Author: Blake Foster

The grounds of Kenwood House will be humming with ideas, discussion, book talks, comedy, and live music at the annual HowTheLightGetsIn weekend. Running over two days from September 20-21, this year’s line up includes North London-based political podcaster Alastair Campbell, filmmaker Martha Fiennes, and Nobel prizewinning physicist Roger Penrose. HowTheLightGetsIn Festival is a mix of music, comedy, debate and big ideas. (Image: Andrew Whitton) The festival’s name springs from the Leonard Cohen lyric: “There is a crack in everything…that’s how the light gets in”. The theme of this year’s festival After the West, A New World, will explore the question of what will the…

The volunteers have reached a milestone — collecting 3,000 bags of litter so far since they set themselves up in Barking. They’ve now expanded their reach with ‘litter picks’ in West Ham, Poplar and Hackney to promote ‘responsibility for the environment’. Emdad Rahman is the driving force behind the idea who’s been active in volunteering for 40 years. “We’re not waiting for someone else to fix the problem,” he says. “The Litter League is about ownership, showing that we can do a lot if we all do a little together.” His local movement, so far drawn mainly from the Asian community, hopes…

It was part of a ‘West End in Tottenham’ programme by Spurs with weekly arts sessions for youngsters aged 10 to 17. Spurs legend Ledley King dropped into one of the rehearsals at Lancasterian Primary School in Tottenham before their show went to The Lyceum in The Strand. “I really enjoyed the rehearsal,” Ledley said. “It was great to see the preparations for their play about the history of the Tottenham area and the Club.” The youngsters put together the Chronicles of Tottenham Time-Travelling Adventure about the local arts and culture scene, ‘time travelling’ through the history of the area…

Officers from the Metropolitan Police were called to Victoria Park Square at 10.16am on July 1 with reports of an incident inside an address.  Paramedics were also dispatched to the scene, where a 47-year-old man was found suffering stab wounds.  He was taken to hospital for treatment but later died at 11.52am.  A 46-year-old woman previously arrested on suspicion of murder has been bailed pending further enquiries.  She will next appear at court in August.  A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at 10:16hrs on Monday, 1 July to reports of a man with stab wounds inside an address…

Havering Council’s strategic planning committee are set to review initial plans for a new SEND school on the Balgores Fields site at a meeting next Thursday (July 10). While the proposals have been in the pipeline for more than a year, the development is still at pre-application stage, and committee members will have the chance to review it before a planning application is submitted at the end of July. A council report published ahead of the meeting reveals that the school – planned to cater for 300 pupils with complex autism – will stretch to more than 4,000 square metres.…

The crash happened near Beckton on Newham Way around 8.30pm on Monday (June 30). The A13 was closed for 12 hours towards London as a huge number of emergency service personnel and vehicles arrived to help.(Image: Anonymous) In the video first shared by London Voice, the car can be seen skidding off the dual carriageway towards Beckton District Park. Pictures of the aftermath show a bent billboard, behind which is the overturned wreckage of a silver car. Despite the damage and sustaining serious injuries, the driver managed to get out of the car before firefighters arrived.(Image: fodin525/TikTok) The 24-year-old was taken…

Tskenya-Sarah Frazer has been a regular ASOS shopper since she was a teenager because of its range of plus-sized and tall offerings. Last month, the 31-year-old checked her emails to find her account with the online retailer had been blocked for life – due to breaching the company’s “Fair Use Policy” because of the returns she has made. ASOS cracked down last year on shoppers over-returning by charging £3.95 for returns if shoppers keep less than £40 of the order. The decision was met with criticism from shoppers who argued as there are not in-person shops to try on, greater returns should be…

The incident in Park Road on July 1 was reported to the Metropolitan Police shortly after 4.15pm.  Initial reports described the emergency as a fight involving two people, with witness accounts reporting weapons having been seen.  This unfolded before a man was “driven at by a car”, a spokesperson for the Met said.  The vehicle involved failed to stop at the scene.  A man in his 20s was treated at the scene and is in hospital in a critical condition.  Det Chf Supt Luke Williams said: “Our officers are committed to investigating the circumstances around this incident and continue to support…

Après Kingston would be held annually in Kingston town centre, starting this year, if the plans are approved by Kingston Council. Seventa Events has unveiled plans for “a modern alternative to traditional Christmas markets, designed to appeal to all ages” on the lawns of All Saints Church. It would be held from November to January every year. An outdoor seating area would welcome guests into the market, along with a 30-foot-tall walk-through Christmas tree and places to take photos. It would have festive food stalls and alpine huts selling Christmas gifts from local artisans and national brands nestled among illuminated…

A coroner reopened an inquest on Wednesday (July 2) into the death of 76-year-old Robert Price after hearing he’d had “a long history” of crime reports and safeguarding referrals. Senior coroner Graeme Irvine said his inquiry would have to investigate whether state failures had resulted in missed opportunities to save Mr Price’s life. The pensioner died from burns and smoke inhalation after the teens, one of whom was from Romford, pushed a lit firework through a broken window at his house in Oval Road North, Dagenham, in July 2024. They were jailed at the Old Bailey earlier this year after pleading…