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David Petch witness insists: 'I did see attack'

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A WITNESS in the trial over the alleged murder of David Petch has insisted she did see the attack on the 55-year-old, telling jurors: "If I had not seen this incident, I would not be here." Under tense cross-examination today, Katie Recknall stuck to her account of yesterday that she had seen the defendants attack the father-of-nine on the balcony doorstep of his home in Wayside, Fieldway. The mother-of-two, who lived next door to Mr Petch, told jurors she saw from her bedroom window Cherri Gilmartin hit Mr Petch with a baseball bat and Jason Lodge stamp on his head. Partners Gilmartin, 37, and Lodge, 39, who lived together in Uvedale Crescent, also in New Addington, deny murdering Mr Petch on April 14 last year, claiming self-defence. Facing suggestions from defence lawyer Jeremy Dein QC that her account was incorrect, Miss Recknall insisted: "I saw the incident take place. I saw her hit him with the bat and I saw him stamp on his face." The defence suggests there was a "moving struggle" between Mr Petch and Lodge on the doorstep, while Gilmartin has denied hitting Mr Petch with the baseball bat at all. The mum-of-eight said in her police interview that Mr Petch had used the baseball bat he kept at home to attack Lodge. She and Lodge had gone to see him to tell him to stop dealing cocaine to her sister, she said. Mr Petch died four days later from severe head injuries that a pathologist has concluded were caused by stamping, prosecutors have said. The jury was also played this morning a tape of the 999 call Miss Recknall made to get an ambulance for Mr Petch. She is heard telling the call-handler: "What it is, is a man has been, well I think he has been hit with something and he is lying on the floor, I have just woken up." A few seconds later, she said: "He is after getting hit with a baseball bat. Right now, and he is diabetic as well," adding that the man looked in his thirties or forties. Jurors were told Miss Recknall had been at home earlier that evening with her partner, John Nolan, and her two children when Gilmartin banged on the door, demanding to see Mr Petch. Miss Recknall said Gilmartin seemed drunk and was asking "Where's Petty", and that she and Mr Nolan had closed the door after a brief exchange. She said it was about an hour later that she heard a bang, prompting her to open her window and see the attack. She insisted she had not been asleep despite telling the 999 centre she had just woken-up, adding that she was "in a panic" when she made the call. She added: "The man was lying on the floor and he needed medical help urgently." She said she did not know Mr Petch, but is heard during the 999 call saying she knew he was diabetic because her "friend" [her partner] had approached him. The trial also started to hear this morning from Mr Nolan about his recollections of April 14. He told jurors he had heard a knock on the door at around 11pm and had opened the door to see the defendants outside. He said: "The girl was saying that she was looking for someone but I cannot remember the name. "She mentioned the name to me; she asked me if I was that person." He added: "To me they looked like they might have been homeless people or something. "They were giving me that sort of vibe. "I don't remember the man as much but the girl looked as if she was either on drugs or was a drug-taker." He added he remembered having "heated words" with the pair over their knocking so late, but could not remember exactly what. Mr Nolan also told jurors that he had been "worried" about Miss Recknall living in the block, to where she had been moved by the council a few months before. He had seen people dealing drugs on the stairwells, he added. He is expected to continue giving evidence after the lunch break, at 2pm.

David Petch witness insists: 'I did see attack'


SPECIAL REPORT: Youngsters demand proper use of stop and search

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STOP and search has been a source of controversy for years, long before it was held up as contributing to the 2011 riots in Croydon. When a report which looked into the root causes of the violence pulled up the tactic as a major source of tension between those involved and the police, the Met responded, in January last year, by overhauling the practice, making it intelligence-led in an attempt to reduce the number of people searched without suspicion. Since then the number of stop and searches has fallen, from 17,595 in 2011/12 to 12,345 in 2012/13. Yet, for some, the tactic remains a source of tension and generational distrust between sections of the community - particularly young people - and the police. Aaron Sonson, a 26-year-old Croydon musician from Pampisford Road, South Croydon, was so affected by his experiences of stop and search as a teenager, that he developed a smartphone app in the hopes of prompting better police practice. "The thing is, I grew up with bad experience of stop and search – police would do it to us because of what we looked like – either because of the colour of our skin or what we were wearing," he told the Advertiser. "We would be stopped and then, when we asked why we had been targeted, we were told we looked like someone who would commit a crime. "In March 2010, I was on a course called 'Making apps for good' which helps you build on ideas that would be good for the community. "At the time, stop and search was getting a lot of attention in the media because the European Convention on Human Rights ruled section 44 (the stop and search element of the Terrorism Act 2000) illegal. "This app we've made aims to increase transparency and accountability with the police so they don't misuse their power." The app, which is released in August, allows anyone who has been stopped and searched to record their experiences. It details the procedure police should adhere to and asks for details of gender, age and ethnicity, as well as allowing users to describe how they were treated. Mr Sonson said: "We want to be as balanced as possible so we ask questions like 'Do you feel like you cooperated with the police?' as well as 'Were you treated with respect?' "Then the app pinpoints where the user was stopped and adds it to a countrywide map of where all the stop and searches have taken place. "This will gives us a clear picture of where they are happening and where people are OK or unhappy with them. "It's about empowerment and having an equal relationship between the police and the public. "When you don't have that, things start to break down. If a kid's first experience of the police is being treated badly through a stop and search for no reason, then of course it will more likely to lead to trouble later. "Also, the figures are very clear – if you are black, you are more likely to be stopped. "We need to make sure this blanket prejudice is stopped and that police only search someone if they have intelligence on them. It's a human right." Chief Inspector Duncan Slade, who leads stop and search in Croydon, said most communities support the tactic but also want to see it used correctly and fairly. Statistics show that in 2011/12, 88.2 per cent of people stopped and searched had not committed a crime. In 2012/13, this figure dropped to 82.1 per cent although the Met's overall target has been set at 80 per cent. "Every officer in Croydon is briefed about using stop and search in a more targeted way and this has seen a big reduction in the total number of stop and searches," said Ch Insp Duncan Slade. "At the same time we have increased the number of people being arrested following a stop and search. "However, we still have a way to go and we are working with our Independent Advisory Group - set up in 2012 – to improve the way we carry out stop and search in Croydon. "Stop and search is undoubtedly an effective policing tactic, which helps us target those committing serious crimes such as robbery and drug-related crimes, but it is absolutely vital that we use these powers in a responsible and fair way. "We will continue to look for ways to improve how we carry out stop and search here in Croydon."

