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

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

Posted in Activities, Gardening, Inside Croydon, Nature Notes, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Education, Regina Coeli, Schools, South Croydon | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Great Big Bug Show is bringing minibeasts to South Norwood

Simon Mole and musician Gecko are bringing their new family performance, The Great Big Bug Show, to Stanley Halls in South Norwood for the spring half-term, on Wednesday May 27. Mole is the National Poetry Day Ambassador and acclaimed children’s … Continue reading

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CBA election debate, Smile Hub, Broad Green, Thu Mar 26

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Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Activities, Advertisement, Advertisement features, Broad Green, Business, Community associations, Croydon Business Association, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Rowenna Davis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Councillors make call to divest from Israeli-linked companies

More than 150 councillors from across London’s boroughs and London Assembly members have signed a letter demanding divestment of council pension funds from corporations which fund or support Israeli abuses against Palestinians. Yet only one of Croydon’s 70 councillors has … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Bromley Council, Dave Tchil, Kingston, Lambeth Council, Ria Patel, Sheldon Vestey, Southwark Council, Sutton Council, Wandsworth Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Easter Trail, MHA The Wilderness, Shirley Church Rd, Mar 29

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Posted in Activities, Advertisement, Advertisement features, Croydon parks, Environment, Gardening | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Langley Vale conservation talk, Honeywood Museum, May 28

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Posted in Activities, Advertisement, Advertisement features, Education, Environment, History, Honeywood Museum | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Et tu Brute: Fringe party claims credit for getting Perry elected

There’s more than a sense of the Ides of March about some of the rhetoric coming from public meetings as the 2026 local election campaign gets into its stride, as WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, writes It seems somehow appropriate that, … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Gabriel MacArthur, Peter Underwood, Rowenna Davis, Ruskin House | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Take a step back in time for the start of the election campaign

KEN TOWL was at last night’s Ruskin House election debate, so that you didn’t need to be The great red-green face-off at Ruskin House last night answered some burning questions, such as who will Your Party support? And, what will … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Ken Towl, Peter Underwood, Rowenna Davis, Ruskin House | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Radar-based speed cameras to trial in Sutton and Croydon

Roads in Croydon and Sutton are to be among the sites for a trial of radar-based speed cameras. Given that this scheme is being brought in by the Met Police and Transport for London, motorists can expect it to be … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, London-wide issues, Policing, Sutton Council, TfL, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Borough’s oldest charity in £4m South Croydon property sale

The borough’s oldest charity is selling 11 of the 12 houses it owns on one street in South Croydon in a £4million property disposal. The housing being sold off represents the bulk of Croydon Almshouses’ property portfolio, which comprises 16 … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Housing, Property, South Croydon | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

CBA election debate, Smile Hub, Broad Green, Thu Mar 26

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Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Activities, Advertisement, Advertisement features, Broad Green, Business, Community associations, Croydon Business Association, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Rowenna Davis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A40 to close for 6 weeks as engineers check Croydon Flyover

The six-week closure of the 1960s-built concrete flyovers of the A40 Westway in west London, which begins tomorrow, raises the prospect that the Croydon Flyover could soon be undergoing similar, full-scale remedial engineering works. Transport for London describes the A40 … Continue reading

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Bookies make Labour’s Davis favourite to win Mayor election

Bookmakers are taking bets on the outcome of the 2026 Croydon mayoral election, and they make Labour’s Rowenna Davis a short-priced 6-5 favourite to win at the local elections on May 7. Reform UK don’t yet even have a candidate … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Greens, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Rowenna Davis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Police seek Fiat driver after Old Town suspected hit and run

A stretch of Church Road in Croydon’s Old Town remained closed to traffic this morning, more than 24 hours after what the police are treating as a “serious” hit and run which has left a 51-year-old man in a critical … Continue reading

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Croydon’s teams looking ready for end-of-season take-offs

NON-LEAGUE NEWS: Oliver Glasner’s reign at Selhurst Park isn’t over just yet, but while he and the Eagles have flown out to Cyprus, the borough’s non-league sides have been enjoying winning streaks and record scorelines, reports ANDREW SINCLAIR Crystal Palace … Continue reading

Posted in AFC Croydon Athletic, Andrew Sinclair, Croydon FC, Crystal Palace FC, Football, Oliver Glasner, Sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Enjoy Oscar winners and more at David Lean Cinema in April

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Posted in Advertisement, Advertisement features, Art, Cinema, Community associations, David Lean Cinema Campaign | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment