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

Ten years on, cinema campaigners celebrate lasting triumph

Last week saw a memorable conclusion to the 10th anniversary events at the David Lean Cinema, where the doughty troup of volunteers were celebrating the re-opening and re-establishment of the venue under their care and management in 2014, following its … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Cinema, David Lean Cinema Campaign | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Raggio di Sole, handmade pizzas made to order, South Croydon

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

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Larks! Downs rangers ask ramblers to care for nesting birds

A bracing spring day (at last!) and a brisk amble across Farthing Downs and Happy Valley might be just the thing for a Bank Holiday Monday. But the rangers who look after the wildlife and habitat on Croydon’s downs and … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Farthing Downs, South London Downs NNR, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

NUTS! Croydon Labour blunders into new cover-up shock

Embroiled in a series of controversies, the latest being the cover-up of the vote rigging for their own Croydon East parliamentary selection, the local Labour Party blundered into a cover-up of a different sort in Coulsdon on Saturday. And no, … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, 2024 London elections, Andrew Price, Ben Taylor, Carole Bonner, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon Central, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Jason Cummings, Jess Hammersley-Rich, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Natasha Irons, Park Hill and Whitgift, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Susan Hall, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prestigious Olympic qualifier may be coming to Croydon

EXCLUSIVE: Despite set-backs and disappointments of council-staged events, a new festival is coming to Croydon ahead of the 2024 Paris Games Croydon is to stage the prestigious European qualifier for the first-ever Olympic beer-chucking gold medal event later this year. … Continue reading

Posted in Inside Croydon, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Artists in glass who gave the Minster its windows on the world

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: As the congregation at Croydon Minster celebrates the holiest day in the Christian calendar, DAVID MORGAN peers through the church’s windows at the history behind their exquisite artistry Walking through Endell Street in Covent Garden recently, I noticed … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Business, Church and religions, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Blues at The Oval, every Sunday through April, Addiscombe

Posted in Addiscombe West, Music, Pubs | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Theatre Workshop Coulsdon production of Orca, Apr 20-27

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Drummond heads three-strong Tory list for Sutton and Cheam

EXCLUSIVE: Our investigations editor CARL SHILTON on the race in the Tory Party to replace Paul Scully as MP Councillor Tom Drummond, the leader of the Conservatives on Sutton Council, heads a three-person selection shortlist for the constituency where his … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Chipstead, Elliot Colburn, Paul Scully MP, Reigate and Banstead Council, Surrey, Sutton Council, Tom Drummond | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ruskin House Screen Club: Shadow World, Apr 5

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Chipstead Players’ Grimm Tales, Courtyard Theatre, Apr 9-13

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Two more Croydon music and dance festivals forced to cancel

Croydon’s calendar year as London’s Borough of Culture has not quite finished, but its dubious legacy appears to be sealed in failure after not one but two established festivals announced that they won’t take place in 2024. Croydon Pride posted … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Community associations, Croydon Council, Dance, Mark Watson, Mayor Jason Perry, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Fox is left fuming after being kicked off London Mayor ballot

The capital’s election authorities have confirmed all the candidates for standing for election on May 2. And some that won’t be standing, too The jokes just write themselves. The bloke who used to be sidekick to Inspector Morse’s sidekick would … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Ria Patel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Life-saving first aid lessons, Kenley Memorial Hall, Apr 13

Posted in Activities, Community associations, Health, KENDRA, Kenley | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Hive community garden, Coulsdon, opening from Apr 4

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Putting Croydon First: the reasons I am now a Liberal Democrat

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Yesterday we reported how a former Croydon MP is standing for election with his third political party. Here, ANDREW PELLING explains why his days as an independent candidate are over “All politics is local”. Tip O’Neill’s phrase has … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Claire Bonham, Croydon Central, Croydon East, Croydon South, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Park Hill and Whitgift, Richard Howard, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Labour official in police probe picked for ward by-election

By our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE Local Labour official Melanie Felton was this afternoon named as the party’s candidate for the Park Hill and Whitgift council by-election. The public vote will take place on May 2, the same date as … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Andrew Price, Croydon East, Jade Appleton, Park Hill and Whitgift | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

School unions in urgent talks over academy’s millionaire chair

By our education correspondent, GENE BRODIE Staff at Ark Academy schools are to hold a crisis meeting with management at the chain to demand the removal as chair of Sir Paul Marshall, the multi-millionaire Tory donor who has “liked” extremist … Continue reading

Posted in Ark Blake Academy, Charity, Education, Oval Primary, Schools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Union leaders join calls for Labour to abandon Anonyvoter

LABOUR SELECTION SCANDAL: More allegations of rigged votes in dodgy Labour candidate selections trace the affair straight back to Croydon and the deal done between a ‘Newman Numpty’ councillor and party General Secretary David Evans, reports STEVEN DOWNES Momentum, the … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, 2024 London elections, Addiscombe East, Business, Croydon East, David Evans, Maddie Henson, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Active Minds gets busy to receive special award at Guildhall

A Croydon-based service which boosts mental well-being through sport and physical activity collected the trophy for the Health and Well-being category at the London Sport Awards at a prestigious ceremony staged at the Guildhall in the City last week. Now … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Health, Mind in Croydon | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Check your photo ID and registration now for voting on May 2

The introduction of the requirement on the public to produce photo ID when they go to vote is a deliberate effort by the beleaguered and failed Conservative Government to stop younger and marginalised citizens from exercising their democratic rights. That’s … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Party animal Pelling looks to run in Croydon East – for LibDems

ELECTIONS 2024: The former MP is hoping to stage a comeback in the new parliamentary seat by joining his third political party. EXCLUSIVE by our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE Andrew Pelling, a former Conservative MP and Labour councillor in Croydon, … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Croydon Central, Croydon East, Gavin Barwell, Inside Croydon, Jason Cummings, Natasha Irons, Peter Underwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Holloway to return as manager at Selhurst – for a good cause

Goals 4 GOSH, a charity football fixture that has already raised more than £100,000 for a children’s hospital, is returning to Selhurst Park on May 26. Among the celebrities expected to put on their football boots for this worthy cause … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Crystal Palace FC, Football, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Community volunteer Thomas to run for Labour in St Helier

The Labour Party in Sutton has been quick to announce its candidate for the council vacancy created by the resignation of St Helier West councillor Sheila Berry. But it has done nothing to quash speculation that Berry’s resignation followed some … Continue reading

Posted in Paul Scully MP, Sheldon Vestey, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon PC charged with sexual assault on 14-year-old girl

A police officer serving in Croydon’s area command is in the dock himself this morning, accused of sexual offences going back more than 30 years. PC Anthony Rowley, 51, was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with four … Continue reading

Posted in Andy Brittain, Crime, Policing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment