Man found dead on Lansdowne Road after falling from car park

July 11, 2014, 12:22 pm

≫ Next: South Norwood schoolgirl to represent England at Commonwealth championships

≪ Previous: Off-licences in Croydon town centre agree to stop selling 'super-strength' booze

$

0

0

A MAN has died after falling from the NCP car park next to Lansdowne Road earlier this evening (Friday). Witnesses reported that the man had fallen from the roof of the seven-storey car park at around 6.30pm. Police cordoned off a section of grass between Lansdowne Road and Dingwall Road where he was found. Paramedics worked to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A spokesman from New Scotland Yard said: "Police were called to Lansdowne Road at 6.33pm to a man found fallen from a car park. He was dead at the scene. Croydon CID are investigating. "At this early stage it is there is nothing to suggest the death was suspicious but as yet it is impossible to be sure." Kay Butler, 43, from West Wickham, was on her way to the gym shortly before 7pm when she saw the exit to the car park had been cordoned off. She said though the air ambulance had been sent to the scene, it did not land. "The police were there and had already cordoned off the way out of the car park. There were lots of paramedics working on the man, they were trying to revive him for about 10 minutes."

---

South Norwood schoolgirl to represent England at Commonwealth championships

July 12, 2014, 12:00 am

≫ Next: Teenager, 18, critical after being stabbed in Thornton Heath fight

≪ Previous: Man found dead on Lansdowne Road after falling from car park

$

0

0

A SCHOOLGIRL from South Norwood has been selected to represent England at the Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships. Georgia Stanley's call-up is the latest chapter in an inspiring story which began when, as a nine-year-old, she took up the sport after being diagnosed with learning difficulties. At the time she was a pupil at Heavers Farm Primary, in South Norwood, and her PE teacher was Richard Allen, the ten times British taekwondo champion who represented Team GB in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Georgia, now 14, found she had a natural talent for martial arts, despite struggling with her coordination because of her condition, and began to be coached by Mr Allen, who describes her as having "untouchable perseverance", outside of school. Following her selection for November's event, Frances Stanley, Georgia's mother, spoke with pride about her daughter's achievement. "I was genuinely stunned when Richard told me," she said. "A feeling of immense pride went over me to know my child was one of those selected. "It shows that no matter what kind of disability you have, if you want something bad enough and you work at it, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to." Georgia, of Merton Road, South Norwood, now studies at Bensham Manor, a special school in Thornton Heath for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and autism. She trains at Heavers Farm twice a week and a further two days as a member of the Allen Taekwondo Academy at Thornton Heath Leisure Centre. Georgia will compete in the para-sport category of the Poomsae discipline, a branch of taekwondo in which participants are judged for form and technique rather than taking part in bouts. Miss Stanley says the sport has had a huge impact on her daughter's life. "When she was first diagnosed as having a moderate learning difficulty it was suggested she take up a martial art because it helps with her coordination," she said. "I worried about how long she would keep it up for as I know what children are like – they start things off and get bored really quickly. But she stuck with it and it has taken over her life. I'm very proud of how far she has come." Georgia is one of four students coached by Richard Allen to have been selected by British Taekwondo. Mr Allen told the Advertiser: "Georgia is fully dedicated, incredibly persistent. Her perseverance is untouchable. "If there's ever a disappointment that might make others give up she bounces straight back. Coming from where she was, to where she is now, is wonderful I'm over the moon for her." Georgia, whose idol is London 2012 gold medallist Jade Jones, hopes to one day compete in the Paralympic Games. "I like taekwondo because it's really active and keeps you fit," she said. "When I started sparring I got really passionate about it." Georgia's training and participation are entirely funded by her family. To help, visit http://www.gofundme.com/aywzw0

Teenager, 18, critical after being stabbed in Thornton Heath fight

July 12, 2014, 12:06 am

≫ Next: Transfer talk: Crystal Palace close in on Cardiff City duo

≪ Previous: South Norwood schoolgirl to represent England at Commonwealth championships