SPECIAL REPORT: Youngsters demand proper use of stop and search

Ronnie Corbett backs the big walk for mental health

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HE MAY look dapper but Ronnie Corbett was ready to muddy his smart shoes for a good cause.

The comedian was lending his backing to Mind in Croydon's fundraising walk in Lloyd Park on Saturday.

More than 100 people took part in the 15km Positive Steps walk for the mental health charity.

The Two Ronnies star opened the event from the top of a classic red London bus.

Five people who had experienced mental health problems were on board the double-decker to speak to members of the public.

The charity has raised £2,000 so far from the event, with money still coming in as the Advertiser went to press.

Daniel Newnham came first in the walk, with his daughter Hayley.

The pair were walking after a close friend of theirs, David Smith, died after suffering depression last year. Mr Newnham said: "We plan to do this every year now to support Mind in Croydon so they can help others who have suffered in the way our family has."

Personal training company Fit By Sonic ran warm-up sessions, while Crystal Palace coach Michael Harrington ran football skills workshops throughout the day. The Sushi Experience fed hungry walkers, while Liverpool Victoria and the Maudsley Charity sponsored the event.

For more information on Mind, visit mindincroydon.org.uk

Ronnie Corbett backs the big walk for mental health

Tramlink extension could bring £500m to Sutton

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MASSIVE economic benefits, increased job opportunities and improved links with central London are all being predicted if Tramlink is extended to Sutton.

The boost to the borough of the £200million-plus scheme was outlined by Sutton Council last week at a meeting attended by around 100 businesspeople.

The proposals involve a two-phase construction, with the first phase of just under 8km of track linking Sutton town centre with Morden and Wimbledon via Angel Hill, the St Helier estate and Rosehill.

The council also favours a direct link with St Helier Hospital.

The second, longer term, phase would provide a 2km-long link between the town centre and Royal Marsden Hospital.

Both lines would run largely along the existing road network.

Estimates presented to the meeting envisaged that construction of a tram system would eventually provide £500million of added value to Sutton's economy.

This would include attracting new residential, commercial, retail and leisure developments.

The council believes a further £50million of benefits could come as Tramlink's improved transport links boosted retail trade and increased customer spending.

It would also give Sutton residents access to a wider job market, particularly to higher-paid jobs in central London, driven by the fact that journey times to the centre of the capital, via Wimbledon, would be cut by 20 minutes, with the system providing four trams an hour between Sutton and Wimbledon.

Funding for the scheme is likely to come through a mixture of money from Transport for London (TfL) and Sutton and Merton Councils, plus tax increment financing, which involves the reinvestment of a proportion of business rates into major infrastructure projects.

TfL financial support would be crucial and, behind the scenes, it is understood Sutton Council is hopeful that the job and economic opportunities resulting from Tramlink will persuade London Mayor Boris Johnson to support the project over other schemes such as providing a new link between Croydon and Crystal Palace.

Councillor Colin Hall, deputy leader of Sutton Council, told the Advertiser: "The Crystal Palace extension has a head start on us, but we believe the way the numbers and the route works here is a better option for the whole of London."

"The evidence shows us that bringing the tram to Sutton would mean more customers for local traders, a wider pool of potential employers, greater prosperity for the area and increased local employment.

"It would literally put Sutton on the London travel map."

