MARCONI employees in south west Hertfordshire were left fearing for their jobs this week, following the suspension of shares in the international telecoms giant. Union leaders were seeking urgent talks with Marconi on Wednesday, and the Government was
Anyone anticipating a po-voiced evening of motets, madrigals and other liturgical settings from Collegium Regale, the choral scholars of King's College, Cambridge and members of the world-famous King's choir, in their Kingston concert on Monday was in
BEXLEY Women's Aid is celebrating this year. The organisation, which supports and shelters women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, marks its 25th birthday this year. The group has been raising awareness of domestic violence but
BEXLEY Women's Aid is celebrating this year. The organisation, which supports and shelters women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, marks its 25th birthday this year. The group has been raising awareness of domestic violence but
The Christchurch congregation, in Swanley High Street, celebrated 30 years with the Reverend Richard Wells and his wife, Elizabeth. He is the longest serving minister the congregation has had and is also the longest serving United Reformed Church minister
The Christchurch congregation, in Swanley High Street, celebrated 30 years with the Reverend Richard Wells and his wife, Elizabeth. He is the longest serving minister the congregation has had and is also the longest serving United Reformed Church minister
STUDENTS with learning difficulties from a college in Gravesend kept a large audience entertained with music and drama. More than 100 people turned up to see the Pathway Performers from North West Kent College present extracts from popular musicals and
STUDENTS with learning difficulties from a college in Gravesend kept a large audience entertained with music and drama. More than 100 people turned up to see the Pathway Performers from North West Kent College present extracts from popular musicals and
A PRIMARY school, a specialised care company and a hospital school service from the Dartford area have all been awarded investors in people status. Bean Primary School, in School Lane, Bean, Smartmove Homes, which provides specialised care for the elerly
A PRIMARY school, a specialised care company and a hospital school service from the Dartford area have all been awarded investors in people status. Bean Primary School, in School Lane, Bean, Smartmove Homes, which provides specialised care for the elerly
Poor Mr Punch. Hes been hitting Judy for 300 years only to be told his comic beatings are no longer politically correct. And so begins the play Thats The Way To Do It, a sharp satire which looks at the way political correctness can have on peoples everyday
Midnight Special will be rocking the Colour House Theatre this Sunday as part of Abbeyfest. The Balham-based band will be headlining at the relocated BBs Blues Club, which hosts a different band every Sunday throughout the festival, culminating in a four-day
Have you seen Raiders of the Lost Ark? The 1970s Bond films? Charlie's Angels? Batman? I hope you have, because then there's no reason for you to endure Tomb Raider (12), the greatest atrocity committed this century in the name of movie entertainment.
Based on the Henry James novel Washington Square, The Heiress is being performed by the Teddington Theatre Club. Love and intrigue are the main ingredients for this play, which centres on Catherine Sloper and her bullying father. Catherine is a lonely
One of the most successful musicals ever, Blood Brothers is coming to Woking. Mrs Johnstone, a resilient young mother deserted by her husband and left to provide for seven children, takes a job as a housekeeper to make ends meet. But her world crashes
A COMPANY from Bromley has been presented with the Queen's Award for Enterprise at its Sydenham office. Lord Peter Imbert, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner and now Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, handed over the certificate to Bromcom Computers
MEN are welcome to attend the open day of a Lewisham society exclusively for them. A Circle of Men was set up six months ago by Community Education Lewisham, to provide a forum for men to discuss feelings and aspirations. The open day today (Wednesday
AN INITIATIVE to clear the streets of syringes and encourage drug users to kick the habit has started in Greenwich. Greenwich Council's Drug Action Team will be investing £750,000 in its education and prevention programme. The money spent will also go
Assuming you have more than one holiday to make a choice, the idea here is that the best will be where you hear the tunes featured on this double CD. But really it's a cunning way to milk the cash cow that is a chart hit. I play the what-tunes-do-I-actually-like
THREE students from Eltham College have come third in a national competition to find the most talented chemists. Angus Brown, James Peerless and Timothy Woo, all 17, from the Lower Sixth Form at the Grove Park School, shrugged off the rigours of a demanding
A PROJECT which has helped give more than 100 youngsters a brighter future has celebrated its fifth birthday. Lewisham Positive Options Project (POP) has given socially-excluded youngsters the opportunity to take on an alternative educational programme
A group of young footballers from the New Addington Little League visited a DIY store last week to pick up supplies, after being awarded a £5,000 grant that will help keep their club alive. New Addington Little League Football recently won the grant after
THE YMCA day drop-in branch for homeless people celebrated its official opening on Wednesday. Special guests included Gordon Campbell, the deputy director of the government's rough unit, Mayor Midge Broadley and Maureen Rhodes, founder of the Christian
Student Cuong Huang, 26, looks laid-back as he lounges on a chair he designed but style gurus certainly weren't. They sat up and took notice, picking it for display at the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture, Middlesex University. Mr Huang, of
Student Cuong Huang, 26, looks laid-back as he lounges on a chair he designed but style gurus certainly weren't. They sat up and took notice, picking it for display at the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture, Middlesex University. Mr Huang, of