$

0

0

A TEENAGER is in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed during a fight in Thornton Heath. The 18-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries during what police described as a "disturbance" involving a large group of men in London Road at 3.25am today (Saturday). When police arrived they found the teenager had been stabbed multiple times the back. London Ambulance Service was called and he was taken to a south London hospital where his condition is described as potentially life-threatening, a Scotland Yard spokesman said. An 18-year-old man was arrested in Colliers Water Lane on suspicion of GBH and is currently in custody in a south London police station. Croydon detectives are leading the investigation. "Officers retain an open mind regarding the motive for the incident at this time," a spokesman said. A stretch of London Road was closed off following the incident.

Transfer talk: Crystal Palace close in on Cardiff City duo

July 12, 2014, 2:50 am

≫ Next: Injuries of teenager, 18, stabbed in Thornton Heath fight 'no longer life-threatening'

≪ Previous: Teenager, 18, critical after being stabbed in Thornton Heath fight

$

0

0

CRYSTAL Palace are reportedly closing in on a double swoop as they look to sign Cardiff City duo Fraizer Campbell and Steven Caulker. The Guardian is reporting that the Eagles are close to agreeing a £600,000 deal for former Manchester United, Tottenham and Sunderland forward Campbell, after meeting a buy-out clause in the 26-year-old's contract. Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror is reporting that Palace have offered £8m for Caulker, who is also a reported target for Premier League new boys Queens Park Rangers.

Injuries of teenager, 18, stabbed in Thornton Heath fight 'no longer life-threatening'

July 12, 2014, 4:21 am

≫ Next: Coulsdon mums want want increased safety measures outside school

≪ Previous: Transfer talk: Crystal Palace close in on Cardiff City duo

$

0

0

THE injuries of a teenager stabbed in a fight in Thornton Heath are no longer life-threatening, say police. The 18-year-old was rushed to hospital today (Saturday) after police arrived on the scene of a "disturbance" involving a large group of men in London Road at 3.25am. They found the teenager had been stabbed multiple times in the back. His condition was initially described by police as critical, but a spokesman said his injuries are "now not believed to be life threatening". An 18-year-old man was arrested in Colliers Water Lane on suspicion of GBH and is still in custody at a London Police Station. A stretch of London Road between Colliers Water Lane and Goldwell Road was closed following the incident, but had reopened by 9.30am. Shops along the stretch of the road had to stay closed until police opened the road.

Coulsdon mums want want increased safety measures outside school

July 12, 2014, 5:00 am

≫ Next: Pupil premium funds 'being spent on school trips, milk and anti-bullying efforts'

≪ Previous: Injuries of teenager, 18, stabbed in Thornton Heath fight 'no longer life-threatening'

$

0

0

WORRIED mums at a Coulsdon primary school are calling for more to be done to protect their children from a busy main road. Chipstead Valley Primary School's lollipop man has not been replaced since he retired last summer and the mums say heavy traffic on the Chipstead Valley Road outside the school is putting their children at risk. There are plans to install a crossing outside the school, but the some parents say it has taken far too long and have called for the council to act faster to help protect their children. Mum Annie Robinson said there had been several near misses with children in the past few months, including one involving her seven-year-old son Tommy who narrowly avoided being clipped by the wing mirror of a white van which mounted the pavement. "It's really dangerous," she said. "Drivers get fed up of waiting in traffic and drive over the pavement, and plenty speed too." Tommy said the near miss with the van had made him scared of riding his scooter to school. Zoe Larkman, whose sons Ethan, five, and Lewis, seven, attend the school said Croydon Council needed to "take some responsibility" for safety on the pavements. "We need something in the interim to keep the children safe," she said. "We've just been told 'be more careful'. "It's like we're at the mercy of a bunch of people sitting round a table drinking coffee in a committee room. "It just seems that the only thing that will get something done quicker is a fatality." The council's traffic management cabinet committee is due to consider proposals for a zebra crossing outside the school near Sandown Road later this month, and if passed a crossing could be in place by the autumn. However, any objection from residents, who must be consulted, on the crossing, could derail the plans. There were also plans under the council's previous Conservative administration to reduce the speed limit along the stretch of the road outside the school to 20 mph, but it such a limit has been difficult to implement due to the school's being on the border between Croydon and Surrey County Council. Responding to the parents, a council spokesman said: "The council is very aware of the parents' concerns, and is doing all it can to expedite matters and will try to install a pedestrian crossing as soon as possible."