Tramlink extension could bring £500m to Sutton

David Petch 'had footprints on cheek,' witness tells court

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DAVID Petch had footprints on his cheek after the alleged attack that killed him, a witness told jurors today. John Nolan said he saw the 55-year-old being attacked from the next-door window of his partner Katie Recknall's house and went to see whether he needed help. Mr Nolan gave evidence today at day three of the trial of partners Cherri Gilmartin,37, and Jason Lodge, 39, who lived together in Uvedale Crescent in New Addington. They both deny murdering dad-of-nine Mr Petch on April 14 last year on the doorstep of his home in Wayside, Fieldway, claiming self-defence. Mr Nolan told jurors at the Old Bailey that when he reached Mr Petch he was lying on his back on the floor and was snoring. He added: "I remember some marks on him around his body. "It seemed to me like it was footprints on him like where he had been kicked or stamped." Prosecuting, Simon Denison QC said Mr Nolan had drawn an image of the footprints for police shortly after the incident. Mr Nolan said he could no longer remember the pattern, adding: "The pattern would have been on either the chest, the shoulder and also I have seen the mark on his face and his cheek." Prosecutors say Gilmartin hit Mr Petch with a baseball bat and Lodge repeatedly stamped on his head, following a possible scuffle inside that spilled onto the balcony doorstep. Mr Petch died four days later, from severe head injuries that a pathologist will tell the court were caused by stamping, prosecutors say. The defendants say Mr Petch used his baseball bat to attack Lodge first. Gilmartin told police she did not hit Mr Petch with the bat at all. She told police she and Lodge had gone to see Mr Petch, known as Petchy on the estate, to tell him to stop dealing cocaine to her sister. Mr Nolan also told jurors Mr Petch and Lodge were "having a wrestle, sort of" on the doorstep when he saw Gilmartin hit Mr Petch with the baseball bat. He added he could no longer remember whether Lodge stamped on Mr Petch's head. He said: "The girl, she was trying to get aim to the bare-chested man [Petch]. "She had the bat and it was sort of going backwards and forwards like this, trying to get an aim while the two men were moving. "I do recall very clearly she swung it and hit the gentleman with the bat in the head and I remember it left a sound like a 'doing' - very clear - that stuck in my brain, and the guy just fell down. "I know I said in my statement [to police on April 24] that I seen the guy kicking the man but now I cannot remember if he did or not." Mr Nolan, who the court heard was convicted earlier this year for burglary, admitted occasionally using cocaine but denied taking the drug on the evening of or around the time of the alleged murder. Both he and his partner Miss Recknall said they did not know her neighbour Mr Petch, described by Gilmartin to police as a "well-known" drug dealer on the estate. He added he had been "worried" about Miss Recknall living in the block, to where she had been moved by the council a few months before. He had seen people dealing drugs in the stairwells, he said, adding: "I remember because [Katie's son] was in my arms when I was bringing him up to the flat. "And I had to walk through the guys downstairs and I said I can you sell it somewhere else because there are kids [here]." Mr Nolan told jurors he had been staying at Miss Recknall's home on April 14 when Gilmartin knocked on their door at around 11pm demanding 'Where's Petty?' , with Lodge standing behind. He and Miss Recknall closed the door after a brief exchange with the pair, before arguing because Miss Recknall "thought I had been too aggressive," Mr Nolan said. He said he then went outside and spoke briefly about "travellers" with Lodge. He added: "I cannot remember what he was looking like but I remember how I was feeling at the time - I did not feel threatened by him." He said he went back inside but, about ten minutes later, heard a banging noise prompting he and Miss Recknall to open the window and look outside. He says he saw two men "struggling with each other," and then Gilmartin with the bat. Miss Recknall told jurors yesterday that a young man then ran up screaming, "What are you doing?" and Gilmartin and Lodge left. Mr Nolan added two men walked past his window around the same time, who turned out to be the man with whom Mr Petch lived and a friend. He said: "I think he had his hands up as he walked past, just like a peace sign or something like he was not getting involved." Mr Petch was immediately taken by ambulance to hospital, where is condition rapidly deteriorated. The trial is expected to last until June 28. Mum-of-eight Gilmartin has been remanded on bail, while Lodge has been remanded in custody.

David Petch 'had footprints on cheek,' witness tells court

New budget based on £20m debt position

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THE GP group leading health commissioning in Croydon has taken the "unprecedented" step of posting a £20 million deficit budget just two months after it officially came into existence.

Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has told NHS England it will spend at least £19.9 million more than its £405 million budget in the current financial year.

Its governing body has also admitted that a three-year recovery plan to break even by 2015/16 will fall £17 million short.

The CCG finds itself in a "significant financial challenge" even though £38 million has been saved from cutting or redesigning services over the last two years.

Speaking at a public governing body meeting held on Tuesday, Agnelo Fernandes, assistant clinical chairman, said the problem could not be "understated".

He added: "Posting a budget deficit is unprecedented in an NHS organisation but as a governing body it has to be said there isn't the money there."

Chairman Tony Brzezicki added: "We have had discussions with NHS England. It's a unique position in London and it's being taken into consideration as we speak. There's not much detail to add."

Though the deficit was described as unprecedented, other GP groups in areas such as Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire face financial difficulty, though Croydon's deficit appears the largest of any CCG.

A number of board members at the meeting said Croydon had been "under-resourced", particularly in light of the population boom revealed by the 2011 Census.

David Hughes, a lay member of the board, added: "Our inherited debt position is an historical annual recurrent deficit.

"In other words, this isn't something that went wrong. It's continuing into the future; we do not get enough money for the services we have to provide."

Dr Brzezicki said the increase in population had not been factored in to Croydon's resource allocation, "adding to the problems of commissioning services in Croydon and providing social care".

The CCG must save £47 million if it is to break even by 2015/16. It has identified £30 million of what the NHS calls QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention Plan) savings but Mike Sexton, chief financial officer, admitted: "The identified opportunity to improve efficiency and deliver savings is not sufficient to close the funding gap."

To meet the saving requirements set by the Department of Health, the challenge is greater still, with £60 million of efficiencies needed to be found over the next three years.

The CCG said it was unable to provide anyone to answer detailed questions about the deficit, including the potential impact on patient care, before the Advertiser went to press.

It aims to deliver £14 million of savings over the next year, in part by schemes aimed at reducing the number of A&E attendances and admissions at Croydon University Hospital.

It spent £20 million on delivering acute care in April, with overall costs at £35 million, almost £2 million over budget, suggesting the deficit could be far greater than forecast.

The CCG said it would wait until May's report before drawing any conclusions.

NHS Croydon, the primary care trust which preceded the CCG, made £21.4 million of savings in 2012/13, in areas such as integrated care and reduced drug spend.

In acute care, it "tackled and reversed" costly follow-up outpatient appointments by introducing a 'patient navigation service' to "ensure patients are only recalled for a face to face follow-up appointment where necessary".

Where appropriate, patients have received either a telephone follow-up or have been discharged "safely back into the care of their GP".

The CCG's three-year action plan will see a redesign of services such as dermatology, sickle cell and haemophilia, and gynaecology

New budget based on £20m debt position

Palace fans call for a parade through Croydon

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FANS have called for a parade through Croydon to celebrate Crystal Palace's promotion to the Premier League. Reaching the big time is estimated to be worth at least £120 million for the Eagles, although at the time The Advertiser went to press, there were no plans confirmed.

And a message from owners CPFC2010 on a Palace supporter's internet forum appeared to quash the idea, saying that the pre-season would be too short to fit it in.

Speaking on the BBS, the co-owners said: "Seriously though... the players have jetted off all over the place for their well-earned holidays so it's not possible.

"They have to be back in training in early July so their Summer break is really short without making them hang around in half-term week.

"I think it's only right that we let them have a complete break now."

Palace's last play-off final victory was marked with a civic reception at the town hall.

But with 33,000 fans making the trip to Wembley for the 1-0 triumph over Watford, the appetite is there for a large-scale event.

James Daly, editor of the Five Year Plan fanzine, said: "I definitely think we should have a parade. It would be brilliant.

"Other clubs have them when they achieve something and we've definitely achieved something special." South Norwood Tourist Board associate Ian Bone pointed to the money coming into the borough after the victory.

Mr Bone said: "A parade through the streets of Croydon would mark a fantastic achievement for the club.

"Why not? It's worth £120million after all."

Croydon Council indicated they would be willing to support such an event.

A council spokesman said: "If the club would like a parade we would definitely want to help that happen.

"Obviously they need to contact us, but it is possible."

The club said they would make any announcement about a parade on their official website www.cpfc.co.uk

Palace fans call for a parade through Croydon

Former Met cop gets life sentence for child rape

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A former Met police chief has been jailed for life after been found guilty of 17 sexual offences including raping a teenage boy. Philip Gaisford, who taught scuba diving to children from a number of Croydon schools,was convicted by a jury at Lewes Crown Court yesterday afternoon. He was also found guilty of possessing indecent images of children. The 64-year-old former chief suoerintendent in the Metropolitan Police, who now lives in East Sussex, has been on trial since mid-April charged with 33 sex offences. They were alleged to have taken place between 1997 and 2004 in Caterham or in Crowborough. The scuba diving teacher, who gave private tuition to many young people at his Caterham pool, admitted having affairs with teenage boys but always denied any of the males were under-age or that the sex acts were consensual. The jury previously heard how some of his students at his scuba school called him 'Paedo Phil' and how Gaisford had lavished teenage boys with gifts. In total he denied nine offences of indecent assault, two of rape, one count of indecency with a child, four of sexual activity with a child, four sexual assaults, three attempted sexual assaults and ten counts of possession of indecent photos and videos. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and has been ordered to serve 12 years minimum before being elegible to apply for parole.

Former Met cop gets life sentence for child rape


Teen disappeared on her way to social services meeting in Croydon

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SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Joy Vincent went missing from Gilroy Court Hotel in Croydon on March 15, 2011.

