriors as they look to maintain their National League Two South promotion charge. A comprehensive 48-3 dismantling of visitors Henley last weekend has seen the Priory Lane side close

  • Awards recognise hard working Sutton and Merton health staff

    The hard work and dedication of local healthcare professionals has been recognised through the Sutton and Merton Community Services (SMCS) staff awards. A special award was given to SMCS’ Early Supported Discharge Team, which helps people to

  • Park turn on the style to leave Henley feeling groggy

    Rosslyn Park 48 Henley Hawks 3 This was a commanding performance by Rosslyn Park, emphasised by the fact that Henley – despite the score line – were by no means a poor side. Hawks were unlucky to lose their fly-half and kicker to a knee injury

  • Jail for man who went on crime spree after escaping prison

    A prison escapee who netted more than £30,000 in a string of robberies while on the run - including an attack on a bookmakers in Gipsy Hill - has been jailed for 11 years. Anthony Lee Perry, 31, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court last

  • Tingle of Christmas comes to Sandown Park

    Racegoers attending Sandown Park on Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5, can enjoy a number of Christmas activities taking place at the racecourse in Esher. In addition to the racing, which includes the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase,

  • Croydon tenant earned £5k in illegal subletting scam

    An Upper Norwood resident has been prosecuted for fraudulently claiming more than £5,000 in benefits after illegally subletting her council house. When interviewed by the council’s investigators Diana Onwuabusim, 41, denied the allegations.

  • Croydon homes evacuated after workshop fire

    More than a dozen people had to be evacuated from their homes as fire ripped through a derelict workshop early this morning. About 30 firefighters spent more than two hours tackling the blaze after it engulfed the empty two-storey building

  • Frustration for Robins as Traynor proves spoiler again

    Kingstonian 1 Carshalton Athletic 0 The Robins will undoubtedly feel aggrieved to have left Kingsmeadow empty-handed at the end of a Ryman League Premier Division game for long periods of which they had been the better side. The sense of injustice

  • Environmental website teams up with Wandsworth Council

    In what is believed to be a UK first, a council has linked up with a website to tell local environmentalists about its green initiatives. Wandsworth Council has a dedicated page on Project Dirt (Projectdirt.com) - an online network which allows

  • Wesley sent off as Richmond are hammered

    Richmond slumped to their fourth defeat in five games as mid-table Shelford ran in seven tries on Saturday, writes Tim Forrester. Having missed an early penalty, Shelford opened their account with an ominously easy try after 11 minutes. A break through

  • More pain at home for Tanners

    Leatherhead 0 Godalming Town 2 Leatherhead were beaten for the second time in a week at Fetcham Grove with a lacklustre display against a well-organised Godalming Town. Tanners boss Mick Sullivan was forced into making some strategic changes after

  • Freddie Mercury Memorial Unveiling

    Reported by Local correspondent Sandhya Jonnalagadda A new Freddie Mercury memorial is set to open in Feltham this month, commemorating the life of a local boy who grew up to become one of the most influential singers of the 20th century.

  • Esher reign supreme on happy birthday for boss

    Otley 10 Esher 57 Otley have a great tradition within the rugby fraternity – who could forget the memorable victory over the All Blacks played at their home Cross Green? They are now in a rebuilding phase and Esher capitalised on this as they secured

  • Billy signals a change of intent

    Billy Smith reckons a change in mentality can be the key to Tooting & Mitcham reasserting their Ryman Premier play-off credentials. After a run of six straight defeats, the Terrors hit back in fine style on Saturday, recording a 3-0 win at Bognor Regis

  • Chertsey strikers endure rare off-day

    Chertsey Town 0 Chessington & Hook United 1 For the first time this season, Chertsey Town failed to find the net in one of their Combined Counties Premier Division encounters. They only conceded the one goal at home to Chessington & Hook United on

  • SLH beaten into silver

    Last Saturday’s South of the Thames five-mile event at Sparrows Den was again well represented by South London Harriers. The women, hopeful of another win this year, were just beaten into silver medal position by Dulwich Runners’ three point lead after

  • Defensive lapses cost Banstead

    Badsot Lea 5 Banstead Athletic 3 Banstead scored three goals away from home, most games that would be enough to take all the points. Unfortunately, the opposition scored five. The visitors were 1-0 up within ten minutes through Gavin Quintin.

  • CCTV footage of traffic offences on Lambeth Council website

    New digital technology will make life easier for motorists who want to contest parking tickets and fines for “moving traffic offences” like driving in bus lanes or stopping in yellow box junctions. Motorists can now view CCTV evidence of their

  • Surbiton sitting pretty as league enters Christmas break

    Oxford Hawks Ladies 1 Surbiton Ladies 4 Surbiton Ladies finished the first half of the South Clubs Women’s Hockey League Division One season on Saturday, winning a game where set-pieces were far more effective than open-play opportunities, with

  • Palace player ratings v Watford

    Julian Speroni: His save from Graham's penalty was crucial as the second half would have been a lot different if Watford had scored then. the form he has been in though I don't think anyone was surprised to see him stop it. 7 Danny Butterfield: Back

  • Thumbelina to light up Carshalton stage

    Hans Christian Andersen’s magical tale Thumbelina begins a month residency at the Charles Cryer Theatre this week, with cast and crew promising an enchanting evening for children and parents alike. The story of the little girl ‘no bigger than your thumb

  • Impressive cup win for London Welsh

    London Welsh ran out 36-7 winners at Aberavon in the British & Irish Cup on Saturday. Tom Brown and Paul Sampson scored two tries each for the Exiles, with Simon Whatling also going over. Aberavon's only try in front of a crowd of 712 was a first-half

  • Staines handed Rams incentive

    Staines Town or Millwall will host Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup. A home tie with Nigel Clough's men is in the incentive on offer for the winners of a replay at The New Den after Staines achieved a very creditable 1-1 draw at Wheatsheaf

  • Bees handed home draw in the cup

    Brentford have been handed a home tie with Doncaster Rovers in the third round of the FA Cup, probably on Saturday January 2. The Bees progressed to the third round with a 1-0 home victory over Walsall on Saturday. The only goal of the game was

  • Lucas impresses at Roundshaw

    Patrick Lucas continued his breakthrough season at apace on Saturday, with a fourth place finish at the Roundshaw Downs Time Trial, writes Matthew Kiernan. The 14 year-old Croydon Harrier clocked a new personal best time of 19 minutes 16 seconds

  • Tragedy of baby's unexplained death

    Two Tooting parents were left devastated by the sudden unexplained death of their baby son, an inquest heard on Thursday. Raphael Okyere died aged 18 days after having a nap in his Fernthorpe Road home, but the exact cause will never be known