Pupil premium funds 'being spent on school trips, milk and anti-bullying efforts'

July 12, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Council puts culture high on the agenda

≪ Previous: Coulsdon mums want want increased safety measures outside school

$

0

0

EXTRA teaching, milk, school trips, iPads and anti-bullying efforts are among the ways schools have been spending funding aimed at helping disadvantaged pupils. Most pupil premium funding is being spent on staff time, both for teaching or other support, Advertiser research suggests, including attendance officers to make sure children are at school on time. The funding was introduced by the Government in 2011 to reduce inequalities between students from different social backgrounds. Schools get a fixed-sum for every pupil eligible for free-school meals at any point over the past six years, or looked-after for more than six months. This year (2013/14) schools received £953 for primary-aged pupils, and £900 for secondary-aged pupils. Susan Papas, head teacher of Heavers Farm Primary School in South Norwood (allocated £233,170 in 2013/14, compared to £115,255 the year before), says the money has helped reduce "significant inequalities" her school has seen in attainment levels between children from different backgrounds. She added: "Families who have little money often don't have the resources to give their children the range of opportunities that their wealthier peers might enjoy. "For example, holidays, visits to the big London museums and theatres. For example, lLast year we organised a whole school trip to the beach as over half of our children had not seen a beach before. We have also taken two year groups to the opera. It is experiences like this which we believe give our more vulnerable pupils experiences to draw on in their academic work." Hers was one of several schools to spend on computer equipment, splashing out £30,000 this year on iPads, for all pupils to use, helping with their research, writing and other basic skills. "We also have a range of strategies in place to ensure that our most vulnerable pupils have more access to these devices than other pupils," she added. Both Heavers Farm and Selsdon Primary have invested money in anti-bullying efforts, with Heavers spending £1,000 to "improve teacher and adult understanding of bullying". "We have seen a dramatic reduction in the number of bullying allegations made in school over this year," Ms Papas added. Applegarth Academy, in Fieldway, is among many to spend on improving attendance, with £12,000 of its £223,600 allocation this year going on an "attendance officer and educational welfare." The primary school says persistent absences have more than halved since last year (March 2013 to March 2014), while the number of children whose attendance is below 90 per cent has fallen from 64 to 28. It has helped families re-housed far away to get to school, maintaining attendance for three families put in emergency accommodation outside of the borough. The school has also spent £10,000 on books, encouraging more pupils to read. The biggest spend of pupil premium funding for many schools is on teaching and staff time. Spending this financial year at South Norwood Primary, for example, includes £63,030 on a phonics teacher, £24,000 on an extra teaching assistant for reception, and £13,000 on a part-time English-as-an-additional-language teacher. Della Williams, head teacher of the school, which has been allocated £238,500 this year, says the funding has had a "significant" impact. She added: "Due to the additional interventions that we have been able to introduce, this impacts the children's emotional wellbeing which obviously underpins all aspects of their development. "Self-esteem is a huge factor in limiting progress in learning; once this starts to improve, we can then expect an improvement in the rate of progress." "However, this can be a lengthy process for some children and they need regular support." The funding is paid via local authorities to schools under their control and by the Government to academies and free schools. A spokesman for Croydon Council's school improvement service said: "Croydon has generally seen the [attainment] gap closing, and we are in a better position than some other outer London boroughs." He added: "A picture has emerged showing how high proportions of low-income or disadvantaged pupils does not have to equate to low attainment."