Brief police records showed that Joy came from Nigeria with a trafficker aged 14.

After escaping him, she ended up in an illegal brothel wired with CCTV cameras and security doors where the police found her on March 6, 2011, after a caller alerted police to a girl detained against her will.

During police interviews, Joy said she averaged two customers a day and was available 24/7, although she received "protection" at night time.

Of the £60 paid by a punter each time, the brothel took £30, her pimp took £10 and Joy kept £20.

She was sent to Gilroy Court where many asylum seekers and refugees are given shelter while their applications are assessed by the UKBA.

Two days later, she was gone.

When police tracked her down on March 11, she was found hiding under a bed in a brothel in Surbiton. Officers asked for her not to be returned to Gilroy Court, which they deemed too dangerous for an unaccompanied girl.

However, Joy was housed back in the hotel regardless. On March 13, she asked for a meeting with the police and was given an interview with social services, booked for two days later.

On her way to the meeting, she disappeared. She has not been found.

Teen disappeared on her way to social services meeting in Croydon

Human trafficking rife in Croydon, say experts

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SLAVERY, rape, sexual exploitation. These may seem like threats facing women in a third-world country but they are very real danger in Croydon.

The borough has been revealed as the third worst place in London for hiding women, men and children who have been trafficked for use as sex slaves, domestic slaves or labourers.

In Croydon, women bear the brunt of this illegal trade, perpetuated by trafficking rings who sell them for sex and strip them of their freedom through imprisonment and fear.

In the last ten years, the number of establishments trading in trafficked people is thought to have halved in Croydon – from around 120 to 60.

This is according to Peter Cox, of Croydon Community Against Trafficking (CCAT), a charity that collects intelligence on potential traffickers and raises awareness about the issue.

He founded the group in 2004 after The Poppy Project ranked Croydon behind only Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea as the worst areas in London for trafficking.

Last week, he spoke to the Advertiser about his fear of the issue slipping from the police agenda and the importance of the public in helping to crack down on the trade.

"It is very difficult to keep trafficking at the forefront of the public's mind – it is easy to do nothing about something you can't see.

"But the reality is that people are being trafficked from Europe and beyond, as well as within the UK, and a lot of them end up here."

CCAT leads a group of intelligence gatherers who scout out potential places harbouring trafficked people, gain details by calling as clients and then, every two months, pass the data to police. Normally, the charity hands over around 20 to 30 suspicious addresses each time.

The borough is thought to be particularly bad for trafficking because of the location of the UK Border Agency (UKBA). Thousands of people flood the building every week seeking asylum or refuge. While their applications are looked at, many are housed in hotels and hostels in the area where vulnerable and often unaccompanied people are preyed upon by pimps and traffickers.

"Anyone who wants to make money out of another person's vulnerability can be a trafficker," said Mr Cox. "It is not restricted to culture or nationality, it's the second biggest international trade – worth $32 billion."

The charity worker explained how volunteers call up potential brothels pretending to be punters with distressing detail.

"It is often places advertising saunas or massages," he said. "The volunteers ask what time they can visit, whether more is on offer, what is on offer."

At times, the person on the other end has offered women for rape and other forms of sexual assault.

Mr Cox then explained what happens after trafficked people are discovered by the police: "In 2009, the National Referral Mechanism was brought in. It gives trafficked people 45 days' shelter while agencies work out whether it is safe for them to return home. Before that, victims were often treated like illegal immigrants and shipped back to where they came from where they were either murdered, shamed or recycled back into the trade."

Human trafficking rife in Croydon, say experts

Ricky Ponting gets Surrey back on track with debut century

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WHEN people look back at this season, there will be little debate over which great of the game, Graeme Smith or Ricky Ponting, had the better debut innings for Surrey. Back on April 18, captain Smith was caught just two runs into his Surrey batting career on the second day at Somerset. Surrey's season has stuttered since then, with Smith eventually being ruled out through injury, but this week's game at Derbyshire saw the debut of another legend, Ponting. Upon arrival the former Australian skipper promised to help turn around Surrey's season and he certainly lived up to that billing in his first innings for Chris Adams' team. After both Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen and Shivnarine Chanderpaul surpassed centuries for the home-team, things were not looking good for Surrey. Derbyshire finished their first innings on 452 all out despite Chris Tremlett (5-95) taking his first five-wicket haul in the County Championship cricket for Surrey, And things did not get better for Surrey when opener Rory Burns was run out by a direct hit by Madsen, attempting a third run following a mis-field. But Arun Harinath (13no) and Vikram Solanki (10) saw the visitors through to the close on Friday night but Saturday was all about Ponting. The Australian came to the crease after Solanki was caught by Billy Godleman for 35 off the bowling of Wes Durston – and he never left. Ponting made an impressive partnership with Harinath before the latter was finally bowled by David Wainwright for 154, before continuing alongside Zander De Bruyn and then Steve Davies. Play closed on Saturday with Ponting not out on 120 from 182, including 13 fours, supported by Davies on seven not out. And with Surrey finishing the day on 362-4, Ponting could well have had an immediate impact on the Oval team.

