VOTE NOW: Croydon's Top Dog
Steve Parish: We're set to announce MLS opponents for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace in the money ahead of new Premier League season
Palace-packed Croydon Advertiser on Friday including exclusive with Steve Parish
New Addigton Pathfinders group sow seeds of remembrance
NEW Addington Pathfinders marked the centenary of the start of the First World War by planting poppy seeds in a meadow last Saturday.
As part of a campaign to "turn Croydon red", the group planted hundred of seeds on North Down fields.
Organiser Marion Burchell said: "It's really important for us to remember and we are hoping to stage a big street party in a few years to mark 100 years since the end of the war."
The young planters were joined by members of the London Fire Brigade on the day.
South Croydon woman dies in Peru rafting accident
A YOUNG woman described as "the joy in our lives" has died in a water-rafting accident while travelling in South America.
Elisa Ly, 25, of South Croydon, drowned after falling into the River Vilcanota in Cusco, southeast Peru, after a strong wave hit her inflatable raft.
The former Wallington High School for Girls student was rafting with a guide and five other tourists at the time, Peruvian media reported.
Her family told the Advertiser: "Elisa was always full of love, life and energy. She was the joy in our lives and will always be in our hearts. We miss her dearly."
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said it was liaising with authorities locally over the incident, which took place shortly after 4.30pm local time on April 14.
Friends have also paid tribute to Elisa, a keen sportswoman who worked as a tax advisor for BDO LLP after graduating from Warwick University. Writing on social media, a colleague described her as "full of energy" and "a joy to be around".
The colleague added: "We both had a passion for fitness and were helping each other train for the London Marathon and Tough Mudder by going for our Friday morning runs around Regents Park. (...) I am grateful that I was able to get to know her."
Peruvian media reported that Miss Ly was rafting with a company named Peru Inka Land, and that the company will be investigated over the incident as it may have been working informally.
El Comercio newspaper reported that Miss Ly was helped onto the side of the river by her guide, Freddy Figueroa of the company, before being taken to a health centre where she died.
Neither the company nor Mr Figueroa had responded to requests for comment from the Advertiser via their Facebook pages as we went to press.
Miss Ly's body has been repatriated to England and her family have held a memorial service.
The Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Peru on April 14.
"We are liaising with the local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance."
Weekend weather: Croydon in for a scorching two days
Dwight Gayle: I'm unhappy my Crystal Palace team-mate hasn't scored this season
Crystal Palace hotshot Dwight Gayle thanks former boss for giving him platform to shine
Croydon Business Awards: full list of winners
STAFF from Chequers Contract Services pride themselves on keeping offices, schools and other buildings spick and span but today (Friday) they are also celebrating cleaning up in the Croydon Business Awards.
The company, based in Tait Road, walked away with three prizes – business of the year, best business for training and development, and best business for apprenticeships and employment of young people.
The winners of the 12 awards, organised by Prospects Services were announced at a gala dinner held at Fairfield Halls in Park Lane, Croydon last night.
Other categories included best small business and best business for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism, both of which were picked up by J'amies Gymnastics Academy which runs classes in Shirley.
There was also another prize for regular awards winners SLE, based in Selsdon Road, South Croydon.
This year the company, which manufactures life-saving neo-natal ventilators, has been named best business for international trade.
This repeats its success in 2012, when it was also named business of the year.
Last year it was best medium-sized business.
Rose Saunders, head of Prospects Business Support, said: "The calibre of entries into the Croydon Business Awards was extremely high this year.
"A total of 43 organisations were shortlisted from nearly 100 entries."
She added: "All winners truly deserved to be crowned as the finest in their category."
She described the gala dinner and award ceremony as "an exciting evening and a great celebration, providing companies with a platform to network and raise their profile."
Chequers' commitment to creating jobs and training has been demonstrated by its continued support for apprenticeships.
Six new apprentices were taken on at the beginning of this year.
It also launched its own training academy at its headquarters last October, adapting part of the building to create a kitchen, bathroom and office suite which are used as models to help staff learn the correct cleaning techniques.
The academy is open to Chequers' 500 staff with the aim of getting them licensed with the British Institute of Cleansing Services, a qualification which can boost future job prospects.
Chequers, founded in 1987, remains a family firm run by brothers Gary and Paul Jeal and their sister, Kate Ward.
THE WINNERSBusiness of the year, best business for training and development and best business for apprenticeships and employment for young people: Chequers Contract Services, Tait Road, CroydonBest small business and best hospitality, leisure, tourism and travel business: J'amies Gymnastics Academy, ShirleyBest medium-sized business: Cleankill Environmental Services, Lower Road, KenleyBest business for customer service: ICUK Computing Services, Ltd, Pampisford Road, South CroydonFederation of Small Businesses' entrepreneur of the year: Arnold & Baldwin Chartered Surveyors, Southbridge Place, South CroydonCommitment to the community: PJ's Community Services, Parchmore Road, Thornton HeathBest green business: Southern Railway, Addiscombe Road, CroydonBest business for international trade: SLE Ltd, Selsdon Road, South CroydonBest new business: Feast Express Ltd, Purley Way, Croydon
Dwight Gayle: I think Glenn Murray and I would work well
Crystal Palace: poetic summary of a season to remember
Wilf and Co got Brigthon beat, Two stunning goals to bring defeat, Wembley called, Philips scored, top flight now, South London roared. Tottenham first, deserved a draw, Long way to go, still hope, still sure. Enjoy each game, keep faith, still hope, Unlucky 2-1 loss to Stoke. League cup defeat, still not won, Then Palace THREE, black cats ONE. Old Trafford next, poor luck again, Poor ref shouts, down to ten men. Meltdown hit, doubt kicked in, Seven lost, a single win. 4-1 to Fulham, we self combust, Ollie gone, now boom or bust. Keith stepped up, steadied the ship Put back together bit by bit. Fans still sung though, never dull, Drew with Toffees, beaten Hull. Tony's in, an uphill slog, Sir Alex said to 'take the job'. Canaries win, must notch up wins, The Hammers beat, the comeback begins. Brushed past Cardiff, hope restored, Points increasing on the board. Tested Chelsea, Dwight's goal pure class Frustrated City's team of stars. Puncheon's Tottenham penalty choke, Made up for with his goal against Stoke. Vital points, off bottom three, And signing Ince, Dann, Ledley. Things improving piece by piece, New signings score, hopes increase. Wins slow down, few drawn, some lost, How much would Cisse's late goal cost? Shock of the year, South London see, The Eagles beat Jose's Chelsea. Puncheon again a wonder strike, Bottom three now out of sight. Villa beat, underdogs bark, Cause defeat at Goodison Park. One win, two wins, three wins, four. 40 points, now safe for sure. West Ham beat to make it five, Now guaranteed, Eagles survive. Three-goal comeback, Liverpool's shock, With 11 minutes on the clock. Jules, Parr, Ward, Jedinak, Bolasie, Puncheon, Dann, Chamakh. Mariappa, Gayle, Ledley, Dikgacoi, Ince, Delaney. Jerome, O Keefe, Gabbidon, Glenn, These boys put Palace on the map again. Thank you Tony, history made, Eagles fly, top flight we've stayed.
Croydon/Sutton incinerator protesters claim council is 'running scared'
SUTTON Council has denied claims that a meeting of its development control committee was cancelled because members were "running scared" of a demonstration by incinerator protesters.
Members of Stop the Incinerator Campaign organised the protest at last Wednesday's meeting to mark the first anniversary of the controversial incinerator scheme being granted planning permission.
Campaign chairman Paul Pickering said the group learned on the day that the meeting had been cancelled, but decided to push ahead with the demonstration.