Council puts culture high on the agenda

July 12, 2014, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: Rooney on his love for Crystal Palace and hopes for Andrea Pirlo

≪ Previous: Pupil premium funds 'being spent on school trips, milk and anti-bullying efforts'

$

0

0

CULTURE is vital in driving the regeneration of Croydon,

This was the view expressed by Councillor Timothy Godfrey, the council's cabinet member dedicated to promoting the arts, sports and leisure, when speaking to about 90 representatives from arts and community organisations at a seminar this week.

The meeting, held on Tuesday at Bernard Weatherill House, also gave the groups a chance to put forward ideas for improving cultural activities in Croydon.

These included organising a website to publicise arts events and share expertise and equipment; addressing the problem of a lack of performance and rehearsal space; creating a cultural and arts quarter in the town; increasing the amount of public art and involving schools more in the cultural life of the borough.

Cllr Godfrey promised the ideas would be examined and a report presented to the groups in the near future.

He had earlier told the meeting it was the council's intention to build new alliances with arts and cultural groups to promote the cultural agenda.

Cllr Godfrey said the council also intended to work with the Mayor of London and the Arts Council to look at attracting more funding for the arts into the borough.

He told the meeting: "It is about making changes as quickly as possible.

"We see culture as key to regeneration and investment in this borough.

"We want to work with all of you to realise our ambitions for culture.

"There are an awful lot of people involved in the arts who we need to engage with."

The meeting was a starting point for that and would be repeated in the future, Cllr Godfrey said.

He was also critical of the previous Conservative council's cultural record, drawing attention to its sale of part of the famous Riesco collection of Chinese porcelain.

He said: "When the council sold off the best pieces of the collection it not only damaged that collection, it did huge damage to the reputation of Croydon.

"We will not be selling off any of our remaining collections."

Cllr Godfrey said work was about to start on the first phase of refurbishing the Fairfield Halls, including sprucing up the Arnhem Gallery, installing digital cinema equipment in the concert hall and turning the former Green Room restaurant into a studio performance space.

The major renewal programme for the refurbishment of the complex will be programmed in over the next three to four years.

Cllr Godfrey revealed the council was also looking at the possibility of running a summer arts festival next year based largely around the College Green area off Park Lane.

---

Rooney on his love for Crystal Palace and hopes for Andrea Pirlo

July 13, 2014, 12:30 am

≫ Next: Soldiers who died in Cane Hill asylum to be honoured in First World War centenary celebrations

