Five months ago he was banned from entering Kingston town centre until his 18th birthday. Yet, Sunday night saw the so-called Hook Hoodlum attend a prestigious awards ceremony for youth achievement in Kingston's biggest nightclub. Robbie Bennett, 15,
The Surrey Comet campaign for a public inquiry into the death of Chessington Red Cap Simon Hamilton-Jewell has won the support of Falklands war veteran Simon Weston. Mr Weston OBE, a respected campaigner in the futility of war, was passionate about the
Kingstonian fans' bid to buy the football club appears to be faltering amid fears owner Rajesh Khosla is stalling on the deal. A consortium of supporters the Ks Trust had hoped to sign a contract at the beginning of the month in order to begin the
An 87-year-old Kingston man was tied up with his own belt while in bed and robbed of goods worth nearly £1,000 on Saturday night. The man was reading in his ground floor flat in Manorgate Road, at around 11pm, when two men in balaclavas and black clothes
Kingston pensioners who have saved for retirement face dramatic increases in the cost of home care, under new council plans. A new banding system linking charges to investment or pension income would see the cost of home care rising from the current
Youth work could be moved out of Kingston's youth clubs and spread more widely across the borough, as part of a radical council overhaul. Under the new plans, control of the borough's nine youth club buildings will be taken out of youth service hands
brave oap: An 83-year-old woman chased a 14-year-old boy who tried to steal her handbag on Sunday. She was in Orchard Road, Kingston, at 8pm when the boy grabbed the bag. The two struggled and she fell to the ground, suffering minor grazes. He fled empty
Travelling families fighting to stay in Chessington are arguing for more traveller sites to be made available in Kingston. Michael Casey and his brother-in-law, Simon Doherty, are appealing against Kingston Council's decision to move them, their 11 children
Kingston youngsters are among the worst binge drinkers in London and children as young as 11 are regularly being admitted to hospital for alcohol poisoning, figures reveal. They show 39 11 to 15-year-olds from Kingston and Richmond were admitted to Kingston
Our Where and When competition on April 14, which featured a picture of the Elite cinema in 1954, triggered a wealth of memories for our readers. This week, we join some of those film lovers on their trip down Memory Lane. The picture of the Elite
A debate may have raged last week over the importance of celebrating St George's Day but Surrey Comet readers were in no doubt about their love of the English patron saint and held events and parties across the region. A group of Chelsea Pensioners helped
Kingston's popular borough commander, Chief Superintendent Jeffrey Brathwaite, has announced his retirement after three years in the job. He will step down in June after 30 years in the Metropolitan Police Force. A replacement has yet to be appointed
When veteran Kingston driving instructor Roy Ketley bought a new car he hoped it would bring years of trouble-free motoring. But 22,000 miles, three replacement clutches, a new gearbox, clutch cable and pedal box later, he decided enough was enough.
Kingston Hospital has been awarded £100,000 after meeting Government accident and emergency department waiting targets the only hospital in south west London to do so. Kingston's A&E department is now recognised as one of the best in the country and
You can feel it, hear it, smell it and taste it spring is in the air and it's the time of year when Kingston and Surrey really comes into its own. Spare a thought for those people who live in central London, by necessity or choice. I have lived in
Last week we reported how house prices in Kingston have leapfrogged those in Richmond and Wandsworth, according to recent figures. While news that the average house price in Kingston is now £309,000 might delight homeowners, others are being priced out
A chance penalty shoot-out could see New Malden footballer Stuart Collins swap his office job for a life of fame and fortune. The 26-year-old sales and events manager was hailed winner of reality television programme Fash FC after winning a penalty shoot-out
Conservative London mayoral candidate Steve Norris launched a poster campaign to tackle crime in Kingston town centre last week. The campaign uses the idea that London could reduce the level of crime in the way New York did in the 1990s. Former mayor
Kingston Hospital has launched its first ever holiday play scheme to help improve the work life balance of its staff. The Honey Pot Club offered staff working for the hospital and Kingston Primary Care Trust access to affordable child care for five to
Richmond has emerged as the safest borough in London according to police murder rates. The borough has seen 15 killings over the past 10 years just over one a year compared to Lambeth, which recorded 149 killings in the same period. The force recorded
Early morning commuters, joggers and dog walkers have reacted angrily to the news that Richmond Lock footbridge is to be locked overnight. The bridge, which connects Twickenham and Richmond, will be closed each night at 7.30pm during the winter and at
