Archive
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Musical treats at castle
Head to Leeds Castle for some fine music this summer. The Family Picnic Prom takes place on June 26. The concert features Carl Davis and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with a rousing programme of popular children's musical themes from Harry
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Making a song and dance of it
Here are ten musical notes you might not have known before ... 1. Before joining the Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts was a designer with a London advertising agency. He initially refused to join the band because he was worried about financial security
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Fun at summer fair
HUNDREDS of revellers turned out to support a children's nursery's summer fair. The annual Parklands Nursery fair, at Coney Hall recreation ground, Church Drive, featured a butterfly tent, pony rides, music from Vintage Jazz and a number of May queen
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Pair of concerts celebrate 60th anniversary of VE Day
A MUSICAL tribute is being held to those who lived through the rigours of the war years in Beckenham. Two concerts will be held on June 18 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of VE Day and 59 years after Winston Churchill received the Freedom of Beckenham
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News in brief
SITE FOR SORE EYES: Bromley Welcare, which offers support to needy families in the borough, is looking for new premises, including a meeting room, an interview room and use of kitchen and toilet facilities. For further information, call 020 8466 0399.
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Pupils to steer clear of school
EDUCATION chiefs are reassuring parents whose children will miss a fortnight's teaching because a new £32m school is not ready. Pupils must avoid Bishop Justus CofE School, Magpie Hall Lane, Bromley, until September 19 two weeks after term should start
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News in brief
MAST EXHIBITION: Orpington Residents Against Masts is holding an exhibition at Crofton Halls' main hall, York Rise, Orpington, on June 16. The event from 7pm to 9pm, will include information on how to protect your family, radiation testing and getting
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Summer fair better than ever
ORGANISERS of the News Shopper sponsored Chislehurst Summer Fair are promising a "bigger and better" event than ever. The fair on Chislehurst Common on Saturday will include a sports car display, Morris dancing, a May Queen parade and many other activities
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Hospital boosted by bring and buy sale
SCHOOLCHILDREN have managed to raise more than £130 by selling their unwanted books, CDs and videos. Edgebury Primary School's 230 pupils spent their pocket money on items donated by fellow classmates at a bring-and-buy sale in aid of Queen Mary's Hospital
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Festival fun returns
A FORTNIGHT of summer fun is in store as a community festival makes its return. The Mottingham Festival, which was first held in 1973 and takes place every two years, will run from June 15 to June 29. Highlights include a children's art competition,
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Heritage will be protected
A NEW conservation area has been given the green light and a further two were extended as councillors bid to protect the borough's heritage. The new area around Elm Road, Beckenham, was created following a heritage study commissioned in March 2004 amid
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Ron hopes lightning doesn’t strike twice
A FATHER-OF-ONE is lucky to be alive after being struck by lightning during bank holiday storms. Ronald Marlow, 60, got the shock of his life when he was struck while walking down Chislehurst High Street at 11.30am on May 30. He was under an umbrella
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Free home fire safety checks
FIREFIGHTERS are offering free home fire safety checks to the elderly and vulnerable. A team will go to homes to give general advice and check sockets and plugs for faults. They will also fit free smoke alarms to those who need them. People aged over
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News in brief
IN AT THE DEEP END: People are asked to take the plunge in a 24-hour diveathon challenge raising money for Mencap, on June 18 at Sundridge Park Management Centre, Plaistow Lane, Bromley. Divers will need to raise at least £50 each. Non-divers are also
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Inspectors praise primary school
A PRIMARY school has been praised by Ofsted inspectors. Downderry Primary School, Downderry Road, Downham, was praised for improving standards in English, maths and science. The inspection report also pays tribute to the leadership and management at
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Naturism uncovered after foundation opens its doors
NOTHING was left to the imagination at an open day event to celebrate World Naturism Day. The Naturist Foundation in Orpington threw open its 50-acre grounds last weekend to anyone thinking of giving naturism a try. General secretary Christine Ashford
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Ryan WoWs the judges to win competition
A SCHOOLBOY has won a national competition to design a badge for a walk-to-school scheme. The badge designed by Ryan Cattermore, aged five, from Valley School, Beckenham Lane, Bromley, will now be worn by children across the country. His design was
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Hospital fundraiser hits the target
A WEEKEND of fast and furious fundraising has netted more than £2,000 for a baby unit. Darren Warner, 33, a machine operator and his wife Lorraine, 35, from West Street, Erith, embarked on a three-day fundraiser to thank the neo-natal unit at Queen Mary's
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Police keeping hold of money
A PENSIONER in her 80s has called in solicitors to try and get back hundreds of pounds she lost in a cab. But it is not the cab driver who is holding onto her money, it is the police. The Bexleyheath pensioner, who is 83, is crippled with arthritis
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Borough ready for Royal seal of approval
ONE of the Royal family's biggest fans is already dusting down her union flags after the news the Queen is to visit Bexley. Ennis Smith, from Crayford, said: "I met the Queen briefly at a Buckingham Palace garden party but it was just a quick nod and
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Flat plans for library
TORY councillors have reacted with fury to the news Bexley Council hopes to build flats on a former library site. A planning application has been lodged for the former Barnehurst Library site, in Mayplace Road East, to build five two-bedroom flats with
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News in brief
SAVE ENERGY: Age Concern is offering older people in Bexley free cavity wall insulation to help save energy and keep heating bills down. To qualify, people must be aged over 60 and have their energy supplied by Age Concern Energy Services or receive income
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Teenage group tried to hang five-year-old
A MUM has told of her son's ordeal after a group of youngsters tried to hang him. Jackie Peebles, 31, was speaking after a five-year-old West Yorkshire boy suffered a similar fate. She says her son Arthur, five, was targeted last year by a group of
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Nine years for rapist
A MAN who raped his teenage babysitter and indecently assaulted another youngster has been jailed for nine years. Grant McNair was 22 when he raped the 15-year-old in the bathroom of his Erith home, nearly 15 years ago. McNair, now 37, was found guilty
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£5,000 donation will help to keep town centre safe
DOING its bit to keep the town centre safe, The Mall in Bexleyheath Broadway has given £5,000 to the Bexleyheath Town Safe project. The money will be used by the project to help fund its intelligence officer Val Hines. Aimed at cutting crime in Bexleyheath
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Hospice nets cash from charity match
FOOTBALL-MAD teenagers have been helping raise money for a good cause in their community by putting their shooting boots on. Two under-16 teams played a charity match against each other to raise £700 for the Lions Hospice, Coldharbour Road, Gravesend
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Residents hit by parking tickets
FURIOUS residents face fines of £50 each for parking their cars outside their homes on a bank holiday. People living in Oaklands Road, Bexleyheath, say they were astonished to find penalty notices on their cars as they came out of their homes on the
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Summer festival entertainment will feature borough’s top artistic talent
BEXLEY people will be showing off their talents at a summer arts festival on Saturday. Bexley's arts council will be showcasing the area's arts movement with live entertainment from musicians and dancers, including Chinese lion dancers and a jazz band
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More care for carers
A SERIES of events has been organised to highlight the help available to carers. Nationally, carers save the NHS £57bn a year by looking after their elderly or disabled friends or relatives at home. The events, timed to coincide with National Carers
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News in brief
SPIKEY SPEAK: A talk on the Hidden World of Hedgehogs will be given by Royal Parks community ecologist Dr Nigel Reeve at High Elms Nature Centre, Farnborough, starting at 7.30pm tomorrow. For details call Steve Whitbread on 01689 857037. FESTIVAL FINALE
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Team hears main fears
CONCERNED residents have made their feelings known by voicing fears about community safety at an association's first meeting. More than 50 people turned up to share their views at the first meeting of the Belvedere Residents' Panel. The main topics
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Inmate found dead on prison ship
A BURGLAR has been discovered hanged on a prison ship in Dorset. James Nolan, 27, from Penge was found hanging from a noose made with a bed sheet on June 3 by HMP Weare wardens at Portland Harbour. Attempts were made to resuscitate Mr Nolan, but the
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Athletics scheme is right on track
SCHOOLCHILDREN mixed with Olympic athletes in a pilot project for young people. Met-Track is the brainchild of Bexleyheath police superintendent John Powell, himself an Olympic athletics coach. His aim is to use sport as a fun and healthy alternative
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Eye test campaigners make their point clear
AN MP has joined a campaign urging people to get their eyes tested regularly. John Austin, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, is backing a national campaign by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) aimed at raising awareness of glaucoma. The condition
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Stage spell turns ladies into hags for popular tale
COULDRONS were bubbling and broomsticks double-parked when wannabe witches were invited to audition for roles in a play. Roald Dahl's The Witches is coming to the Churchill theatre, Bromley High Street, in two weeks' time and the company was auditioning
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Council – gays are not equal
CIVIC bigwigs are backing a ban on same-sex weddings because gay people "should not be seen as equal". Bromley Council is denying homosexuals the chance to hold civil partnership ceremonies at its register office or council properties, despite neighbouring
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Flavours of Italy
THE paved area of Bexleyheath Broadway was transformed into a piazza for two days as the hugely popular Italian market returned to town. The smells and tastes of Italy on offer included baskets of breads, dozens of different kinds of olives, cheeses,
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Events to help create a greener community
A HOST of events are on offer over the next two weeks to celebrate community action for a better quality of life. London Sustainability Week 2005 is about creating a cleaner, greener and healthier London and groups across Bexley have organised activities
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News in brief
SEEN HOGWEED?: If you have spotted giant hogweed, Japanese Knotweed or Himalayan balsam growing along the River Cray in Bexley, give the North West Kent Countryside Partnership (NMKCP) a call. It is organising spraying and hand removing of these alien
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It’s ready, Teddie, go for nursery staff’s fun run
NURSERY staff put their best foot forward and raised more than £1,200 for Children's Cancer Research. Fourteen staff from Teddies Nursery, Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, took part in a five-mile run at Hyde Park. A spokesman said: "It was a very good day
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The empire strikes Croc
SAUSAGES were swapped for lightsabres in an intergalactic puppet show which entertained youngsters and adults alike. Husband and wife team Brian and Alison Davey, who run the Dorset-based Puppetree Company, treated viewers to a Star Wars-themed performance
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Youthful art
HUNDREDS of works of art by children are going on show. The Alun and Joy Jones Awards for Environmental Studies, an annual art competition for children living in Chislehurst, is run by the Chislehurst Society. Spokesman Tracy Smith said: "We estimate
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Court ban on priest
THE former priest who disrupted the Olympic Marathon and British Grand Prix, was banned from the Epsom Derby at the weekend. Cornelius Horan, a priest at St John Fisher RC Church, Bexley Village, in the 1970s and assistant priest at St Anthony's RC Church
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Garden’s dancers get first taste of tango
A TASTE of Latin America came to the borough as alfresco Argentine tango was danced in a park. Terry Badis, 72, and his wife Sandra, 65, from Orpington, gave lessons in Queens Gardens, Kentish Way, Bromley, on Sunday. The couple have been dance partners
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Travelling through time at history day
THE hardships of living in a wet, windy, medieval encampment were brought to life at Bexley's annual history fair. Hosted by Bexley Heritage Trust at the historic Hall Place, Bourne Road, Bexley, the fair transported people from Roman times right up
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Guard assaulted
A SECURITY guard was hit over the head with a fire extinguisher outside a hospital. The 59-year-old suffered injuries to the back of his head and cuts to his knees during the incident outside the Horn Beam day centre at Darent Valley Hospital on June
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News in brief
STEAM RIDE: The Gravesend Model Marine and Engineering Society is holding a train-ride event in aid of the Kent Air Ambulance Trust. The train rides cost 50p and run between 2pm and 5pm on Sunday at Cascades Leisure Centre, Thong Lane, Gravesend. Call
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Patients drop in for healthcare advice
PATIENTS can receive advice on healthcare services at a new drop-in centre. The centre, in Grand Depot Road, Woolwich, was opened on Monday and will allow residents to speak to trained volunteers about their healthcare options. The volunteers will also
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Rocket on rails
HIGH-SPEED bullet trains are set to whisk passengers into London in record time. North Kent passengers will be able to board the new £250m trains at a refurbished station in Ebbsfleet, from where a non-stop service to St Pancras will take 16 minutes.
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Tag champs take trophy
AFTER-SCHOOL practice paid off for one group of youngsters as they scooped another piece of silverware for the trophy cabinet. Boys and girls at Upton Primary School, Upton Road, Bexleyheath, stayed behind every week after school to practice their tag
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Work will begin on DLR rail link
WORK is about to start on a new rail link which will whisk commuters into the City in minutes. Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has got the go-ahead to start work building a £180m extension into Woolwich Arsenal. The 1.4-mile extension will run from the
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Fare fines increase
FARE dodgers on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) face heavier fines and a zero tolerance approach. From next week the penalty goes up to £20, with more ticket inspectors on patrol. A DLR spokesman said: "The vast majority of our passengers are honest
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Fill empty properties
PLANS have been announced to bring empty and derelict homes back into public use. Lewisham Council wants to address the problem of empty properties, to reduce the burden on social housing. The council says it is currently negotiating to buy six homes
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Pub reins in opening hours
NEW opening hours for a neighbourhood pub have been scaled back after objections from residents. The Jolly Millers, Mayplace Road West, Bexleyheath, faced more than a dozen objectors when its application for a licence under the new licensing laws was
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News in Brief
SECRET GARDEN: The owners of 18 Silverdale Road, Bexleyheath, are opening their garden to the public this Sunday to raise cash for Greenwich and Bexley Cottage Hospice. The garden is open from 2pm to 5pm and refreshments will be available at number 16
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Caring Kelly goes feet first for fund
A LOVING daughter is stepping out to fight cancer after losing her mum to the disease. Kelly Harlin, 18, will be joining her brother and sister, twins Kylie and Kenny, both 16, on Darent Valley Hospital's Stride for Life sponsored walk. Proceeds from
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Chance to pick your Local Hero
THERE are just three days left until the vote to find the winner of News Shopper's Local Hero campaign comes to an end. A year ago we started in our quest to find youngsters who deserve praise for the good work they do in their communities. We were
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Remember heroes at best show in town
This year we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of VE and VJ days and what better place to remember our heroes than the Biggin Hill Air Fair. As Spitfires and Hurricanes race overhead the show will evoke poignant memories of those wartime years and
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Councillors take on planning pains
CONFUSION over planning applications could be a thing of the past thanks to a new document. Sevenoaks District Council has drawn-up Planning for People and given it to the Government's Planning Inspectorate after consultation with residents in December
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Getting fit for only a quid
THE community can get into the swim of things with reduced-cost sessions at some of the borough's swimming pools Bromley Mytime is offering swimming for £1 in four pools The Pavilion in Bromley, The Spa at Beckenham, Walnuts in Orpington and West Wickham
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Dad critical of dead son’s care
AN EX-SOLDIER whose 29-year-old son was found hanging at Bethlem Royal Hospital, has criticised his care. John O'Donnell spoke out at his son Stephen's inquest on Thursday at Croydon Coroner's Court. Lorry driver Stephen, of Upper Norwood, had been
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Residents’ joy as pub plans halted
RESIDENTS who feared a rise in drunken behaviour are celebrating after the borough's first new-style licensing hearing saw plans for extended boozing blocked. Punch Taverns originally wanted to extend drinking hours at the Beacon Hotel, Hayes, until
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Cinema plans hit by meeting delays
PLANS to usher in a new era for a derelict cinema have been hit by a series of delays. The Coronet Cinema, Well Hall Road, Eltham, showed its last film six years ago and has since remained disused. A developer has put forward a £5m application for a
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Charity day all creepy and crawly
SLITHERING snakes and bird-eating spiders wowed youngsters at a charity day. John Green, 33, an avid reptile and arachnid collector, thrilled 60 children with his show at the Horse and Groom pub, Leyton Cross Road, Wilmington. Among the unusual delights
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Prepare to board naval exhibition
AN EXHIBITION devoted to one of the most iconic figures of the maritime era is set to open. The Nelson and Napoleon exhibition will centre on the lives of 19th-century admirals Horatio Nelson and Napoleon Bonaparte. The event will particularly focus
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News in Brief
APPLICATION IN: The Trustees of the First Church of Christian Scientists have submitted an application to Bromley Council for the construction of a four-storey block in Widmore Road, Bromley. The building will have a children's nursery on the ground floor
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Accused of failing public
HEALTH watchdogs stand accused of lacking bite and failing the public. The Bromley's Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum, which is supposed to be the voice of the patient, is behaving "like a secret society" it has been claimed. The forum has
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Learning recipe for healthy life
YOUNGSTERS made their own recipe books in a bid to learn about healthy eating. Around 100 children visited The Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley High Street, over the half-term break to take part in the free workshops. There they cut out fruit and vegetable
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Players Wanted
For players in Bromley borough, call 0906 739 0327 For Bexley, Dartford and Gravesham boroughs, 0906 739 0329 For Lewisham & Greenwich boroughs, 0906 739 0331 Calls are charged at £1 a minute but listings are free. These listings also appear on our
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Blindness no hindrance to Spratt and Coles
DESPITE having to drive the last three stages effectively blind', Orpington's Phil Spratt moved up the rankings in the British Rally Championship. The 25-year-old, who competes in the Stars of the Future' series, was forced to negotiate the latter stages
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Birthday art wows bishop
A SCHOOL celebrated 10 years of teaching with a visit from a leading clergyman. Trinity School, Erith Road, Belvedere, was created from the struggling Picardy School in 1995. It is Bexley's only Church of England secondary school and caters for around
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Town revamp faces inquiry
THE Government has announced a public inquiry is to be held into the controversial plans to revamp Dartford town centre. The scheme, estimated to cost £94m, was given planning permission by the council in August last year. But in the face of massive
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Protect your belongings
MOTORISTS are being urged to remove valuable items from their cars to reduce the risk of them being targeted by thieves. The warning comes from north Kent police following two recent incidents. A £100 JVC car radio was stolen from a Mercedes Benz in
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Thief sneaks in open door
A THIEF made off with a £1,250 laptop computer after a resident left a door open to let in some fresh air. The 35-year-old Swanley woman was in the kitchen as she heard the door slam. She later realised she had been burgled. The thief escaped with the
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Call to cut speed limit
A WOMAN whose niece was killed in a road collision has handed a petition to a council as part of her road safety campaign. Annette Donoghue, 37, of Brunswick Walk, Gravesend, lost her niece Kirsty, 11, in October last year when she was hit by a car on
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Team hears main fears
CONCERNED residents have made their feelings known by voicing worries about community safety at an association's first meeting. More than 50 people turned up to share their views at the first meeting of the Belvedere Residents' Panel. The main topics
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More care for carers
A SERIES of events has been organised to highlight the help available to carers. Nationally, carers save the NHS £57bn a year by looking after their elderly or disabled friends or relatives at home. The events, timed to coincide with National Carers
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News in brief
NEW EQUIPMENT: Darent Valley Hospital will soon have a new cardiac service. It hopes to install an angiograph machine by September, which allows the flow of blood to be filmed or x-rays to be taken. The equipment will cost £600,000 and will replace the
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Brave golfer swaps driving for flying
A DARING 62-year-old had the "most exhilarating experience" of her life while raising more than £3,000 for charity. Ditta Pipe of Bean Road, Bexleyheath, jumped 12,000ft from a plane to raise cash for the Ellenor Children's Hospital at Home. Mrs Pipe
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Children challenged to go with the flow at pool
YOUNGSTERS had a splashing time as they slid into action at their swimming pool. White Oak Leisure Centre, Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, is offering children a challenge. The more times they ride on the flume slide, the more points they get towards prizes
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Team tackling road safety
I HOPE no-one believed the letter saying one day a child might be killed by the complacency of the council. It is with huge frustration I have to admit I cannot guarantee a child will not one day die in Southborough Lane or elsewhere in our borough.
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Let the fun and games begin
When Kirsty Gallagher announced she could not make it, a gangster took her place. AFC Bromley's third annual charity football day, which raised more than £3,000 for the Starlight Children's Foundation, drew a star of the screen and an England international
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Politics still in my blood, says ex-MP
A MONTH after being ousted as the borough's MP, Chris Pond says he is keen to represent the area again. Mr Pond, whose eight-year tenure as Gravesham's MP ended on May 5, wants to return to parliament one day to complete "unfinished business". He wants
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Dowie spends more dough on Macken
PALACE have added a former £5m man to their squad with the signing of Jon Macken from Manchester City. The 27-year-old striker joined the Eagles for a fee that could eventually rise to £1.1m. Macken's arrival came just days after Jobi McAnuff and Darren
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Players Wanted
For players in Bromley borough, call 0906 739 0327 l For Bexley, Dartford and Gravesham boroughs, 0906 739 0329 For Lewisham & Greenwich boroughs, 0906 739 0331 Calls are charged at £1 a minute but listings are free. These listings also appear on our
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BBC offers great value for money
JUDGING by the vitriol in Andrew Parkes' condemnation of the BBC (Who Gives A Beeb?, News Shopper, May 25), he has not only suffered at the hands of an overbearing BBC journalist but also been refused a job by them. Society's whingers always moan at
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Sour as vinegar
IN OCTOBER 2000 I was seriously injured in a traffic accident in Bromley and was hospitalised at the old Bromley Hospital. For my first five days of a one month stay I was in Stanley Ward/women's surgical. No orthopaedic facilities and although very
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Russians will help area grow
BUSINESSES are excited over investment which could be coming from Russia with love. Russian delegates have expressed an interest in investing in Dartford after a delegation of council officials visited them in St Petersburg. Topics of discussion included
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‘I was keen to come’
"AS SOON as I met boss Alan Curbishley and chairman Richard Murray I had no doubt whatsoever this was the club I wanted to join. "I have been impressed by their plans for the club on and off the field. I am convinced Charlton can go from strength to
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VALLEY VIEW
LADY LUCK: Two of Charlton's ladies helped England get their European Championship campaign off to a winning start on Sunday with a 3-2 victory over Finland. Katie Chapman started the game as the home country eased into a 2-0 half-time lead, but the
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Hero search hotting up
THERE are just three days left until the vote to find the winner of News Shopper's Local Hero campaign comes to an end. A year ago we started in our quest to find youngsters who deserve praise for the good work they do in their communities. We were
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Wartime revisited at lunch
A GROUP of women who lived through the Second World War were invited to a trip down memory lane by some Brownies. The 1st Blendon Brownies invited their guests from St James' Church, Bladindon Drive, Blendon, and the local Guide association to a VE Day
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Wise the sinner set to become a Saint
FORMER Millwall manager Dennis Wise is set to accept an offer from Southampton manager Harry Redknapp to join the south coast club. The 38-year-old, who left the Lions at the end of the season following a public fall-out with incoming chairman Jeff Burnige
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Don’t be so crude
I AM increasingly concerned by the tone and language of your newspaper. Your editor's rant against the BBC is a good example. He uses words which I consider inappropriate in a family-oriented publication. As disturbing as the vicious crudeness with
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Hip shops ‘n’ body pops
A TASTE of American street culture from the 1980s was on offer at a new shopping centre. Erith Riverside centre, Erith High Street, Bexley, was playing host to Physical Jerks, a seven-strong breakdancing crew from Bristol. They entranced the crowds
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Players Wanted
For players in Bromley borough, call 0906 739 0327 For Bexley, Dartford and Gravesham boroughs, 0906 739 0329 For Lewisham & Greenwich boroughs, 0906 739 0331 Calls are charged at £1 a minute but listings are free. These listings also appear on our
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Players Wanted
For players in Bromley borough, call 0906 739 0327 For Bexley, Dartford and Gravesham boroughs, 0906 739 0329 For Lewisham & Greenwich boroughs, 0906 739 0331 Calls are charged at £1 a minute but listings are free. These listings also appear on our
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Look at the bigger picture
ON JOINING the NECC (Non-existent Camera Club), I decided to go in for the competitions. My first attempt was landscapes. I was told it was too boring, so I went to the lido and got some lovely shots of young ladies in swimwear. I was called a "dirty
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PLASTIC IS FANTASTIC FOR CRICKETING YOUNGSTERS
"DEADLY" Derek Underwood might not have extracted much turn from Blackheath Cricket Club's new synthetic pitches, but that did not stop Sport England investing nearly £40,000 in them. Bromley-born Underwood, arguably Kent and England's finest ever spin
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News in Brief
WEEKEND WEDDING: Couples preparing to take their vows can attend an exhibition devoted to the happy day. The Wedding Weekend, which features a display of dresses and memorabilia, takes place at All Saints Church, Bercta Road, New Eltham, on Saturday,
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Attack victim calls for help from roof
A STABBING victim climbed through a window and onto a roof to escape his attackers. Police forced entry to a flat above Crystal Cleaners in Brockley Road, Lewisham, after they were alerted by a member of the public at 11.30pm. A gang of five attacked
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Help keep club going
A BOXING club giving kids a "sense of purpose" is asking the community to get more involved with its work. Eltham and District Amateur Boxing Club, based in the Ferrier Community Hall, Kidbrooke Park Road, Kidbrooke, was founded in 1946. It has 60 members
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Bridge report damages plan
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to stop a new bridge over the Thames have had their hopes boosted by a consultant's report. The report has been commissioned by Bexley Council, which supports the idea of the Thames Gateway Bridge in principle. Traffic consultant
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Young thug must face up to crimes
LEAFLETS identifying a 13-year-old given a two year ASBO are to be distributed to victims of his crimes. The council is taking the unusual step of handing out leaflets to all residents on the Mercator Estate identifying the thug so they can report him
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ENGLAND HERO RETURNS
WHEN Kieran Richardson scored after four minutes of his international debut, the roar from south-east London could be heard thousands of miles away in Chicago's Soldier Field Stadium. Richardson's father Clive, who still lives in the Lewisham area, had
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Yobs use dog to scare passengers
THREE youths threatened schoolchildren with a Rotweiler to intimidate them into giving them money. The boys attempted to steal cash from a number a passengers on the 3.56pm train from Dartford to Cannon Street, on April 25. During the journey the trio
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Hospital’s cleaning up
BROMLEY Hospitals has effective partnership working arrangements with ISS Mediclean Ltd for cleaning the hospital site. The procedures for cleaning are quite clear: ISS Mediclean domestic staff undertake all routine cleaning of toilets. As part of caring
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Still time to vote for your Hero
THERE are just three days left until the vote to find the winner of News Shopper's Local Hero campaign comes to an end. A year ago we started in our quest to find youngsters who deserve praise for the good work they do in their communities. We were
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Cricket Corner
POOR PITCH: Kent have decided to lodge an appeal against the ECB's decision to impose an eight-point penalty for the condition of the Mote ground's pitch during the county's championship game with Gloucester. A total of 18 wickets tumbled with the addition
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Best of home and abroad
A NEW market which promises to offer shoppers more choice has opened in a busy high street. The first Best of British and Continent market took place in Eltham High Street on Sunday. The stalls will be offering food, arts and crafts and plants from
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Former Eagle Gooding flies to Fleet
GRAVESEND have added two new names to their squad with the signings of defender Scott Gooding and midfielder Danny Slatter. Gooding, a versatile 23-year-old who began his career at Crystal Palace, signed a one-year professional deal with the club last
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Mystery of dumped bag
POLICE are trying to find the victim of a handbag snatch or theft after recovering a bag from a field where it had been abandoned. The 25 sq cm black imitation leather bag was recovered in a field at Whitehall Lane, Slade Green, on May 21 at about 4pm
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Wheelchair access is not good enough
REFERRING to your front page article Help The Disabled (News Shopper, May 18). I wholeheartedly support your article. I am appalled South Eastern Trains branded this as a publicity stunt. Although Orpington Station may be accessible for wheelchair users
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We will prosecute riders
POLICE are warning parents they could be prosecuted if their children ride GoPeds illegally. The warning follows complaints from residents about youngsters speeding along pavements on the small petrol-engined scooters, startling and endangering pedestrians
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Viking says ‘no’ to PDC but ‘yes’ to charity
HAVING declined a reported £20,000 a year sponsorship deal Andy Fordham has turned his attention to raising money for charity, writes Paul Symes. The Dartford publican, who rejected the chance to join Phil Taylor and co in the Professional Darts Corporation
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Hunting rider who lured female victim into bush
POLICE are looking for a cyclist who assaulted a 39-year-old woman. The man cycled past her along a footway, behind Morrisons supermarket, Thamesmead, at around 7pm on May 15, and rode into a bush towards Greenhaven Drive. As the woman approached the
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A smoothie start for healthier schoolkids
A PROJECT to make sure everyone in Bexley enjoys the benefits of a healthy lifestyle has been launched at a primary school. Staff from the Bexley Care Trust and Bexley Council visited Barnes Cray Primary School, Iron Mill Lane, Crayford, as part of the
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Council lay on pizza party to honour foster carers
FOSTER children have enjoyed a slice of fun to pay tribute to the work of their carers. Greenwich Council laid on a special party for foster famillies at a pizza restaurant, to mark National Foster Carer Fortnight. Thirty children created their own
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DARREN HELL BENT ON SUCCESS
A TWO-year-long pursuit ended last week when Charlton finally captured the signature of striker Darren Bent. The Addicks' persistence paid off when the 21-year-old put pen to paper on a four-year deal. Speaking at his press conference Bent, who has
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To the point
CAN YOU HELP?: Another May Bank Holiday another Orpington carnival. All I can say is what a joke. The parade leading up to the opening of the carnival was not worth watching and as for the fete itself - a total of about 25 stalls offering the usual nonsense
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Old toys give new hope
SCHOOLCHILDREN have raised more than £130 by selling their old books, CDs and videos. Edgebury Primary School's 230 pupils spent their pocket money on brick-a-brac donated by fellow classmates at a bring-and-buy sale in aid of Queen Mary's Hospital,
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In Fact
IN reply to Mrs M Farrance's letter (Ask Our Opinion, News Shopper, May 18). Please get your facts correct and lay the blame at the correct authority, which is Dartford and Gravesham Primary Care Trust. Swanley Town Council has no authority whatsoever
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Bad Example
I am becoming increasingly concerned about the tone and language of your newspaper. Your editor's rant against the BBC this week is a good example. He uses words I consider inappropriate in a family-oriented publication. As disturbing is the vicious
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Foul behaviour
I AM writing in response to the letter from Lyn Glass about dog fouling (Think Of Mess, News Shopper, May 18). I think Lyn has misinterpreted her letter from the council. I cannot believe the council would encourage dog fouling but is simply recognising
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From ugly yard to peaceful haven
PUPILS and staff have successfully transformed a back yard into a garden haven. Eighteen Abbey Wood School students took part in a four-week garden makeover challenge at Greenwich Women's Centre, Hare Street, Greenwich, last month. The work was done
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Poor school on the up
A TROUBLED secondary school has come out of special measures following a Government inspection. Blackheath Bluecoat Church of England school was identified as struggling in 2003 after Oftsed inspectors found declining teaching standards and low GCSE
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Thames is not for playing in
A SAFETY warning has been issued after two men were saved after sinking waist-deep in mud in the Thames. The Port of London Authority (PLA) has called for people to take care following the rescue in a joint operation between the coastguard and firefighters
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Freedom for butterflies
CHILDREN have released butterflies into a wildlife oasis at their school. Rosalie Hill, 34, a teacher at Kelvin Grove Primary School, Kirkdale, Sydenham, won a £125 grant as part of an Earthwatch Environmental Award for teachers. She put the money towards
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Council should not be proud
Gravesham Council is always pushing Taking Pride in Gravesham. Why? Does it think Gravesham has very little to be proud about? I say Gravesend has lots to be proud about and the residents know it, so lets not get the two things mixed up. The council
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New police scheme will target yobs on buses
POLICE are fighting back against the yobs who turn bus journeys into a nightmare for commuters. Operation Bustag, a partnership between the Met Police and Transport for London (TfL), is targeting youths committing crimes on buses. The scheme aims to
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Nimbys ignore the benefit of progress
I AM tired of Nimbys (Not In My Back Yard). The amount of rubbish we throw away increases every year. However, no-one wants to live near a landfill, an incinerator or even a recycling plant (Fears Over Waste Site, News Shopper, May 25.) Every year we
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Festival ends on a high
WILDLIFE talks, football training and arts and crafts were all part of the festivities at the finale of a borough's walking festival. Lewisham Council's two-week Walking Festival came to an end with a picnic in Ladywell Fields, Ladywell Road. The event
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Is post office being greedy?
Twice this year, our postman has dropped a note through our letter box advising us to report to Bexleyheath sorting office where a letter was being held with insufficient postage paid on it. If the sender had forgotten to put stamps on the envelope
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TO THE POINT
BAD TREATMENT: Recently the Renal Unit moved to a new unit attached to Darent Valley Hospital. It has 10 car parking spaces. The nurses who work from 7am to 5pm have to park in the main hospital and have to pay. Is this how we treat our nurses? There
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No need for this crude comment
I am becoming increasingly concerned about the tone and language of your newspaper. Your editor's rant against the BBC recently is a good example. He uses words which I consider inappropriate in a family-oriented publication. As disturbing is the vicious
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We shouldn’t have to pay
With reference to the letter Taxpayers Are The Ones Who Suffer by John Soloman (News Shopper, May 18) I share his views with regard to the Olympic Bid. The figure of 1.2m people supporting the bid does not seem worth bragging about when one considers
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Council’s decisions lack logic
I totally agree with the content of Yvonne Webb's letter (Our Roads Are A Total Mess, News Shopper, May 25). Some years ago I wrote to Bexley Council asking that they consider installing a mini-roundabout at the junction of Townley Road, Oaklands Road
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BBC fee worth every penny
Judging by the vitriol in Andrew Parkes' condemnation of the BBC, he has not only suffered at the hands of an overbearing BBC journalist in the past but also been refused a job by them and probably more than once. Society's whingers always moan at the
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Pack hooligans off to Russian colony
Regarding Paul Davenport's star letter (Take Action Against These Thugs, Blair, News Shopper, May 25). My solution to the hooligan problem would be for our Government to approach the Russian Government with an offer they could not refuse. Considering
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No mess is much worse
In reply to the letter from Yvonne Webb (Our Roads Are A Total Mess, News Shopper, May 25). I suggest she moves to Blackfen where little or nothing is ever done to the roads. There are very few parking restrictions, no speed humps to speak of, you can
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Blog 7 by Marian
Hey, girls gather around. If your broken heart is in despair and needs repair, I know a boy to see. He will mend your heart with loving care 24hrs a day, and leads you all out to sea. So when your next broken heart needs repair, you will have no need