≪ Previous: Council puts culture high on the agenda

$

0

0

GREAT Britain athlete Martyn Rooney says his beloved Crystal Palace finishing mid-table in the Premier League last season was like winning it. The Croydon man, who became a five-time UK champion over the 400m after victory at the UK Championships at the start of July, has kept a close eye on the Eagles in his spare time. And Rooney has revealed how he got one of training partners to support Palace after they witnessed just how good the club's fans were at the Arsenal game in February. "It's amazing, we are an established Premier League club now!," he told the Advertiser. "We're not even relegation battlers, we finished in mid-table and I don't think anyone expected that. "I am just really happy with Palace. It was like winning the league for me last season. "I remember the Darren Bent thing, when he said he didn't want to be involved in a relegation battle and then he did so with Fulham – I loved all that. "I went to a couple of games last season. I got to the Emirates for the Arsenal game, and my sponsors Nike sorted me out for that. "I was in London anyway after getting back from a trip so it was nice to make that, apart from the score in the end. "I brought one of my training partners with me, who was American, and he didn't have a team to support. "He was choosing between Arsenal and Palace, and because our fans were cheering as we were losing, he became a Palace fan! "The fans did a great job that day, and all of last season." Rooney, who tries to get back to Croydon when he can to see friends and family, trains up in Loughborough. And with Leicester City achieving promotion to the Premier League, you'd think he'd be making the short trip down the A6 to the King Power Stadium to cheer on the Eagles on Saturday, February 7 next year. "I stay away from away games which are near to me, because every time I used to go, we would lose!," said Rooney. "Every time I would go to Leicester City or Nottingham Forest against Palace, we always lost so now I stay away. "I didn't go to the last one at Leicester and we won 2-1 (in October 2012). It was just getting to be a bit of worrying stat for me." To finish above 11th position in the top flight will be difficult to beat next season for Palace, and Rooney says he'd be happy with another stable ending. The Croydon Harrier has also backed Tony Pulis to continue his certain style of football, pointing to its effectiveness. "If he can carry on the ethos of doing your job properly and playing a solid game, I know some people it was a bit boring at Stoke, but at the end of the day they built a successful club," said Rooney. "They built the club up and that's what Palace need to do, we need a situation where we can be in the Premier League for three or four years and build from there onwards. "With Pulis coming in, we started playing solid football and we're did the simple things properly, and as we saw last season it all came together. "Mid-table again next year would be amazing. I loved it, so if we can do something similar this year, we'll be all right." Meanwhile, with the World Cup set to finish this Sunday, Rooney has taken a keen eye on the global tournament and is holding out for Palace to sign an Italian legend – for one year. "After the last World Cup in South Africa, it's nice to see an entertaining one this time," he said. "There have been more than 140 goals too, that's not bad, is it? I would love to see someone like Andrea Pirlo come to Palace and have one season in England before he retires. "It would be nice of course to see him stroll around the middle of the park – maybe he could finish his career in south London."

Soldiers who died in Cane Hill asylum to be honoured in First World War centenary celebrations

July 13, 2014, 2:00 am

≫ Next: Vicar sleeps rough to raise funds for Croydon Minster

≪ Previous: Rooney on his love for Crystal Palace and hopes for Andrea Pirlo

$

0

0

SHELL-SHOCKED soldiers who died in Cane Hill asylum are to be honoured in First World War centenary celebrations at an Addington church. Michael Lyons, of the New Addington Royal British Legion, is organising a big commemorative event for September 10 and has made the forgotten soldiers of psychiatric hospital Cane Hill, in Coulsdon, the focus of the event. The Final Roll Call, which will take place at St Mary's Church in Addington, will be the culmination of a campaign by Mr Lyons to have the soldiers recognised. There were at least 40 soldiers, many of whom were disowned by their families after returning from war, who were admitted to Cane Hill asylum during the First World War, and at least 26 were buried in its grounds in unmarked graves. The Debt Of Honour, a tribute to the men who died during or as a result of the First World War, now contains the names of these men. But Mr Lyons, a former member of the East Surrey Regiment, would like to see a permanent Croydon memorial for the tragic heroes in the cemetery at the Mitcham Road barracks. He said: "They were never recognised and we should remember them all. They came home with shell-shock after the war and no one knew how to deal with it at the time. "In those days it changed your personality and they became aggressive and weren't able to control themselves. "Lots of families disowned these soldiers and everyone would say 'oh, Jimmy's a nutter' and that would be that." Mr Lyons said although the world will always remember the First World War heroes, it was important to do this now because "we are coming to the end of an era". Shell-shock is now considered to be a form of post-traumatic stress disorder. Lady Emma Kitchener-Fellowes, niece of the third Earl Kitchener, a former lady-in-waiting to Princess Michael of Kent and wife of Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, is set to attend The Final Roll Call event at St Mary's. Poppy crosses will be laid at the graves of the three known First World War dead at St Mary's Church but Mr Lyons is sure there must be more. He is seeking help and information from families who have relatives buried in the graveyard and is also to speak to the Addington Palace golf club to see if it has records of people who died there when it was used as a hospital during the war.

