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South West Londoner

South West Londoner: first for all your online news, reviews, features and sport from across Wandsworth, Merton, Richmond, Kingston and Lambeth.

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Featured Writers

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Ben Hart

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Thomas Oakey

NCTJ-qualified journalist and social media specialist with eight years’ experience working across multiple platforms for global brands and publishers, and a first-class journalism degree from Cardiff University. Currently studying for …

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Cerys Turner

I am a final-year English Literature student at Warwick University. Alongside my degree, I am also the Editor-in-Chief of The Boar, Warwick's award-winning student paper, previously editing the Music section. …

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Olivia Christie

Oxford Mail: Digital ReporterNews Associates, Twickenham: Gold Standard NCTJ qualification

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Olivia Bothamley-Dakin

Hello there, firstly a little bit about me, I'm a fast-track NCTJ trainee at News Associates, the UK's leading No.1 Journalism School. I graduated recently from Durham University with a …

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Oonagh Turner

NCTJ-qualified history graduate from the University of Manchester. Sub-editor and creative features writer with five years of professional editorial experience. Well-versed in writing, subbing and fastidiously fact-checking print features, front …

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Latest Articles

Kingston’s first Light Procession

Several people gathered together to commemorate Kingston’s candle making heritage. MA Architecture student, Farah Anwar was the engineer of the procession which came to light due to her architecture course’s unit being titled ‘Dreams, Myths and Fairytales.’ With this is mind Anwar dived into Kingston’s past and unveiled the different …
By Libby Jennings
• South West Londoner

The Sims 4 sets the standard for inclusivity in the gaming sphere with upcoming update

The Sims 4 is adding an array of inclusive components to the game on its next free base game update on the 14 March including c-section scars, stretch marks and birthmarks. This update comes not long after the previous one which introduced breast binders, shape wear and an option to …
By Libby Jennings
• South West Londoner

Eurovision tickets go live: did anyone get one?

Tickets for the much-anticipated Eurovision Song Contest went live today at 1pm, however tickets were only available internationally via Ticketmaster. Tickets ranged from £30 to £290 for the semi-finals, and £80 to £380 for the grand final shows. Ticketmaster only allowed customers to purchase one show at a time which …
By Libby Jennings
• South West Londoner

World Book Day at jeopardy due to school strikes

Many children could miss out on World Book Day tomorrow, due to school strike action in London. Tomorrow marks the 28th annual World Book Day celebrated internationally through fundraising, to dressing up as beloved book characters. However, teachers across the capital will strike tomorrow as part of an ongoing pay …
By Libby Jennings
• South West Londoner

Review: London’s F1 Arcade arrives just in time for the 2023 season

Ahead of the Formula 1 2023 season this weekend, the F1 Arcade near St Paul’s Cathedral is the place to be. The arcade has 60 full motion car racing simulators, big screen TV’s show casting the races, mini reaction games and a cocktail bar and kitchen. The simulators cost £15.75 …
By Libby Jennings
• South West Londoner

Staggering results are in for uptake of the four-day working week

Results of the UK pilot of the four-day working week are in, as 92% of participating companies agree to continue to use the four-day working week structure. The concept of the four-day working week is simple: working at 100% productivity, for 80% of the time, but for 100% pay. In …
By Cyann Fielding
• South West Londoner

London train station renamed to mark Pancake Day

You can board a train to London St Pancake from Southeastern railway stations, for one day only. Commuters marvelled at the board at Southeastern stations this morning, which seemingly following tradition, they renamed London St Pancras International station to London St Pancake. While the purpose of the annual tradition is …
By Mia Williams
• South West Londoner

Activist shares her story for Aromantic Awareness Week

Activist Yasmin Benoit all things aromantic to celebrate aromantic awareness week which takes place from 19-25 February. Aromanticism is an umbrella term for people who generally do not feel any or have limited romantic attraction and feelings to others. Yasmin Benoit is an aromantic and asexual activist who launched the …
By Libby Jennings
• South West Londoner

A Valentine's Day experience for you and your dog in Twickenham

Dog owners in Twickenham can attend a mingling Valentine’s Day experience at Brewery Market tomorrow afternoon. The Valentine’s Day experience, taking place from 2pm until 4pm, will see a selection of dog beers and wines on offer at the Twickenham location, as well as their own romantic photo booth. Brewery …
By Libby Jennings
• South West Londoner

'A lot of it is actually just abuse': children viewing pornography as young as nine

Ten percent of children have seen pornography by the age of nine, a new report by the Children Commissioner has claimed. The report stated that the content that children may be accessing is not like the ‘glamour’ magazines of the past – in reality it is often violent and degrading, …
By Aaron Lacey
• South West Londoner

Chatbots fail to satisfy customers according to global survey

A global survey by a leading sofware company has revealed that only 64% of people were satisfied when using chatbots. Cyara, a company catering for over 300 leading global brands for their automated customer experiences, released Forrester Consulting’s new study, demonstrating how chatbots failed to meet customer satisfaction, conducted in …
By Libby Jennings
• South West Londoner

Noughts & Crosses production ticks all the right boxes

Kingston’s Rose Theatre welcomed Pilot Theatre’s Noughts & Crosses production to the stage from 31 January to 11 February. Noughts & Crosses was adapted to stage by Sabrina Manfouz after Malorie Blackman’s successful dystopian book series which also was adapted to TV by the BBC in 2020. The production follows …
By Libby Jennings
• South West Londoner

Sutton exhibition beating the stigma around mental health

Sutton Mental Health Foundation is holding a six month exhibition at Whitehall Historic House which started on Friday 27 January 2023. The foundation is a community mental health support service for anyone under 18 and living in the London Borough of Sutton. Ovie Oboh, Operations Manager at Sutton Mental Health …
By Chloe Chenery
• South West Londoner

How a history of trauma could increase the risk of Long Covid

People who have experienced multiple traumatic events are more than five times more likely to develop Long Covid, a study has found. The study on medRxiv found that those having experienced two or more traumatic events in the past were 5.6 times more likely to manifest Long Covid, with childhood …
By Jasmine Laws
• South West Londoner

Tyger: Wandsworth-based ring company known as 'Gen Z' destination for jewellery is back

Tyger, a Wandsworth-based ring company, known as the Gen Z destination for jewellery, relaunched this month. The company, also known in its longhand form as Tyger by the Tail, is known for making custom unisex artisan rings. The company was founded in lockdown and quickly became popular with Generation Z …
By HONOR COCKROFT
• South West Londoner

Living with your landlord in London

The process of advertising a room in your house is simple and straightforward, along with hardly any background checks, and little to no laws protecting the lodger, it’s a system that isn’t a difficult one to abuse. The number of homeowners taking in lodgers has tripled in the last ten …
By Mia Williams
• South West Londoner

Which London Players are most likely to leave on Deadline Day

After a hectic January transfer window it is finally deadline day, meaning that London’s Premier League sides will likely have a busy day ahead. Clubs often scramble to bring in new players on January 31, but stars leaving is just as important. Below are some of the most likely outgoings …
By Daniel Mulhern
• South West Londoner

Chimps Are Family exhibition is coming to Kingston

Ten chimpanzee sculptures from a public exhibition: Chimps Are Family are heading to Kingston Upon Thames on January 27 from a previous residence near London Bridge. Artists, Gillie and Marc Schattner, partnered with Kingston First, the UK’s first Business Improvement District, to bring these playful chimps to Kingston for the …
By Libby Jennings
• South West Londoner

Clothes swapping event promotes sustainable fashion in Sutton

Over 100 people attended A Stitch to Wear’s latest clothes swapping event in Sutton on Saturday 14 January. The events are based on the principle of ‘swapping not shopping’ and attendees are invited to bring up to 10 items of clothing that they can exchange for other pieces. Each item …
By Olivia Christie
• South West Londoner

Baby banks supporting families through cost-of-living crisis

Baby banks in south west London are facing unprecedented demand this winter as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. A baby bank operates just like a food bank but instead of food, they offer baby essentials such as nappies, clothes and buggies to families that need them. There are currently …
By Olivia Christie
• South West Londoner

Moving on from ‘new year, new me’ diet culture in 2023

The ‘new year, new me’ discourse dominates the media every January, but are more people starting to ditch diet culture? Whether we’re encouraged to join a gym, lose weight or ‘glow up’ in January, the ‘new year, new me’ discourse can be overwhelming, even on top of the usual “January …
By Molly Gorman
• South West Londoner

Ill Croydon kitten given donations for treatment against viral disease

An ill Croydon kitten has received donations which will help to fund treatment against a serious viral disease. Millie, a ragdoll born in April 2022, suffers from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a viral disease caused by strains of the feline coronavirus. After being told treatment would cost around £5,000, her …
By Noah Keate
• South West Londoner

How English lessons have helped displaced Ukrainians staying in the UK

For many of the displaced Ukrainians who had to escape the conflict following Russia’s invasion in February, they spoke little English when they arrived in the UK. This naturally adds to the severe degree of anxiety they endure after leaving their homes behind amid the horrors of war. Since their …
By Jasmine Laws
• South West Londoner