Pizzeria in Lewisham caught fire
Over 50 firefighters tackled a large blaze at a pizza restaurant in Lewisham on Saturday evening.
London Fire Brigade were called to Pizza GoGo on Lee High Road at 7:20 pm and 72 firefighters battled the blaze for three hours before bringing it under control.
Joe Han Gi, 33, who works at Taste Inn, a Chinese restaurant next to Pizza GoGo, said: “We only saw it after the firemen came in. We closed until 10:30, so we had to close for about four hours.”
“All our customers were gone and we had to stop everything. It was just next door so everyone was pretty scared.”
Ten fire engines, from stations across South London including Greenwich, Dockhead, Deptford, Peckham and Lee Green attended the fire.
Staff and customers left the restaurant before the arrival of the fire service, with four adults and three children evacuated from the flat above.
The fire left around a quarter of the ground floor damaged, but no one is believed to have been injured.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Memorial for Ripper victims held in Tower Hamlets
To mark 16 days of action for the elimination of violence against women, a candle-lit virgil was organised by residents of Tower Hamlets including three local churches, St Mary’s Cable St, St George-in-the-East and St Paul’s Shadwell.
The procession met outside the controversial Jack the Ripper Museum and ended inside St George-in-the-East church, where white ribbons were tied around branches of a tree in remembrance of those who have been victims of abuse. The White Ribbon Campaign sees men and women working together to end gender based violence.
Bethan Angharad Lant, event organiser said: “We decided that an exhibition of East end women’s history would be the positive thing to move forward with, and we saw the vigil and memorial service as a good way of “stepping away” from the museum and refocusing things on the women.”
Kyra Hanson
Police appeal for help in finding fluorescent light tube offender
Hackney police are appealing for help in identifying a man who attacked and injured a 58-year-old woman and her dog with a fluorescent light tube in June of this year.
The incident happened in Geffrye Estate, Hackney and the man is described as being 5ft 9ins tall and around 55–63 of age. He wore a white T-shirt with blue check dots, blue jogging bottoms and a trilby hat.
Anyone with information is advised to contact DC Cara Browin, Hackney CID on 020 7275 3668 or 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 4614693/15.
Charlotte Kjaer
Burglar in Brockley arrested after routine stop-and-search by police
A man arrested in Brockley during a routine stop-and-search on suspicion of handling stolen goods has been linked to a house burglary. A member of the public reported their house had been burgled shortly after his arrest.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “The items that were reported as stolen matched those found on the male that was arrested for handling stolen goods.” The officers then linked the two incidents and the man was arrested on suspicion of burglary. The investigation is ongoing.
Hayden Vernon
New exhibition from popular East London duo Gilbert & George opens
A new series of work by long-time Shoreditch residents Gilbert & George went on display at the White Cube in Bermondsey, Southwark, on Tuesday and is open until Januray 24, 2016.
Their new series of work is comprised of 10 works. Polemic statements are scrawled across white paper. “FUCK THE PLANET”, “BAN RELIGION”and “FELLATIO FOR ALL”are just some of the slogans adorning the walls.
The banners present us with bigoted views in a simplistic and accessible way, allowing the audience to question and interpret the uncompromising ideas.
Henry Longden
Croydon appoints new director of public health
Rachel Flowers, a former deputy director at Public Health England and joint public health director at Newham Council, will replace Dr Mike Robinson as director of public health.
An estimated £1.3m in cuts to Croydon’s public health budget were announced in July.
Flowers said: “What I want more than anything is to work with all to reduce health inequalities and improve the health of the people of Croydon.”
“I’m excited by the prospect of working in a borough that places public health at the top of any agenda,” she said.
Council chief executive Nathan Elvery expects Flowers will be successful in helping the health and well being of Croydon residents, drawing upon her “incredible breadth of experience, across a number of disciplines and environments”.
Ginger Jeffries
Croydon graffiti artist vandalises murals in town centre
A Croydon based graffiti artist has apologised for the vandalisation of two murals in the town centre last week.
The murals had been put up only weeks before, costing a total of £1,000, and were commissioned by the owner of local Rise Gallery owner Kevin Zuchowski-Morrison as part of an extended art project “Croydon Arts Quarter”.
The graffiti artist is a member of the Croydon-based Koas Crew. He tagged the murals on the rooftop of Davis House in High Street last week. Zuchowski-Morrison said: “The murals were painted by a big name artist who felt encouraged enough to come down to Croydon and do a really positive thing.”
The graffiti artist is said to have apologised within hours of the vandalism, and shortly after Zuchowski-Morrison contacted the Kaos Crew.
The owner of a shop nearby took it upon himself to pay for the clean up. The murals are now said to be back to their original state.
Ginger Jeffries