Vicar sleeps rough to raise funds for Croydon Minster

July 13, 2014, 5:00 am

≫ Next: Teenage student charged over stabbing of 18-year-old in Thornton Heath fight

≪ Previous: Soldiers who died in Cane Hill asylum to be honoured in First World War centenary celebrations

$

0

0

THE Vicar of Croydon is set to swap church comforts for a night sleeping rough to raise funds for Croydon Minster later this month. The Reverend Canon Colin Boswell will join his fellow clergy and members of his congregation to spend the night sleeping in the grounds of the minster on July 26. Rev Boswell admitted he was a little apprehensive at the prospect of a night under the stars. He said: "To be honest, I'm not very keen on sleeping out, but I'm conscious of living in a lovely house and how much that means to me, and how much not having that privilege means to other people." The minster is trying to raise £30,000 before the end of the year so it can carry on its work in the community. In addition to being a place of worship and choral music, the minster provides a food bank, shelter for the homeless, counselling for those affected by drugs and alcohol, education and activities for young people and meeting places for the elderly. Before Rev Boswell and his flock take to the street, the minster's choir plans to raise funds by staging a psalm-athon – singing all 150 psalms from the Book of Common Prayer in a traditional Anglican chant. Tom Little, the minster's sub-organist, estimated it would take at least 16 hours to sing them all. Daunting Mr Little said: "Singing all 150 psalms in a day is a daunting prospect, but the musicians of Croydon Minster are keen to do their bit to help maintain the work of the church in the area, as well as showcase the real glory of the Anglican choral tradition. We encourage people to drop in and listen." The singers will be accompanied and led by Mr Little and Simon Hogan, assistant director of music at Southwell Minster. Anyone can sponsor Rev Boswell or a psalm via www.croydonminster.org and donating on the minster's Just Giving page.

Teenage student charged over stabbing of 18-year-old in Thornton Heath fight

July 13, 2014, 5:41 am

≫ Next: Transfer talk: Crystal Palace close in £16m triple swoop

≪ Previous: Vicar sleeps rough to raise funds for Croydon Minster

$

0

0

A TEENAGE student has been charged with the stabbing of an 18-year-old in Thornton Heath during a fight in the early hours of Saturday morning (July 12). The victim was stabbed multiple times in the back following what police described as "a disturbance involving a large group of males" in London Road at 3.25am, and remains in a South London hospital with serious, but no longer life-threatening, injuries. An 18-year-old was arrested in Colliers Water Lane after the attack. He has since been named by police as Jammal Jessey, of St Saviours Road, and charged with GBH. He is due to appear at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court tomorrow (Monday) via the virtual court system. Police are appealing for anyone with information about the attack to contact investigators on 02037 622 285.

Transfer talk: Crystal Palace close in £16m triple swoop

July 13, 2014, 6:49 am

≫ Next: Two taken to hospital after Addington bus crash

≪ Previous: Teenage student charged over stabbing of 18-year-old in Thornton Heath fight

$

0

0

Could Crystal Palace be set to launch their summer spending this week with a triple swoop worth up to £16m? The Palace Fanzine, Five Year Plan, is reporting Tony Pulis has had an £8m offer accepted for Spurs' Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson. The deal would break the £6.5m Palace spent on Dwight Gayle. Meanwhile, several reports suggest Palace will sign Cardiff forward Frazier Campbell this week for £600,000, while the Eagles are also very interested in Cardiff defender Steven Caulker.

Two taken to hospital after Addington bus crash

July 13, 2014, 6:57 am

≫ Next: Kenley Young Reporters Club visit the BBC

≪ Previous: Transfer talk: Crystal Palace close in £16m triple swoop

$

0

0

TWO passengers were taken to hospital after the bus they were travelling in collided with a wall at Addington Interchange yesterday evening (Saturday). Police, paramedics and fire crews attended the incident at the interchange, between Kent Gate Way and Lodge Lane shortly after 6pm. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We received a call at 6.15pm to reports of a bus crash at Addington Interchange, between Kent Gate Way and Lodge Lane. "Two injured persons were taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution, their injuries weren't life-threatening. The bus driver was not arrested."

