Author: Blake Foster

But she also has talent as an artist — yet only started painting during lockdown just four years ago. Landscapes are her forte, with stunning sunrises and sunsets. “These scenes were imprinted in my memory from childhood,” Regina recalls. “I discovered that painting was right to express all my memories and to share them.” Regina, who grew up in Lithuania, works for Barchester Healthcare at their Southgate Beaumont home in Cannon Old Hill. Some residents there who don’t have mobility get their own ‘private’ exhibition with Regina in their rooms. Activities co-ordinator Zoe Grindley said: “Art is popular here — it’s…

The work will be carried out from Monday to Friday (April 14 to April 18). We have outlined and simplified the details so you can plan your journey. Engineering work is taking place between London Bridge and East Croydon, closing some lines via Sydenham on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (April 14, April 16, and April 17): The 11.58pm train from London Bridge to Streatham Hill train will not run. A replacement bus will run from London Bridge to Streatham Hill, calling at stations via Sydenham. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (April 15, April 17, and April 18):…

Senior coroner Graeme Irvine ordered a PC and a sergeant to court on Friday morning (April 11) for a dressing down over what he called “the straw that broke the camel’s back”. He said the grieving family of a young woman believed to have taken her life faced having their grief prolonged because the Met flouted a court order and failed to produce vital evidence. Unless the force could now “weave some sort of magic”, he said, her inquest would have to be delayed. “I haven’t seen much magic over the past two years, to be brutally honest,” he said.…

Roy King, who had previous convictions for sexually abusing children, was found guilty of befriending an 18-year-old man and then raping him in the park in 2007  He was given an Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP), which saw an offender sent to prison for an indefinite period of time until a Parole Board said the offender was fit for release.    IPP sentences were abolished in 2012 but King was one of over 2,000 IPP prisoners who remained within the prison system.  The 61-year-old was being held at HMP Littlehey, a prison for men convicted of sexual offences, when he…

Sarah Reynolds was found unresponsive at a home in Towpath Way just before 5am on April 12.  Officers and London Ambulance Service crews attended, however, the 58-year-old was pronounced dead shortly after.  Earlston Bennet, 57, of Towpath Way, Croydon has been charged with murder today (April 14).  He will appear in custody at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on April 15.  It is believed Bennet was known to Sarah and detectives are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident. Detectives continue their work to build a picture of Sarah’s life in the weeks leading up to her death. They are keen…

Chigwell has placed ninth on the list compiled by property buying agents, Garrington Property Finders.  All 1,447 towns, cities and villages across England and Wales have been ranked in the annual report based on five separate criteria – natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs, and value for money.  Other areas that made it into the top 10 include Redbourn, Epsom, Whitburn, Marple, St Albans, Alnwick, Merley, Ewell and Ashtead.  According to Garrington Property Finders, Chigwell gained the most marks for house price quality and value, as well as natural environment. A notable mention is the nature reserve at Roding Valley Meadows…

The work will affect lines between Fareham and Southampton Central and will affect trains from Monday to Friday (April 14 to April 18). We have outlined all the details so you can plan ahead. Monday to Friday (April 14 to April 18): Portsmouth to Southampton Central stopping services will not run. Replacement buses will operate between Fareham and Southampton Central. A revised service will run between Portsmouth and Fareham. Winchester to Southampton Central stopping services will call additionally at Swaythling and St Denys. Bournemouth to Winchester stopping services will call additionally at St Denys and Swaythling. Salisbury to Romsey services…

An analysis by the National Housing Federation found that families waiting for properties with three or more bedrooms in Westminster, Enfield or Merton, would all have to wait over 100 years to get a home, assuming nobody new joined the list at a higher priority level and they were at the bottom of it. Westminster topped the national chart with an estimated 107 years required to clear the waiting list for family-sized homes, while Enfield was estimated at 105 years, and Merton at 102 years. The shortest wait in the top ten (listed below) was more than 40 years, with…

News of the major project made headlines on April 8 after it was revealed by Bedford Council that the scheme “has received agreement in principle from the Government to move forward, pending planning approval”. The plans include an entertainment resort complex with a theme park and several themed lands under Universal’s renowned branding and more, with an opening date estimated in 2031.  It is believed that the project will generate nearly £50 billion of economic benefit to the UK with thousands of new jobs, 80 per cent of which are expected to be filled by job seekers from Bedford and surrounding areas. According…

Cherry blossom has always been a symbol of spring in Japan, where it is known as Sakura. It is a major tourist attraction both in Japan, and now attracts visitors in north London. Several people have sent in their photos of streets currently glowing with pink petals.  Crouch End local David Winskill managed to capture their splendour in Cecile Park. Cherry Blossoms in Cecile Park, Crouch End ‘one of the most spectacular displays and much loved avenue of trees in London’ (Image: David Winskill) He said: “As I was taking these pictures, other photographers were queuing up to take their own. “This is one of…