MORNING CHATS: Northcourt Family Centre, Dickens Road, Gravesend, is holding weekly drop-in breakfast mornings. The Thursday meetings are from 9am to 11am. Tea and toast is available as well as the opportunity to have a chat. Anyone who would like more
CRIES of "howzat" and "not out" filled the air during the annual Kwik Cricket tournament for youngsters. More than 200 boys and girls took part in the competition at the Bat and Ball Cricket Club, in Gravesend. The winning team from Riverview Juniors,
A MOTHER-OF-SIX had her head shaved to raise money for charity in memory of her grandmother who died of cancer. Liselle Bremner, 37, of St John's Road, Gravesend, sacrificed her hair to raise £1,600 for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Staff and customers
TWO north Kent teachers have had their contribution to school life honoured. More than 350 headteachers from across Kent, including delegates from Dartford and Gravesham, acknowledged the achievements of classroom assistant Rosalind Burgess, from Langafel
It was a riot of colour and fun at Sidcup Hill Primary School's summer fete after the Parent Teacher Association chose the theme clowns. Children and their parents dressed to the theme and there was a competition to find the best dressed clown. Bobo,
It was a riot of colour and fun at Sidcup Hill Primary School's summer fete after the Parent Teacher Association chose the theme clowns. Children and their parents dressed to the theme and there was a competition to find the best dressed clown. Bobo,
CHILDREN at a Sidcup primary school have been putting the finishing touches to a school mural. The project, at St Peter Chanel RC Primary School, is part of an on-going partnership between the school and the Cray Prince's Trust Volunteers, aimed at improving
CHILDREN at a Sidcup primary school have been putting the finishing touches to a school mural. The project, at St Peter Chanel RC Primary School, is part of an on-going partnership between the school and the Cray Prince's Trust Volunteers, aimed at improving
HUNDREDS of pounds worth of mobile phone vouchers were stolen from a service station in Dartford. Police believe two men walked into the Total Service Station, in Burnham Road, and stole the vouchers while the staff member behind the till was distracted
CARING residents of Gravesend were thanked for their support for a native American tribe by visitors bearing gifts from across the Atlantic. Former Gravesham Mayor Councillor Peggy Mersh welcomed Madeline McMillan, the only councillor from the city of
The Route of Kings, one of the most popular series of open air concerts, is back and it's bigger and better than ever. Held in Hyde Park, this year's line-up includes Sting, Tom Jones, The Beach Boys, Andrea Bocelli, Status Quo and the phenomenally successful
GENEROUS youngsters at Bancroft's Prepartory School in Woodford Green, have raised over £5,000 for needy children. Pupils at the High Road school organised their very own charity day, where they hosted a number of fun activities, to raise cash for the
IT'S all in the game for students at Woodbridge High School and Language College in Woodford Green. Several pupils have been visiting the school's games club, where they can spend time playing a variety of board and computer games. The club is part of
PUPILS who took part in last year's summer school classes at Woodbridge High School got together to discuss its success. The Woodford Green school and language college has decided to run its literacy summer school once again and invited past students
THE Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust has invited Redbridge residents to walk the South Downs Way to raise money for the charity. Anyone over 18 can take part in the 100 mile sponsored walk, which takes place over nine days from September 15 to 23. The
A NEW book on the life of Stephen Lawrence will be used in schools across Greenwich to explain the effects of racism. The Life of Stephen Lawrence traces the murdered teenager's progress from birth to his death at the age of 18. Pupils, aged eight to
CHILDREN at Chelwood Nursery School, in Brockley, were jumping for joy after being awarded Beacon status. The coveted award was given following an inspection of the Chelwood Walk school by the Department for Education and Science, which found both service
A COMPANY from Bromley has been presented with the Queen's Award for Enterprise at its Sydenham office. Lord Peter Imbert, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner and now Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, handed over the certificate to Bromcom Computers
OUTSTANDING Lewisham Council staff were thanked at a Pride Awards ceremony held at Blackheath Concert Halls. Staff were nominated by their colleagues, council partners and customers, in 11 categories of excellence. Among the award winners were Bruce Ryan
MEN are welcome to attend the open day of a Lewisham society exclusively for them. A Circle of Men was set up six months ago by Community Education Lewisham, to provide a forum for men to discuss feelings and aspirations. The open day today (Wednesday
IF, like me, you have always assumed Northumberland Heath was named because of land connections with the Duke of Northumberland, then Erith Museum is the place for you. Its exhibition on North Heath, as it is known locally, will soon put you right on
Cheam Park Farm football team have continued a tre-mendous season by beating Parkside 3-1 in the Dorothy Bailey Surrey Cup Final. It is the second time in three seasons the team has won the trophy and they can add it to the Sutton and Cheam Cup, the Borough
Sutton captain John Fry says four wins from their last nine Castle Lager Surrey Championship games should be enough to escape relegation to division one. The Cheam Road team have only won once all season and are bottom of the table. Fry is confident Sutton
Carshalton Athletic were drawn against two of their pre-season opponents in the FA cup and FA Trophy. In the FA Cup the Robins will travel to Banstead Athletic on September 1. It will be a return home for Matt York who joined the Robins from Banstead
