Author: Blake Foster

Tamasin Rhymes won the Shooters Hill by-election on Thursday, June 26 with 34.5 per cent of the vote (869 votes), narrowly beating Labour’s Jummy Dawodu who picked up 30 per cent (756 votes). Green have said that Tamasin’s campaign focused on representing residents who had grown disillusioned with Greenwich’s Labour-led council over issues such as the repair of council homes and the proposed sale of valued community assets such as the Olympic Equestrian Centre and the Green Garth bungalow at Shrewsbury House. The by-election came about after Labour councillor Ivis Williams resigned after seven years in post.  She resigned after…

Phyllis Harper, who owns Highgate Butchers, celebrated her 50th anniversary on the high street this year. Over the decades, along with her son Lee, they have served thousands of people, including high profile celebrities who have since moved away. In recognition of her hard work, Phyllis was presented with a certificate and flower by civic group The Highgate Society in May.  Phyllis was given a certificate in recognition of her 50 years on the high street by Highgate Society chairman Andrew Sulston (Image: Wally Kumar) Phyllis had trained as a hairdresser when she met her husband Paul, who lived in Archway and worked in…

The crash happened just before the bridge at around 11.05am today (July 3). Essex Police have since closed the crossing in both directions. The lorry’s fuel tank split during the crash, spilling fuel across all lanes. Emergency crews are now working to clear the spillage. The road is expected to remain closed for several hours due to damage to the road surface and barriers. Police remain at the scene, along with colleagues from the fire service and the East of England Ambulance Service. An ambulance and ambulance officer vehicle were both sent to the scene. The woman injured in the…

Colin Rickards, 71, died on the afternoon of June 17, East London Coroner’s Court was told on Monday (June 30). He died at King George Hospital in Goodmayes, but was admitted there after a period of detention at a different hospital in Stapleford Tawney, Romford. “Mr Rickards, prior to his admission, was a detained patient at the Priory Suttons Manor hospital,” senior coroner Graeme Irvine said. “At the time of his death, Mr Rickards was on one-to-one care. He was suffering from depression and type 2 diabetes and it appears Mr Rickards was refusing to eat. He had become increasingly…

A planning application has been submitted for the “subdivision” of 44 South Street into two separate commercial units – a beauty salon and a retail shop. The premises is home to Cell Tech Exchange and would see the tech company’s space halved to make room for a new neighbouring beauty business. According to documents submitted by agents Livarch Ltd on behalf of applicants Etihad Properties Ltd, each shop would have its own entrance and the “contemporary character” of the shopfront would be “maintained and enhanced”. Etihad Properties owns this premises. MORE NEWS: ‘Gallows Corner traffic and hot weather’ causes rubbish collection…

A police dog based in Essex helped officers track down five suspected offenders from London, Surrey, and Harlow in two separate incidents on the same night. The first incident happened just before 7pm on Saturday, June 21. Officers spotted a moped they believed was linked to a burglary in Colchester earlier that evening. Checks suggested the moped had cloned number plates. When they tried to stop the rider, he failed to stop, sparking a police chase with help from a helicopter. The suspect abandoned the moped and ran, but PD Lando quickly found him hiding in a nearby barn. A…

The chain confirmed the planned closure of its shop in Anchor Retail Park, Mile End Road. This paper understands that Asda is entering a collective consultation with employees at the store ahead of the closure. As part of this consultation, roles elsewhere in the business and at nearby stores will be discussed and offered to current employees where appropriate. An Asda spokesperson said: “Despite the great work of all our colleagues at our Stepney Green supermarket, unfortunately upcoming increases in the rent offered to us by the current landlords mean that this store will not be viable commercially. “We understand that this will be a difficult and…

This paper has seen a letter addressed to residents and businesses in Bethnal Green notifying them of three days of TV production next week. Across Monday 7, Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 July, Left Bank Picture will be shooting in Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square for new drama series Dear England. The BBC adaptation is based on the National Theatre play of the same name and will too star Joseph Fiennes as former England boss Gareth Southgate. Production will take place on the three days and will see cast and crew members appear on Tuesday. Production will take place at Town Hall Hotel on Monday…

Whether it was through his garden in Wood Vale, which was open for the National Gardens Scheme and the Red Cross for more than 30 years, as a multiple prizewinner at the Highgate Horticultural Society flower shows, or in his capacity as Chairman of the Society for many years, no-one could miss that here was a complete devotee of flowers and gardens. Anne Dallman, his wife, was right there enabling everything to happen, not least in her capacity as treasurer to the Society. Alan Dallman with wife Anne in their garden in Muswell Hill. Alan died on June 20 at the…

Heather Peace, who plays the role of Eve Panesar-Unwin, was diagnosed with the condition in October and went public with the news earlier this year. The 50-year-old actor, who is preparing to begin radiotherapy treatment, said: “Her breast cancer was a smaller, aggressive lump, so she had a lumpectomy and then radiotherapy.” According to The Mirror, she added: “Of course, then I come along with my 12 cm lump, absolutely ginormous, and mastectomy, chemotherapy, just about to go into radiotherapy. “She’s like ‘Even that you have to do bigger.’ It’s like ‘Hold my beer.'” EastEnders star Heather Peace shares that her wife has been diagnosed…