Ricky Ponting gets Surrey back on track with debut century

MacGregor awarded for school golf work

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KEEN surfer and golfer Alex MacGregor is on the crest of a wave after the efforts of six PGA pros were recognised by a leading golfing charity.

MacGregor, a PGA professional at Addington Court who grew up in the surfing mecca of Perranporth in Cornwall, is a member of the Surrey HSBC Golf Roots Programme. Likewise, the five other PGA professionals at the club.

The award, for the best major project, was presented at Wentworth yesterday during the Golf Foundation's annual prize-giving ceremony.

The county-wide project involved 25 PGA professionals from 15 different golf facilities who, supported by a number of trained leaders, ran Tri-Golf and Golf Xtreme sessions in 90 primary and 17 secondary schools.

The activity involved 6,300 youngsters, almost half of which were girls. In addition, almost 1,000 pupils received follow-on coaching in the clubs and 81 youngsters have already become new junior members as a result.

"The HSBC Golf Roots project is very strong in schools here as part of the School Games," said Golf Foundation chief executive Mike Round. "And Surrey's County Golf Partnership has been an excellent supporter of the Golf Foundation's aim to reach more youngsters through golf and help instil the Skills for Life benefits of the game."

Meanwhile, Addington Court, which welcomed 60 per cent of the children who received school taster sessions back for beginner coaching, was described by Round as 'the star of the show'.

MacGregor, who trained at the club to become a PGA professional before qualifying last year, said: "Simon Shepherd, Paul Oliver, myself and the three other pros have worked hard with Surrey Golf Partnership, the Golf Foundation and Croydon Schools Golf Partnership to try and give a pathway to children to get into the sport.

"We've worked with 3,000 plus school children over the last three years by giving them taster sessions in the schools.

"Then we've given them affordable options at our golf centre to encourage them to carry on. It's been a great success."

Croydon is a world away from Perranporth where MacGregor learned to play golf at the local club as well as surf, but he is relishing the experience of working there and teaching youngsters.

He added, "It was a great place to grow up but Croydon offers a different lifestyle and a challenge.

"It's got a bad name after the riots of two years ago and a lot of the kids have not had the opportunity to try golf."

MacGregor awarded for school golf work

Tributes to Palace stalwart who died two days before final

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PALACE'S play-off success would have "meant everything" to a club stalwart who died just two days before the club reached the Premier League.

Len Chatterton, 91, was involved at Selhurst Park for more than 50 years in a number of capacities.

From reserve team player as a youngster to groundsman and tour guide, Len was a familiar face to fans.

His son, Nicky Chatterton, 59, who played as a midfielder for the first team in the 1970s, said the club was his father's life and he would have been watching on from above.

"Seeing Palace promoted would have meant everything to him. The club was so important to him," Nicky said. "Although in the last few years he was affected by Alzheimer's, he still wanted to know what was going on.

"He'll be up there raising a glass, I'd say. I think he was there in some way, helping Palace to victory."

Len was also a popular figure with the players and was known to fans as Leo the Clown, due to one of his sidelines.

"My dad was an amazing man. He did lots of charity work and used to be a clown at children's parties," Nicky explained. "He was loved by the players, Ian Wright used to love him and we have had some nice messages of condolences from fans and players."

A Palace spokesman described Len as "a great servant to the club over many years". He added: "Len will be sadly missed and we would like to send our condolences to his family at this sad time."

The groundsman was born in Holmwood Road, just two streets away from Selhurst Park. He spent most of his life in Dixon Road, South Norwood, before spending his final years at Hill House Nursing Home in Kenley.

He is best known for his unique ground-keeping contraption – a converted Volkswagen car nicknamed The Flatterer.

Other than Nicky, Len was father to Bob, 64 and Pamela, 68. His wife Elizabeth sadly died of cancer in 1989. He also leaves behind eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Nicky added that all Palace fans are welcome at his funeral, which will have a number of Palace references. "I think we will play Glad All Over as the last song and the reception will be held at Speroni's Restaurant at Selhurst. It would be nice if the Palace community come along."

Len's funeral takes place at 11.30am next Friday (June 7) at Croydon Crematorium.

Tributes to Palace stalwart who died two days before final

Croydon muslim group condemns Woolwich killing

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A MUSLIM association in Croydon has spoken of its members' horror at the atrocity in Woolwich, in the same week that police arrested a man in Norbury on suspicion of posting violent threats against Muslims on Facebook.

Naseem Butt, the president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, based in St James' Road, said his community was deeply saddened to hear the name of Islam used to "justify this horror when the truth is that religion of Islam can in no way condone such barbarism".

"To murder an unarmed individual in this heinous manner is anything but conforming to the law of the land and has no place in Islam," he said.

"As Muslims we are proud to be part of the British community. Britain is our country and we are loyal to it.

"We must not allow incidents like this give extremists the upper hand and disrupt the peace of our society.