Cheam have reached the quarter-finals of crickets National Knockout Cup after demolishing Guidea Park & Romford last Sunday. They are now just two games away from a final at Lords. Guidea Park & Romford scored 240 runs, most of them at
Hundreds of commuters arrived at work late yesterday (Thursday) morning, following a train derailment at Crystal Palace. Connex confirmed the incident had resulted in severe disruption across their services in and out of central London. Trains were not
CHILDREN at Chelwood Nursery School, in Brockley, were jumping for joy after being awarded Beacon status. The coveted award was given following an inspection of the Chelwood Walk school by the Department for Education and Science, which found both service
A teenage computer hacker who obtained Bill Gates' credit card details and sent him Viagra tablets today escaped a jail sentence. Raphael Gray, 19, was ordered to carry out a three-year community probation order linked to treatment for a mental disorder
A TEENAGER has admitted taking part in knifepoint robberies of other boys on buses in Bexleyheath. Muhamet Bajraktari, a Kosovan, aged 18, from Balgowan Road, Plumstead, was part of a gang which threatened four 16-year-old boys as they travelled on buses
DANCE TIME: A group bringing together able-bodied and disabled dancers meets at the the Pavilion Leisure Centre, in Bromley, on Thursdays from 11am to 12.30pm and Crofton Halls, York Rise, Orpington, on Wednesdays from 1.30pm to 3pm. For details, call
A DOUBLE-DECKER bus with learner plates crashed into a tree sending glass flying through the air minutes before school children came down the road. The Stagecoach bus was making its way up Mounthurst Road in Bromley, when the accident happened. The road
CAT Deeley was the star attraction at Ravens Wood School when she joined pupils in the fight against HIV. The television presenter is spearheading the Break the Silence campaign by the United Nations Information Centre, which aims to get young people
A CELEBRITY golf day took place in Orpington to raise funds for sport in schools. The event was organised by sporting society The Lady Taverners. About £7,000 was presented to The Glebe School, in Hawes Lane, West Wickham, and the Marjorie McClure School
MORE than 400 people turned out to make a Biggin Hill school's summer fun day a great success. A Question of Sport was the theme at the St James' RC Primary School event in which families competed in sporting categories taking full advantage of the warm
Pupils and parents will this weekend bid farewell to the long-standing headteacher of Chislehurst Primary School John MacDermott. Mr McDermott who retires at the end of this term has been at the helm of the school for 23 years. He has received praise
Mirroring current events in Northern Ireland, the play Sticks And Stones looks set to become one of the talking points of the summer. The play, by award-winning writer Lance Nielsen, traces the lives of three families from 1972 to the present day as they
After becoming one of the most successful shows of the year, Zippertydoodah is returning to the Wimbledon Studio Theatre. The high-octane show, which stars TV and radio personality Gyles Brandreth, takes the audience through 100 years of musicals in 100
Poor Mr Punch. He's been hitting Judy for 300 years only to be told his comic beatings are no longer politically correct. And so begins the play That's The Way To Do It, a sharp satire which looks at the way political correctness can have on people's
A PINK party took place in Penge in memory of a woman who died of breast cancer. Barbara Ealy, 45, died of breast cancer last year and her friends wanted to raise funds for St Christopher's Hospice, in Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham, and Breast Cancer Care
Seeing Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie walking down Deptford High Street may seem unlikely but two men want to see it happen. RICHARD SIMCOX reports on the latest step in the town's transformation into a centre for the arts... AT THE height of Hollywood's
A BROMLEY author's debut novel is currently a recommended title in the town's Ottakar's bookshop. Butterflies on Mimosa, by Eleanor Francis, is the true story of the ex-Bromley hospital employee's experiences of buying a bed-and-breakfast in the south
BROMLEY birdman Alan Craig is hoping his magnificent flying machine will land him a £25,000 prize. Mr Craig, 44, of Kingsway, West Wickham, is entering his home-made glider in the Bognor International Birdman competition on July 22, in which pilots of
Shrek U 5/5 It looks like the next jaw-dropping stage in computer-generated photo-realism has arrived. Keen to keep Disney on its toes, DreamWorks has come up with its own Toy Story-styled gem, Shrek. Shrek, a green ogre who lives alone in a swamp (as
CHARITY SHOPS: The Imperial Cancer Research fund shops in Bromley and Blackheath have opened their doors to customers seven days a week in a bid to add to their fund-raising success. Both stores are now open from 10.30am to 4.30pm every Sunday, and are
A HEALTH chief has been appointed to deal with recruitment for NHS trust boards in the south east. Bernard Williams has been appointed south east regional commissioner for the NHS appointments commission. The commission was set up in July last year to
As the Leyton Buzzards once sang, it was Saturday Night (Beneath The Plastic Palm Trees) for the bands at the Chingford Village Festival with a stage flanked by exotic foliage in a Hi-De-Hi style. The bands took their bough in the Bull and Crown pub,
HERTSMERE MP James Clappison says the AS-level system of further education has failed in its aims. Speaking at a debate on the future of education in the House of Commons on Wednesday, June 27, he said the Government should address the concerns of parents
KEEN young golfers from local schools swung into action last week at the official opening of one the countries first golf academies at Rickmansworth Public Golf Course. More than 25 people representing local interest groups, clubs and societies filled
In the feature, Ghost Riders in the Sky are Real (News Shopper, May 30), we asked if any readers had any supernatural experiences concerning Biggin Hill airport. Here are some of your replies ON JANUARY 26, 1997, at midnight, I saw a ghost at Hawley Corner
