06 March 2007

Blood and glory

For all its shambolic effervescence, the formation of the Anti Nazi League was a critical moment in the battle against racism and the National Front. Thirty years after the riots of Southall and Lewisham, Ed Vulliamy looks back on the intoxicating mix of 'bravery, pride and shame' which helped drive fascists from our streets

Hip hop poets

FRESH is an evening of hip hop poetry which features top rappers from Lewisham to California. Performance poetry company Apples & Snakes is staging the evening of rhythm and rhyme at the Albany Theatre on March 16.

Lewisham ladies earn wings

A SQUADRON football team are going loop-the-loop after winning the London Wing five-a-side tournament.

The ladies from 1921 (Lewisham) Squadron, with ages ranging from 13 to 16 years old, beat 18 other teams to take the trophy.


Quickies

Blackheath Starbucks face ongoing demo

Organise a Blackheath Kite flying party

04 March 07

Paramedic spiked drink

A PARAMEDIC spiked the wine of a woman he met on the internet.

Steven Jones, aged 37, of Sedley Court, Sydenham Hill, slipped a powerful painkiller into her glass while the woman was in the bathroom of her flat. But his plan was foiled when the victim, a police nurse, decided they weren't a match and ended the evening.

Dream comes true at school gig

Jamie Cullum previewed new songs and performed a Justin Timberlake cover at the concert to celebrate the opening of Sydenham High School's £2.5m performing arts centre. The 90-minute show at the school in Westwood Hill, Sydenham, was enjoyed by 500 pupils, staff and parents.

Claims bus death victim was intimidated

A 45-YEAR-OLD man was "crushed" under a bus after he chased youths intimidating him, a witness claims.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene in Baring Road, Grove Park, at 9.45pm yesterday evening after he became trapped under the double decker vehicle. Bijal Sha, the manager of Grove Park Pharmacy, claims the victim had come in the store for help minutes before his death.

Pirate DVD factory in London raided

Eight people were rounded up after a raid on a residential premises yielded a huge amount of pirated video material in Deptford, London recently.

The joint operation between Lewisham Trading Standards, Met Police, FACT, IFPI and BPI, conducted on 22 February 2007, was carried out following suspicions that counterfeit DVDs and music CDs were being manufactured and distributed from the premises.

The operation resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of equipment and materials, including 22 DVD burners used for multiple DVD and CD copying, Commercial colour printers connected to commercial printing ink reservoirs, 7,000 completed discs in bags and stored ready for collection and supply, 10,000 blank DVD and CD discs ready for burning and 10,000 sleeves and several sheets of laser copier paper.

01 March 2007

Appeal for missing woman

A 21-YEAR-OLD woman suffering from depression has gone missing while she was being transferred to a psychiatric unit. Lorraine Bunn was being taken from an address in Ladywell, Lewisham to the Churchill London Clinic, in central London when she ran away on February 26 at 8.15pm.

Ms Bunn has long brown hair worn in plaits and has some small scratches on her cheek and a tattoo on her right lower arm of the black rap artist 2Pac. Ms Bunn's family are concerned for her welfare and are urging anyone with any information to contact Lewisham police on 020 8297 1212.

Fighting disabled services cuts

MUMS, dads, children and campaigners are pledging to fight £3.3m of disability cost-cutting proposals. Reporter LOUISE TWEDDELL finds out more.

THE promise to fight comes after more than 80 protesters left Lewisham Council's budget cabinet meeting fearing for the future of services provided for more than 500 disabled residents.

Teen lied about kidnap and rape

A TEENAGE girl has been given a police caution after making a false allegation of kidnapping and rape. The 13-year-old told cops she had been abducted outside Sainsbury's in Crayford and driven to somewhere in Lewisham where she was raped at knife-point.

Officers from Bexley Police Sapphire Unit mounted a full investigation, but proved that the offence never took place.

28th February 2007

Spate of lead thefts from roofs

RESIDENTS must be vigilant after a wave of thefts of lead from roofs. Lewisham police are warning Downham residents to be on the lookout after a spate of reports concerning the thefts.

If you have seen anything suspicious or have any information about who is involved in these thefts, call the Downham Safer Neighbourhood Team on 020 8721 2486 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Busy Day for Firefighters

Seven emergency services vehicles were called to the Malling House tower block in Lewisham Park, opposite Lewisham Hospital, after reports of heavy smoke on the thirteenth floor. Firefighters found rubbish had been set alight in a room containing the building's litter chute.

A family who live opposite the chute were told to remain in their flat while firefighters, using breathing apparatus, tackled the blaze.

Robbed at gun-point

A MUSICIAN was arrested today on suspicion of falsely reporting being robbed at gun-point for £4,000 worth of musical equipment.

Lewisham police received a call this morning from the man, who said he had been robbed while sitting in his car. He told officers a man wearing a grey hood and a black scarf held a gun to his head before emptying the contents of his boot.

The 29-year-old, from Brockley, is helping police with their enquiries.

Quickies

Badmantra visits Lewisham

Davenport Road Explosion

Like a Phoenix from the ashes....

...well, more like a budgie smoking roll-ups.

It's back.