Millwall players at the Den Pic: Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign

Millwall footballers will today step onto the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium in one of the biggest matches of their career, playing Wigan Athletic for a place in the FA Cup Final.

But despite the potentially momentous nature of the occasion, the club will use a moment when all eyes are on them to mark their commitment to the campaign to save Lewisham hospital from cutbacks.

When they enter the arena for the pre-match warm up, the players will sport ‘Save Lewisham Hospital’ shirts as a sign of their support for the campaign.

The hospital is currently under threat of a 60per cent downsize in 2015 and possible eventual closure.

The club say the players want to leave the Wembley crowd in no doubt as to the ‘’significant place’’ the Hospital holds in their club’s history and of their gratitude for the care its staff have provided to players, club staff, supporters and their families.

Chief Executive Andy Ambler said: “Lewisham Hospital is at the heart of our community and for us at the club too.  We are right behind the Save Lewisham Hospital campaign and remain fully committed in our support.”

As well as the players, a number of fans will also be echoing the Save Lewisham Hospital message with the help of another set of customised shirts and holding aloft a flag as they cheer The Lions.

Carol Brown, a patient and campaign member, said: ‘’My life was saved last year by the dedicated staff of Lewisham Hospital A&E and ICU. As far as we are concerned, in the way they are supporting our hospital, Millwall are the team with the heart of a lion. They deserve to go all the way to the Final.’

The club made clear their support for the campaign before the FA quarter final match at the Den, when rapper Question Musiq and the Lewisham NHS Choir performed their fundraiser single Stand Up for Lewisham A&E!

Pic: Facebook

A holidaymaker from Croydon was shot and killed at a Full Moon New Year’s Eve party in Thailand, Thai officials reported yesterday.

The victim has been named as City trader Stephen Ashton, 22, of Purley.

Ashton lived with his mother and sister, who released a statement through the Foreign Office this morning. It said: ”As a family we are completely devastated by the loss of Stephen from our lives.

“He has been taken away from us in such cruel and tragic circumstances in which he was an innocent bystander simply enjoying New Year celebrations.

“We are comforted in the thought that he was having a fantastic time with friends after such a difficult period following the loss of his much loved dad.” 

Ashton is believed to have been caught in the crossfire between two rival gangs on Haad Rin beach in Koh Phangan at around 4am on January 1. The fatal bullet was fired from a homemade gun.

Lieutenant Colonel Somsak Noorod, a local policeman, said: “He was shot in the side while he was dancing on the beach.”

Ashton was taken for treatment at Bandon International Hospital on nearby island Koh Sumai, but pronounced dead shortly afterwards. His mother, Diane, 48, a solicitor, has returned to the UK from a skiing trip and will travel to Thailand within the next two days to formally identify her son’s body.

Thai police have arrested 26-year- old Ekkapan Kaewkla for the crime.

The internet has been flooded with tributes to Ashton, who resigned in November and was reportedly planning to travel from Thailand to Australia in 2013.

He was remembered as a “top bloke” who gave up his job in 2011 to nurse his sick father. Facebook friend Daniella Murrell wrote: “Heaven has gained another angel but we are all left at a loss.”

Robbie-Cameron Gray, a childhood friend, said: ”Don’t want to believe it. Still got photos of us on my wall from football and school. Will miss you mate.”

Koh Phangan is famous for its all night “full moon” parties, which thousands of UK tourists flock to each year.

Around 80,000 revellers arrived on the island for New Year celebrations this week, despite Foreign Office warnings of a high rate of robberies, violent assaults and sexual offences against tourists in the area.

UK ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent tweeted an updated version of the Foreign Office’s Travel Advice for British Nationals in Thailand. It now reads: “On 1 January 2013 a British national was killed in a shooting incident while at a beach party in Haad Rin.

“Exercise caution when in this area at any time, especially after dark.”

Will Kennard (left) and bandmate Saul Milton. Pic: Chase & Status

One half of chart-topping duo Chase and Status has put forward plans to open a free school in Tower Hamlets.

Will Kennard, also known as Status, spoke to EastLondonLines about his proposal to establish the East London Academy of Music.

The school will cater for 16- to 19-year-olds who want to work in the music industry. It will teach production methods and technology, alongside GSCEs in maths and English.

Kennard said: “Inspiration for the school came from my own experience of teaching.

“After I left university early in Manchester, I taught music BTEC at North Trafford College and thought that there were some ridiculously talented kids there.

“I kept in touch with some of them but, for whatever reason, they did not go on to experience the kind of success that I did.

“This made me think that there is a real need for good music education at that level. It was eye-opening.”

The ELAM bid is being assisted by the New School’s Network development programme.

NSN is a charity that provides funding and support to groups setting up free schools.

Mike Crowhurst, an advisor at NSN, said: “We support all groups who want to set up a free school. If we think the group has high potential and they are working in an area of educational disadvantage, then they can be put on our development programme and receive extra support in terms of time and budget.

“The team will then meet with the Department of Education and, if successful, can expect to open in September 2014.”

Kennard’s brother, Charlie, and former teachers Ed Butcher and Olli Hallam will join the team, alongside Izzi Rutherford, a solicitor, and Ben Colgrave, an investment banker.

Asked why Tower Hamlets was chosen as the location for ELAM, Kennard said: “We did a lot of research in London and felt that Tower Hamlets was the right starting place.

“It is the poorest borough and one of the poorest areas in the country, so we thought a further education college could be needed there. We found that about 40% of pupils in Tower Hamlets left school without GCSEs in maths and English, so that will something we provide.

“But GCSEs will not be necessary to get in. There will be a series of interviews and we will be looking for enthusiasm.”

Rutherford added: “The school will be for students who don’t already have contacts in the industry.

“Our aim is to provide industry knowledge. We are still working on our admissions process but applicants will be assessed according to our core values: collaboration, innovation, excellence and integrity.”

The ELAM team has looked at the Brit School in Croydon, whose former pupils include Jessie J and Adele, for inspiration.

Kennard said: “The Brit School has been amazingly supportive, we have looked round the site and had meetings with the head teacher. Their school is obviously bigger and covers more subjects but we are looking at them as a model.

“We want the school to have industry-standard equipment.

“It will be small, with 144 pupils over two year groups, so the budget we have outlined is well within that afforded by the Department of Education.”

The ELAM team will host an information event and showcase of local artists on December 12 at Oxford House, Bethnal Green.

Eastlondonlines’ stories on Free Schools can be found here: http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2012/10/new-free-school-in-area-with-highest-school-places/ and http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2012/07/tower-hamlets-free-free-school-secures-government-funding/ and

London to Brighton Mini Run pic: Stephanie Davies

On Sunday May 20, 2012 thousands of minis made the run from Crystal Palace Park to the coast.

The signature automobiles convened in the South London park the night before, to head to Brighton together in a long Mini motor procession. Minis filled with families, groups of friends, couples and even dogs drove down Anerley Hill.

Long term Mini fan John Aston, 49, is a member of Wirral Minis in Chester and said this is the fourth Mini run he’s taken part in – using his soft-top convertible Mini for the first time. He said: “This is very much a hobby for me. I’ve been interested in Minis all my life. When I got married the Minis had to go. After my divorce, I got three new Minis. I’ve had them for 15 years and they’re here to stay.”

Carley Dowding, 25, from the Cardiff Mini Club, travelled to London from Cardiff for the London to Brighton Mini Run. She’s been taking part for six years now – and still managed to remain calm when it looked like she would not complete her 7th Mini Run. The exhaust fell off Carley’s car a little under a mile into the run. But a recovery team meant that Carley and “Dorothy the car” made it all the way to Brighton.

A mini slideshow for a big community.

London to Brighton 2012

You will need:
1 bottle red wine
1 glass sloe gin
1 orange
1tbsp mixed spice

Begin by pouring the wine and sloe gin into a large pan.

Grate the orange.
Cut the orange into two and slice one of the halves.

Add the grated zest to the wine and sloe gin.

Squeeze the juice of the remaining orange half into the wine, and add the slices.

Measure 1tbsp of mixed spice and stir well into the wine and gin.
If you do not have mixed spice, a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger will work perfectly.

Apply a low heat to the wine, but do not bring to the boil. Remove from heat when warmed through.