Kenley Young Reporters Club visit the BBC

July 13, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: Trial of men accused of supplying drugs to Croydon schoolboy Daniel Spargo-Mabbs set to start

≪ Previous: Two taken to hospital after Addington bus crash

$

0

0

ON JULY 3, we travelled up to Broadcasting House in central London to visit the new, modern base of BBC News after it moved from the old TV Centre in Shepherds Bush. It was also a chance to celebrate 60 years since the first ever BBC news broadcast was made. The original building of Broadcasting House was built in 1933 by Colonel Val Myer, ten years after the BBC was launched and is a grade II listed Art Deco building. The modern extension has been constructed over the last ten years and now brings news, TV, radio and online broadcasting together in the same building. On arrival at the BBC, we were amazed by the towering glass building in front of us that is connected to the original Broadcasting House. There is a statue above the door that we found out is of characters from Shakespeare's The Tempest – Ariel is the "spirit of air" and the BBC see this as represents broadcasting waves. We then had to go through security where the friendly team told us they could identify every item in a school bag, including a lunchbox fork! Then it was straight on to the tour and our first stop – the main newsroom which we looked down on from a balcony. All news departments, including online, radio and local news teams, work together in one massive room and it is very busy, with lots of journalists checking screens at their desks for latest news updates and writing up their reports. We were also shown red lines on the floor that if you step over them, mean you may be spotted in the background on the live news broadcasts. There were lots of giant screens on the walls all over the newsroom showing breaking news coming in from around the world. We spotted news presenter Sophie Raworth working at her desk in front of us, getting ready for her bulletin. As we were walking around the newsroom, a presenter also stepped into a side room and read the weather live on air as we watched. Next it was the turn of some of us to read the news and weather. Lucas was chosen to read the weather and Ben was asked to read the news. We were then shown the rooms where BBC radio shows are broadcast from, including a very comfy theatre where audiences go to watch Radio 4 shows. The One Show is also recorded at Broadcasting House and we found out that politician Hillary Clinton was in that day but best of all, The Vamps were visiting Radio One – so we kept looking out for members of the group for the rest of the tour! We posed with a Dalek on the way out, visited the BBC shop and brand new café, said goodbye to the security team. The BBC newsroom is huge, very lively and much bigger than any of us imagined.

---

Trial of men accused of supplying drugs to Croydon schoolboy Daniel Spargo-Mabbs set to start

July 13, 2014, 11:29 pm

≫ Next: Up in smoke: Croydon Council pulls out of pensions investment in tobacco industry

≪ Previous: Kenley Young Reporters Club visit the BBC

$

0

0

THE trial of two men charged in connection with the death of Croydon teenager Daniel Spargo-Mabbs is due to start. Nicqueel Pitrora, 18, of London Road, Croydon, and Ryan Kirk, 21, of Puffin Close, deny supplying class A drugs. The pair will go on trial at Isleworth Crown Court, in west London, today (Monday). Mr Spargo-Mabbs, 16, of Addiscombe, died after taking ecstasy at an illegal rave in Hayes, west London, on January 18. Paramedics were called at around 4pm and the Archbishop Tenison's schoolboy was taken to hospital but denied on January 20. Pitrora also faces a charge of possession of cannabis and Kirk is accused of possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Up in smoke: Croydon Council pulls out of pensions investment in tobacco industry

July 15, 2014, 2:07 am

≫ Next: Crystal Palace coach throws down gauntlet to Jose Campana

≪ Previous: Trial of men accused of supplying drugs to Croydon schoolboy Daniel Spargo-Mabbs set to start

$

0

0

THE council is to pull out of its investment in the tobacco industry. In the latest measure introduced by the new Labour-run administration, the council will switch to a more "ethical" pension fund provider. Labour has also ruled out investment in nuclear power and arms. The previous Conservative-led council came under fire for investing £2.1 million in the tobacco industry. A senior Tory said smoking was a "matter of choice" but critics said financial support for cigarettes was at odds with the council's public health responsibilities. The decision to move to a different fund was made by the council's pension committee earlier this month and announced at Monday's cabinet meeting. Simon Hall, cabinet member for finance and treasury, said: "The council will be getting a better investment deal as ethical funds are performing favourably against other schemes. "Tobacco is not the low-risk, high-profit investment it once was. "This really is the best interests of the scheme's beneficiaries and residents, both ethically and financially." Cllr John Wentworth, chair of the pensions committee, said: "Having a pension fund that invests in tobacco was very much at odds with our responsibility to protect and improve public health in this borough, and there were clearly a number of concerns about the ethics of doing that. "Ensuring that the council is a socially responsible investor was a key manifesto pledge for the administration." Last September, Dudley Mead, then chairman of the pensions committee, pledged to stop investing in payday loans firms but said pulling out of tobacco would be "too ethical".

Crystal Palace coach throws down gauntlet to Jose Campana

July 15, 2014, 4:00 am

≫ Next: Croydon's Rooney and Dasaolu selected for European Championships

≪ Previous: Up in smoke: Croydon Council pulls out of pensions investment in tobacco industry

$

0

0

CRYSTAL Palace first team coach Ben Garner has challenged Jose Campana to prove he can fit in with Palace's style of play next season. The Spanish midfielder struggled to adapt to English football last year following his move from Sevilla and ended up going out on loan in January to the German Bundesliga with Nurnberg. Campana has been linked with move to Serie A this summer, with Sampdoria believed to be interested. "It has been difficult for him - it's been a complete change of culture and style of play," Garner told the Advertiser. "He had come back from a serious injury breaking his foot then he came to us. He has been out to Germany on loan with Nurnberg, who unfortunately went down in the end last season but Jose is a talented player. "Whether he will adapt to the English game and whether he will mature as a person to cope with that remains to be seen. "It's one of those situations where the ball is in Jose's court a little bit, whether he wants to fit in with the style of play and how the game is played in England, or to seek a move elsewhere."

Croydon's Rooney and Dasaolu selected for European Championships

July 15, 2014, 4:53 am

≫ Next: Singer who busked in Croydon town centre gets million-pound recording deal

≪ Previous: Crystal Palace coach throws down gauntlet to Jose Campana

$

0

0

CROYDON duo James Dasaolu and Martyn Rooney have been selected to represent Great Britain & Northern Ireland at the European Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, on August 12-17. Dasaolu has been selected for the third 100m slot alongside Harry Aikines Aryeetey and Dwain Chambers after showing strong form in the IAAF Diamond League in Lausanne and at the Sainsbury's Glasgow Grand Prix last weekend in clocking 10.03 in both races. Rooney has been selected for the 400m alongside Matthew Hudson-Smith and Conrad Williams, and also the 4x400m race.

Singer who busked in Croydon town centre gets million-pound recording deal

July 15, 2014, 5:39 am

≫ Next: Crystal Palace youngster Jake Gray given chance to impress Tony Pulis

≪ Previous: Croydon's Rooney and Dasaolu selected for European Championships

$

0

0

A SINGER who spent years busking in Croydon town centre is to release his first album after earning a million-pound recording contract. Si Cranstoun, 38, was a regular feature in North End, performing with his brother Tyber in their band The Dualers. He spent years busking in the high street, selling CDs and trying to get his music heard. Success evaded him until April last year when he landed a deal with music giants Warner. The singer, from Caterham, Surrey, is due to release his debut album this summer. He looks set for success after his debut single, Caught in the Moonlight, was shortlisted on the Radio 2 playlist last month. "There were stages where I felt like it wasn't going to happen but in my heart I thought this is the path I wanted to go down," he told Mail Online. "That mentality just got me through the day. Now I'm just thanking my lucky stars. When I was played on the radio my family came over and my parents were in tears. They are so proud. "It's been a wonderful life and street entertainment is all about lifting people's spirits and enjoying the music."