In a space odyssey of its very own, Kamil kebab house has journeyed through a three-week major revamp and a renaming to become Planet Kebab. Chef Mehmet Tan (pictured) and his colleagues showed off the new look to deputy mayor Councillor John Dodwell
Old age creeps up on you. One day you too will be walking sideways down the stairs, or shaving with your specs on. HARRY COLE looks at his changing lifestyle ... WHEN a person carries out a regular ritual year in-year out, it is easy to assume, because
More than 60 vehicles of the vintage variety will be invading the pedestrian paradise that is Sutton High Street on Sunday, July 15. The Comet and its sister paper the Sutton Guardian are sponsoring the Classic Car and Motor Bike Show, organised by the
Lessons went global for one Wallington primary school last week when the spotlight fell on the rest of the world. Cooking classes took on an international flavour as the Banstead branch of Waitrose dished up Caribbean fare, like banana celeste and ginger
Sutton Central Library is running its very own Big Brother competition using books instead of wannabe celebrities. The prize winning books of 2000, which have won such prizes as the Booker and Ivor Novellos are competing for your votes from now until
The blazing hot weather on Saturday attracted all sorts into St Dunstans Primary, Cheam, for its annual summer fair, which raised almost £4,000 for the schools coffers. A couple of teachers decided to cool off in the stocks and their pupils were only
Barnet's ethnic communities are being urged to register as potential bone marrow donors by the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. Only seven per cent of donors registered with the trust are of African, Asian, Caribbean or Jewish descent. According to Marilyn
A MAN was treated for smoke inhalation after breathing in fumes from a fire in his garage in Hastings Way, Croxley Green, on Sunday. Firefighters from Watford fire station took 20 minutes to deal with the blaze, which is thought to have been started accidentally
Plans to knock down houses in a 'unique' part of Mill Hill to make way for flats were dismissed for the second time this week. Clearview Homes' proposal to knock down three houses in Victoria Road near Mill Hill Circus was turned down by Barnet Council's
THE Government will not intervene to prevent a disastrous fall in police numbers in Hertsmere. The Home Office has rejected a plea by MP James Clappison and Hertsmere Borough Council to help stem the flow of front-line strength from the area which includes
A Wallington couple were pleasantly surprised recently when friends organised an impromptu celebration for their 50th wedding anniversary. Edward Chmielewski, 87, and his wife Edina, 86, a former civil servant, of Queens Close, were joined by family and
The Macpherson inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence put the Metropolitan Police Services treatment of ethnic minorities under the most glaring of spotlights and found it wanting. Among the problems cited was the lack of representation of minority
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a Walton teenager who was stabbed to death at Hampton Court Station on Saturday. The Mitcham youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Woking Youth Court on Wednesday and has been
Philip Drury is misinformed if he thinks the Grammar Schools in Sutton are privileged and well-funded. The average funding per pupil for the year 2000-01 for the five Grammar Schools in Sutton is £2509, while the average funding per pupil for the non-selective
I write with reference to your article in May regarding the removal from the register of a nurse found guilty of theft. My colleagues and I find the comment: she will only ever be able to use her nursing experience at the lower end of the professional
I have written to complain to National Clamps about the way in which it works regarding clamping of cars. I arrived at what I believed to be Matalans car park recently (just off Sutton High Street) at around 10am where I parked my car and headed off into
Tonight marks the official launch of this year's Abbeyfest the best fringe theatre and music festival outside Edinburgh. Held at Merton Abbey Mills the festival boasts more than 40 different acts or 167 performances during the next seven weeks. Getting
Imagine you are a struggling musician and one night you are offered a job in another band. You turn the job down, but the band go onto become one of the biggest acts in the world. This is one of the true stories behind the play The 12 Inch Pianist, which
lorry crash: Trains and road traffic were brought to a halt in Norbiton on Monday night, after an articulated lorry crashed into the railway bridge on Coombe Road. Railtrack stopped trains running on the line after the lorry, which was too high for the
The Government has earmarked more than £1million for the rest of this year and next to give better support to Suttons young people who are leaving or have left care. The money is part of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 which comes into effect on
Barnet's ethnic communities are being urged to register as potential bone marrow donors by the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. Only seven per cent of donors registered with the trust are of African, Asian, Caribbean or Jewish descent. According to Marilyn
The airwaves over Sutton will soon be reverberating with the sound of Youth FM which is due back next week for the sixth time in as many years. Youngsters aged between 14 and 21 will be broadcasting 24 hours a day on 87.9FM from Tuesday, July 10, to Monday
Suttons Deputy Mayor Councillor John Dodwell made a visit to Roundshaws Early Years Centre to help the youngsters celebrate its second birthday. Built as part of the estates multi-million pound regeneration project, the centre provides nursery care for
Education chiefs are warning Suttons teacher shortage crisis may be getting worse though the full picture will only become clear in the start of the new school year. The news came in a report to Sutton Councils learning for life performance committee
