South London News

A woman whose baby was stillborn due to mistakes midwives made during labour said she was “appalled” by the lack of compassion shown.

Charlotte Warner, of Streatham, was 23 when she lost her baby boy, CJ, after midwives at St George’s Hospital failed to notice he was being starved of oxygen during labour. They had stopped taking regular heart readings despite having induced labour.

Mrs Warner, now 29, said: “The pain of losing a baby like we did never goes away.”

A former bus conductress celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends last week.

Lillian Stromdale, a resident at Mary Holben House in Thrale Road, Streatham, said: “I don’t feel 100, I feel as though I’m cheating!

“I can’t say I feel 20 but I feel, well, normal.

“It’s a bit of a surprise, but I’m pleased to have reached 100.”

Ms Stromdale, born in the East End of London in 1924, worked in factories for most of her working life, although she also passed a stint as a bus conductress during the 1950s and said that she enjoyed the job.

Residents are desperate to stop the proposed closure of their NatWest branch which would leave the area without a single bank.

The NatWest branch in Norbury is relied upon by the area’s large elderly population, as well as charities and small business owners.

The community opposition to the closure has been backed by Labour’s Croydon North candidate Steve Reed, who set up a petition that attracted 471 signatories. Residents across the area believe this potential closure demonstrates a “decline” of high streets in general and across Croydon.

A man is searching for his beloved penny farthing after it was snatched outside a hair salon on Monday afternoon.

Robert Torto, 44, of Harlesden Road, Willesden, is appealing to the public to help him find his 56” Trotts and Son’s penny farthing with a distinctive red rear tyre after it was stolen in Streatham Hill Road at around 1pm.

The civil engineer said: “I cycled down to the same hair salon I’ve been going to since 2007, but must have not fastened it securely enough at the bike rack.

A community group has been granted council funding for 12 new community projects aimed at reducing health inequality in the area.

The Streatham Action Grant Scheme – funded by Public Health Lambeth – is a programme for people and voluntary organisations in Streatham with plans to support community well-being, particularly those focused on support for minority ethnic backgrounds, parents, carers and those struggling with mental health.

Landlords will be required to buy a £923 licence to rent out properties in certain areas of one borough under a council plan to tackle poor quality homes and reduce antisocial behaviour.

People letting a single property to less than three households in Knight’s Hill, Streatham Common and Vale, Streatham Hill East and Streatham St Leonard’s will be required to purchase a licence from September.

The four areas of Lambeth were chosen for the scheme’s launch because properties in these wards have nearly double the national average of serious hazards.

A man has been jailed for multiple sexual offences against a woman.

Raphael Fakoya of Beatrice Avenue, Streatham, was sentenced to nine years in prison after a hearing at Croydon Crown Court on Monday.

The 35-year-old had been found guilty at the same court on January 24, of three counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault.

The offences relate to an incident that took place at Fakoya’s address in February 2022.

Fakoya will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.

All hail Streatham queen Naomi Campbell who stole the show both on the red carpet and at the after-show where she joined her lil’ bro Usher for the party of all parties.

But before we go into all the fun at the ultra-glam celebration – does anyone know the real reason behind the MET Gala – each year?

It’s actually for charity – a fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute, sponsored by TikTok and the fashion label Loewe – to help make art and fashion more accessible to everyone.

Residents have hit out at a circus for damaging a common which could “take months to fully recover”.

Zippos Circus, which holds events in parks all over the capital, had a four-day show scheduled on Wandsworth Common to begin yesterday.

But it has been accused of churning up the ground of the common before the show had even started, in the process of setting the circus up on Monday.

Sophie Spencer, 35, who lives next to the common, said: “The common had been waterlogged and they showed complete disregard.

Streatham-raised actress Theresa Godly, who has appeared in the likes of Bridgerton, EastEnders and Motherland, is set to release her first short film, launching her career as a screenwriter and film producer.

The Stranger I Love, has been submitted to more than 70 festivals running for twelve months from July.

Speaking to the South London Press, Ms Godly said: “We finished it on April 5. It’s been a three-year journey.

“It’s an amazing feeling, taking control of my career to write and produce my own film, from cradle to the grave.”