Final release of free tickets for Screen25 Jamaican celebration

Posted on July 17, 2018 by insidecroydon

More than 200 have already booked to attend a free outdoor screening of Perry Henzell’s 1972 cult classic The Harder They Come on Saturday August 11.

Now the organisers, Screen25 – South Norwood’s community cinema – want to make sure that the remaining tickets are taken up by local residents.

Jimmy Cliff stars in the cult classic The Harder They Come

The special event coincides with Jamaican Independence Day that week, as well as paying tribute to the 70th anniversary of the Windrush.

Supported by around 30 volunteers, the cinema aims to unite and empower the local community through a diverse programme of films hosted at Harris Academy South Norwood.

To deliver the event in August, Screen25 is partnering with We Are Parable, an immersive events company with a focus on black cinema, whose credits include the Black Panther preview screening at the BFI, and the Spike Lee is 60 Film Festival. Continue reading →

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BINMAGEDDON!: More questions raised by rubbish roadshow

Posted on July 17, 2018 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Armed with his exemption letter from the council, telling him that his home was not suited to storing even one, never mind at least three, wheelie bins, IAN HUNTER set off to the public roadshows to hear what ‘advice’ is being offered to residents

The council is rolling out new wheelies across the borough

I’ve been to two of the council-run roadshows being staged around the borough to try to explain how the new refuse bins system will work.

Last Thursday, I went along to North End, outside the Whitgift Centre, to see the Veolia comedy team, after a scouting expedition to the first roadshow in Thornton Heath High Street a week before (I was in the area). There, after some “intense” discussion with a charming young lady, she made a list of questions to be answered at the North End session.

After waiting a while because other members of the public were being brainwashed by the rubbish company’s policy (interpret “rubbish” any way you wish), I gained access to a young man who actually had in his possession responses to some of my questions, in a document authorised by Croydon Council, to whom my questions had been passed – Veolia not apparently being responsible for the events leading up to the surprise replacement for our refuse bins.

Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Refuse collection, Stuart Collins, Veolia | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

£400,000 to transform South Croydon pub into new Whelans

Posted on July 17, 2018 by insidecroydon

A South Croydon pub, closed for almost a year, is set to re-open at the end of August after a £400,000 transformation into an Irish-themed gastro-pub.

Austin Whelan: bringing his brand of Irish-themed pub to South Croydon

The man behind the makeover is pub entrepreneur Austin Whelan, who has lengthy experience of operating bars in and around Croydon over the past 20 years.

The Baskerville, on Selsdon Road, is owned by the Star Pubs & Bars chain, which leases premises to independent operators.

The Baskerville had previously been known as The Folly, an uncannily suitable name for a bar which enjoyed the trade brought over the road from the Sadvertiser, at a time when the not-so-local paper still had an office in Croydon.

Despite its first costly makeover, and a busy, regular trade on its music nights, The Baskerville closed last October when the then landlord decided not to continue operating. With two other pubs along the Selsdon Road also having closed for redevelopment in the past 18 months, local residents and ward councillors were concerned that the large Baskerville site might also be vulnerable to property speculators who might want to build some get-rich-quick flats.

But this week, Star Pubs & Bars have announced that it is to be re-opened by Whelan. It will be his fourth Irish-themed pub. Most recently, he opened a Whelans in Kingston. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Pubs, Restaurants, South Croydon, Whelans | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Speculation mounting over future of £70m transfer target Zaha

Posted on July 16, 2018 by insidecroydon

For Crystal Palace fans, that World Cup euphoria could be short-lived, as the optimistic It’s Coming Home theme of the past four weeks has segued into a version of the old Clash number: Should He Stay Or Should He Go? as transfer speculation mounts over Wilfried Zaha.

Wilf Zaha in pre-season training with Palace last week. Will he still be there come September?

Zaha is the undisputed star of Selhurst Park, with a host of clubs courting the skilful winger’s signature in what could be a club record £70million summer deal.

And comments by Palace manager Roy Hodgson ahead of tonight’s pre-season tour friendly against Halmsteds in Sweden have done little to calm the nerves of Eagles fans anxious to keep Zaha in south London.

Zaha has been linked with Everton, Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, with some speculation from Germany that he is missing tonight’s Palace game in order to fly to Germany for a medical and to finalise details (the club’s explanation for Zaha’s absence was “family reasons”).

The perils of Photoshop, eh: some wags even mocked up a Zaha shirt in Borussia colours.

What’s not helped the mood have been some of Hodgson’s comments while on the club’s Scandinavian tour. Continue reading →

Posted in Crystal Palace FC, Football, Goldie, Martyn Rooney, Roy Hodgson, Sport, Wilfried Zaha | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Council gets more secretive over its councillors’ declarations

Posted on July 16, 2018 by insidecroydon

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE reports on a strange reversal of previous open and transparent Town Hall policy, which is deliberately keeping cabinet members’ interests under cover

Tony Newman’s 41-strong Labour council group. Only a few have their declarations of interest published online

The Labour group which is running Croydon Council is becoming more secretive by the week.

Last Monday, Labour’s council leader Tony Newman refused to debate in the Town Hall chamber the increase in councillors’ allowances he was pushing through. Newman had a hidden agenda, and managed to keep the details of the councillors’ pay hike a secret until the day of the meeting – breaking rules on how council business is supposed to be conducted transparently and open to public scrutiny.

Newman was probably uncomfortable about having to justify the pay hike. He is splashing Council Tax-payers’ cash on “Tony’s Cronies”, as he increased the number of members of his cabinet, almost doubled the allowances of one of his favourites, Louisa Woodley, with a huge pay hike of £20,000, and ensured that his buddy, Paul Scott will be paid nearly £40,000 per year as he “job shares” a cabinet post.

Now, an Inside Croydon investigation has discovered that Newman’s Labour group has seen a reversal of previous policy over the legal requirement to publish details of councillors’ declarations of interests.

Continue reading →

Posted in Alison Butler, Badsha Quadir, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jason Cummings, Louisa Woodley, Mario Creatura, Oliver Lewis, Paul Scott, Simon Hall, Simon Hoar, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Clutter Monster with Sally Walford, Upper Norwood, Jul 27

Posted on July 16, 2018 by insidecroydon

The Clutter Monster lives in the land of Mess, a monster who loves nothing more than very messy children and very messy playrooms.

This story for children tells the tale of one dark night when two messy children are spotted by The Clutter Monster. Only The Decluttering Dog has the secret of how to make the Monster go. Will he get to them in time to save their fate?

This delightful tale encourages children to tidy up their toys and keep on top of that clutter. Hear Sally Walford read from The Clutter Monster and take part in a Q&A with the author and founder of declutterme.london, a lifestyle business helping people to prioritise their belongings and declutter their way to long-term happiness, fulfilment and a clearer mind. Continue reading →

Posted in Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Libraries, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , | 1 Comment

CACFO Summer School, Thornton Heath, Jul 24 – Aug 10

Posted on July 16, 2018 by insidecroydon

Continue reading →

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Lipstick libraries micro-blogging, Upper Norwood, Jul 26

Posted on July 16, 2018 by insidecroydon

Join writer, journalist and blogger, Alice Purkiss, at this fun and informative blogging event at Upper Norwood Library, exploring the way social media can be used as a blogging platform, discovering cool people to follow on social media and talking about how social media can be cultivated as a healthy place to exist online.

Plus, while we explore ways to use social media for storytelling, you can relax, paint your nails and enjoy some nibbles. Continue reading →

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Create your own podcast, Upper Norwood Library, Jul 25

Posted on July 15, 2018 by insidecroydon

Work as a team to create an exciting and original podcast under the direction of a professional voiceover artist. Recording equipment provided.

For 13- to 16-year-olds at Upper Norwood Library. The course is free, though donations are welcome.

The course runs twice over the summer: Continue reading →

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Heroes, Villains, Monsters, Upper Norwood Library, Jul 24

Posted on July 15, 2018 by insidecroydon

A superhero with heroic anatomy?

Creepy villainous henchmen?

Mutant monsters? Mythical creatures?

Learn how to create your own heroes, villains and monsters on paper with a professional local artist.

What special powers will your hero have?

What vehicle would your evil boss drive?

Or just how slimy can you make your creature?

Come along and create your characters, the only thing you need to bring along is your imagination. Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Art, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Shirley residents horrified by ‘ugly dystopia’ of Sandrock flats

Posted on July 15, 2018 by insidecroydon

Another of Croydon’s long-established and much-loved community pubs is under threat of “redevelopment”, as builders seek new ways to get around the council’s Local Plan.

Under threat: The Sandrock on Upper Shirley Road

Residents in Shirley were shocked by the closure of the 150-year-old Sandrock on Upper Shirley Road. And some have been spurred into action since visiting an exhibition by developers Marshall Hurley, where they found plans for two unsightly blocks of flats in the pub’s car park.

“This would devastate our area,” one resident told Inside Croydon.

Residents’ concerns heightened when they learned that the vehicles belonging to residents of the 19 new flats are expected to access the highway not through the current entrance of the pub in Sandpits Road, but by coming in and out of the narrow cul de sac alongside called Sandrock Place. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Housing, Planning, Property, Pubs, Shirley North | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Woodwork skills and social enterprise, Upper Norwood Library

Posted on July 15, 2018 by insidecroydon

A free course, for 14- to 17-year-olds, at Upper Norwood Library, beginning on Monday, July 23.

