Archive
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THE GREAT ERASTUS TREASURE HUNT PART 2
Well, it seems that Your Lord is back where he belongs. As I have already stated, my absence from the blogs and news stories was just too much for my supporters and detractors to bear. I think it only right and proper that I continue to enlighten
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Pub may change to Chinese takeaway
A PLANNING application has been submitted for a pub to be changed into a takeaway. The Welcome All in London Road, Greenhithe, may be changing into a fast food place if planning permission is given by Dartford Council. Peter Fancote works for
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Technology - servant or master?
Back in the dim and distant early days of bar coding for pricing I remember not being able to by something from Asda at Charlton because the checkout didn't recognise the bar code. Even though the goods carried a sticker with the price on, no one
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Forty-year-old facing jail after pleading guilty to showing sexual images to children
A FORTY-YEAR-OLD man is facing prison after pleading guilty to showing sexual images to children as young as 13. Alan Read, of Overcliffe, Gravesend, pleaded guilty to six charges of causing a child to view a sexual act and six charges of making
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Successful return from Phoenix fighters
PHOENIX School of Martial Arts in Beckenham held their second bi-annual inter-club tournament on Sunday. Teams from across the south of England took part and it was a day full of challenges during almost 12 hours of competition. There was great
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Mental health trust for Bromley rated excellent
A TRUST providing services for the mentally ill in Bromley is pleased with its ‘excellent’ rating by the Healthcare Commission. Mental health and substance misuse services provided by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) got the highest
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Lions boss delighted with reaction
KENNY Jackett has praised his promotion-chasing Millwall side’s reaction since their shock 4-0 home defeat against MK Dons at the start of the month. The Lions went into the Den meeting with MK Dons on the back of six consecutive wins before being
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Deaf man aims to be world athletics champion
A DEAF man is aiming to be a world champion in the shot put and discus. Dave Blackwell of Walnut Way, Swanley took part in the first ever World Deaf Athletics Championships. The tournament took place in Turkey in September. The
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Homes plan for office block site gets second knock-back
PLANS to build new homes on a redundant office building site have been turned down for a second time. Bexley Council planning control committee members had deferred a decision last month on the redevelopment of Athena House, in Station Road, Sidcup,
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More support for young crime victims in Lewisham
A PILOT scheme to provide greater support for young victims of crime has been announced. Lewisham will be one of five areas in the country to pilot the Home Office’s scheme to encourage greater reporting of crime by young people and reduce
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Search on for Catford gunman
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man fired shots into a car in Catford. At around 9pm on Monday (Oct 20) two men aged 18 and 19 were in a blue convertible Fiat Punto parked on Hafton Road. A second car, believed to be a silver Chrysler
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Ex-pilot has flight of a lifetime
A 92-YEAR-OLD former Spitfire pilot who has cancer has had a dying wish fulfilled - to fly again. William Sanders, of the Sundridge Court care home, Edward Road, Bromley, flew during the Second World War in the 609 Squadron, which was stationed
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Charity Christmas card shop opens
A CHARITY has opened a shop to sell Christmas cards with proceeds going to 24 different charities in the borough. The annual shop, which is run by volunteers, is open from 10am to 4pm at Community House, South Street, Bromley, and sells hundreds
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Pardew not surprised by Charlton takeover collapse
ALAN Pardew claims he was unsurprised to discover Zabeel Investment would not to be taking over Charlton Athletic. The Addicks boss was told the news yesterday morning, 24 hours before the Charlton fans were stunned by the revelation the proposed
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Poor performing Orpington school turning itself around
A SCHOOL criticised over problems with bullying, racism and low attendance is turning itself around. Burwood School in Orpington was placed in special measures following an Ofsted report published in October last year. The school in
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Obesity costing Lewisham and Greenwich NHS services
OVERWEIGHT people are costing local health services nearly £150m a year, according to a new report. Figures released by the Department of Health show overweight and obese people in Lewisham cost the health service £76.2m last year while
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Students inspired by Olympic success
COLLEGE students were inspired when they met their Olympic heroes in Tragalgar Square. BTEC and NVQ Sport pupils at North West Kent College’s campus in Dering Way, Gravesend, greeted Britain’s Olympians and Paralympians during a parade to celebrate their
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Health check on Lewisham and Greenwich trusts
HEALTH trusts in the area are failing to meet Government targets, according to a report. The annual health check by the Healthcare Commission watchdog also found that, while Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, was providing the best quality
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Tora Petcha overpriced at Ludlow
THE Sports Investor’s bet of the day is a three point each way bet on horse number 11 Tora Petcha in the 3.55 at Ludlow at odds of around 16/1. Trained by Reg Hollinshead, this five-year-old gelding was second last time out over course and distance
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Metal thieves leave hundreds in Orpington disconnected
HUNDREDS of homes have been left without a working phone after thieves attempted to snatch vital cabling for scrap metal. More than 300 phones lines across Orpington became disconnected in the early hours of October 17 when criminals cut cabling
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Wedding dress shock for Bickley brides
Wedding bells are ringing, it’s your special day - how would you feel if another girl was wearing the same dress? Reporter CHARLOTTE McDONALD spoke to two ladies with identical taste. MOST girls have been dreaming of their wedding right down
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Video: Two sides to Catford estate housing fight
THERE are two sides to every story. Earlier this month News Shopper reported on the future of the Excalibur estate in Catford and spoke to people fighting to stop their 1940s pre-fabricated homes from being flattened. But since then
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Dubai group drop Charlton deal
A DUBAI investment group has pulled out of buying Charlton Athletic after making an offer earlier this month. Zabeel Investments, which was proposing to buy the Championship club, has instead chosen to focus on domestic business in Dubai.
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Cricketers must be at peak of fitness for Mount Everest match
A FATHER-OF-TWO is set to take part in a world record-breaking cricket match 17,000 feet up Mount Everest. Former TA volunteer Gregory Dickson, 34, will join 49 others in a bid to break the record for the highest field sport ever played. The expedition
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Bluewater shoppers given eye advice
INFORMATION about an eye disease was available at Bluewater shopping centre last week as part of a campaign to prevent blindness. From Wednesday to Sunday eye experts were on hand to give shoppers free advice on spotting the symptoms of glaucoma, which
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Talented Gravesend students to showcase skills on Woodville stage
TALENTED young people will be showcasing their skills in a one-off event to celebrate a theatre’s 40th birthday. Hundreds of students from secondary schools across Gravesham have taken part in auditions in the hope of being selected to star
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Welling student Hayley begins Oxbridge course
A NON-SELECTIVE Bexley school is celebrating getting its first student into an Oxbridge university. Hayley King, 19, of Dorset Avenue, Welling, has become Blackfen School for Girls’ first Oxford student. After achieving three A Level grade As in
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Keep active in Bexley during half-term
A HOLIDAY play scheme, designed to keep children fit and active, will be running during half-term at Bexley’s three leisure centres. The Camp Adventure scheme involves a whole series of supervised activities starting on Monday and running for a week.
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Making sure Bexley shops know laws
TWO seminars are being organised by Bexley Council to help businesses understand the laws on the sale of age-restricted goods. The seminars are being organised by the council’s trading standards team and take place at the civic offices in Bexleyheath
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BBC quartet's Bexley performance
IN a coup for Bexley Heritage Trust, four principal musicians from the BBC Symphony Orchestra are to play in Bexley. The Merchant Quartet, comprising Amyn Merchant and Ruth Schulten on violins together with Philip Hall on viola and Michael Atkinson on
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Chance to display artwork at Bexley exhibition
THERE is still time to get working on entries for this year’s open art exhibition being held by Bexley arts council. It is inviting artists who live or work in the borough to submit up to three pieces of work for this year’s exhibition, which will be
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Training saves Erith pub from suspension
ONE of Bexley’s landmark pubs has escaped a suspension of its licence for serving underage drinkers. Bexley police withdrew its application for a four-week suspension at the Cross Keys pub in Erith High Street, during a Bexley council licensing sub-committee
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Sidcup hospital’s cash crisis has masked progress
QUEEN Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, says its results in this year’s annual “health check” by the Healthcare Commission are a reflection of the hospital’s uncertain future. The hospital was rated “fair” for the quality of its services for 2007/2008, but was
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Danson House exhibition details Bexley borough’s links with slave trade
SCHOOLS and organisations across Bexley are celebrating Black History Month with a variety of fun and fascinating events. One of the highlights will be another chance to see the touring exhibition detailing Bexley’s connections with the transatlantic
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Bexley Council pitches pair of sporting activities
THE gauntlet has been thrown down by Bexley Council to the borough’s businesses, residents and young people to help them get fit. It has put together two new activities to encourage people to get out of their armchairs and into the sports hall. Businesses
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Belvedere flats rejected due to poor access
PLANS to build 11 new homes on land at the back of houses in Belvedere have been rejected because the proposed access was considered too dangerous. Developer Classgrade wanted to build the homes for Broomleigh Housing Association behind Swaylands
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Plumstead woman had £50,000 drugs in car
A 44-YEAR-OLD Plumstead woman caught with heroin and crack cocaine worth £50,000 has admitted possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply. Amy Yelding, of Vernham Road, Plumstead, appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court on October 17. Drugs with an
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Slade Green mums learn life-saving skills
MUMS have been brushing up on their first aid and learning some life-saving skills. Howbury Tumblers, a mother and toddler group based at the Howbury Centre in Slade Green Road, Slade Green, organised a week of training sessions, thanks to a successful
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Belvedere Cricket Club pushes the boundaries
BELVEDERE Cricket Club is one of the smallest in the North Kent Cricket League, but it boasts some illustrious connections and some up-and-coming junior players. The Colts section was coached and run by Frank Knott until his death two years ago. He was
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Fun for all at Welling church birthday celebration
IT WAS time for some community fun when St Michael’s Church in Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, celebrated its 75th birthday. The church laid on a free celebration and invited all of its neighbours to join in. Opened by an Elvis lookalike who doubled
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New British citizens urged to take pride at Bexley ceremony
PEOPLE from 17 different countries across the globe have gathered at one of Bexley’s grandest houses for the borough’s largest-ever citizenship ceremony. The ceremony was held in the newly restored Great Hall at the Grade I listed Tudor mansion of Hall
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Cook’s goodbye to Sidcup school after 20 years
LUNCHTIME at one Bexley school will not be the same after its cook retired after working there for 20 years. Staff and pupils at Merton Court School, Knoll Road, Sidcup, gave Linda Muddock a rousing send-off after she cooked her last meals there. Mrs
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Crossness sewage works to be expanded
THE Thames Water sewage treatment works at Crossness in Abbey Wood is to expand. This will provide an extra plant to treat dry weather sewage to a higher standard and treat more storm flow sewage to help improve water quality in the Thames.
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Spooky Halloween fun in store to help Bexley charity
THERE are spooky times ahead for visitors to one Bexleyheath store as Halloween approaches. Woolworths has teamed up with charity Ellenor Shining Lights, which provides home care and support for Bexley children with life-limiting illnesses and their
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News in brief
POLICE APPEAL: Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault in the Duke of Northumberland pub in Bexley Road, Northumberland Heath, on October 12. A 24-year-old Erith man suffered serious facial injuries after being glassed in the pub at around 9pm
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Cash savings after Bromley flytipping clean-up
Bosses at Bromley Council spent nearly £343,000 in one year clearing up the borough’s dumped rubbish, according to government figures. The latest statistics from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs show that the Council
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Bexley Catholic college cannot fill classrooms
BEXLEY’S Catholic sixth form college is considering a merger because of a lack of pupils. St Luke’s in Chislehurst Road, Sidcup, which opened in 2004, has only just over half the number of pupils it was hoping for. Now it has launched a public consultation
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£30,000 fines for Bexleyheath mortgage directors
A MORTGAGE company based in Bexleyheath has been publicly censured by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and two of its directors fined. The FSA found Abbey Mortgage Ltd directors William Evans and Gary Howes had failed to check whether the information
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Bexley Council's £1m profit from parking tickets
PARKING enforcement in Bexley is making the council more than £1m profit a year. The news will reinforce the opinions of thousands of borough drivers who believe the object of the service is not to keep traffic running freely but to make money
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More gulley covers taken by thieves
THIEVES hoping to cash in on high metal prices have struck again. In recent days, 11 gulley covers have been stolen in the Thamesmead area, at a replacement cost of nearly £3,000. Earlier this year, more than 100 covers were stolen in the borough at
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Belvedere legion branch is forced to close
ROYAL British Legion members have performed a sad task after one of their branches folded. In line with tradition, the standard belonging to the legion’s Barnehurst and Belvedere branch was “laid up” at a ceremony in the parish church. The Barnehurst
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Overall selected for Great Britain
Scott Overall has been selected for the Great Britain team for the Chiba Ekiden Relay which takes place in Japan on the 24th of November. The event is a mixed relay race of six legs of various lengths which make up the full marathon distance. The 25 year
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Kinch on target as Cray see off Tilbury
Cray Wanderers 1-0 Tilbury, Scott Kinch's 77th minute goal was decisive for Cray as they overcame Tilbury in Tuesday night's FA Trophy 1st qualifying round replay. Cray will be away to Horsham in the next round on 1 November. This coming Saturday