A Kingston-based football team will be dribbling its way across Europe to set a world record for the longest football tour. Lenton Griffins Football Club, which has registered with the Surrey FA especially for the tour, will play 14 games in 14 countries
A six-man crew from Dittons Skiff and Punting Club have won back the world record they set for rowing the entire length of the River Thames. The team completed the exhausting 185-mile journey, from Lechlade Bridge in Gloucestershire to Southend Pier
Kingston is London's fifth greenest borough, according to a poll carried out by lifestyle paper The London Magazine. The bi-monthly publication ranked the capital's 33 boroughs, taking into account air quality, recycling, green space and the provision
As far as schools go, Tolworth Junior is a clean, green, teaching machine, writes David Rankin. Only last week, two students and co-ordinator Judith Corcoran won a London-wide environmental project and received an award from London Mayor Ken Livingstone
Kew children's charity React was given a welcome boost from five London Marathon runners who raised £8,000. David Allan, James Mason, Helen Roberts, Martyn Symes and Suzanne Gregory, from cosmetics company Coty UK based in Wimbledon, successfully completed
Bob Eberhard is Kingston Ramblers' Association's hero after setting a new record for taking part in a massive 83 rambles last year. Mr Eberhard dedicates much of his free time to the club, leading many of the mid-week walks and compiling statistics on
Kingston Ramblers' Association is celebrating four decades of building fitness and friendships. The group was formed following a meeting in March 1964 in the Market House in Kingston Market Place when it was decided the group should be formed. The meeting
Teddington lifeboat station is holding an open day to recruit new members and show the public its work on June 6. It takes place at the station in Ferry Road. Call 020 8891 5771.
Tickets are now on sale for the Midsummer Fiesta to be held in Bushy Gardens on July 9. The event, to raise money for Teddington Memorial Hospital's Ray of Hope Appeal, will see guests enjoying a disco, funfair rides, open-air film shows, a casino, arcade
From Penny Baker At the recent public forum on the latest application to develop the redundant sewage works off Lower Marsh Lane we finally got to understand what planning for real means for residents in Surbiton. It appears the planning department
From Carl Scheib SIR. As your publication has reported recent Home Office interventions at our premises, Cookie Man Limited, I should like to correct any misapprehensions which have arisen. Our factory in Esher has indeed had production disrupted
From Vicki Jones SIR. On July 17 this year, there is a Tiffin Girls' School reunion at Boaters pub in Kingston at 3pm. It is for those students who joined the first year in 1982 and either left fifth form in 1987 or upper sixth form in 1989. There
From Chris, Tresha and Trevor SIR. With reference to your article (Hospital's appaling' treatment of dying man, April 7) we felt it was time to write about our dad's experience in Kingston Hospital. Dad died in April 2001, after being an inpatient
Name and address supplied SIR. I see you have been getting the people of Kingston's opinion regarding the new revamp of the Market Place. For what it is worth and should our views even be considered, I feel very strongly about this project. Why
From Dave Lucas SIR. Much discussion takes place on the health aspects of cigarette smoking. However, a more fundamental aspect is always overlooked. Even if it were to be proved that passive smoking does not cause significant physical harm to the
Tributes have been paid this week to Sam Haughian, one of Europe's most talented and promising young endurance runners, who died following a car accident in Johannesburg on Friday night, writes Tom Pollak. Haughian, who was just 24, was a former student
Elisabeth Dalton was a prolific designer of dramatic sets for opera houses and ballet companies in Germany, Italy and Russia. Though she studied theatre design at Wimbledon School of Art, little of her work was seen in her own country. Her career was
The Rev Leonard Cowie, lecturer, historian, writer and Anglican priest, died aged 84 in January this year. Dr Cowie served as a part-time honorary curate for some years at St Mary's Church in Merton Park. He wrote numerous articles and more than 30
Tense crowds thronged Kingston station on June 6, 1944, awaiting the arrival of the London evening newspapers. When at last they came the sellers were besieged, and copies were rationed to one a customer. News of D-Day was what everyone was desperate
Well, that's that then. There is always next Wednesday's game against Monaco to look forward to. But I for one cannot see them not scoring, which means we will have to score four. So our chances must be slim. Having said that, they were in a worse position
It has taken the best part of a season, but Sean Davis's wonder goal against Charlton on Saturday is further proof that his tarnished image is slowly being restored among Fulham fans. Eight months ago, the undeniably talented midfielder who was, for