"On the contrary we should draw closer together, condemn the extremist elements on all sides and work together to ensure that we continue in our effort to build diverse and cohesive society. This was not just an attack on Britain, and on the British way of life, it was also a betrayal of Islam."

Mr Butt said the police had been exceptional in the aftermath of the incident in Woolwich and that no trouble had been sparked between communities in Croydon.

However, police have arrested a man on suspicion of threatening to make a bomb to kill Muslims and posing on Facebook wearing a balaclava and holding a gun.

Tony Perrin, 27, a scaffolder from Norbury, was arrested near his home on Saturday and later charged with posting a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.

He has been bailed and will appear at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court on June 12.

Croydon muslim group condemns Woolwich killing

Three people flee house fire caused by shower fault

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THREE people escaped unhurt from a house fire in Thornton Heath after a woman's shower caught fire while she was using it. Firefighters from Norbury fire station and West Norwood were called to Mersham Road just after 10pm last night but the three occupants had already got out of the house. The police and ambulance were not called but the fire investigation unit soon discovered the cause of the blaze to be an electrical fault in the shower. Firefighters spent around 30 minutes at the scene to put out the flames which caused 20 per cent damage to the ground floor of the house.

It's all systems grow on new batch of allotments in New Addington

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GROWING dinner down the road will become a realistic prospect for more New Addington residents now that land for allotments is being reclaimed.

Fifty extra half-plots should be available at the Mickleham Way allotments by the beginning of October, adding to the 20 patches currently on the site, all of which are taken.

The land was split from the allotments in the late 1980s, but will now be used partly for plots and partly for a forthcoming fresh food project, the Good Food Matters centre.

Janet Rossi, secretary of the Mickleham Way Allotments and Gardens Society, said she was "extremely excited" over the development, which followed three years of talks between growers and the council.

She added: "It is very satisfying when you grow your own fresh vegetables and you take them home all proud and you cook it and eat it. I have to say it tastes completely different – there is absolutely no comparison to shop-bought.

"You have to remember with things like broccoli they [supermarkets] cut it early so it loses its flavour a bit."

She said the council wanted the extra land to be let as half plots to lessen the risk of its being wasted by overwhelmed gardeners.

"It has taken me a while to really realise the level of dedication needed to do it," she said.

"But it is good fun and good exercise and there are huge savings to be made if you can grow your own."

The Good Food Matters Community Learning Centre, which has paid for fencing to separate it from the allotments, is due to open on the southern edge of the site in October.

The volunteer centre, founded by Evelyn Findlater, will be used to teach estate residents about growing and cooking fresh food.

The allotments' group held open days across the bank holiday weekend for growers to see the land's potential.

Ms Rossi added that the group is keen to help any growers regardless of whether they have plots on site.

She said: "We want to involve the community, whether they want to grow a window basket, herbs or anything.

"We want to encourage people to grow what they want, where they want."

A spokesman for Croydon Council said the plots "will meet the increasing demand we are currently seeing for allotment gardening."

For details on how to apply for a plot, phone the council on 020 8726 6900 or e-mail parks@ croydon.gov.uk

It's all systems grow on new batch of allotments in New Addington

Croydon nursery slammed after inspector sees door fall on child

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OFSTED has condemned a "lack of regard for safety" at a nursery after a cupboard door fell off and landed on children during an inspection.

It criticised staff at Mini VIP's Montessori Nursery and Pre-school, in West Croydon, for taking 30 minutes to react to the incident.

A nursery manager said the report was "unfair", adding that such incidents "just happen". Ofsted judged the nursery to be "inadequate" – the lowest rating – and said it must now make urgent improvements.

Inspector Linda Du Preez said managers had not identified key staff weaknesses which result in "concerning breaches of legal requirements that compromise children's welfare and safety".

"During the inspection, staff's poor attention to safety leads to an accident involving a cupboard door falling on children where they are resting," her report, published this week, said.

"Children's safety is compromised as staff fail to react in a timely manner and take 30 minutes to check the area for children to continue to rest in.

"These oversights and seeming lack of regard for children's safety demonstrate that staff do not have a full understanding of the procedures for checking the environment is hazard-free."

The nursery, in the Oshwall Centre in Campbell Road, said no children were hurt in the incident, which occurred during the inspection on March 21.

"Just because a cupboard door falls down randomly you can't say staff have a disregard for safety," said one manager, who refused to be named.

"It's just something that happens. It was checked in the morning and then it fell off in the afternoon, it's just one of those things. To say we took 30 minutes to react is a lie. We removed the children and checked the area. We couldn't have moved any quicker."

Ofsted, which stands by its findings, also criticised staff for claiming the outdoor play area was free of hazards, even though there was a "large" stinging nettle on a pathway.

The manager told the Advertiser: "That's just not true. It was a bush which looked like stinging nettles. Had [the inspector] put her hand on it, she would have realised it wasn't a stinging nettle."

"The report is an unfair reflection of the nursery," she added. "Ofsted was only here for one day. Our parents are happy with the work we do."