A three-year-old Hackbridge boy let his curiosity get the better of him when he found a lighter in the kitchen and proceeded to set fire to his brothers bed. The ensuing blaze, around 4.20pm on Saturday, wrecked the bedroom of their second-floor maisonette
A pair of borough cab firms have become among the first nationwide to gain a licence under new regulations requiring all companies to meet minimum standards. Wallington Cars and Couriers, based in Wallington Square, was inspected last month by the public
Summer fun with water bombs erupted into a ferocious row between neighbours which escalated to such a peak that one family has been driven out of their home. Crowds of Roundshaw Estate residents gathered in Goliath Close on Wednesday evening to witness
Suttons library service has been described in a report as providing an excellent service that will continue to improve. The report, published this week by the Audit Commissions Best Value Inspectorate, has awarded Sutton a double three star rating. Sutton
At least 13 elderly women have been fleeced of all their cash while travelling on buses by a smartly-dressed pickpocket. The con, which involves dropping coins to create a diversion, has fooled three woman, all in their 60s and 70s in just one week, and
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a Walton teenager who was stabbed to death at Hampton Court Station on Saturday. The Mitcham youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Woking Youth Court on Wednesday and has been
Croydons Muslim community has offered its support to one of their leading figures, who was detained at the Old Bailey last week for battering his pregnant daughter-in-law to death. The highly respected Mohammad Yousaf, 64, beat Aneela Malik, 30, over
Police have this week claimed phenomenal success in their fight against street crime and assured Sutton residents that street robbery here is rare. But in a frank admission Suttons top police chief said it will be impossible to rid the streets of youth
If you find yourself stranded by another train strike, with baggage too heavy for the bus, or needing to reach a destination beyond transport links, then an innovative green scheme coming to Sutton this September could just be the solution. Car Clubs
Sex, caravanning and comedy? Sounds a bit like a Hale and Pace sketch Gareth Hale's theatre debut is his type of play. The entertainer has taken the plunge from the riotous comedy circuit to the earnest theatre halls for Perfect Pitch. Gareth says: "I've
A DECISION that refused permission for the construction of a ten-metre mobile telephone mast near a Watford primary school is being challenged by British Telecom. Residents are being urged by Hertfordshire county councillors and Watford borough councillors
I have read the write up on the renal department at St Helier and found out that St Helier is the main unit, not just for Sutton, but for nearly all of Surrey, a large area of Sussex and some in Kent. Some of the people who have attended St Georges before
A SWANLEY woman handed over £350 to Darent Valley Hospital's intensive therapy unit to thank staff for her mother's treatment. Jean Crowder, 62, of Alexandra Close, died on April 28 from a heart attack and it was her dying wish hospital staff should be
A FISH salesman is being hunted by police after an indecent assault on a Longfield woman. The woman, in her 30s, was walking along Main Road at about 3pm when a man drove by in a white Ford Transit van. He stopped the vand and grabbed her from behind,
BEXLEY Women's Aid is celebrating this year. The organisation, which supports and shelters women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, marks its 25th birthday this year. The group has been raising awareness of domestic violence but
The Christchurch congregation, in Swanley High Street, celebrated 30 years with the Reverend Richard Wells and his wife, Elizabeth. He is the longest serving minister the congregation has had and is also the longest serving United Reformed Church minister
STUDENTS with learning difficulties from a college in Gravesend kept a large audience entertained with music and drama. More than 100 people turned up to see the Pathway Performers from North West Kent College present extracts from popular musicals and
A PRIMARY school, a specialised care company and a hospital school service from the Dartford area have all been awarded investors in people status. Bean Primary School, in School Lane, Bean, Smartmove Homes, which provides specialised care for the elerly
It's not going to set the world alight, but director Saul Metzstein's debut feature Late Night Shopping is an distracting twentysomething comedy looking at life, love and all points in between. Vinnie (James Lance) is a shelf-stacking lothario committed
A NEW book on the life of Stephen Lawrence will be used in schools across Greenwich to explain the effects of racism. The Life of Stephen Lawrence traces the murdered teenager's progress from birth to his death at the age of 18. Pupils, aged eight to
Seeing Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie walking down Deptford High Street may seem unlikely but two men want to see it happen. RICHARD SIMCOX reports on the latest step in the town's transformation into a centre for the arts... AT THE height of Hollywood's
AN 84-YEAR-OLD widow who smoked cigarettes despite needing oxygen for a breathing disorder died after a restless night. Southwark Coroner's Court heard Chinese-born To Mach, admitted to Gallions View Nursing home, Pier Way, in May of last year, collapsed
The best way of getting attention for the reformed suave '70s popsters is to put out a compilation of their considerable hits. These are accompanied by some lesser known epics like LP stand-out, the frenetic Re-Make/Re-Model from their debut, the schizophrenic
DARTFORD MP Dr Howard Stoate has been promoted to the Home Office. He has been appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon John Denham MP, Minister of State at the Home Office responsible for the police. Dr Stoate said: "Having spoken to hundreds
Student Cuong Huang, 26, looks laid-back as he lounges on a chair he designed but style gurus certainly weren't. They sat up and took notice, picking it for display at the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture, Middlesex University. Mr Huang, of
PUPILS of a Gravesend special school were on their marks last week when they were presented with a physical education award. Ifield Community Special School, in Cedar Avenue, Gravesend, was given the Sportsmark award for offering its pupils a balanced
CRIES of "howzat" and "not out" filled the air during the annual Kwik Cricket tournament for youngsters. More than 200 boys and girls took part in the competition at the Bat and Ball Cricket Club, in Gravesend. The winning team from Riverview Juniors,
CRIES of "howzat" and "not out" filled the air during the annual Kwik Cricket tournament for youngsters. More than 200 boys and girls took part in the competition at the Bat and Ball Cricket Club, in Gravesend. The winning team from Riverview Juniors,
A MOTHER-OF-SIX had her head shaved to raise money for charity in memory of her grandmother who died of cancer. Liselle Bremner, 37, of St John's Road, Gravesend, sacrificed her hair to raise £1,600 for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Staff and customers
A MOTHER-OF-SIX had her head shaved to raise money for charity in memory of her grandmother who died of cancer. Liselle Bremner, 37, of St John's Road, Gravesend, sacrificed her hair to raise £1,600 for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Staff and customers
TWO north Kent teachers have had their contribution to school life honoured. More than 350 headteachers from across Kent, including delegates from Dartford and Gravesham, acknowledged the achievements of classroom assistant Rosalind Burgess, from Langafel
TWO north Kent teachers have had their contribution to school life honoured. More than 350 headteachers from across Kent, including delegates from Dartford and Gravesham, acknowledged the achievements of classroom assistant Rosalind Burgess, from Langafel
It was a riot of colour and fun at Sidcup Hill Primary School's summer fete after the Parent Teacher Association chose the theme clowns. Children and their parents dressed to the theme and there was a competition to find the best dressed clown. Bobo,
CHILDREN at a Sidcup primary school have been putting the finishing touches to a school mural. The project, at St Peter Chanel RC Primary School, is part of an on-going partnership between the school and the Cray Prince's Trust Volunteers, aimed at improving
CARING residents of Gravesend were thanked for their support for a native American tribe by visitors bearing gifts from across the Atlantic. Former Gravesham Mayor Councillor Peggy Mersh welcomed Madeline McMillan, the only councillor from the city of
Harrison Ford is set to make a fourth Indiana Jones movie - 20 years after Raiders of the Lost Ark. The US superstar, 59, is poised to team up with director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas. Hollywood studio Paramount said it was looking at
CARING residents of Gravesend were thanked for their support for a native American tribe by visitors bearing gifts from across the Atlantic. Former Gravesham Mayor Councillor Peggy Mersh welcomed Madeline McMillan, the only councillor from the city of
YOUNGSTERS at Ilford Jewish Primary School have been taking part in a celebration of learning. Reception class pupils aged four and five paid a visit to the synagogue at King Solomon High School last Friday and listened to a talk by the school's headteacher
SPONSORED WALK: A sponsored walk will be held to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. The walk, on Sunday, July 15, will finish in the Cutty Sark gardens in Greenwich. It will kick off at St Thomas' Hospital on the south Bank between 9.30am and
AN 84-YEAR-OLD widow who smoked cigarettes despite needing oxygen for a breathing disorder died after a restless night. Southwark Coroner's Court heard Chinese-born To Mach, admitted to Gallions View Nursing home, Pier Way, in May of last year, collapsed
A POLICE officer lived out his dreams when he joined the clowns of Zippos Circus to raise money for children with cancer. Rod Chapman, from the Metropoliton Police, who lives in Dartford, raised £300 for the Acorn Children's Cancer Appeal, at Queen Mary's
A TEENAGER has admitted taking part in knifepoint robberies of other boys on buses in Bexleyheath. Muhamet Bajraktari, a Kosovan, aged 18, from Balgowan Road, Plumstead, was part of a gang which threatened four 16-year-old boys as they travelled on buses
AN INITIATIVE to clear the streets of syringes and encourage drug users to kick the habit has started in Greenwich. Greenwich Council's Drug Action Team will be investing £750,000 in its education and prevention programme. The money spent will also go
THREE students from Eltham College have come third in a national competition to find the most talented chemists. Angus Brown, James Peerless and Timothy Woo, all 17, from the Lower Sixth Form at the Grove Park School, shrugged off the rigours of a demanding
A PROJECT which has helped give more than 100 youngsters a brighter future has celebrated its fifth birthday. Lewisham Positive Options Project (POP) has given socially-excluded youngsters the opportunity to take on an alternative educational programme
A large sculpture of a helping hand is being unveiled today (Friday) as part of celebrations for the first birthday of the Foyer @ Croydon. The Foyer, which is a centre helping homeless people find accommodation, training and a job, is a joint venture
Park Lane, Croydon: Box office: 020 8688 9291 Film times from Friday July 6 to Thursday July 12: Men of Honour (15) Tuesday: 7.30pm July 6, 2001 10:59
Hundreds of commuters arrived at work late yesterday (Thursday) morning, following a train derailment at Crystal Palace. Connex confirmed the incident had resulted in severe disruption across their services in and out of central London. Trains were not
Katharine St, Croydon, Box Office: 020 8253 1030 Film times from Friday July 6 to Thursday July 12: Le Gout des Autres (15) Friday: 2.35pm, 5.40pm Saturday: 2.50pm, 8.15pm Sunday: 2.35pm, 5.40pm, 8.15pm Monday: 8.15pm Tuesday: 5.40pm Wednesday: 2.50pm
Warner Village, Purley Way, Croydon. Box office: 020 8680 1968 Film times from Friday July 6 to Thursday July 12: Bridget Jones' Diary (15) Friday and Saturday: 23:50 Down to Earth (12) Friday and Saturday: 16:00, 21:40, midnight Monday to Thursday: 16