He said: "We turned up to be met by a couple of policemen who took photographs.
"We had some grandparents among us and one man on a mobility scooter – hardly the kind of people who were going to be troublesome."
Mr Pickering said it seemed strange that the council decided to call off the meeting at such a late stage, leaving the protesters with a feeling councillors were not prepared to face them.
Dave Pettener, another leading member of the campaign, said: "The council is afraid of the truth.
"With one in twelve deaths in London being linked to air pollution, the council's position on this incinerator has become untenable. They can no longer defend the indefensible and are choosing to run and hide rather than answer the hard questions."
Sutton Council said there was nothing untoward about the decision, adding: "The meeting was cancelled because the agenda was reduced to three items following the withdrawal from the agenda of the only item which had attracted objections."
The three remaining items, which are of a technical nature, will be considered at the next meeting on June 11.
The incinerator is to be built on Beddington Farmlands on the Croydon/Sutton border to help dispose of waste produced by the South London Waste Partnership boroughs of Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Kingston.
Campaigners say the plant will increase pollution in Croydon and Sutton and have sought a judicial review of the planning decision.
Mr Pickering said around £10,000 was need to mount an initial legal challenge in the High Court. Papers have now been lodged with the court by Shasha Khan, a prominent member of the campaign.
If the ruling is in the campaign's favour, the legal bill could soar by tens of thousands of pounds.
Mr Pickering said: "We have pledges which come close to £10,000 but we obviously need a lot more money."
Anyone interested in donating to the legal challenge should go to www.stoptheincinerator.co.uk
Tony Pulis: My award is for everyone at Crystal Palace
New Addington pupils given a chance to shine thanks to new foundation
STUDENTS at a New Addington primary school are getting access to some extra help to pursue their talents.
Rowdown Primary has started a foundation to help talented students reach their potential in their field, by paying for example for private tuition, equipment or getting to extra classes.
The Rowdown Inspire to Aspire Foundation's first beneficiary was Christopher Opuku, Year 4, who has been getting private piano lessons after his music teacher spotted his "natural" musical talent.
Chairman of Governors Gary Coy started the program last year to encourage the school's children and he hopes it will be long-lasting.
He said this week: "I suppose it comes from my upbringing and knowing that my parents had the time and money to support me, but lots of parents do not.
"It is also a focus that hopefully they will take into their teenage years while there are other nasty temptations surrounding them.
"If we don't have a real success story of someone going on to make a career out of it, it does not matter; it is about giving the kids confidence they can do something."
At present the program is mainly funded by Mr Coy himself through the pension of his late wife, Nicola Coy, who died from breast cancer in 2009.
He added: "She would want to do something with the money that was not about her
"We don't have kids of our own, and when she was at the Marsden having her treatment she would always look at the kids having treatment.
"The fact is I can find a great use for this money."
To be eligible for financial help from the foundation, the child needs to be referred by a teacher (perhaps prompted by a parent), and show above average talent in their field. Parents are advised to talk to their class teacher if they think their child would be a good candidate.
The Foundation's trustees will decide whether to approve the application and for how much. The money will normally go directly to the provider.
As well as Christopher, the Foundation is also supporting a pair of gymnast brothers, a promising dancer, a mathematician and a scientist.
Mr Coy says it will support a mixture of academic, sporty and artistic pursuits, but football will not be a priority as it is already relatively well provided for locally.
Mr Coy said he hopes the support can continue after the children have left Rowdown, in Calley Down Crescent, and to grow the program.
Rowdown is due to become an academy in June, sponsored by the estate's outstanding-rated Fairchildes primary.
The school is also starting the Rowdown School Awards, due to be held for the first time in July 2014, celebrating pupils' achievements. The awards will be sponsored by Shard Capital LLP, thanks to a former pupil who now works there.
For more information, talk to your Rowdown class teacher or visit www.rowdownfoundation.org.uk/how-it-works/