Author Archives: insidecroydon

About insidecroydon

News, views and analysis about the people of Croydon, their lives and political times in the diverse and most-populated borough in London. Based in Croydon and edited by Steven Downes. To contact us, please email inside.croydon@btinternet.com

Defeated Dutch admiral who endured his parole in Croydon

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: Researching the history of Croydon’s part in the wars fought across Europe and North America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries has taken DAVID MORGAN, right, in another, somewhat unexpected direction Researching a particular topic can … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Minster, David Morgan, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Council’s official guide on voting in May 2’s London elections

With London elections, and a couple of Croydon by-elections (in Woodside and Park Hill and Whitgift wards) being held this Thursday, May 2, the council has (belatedly) issued its own guide to how you can take part in the democratic … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Suburban spy drama is coming to Selsdon Hall this week

In 1960s suburbia, Barbara and Bob Jackson are living an idyllic life with their daughter Julie. But when they are visited by the security services, they are informed that their best friends and neighbours, the Canadian Krogers, may not be … Continue reading

Posted in Art, CODA, Selsdon and Addington Village, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Andrew Haigh on why ‘Strangers’ had to be filmed in Croydon

Our latest, all-star Under The Flyover podcast from Inside Croydon is a recording from a special event staged earlier this week by the David Lean Cinema. All Of Us Strangers is the acclaimed movie from director Andrew Haigh, which was … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Cinema, David Lean Cinema Campaign, Inside Croydon, Under The Flyover | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hartley and District RA annual meeting, Coulsdon, May 8

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Coulsdon, HADRA | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spring Boot Fair, Trumble Gardens, Thornton Heath, May 4

Posted in Activities, Business, Community associations, Croydon parks, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon men arrested connected to Russian spying allegations

Russia’s war on Ukraine is now being fought on the streets of London, with three Croydon men among five arrested in a counter-terrorism swoop The police have made its first arrests under the National Security Act, as part of a … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, London-wide issues, Policing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Four arrested after people smuggling gang tracked to Croydon

The National Crime Agency has arrested two people in Croydon as part of a major joint UK-French investigation into people smugglers, who are alleged to have advertised on Facebook, offering to get people across the English Channel in small boats. … Continue reading

Posted in Crime | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Philp’s flop: Tory MP becomes national laughing stock (again)

Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, reports on a Croydon politician’s televised African problem There were genuine concerns among Croydon Tories last night, after the recording of this week’s episode of the BBC’s Question Time programme in north London, that Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon South | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Croydon barista’s tiramisu special has Costa final in a frappe

Croydon barista Polina Shcherbakova finished a well-placed runner-up at Costa Coffee’s Barista of the Year competition staged in Liverpool this week. Television presenter Joel Dommett hosted the event, which was being staged for a 17th year. The competition is open … Continue reading

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Warlingham’s youngsters lift two Surrey cups in season finales

There’s some hope down at Hamsey Green, after Warlingham’s under-16s won the Surrey Cup final, beating Farnham 15-14 in a nail-biting finale to their season staged at Harlequins’ Stoop ground. Warlingham also won the second tier county trophy at under-16s … Continue reading

Posted in Rugby Union, Sport, Warlingham RFC | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

1-in-5 Londoners have no idea there’s an election next week

Shocking figures released today show that 20% of Londoners – 1-in-5 – don’t have a Scooby Doo (it’s rhyming slang…) that next Thursday, May 2, is election day in the capital. Among younger Londoners – those under 30 years old … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Crime, Housing, Knife crime, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Policing, Sadiq Khan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

3rd class service: Royal Mail reduces collections by stealth

Not content with providing only a third-class service on deliveries, across Croydon, the suits who run Royal Mail have been sticking barely visible notices on post boxes to explain how they are now dismantling their previously reasonably dependable collection service. … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Royal Mail, South Croydon, Waddon | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

At 91 years old, there’s no stopping marathon man Picksley

David Picksley was probably already a bit of a London Marathon hero, but after his unstoppable performance in this year’s race on Sunday, he’s probably worthy of inclusion in the annals of the event’s all-time greats. At 91, Picksley was … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Charity, Trinity School | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Beckenham and New Addington trams return to normal service

Normal service has finally resumed on Croydon’s tram network, after two months of disruption and the complete closure of the lines to New Addington, Woodside and Arena, Elmers End and Beckenham Junction since the end of March. Transport for London’s … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, New Addington, New Addington North, TfL, Tramlink, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

East Croydon plaque to get you on track for the Vanguard Way

For the avoidance of any doubt (if ever there was any), East Croydon Station now has a new sign, designating it as the official starting point of the Vanguard Way, the 66-mile walkers’ route “from the suburbs to the sea”. … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Community associations, Walks | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Labour figures at centre of police probe now seek your votes

VOTE-RIGGING SCANDAL: 50 days have passed since the Labour Party admitted someone had been tampering with the personal details of around 500 members in Croydon. With the London elections next week, two figures at the centre of a live police … Continue reading

Posted in Carole Bonner, Croydon Central, Croydon East, David Evans, Maddie Henson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Locals start campaign to have Burn Bullock pub rebuilt

English Heritage and Merton Council join calls for historic cricket pub to be rebuilt – just like the Crooked House in the Midlands. While in Croydon, there’s a second fire in nine months at another disused pub Another day, another … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Community associations, Crime, History, London Fire Brigade, London-wide issues, Merton, Mitcham, Planning, Property, Pubs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Scared’ Surrey Street market traders in calls for more police

Home Office funding for extra policing in Croydon town centre finishes at the end of April, and there’s no plans to increase officer presence on Surrey Street. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The Metropolitan Police will not provide undertakings that they … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Crime, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Jose Joseph, Knife crime, London-wide issues, Policing, Surrey Street | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sharkey among guests as River Summit comes to the Wandle

Feargal Sharkey, a leader in the national debate about the parlous quality of water in the country’s rivers, lakes and canals, is among the participants at the 2024 UK River Summit which is being held along the banks of the … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Environment, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How businesses profited at expense of the Borough of Culture

BOROUGH OF VULTURES: £1.3m of arts funding provided by the Mayor of London was misused by Croydon’s Tory council to boost local businesses, but delivered a year-long flop, judging by official audience figures. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s year as … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Business, CODA, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Croydonites Festival, Dance, Fairfield Halls, Kristian Aspinall, London Mozart Players, Mayor Jason Perry, Music, Stanley Halls, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Cause of Beckenham Road shop blaze ‘deliberate’ says LFB

The emergency services have declared that the cause of a fire at a shop with flats above in Bromley in the early hours of this morning was “believed to be deliberate”. It took four fire engines and around 25 firefighters … Continue reading

Posted in Bromley Council, Crime, London Fire Brigade | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Trust to spend thousands on taxis to break ambulance strike

A south London NHS hospital trust is set to spend tens of thousands of pounds on Ubers and other private hire transport as they attempt to break a strike by union members, according to the GMB. Members of the union … Continue reading

Posted in Health, St Helier Hospital | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Marathon star helps Wallington school go the extra mile

His legs still aching from the ordeal of racing more than 26 miles through the streets of London the day before, Marc Scott turned out at a Wallington primary school yesterday morning, possibly to inspire the next generation of champion … Continue reading

Posted in Athletics, Health, Schools, Sport, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

North End barista to contest national coffee-making finals

A barista working at the Costa Coffee shop on Croydon’s North End has made it to the final 12 of her company’s Barista of the Year competition. Polina Shcherbakova has travelled to Liverpool this week for the two-day final of … Continue reading

Posted in Business | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment