Your Croydon - August 2010 - London Borough of Croydon

Issue 43 - August 2010
Your primary source of community information
Ready to face the
future.
www.croydon.gov.uk
Ready for a Boost.
Ready to remember.
Youngsters given
a second chance.
Croydon kids make
a stand against
obesity.
RAF Kenley Air
Day marks a major
anniversary
Page 6
Page 10
Page 21
All the fun of
the festival
Latin fever: Matthew Cutler cha-chas in the sun
Hot-shoe
shuffle on
the green
Temperatures soared as the Big
Dance became the big swelter.
Croydon Summer Festival: weekend of colour, variety and top-name acts are promised for Lloyd Park extravaganza
Hopes are high for another
massive turnout at this month’s
Croydon Summer Festival – but
even if the recent heatwave fails
to hold out, festival-goers will
be guaranteed a weekend of
great music and family fun.
Fresh-faced musical acts,
street-theatre performers, a kids’
area, funfair and even the Wall
of Death will feature when the
festival comes to Lloyd Park
on July 31 and August 1.
Saturday’s World Party has
a distinct retro feel to the main
stage, with pop masters The
Lightning Seeds rounding off a day
that will have seen Motown stars
Martha Reeves and The Vandellas
rekindling memories, and The
Damned shrugging off the years
since the anarchic mid-70s.
And, bringing things bang up
to date, will be local star Rox,
Health centre opens - page 12
wooing the audience with her
sweet soul and reggae rhythms.
Sunday sees the festival
hosting the Croydon Mela, the
annual celebration of the pick of
Asian and Anglo-Asian artists,
injecting into the proceedings the
colour and tempos of the East.
Among the acts will be renowned
bhangra vocalist Jassi Sidhu, Taz,
singer/songwriter Raghu Dixit, and
ghazal vocalist Swati Natekar.
Sporting achievers - page 13
Despite the searing heat,
hundreds of people
went dance-crazy when
the Big Dance bubble
came to Croydon’s
College Green recently.
The temperature
meant that all of the
performances took
place outside the giant
inflatable tent, but the
huge pink balloon still
provided an impressive
centrepiece and
backdrop for the shows.
Matthew and Nichole
Cutler (Strictly Come
Dancing) dropped by
from their Semley Dance
Academy, in Norbury,
to teach passers-by to
cha-cha. The event saw
scores of performances
throughout the day,
ranging from hiphop to flamenco.
The Big Dance is just
one of the many cultural
events that will be taking
place across London
in the lead-up to the
2012 Olympic Games.
Blue-badge prosecutions - page 17
2x yournews
August
May 2009
2010 | Your Croydon
Zero tolerance reaps
fly-tipping reward
Tough measures by the
council have resulted in the
double benefit of cleaner
streets and savings for
council taxpayers.
A crackdown on flytippers has seen a fall in
the number of reported
cases from almost 700 in
December to figures in
the 200s for the first five
months of this year.
Fly-tipping became a
problem in 2009 as the
number of complaints rose.
December’s peak saw
680 calls made to the
council about unsightly
piles of rubbish being left on
the borough’s streets.
In addition to being an
environmental concern, it
was costing a huge amount
of council taxpayers’ money
to stay on top of the mess.
The scale of the problem
led council officers no
option but to get much
tougher with the culprits.
A concentrated effort
was made to target the
main fly-tipping hotspots
and identify those
responsible.
Stop-and-search
Number of calls per month
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Jan
Feb Mar Apr May
operations were mounted
with the police, and fixed
penalty notices issued to
hundreds of offenders,
including residents and
local businesses.
A very clear message
went out that the council
was taking a zero-tolerance
stance.
The results were
dramatic.
By January the volume
of calls reporting fly-tipping
had tumbled, and, as Your
Croydon went to press,
the latest figures indicate
the improvement is being
maintained.
Brownies’ world-record sleepover
Roof-raising noise, singing,
dancing, a magic show
and circus skills – not the
usual Saturday night fare
for one of central Croydon’s
shopping centres.
But this was no usual
Saturday night.
Nearly 400 Brownies,
accompanied by 100 leaders
and young leaders, made
Centrale one of several
sites that helped set a new
world record for the largest
simultaneous sleepover to
mark the centenary of the
Guide Association
The Croydon Brownies
Giant Sleepover Centenary
Celebration proved a huge
hit, and even won the
support of the Mayor of
Croydon, Councillor Avril
Slipper, who called in to
witness one of the country’s
three largest sleepovers.
Anne Pilkington,
the Guides’ county
commissioner, said: “This
was the first such event
Croydon County has put on
for the girls, so it was an
unknown quantity but, with
superb organisation, some
great entertainment and
community cooperation,
we had an amazing night’s
cc@girlguidingcroydon.
org.uk or Freephone
0800 169 5901
yournews
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yourspace
13
specialfeature
6
yoursafety
17
yourcommunity
8
yourbusiness
19
yourhealth
10
yourheritage 21
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To get in touch with the Your Croydon editorial team, email
[email protected] or call 020 8760 5644
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fun with no dramas.
“We couldn’t have
provided such a great event
without the enthusiasm
of the Centrale staff, who
made sure everything ran
smoothly for us.”
And a special centenary
Guide camp will take place
during August in East
Grinstead, followed by a
London Adventure Quiz in
the autumn for Rangers and
young leaders.
For more details about
Guiding in Croydon, email
He’s earned it: Alex with award and Arlene Phillips
Vocational victory
for local learner
An engineering student
from Croydon College
has been named the VQ
Learner of the Year for
the London region in the
under-24 category of a
nationwide celebration of
people who have gained
vocational qualifications.
Alex Pamnani was
presented with his
award by popular TV
presenter Arlene Phillips,
who described him as a
deserving winner.
The VQ Learner of the
Year Awards recognise
learners who have excelled
in their vocational field.
Alex said:“I’ve been
studying at Croydon
College for the past four
years and can say it has
been an extraordinary
journey I shall never
forget.
“Winning the VQ
Award for London for
the various engineering
courses I’ve studied
gives me a great sense of
achievement.
“I’d like to give a
special thanks to all the
staff and assistants for
their continued effort and
commitment over the
years.
“It’s been a total
pleasure to be part of the
college and, in particular,
to be student president
and student governor this
year.”
After four years of
hard work, Alex has
now secured a place
at the University of
Loughborough to study
engineering.
For more information
on courses at the college,
call 020 8760 5914 or go
to www.croydon.ac.uk
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Have your e-say at [email protected]
Standing up for all
that is Croydon
The profile of the borough
has been raised over
recent weeks following the
revelation of the personal
thoughts of a Croydon
police officer.
Sgt David Deuchar
voiced what many
considered an ill-judged
opinion when he said,
on his page on a social
networking website, that
participants on the Jeremy
Kyle TV show could trace
their roots back to Croydon.
Unfortunately, his
comments were made
after he had appeared on a
poster displayed across the
borough – and on the back
page of Your Croydon –
representing the face of the
borough’s police.
Local and national
media leapt on the matter,
revelling in the opportunity
for another round of
Croydon bashing.
Your Croydon realises
that the borough is not
perfect – where is? – but
maintains it has a very
great deal to offer its
residents, businesses and
the millions who visit every
year.
Graham Smith: “Anyone
visiting Croydon will
quickly see how little
truth there is in that sort
of opinion.”
And that is a view
shared by many.
When Your Croydon
spoke to local people, we
found they were not happy
with what had been said,
and were keen to sing the
praises of our place.
Ian Lovett has been
selling flowers from his
stall at the corner of Surrey
Street for years.
He said: “I must see
thousands of people walk
past my stall every day.
“There are a few who
are loud or unpleasant, but
the huge majority are just
normal people.
“Croydon does have
an image problem –
comedians on TV seem to
think we’re an easy target.
“That’s why people
saying things like this in
public are really out of
order.
“We all might think
things, or have a joke
with mates, but people in
authority really do need to
be careful about what they
write – even on personal
web pages.”
Dom O’Reilly, who
Here comes the sun
If ever proof was needed
that today’s children
are aware of the need
to preserve the world’s
resources, the pupils of
Whitehorse Manor Junior
School can provide it.
Their school, in
Whitehorse Road, Thornton
Heath, recently had 36
photovoltaic solar panels
installed on its roof.
Three of the school’s
year 6 pupils – Crystal
Mathurin, Mobolaji
Otunuga and Jennifer
Ramsey – proudly showed
the panels off when Your
Croydon paid a visit.
Mobolaji said: “It’s going
to be better now we’ve got
the solar panels because the
school can generate its own
energy, rather than using
other energy that might not
be as clean.
“The sunlight’s free and
it’s a clean source of energy.”
Crystal and Jennifer
outlined other ways in
which the school is helping
the environment, including
encouraging the children
to walk to school and to
recycle as many materials as
possible.
The panels provide 6kw
of power, enough to meet
about half of the school’s
lighting needs.
Dom O’Reilly: “We all
know that most people
who say this sort of
thing don’t really know
the place.”
works in High Street’s Time
Bomb, Croydon’s centre for
rock’n’roll fashion, said:
“The young people who
shop here are hard-working
and sharp as pins.
“I really can’t
understand why someone
who was chosen to be the
face of a campaign like that
would come out and voice
such a weird opinion.
“That just makes
people’s perception of
Croydon even worse – and
we all know that most
people who say this sort
of thing don’t even really
know the place.
“Anyway, those Jeremy
Kyle guests are usually just
putting it on – they just
want their five minutes of
fame.”
As head of Croydon
Music and Arts, Graham
Smith has worked with
musicians and artists in
Croydon’s schools for
a number of years and
knows, first-hand, of the
talent local young people
have to offer.
“I spend an awful lot of
time in Croydon’s schools
and they’re wonderful
places to be because of
the mixture of different
backgrounds people have,”
he said.
“There’s no ‘typical’
person from Croydon – or
anywhere else for that
matter.
“Comments like
this are unhelpful – but
anyone visiting Croydon
will quickly see how little
truth there is in that sort of
opinion.”
Keep the kids
busy this
summer
Need ideas to keep
the kids occupied this
summer?
Whether it is performing
arts or sports, creative
writing or toy libraries
– Croydon’s summer
activity programme is
packed with ideas that
will keep the tedium of
the long summer break
at bay.
With schemes and
activities scattered
across every corner of
the borough, catering for
children and teenagers
from up to 19 years of
age, there’s sure to be
something to capture
the imagination of your
children and keep them
busy this summer.
Details of all the activities
available are listed in
the Croydon’s summer
activity programme at
www.croydon.gov.uk/
summeractivity or look
out for the Summer
Activity Brochure posted
through your door.
Did we miss
your bin?
Ian Lovett: “People in
authority need to be
careful about what
they write – even on
personal web pages.”
Tramlink summer works
As part of Transport
for London’s Tramlink
investment programme,
work will be undertaken
in the central Croydon
area to replace tram
tracks.
The works will begin
on Saturday 21 August,
lasting until Monday 30
August. inclusive.
During this time,
services will be affected as
follows:
• trams from Wimbledon
will run every 10
minutes during peak
times and will start
and finish at Reeves
Corner;
• trams from New
Addington, Elmers
News in brief
End and Beckenham
Junction will terminate
at East Croydon;
• George Street, Church
Street, Centrale, West
Croydon and Wellesley
Road tram stops will
be closed;
• Elmers End stop will
close early on Friday
20 August, from
7pm and all day on
Sundays.
Valid tickets will be
accepted on bus services
between East Croydon
and Reeves Corner, and
on buses toward Elmers
End when this stop is
closed.
Tramlink apologises
for any inconvenience.
The council empties
more than 125,000
household waste bins
every week. Occasionally
a few are missed.
Residents can now
telephone at a time that
is convenient to them
to arrange for a missed
bin to be collected,
usually by 4pm the next
working day. Outside
of office hours, call the
automated reporting
service on 020 8726
6200.
Parking surgery
The council’s parking
services department will
be holding a surgery
in the Town Hall on
Thursday, 12 August,
between 10am and
noon. Residents,
businesses and visitors
are invited to attend a
15-minute session and
have their questions
answered by a member
of the parking services
team. In order to provide
a detailed response, and
to be allocated a time
slot, send your question
to parking@croydon.
gov.uk
4 yournews
August 2010 | Your Croydon
Officer’s bravery
to be recognised
The bravery and quick
thinking of a Croydon
Council officer saved a
woman from serious injury
when he freed her from
an out-of-control dog.
Parks mobile
enforcement officer Peter
Newman kept a cool head
to help unlock the jaws of
the animal after it clamped
them shut on a terrified
woman’s arm recently.
The 51-year-old saw
the drama unfold while
driving to South Norwood
Recreation Ground. He
quickly parked his van and
ran across the road when
he saw a small woman with
a dog clamped firmly to her
arm, its upper and lower
teeth almost meeting.
Realising he had to
act fast, Peter grabbed his
torch and pushed it under
the dog’s collar and wound
it round until it was forced
to open its mouth and
let go.
Others who were at
the scene in Holmesdale
Road, in Selhurst, pulled
the terrified and heavily-
bleeding woman to safety
while Peter and a local
man wrestled the dog
under control, winding
tape around its mouth
and legs, before police
and paramedics arrived.
The dog, thought to
be a Staffordshire bull
terrier, was taken to South
Norwood police station and
is likely to be destroyed.
Peter said: “I
thought there was a
fight or something.
“When I got out of
the van, I saw a woman
spinning round, trying to
get a dog off her arm.
“There was blood
everywhere and the
strength of the animal was
unbelievable. I’ve never
seen anything like it.”
Peter’s helper, Tube
driver Ian Stewart, of
Holmesdale Road, said:
“There’s little doubt in
my mind that without
the timely intervention of
Peter the incident would
have resulted in a far
more serious outcome –
not only for the injured
woman, for myself and
the other bystanders.
“This was a big,
ferocious dog which was
clearly out of control of
its owner and its own
aggressive behaviour.”
Peter is set to be
recommended for a
mayoral citation in
recognition of his bravery
and selflessness.
Direct Debit winner says prize is
‘Almost like winning the lottery’
Some might regard the
annual council tax bill
as something of a
necessary evil.
For the next year,
however, one Thornton
Heath resident won’t be
sharing that view.
Jerome Croll thought
it was a “wind up” when
told his name had been
pulled from the hat to have
his council tax paid for 12
months.
When he heard he had
won simply because he
paid his bill by direct debit,
he began to believe there
might be some truth in it.
However, it wasn’t until
Your Croydon turned up to
take his photograph and
ask how he felt, that he
really believed.
“It’s almost like winning
the lottery,” the 42-year-old
happily observed.
“I didn’t even know
about the draw, and didn’t
know I was entered in it.
This has come completely
out of the blue – it’s a really
good surprise.”
The reason Jerome opts
to pay by direct debit is
because: “You don’t have to
think about it, it’s so easy.
“I’ve been using it a
long time – and, after this,
I’ll be telling everybody I
know to use it.”
To find out how you
can pay your council tax by
direct debit – and possibly
find yourself in Jerome’s
position this time next
year – visit
www.croydon.gov.uk/dd
Winner: Jerome’s
council tax is waived
for the year
Croydon health online
Whether you are looking for a dentist in
Coulsdon, a GP in Thornton Heath or a
pharmacy in Addiscombe, NHS Croydon
can help.
Local health services can now be
searched online through the NHS
Croydon website.
Simply by entering your postcode,
you can search for local GPs, dentists,
pharmacies, opticians and other health
services.
Results are displayed on a map, or as
a list, to help you choose health services
that are close to home and suit you.
Search online today at www.
croydon.nhs.uk/services
Under pressure: planner David Carlile (left) fields some
testing questions
Planners put
on the spot
Young people put council
planners under pressure
when the My City Too
roadshow pulled into
Croydon recently.
They were keen to show
that they had very definite
views on the way the
borough should develop,
and how they wanted a
say in that development.
My City Too is a
movement created by the
architecture organisation
Open-City, and led by
young people to improve
the quality of streets, green
spaces and buildings.
Ideas, comments and
pictures were gathered
on postcards, which
will be presented to
Croydon Council and
local MPs to help inform
local planning policy.
Neelam, 18 and from
Croydon, said: “I’m proud
of being a My City Too
ambassador and I really
enjoyed bringing the
campaign to the streets
where I live to encourage,
motivate and spread
awareness of what our
campaign is really about.”
Vincent Lacovara, of
the council’s planning
department, said: “It was
a pleasure and a privilege
to meet the young people
from My City Too.
“They asked some
brilliantly difficult questions
about public space and
how young people should
be involved in planning in
Croydon, and did so with
confidence, enthusiasm
and knowledge.
“They reminded me
how valuable young
people are in bringing a
passionate, creative and
inquisitive voice to the
table when it comes to
making decisions about
our public realm.”
For more information,
visit www.open-city.org.
uk or email mycitytoo@
open-city.org.uk
Get in touch
What is your top tip to
improve Croydon?
Send an email to
yourcroydon@croydon.
gov.uk
yournews 5
Have your e-say at [email protected]
Dispersal order aimed
at underage drinking
Underage drinkers and
antisocial behaviour
will be targeted when
police use extra powers
in a crackdown in New
Addington’s shopping
centre.
With effect from
mid-July, and with
overwhelming support
from the local community,
Croydon Council and the
police were granted a new
six-month dispersal order
for Central Parade.
This follows the success
of a previous dispersal
order, implemented last
October among a raft
of measures to tackle
underage drinking, drug
misuse and antisocial
behaviour in the area.
Since then, police
and council officers have
secured closure orders
against two properties
for illegal Class A drug
misuse; worked with
businesses, schools and
parents to prevent the
illegal sale of alcohol to
underage drinkers; and
established antisocial
behaviour agreements
with several persistent
offenders.
The previous dispersal
order expired in April,
and local police officers
requested a new order
following consultation
with residents and
businesses, who gave it
their backing.
Borough commander
Chief Superintendent
Adrian Roberts said:
“We’ve been using a
wide range of powers in
New Addington to send
a strong message to any
would-be troublemakers,
to let them know they’re
not welcome here.
“The local police
Safer Neighbourhood
Team use the powers to
break up groups of youths
and prevent them from
intimidating shoppers,
residents and businesses.
“We’re seeing real
results, and the local
community have told us
that the dispersal order
works.”
In addition to using the
dispersal powers, police
will also continue to carry
out regular, high-visibility
patrols in the area, and
reassurance visits to
residents and businesses.
Youth workers will
continue to target young
people in the area, making
them aware of other, more
positive activities available
locally.
Trading on council’s strengths
Some social care services
in Croydon are set to be
revolutionised and sold on
the open market for the
first time.
The council has
agreed to investigate the
possibility of creating a
Local Authority Trading
Company (LATC).
The move means day
services and a tailored
employment facility for
people with disabilities,
along with an equipment
provision service for
vulnerable people with
mobility problems, will all
be transformed – opening
up greater choice to
residents, and to other
authorities who want to
buy the service.
For the first time, these
services would potentially
be available to anyone
who wanted them – and
not restricted to those
who meet strict eligibility
criteria.
The LATC would build
on the high reputation
these services already enjoy
to develop and commission
a range of good-quality,
personalised services that
offer value for money.
It would represent a
significant shift in the way
the council operates and
allow it to trade in the
open market. Councils
have the power to create
LATCs under the Local
Government Act 2003.
The council will own
100% of the shares in any
new company – which
would also bolster the
borough’s reputation as
a place renowned for
enterprise. Profits would
be reinvested into frontline
services or into the
development of services
provided by the company.
Hannah Miller,
executive director of adult
social care and housing,
said: “Through an LATC,
we could potentially
market the services to
other local authorities,
earning income which
can be put back into other
services.”
Helpful service: Ben Zekkar and son, Callum
Proud to serve
our customers
Your help is needed to
design a new customer
promise.
The council wants
to focus its resources on
giving even better value for
money.
To achieve this, it
must make sure it delivers
services in the way
residents and customers
think it should.
It is important to have
your views as the promise
should reflect what’s
important to you.
Ben Zekkar, from
central Croydon, said: “It’s
important that people at
the council are helpful
and friendly, and, from my
experience, they are.
“I really enjoy living in
Croydon, it’s great living
here.”
Now is the time to place
your vote. For example,
is it more important that
you feel valued, or that it’s
easy to access services in a
variety of ways?
Place your vote at
www.croydon.gov.uk/
proudtoserve or contact
the customer strategy and
development team on
020 8604 7124.
It takes just a few
minutes to vote for your
top three statements, and
your feedback is important.
Get in touch
What is important to
you when using the
council’s services?
Send an email to
yourcroydon@croydon.
gov.uk
College staff get on their bikes
This year’s London to
Brighton Bike Ride had
more of an academic feel
than is usually the case.
A team of 28
Croydon College staff
swapped lecture theatres
for the open air on a
sizzling Sunday to raise
money for the British
Heart Foundation.
Staff from all
departments took to their
bikes to join a total of
30,000 riders and take part
in the world-famous event.
The first staff member
to cross the line was
Richard Barton, a plumbing
lecturer. The 40-year-old
completed the 54-mile trip
in just under four hours.
He said: “It was an
amazing day and such a
big occasion for all riders.
“This was a really good
day for all, and really
brought staff, families
and friends together.
“I’m really pleased
about coming first.”
The total raised for the
charity by the college riders
is expected to top £4,000.
Tired but happy: medal-wearing college staff on Brighton beach
6 specialfeature
August 2010 | Your Croydon
Nursery staff give girls invaluable advice and support on how to
look after their babies. It was this partnership that helped Cotelands
secure a glowing report from Ofsted inspectors this year.
. . . and baby
came too
For too many young people, a trauma at school or an unplanned pregnancy can bring their education, and plans
for the future, to a grinding halt. Danny Brierley visited a unit where a second chance is offered.
Our purpose is to
get young people
into positive year
12 progression –
further education
or training.
The parking bay for
children’s buggies next
to the reception at the
Cotelands pupil referral
unit is a sign that what
lies behind its doors is no
ordinary school.
Car seats for babies
line shelves surrounding
prams and pushchairs,
and there are more clues
that this high school is not
conventional.
The unit was recently
judged to be outstanding
in its Ofsted inspection,
something some will find
surprising for an example
of facilities that are
sometimes thought of as
”sin bins” for bad kids.
Children must sign
in when they arrive, and
those who arrive late
are warned by staff, who
shepherd them into rooms
off corridors lined with
artwork and information
posters largely devoted to
parenting advice.
That is because
Cotelands, run by devoted
head teacher Jenny
Adamson, helps teenage
mothers and pregnant
schoolgirls carry on their
education by providing a
nursery and the care they
need to carry on learning.
The school does not
make moral judgements
about teenage mothers. It
acknowledges that young
girls always have, and
probably always will, get
pregnant and have babies.
But whereas in the
past those girls might
have slipped out of
education and, in many
cases, struggled for years
afterward trying to pick
up where they left off,
Cotelands helps them
continue in a way that
helps them – and society as
a whole.
It also helps children
with severe emotional
problems who have not
done well in mainstream
schools. They have not
been expelled for beating
up teachers or wrecking
classrooms – the reasons
for their lack of education
are more complex.
The unit has a track
record of helping teenagers
who might normally
fall between the gaps
of education provision
to move into further
education or training.
Sitting in her office
underneath a photograph
of three former pupils and
their babies, Mrs Adamson
said: “Our purpose is to
get young people into
positive year 12 progression
– further education or
training. If they come here
and have a good time but
don’t do anything after us,
we’ve failed.”