Fancy seeing if you have a talent for making things out of wood?

Want experience of setting up and running a social enterprise?

We will help you decide what you want to make, support you to create your pieces, including showing you how to use tools and machinery, and will then help you with the process of setting up a social enterprise and selling your items (with proceeds coming back into the charity). Continue reading →

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Have a proper Beano at Upper Norwood Library this summer

Posted on July 14, 2018 by insidecroydon

At Upper Norwood Library, there is a wide range of often Beano-themed activities being staged over the summer, beginning from July 14 and running until September 15, as part of the Summer Reading Challenge.

All activities are free for all to attend and include:

Wriggle & Rhyme Storytime (under-5s)
Every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 10.30am

Rebel Badges & Mischief Masks
Wednesday 25th July, 2pm
Make your own mischievous mask and badges Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Libraries, Poetry, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mischief Makers summer reading challenge, Jul 14- Sep 15

Posted on July 14, 2018 by insidecroydon

Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Ashburton, Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Central, Croydon parks, Education, Libraries, New Addington, Norbury, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon & Ballards, Shirley North, South Norwood, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shirley Neighbourhood Care Afternoon Tea, Jul 28

Posted on July 14, 2018 by insidecroydon

Continue reading →

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Tots’ Tales Story Time in the Park, various venues, Jul 23-29

Posted on July 14, 2018 by insidecroydon

Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Croydon parks, Crystal Palace Park, Education, Libraries, Wandle Park | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dear councillor, please don’t let the autism community down

Posted on July 13, 2018 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: The council has handed out a range of appointments for its four-year term, including making the recently elected Addiscombe West councillor, Jerry Fitzpatrick, the borough’s ‘Autism Champion’. Here, DAWN ASSEFA, pictured right, sends him an open letter

Dear Councillor Fitzpatrick,

As a carer of a child with autism and member of the autism community in Croydon, I would like to offer you my congratulations on your new role as Croydon “Autism Champion”.

I am writing this open letter in the hope that you will be a champion to all of us in the community, because we are not just “service users”, as we have been labelled in the past.

I will recognise the attempts you make to make a difference, the services you work with to make adaptions and reasonable adjustments, the Autism Partnership Board (although there is just one person on the spectrum actually on that board, which is shocking!) are all making a difference. Continue reading →

Posted in Addiscombe West, Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Community associations, Croydon Council, Education, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Schools | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

£400,000 ‘superhead’ ousted from Oval Primary leaves his job

Posted on July 13, 2018 by insidecroydon

The controversial “superhead” who was ousted within 48 hours of being parachuted in to one Croydon primary has now been forced out of his £400,000 per year job in charge of the Gipsy Hill Federation of schools.

£400,000 a year: Sir Craig Tunstall appears to have lost his very generous superhead salary

Education Uncovered, the subscription-only website, has reported this week that “Sir” Craig Tunstall, the country’s best-paid primary headteacher, has left his position, more than a year after he was suspended on full pay during the course of a fraud inquiry.

In 2011, the then Tory-run administration at Croydon Town Hall brought in the Gipsy Hill Federation, and Tunstall, to take over the running of Oval Primary, on Cherry Orchard Road.

Controversially, Croydon Council’s children and education department had invited in the Lambeth-based Gipsy Hill Federation, over-ruling the school’s governors, and replacing Oval’s then headteacher. But Tunstall and his staff walked out of the school within two days, after a hostile reaction from parents, and took their hard-line methods with them. Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Oval Primary, Schools | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Rare suffragette’s Hunger Strike medal is set to be auctioned

Posted on July 13, 2018 by insidecroydon

In the centenary year of women in Britain first getting the vote, TV auction expert Catherine Southon is staging a sale in Croydon where the leading lot is a wonderful archive of one suffragette’s fight for the cause, including a rare silver hunger strike medal.

TV auctioneer Catherine Southon has a range of suffragette memorabilia on offer at her next sale

It is believed that only 100 of these medals – with the inscription “For Valour”, the same as is used on the country’s highest military honour, the Victoria Cross – were ever awarded.

Southon’s auction house is staging the sale at Farleigh Court golf club on July 25, when the collection of artefacts from Kate Evans will be offered for sale and is expected to fetch up to £10,000.

Kate Williams Evans was born in 1866 in the small Mid-Wales village of Llansantffraid, in modern-day Powys.

Growing up, she was interested in politics and spent a considerable time in Paris. While there, she met members of the Women’s Social and Political Union, the organisation founded by Emmeline Pankhurst in 1903.

