Author: Blake Foster

The 2025 Kevin Jenkins OBE Easter Egg Appeal was launched by the Ambition Aspire Achieve (AAA) charity, based in Canning Town.  Actor, writer and comedian Ricky Grover, AAA patron, made a plea for the public’s support for the initiative. The charity is aiming to get 2,000 Easter egg donations in time for Easter Sunday, in partnership with the Newham Recorder. This year’s appeal has already been pledged offers to help by members of the Triumph East London Bikers Club, who plan to ride to Canning Town in large numbers as they have been doing every Easter since 2016, to deliver the eggs on…

Islington Council’s planning committee has given the green light to plans to partially demolish, reclad, and refurbish The Pentagon at 48 Chiswell Street, on the corner of Whitecross Street, with a two-storey roof extension and a new retail unit on the ground floor. Residents had objected to the proposals, citing concerns about reduced light for neighbouring properties, particularly those in the Whitbread Estate. The meeting on March 3 was the third time the committee had considered the application, having previously deferred a decision. The applicant’s report found that the proposed development would exceed guidelines for daylight and sunlight loss for several rooms. Planning committee…

On Wednesday (March 19) police named Jay Langley, 38, as a wanted man for failing to appear in court.  Langley, of Ellenborough Road, is charged with stealing from Aldi in Sevenoaks on October 11 last year then again on January 12.  In total he is accused of stealing over £650 worth of goods.  He was due to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court last Friday (March 14).  Police said Langley’s last known location was Bexley and have urged any with information on his whereabouts to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 101.  Source link

The Spanish-owned banking giant confirmed that it would be closing more than a fifth (95) of its 444 high street branches nationwide from June 2025, with 750 jobs at risk. Among them, 10 of the branches closing will be in the capital, with five of them confirmed in south London including Eltham, Sidcup and Croydon. All the south London Santander branches closing this year: Croydon – 128 North End, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 1UE – June 16, 2025 Brixton – 498 Brixton Road, Brixton, London, SW9 8EX – August 11, 2025 Eltham – 73 Eltham High Street, Eltham, London, SE9 1UW…

The event took place at Avanti Court Primary School in Barkingside on Friday, March 14. Holi is a Hindu festival which marks the start of spring and the fresh bloom. All pupils got out of the classroom to participate in the messy play, the school said. The festival brought the school community together in celebration (Image: Avanti Schools Trust) All pupils participated in the messy play (Image: Avanti Schools Trust) Principal Dravit Koorich said: “The Holi festival was a great success. “The children and teachers all came together to celebrate spring, bringing our community together through colour, laughter, and devotion. The event…

Havering Council are collecting residents’ views on a proposal to install a new crossing in Whitchurch Road. If the proposal goes ahead, the crossing would sit next to the Wigton Way bus stop, near 42 Whitchurch Road. In a public consultation letter, the council said the proposed crossing aims to “enhance and ensure safer crossing facilities”, particularly for “vulnerable road users such as those with mobility issues”. It added that changes will be made to the scheme based upon suggestions and comments “where feasible”, and that if any elements are not popular they “may be reconsidered if possible”. Other similar proposals for new…

The incident happened in Devizes Road near Beatrice Square just after 6.20pm yesterday (March 18). Officers and South East Ambulance Service crews attended and found a man injured. He was taken to hospital for further treatment where he remains in a stable condition. A 27-year-old man from Tadworth was arrested in connection with the incident. He remains in police custody at this time. A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: “Officers were called to Devizes Road/Beatrice Square in Tadworth at 6.22pm on Tuesday, 18 March following reports of a stabbing at the location. “South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended, and…

The ground floor units of Tollgate House, in Market Place, are set to go under the hammer on April 3, according to a Rightmove listing. Marketed by Strettons Auctions, unit 1 and 1a have a guide price of £395,000. The Rightmove listing details that unit 1 is currently used as storage by Romford Tollgate House Ltd, with an 18-month tenancy which started in November 2024. Meanwhile, unit 1a is currently let to phone repair company CRC (London) Ltd for five years from September 2021. The manager of the Romford CRC branch told the Recorder it was “not aware at all” of the auction and confirmed that…

The pedal bike, named the Pothole Pro Max, was put through its paces on Westgate Road in Beckenham – known locally for its terrible potholes – and the G-force suspension and shock absorber was able to handle it with ease. More importantly, the pizza barely moved and remained in perfect condition for a hungry customer, with temperatures set in the bike’s oven to 68C. Andrew Scanlon of Domino’s said: “As the original delivery experts, we are always on the lookout for ways to innovate and push our deliveries to the next level, and we’re super excited to be putting this…

According to the Met Office forecasts, temperatures will reach as high as 20 degrees celsius in the later half of the week.  Here are five boozers with gardens that you could visit: The Matapan The Matapan in Green Lane, previously known as The Becontree, has a fresh pub garden to offer customers after undergoing a refurbishment last year.  On June 30 the pub was temporarily closed whilst work got underway, reopening on July 18.  The Matapan underwent work to both inside and outside (Image: Pictures55) The pub’s external grounds offer outdoor seating on round benches on a patio area.  The Cherry Tree…