Ms Du Preez did note that most of the nursery's 62 children are settled and "enter the nursery smiling and happy".

"They behave well and are eager to learn," she added.

But she said staff write "inaccurate" records of accidents and injuries, adding: "This poor practice means parents receive incorrect information."

Ofsted will re-inspect the nursery within the next 12 months to establish whether its concerns have been acted upon.

Croydon nursery slammed after inspector sees door fall on child

Big Lunch brings friends and neighbours together in sunny New Addington

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Friends and neighbours came together in the sunshine on June 2,at New Addington's first Big Lunch celebration. 
Amongst the 200 people showing their support on Central Parade were the new  Mayor of Croydon, Yvette Hopley, Leader of the Council, Councillor Mike Fisher  and local MP Gavin Barsdale.
The Mayor mingled with people and stallholders in the Market Square and  had her picture taken with Peppa Pig.
 The talented pupils of Fairchilde's Primary School  danced and sang  and there was an impressive display of martial arts from  Shikata Kai Karate Kids Club.
There was plenty to keep the kids amused with face-painting, quad bike rides, a bouncy castle and  sumo-wrestling.
Katrina Taylor, 36, of King Henry's Drive ran a cake and biscuit decorating stall that was popular with children of all ages.
The mum of two said: "Everyone was nice and  very polite. It  was nice seeing so many enjoying themselves."
New Addington's Fire Fighters  offered rides aboard  their fire engine and there were  tents and  stalls promoting a number of local causes,including Excalibar Unit, which supports Help For Heroes and local cancer charity the Brenda Kirby Cancer Centre. 
Neal O' Gorman,  of St. John's ambulance praised the positive atmosphere.
 He said:"I  was there giving First Aid cover and teaching CPR to the kids and had a great time. All the kids were great, well behaved and respectful." 
Tony Pearson , Councillor for New Addington Ward, who lives in Queen Elizabeth Drive  said:"Today, we did what we do best, get together as a Community and have fun.  
"I am very proud to have been a part of a really excellent Community event." 
Beverley Newbury, of Grenville Road,  organised this year's event with friends Joanne Quarrington and Kelly Carey. 
Beverley, 34,  said: " I can't believe the amount of people who came out to have loads of fun and to support us. 
"Thank you to everyone who helped out. I am  now planning 2014's Big Lunch "

Big Lunch brings friends and neighbours together in sunny New Addington

'Support our troops': Charity speaks out after Woolwich murder

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WITH the brutal killing of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich on everybody's mind, it is important to celebrate those men and women who chose to protect their country by serving abroad.

This is the message from the Croydon-based Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry Association, a charity in Mitcham Road which supports soldiers based in barracks in the area.

In the week following the murder of Drummer Rigby, it has stressed the importance of supporting serving soldiers, both at home and abroad.

One Croydon soldier is 25-year-old Lance Corporal Jason Grais, an army reservist, currently deployed on a six-month tour of duty to Helmand Province in Afghanistan for the second time.

Jason, a lift engineer back home in Croydon, has been a member of C Squadron, Royal Yeomanry, for six years. He went to Afghanistan for the first time in 2011 with an infantry unit.

Although willing to talk about his experiences of fighting in Helmand, Mr Grais and his regiment are unsurprisingly reluctant to give out details in fear of copycat reprisals against them or their family back at home.

This time in Afghanistan, he is serving with Badger Squadron, 2nd Royal Tank Regiment (2 RTR) in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand, providing support to the Afghan security forces as they take full control of security for their country for the first time.

According to the soldier, much has changed in between his two tours.

He said: "There's a huge difference between now and when I was here a few years ago. The Afghan forces are out there providing security, and we're now assisting them if they need it."

Jason was drawn up in November 2012 after volunteering for deployment. Although a reservist, he was pleasantly surprised when he arrived with several reservist friends at the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment to begin intensive pre-deployment training.

"We integrated straight into the squadron," he said. "From the start, we were treated the same as the other soldiers, as if we were regulars, and were made to feel very welcome."

Jason and his comrades from the Royal Yeomanry are due to return to London in September, when he plans to go on holiday with his girlfriend.

His squadron, 2 RTR, are based in Tidworth in Wiltshire and are deployed predominantly in an infantry role, but when they return from Afghanistan they are due to return to their role as an armoured regiment equipped with Challenger 2 main battle tanks.

'Support our troops': Charity speaks out after Woolwich murder

Napoli president linked with move for Palace

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An Italian journalist has suggested Crystal Palace are the club being targeted by Napoli boss Aurelio De Laurentiis. The millionaire film producer has made no secret of his desire to take over an English club but has previously suggested he had his sights set on a Championship side. But this weekend the Corriere Dello Sport reporter Ivan Zazzaroni tweeted "De Laurentiis wants to buy an English club and he wouldn't mind Crystal Palace." De Laurentiis himself simply said: "We are studying what is the best opportunity."

Napoli president linked with move for Palace

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