By her early 30s, Evans had joined the Union and was an active member. To the apparent dismay of her parents, who thought the behaviour of these women was quite shocking, Evans became a suffragette.

In March 1912, Evans was arrested and imprisoned for 54 days in Holloway prison, where she undertook a life-threatening hunger strike which won her the medal. Continue reading →

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Wilford Road Park football competition, Windmill Road, Jul 21

Posted on July 13, 2018 by insidecroydon

Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Football, Selhurst | Leave a comment

Kenley Revival Project airfield family history tour, Aug 1

Posted on July 13, 2018 by insidecroydon

Take a two-mile guided tour with the Kenley Revival learning officer to find out more about RAF Kenley’s significant Battle of Britain history.

RAF Kenley has a proud Battle of Britain history

Hear the stories of real people that worked and lived at RAF Kenley during World War II, venture into our air raid shelter and handle our collection of replica World War II objects.

The tour is being staged on August 1 and will start from the Hayes Lane entrance to Kenley Common at 10am, please arrive on time. Continue reading →

Posted in Education, History, Kenley, Kenley Airfield Friends Group | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

BINMAGEDDON!: How I intend to refuse to take new wheelies

Posted on July 12, 2018 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: As the council begins the ‘roll-out’ of its new wheelie bins, at least one resident, IAN HUNTER, thinks he has found a way to avoid being forced to triple the number of bins on the narrow pavement outside his home

The pavement outside Ian Hunter’s home – the littering on the pavement after Veolia’s recycling collection has visited

I hold an exemption letter from Croydon Council allowing me not to hold a wheelie bin on my property as the property was deemed unsuitable for wheelie bin collection.

It’s something I shall be waving under the noses of the council officials at their information “roadshow” at the Whitgift Centre.

The letter, dated September 2005, the last time the council tried to impose wheelie bins on a property unsuited for their uses, states categorically: “I can confirm that your property has been re-surveyed…”, yes, they claimed then to have done a property survey which had found our home suitable for their wheelie bin, “… and is unsuitable for wheelie bin collection.” Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Refuse collection, Stuart Collins, Veolia, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Robson returns to his rugby roots as coach at Warlingham

Posted on July 12, 2018 by insidecroydon

Warlingham are welcoming back a stalwart former player to take up a key role in the club’s back-room staff ahead of the new rugby season.

A stalwart Warlingham forward is back at the club as part of the coaching team

Neil Robson played in Warlingham’s first XV’s back row for a decade before cutting his coaching teeth at Horley RFC. He’s made a return to his rugby roots to take on the role of director of performance at the Hamsey Green club, ensuring the whole senior club has a consistent approach to training and coaching.

Warlingham’s season in London and South-East Division 3SW kicks off on September 1, at home against Southampton-based club Trojans, before a much-awaited derby at promoted Old Whitgiftians the following Saturday.

The club’s director of rugby, Nick Warren, has assembled an impressive coaching team, with John Hosken continuing as lead coach, Paddy Green as lineout coach and Connor McDonald in charge of strength and conditioning.

Several former Premiership players have also agreed to give regular technical advice to prepare the club in a more structured way.

Continue reading →

Posted in Old Whitgiftians, Rugby Union, Sport, Warlingham RFC | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Guided tour of Kenley’s Battle of Britain airfield, Jul 30

Posted on July 12, 2018 by insidecroydon

Join the Kenley Revival Project manager on a tour of Kenley airfield, learn about RAF Kenley’s significant Battle of Britain history and hear about the conservation, preservation and restoration of one of Britain’s finest examples of “Impermanent Architecture”.

A Hawker Hurricane, one of the fighter aircraft flown from Kenley in WWII

The special guided tour is being held from 1pm on Monday, July 30, and is free of charge.

Kenley was used from 1917 by the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, and by the Royal Air Force in World War II, when it was one of three fighter bases – the others being Biggin Hill and Croydon – which provided most of the airborne defences for London during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and the Blitz. Continue reading →

Posted in History, Kenley, Kenley Airfield Friends Group | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Council staffer is a role model for giving a ‘voice’ to disabled

Posted on July 12, 2018 by insidecroydon

A council employee who works to support people with disabilities into work has been named among the finalists in the National Diversity Awards.

Nana Marfo: giving voice to the disabled

Nana Marfo, who works as an employment support officer in the council’s Gateway division, is among the leading contenders in the Positive Role Model Award – Disability, selected from more than 24,550 nominations.

Marfo, 35, works to get people with disabilities into – or back into – supported employment and increase their independence. His work has included supporting a Croydon man with Autism Spectrum Disorder to start a nursery apprenticeship after more than 30 unsuccessful applications for other jobs. Continue reading →

Posted in Adult Social Care, Croydon Council | Tagged , , | Leave a comment