Former Sutton midfielder Ed Hutchinson will return to Gander Green Lane on Friday July 13 as part of a strong Brentford team that will open Suttons 2001-2002 pre-season schedule. The 19-year-old midfielders progress was one of the bright spots in Uniteds
Sutton Tennis and Squash Club have reached the LTA National Club League but only just. They needed at least a 5-1 win at Globe Tennis Club to guarantee entry, but had to settle for a 4-2 win. Sutton, represented by Gabriel Ledru, Nick Lester, Mike Walker
Sutton Uniteds out-of-contract striker Danny Bolt has been given the chance to return to professional football with a trial at Third Division Bristol Rovers. The 25-year-old who made 13 appearances for Fulham before being released now has another chance
SPONSORED WALK: A sponsored walk will be held to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. The walk, on Sunday, July 15, will finish in the Cutty Sark gardens in Greenwich. It will kick off at St Thomas' Hospital on the south Bank between 9.30am and
OUTSTANDING Lewisham Council staff were thanked at a Pride Awards ceremony held at Blackheath Concert Halls. Staff were nominated by their colleagues, council partners and customers, in 11 categories of excellence. Among the award winners were Bruce Ryan
WORK has begun to restore St John's Church in Bexley and the historic Dower House in North Cray Road, Sidcup, with grants from the Council's Bexley Heritage Fund. The spire of St John's Church, Parkhill Road, Bexley, has been leaning over for a number
A PENGE man has been jailed for three years after he and an accomplice were found guilty of burglary at Croydon Crown Court. Michael Willmott, aged 31, of Otford Close, and Laurence Marini, aged 35, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to forcing their
A residents' association has won £1,000 worth of computer equipment and internet access from British Telecom. South Penge Park Residents' Association entered a BT Community Connections award scheme to get communities throughout London online. Residents
Lambeth: Teachers could face manslaughter charges over the tragic drowning of Bunmi Shagaya on a school trip to France. The 11-year-old's body was recovered from a lake near Dieppe, Normandy, yesterday after a three-day search for the youngster. French
A NEW sporting event was held last week for 100 children in the Bromley area. The small schools' sports day involved five junior schools too small to hold an event on their own. The children played hockey, football, athletics, cricket, netball and short
BROMLEY Council's allotments and leisure gardens section has won a major national award. The council department has been awarded first prize in the 2001 National Society's for Allotments and Leisure Gardens' competition for the best managed and most innovative
A BROMLEY women's support group has joined a national parliamentary lobby to raise awareness of a condition which can cause infertility. Claudette Lawrence who runs the Bromley Endometriosis Group took a party of women to the House of Commons today to
Toddlers were out in force in Norman Park to raise cash for charity and they covered a half-mile course as part of the National Foresters Big Toddle for children's charity Barnardo's. The Foresters group sponsored the event and a total of 18 toddlers
POLICE have renewed attempts to track down a schoolboy con artist after a News Shopper reader supplied them with an artist's impression of the boy. The News Shopper reported on a teenager who conned his way into the homes of three old age pensioners in
GARDENERS are being warned to check their security and make sure equipment is properly insured. Age Concern Bromley raised fears of theft after a survey revealed the average resident spends about £140 on gardening equipment every year much of which is
WHO Wants to be a Millionaire host Chris Tarrant was the star attraction at a fun day for a special needs children's centre. And he made the day for two-year-old Michael Harrold (pictured right). The Phoenix Centre, in Masons Hill, had hundreds of visitors
TALENTED pupils of a music school in Bushey opened its doors to more than 400 children from seven local primary schools last week for its performance of the renowned children's classic, Babar the Elephant. The performance was choreographed and orchestrated
The John Fisher School is unlike any other in Sutton in that it is situated on the border with Croydon and an overwhelming number of its pupils live outside the borough. But this is not the only distinctive fact about the voluntary aided school in Peaks
A MAN was remanded in police custody after pleading not guilty to the murder of his estranged wife. Mr Glenn Richards appeared before Judge Findlay Baker at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, June 29 . He spoke only to enter his plea. Mr Richards was arrested
Staff from Radio Marsden brought some of the Wild West to Sutton High Street on Sunday with the fourth annual country and western festival. The bright hot day brought out the crowd in droves to cheer on the cowboys and cowgirls. Onlookers were also entertained
THERE was traffic chaos in Rickmansworth this week and it will carry on for some time yet. The tailbacks at the roundabout at the top of London Road are because of work by gas line operators Transco. The work, which started last month, is expected to
boot sale: The Friends of Mellows Park is hoping to raise around £1,000 at its annual boot sale in aid of London Wildcare on Sunday. Staff at the animal hospital formerly Wandle Valley Wildlife Hospital will be bringing along a hedgehog and a couple of
A Wallington man charged with conspiracy to supply crack cocaine and heroin made his first court appearance at Kingston Crown Court last week. Vitor Mayers, 36, from Goliath Close, on the Roundshaw Estate, has also been charged with allowing premises
This is just one of 30 abandoned rabbits dumped on Animal Lifelines doorstep while neglectful owners swan off on their summer holidays. Now Christine Redwood from the Cheam practice is desperately appealing for animal lovers to give them a home. We have
