Life in SW12
Burglars get a warm welcome
Epsom Guardian, UK - Three incidents in Balham and Putney were reported in the past week alone and police fear criminals from other parts of London are targeting the most ... |
Pub walkers raise thousands
The Publican, UK - The Nightingale Walk, organised by the Nightingale pub in Balham, has been going for 29 years and in that time has helped dozens of charities by raising ... |
Katy Guest: In London we already walk by on the other side
Independent, UK - And maybe the two Balham ladies who crossed the road to avoid me were actually registered blind and couldn't see a person who needed their help. ... |
![]() Scene |
Cleaning payments missing in action
Scene, New Zealand - IRD spokesman David Balham can’t confirm it’s doing the same – however, former Southern staff say an IRD official asked them to fax payslips through in ... |
ServiteThames drives green work-life
24dash, UK - Heather Thomas, managing director of ServiteThames, said: Our car park at the Balham office is far too small in comparison to the number of employees, ... |
Fire above Balham chicken shop sparks evacuation
Epsom Guardian, UK - By Dan Menhinnitt Balham residents were evacuated this morning after a fire broke out above a chicken shop. Three fire engines, a turntable ladder and ... |
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More needed to end rail misery, says council
Epsom Guardian, UK - Coun Senior said passenger numbers on the line in to Victoria from south London, including Balham and Wandsworth Common, had increased by 40 per cent in the ... Pressure intensifies for UK high-speed lines |
Shopkeepers fined for dangerous sausages
Epsom Guardian, UK - By Guardian Reporter Two Balham shopkeepers have each been fined £1000 for selling sausages a month out of date. The proprietors of Richway Food and Wines ... |
ServiteThames Drives Green Work-Life Travel Plan With Zipcar
PR Newswire UK (press release), UK - Heather Thomas, managing director of ServiteThames, said: "Our car park at the Balham office is far too small in comparison to the number of employees, ... |
Perhaps I need to travel a little faster. Or more often. Or something.
The new Dopplr profiles are fun.
Ed Wenn posted a photo:
Goes without saying that this needs to be seen full size. Series taken by Jacqui at the weekend. I was in the process of taking this photo: edwenn.com/photos/index.php?album=family&image=Joes-H...
I've had a very busy couple of weeks, both in parliament and Tooting.
For obvious reasons there has been a great deal of attention paid to the votes in Parliament to approve the Report Stage and Third Reading of the Counter Terror Bill, which have been taken over by the decision of David Davis to resign from the Tory Front Bench and hold a by election.
To ensure that the Home Secretary understood the legitimate concerns local residents and community groups had about the original Bill, I invited Jacqui Smith to Tooting where she met local community leaders. You can find out more about the reasons why I think it is important to change the law, in light of the ever changing threats facing the UK, by clicking HERE.
This year we celebrate 60 years of the NHS. One of the biggest secrets in our NHS is the huge role volunteers play. As part of the celebrations I attended a reception at 10 Downing Street hosted by the Prime Minister. My guests for the reception were Daniel Blagdon from Millennium Volunteers Wandsworth, Kiron Kurien, a member of numerous local patient liaison groups including Expert Patients Programme (EPP) and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Steering Group for Wandsworth PCT and Chris Lewis, a âÂÂbuddyâ and fundraiser for St GeorgeâÂÂs Hospital. All three do excellent work in Tooting, which makes a massive difference to the lives of their fellow Tooting residents. The volunteers were thanked personally for their efforts by Gordon Brown, Sarah Brown and the Health Minister Ann Keen. You can see pictures and read more about the event HERE.
I often get concerned when I see young people demonised by the media (and sometimes politicians) The vast majority are a huge credit to themselves and their families, however there are a very small minority who do cause residents problems with anti social behaviour. I recently attended a public meeting at West Side Church to discuss the concerns some local residents had about the behaviour of young people who attended a local youth club at the church. I was really pleased that the church organised this meeting, as it gave us a chance to explore the issues that worried residents and discuss a way of working towards solutions. One public meeting will not solve all the problems that have been occurring locally, but it is a good start for local residents to work together to find joint solutions to their concerns.
I always enjoy visiting our excellent Primary Schools and over the last week I held a special assembly to honour a pupil from Fircroft Primary School. James Pang, aged 9 helped raise over ã1000 for survivors of the recent earthquake in China. James, whose family originally came from China, was extremely upset by the earthquake in China, and decided he wanted to do something to help those who had been affected by it. He brought this to the attention of his school by writing a letter to the Head and Deputy Head. The teachers were impressed by Jamesâ letter and helped him organise a Red Clothes day to raise money for the victims of the earthquake.
You can see a photo of James, his dad and me by clicking HERE.