Issue 4345 - AugustOctober 2010 2010 Your primary source of community information www.croydon.gov.uk Black History Month Petal medal Cross of honour Auntie Anika joins Another blooming Croydon’s VC the celebrations award for Croydon hero honoured Page 20 Page 2 Page 5 Pass masters Croydon teens’ jump too far Teenagers from Croydon have been drilled for a television challenge to recreate one of the most famous battles of World War Two. All academic: Evelyn McDonald, Dulcie Belvir and Charlotte Dixie each got 11 A* GCSE passes They jumped from backing of Croydon aeroplanes to parachute Council, and the Three schoolgirls who the borough were among Other schools that saw was quite shocked. I was on into Holland as part of a organisers were given between them gained 33 A* the most improved, which big increases included holiday so had to wait an re-enactment of Operation a stall at the Summer GCSEs were part of a record was vindication for the Selsdon High, now Quest extra week for the results. I Market Garden. Festival to help them results day for Croydon. council’s decision to work Academy which is working was getting congratulatory A production company recruit volunteers. The Coloma Covent with providers to overturn in partnership with Coloma. messages but had no idea recruited adventurous Rory wheeler from Girls’ School pupils each got struggling schools. Its pass rate went from 49% what they were.” youngsters for a Popkorn TV said: “We 11 top-grade exam results At the Harris Academy to 62%. Charlotte said: “I think documentary being made really appreciated the on the day it was revealed in Crystal Palace the Dulcie Belvir, Charlotte I started weeping with joy, for Channel Five and ITV help we were given to set marks across the borough percentage of pupils gaining Dixie and Evelyn McDonald think of how proud my Global. up at the festival. had increased for the fi ve GCSEs at grades A* to are now studying A-levels at parents would be was what The battle – and the “It was a fantastic seventh year in a row. C jumped from 69% last the Shirley school, which is did it for me.” town of Arnhem where weekend all round, Their achievements and year to 99%. the top girls’ comprehensive Emily said: “I was really, British forces met the and we got more than those of other pupils across While the Harris in the country. really pleased. My parents fi ercest resistance – has a 50 names of possible Croydon have been hailed Academy in South Norwood Their head teacher, didn’t believe me when I strong link to Croydon. candidates as a result. by teachers and others in saw 100% of pupils pass Maureen Martin, said: “The told them.” The two towns are We just want to give as education, including the fi ve at A* to C. girls worked incredibly Emily Motto, 18, passed twinned and civic visits many people as possible council, as a mark of how The same pass rate at hard, supported by six A-levels, getting four A*, and events are organised the opportunity to put schools are improving. Oasis Shirley Park academy, wonderful staff, parents and A and a B. She said: “It to commemorate the themselves forward for The overall pass rate which was Ashburton and friends. Every single felt amazing when I got the sacrifi ce of those who what could be a life- for pupils with fi ve or more School, jumped from 55% student in Year 11 had the results, I could not believe fought and died at the changing experience.” GCSEs at A* to C was to 90%. opportunity to excel.” it.” Battle of Arnhem Bridge The programme is due 80%, and with English and St Andrew’s in Waddon They are now Turn to pages 8 and 9 in 1944. to be aired on Channel maths, 54%. scored an 84 per cent pass concentrating on studying for more on the borough’s The project has the Five in November. Results at academies in rate – its best ever. for A-levels. Dulcie said: “I education success. Capture Croydon comp – page 4 New stores boost - page 3 Fraud hunters special – page 14 to 15 2 yournews October 2010 | Your Croydon News in brief Gold and green make Clocktower Booking tickets for events and fi lms at Croydon bloom Croydon Clocktower just got a whole lot easier. Tickets can be booked Croydon has won its fi rst Croydon did manage volunteer days all helped. on the Clocktower’s own gold-standard certifi cate a fi rst place in the The borough’s overall site. Online booking is to add to the borough’s biodiversity competition, standards of cleanliness fast and easy, and there ever-growing list of as well as second place for were also noted – with are no worries about impressive green awards. its fl oral displays. the judges praising the tickets getting lost in the The London in Bloom Local resident Jean streetscene service for the post as they are simply awards ceremony at the McClymont scooped a low levels of graffi ti and picked up at the venue London Guildhall saw personal award, receiving litter that they saw during on the day of the show. Croydon narrowly miss a second place certifi cate their tour. See pages 26 and 27 for out on winning the overall for her front garden. Flower displays both our events listings. ‘champion of champions’ The judges’ scorecard in parks and around the crown as the City of for Croydon showed that various town centres HM Revenue & London managed to they were particularly were also praised, with nudge ahead in the fi nal impressed with the level particular comments Customs (HMRC) tie-break round of scoring. of involvement with being made on the range is holding a free business This was despite the residents. of individually designed advice open day in borough achieving a The 9,000 votes fl oral arrangements. Croydon. It takes place maximum possible score received through the The champion of on Wednesday, 29 of 200 points across the borough’s parks to be champions category was September at Fairfi eld, Blooming: fl oral displays in The Queen’s Gardens three judging categories. proud of campaign, an introduced this year to from 8.45am to 5pm. HMRC will be offering The gold certifi cate increase in the number allow Croydon, Islington other as they had each so were excluded from businesses practical shows an improvement of active friends’ groups and the City of London won their respective titles other main parts of the advice and information on previous years, and and 3,500-plus annual to compete against each three times running and contest. on its time-saving and business support initiatives. Council reconsiders voluntary funding For more business news, turn to page 18. The council has drawn- receive up to £672,500 This is on top of the reductions and later advantage of signifi cant up a new package of annual funding. £392,590 of extended budget announcement future commissioning Author talk of funding for local Two additional support given to previously that all councils could opportunities. A best-selling author is voluntary organisations groups, Croydon funded groups until the lose more than 25% Councillor Vidhi Mohan, giving a talk at the central following consultation Accessible Transport end of December. from their awards. the council’s cabinet library this month. with the third sector. and Rape and Sexual In the past two years The response that member for communities, Wendy Perriam will Several groups, Abuse Support Centre, the council has invested greeted the council’s said: “We listened to what be at level one in the including Croydon Citizens are to share £72,000. some £30million to third summer announcement was said to us and we’ve Clocktower arts complex Advice Bureaux, Croydon And it is also proposed sector groups in Croydon that it was considering worked hard to fi nd ways at the library in Katharine Voluntary Action, Croydon to establish a new small and has a strong track making changes to the of improving the level Street on Saturday, BME Forum, Asian grants fund of £100,000 record of support. fund led to the refl ection. of funding on offer.” October 23, from Resource Centre, Croydon per annum from 2011 and But changes were The council also The council will work 2.30pm. Disability Forum, and a one-off transitional fund forced upon the authority wants to ensure that with Croydon Voluntary Free tickets are available Croydon’s Neighbourhood of £350,000 to give further following the coalition’s voluntary organisations Action (CVA), the local BME at the library. Watch Association, will help to those that miss out. early council funding are in good shape to take forum and other bodies. yournews 2 yoursafety 19 TTake ake aadvantagedvantage ooff oourur ccompetitiveompetitive specialfeature 6 yourheritage 20 yourcommunity 8 yourevents 26 aadvertisingdvertising rratesates yourhealth 10 yourdiary 27 FFULLULL HHALFALF QQUARTERUARTER dogcontrolorders 22 - 25 page from £1,040 page from £464 page from £233 355x259mm 148x259mm 148x127mm To get in touch with the Your Croydon editorial team, email If you would like your business to benefi t from advertising in [email protected] or call 020 8760 5644 one of the country’s leading community publications and would like more information, a copy of our rate card or a booking form, please call: ✆ Your Croydon welcomes letters for publication. They should be no more than 200 Paula Howell 020 8760 5644 words. Receipt of a letter (in print or by email) does not guarantee inclusion.