Mill Hill Preservation Society chairman John Turtle warned members to be on their guard for "vulture" developers targeting the area. "The vultures are hovering over Mill Hill waiting to pick up plum sites and develop in your gardens," he said at the society's
REVELLERS are promised a fun-packed day at the North Watford Show, taking place at the Bill Everett Community Centre on Saturday, July 7. Highlights include performances from local bands, such as FiTTsi and the St Albans Brass Ensemble, as well as the
POLICE want to hear from a man who reportedly stopped his vehicle in Muirfield Road, Watford and threatened an eight-year-old boy wheeling a motorcycle along the road. Police were told the man grabbed the boy's wrist but the boy managed to break free
The Childrens Trust charity shop in Cheam Village has just celebrated its first birthday. To mark the occasion, customers enjoyed a glass of wine and a piece of birthday cake while browsing around the shop. Over £40,000 has been raised by the Cheam shop
There were tears of joy for a Carshalton mum who stood up to telecommunications giant Orange to keep a mobile mast off her daughters bedroom roof and won. In a battle resonating the real-life-turned-big-screen tale of mother Erin Brockovich, who fought
I am writing to say a huge thank you to all the organisations in your area for their help in making the 16th annual volunteers week such an outstanding success! The National Centre for Volunteering, which co-ordinated this special week in England (from
Almost every day we read or hear of the pressure teachers and headteachers face nowadays in schools. The Tory idea of league tables, places a great deal of pressure on teachers, pupils and parents. Unfortunately, Labour has followed likewise instead of
We are writing to express our indignation at the state of the grass cutting of Rosehill Park West and the failure to remove the dog droppings from the bins. In this hot weather it constitutes an extreme health hazard. We would also like an explanation
ambushed for MG: Three youths ambushed a motorist and made off with his MGF convertible. The 40-year-old man had parked his car, registration R76 GGO, outside his home in Sheridan Road, Wimbledon, at 10.50pm on Monday, when he was grabbed from behind
Three men were forced to escape through a second-storey window when the building they were sleeping in was set on fire on Tuesday night. They were staying above the Bell Music, guitar and drums shop, in Ewell Road, Tolworth, while renovation work was
A Raynes Park shop is defying a bizarre European ban which forbids the sale of small organic peaches. The Co-op store, in Coombe Lane, is ignoring EU regulation 2335/99, which states a peach is not a peach unless it has a minimum diameter of 56mm. Shops
A mother was left seriously out of pocket after a pony-tailed mugger snatched a plastic bag containing £725 from the handle of her daughters pushchair. Police have now launched a manhunt for the white, 6ft, 30-year-old with greasy long mousy hair tied
Adrian Brown, musical director of the Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra, has been on a journey of discovery. What he found will be revealed in the orchestra's concert, the last of the season, at Teddington on Sunday (July 8) as part of his mission to introduce
Despite the concerted opposition of pre-school leaders and parents, Sutton Councils major decision-making body pushed through proposals to admit children into mainstream schooling at earlier ages than at present. The Sutton Pre-school Alliance has led
The musical age of the 1920s was recreated in Nonsuch Park when the annual Jazz Evening was held last week. An audience of about 500 music lovers enjoyed performances by the Brian White Magna Jazz Band. Gloria Sheridan from the Friends of Nonsuch Park
Overspending of almost £500,000 in Sutton Councils special educational needs (SEN) budget could trigger cuts throughout the boroughs education service if not contained, officers have warned. Local education authority chiefs (LEA) also insisted the projected
A leisure centre where a schoolboy drowned is chan-ging its safety procedures thanks to the efforts of a campaigning mother. Seven-year-old Moussa Dembele was found at the bottom of Mitchams Canons Leisure Centre swimming pool on April 25 and died three
Barnet's ethnic communities are being urged to register as potential bone marrow donors by the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. Only seven per cent of donors registered with the trust are of African, Asian, Caribbean or Jewish descent. According to Marilyn
There were tears of joy for a Carshalton mum who stood up to telecommunications giant Orange to keep a mobile mast off her daughters bedroom roof and won. In a battle resonating the real-life-turned-big-screen tale of mother Erin Brockovich, who fought
A batch of 26 pills believed to be ecstasy was seized by vigilant bouncers at Zoots during last Fridays club night. Now two men have been arrested after being spotted making one too many visits to the toilet at the party night, which attracts the over
The tragedy of their baby daughters death will never leave them, but a Carshalton couple are throwing their energies into making sure others do not suffer her fate. Comet readers were not alone in sharing in Cathy and Mark Proctors agony and helplessness
The victims of two married ex-police officers who were behind a multi-million pound fraud will have to wait two months for their money after their latest court hearing was stopped midway. Anne and Eugene OGrady from The Avenue, Worcester Park, were jailed
A schoolboy was so badly beaten up during his lunch break on Tuesday he is now in hospital under hourly review and all because of his colour. The black 15 year old was brutally punched around the head by a white man about five years his senior in what
YOUNGSTERS need to be made aware of the crisis facing pensioners, according to the South West Herts Senior Citizens Alliance, which met for its monthly meeting on Wednesday. Guest speaker Mr Neil Duncan-Jordan, press officer for the National Pensioners
SHOPKEEPERS and residents poured out on to Market Street on Thursday afternoon to watch as firefighters dealt with a fire in a roof garden on top of a block of flats Watford ring road. Billows of black smoke alerted those in the area to the fire which