Progression is on
the agenda every day at
Cotelands. Pupils are told
continuously about the
reality of life after the
school bell rings in their ear
for the final time.
“We spell out in no
uncertain terms what’s
waiting for them,” Mrs
Adamson adds, “From the
moment they come for an
interview for a place here
we tell them that we’re
preparing them.”
It is all a far cry from
Cotelands’ former home
– portable cabins in the
grounds of Park Hill infants
school in Fairfield.
The transfer to a site
next to John Ruskin College
in Selsdon – where lots of
specialfeature 7
Have your e-say at [email protected] People think that when you have a child at a young age your life
is over, but if you come here there’s still a chance for you.
Cleo Reid
Cotelands pupils win places
– has helped Mrs Adamson
and her staff establish the
unit as one of the best pupil
referral units in Croydon.
Perhaps the main reason
for its success is the way its
teaching is done in perfect
union with a professional
nursery operation that
allows the young mothers
the time away from the
babies to complete their
studies.
Nursery staff give girls
invaluable advice and
support on how to look
after their babies.
It was this partnership
that helped Cotelands
secure a glowing report
from Ofsted inspectors this
year.
Mrs Adamson, who
taught maths in mainstream
schools before moving into
more specialised teaching,
added: “The Ofsted result
was a vindication of what
we’re doing here.
“We know the difference
we can make to young
people’s lives because some
of them come back and tell
us what they’re doing after
they’ve left.”
Cleo Reid, 16, one
of the young mothers at
Cotelands, is grateful for the
way Cotelands and its staff
have helped her to continue
her education. Speaking as
she fed son Jesiah in the
nursery during a morning
break, she said: “It’s really
friendly here and it’s really
important to me because it’s
given me another chance to
do my GCSEs.
“People think that when
you have a child at a young
age your life is over, but if
you come here there’s still a
chance for you.”
Another teenager
benefitting from Cotelands’
support is John Almond
from New Addington. The
16-year-old was bullied for
his height – seven foot and
still growing – and being
educated at home.
After being accepted at
Cotelands he is on course
ended up here and my life
has been turned around,”
he said.
Cotelands will not rest
on its laurels. Although its
Ofsted report was glowing,
plans are already being
made for changes.
“We always think that
more is possible,” Mrs
“We spell out in no uncertain terms
what’s waiting for them. From the
moment they come for an interview
for a place here we tell them that
we’re preparing them.”
to gain five GCSEs and get
a place on a college course
that will help him toward
his dream of becoming an
architect.
“I was pulled out of
school because I was being
picked on every day. I
Adamson added.
“We’ve still got more
places to go and we’re very
excited about that and
some changes we’re going
to make to foundation
learning and young people
who are below GCSE level.”
8 yourcommunity
June 2010 | Your Croydon
World Party Saturday 31 July, 1pm to 8.30pm
Croydon Mela Sunday 1 August, 1pm to 8pm
FREE! No ticket required
Get ready to party at
Croydon Summer
Once again Croydon Council is set to welcome to Lloyd Park thousands of visitors, intent on
having a good time across two days of great sounds and entertainment for all the family at
the Croydon Summer Festival, now in its 10th year – and the entertainment comes free.
The biggest
bargain in the
UK festival
calendar!
Songlines
World Party
Saturday 31 July,
1 to 8.30pm
Main stage
Headlining the main
stage on Saturday will be
perennial favourites The
Lightning Seeds, famous
for a string of memorable
records from the pop
sensibility of main man Ian
Broudie.
They will be supported
by Motown legends,
Martha Reeves & The
Vandellas, themselves no
strangers to the upper
reaches of the pop and
soul charts.
Punk-years veterans
The Damned – featuring
Croydon’s own Captain
Sensible – are guaranteed
to have the crowd
jumping, and local new
soul/reggae sensation Rox
will be winning over new
fans.
Other acts lined up
for the day include the
Afro-funk outfit Nhastifara
and the renowned IDMC
Gospel Choir.
This year, the stage will
be compered by DJ Ritu,
host of a weekly show on
BBC Radio London, and
who has worked with,
among others, the mighty
Asian Dub Foundation.
World stage
Compered by DJ Cal Jader,
the world stage presents a
wholly diverse mixture of
sounds from around the
world.
Peyoti for President
encompass the spirit of
punk, the heart of the ’60s
protest movement and the
soul of the Black Panthers.
Also appearing are one
of the very few UK female
Muslim hip hop crews,
Poetric Pilgrimage, tropical
psychedelic rock band Los
Chinches, the 21st century
hillbilly anarchists Cut
a Shine, and winner of
Croydon’s unsigned artist
of 2010 award Joe Hood.
As well as music there’s
a global market, fantastic
street theatre, a huge kids’
area, funfair, workshops,
Green Village and the Wall
of Death!
We’re also excited to
announce the new Club
Soda Pop Tent hosted
by Croydon adults with
learning difficulties – a
chance to dance the day
away!
Pull up a hay bale for
the bandstand which will
showcase a cross-section of
Croydon’s finest musicians
from fiery folk to homespun dubstep.
Public transport:
15 minutes from
London Victoria/
London Bridge to
East Croydon;
40 minutes from
Brighton to East
Croydon. Then take
tram Route 3 to
Lloyd Park – it
couldn’t be easier.
Ian Broudie
ves
Martha Ree
The Damm
ed
9
yourcommunity 15
Have your e-say at [email protected]
Lloyd Park, Coombe Rd, Croydon CR0 5RD
For more information, visit
www.croydonsummerfestival.org
Festival
Nhastiafara
Croydon Mela
Sunday 1 August,
1 to 8pm
Main stage
Sunday brings the
much-loved annual
Mela celebration of
Asian music to Croydon,
featuring Top bhangra
vocalist Jassi Sidhu,
Taz (marking 21 years
since his first chart
appearance),
Baluji’s Ryt
Eternal Taal Dohl and
Dancers, and singer/
songwriter Raghu Dixit.
A special highlight
is the premiere of Baluji
Shrivastav’s southeast Asian percussion
ensemble featuring eight
leading London-based
instrumentalists in the
world premiere of the
Rhythm of Life Percussion
Orchestra. They will be
joined on stage by local
students and amateur
musicians.
Eternal Taal Do
hl and Dancer
www.croydonsummerfestival.org
s
ARCC stage
Some of the leading lights
of the Asian Music Circuit
will appear on the ARCC
classical stage, and the
popular community stage
will feature back-to-back
Asian-influenced amateur
performers.
hmn of life
There will also be
the Betar Bangla Folk
Bandstand, showcasing
traditional and new folk
and Baul from Bangladesh.
For regular
updates and more
information, visit www.
croydonsummerfestival.
org
orchestra
Don’t forget
It’s only 15 minutes
by train from London
and 40 minutes from
Brighton!
Even hardened
north Londoners
could be
tempted south
for this outdoor
jamboree.
Time Out
Jassi Sidhu Taz
FREE! No ticket required
10 yourhealth
258
August 2010 | Your Croydon
families took part in the six-week healthy lifestyle
courses, and 71 families took part in the
weight-management course.
Offering a health boost
Childhood obesity is under attack from a scheme that has had success in teaching youngsters the value of ditching
the junk food, eating healthily and upping their activity levels.
We’ve had
fantastic
feedback and
we’re delighted
with the hugely
positive changes
we’ve seen in
the children who
attend our
courses.
Jon Ballaman
A smaller waistline,
reduced blood pressure
and more energy – the
ambitions of anybody
who may be feeling
they’re carrying a few
pounds too many.
Thanks to the work of
a scheme that has been
running in Croydon since
April 2009, children across
the borough have achieved
these ambitions, and
more, to be able to lead
fuller, more active lives.
Croydon Council and
NHS Croydon have jointly
run Boost Croydon, a
project aimed at reducing
obesity among children
in the borough.
The Boost Croydon
healthy eating and
active lifestyle courses
aim to help reduce the
proportion of overweight
children back to the year
2000 levels by 2020.
Up to March of this
year, 258 families took
part in the six-week
healthy lifestyle courses,
and 71 families took
part in the weightmanagement course.
Of the children
attending the weight-
Boost Croydon
Boost Croydon is a healthy weight management
service for children and young people up to 13
years of age, and for families with children aged up
to five years
A range of services is organised that promote
healthy lifestyles to families through exercise and
good nutrition.
Active Boost is a family-based programme for
children who are classified as being overweight.
The programme lasts for 12 months and
contains fun guidance and activities on nutrition,
physical activity and behaviour change to promote
healthy lifestyles for all.
“I’ve learnt to control my portion sizes.
My kids are happier now they are not
getting overfed.”
– Quote from a Boost participant.
management course,
59% have seen a
significant reduction
in waist measurement,
recovering heart rate
and blood pressure.
All children reported
an improvement in activity
levels and 60% eat a
more balanced diet.
Enthusing about the
programme, Anthony
Reddiar, 12, from South
Norwood, said: “I’ve
lost weight, have made
friends and now get
involved in sports that
I’ve never done before.
“I play football,
go running and my
swimming is improving.
I’m healthy and active
and it’s a great feeling.”
Tara Sheridan, mother
of nine-year-old Monique
Ollievierre, is delighted
with Monique’s new
love of healthy food.
She said: “It’s wonderful
that Monique is now
eating foods that she
didn’t eat before.”
Looking ahead,
Boost Croydon will be
offering more courses
and drop-in sessions for
families in Croydon.
Health programme
manager Jon Ballaman
said: “We’ve had fantastic
feedback and we’re
delighted with the hugely
positive changes we’ve
seen in the children who
attend our courses.
“Our team of activity
specialists and dieticians
is looking forward to
encouraging more families
to get active and eat a
more balanced diet in
the coming months.”
The Boost Croydon
courses are free to all and
are run at children centres
across the borough.
Families can book a
free place by visiting www.
mytimeactive.org.uk or
by calling 020 8323 1725.
,
Haighan-Phaul Dawkins
Christine West – Mum
Grinning with enthusiasm, 13-year-old Haighan said of the weekly Boost
Croydon sessions: “I’ve made lots of friends here, and I really enjoy playing
dodgeball and learning about healthy food.”
Smaller portion sizes and healthy foods are now important to Haighan:
“I now eat wholemeal bread instead of white bread and I love eating fruit,
especially blackberries and strawberries.
“I eat grilled foods instead of fried, and generally eat less of the foods that I
like the most, like crisps and chocolate.”
Haighan’s mum, Christine, is pleased with the changes she’s seen in
Haighan since he started attending the sessions: “Boost Croydon’s had a really
positive impact on Haighan’s life and I’d recommend it to anyone.
“The sessions don’t just focus on dieting and losing weight, but about how
important it is to have a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercise and
healthy eating.
“Haighan’s a lot more active now and he watches less TV.”
Haighan now enjoys sports and activities and is passionate about
swimming: “I’ve always enjoyed swimming, but now I go more often and I’m
really improving, and am getting much faster.
“I’d encourage other children to attend these sessions. They’re good fun and
there’s nothing to be scared of.
“Eventually you’ll enjoy it so much that you won’t want to leave!”
yourhealth 11
Have your e-say at [email protected]
I’ve made lots of friends here, and I really enjoy
playing dodgeball and learning about healthy food.
Haighan-Phaul Dawkins
to Croydon’s children
Anthony Reddiar
Dad – Edward Reddiar
Anthony, aged 12 from South Norwood, has been attending Boost
Croydon for the past three months and says that the regular weekly
sessions have made a big difference to his eating habits and health.
Anthony’s father, Edward, who has recently been diagnosed with
diabetes, is particularly keen for Anthony to make changes to his diet and
lifestyle at an early age.
He said: “As a family, we’ve always eaten a typically rich Asian diet of rice,
ghee and curry, which, combined with very little exercise, hasn’t helped keep
us fit and healthy.
“Coming along to the weekly groups at Boost Croydon has had a positive
impact on the whole family’s lifestyle and has really improved our eating habits.
“Our regular takeaways have now been replaced by healthy salads, fresh
fruit, and roast dinners. We always try to have our five-a-day.
“Anthony’s my only son and I want him to have a long and healthy life. I’m
grateful to Boost Croydon for putting us on the right path.”
Anthony’s diet has completely changed: “I now understand which foods are
healthy and which aren’t.
“I drink a lot more water, avoid fizzy drinks and eat fresh fruit, especially cold
crisp pears, which I love.”
Breakfast of sugar-coated cereal has been swapped for Weetabix with
banana, and Anthony has dropped the regular chicken and chips to accompany
the journey home from school.
“I now just get the bus straight home to avoid temptation,” he said.
Anthony and his dad are positive about the future and are grateful for the
support from Boost Croydon, as Edward said: “This has been a fantastic
education for Anthony and for all of us, I wish all children could get this
opportunity.”
Monique Ollivierre
Tara Sheridan – Mum
A love of fruit and veg is one of the
positives of attending the Boost Croydon
sessions for nine-year-old Monique, from
Croydon.
She said: “I really love fruit and
vegetables now. Pears, apples, plums,
raspberries, strawberries, carrots, broccoli,
parsnips, cauliflower, basil are all my
favourites.”
All these foods have replaced her old favourites of chocolate and Cheerios.
Mum Tara is delighted with Monique’s new love of healthy food: “It’s
wonderful that Monique’s now eating foods that she didn’t eat before.
“Her portion sizes are smaller and we take more time to prepare meals and
eat together more often as a family.”
Monique enjoys the activities at Boost Croydon sessions: “I really like
dodgeball and I’ve made lots of friends.
“I’ve got more energy than before, and sleep much better and wake up
earlier.”
Boost Croydon sessions have provided Monique and her mum with lots of
new ideas about the best way to prepare food, and which foods give you energy
and keep you healthy.
Tara said: “We’ve learnt the importance of eating your ‘five-a-day’ and
Monique’s kept a food diary to make sure she’s putting her learning into practice
and is reaching her goals.”
Like many of the children on the Boost Croydon programme, Monique’s
activity levels have climbed, and she is now watching less TV.
“I do an activity every day, now,” she said.
“Ballet, disco dancing, football, Brit Kids and dodgeball are just some of the
things I do to keep fit – I really love them all!”
12
x yourhealth
yournews
August
May 2009
2010 | Your Croydon
People have already said that they appreciate the fact
they can just walk in off the street. You don’t even have
to call beforehand – if you come in, you will be seen.
Dr Desmond Okpara
New health centre
opens in Croydon
Situated at the foot of a modern office block, the town centre’s new walk-in clinic offers top-quality health
care without an appointment. Danny Brierley spoke to the GP running Croydon’s first polyclinic.
The new walk-in Edridge
Road Community Health
Centre opened its doors
last month - and will be
open every day of the
year from now on.
Medics at the modern
centre will see patients
from 8am to 8pm seven
days a week, including
Christmas Day and
other bank holidays.
People can see GPs,
nurses, an emergency
dentist, pharmacist, use
the breast-screening
service and consult other
health professionals,
regardless of whether they
are registered or not.
The new purpose-built
health centre is close to
bus and train links on the
ground floor of Impact
House – just a few paces
off High Street – offering
patients a welcoming and
modern environment.
Services will include
a GP-led health centre
offering treatment for
minor injuries and illnesses,
and a sexual health service.
A range of additional
services will subsequently
be available, including a
pharmacy, an emergency
dental service, breast
screening and health
promotion services.
Dr Desmond Okpara,
who previously helped
run a family practice
elsewhere in Croydon,
is in no doubt about the
benefits of the new service.
Here to help: deputy operations manager Carol Covenas-Hutchinson, Dr Desmond Okpara,
and lead nurse Lorna Fowler
He said: “It’s
convenient and offers
a range of services.
“People have already
said that they appreciate
the fact they can just
walk in off the street
“You don’t even have
to call beforehand – if you
come in, you will be seen.”
Sue Arnold, the
director of primary care
commissioning at NHS
Croydon, said: “We’re
really excited about the
opening of this new health
centre right in the heart
of central Croydon.
“The extended opening
hours will allow local
residents, commuters and
visitors to access a range
of healthcare services at a
time which suits them, in
an environment which is
welcoming and modern.”
The new centre is run
by The Practice plc, which
already runs similar GP-led
health centres in areas
such as Hounslow, Milton
Keynes and Suffolk.
Edridge Road
Community Health Centre
can be called on 020 3040
0800. Alternatively, visit
www.croydon.nhs.
uk/edridge-road
Breast is best in new café
I’d Drop-in centre pushes message that breast-fed babies fare better.
encourage new Breastfeeding mums
being given extra
and expecting are
support in the community
mothers to come with the launch of the
first NHS-funded baby
along to the baby café in Croydon.
Part of a national
café, to share network
of drop-in
centres
for
pregnant and
experiences
breastfeeding mothers,
and get expert the Byron Baby Café, at
Children’s Centre
advice, which will Byron
in Coulsdon, offers the
help give them chance to meet other
for mothers and babies.
expecting mothers to
services at Mayday
mums and experts for
confidence to support and information
Sharon Jones,
breastfeed their babies.
University Hospital,
director of operations
Breastfeeding can play
Croydon Council and local
in a café atmosphere.
breastfeed.
for Croydon Community
a major role in improving
voluntary agencies to
NHS Croydon’s
Sharon Jones
community breastfeeding
programme team works in
partnership with maternity
increase awareness of the
benefits of breastfeeding,
and to support new and
the life chances of children
and young people, with
known health benefits
Health Services, said:
“I’d encourage new and
expecting mothers to come
along to the baby café,
to share experiences and
get expert advice, which
will help give them the
confidence to breastfeed.”
The Byron Baby Café
is open each Friday from
12.30 to 2.30pm at the
Byron Children’s Centre,
Byron Primary School,
St David’s, Coulsdon.
Mothers and babies
can turn up without
appointments, and bring
other children, partners
and supporters.
For further information
about breastfeeding
in Croydon, go to
www.croydon.nhs.
uk/breastfeeding
District
Centre
Purley town makeover
A new-look High Street and square
Purley’s heart will be transformed by a major facelift this autumn as
Transport for London ploughs £2.25m into redesigning High Street,
Station Approach and Purley Parade.
Purley’s heart will be transformed by a major facelift this
autumn as Transport for London ploughs £2.25m into
redesigning High Street, Station Approach and Purley
Parade.
The scheme, developed with community input, will see
the paving replaced, more trees planted, benches and cycle
stands installed, community notice boards put up, street
art commissioned and electric car-charging points created.
The revamped area stretches from the station along
Whytecliffe Road South to its junction with Banstead Road,
and then along High Street to Purley Parade – currently
the area occupied by all the recycling skips.
The hope is that it will ultimately become a
pedestrianised focus in the town, with the skips moved
elsewhere.
More street mosaics are planned, like the 6ft-diameter
Clark Gable mosaic outside Astoria Court at 116 High
Street, on the site of the former cinema.
Work will begin after September’s music and food
festival, which is set to really bring the town alive.
Business association chair Lisa Downham said she was
News
August 2010
excited about the plans, which are being funded by
TfL local improvement project grant cash won by
Croydon Council.
“The aim is to improve the overall ambience of Purley
town centre, to make it a place where people shop, and
people want to shop,” she said.
“It will help attract new business and help Purley to
prosper; it will bring the heart back to our town.”
Town centre manager Amber Rusk said that the
scheme would revitalise Purley and help it achieve the
aim of creating a village atmosphere in a busy Greater
London town.
“A lot of people who live in Purley don’t shop in Purley,”
she said. “This project will help businesses at a difficult time,
and look to the future.
“Purley has a wealthy demographic, good transport
links and a strong business association, and it’s important
to have a strong high street and a traditional, communityfocused town centre.”
Work on the landscaping and paving is scheduled to
begin in October, and end next May.
High Street, Purley, is set to
be transformed in October
Good News is good news for Purley
Sandip Patel at Good News
District
Centre
News
A Caribbean flavour
There’s a new taste in High Street.
A road already renowned for its restaurant variety now
also boasts Rae’s, a Caribbean cake and hot food shop.
“We’re partly patisserie and partly hot Caribbean
food,” explained Dawn Williams, who launched the
restaurant/takeaway in mid-July. “During the day we’re a
café with home-baked cake and coffee, and in the evening
we serve hot meals.”
For Dawn, who lives in Purley, the opening of Rae’s is a
dream fulfilled.
“I’ve always made cakes, so when I was made
redundant from my job as an accountant in October last
year, someone suggested I start making my cakes here.”
The shop occupies the prominent position at 10 High
Street which used to be Firebellys, the South African
specialty restaurant and pizzeria, before it shuffled further
down the road.
How did the name come about? “My daughter’s name
is Rae, so the cakes I make are Sugar Rae’s, and on the
menu we have Light Rae’s and Micro Rae’s!”
“I live in Purley and I’ve always had a dream of
having my own cake shop,” added Dawn. “My mum
does catering, my husband’s a chef, and there’s no other
Caribbean restaurant in Purley.”
Rae’s cements the town’s growing reputation as a
centre with a rich and high-quality selection of dining.
Every major road in town has restaurants, with real
clusters in Brighton Road, High Street and Russell Hill Road,
which boasts nine restaurants and takeaways in 200 yards.
At the top is Zorna’s Spices, a traditional Indian
restaurant with a former Croydon curry chef of the year
in the kitchen. Visit www.zornasspices.co.uk or call
020 8660 6411.
On the same side is the Wetherspoons pub The Foxley
Hatch (now open from 7am, serving bargain breakfasts),
which offers £5.99 steak-and-a-pint deals on Tuesdays.
The Raj of Purley takeaway (020 8763 9557) offers
great balti dishes, while nearer the Brighton Road lights
are Wok’s Cooking, a halal Chinese takeaway (020 8660
1186), and Barbecue Pit (020 8660 1030).
On the other side of the street are Dominos Pizza
and Planet Pizza, the Brass Monkey bar and lounge, and
the Buenos Aires Argentine steakhouse (visit www.
barestaurant.com, or call 020 8660 5200), open
Monday to Saturday, from 6 to 11pm, and Sundays, from
5 to 10pm.
Dawn Williams (left) chats to town-centre manager
Amber Rusk (centre) and business association
chair Lisa Downham as she puts the finishing
touches to Rae’s
High Street, looking north, set for a major facelift
If music be the
food of love…
Purley Music Week joins forces with Croydon Food Festival next month
in the Purley Food & Music Festival.
The festival runs from 9 to 12 September, and the usual
rich variety of music at a host of different venues will
culminate in a two-day French market on Friday and
Saturday, 10 and 11 September, in High Street.
“By combining music and food, we hope to
bring a wider spectrum of people into Purley,” said
Lisa Downham, who was recently elected business
association chair.
“When we just focused on music, some of the
businesses felt the festival wasn’t for them. We hope
that by widening the scope we’ll appeal to more
people.”
Check www.purleymusicweek.com for the full list.
The food side of the festival coincides with the
Croydon Food Festival, and will include restaurants
offering food samples outside their premises.
“Live music and food – is there a better
combination?” asked Lisa.
To get in touch with Lisa, on any issue where the
Purley Business Association can help, email
[email protected]
“By combining music and food,
we hope to bring a wider
spectrum of people into Purley”
Broadening the music festival to incorporate food
should give the annual event a traders’-day feel by
merging two popular festival formats and giving the
town a proper sense of occasion.
The music and food festival promises to be a great
springboard to boost the town as the key autumn/
winter trading season looms.
Dates and times of food and music events were still
being finalised as Your Croydon went to press, but will
include a mix of pop, church choirs, heavy rock, classical
and jazz performed in the week beginning 6 September
by local people in a host of different venues, from
restaurants to pubs, shops to old folks’ homes, schools
to the open air.
And opera buffs are not being ignored – a singer will
be entertaining audiences with arias at Antonio’s deli in
Brighton Road.
In the frame. Lisa Downham of Get Fired! is the new
Purley Business Association chair
A treasure trove
It’s one of Purley’s shopping gems, offering a bewildering selection
of gift ideas, jewellery and home furnishings.
But now Woodcote Interiors has branched into ladies’
clothing, with owner Mary Varndell stocking affordable
boutique clothes from £30 tops to £45 dresses.
“Apart from Lucinda’s in Russell Hill Road (www.
lucindas-purley.co.uk, call 020 8668 7565), there really
aren’t any good clothes shops in Purley,” said Mary.
“I’m aiming to stock attractive smart/casual clothing,
and it’s price-led as shoppers don’t have a huge amount
to spend.”
As well as clothing, Woodcote stocks food stands,
paintings, photo frames, clocks, candlesticks, cards,
coasters, fruit bowls, jewellery, lampshades, furniture,
rose bowls, pencil cases, ornaments, silk flowers,
watches, table lamps, bottle stoppers, port decanters,
glasses, mirrors, corkscrews, hipflasks, pens, cufflinks,
jewel boxes and dozens of other gift items.
The shop is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am
to 5pm, and is at 9 Purley Road.
Visit www.woodcoteinteriors.co.uk or call
020 8660 0555
Mary Varndell shows off her clothing range, with a £45 dress and £100 coat
The jewellery corner at Woodcote Interiors
Woodcote Interiors
Business association chair Lisa Downham and town
centre manager Amber Rusk at work on the festival.
A passion for Purley
As newly elected chair of the Purley Business Association,
Lisa Downham hopes to make a real difference to the
town she has called home for 20 years.
Originally from Michigan, she married a local lad and
has now run the Get Fired! pottery design shop and café
for seven years.
“I’m enjoying the new role,” she said. “though I could
do with a couple of clones of me, so I can be on top of
everything!
“I’m passionate about Purley, about putting the
heart back into the town, and I feel that as a business
association we can make a real difference.”
Among the items currently on the agenda is the
installation of banners on the town lampposts to
promote events, and as a visible sign of Croydon Council’s
commitment to the area.
Longer-term, another hope is to establish a regular
market in Purley, probably on the site currently occupied
by the gaggle of recycling skips at the Brighton Road
end of High Street. Eventually we hope it can be a
pedestrianised town square,” said Lisa.
She is being backed by town centre manager Amber
Rusk, who has wide experience of town regeneration
across the borough.
“I have to manage the aspirations of businesses, and
work strategically,” she explained. “A general market for
Purley would bring more people into the town, but you
could also have specialist markets which can then be
linked to new businesses.”
Lisa added: “More pedestrianised areas and better
crossings will make Purley look better and feel safer,
and we’ll be able to attract new business to the town
because they’ll see people coming back to shop.”
Another project is to site a colourful noticeboard
outside the entrance to Tesco, detailing all the different
small businesses in Purley town centre.
A new town website is also being designed with a
projected launch in the autumn, to promote businesses
and publicise forthcoming events.
The business association has a stable core, but has
achieved notable success in recent months attracting
new businesses to its ranks.
An important forum for discussing the way to
move Purley forward, it meets every two months and
has established several sub-groups – with input from
residents’ groups – to focus on specific projects which
aim to help improve the town centre.
“We’re reaching out to all the talents in the town,
and we welcome everyone who wants to be involved.
We’ve got a very good core of support. Without that
partnership you can’t move forward,” said Amber.
Amber sees Purley’s sense of tradition as being one of
the town’s key strengths.
Lisa added: “The aim of the association is to support
Purley businesses and make Purley a better place. Being
chair is a flexible position, and I’m learning as I go!”
You can reach Lisa at [email protected]
District
Centre
News
Will mosaics go
to pieces?
More street mosaics are planned as part of the High Street
improvement project this autumn.
Sites for two more mosaics have been chosen, with the
public being asked for their suggestions on subjects.
The existing mosaic was laid more than a decade
ago, following the demolition of the old cinema and
the building of residential and commercial development
Astoria Court.
Lisa Downham, chair of Purley Business Association,
said: “We’re aiming for two more to celebrate Purley,
and we’re asking people which aspects of the town’s
history they want to celebrate.”
One possibility is a mosaic on the theme of pear
trees.
The name Purley is derived from the pear orchards
which originally covered the area’s slopes.
Topics for future mosaics will be chosen after liaison
with local history groups.
The existing mural outside Astoria Court shows the
inside of the old cinema, with a scene from a black-andwhite Clark Gable movie.
Sign of the times
Purley events online
Just as the new signposts which
have sprung up in Purley give
clear directions to the town’s
attractions, a town-centre
website will bring news of local
events to a wider public.
Clark Gable – star of Hollywood screen and Purley
pavement
A feast for under a tenor
An opera singer will be one of the more unusual performers at the
Purley music and food festival next month, belting out arias, from
the deli in Brighton Road.
Antonio’s has already featured occasional opera-singing
entertainers strolling round their tables, where the allday full English at £6.95 is a terrific deal.
In addition to the fry-up, including black pudding,
the meal comes with toast, orange juice and real Italian
coffee.
Antonio’s sells sandwiches from £1.80, a selection of
ice creams from the chilled display at the front window,
and delicious home-made food to eat in or take away.
Fresh daily dishes include polpette (meat balls in
tomato sauce with rice), frittata (potato, spinach,
peppers, eggs, fried omelette cake and salad), and
spezzatino (diced beef casserole with rice or mash), all for
£4.50.
The deli counter at the back of the shop is full of tasty
alternatives, including Parma ham, cheeses and olives.
Antonio’s is at 920 Brighton Road, CR8 2LN
How to get involved
Every business can make a difference to its
area by joining the local business partners
For more information, contact:
Coulsdon
Christine Samson
07775 824826
[email protected]
New Addington and Purley Way
Antonio’s, great for a traditional English breakfast
Big response to Big Lunch
Purley wholeheartedly joined in The Big Lunch last
month with a string of community-building gatherings.
The nationwide event, which encourages neighbours
to get together and share food, was a great success,
delighting town centre manager Amber Rusk, who had
urged shops, restaurants and pubs to participate.
Lunch on July 18 was sponsored by The Foxley
Hatch pub, there was free pottery painting (with results
going to senior citizens at the Sunrise nursing home
in Russell Hill Road), and regulars at Antonio’s deli in
Brighton Road were able to enjoy painting sessions with
their lunches.
Sandie King, who coordinates activities at Sunrise,
Town-centre manager Amber Rusk said the site,
currently in design, will go a long way to boosting
Purley’s image, and will include an events calendar.
She said: “I want people to let me know when they
have events.
“We have key seasonal dates, but the events in the
area help us develop our distinctiveness.”
Meanwhile, Christmas planning in the town is already
under way, with a sub-committee of the business
association looking at festive options.
said it was pleased to be part of Purley’s Big Lunch. “We
had a traditional cream tea, kindly supported by Tesco,”
she said.
Members of the Bus Pass Buskers entertained the
Sunrise residents during the afternoon.
Purley’s churches also joined in the fun, preparing
communal meals.
Lisa Downham, business association chair, said:
“Thanks to everyone who was involved in helping
to organise this event, especially the businesses and
Croydon Council.”
Ken Sherwood
07876 034008
[email protected]
Purley
Amber Rusk
07771 843056
[email protected]
South Norwood and Selhurst
Carol Clapperton
07776 477366
[email protected]
Thornton Heath and Norbury
Jason Grant
07771 842945
[email protected]
yourspace 13
Have your e-say at [email protected]
The players have taken the competition seriously and have
trained hard with the help of their coaches and teachers.
Pearl Sethna
Croydon’s silver-edged
sports stars
Youngsters grab second spot in London Youth Games.
Croydon’s young athletes
lifted the disability
sports trophy and came
within a whisker of
an overall win at this
year’s Balfour Beatty
London Youth Games.
Only six points
separated the Croydon
squad from Bromley, the
outright winners last
month when the final
round of competition at
Crystal Palace brought
Europe’s largest sporting
event for young people to
its nail-biting conclusion.
With the pundits
tipping Croydon for
the top spot, Bromley
were hot on their
heels all the way.
After a year of
preparation and training,
and following a gruelling
series of competitions
spanning 28 different
disciplines, it all came
down to the tennis at
the end of the final day.
Croydon’s results
included four first places
from the disability team,
whose strong show
made them victors in the
disability competition
and helped the borough
get so frustratingly
close to lifting the
coveted Jubilee Cup.
There were a number
of notable performances
over the weeks of
tournaments, including
Croydon’s girls’ volleyball
team, who beat the
odds by improving
from 17th place last
year to winning this.
Coach Bernie Gannon
said: “Was it expected?
Not really because we just
about qualified through
the heats in Leyton. It’s
a new side; we’ve not
played together very
much and we were up
against some tough teams.
“But they had long
training sessions last
week and this win
will give them a lot
more confidence.”
Proud: Croydon’s medal-winning sports stars of the future
Louise Fox, Croydon
Council’s sport
development officer and
borough team organiser,
said: “We’re really proud
of everyone who took part
in the games for Croydon.
“The team spirit
was amazing and every
single competitor gave
it their best on the day.
“Many of the
performances were
spectacular, and second
place is a fantastic
reward for everyone.”
Pearl Sethna, disability
sport development officer
and architect of Croydon’s
triumph in the disability
trophy said: “We’ve
worked really hard on our
disability sports teams
over the past 12 months.
“There’s a lot of
hidden talent in Croydon
and we’re really happy
that we can showcase
this in Europe’s largest
youth sports event.”
14
x yourspace
yournews
May 2009
August
2010 | Your Croydon
This year, GCSE results are published on 24 August, and, if the
trend of recent years continues, more than three-quarters will
be celebrating achieving at least five good-grade GCSEs.
Life after GCSE
results day
Despite how it may at first seem, it is not the end of the world if exam
results fail to meet expectations. Katie Griffiths talks to those who can
help – and some who have been.
August – for most, a
month of warm summer
evenings, and thoughts
of holidays to come or
holidays recently enjoyed.
For 16-year-olds,
however, August is also
the month in which
they receive their
GCSE results, and an
indication of what their
immediate future holds.
This year, the results
are published on 24
August, and, if the trend
of recent years continues,
more than three-quarters
will be celebrating
achieving at least five
good-grade GCSEs.
But what happens
next? Particularly for
those who didn’t get
their hoped-for grades?
On results day, from
9am to 4pm, there will
be an advice stand in
the Whitgift Shopping
Centre at which students
will be able to talk to
a number of advisers
on the opportunities
available to them whether
at college, or in training
or employment.
The advisers – from
Connexions, Croydon
College, Coulsdon Sixth
Form College and John
Ruskin College – will offer
options advice to students
whose results were not
as expected, or who are
still deciding what to do.
Karen Cole, assistant
principal at Coulsdon
College, said: “There
are many choices on
offer, including A levels
and BTec courses, that
encompass a wide variety
of career options.”
Advisers can guide
young people, whatever
their educational
standard, to make
the right choice for a
promising future.
Croydon College’s
vice principal, Tamsin
Jones, said: “We want
students to study the
course that is right for
them so that, with our
support, they achieve
their full potential.
“We’re committed
to ensuring that every
student achieves their
best and goes on to
either further study
or employment.”
Tim Eyton-Jones,
principal of John Ruskin
College, said: ”We are the
country’s only vocational
sixth-form college and
have a wide range of new
and exciting courses on
offer to suit everyone.
“We’ll be on hand at
the Whitgift Centre to
give advice and discuss
the many opportunities
open to students.”
If students can’t
make it to the stand,
Connexions Croydon,
in High Street, is open
daily, with career
advisers and a wealth
of resources on hand.
Faith Patterson, the
Connexions education
team manager, said:
“There’s lots of support
available for those up
to 19 years of age.
“Along with
information on courses,
we provide advice
on employment,
including details of
vacancies, training
and apprenticeships
advice, and help with
applications and CVs.”
GCSE results day advice stand
Ground floor, Whitgift Shopping Centre
(by Monsoon)
24 August, 9am to 4pm
Advisers from:
Connexions Croydon – tel: 020 3354 2000
www.wayahead-careers.co.uk
Croydon College – tel: 020 8760 5914
www.croydon.ac.uk
John Ruskin College – tel: 020 8651 1131
www.johnruskin.ac.uk
Coulsdon Sixth Form College – tel: 01737
551176 www.coulsdon.ac.uk
Have your e-say at [email protected]
yourspace 15
Get in touch
Tell us about your
post-GCSE experience
Send an email to
yourcroydon@croydon.
gov.uk
Good advice: Faith Patterson, of Connexions Croydon, will be on hand with tips for young people
Exam results not what you expected? – It’s never
too late to consider other options.
Three students from Coulsdon Sixth Form College show that missing out on
GCSEs does not have to be an insurmountable obstacle.
Jamie, 17, had some disruption in her education due to a move to
Spain and subsequent UK return. She is now studying at college
and hoping to eventually work in childcare.
“The teachers here are really good. I came from a small school
but even though college is bigger, it’s really friendly; I’d definitely
recommend it.”
A phobia left Rebecca, 17, struggling with attending school, and she
didn’t sit her GCSEs. The move to college has had a positive effect
on her view of education and she now has her sights on becoming a
fashion journalist.
“We’re treated as adults here and given more freedom and
independence, which is great. It also means we have to take more
responsibility for our studies.”
Gividus, 17, sat only part of his GCSE exams and didn’t pass.
Originally from Eastern Europe, he is enthusiastic about his studies
and has aspirations to be an architect. He agrees that college has
been a positive experience.
“I’ve enjoyed studying here. The teachers are good and
everyone has made me feel very welcome. I very much want
to stay on to do my A levels.”
16 yourspace August 2010 | Your Croydon
Instead of services scattered across different locations,
young people can now go to one place – simultaneously
enhancing the service and making it more efficient.
Linda Wright
Turn up to Turnaround
First advice centre of its kind in UK opens its doors to troubled teens.
Get in touch
How will you use the
Turnaround Centre?
Send an email to
yourcroydon@croydon.
gov.uk
Until now, the UK has not
had a dedicated centre at
which young people can
simply turn up to seek
advice on a range of issues
and problems.
There is such a facility
now, though, and just as it
did when the Family Justice
Centre opened its doors
in Park Lane, Croydon is
treading where nobody has
been before.
The Turnaround Centre,
in South End, provides a
one-stop shop to a range
of services focused on the
safety and wellbeing of
young people.
In addition to being a
safe haven for youngsters,
the new centre is a groundbreaking initiative that offers
access to youth workers, the
police, voluntary services,
social workers, housing and
health advice for young
people and their families.
Linda Wright, head of
youth inclusion at Croydon
Council, has overseen the
centre’s development.
She said: “By bringing
all the services together
under one roof, we can offer
the all-round, collaborative
support that young people
and their families need,
more quickly and more
effectively.
“Instead of services
scattered
Turnaround Centre: Help and advice for young people is available Monday to Friday at the new facility in South End
across different locations,
young people can now go to
one place – simultaneously
enhancing the service and
making it more efficient.”
Unique to the centre is its
Drop-in Zone where young
people can just turn up and
talk to someone in a safe
and secure environment.
The centre’s main aim is
to support young people at
risk of becoming victims of
crime or offending, although
the advice and support
available extends further.
Chennel Lawrence, the
Drop-in Zone operations
manager, said: “When
a young person comes
to us, we aim to assist
with immediate advice.
Sometimes we find that
there are other underlying
issues, too.
“By having all the main
support services here, we’re
able to liaise quickly with the
right service to provide the
assistance the young person
needs.”
Parents worried about
their children getting caught
up in crime or antisocial
behaviour can also use the
Turnaround Centre to get the
help and advice they need
and often don’t know how
to find.
The Croydon Turnaround
Centre – operated by
Croydon Council in
partnership with agencies
including CAYSH, the
Metropolitan Police and
Victim Support – is open
from Monday to Friday,
between 10am and 6pm
(last arrival 5pm).
Call 020 8760 5530 or
visit www.croydon.gov.uk/
turnaround
Croydon College gets creative
Students display their work at end-of-year shows of creativity.
Shoppers with an eye
for couture got a treat
recently when the cream of
Croydon College’s designers
showcased their work at a
special fashion show in the
Whitgift Shopping Centre.
The show was part
of the college’s Creative
Festival, highlighting
the work of art,
media, performing arts and
fashion students across both
the sixth-form and highereducation colleges.
A large catwalk, set up
in Whitgift Square, featured
a range of eye-catching
creations from degree course
and BTEC national diploma
fashion students.
Students benefit
enormously from the
experience of participating
in this event and derive
confidence and purpose as
beginner-designers from the
exposure of their creativity
to the public.
Student Sintija Reinfelde
said: “I’m very happy and
pleased to show my work
and to be able to gain public
feedback on what I’ve done.
“It’s also a great
opportunity for me to gain
experience and learn what
it’s like to take part in such
a wide event as the Creative
Festival.”
Martyn Jones, a
curriculum leader at
Croydon Sixth Form
College, said: “The work
and performances drew
unilateral praise from
the varied audiences
– colleagues, parents,
guardians, friends and
relatives, as well as local
schools, colleges and the
general public – who visited
the public and private
viewings through the week
of exhibitions.”
yoursafety 17
Have your e-say at [email protected]
10,556
blue badges issued
in Croydon
Met matters
Blue-badge bandits
brought to book
Fraudulent use of parking permits earns fines and criminal records for
antisocial motorists.
A joint operation involving
Croydon Council and
the police ended in
court hearings – and
criminal records – for
motorists facing charges
of fraudulently misusing
disability parking permits.
And genuine permit
holders, applauding the
crackdown, hope that it
will dissuade others from
misusing the blue-badge
scheme.
At Croydon Magistrates’
Court on 29 June, seven
motorists admitted illegally
using the blue badges
displayed in their cars
and were fined between
£700 and £100; they were
additionally slapped with
costs of between £775 and
£200.
Last December, a twoday operation was staged
in central Croydon with
the intention of tackling
blue-badge misuse. Over
the course of the two days,
eight blue badges were
confiscated from drivers
who were not the named
holders and where the
holder wasn’t present.
Badge holder Eversley
Matthews, from Thornton
Heath, said: “The blue
badge is offered to people
who need to be able to park
near to where they’re going.
“I totally agree that
anyone who uses the badge
illegally should be punished.
“I’ve been into Croydon
on a number of occasions
and tried to get a parking
space, and sometimes you
have to ask yourself the
question, when you see
some people with a badge, if
they’re the rightful holder.
“Hopefully, these
prosecutions will stop
people using them in this
way and it’ll free up spaces
for those who need them.”
With 10,556 blue
badges issued in Croydon
(and 700,000 nationally)
abuse of the scheme is a
growing and widespread
problem.
The scheme – an
important service for
people with severe mobility
problems – enables badge
holders to park close to
their intended destination,
be it shops, friends’ homes
or leisure facilities.
It applies only to onstreet parking, although
Croydon Council has
implemented parking bays
reserved for badge holders
in some of its car parks.
Badge holders may park
on single or double yellow
lines for up to three hours,
except where there is a ban
on loading or unloading.
They may also park free
of charge, and for as long
as they need to, at on-street
parking meters and payand-display machines.
It’s a fair cop
The seven motorists who pleaded guilty to displaying a disabled person’s
parking permit when not permitted to do so were:
• M
r Yang Zhan, of Peckham; he was found guilty in his absence and, in
addition to a fine of £700, had costs of £775 and a £15 surcharge levied
against him.
• M
r Yuefei Huang, of Exeter; found guilty in his absence; fined £700, costs
of £775 costs, and £15 surcharge.
• M
r Samuel Chukwu Nwenwu, of West Norwood; pleaded guilty by post;
fined £300, costs of £300 and £15 surcharge.
• M
s Jennifer Roberts, of Wandsworth; pleaded guilty by post; fined £200,
costs of £300 and £15 surcharge.
r Akshav Patel, of Romford; pleaded guilty by post; fined £100, costs of
• M
£200 and £15 surcharge.
• M
r Mamduh Muridi Addeh, of Clapham; fined £100, costs of £200 and £15
surcharge.
• M
r Michael Best, of Croydon; fined £200, costs of £300 and £15
surcharge.
Ms Shirley Spence, of Tooting, submitted a plea of not guilty, and her case
was adjourned until September.
Fighting the
fear of crime
It’s over a year since I
was officially appointed
borough commander, and
it’s a good time for me to
take stock.
Looking back, I’d
argue that Croydon has
made real progress, not
just as a police force, but
as a community working
together to beat crime and
disorder. I’m proud of this,
but I believe we can do
more. I want to share with
you how we will build on
our achievements, and
tackle the safety concerns
people still have.
The good news is that
the overall number of
offences in our borough
is down, by 328, on last
year. There have been 56
fewer victims of serious
violence and 199 fewer
victims of assaults.
While burglary is
still a serious threat to
residents, we’ve seen the
60% increase of a year ago
reduced to a 6% increase
by end of year.
I’m talking about
neighbourhood watch
teams, residents’
associations, and the
people who have
followed our safety
advice about locking
their doors and windows.
Burglars are opportunists
and, together, we’ve
shown them that we’re
determined not to give
them opportunities.
However, crime
statistics aren’t the be-all
and end-all, in my view.
As a family man,
I’d be the first to admit
graphs and charts aren’t
the best barometers of
whether people feel safe
in their neighbourhood,
or confident in our ability
to police it. So I’m just as
pleased that we’ve seen
real success, not only in
crime reduction, but in the
way people and businesses
tell us they feel safer in
our town centre.
But it’s not all good
news. Robbery is up by
16%, and youth crime
continues to be a concern.
Both these issues will be
priorities in the coming
months.
I know people remain
concerned about youth
crime, and young people’s
safety.
Croydon’s newly
opened Turnaround
Centre will help prevent
young people becoming
victims, or perpetrators,
of crime by enabling them
to access a wide range of
services under one roof.
As with our successes,
the challenges are not just
around the numbers. In
the coming year, I want to
focus on fear of crime – in
particular, that people
perceive levels of crime
in Croydon to be much
higher than they really are.
At a number of public
meetings over the year,
I’ve asked the community
to guess how many
robberies we had across
the borough every day.
The lowest response I’ve
had to date has been 35.
The reality is more like
three or four.
Knife crime is just over
one per day and serious
youth violence less than
one per day. None of this
is acceptable, but I believe
that the public have the
right to know the context.
The challenge for me,
therefore, is not only to
stop the robbers, but also
to reduce people’s fear of
being robbed, and make
it more in proportion with
the reality, and I hope I
can count on your help.
Croydon is a relatively
safe part of London, with
so much going for it – let’s
be proud of that and let’s
work together to get that
message across.
Ch Supt
Adrian Roberts
Croydon borough commander
yourbusiness 19
Have your e-say at [email protected]
We’re really excited to see the launch of the East London
line and all the new people coming into West Croydon.
David Parham
The train now pulling
into West Croydon
. . . has come directly from Dalston Junction and offers Croydon businesses a whole new customer base.
Some unkind souls might
say that Croydon’s business
leaders can’t carry a tune,
but, a couple of months
after the arrival of the East
London line, those leaders
are lustily singing its praises.
