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

The Mayor’s record in office has worse delivery than Royal Mail

With Tory Jason Perry’s election pledges dropping on residents’ doormats this week and Labour candidate Rowenna Davis publishing her manifesto, the claims and promises of the two front-runners for Croydon Mayor are examined here by ANDREW FISHER While incumbent Mayor … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Fly tipping, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

The election night in 1966 when I saw David Winnick win

DAVID WHITE pays tribute to the former Croydon Labour MP, David Winnick, who has died, aged 92 David Winnick, who has died this week, aged 92, served as a Croydon Labour MP in the 1960s. The very first election count … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Central, Croydon South, David White | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Modern-Day Art’ Exhibition at Croydon Art Space, to Apr 30

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Reform’s candidate for Mayor bottles it ahead of Farage visit

ELECTION EXCLUSIVE: Less than 48 hours before he was due to be unveiled at the Fairfield Halls as his party’s pick to head their campaign in Croydon, Dan Milner-Tebbutt resigned. Political editor WALTER CRONXITE reveals his replacement, another Conservative defector … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ben Flook, Dan Milner-Tebbutt | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

‘Decency’ hustings as no one missed the missing candidate

ELECTION SKETCH: In a cramped ‘hub’ in Broad Green, the first full hustings of the 2026 Croydon Mayor campaign took place last night. KEN TOWL was there, so you didn’t need to be (and you couldn’t have squeezed in, anyway) … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Community associations, Croydon Business Association, Ken Towl, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Pusey, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis, Ruskin House | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

At 78, Palace hero Roy becomes Bristol City caretaker boss

At 78, Roy Hodgson, the holder of the Freedom of the Borough of Croydon, is about to embark on his 21st managerial job. The former England manager and twice boss at his hometown club Crystal Palace, has today been announced … Continue reading

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Coulsdon’s Bell promises ding-dong contest in Gladiators final

A 23-year-old rugby player from Coulsdon is in tomorrow night’s final of Gladiators. Emily Bell says that her background in contact sport – as well as playing for rugby league side London Broncos, she took up judo when at Cambridge … Continue reading

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Game of musical chairs for Reform as Tebbutt takes ‘new role’

Just five days before their party leader is expected at the Fairfield Halls for a rally to be attended by “thousands” (in a Concert Hall with a capacity of fewer than 1,800), and Reform Ltd in Croydon has changed their … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Dan Milner-Tebbutt | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Selsdon Park Hotel’s new owners hope to re-open by June 2027

EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES A £1billion property business has bought what was once known as the Selsdon Park Hotel, and is looking to re-open in 12- to 14-months’ time after a multi-million-pound refurb (yes, another one). The £200 per night … Continue reading

Posted in BH Group, Birch (Selsdon), Business, Selsdon Park Hotel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Waterstones’ primaries enjoy poetry, mysteries and recycling

Thousands of children from two dozen local schools got a World Book Day token and an inspiring lesson from an author or illustrator to mark World Book Day at the Whitgift Centre’s biggest book shop More than 3,500 pupils from … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Art, Business, Education, Poetry, Schools, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

43 days to go and desperation is appearing in election leaflets

After all the calamities inflicted on Croydon by Tory Mayor Jason Perry, from his 33% Council Tax hikes to his unlawful LTN fines, has Labour fallen into their old trap of over-promising before under-delivering? WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, sifts through … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, New Addington, New Addington North, Old Coulsdon, Paul Scott, Ria Patel, Richard Howard, Shirley North, Shirley South, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Surrey’s September title heartbreak has been a real motivator

HOOK’S SHOT: The wickets have been rolled, the stumps varnished and bats oiled with linseed. From his seat in The Oval Long Room, MARCUS HOOK, pictured right, looks ahead to the cricket season Good Friday sees the start of the … Continue reading

Posted in Cricket, Gareth Batty, Jamie Smith, Marcus Hook, Rory Burns, Sport, Surrey CCC | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hear Scottish Detective’s crime scene secrets at the Cryer

‘This is not fiction. It’s real cases, real victims and real consequences’ David Swindle, one of the country’s best-known true crime detective figures, will be sharing his insights and memories of a lifetime’s work hunting down criminals when his show, … Continue reading

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Mayor Perry failed to stop Farage rally in council-owned venue

Reform UK could win eight or nine council seats in May’s local elections in Croydon, mostly from the Tories. And they could scupper the Conservative Mayor’s re-election bid. But gormless Jason Perry won’t cancel Nigel Farage’s booking at the Fairfield … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Commissioners: council lacks focus and robust delivery plans

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Government releases report critical of the lack of progress and slow pace of improvements in finances under Tory Mayor Jason Perry. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Six weeks out from the local elections, the government has published … Continue reading

Posted in Abi Brown, Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jackie Belton, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Whatever could they mean? Commissioners call for ‘honesty’

In what is overall a highly critical report from the government-appointed Commissioners after six months working closely with the council run by successive chief execs Katherine Kerswell (until she left in October with a £50,000 pay-off) and Elaine Jackson, and … Continue reading

Posted in Abi Brown, Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jackie Belton, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Whitgift crowned national schools rugby champions once again

Whitgift School has once again won the national schools’ rugby cup. The under-15s squad triumphed 32-26 last week in a hard-fought final at Ealing against defending champions Northampton School for Boys in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup.

Posted in Education, Rugby Union, Schools, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Loyal reader Ben Clarke wins Bluebell in Lavenderland prize

Inside Croydon subscriber Ben Clarke is the lucky winner of a free family ticket to visit the Bluebell in Lavenderland experience at its Epsom site. Ben has been a loyal patron for this website since 2024, not only supporting our … Continue reading

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South Croydon primary part of £45m national nursery scheme

Regina Coeli, the Catholic primary on Pampisford Road in South Croydon, is among 34 new or expanded schools in London to receive funding to provide extra nursery provision from September. Inside Croydon reported in January how Regina Coeli had been … Continue reading

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The art of the deal: what is Perry hiding over Veolia contract?

CROYDON COMMENTARY: In 2023, Croydon’s Mayor cancelled the borough’s contract with rubbish contractors Veolia because of “significant and ongoing concerns” over performance. In 2025, the council handed a new £40m deal to Veolia. A year on, the Town Hall has … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Fly tipping, Litter Free Norbury, London-wide issues, Love Norbury, Mayor Jason Perry, Norbury, Refuse collection, Tony Hooker, Veolia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Bruising drama that delivers a punch against the patriarchy

KEN TOWL goes 12 rounds with the latest must-see play to be staged at the Coulsdon Community Centre. Photos by STEVE NORTH Director Anya Destiney has not made things easy for herself. The Sweet Science of Bruising makes big demands. … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Coulsdon, Ken Towl, Theatre, Theatre Workshop Coulsdon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Courtyard Theatre, Apr 14-18

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Bookings open for Scherzo Strings music courses: Apr and Jul

A D V E R T I S E M E N T For more information and to make your bookings, click here

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Vicar of Croydon announces move to Walsingham this summer

Canon Andrew Bishop is standing down as the Vicar of Croydon, to take up a position in the Diocese of Norwich. The Vicar of Croydon is an ancient church position that dates back to Saxon times, closely associated with Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in Bishop of Croydon, Canon Andrew Bishop, Canon Colin Boswell, Church and religions, Croydon Minster | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The wartime night that the ‘first lady of jazz’ sang for Croydon

CROYDON CHRONICLES: Adelaide Hall performed at the Cotton Club, sang with Duke Ellington and took to the stage in the Berlin of Sally Bowles. And she was a star of the old Croydon Empire, as DAVID MORGAN explains  It was … Continue reading

Posted in David Morgan, History, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment