Author: Blake Foster

If you’re already looking ahead to 2026 and particularly in your garden, then You Garden has some ‘sweet’ offers this week.   Raspberry ‘Glen Ample’ Long Canes         Long cane raspberries are your opportunity to benefit from a massive breakthrough in raspberry fruit production! Raspberries usually produce their fruit on the previous year’s growth of canes. Now, with these long canes you will get fruit in the first season, because they have not been cut back – they are harvested at about 1m or taller, and will fruit this summer. See fruiting from early to mid-season in July and August with…

The Mercury Shopping Centre’s annual Giving Tree campaign, being supported by the Recorder, is calling on the public to donate this Christmas. The campaign benefits families living in Havering Women’s Aid refuges and Havering patients of all ages in hospital who will spend the festive season away from home. Shoppers invited to donate books, accessories, and treats at The Mercury (Image: The Mercury) Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, said: “I was very happy to participate in the launch of the Giving Tree to support Havering’s Women’s Aid Refuge as this complements the campaign which Havering Council is running to…

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Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet was State Secondary School of the Year both in London and nationally. It also won State Secondary School of the Year Academic Excellence for London, and State Secondary School of the Year for A-levels 2026. Nearby Dame Alice Owen’s School in Potters Bar was Comprehensive School of the Year for Academic Excellence. Dame Alice Owen’s was also Comprehensive School of the Year in the Southeast 2026 and seventh in the South East state schools table. JFS in Harrow won State Faith Secondary School of the Year 2026. In Enfield, Palmers Green High School is Independent 11-16…

Chigwell School was considered one of the highest-achieving independent secondary schools in East Anglia, coming eighth. The listing, now in its 33rd year, ranks schools for their academic performance and year-on-year performance. The list also acknowledged top achievers in Essex. Colchester County High School for Girls was named state secondary school of the year in East Anglia, while Colchester Royal Grammar School was highlighted for academic excellence. To read more, visit  https://www.thetimes.com/best-schools-league-table/secondary/article/secondary-schools-revealed-2026-g9w9n8rqw   In the independent category, The Perse School in Cambridge shone as the overall performer of the year and also for academic excellence. Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday…

The incident occurred shortly after 6pm on November 17 at Balham tube station. According to the British Transport Police, a fight broke out on the southbound platform between two groups of people. During the incident, one of the group members is alleged to have pulled out a knife before they were chased out of the station. Police believe a number of people may have information that could help the investigation (Image: BTP) READ MORE: LIVE updates as ‘icy rail conditions’ disrupt South Western trains at Waterloo BTP has since released CCTV images of a group of people it believes may…

The project, which will replace the existing blocks in South Norwood with up to 340 new homes, recently cleared a key hurdle after receiving unanimous approval at the planning committee. It is now in the second stage of review by the Greater London Authority. Once the GLA signs off on the plans, construction can begin, bringing residents closer to the safe, modern and energy-efficient homes they have been calling for. The scheme will deliver 225 affordable homes, including at least 215 council homes, alongside new green spaces, a multi-use games area, improved lighting and security, a nursery, a community hub…

Ilford Community Grocery, in Clements Road, allows members who are struggling with rising prices to purchase food and essential items at a discounted rate. Since the store was established in 2023, more than 2,000 people have paid the £5 annual membership fee which provides them with access to affordable groceries in-store multiple times a week. The charity, which is supported by Christian charity The Message Trust, City Gates Church, and Redbridge Council, sees around 300 members shop in its store weekly. The grocery’s manager, Beth Koch, told this paper that demand for affordable food is constant across all demographics in…

British radio broadcaster Emma Barnett will feature as a news reporter in the panto Cinderella And The Matzo Ball at the arts and community venue in Finchley Road. Her voice will be heard in every performance as news reporter Emma Barnett-By-Pass on ‘The Ten O’Clock Jews’. Ms Barnett said: “Cinderella and the Matzo Ball is my first and probably only ever professional performance in pantomime! “I’m happy to make my panto stage debut at JW3 as I’ve been coming every year to JW3’s panto and I laugh a great deal. “One of my favourite lines that I’m giving is just…

Havering Council’s strategic planning committee is expected to grant permission for the construction of Balgores Special School at a meeting next Thursday (December 11). The new school, proposed for the Balgores Field site next to the former Gidea Park Library, will stretch to more than 6,000 metres sq and consist of 38 new classrooms in total. Pupils from the age of four up to 19 would be catered for in distinct zones to meet the needs of different year groups, up to a maximum capacity of 300 students. READ MORE: Future proposals for three former libraries in Havering REVEALED Other…