Local commerce sees
the £1bn service as a
welcome shot in the arm
at a time when many
traders are still feeling the
effects of the recession.
The new passenger
service – beginning at
Dalston Junction, with
stops at Crystal Palace
and Norwood Junction,
and terminating at
West Croydon – was
launched in late May.
Hailed a historic
development for London’s
rail infrastructure, the
new line is part of the
London Overground
network and links with
the Tube at several
stations along its route.
It is expected to create
substantial growth and
job opportunities across
the area, and ease access
to many jobs in London.
And local traders
are convinced the new
transport link will further
enhance Croydon’s status
as a centre for retail and
commerce, and underlines
the claim that the town is
one of the best-connected
locations in the country.
With the Tram network
having recently celebrated
its 10th anniversary, and
East Croydon’s high-speed
train links set for some
exciting redevelopment,
the area is braced for an
increasing number of
visitors in the years ahead.
Local business
leaders welcomed the
opening of the new
London Overground
link with enthusiasm.
Andrew Bauer, manager
of Whitgift Shopping
Centre, said: “The arrival
of the East London line
into West Croydon has
had the immediate trade
benefit of providing a direct
link to existing and new
retail custom in Crystal
Opportunity: Max Menon says line will bring benefits
Optimistic: Andrew Baner sees the east London line bringing new employment and prosperity to Croydon
Palace and Norwood.
“In the longer term, the
west/east linkage to Canary
Wharf will strengthen
Croydon as an office
location, bringing new
employment and greater
prosperity to the area, with
the Whitgift being only
too happy to serve all their
employees’ retail needs.”
His sentiments were
echoed by Allders boss Max
Menon, who said: “The
opening of the East London
line is a wonderful chance
for the area around West
Croydon to regenerate itself.
“This is a real
opportunity that will benefit
the whole community.”
David Parham, director
of the Centrale shopping
centre, said: “We’re really
excited to see the launch
of the East London line
and all the new people
coming into West Croydon.
“It’s just a three-minute
walk from Centrale, and
we’re looking forward
to welcoming all our
new customers.”
“The opening of the
East London line has
added to the fantastic
transport connections
available here in Croydon,”
said Ros Morgan,
director of Croydon
Town Centre Business
Improvement District.
“We already have
high-speed rail links,
connecting East Croydon
station to central London in
around 15 minutes, south
London’s only tram service,
and excellent road links.
“Now, our transport
offer has got even better
with the extension of
the East London line
plugging us into the
Underground network.
“I’m looking forward to
welcoming new shoppers
and businesses into the
area to take advantage of
our superb facilities.”
Croydon Town Centre’s: improving
transport links
1803: Horse-drawn ‘Surrey Iron Railway’
opens in Croydon
1805: Extends to Merstham, as the Croydon,
Merstham and Godstone Railway.
1839: Opening of the London and Croydon
Railway steam-powered railway
operating between London Bridge and
West Croydon
The arrival of the railways leads to a
23-fold increase in Croydon’s population
between 1801 and 1901
1897-98East Croydon and New Croydon stations
are merged into a single station which
remain to this day at East Croydon site
1930: West Croydon Station undergoes major
reconstruction and alterations
1992: East Croydon Station rebuilt
2000: Tramlink network opens, connecting
Croydon to Beckenham and Wimbledon
on an East-West axis
2010: East London Line opens, connecting
West Croydon to Dalston
20 yourbusiness
August 2010 | Your Croydon
Employers and employees both can benefit
from a skilled, highly trained workforce providing
employers with locally trained applicants.
Who ya gonna call? Gumbusters!
Visitors to the town centre to be encouraged to dispose of chewing gum in a responsible manner.
A 2009 campaign that
was so successful it saw
the amount of chewing
gum dropped on the
town centre’s pavements
reduced by a third is to
be revived this summer.
Croydon Business
Improvement District
(Bid) has once again been
selected to take part in the
national campaign, dubbed
the Chewing Gum Action
Group, running from 16
August to 16 September.
Last year’s efforts to
clear the streets of waste
chewing gum resulted in a
34% reduction in the town
centre, and it is hoped that
figure can be bettered.
The campaign aims
to change the attitudes
of people who drop
gum, and to promote
positive behaviour via
advertising and other
promotional activity.
Ros Morgan, Bid
manager, said: “We
hope to minimise the
great cost involved in
cleaning up this mess by
encouraging town-centre
users to dispose of their
chewing gum responsibly.
“Local businesses have
been asked to support this
initiative by displaying
campaign posters in
their shop fronts.”
For more information
on how you can get
involved in Croydon
Bid’s ongoing efforts to
make the town centre
a more clean and
attractive place to be,
email maria.chapman@
croydonbid.com
From little acorns New centre does good business
Fairfield event promises good business.
A business event with
the potential to bring
new opportunities to
hundreds of small firms
in Croydon is being held
on 7 October at Fairfield.
Last year, more than
400 people visited the
Federation of Small
Business event.
A spokeswoman for the
federation said: “We Mean
Business offers firms the
opportunity both to sell
their products to hundreds
of potential clients, and to
meet a whole range of other
Croydon-based businesses.”
If you would like the
chance to promote your
products and services
contact Jane or Sharon
on 01403 734257.
Running from 10am
to 4pm, stands cost £99
plus VAT for Federation
members, or £115 plus
VAT for non members.
Croydon’s newest specialist local recruitment centre is already proving a success.
Since opening its doors
almost three months ago,
Jobskills Retail has placed
more than 100 of Croydon’s
local workforce into a
variety of retail jobs.
Those positions, ranging
from entry to managerial
level, were found with
nearly 40 local employers.
Croydon traders are
also feeling the benefits of
the new centre, which has
signed up many famous
high street brands as clients.
Linda Wilkinson, at
Shades of Time, said: “I’m
so glad we’ve found such
a good recruiter. I don’t
know what we would’ve
done without their help.”
Aimed at helping
local people find work
with local retailers, the
Jobskills Retail Centre,
located on the ground floor
of the Whitgift Shopping
Centre, is a high-profile
partnership involving the
shopping centre, council,
Croydon College, Jobcentre
Plus, Croydon Economic
Development Company,
and Croydon Business
Improvement District.
Among the services
provided are pre-paid
bespoke training and
recruitment services
for the retail sector,
including apprenticeships,
which it can offer
through the London
Apprenticeship Academy
at Croydon College.
By providing these
services, employers and
employees both can
benefit from a skilled,
highly trained workforce
providing employers with
locally trained applicants.
Darra Singh, chief
executive of Jobcentre
Plus said, “I’m delighted
that Jobcentre Plus is
working with other
partners to deliver local
services through the
Jobskills Retail centre.”
Have your e-say at [email protected]
yourheritage 21
Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle
of Britain, the RAF Kenley Air Day 2010 will run from
11am to 4pm on Saturday, 14 August.
Remembering the few
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” – Winston Churchill’s words will be
remembered in a series of events scheduled to mark the 70th anniversary of Britain’s finest hour.
RAF Kenley Tribute: Battle of Britain day of remembrance
The heroic pilots who
protected the nation’s
skies during World War
II will be remembered
when thousands gather
for a special day at
Kenley Airfield.
Commemorating the
70th anniversary of the
Battle of Britain, the RAF
Kenley Air Day 2010 will
run from 11am to 4pm
on Saturday, 14 August.
With free admission
and parking, the day is
planned as a community
event, with proceeds
from the sale of a fullcolour souvenir brochure
going to the maintenance
and upkeep of the
RAF Kenley Tribute.
Among the attractions
will be a number of flying
displays, ranging from
model aircraft to the
Battle of Britain Memorial
Flight; a display of vintage
and historic aircraft;
children’s fun rides; a
flight simulator; and the
450 Sqn ATC Band.
The RAF Kenley Air
Day 2010 coincides
with two significant
anniversaries. On 15
August, 1940, Croydon
was bombed by the
Germans, and three days
later RAF Kenley itself
came under attack, a
date recorded in history
as The Hardest Day.
A number of events
is planned for the rest of
the year to commemorate
the Battle of Britain.
The Museum of
Croydon – in Croydon
Clocktower, Katharine
Street – will be staging
an exhibition, starting
18 September, marking
the Blitz and its
impact on Croydon.
The Clocktower, on
the same day, will host
a local history fair with
WWII-themed talks, and,
upstairs in the local studies
library and archives, an
exhibition looking at
Croydon’s role in the Battle
of Britain will begin.
Heritage tours looking
at the Town Hall’s role in
the events of 1940, led by a
historical enactor, will take
place on 18 September,
and, during the autumn,
people will be able to
take a self-led walking
tour of key wartime
locations, supported
by an information
sheet and brochure.
A programme of
events for schools will be
developed to coincide with
the Clocktower exhibitions.
Plastician – dub thyself
Dubstep DJ and producer Chris Reed is better known as Plastician. He is a regular on Rinse FM and Radio 1, and has toured
the world. But when he’s not playing to crowds of thousands, he’s relaxing or working at home in Croydon.
Home is…?
Thornton Heath, although I’ve just bought
a new place in Woodside which I’m in the
process of renovating.
What’s your earliest Croydon
memory?
Going shopping with my mum in the
Whitgift Centre. I was really young when
they used to have a merry-go-round. That
and Beatties toy shop which was where
Ann Summers is now, in North End.
What’s your life philosophy?
Live for the moment and enjoy each day as
it comes, but keep yourself busy and active.
It’s important to be always working toward
something.
If you could give someone one
piece of advice what would it be?
One thing that I have learned over the
years is that there’s a lot of truth in the
my croydon
saying that if you work hard enough
you’ll get what you want. I’ve been doing
what I do for 10 years but I’ve only seen a
financial and personal benefit in the past
four years. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s
important to never give up on your goals,
but you have to be realistic about them.
Do you have a guilty Croydon
pleasure…?
I used to spend a lot of time in Reflex, the
’80s bar in Park Street, and before that The
Blue Orchid nightclub, in Park Lane.
Who is your hero?
I like football a lot so I would have to say
Zinedine Zidane. He’s always been my
hero. He’s the best I’ve ever seen play. If I
could be anyone in the world it would be
him when he was at his peak.
Your favourite Croydon place?
I really like the beer garden of the Dog &
Bull pub in Surrey Street and, before it
closed down, I used to spend a lot of time in
Big Apple records, just along from the pub.
What’s on the Plastician stereo?
A remix CD I’m putting the finishing
touches to, and I listen to the radio a lot.
My dad likes the old stuff and my ears are
always open to anything.
22 yourevents
August 2010 | Your Croydon
Croydon Clocktower,
Katharine Street, Croydon
Ticket office: 020 8253 1030
Online: www.croydonclocktower.org.uk
David Lean Cinema
London River (12A)
Fri 30 July – Thu 05 Aug
Stars: Brenda Blethyn
After travelling to London
to check on their missing
children in the wake of the
2005 terror attack on the
city, two strangers come
to discover their respective
children had been living
together at the time of the
attacks.
Contains brief moderate
injury detail and emotionally
intense scenes
Leaving (15)
Fri 30 July – Thu 05 Aug
Stars: Sergi Lopez, Kristin
Scott Thomas, Yvan Attal
A wealthy married wife is
bored by her lifestyle and
decides to go back to work
as a physiotherapist. But
she meets a builder and the
mutual attraction is sudden
and violent. She decides to
give up everything and live
this all-engulfing passion to
the fullest.
French with subtitles
When You’re Strange (15
TBC)
Wed 04 Aug – Thu 5 Aug
Narration: Johnny Depp
Historic and previously
unseen footage of rock
legends The Doors that
provides a new insight into
the revolutionary impact
of the band’s music and
legacy.
Whatever Works (12A)
Fri 06 – Thu 12 Aug
BYOB – Tickets £4
Stars: Larry David
Boris, a self-righteous
windbag, gains a new
perspective on his jaded
life when he sublets his
apartment to a young
runaway from Mississippi,
named Melody.
Contains moderate sex
references and suicide
references
The Girl with the Dragon
Tattoo (18)
Fri 06 – Fri 13 Aug
Stars: Lena Endre
An atmospheric suspense
thriller. Computer hacker
Lisbeth and disgraced
journalist Mikael are thrown
case, which still haunts him.
Spanish with subtitles
White Material
together to investigate a 40year-old murder.
Swedish with subtitles
Good Hair (12A)
Wed 11 & Thu 12 Aug
Stars: Chris Rock
An exposé of comic
proportions that only
Chris Rock could pull off,
visiting beauty salons and
hairstyling battles, scientific
laboratories and Indian
temples to explore the
way hairstyles impact the
activities, pocketbooks,
sexual relationships, and
self-esteem of the black
community.
Contains strong language
and moderate sex
references
Le Concert (15)
Fri 13 – Thu 19 Aug
Stars: Aleksei Guskov
A former conductor decides
to reunite his old orchestra
and to perform a prestigious
concert in France.
French with subtitles
Inception (15 TBC)
Fri 13 – Thu 19 Aug
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio
An international cast in an
original sci-fi that travels
into the intimate and infinite
world of dreams.
Shrek The Third (U)
Sat 14 Aug
Autism-friendly screening
The voices of: Mike Myers,
Eddie Murphy, Cameron
Diaz, Antonio Banderas
When his new father-in-law,
King Harold, falls ill, Shrek is
looked at as the heir to the
land of Far, Far Away.
White Material (15)
Wed 18 & Thu 19 Aug
Stars: Isabelle Huppert,
Christopher Lambert
With civil and racial conflicts
boiling over in a small
African farming community,
Maria (Isabelle Huppert),
doggedly fights to keep
her coffee plantation alive,
blindly ignoring calls from
her government and exhusband to leave the area.
French with Subtitles
Wild Target (15)
Fri 20 – Thu 26 Aug
BYOB – Tickets £4
Stars: Bill Nighy, Emily
Blunt, Rupert Everett, Martin
Freeman
An offbeat comedy about
a middle-aged lone
hitman whose entire life is
dedicated to fulfilling his
elderly mother’s every whim.
But when a newly assigned
target has an unexpected
emotional affect on the
ageing assassin, he finds
himself taking stock of his
situation.
Gainsbourg (15)
Fri 20 – Thu 26 Aug
Stars: Eric Elmosnino
The story of the illustrious
and infamous Serge
Gainsbourg. An enchanting
glimpse at his early life,
growing up in 1940s Nazioccupied Paris, and through
his successful song-writing
years in the 1960s, until his
death in 1991.
French with subtitles
24 City (U)
Wed 25 & Thu 26 Aug
Stars: Joan Chen
Following three generations
of workers at a Chinese
factory, 24 City portrays a
group of characters whose
livelihoods are under threat
from a redevelopment
scheme that would result in
the closure of their stateowned factory.
Chinese with English
subtitles
The Secret In Their Eyes
(18)
Fri 27 Aug – Thu 02 Sep
Stars: Ricardo Darin
Recently retired criminal
court investigator Benjamin
decides to write a novel
based on a 25-year-old
unresolved rape and murder
The Rebound (15)
Fri 27 Aug – Thu 02 Sep
Stars: Catherine ZetaJones, Justin Bartha
A fresh, witty and sexy
comedy about an
unexpected romance.
Beautiful, smart, suburban
mother Sandy discovers her
husband is cheating and
takes the children to New
York to start again. She
hires a Nanny – 25-yearold Aram – who becomes
increasingly attached to the
children as Sandy becomes
increasingly attracted to
Aram.
Pandora & The Flying
Dutchman (PG)
Wed 01 & Thu 02 Sep
Stars: James Mason, Ava
Gardner, Nigel Patrick
An American ex-pat living
in a small Spanish port.
Loved by seemingly every
man who meets her,
Pandora doesn’t seem
able to love anyone back;
instead she drives her
admirers to ruin. Things
change, however, when
the mysterious Hendrick
van der Zee sails into
Esperanza. Lewin’s cult
drama reworks the legend
of the Flying Dutchman in
an exploration of love and
sacrifice.
Shrek the Third
Guided walks
Children’s summer nature
activity sessions at South
Norwood Country Park
Tue 3, Thu 12, Tue 17,
Thu 26 & Tue 31 August,
12-2pm
Children need to be
accompanied by a parent
or guardian, booking is
essential. Please call
020 8656 5947.
Sunday 1 August
Horrid hoary ragwort
Help the Sanderstead to
Whyteleafe countryside
warden to remove the
yellow ragwort flowers
form the fields, as the plant
is bad for livestock. Meet
in the fields of Honister
Heights, by Riddlesdown
School, between 10am
and 4pm. Tea, coffee and
biscuits provided, as well as
all the equipment. Children
welcome. Call 07771
715812.
Sunday 1 August
Fleecy fun at
Hutchinson’s Bank
11am to 3pm, entrance at
the end of Farleigh Dean
Crescent, limited parking, or
follow signs from New
Addington tram stop for
short walk to site. Call
01737 737700.
Sunday 1 August
High summer in
Selsdon Wood
Meet at 11am in the
Selsdon Wood car park,
off Old Farleigh Road,
for a 90-minute stroll.
Bus: T33
yourdiary 23
yourevents
Details of all Croydon
Council meetings can be
found on the council website
at www.croydon.gov.uk/
meetingsofthecouncil
Fairfield, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 1DG
Box office 020 8688 9291
Book online at www.fairfield.co.uk
where you can choose your own seats.
A booking fee of £2.25 per ticket may apply
Fairfield
Thursday 5 August 7.30pm
AN AUDIENCE WITH
ARCHBISHOP DESMOND
TUTU
Clive Conway, in association
with LBC Radio, presents
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
in conversation with Sir
Trevor McDonald. Profits
go to the Desmond Tutu
Peace Centre.
£20, £25
Sunday 15 August 7.45pm
ROCK‘N’ROLL PARADISE
Rock’n’Roll Paradise
brings to life the giants of
the rock’n’roll years – Elvis
Presley, Buddy Holly, Jerry
Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison,
Eddie Cochran and the
Big Bopper – backed by a
superb band.
£17.50
Dates for your diary
Mon 23 Aug 2pm & Tue 24
Aug 11am & 2pm
FIREMAN SAM –
PONTYPANDY ROCKS!
Pontypandy hosts its first
music festival!
Adults £13, children £11,
family £44
Children’s meals available
Thursday 26 August
7.45pm
MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
A whistle-stop tour of the
West End and Broadway,
featuring four West End
principals backed by an
orchestra of leading West
End musicians. The show
was originally based on
the musical The Phantom of
the Opera.
£16.50
Wednesday 25 August
7.45pm
THE TEXAS TENORS
The incredible voices of
these classically trained
tenors tackle a unique blend
of gospel, country, classical
and Broadway with a hint of
cowboy charm.
£19.50
Friday 27 August 7pm
GET IT ON THE FLOOR
A platform for dance artists
of every ability who want
to showcase their talent
and have a chance to win
awards in front of some of
the well-established names
in the industry.
£10
he meets and falls in love
with a 22-year-old girl.
£20, £25
Wed 18 – Sat 21 August
7.45pm, Sat matinee
2.30pm
HI-DE-HI
Promises huge amounts of
audience participation.
£20 evenings, £15 mat,
£50 family
Council
Deadlines for public questions for forthcoming full council meetings (all start at 6.30pm).
Noon on the relevant deadline date
Meeting: Monday, 18 October
Deadline: Monday, 4 October
To submit a question (maximum number of words: 50) for consideration at a full council
meeting, email it to [email protected]; fax it to 020 8760 5657;
print and complete the form at www.croydon.gov.uk/councilquestion and post it to
Questions for the council, Democratic and legal services, Taberner House, Park Lane,
Croydon CR9 3JS; or call 020 8726 6000 extn 63876.
Scrutiny
Meeting: 7 September
Scrutiny and overview
Meeting: 21 September
Community services and safety (to be confirmed)
Meeting: 28 September
Health, social care and housing (to be confirmed)
Neighbourhood Partnership
Neighbourhood partnership meetings start at 7.30pm
Meeting:14 September
Group: Purley and Kenley
Venue: Christchurch Hall, Brighton Road, Purley
Meeting: 22 September
Group: South Norwood and Selhurst
Venue: South Norwood Baptist Church, Oliver Avenue, South Norwood
Meeting: 29 September
Group: Sanderstead, Croham and Selsdon & Ballards
Venue: To be confirmed
Sunday 22 August 8pm
A DI VISA MI WANT
The story of a 64-yearold man caught between
idealism and realism when
For information on Neighbourhood Partnerships, visit the website at
http://tinyurl.com/neighbourhoodpartnerships,
email [email protected],
write to Neighbourhood Partnerships, Democratic and legal services, Taberner House,
Park Lane, Croydon CR9 3JS or call 020 8726 6000 extn 62564 or 64919.
Croydon Community Police Consultative Group
Saturday 7 August
Minibeast hunt in
Littleheath Woods
Meet at 10am, at the
junction of Littleheath
and Queenhill Roads, for
this 90-minute search for
woodland minibeasts.
Bus: 64, T33 (Queenhill
Road)
Sunday 8 August
Flowers and more on
Coulsdon Common
Meet at 2.30pm by the
public car park behind
The Fox public house,
Old Coulsdon, to explore
what grows on the common.
Wednesday 18 August
Bat and moth night at
South Norwood Lake
Early booking essential
as numbers are limited.
Either e-mail biodiversity@
croydon.gov.uk
Call 020 8726 6900.
Friday 20 August
Summer stories in
Beaulieu Heights
Meet with the children’s
librarian from Upper
Norwood Library for a
90-minute story session on
the lawn. Meet at 11am at
the main entrance to the
park, off South Norwood Hill
Bus: 468, 196
Wednesday 25 August
Play Day in Westow Park
All families are invited to
come along and join in the
fun and activities.
Visit www.friendsofwest
owpark.ning.com
Thursday 26 August
Bat walk through Spring
Park Wood
An introduction to bats and
their way of life. Meet at the
Bridle Road entrance to the
wood, between nos 99 and
101, at 7.30pm.
Bus: 198, 194
Saturday 28 August
Looking at leaves in
Littleheath Woods
Meet at 10am, at the
junction of Littleheath and
Queenhill Roads, for this
90-minute stroll, taking a
closer look at trees in their
summer attire.
Bus: 64, T33
Meetings of the Croydon Community Police Consultative Group are held in the Council
Chamber of the Town Hall. All are open to the public and begin at 6.30pm. For further
information, go to www.croydononline.org/ccpcg
Forthcoming meeting dates are:
Wednesday, 8 September; Wednesday, 10 November.
Details of all Croydon Council meetings can be found on the council website at
www.croydon.gov.uk/meetingsofthecouncil
Contact us
General enquiries
T: 020 8726 6000
Opening hours
8am-7pm (Monday),
8am-6pm (Tuesday-Friday)
F: 020 8760 0871
Minicom: 020 8760 5797
Email: contact.thecouncil@
croydon.gov.uk
Housing
T: 020 8726 6100
F: 020 8760 5745
E: [email protected]
Environmental reporting
T: 020 8726 6200
E: contact.enviroteam@
croydon.gov.uk
Planning and building
control
T: 020 8726 6800
F: 020 8760 5406
E: planning.control@croydon.
gov.uk
Adult social services
Tel: 020 8726 6500
Fax: 020 8633 9428
Email: referral.team2@
croydon.gov.uk
my council...
“...helps me stay safe”
Croydon’s Turnaround Centre offers a place where young people
can turn up for the help and advice they need.
Croydon Turnaround Centre, 51/55 South End, Croydon, CR0 1BF
% 020 8760 5530
www.croydon.gov.uk/turnaround