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Greenwich news and information

Meridian Radio now broadcasting live on the internet

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LISTENERS can now tune in to Meridian Radio from anywhere in the world after the radio station, based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, started broadcasting online at the weekend.

The volunteer-run station, which has been broadcasting for over fifty years, officially started streaming online on Saturday morning and celebrated the occasion with a live chat on air with the mayor, David Grant.

Station Manager Alan King told Greenwich.co.uk that it was “a great milestone for Meridian Radio.”

He added: “It means we’ve developed, and we continue to develop, since our journey started way back in 1961. Our programmes are still directed at people in the hospital but this lets people outside who want to hear what we’re doing listen in too.”

Listeners can listen live by visiting www.meridianradio.co.uk or by tuning in using an internet radio.

Daily Photo: 22/07/2012 – Olympic Torch Relay in Greenwich

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Sir Robin Knox Johnston

The Olympic Torch Relay completed its visit to the Royal Borough of Greenwich yesterday. Starting its journey behind the security fences of Greenwich Park, viewed by the accredited few, the flame emerged into public view in the Old Royal Naval College.

By the time it reached Cutty Sark Gardens, where crowds had been gathering in anticipation, it was being clutched by famed sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston as he completed a single-handed circumnavigation of the restored tea clipper.

A few seconds after appearing in view, the sprightly 73-year-old had disappeared again as he made his way down College Approach.

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Crowds gathered to witness the Olympic Torch

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is a trustee of the Cutty Sark Trust.

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Officers from HMS Ocean lined up beside the Cutty Sark as the Torch came past, and posed for photos after

The torch then continued on its tour of the borough.


Being carried up in Westcombe Hill – photo from Charlton Casual blog.


The torch at Kidbrooke Green – Pic: Kidbrooke Kite

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The crowds came out on Eltham High Street – Pic: Nigel Fletcher.

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Jaco van Gass, who lost an arm serving in Helmand, led the King’s Troop down Wellington Street. Pic: Nigel Fletcher

Olympic Torch Relay: Greenwich prepares for ‘moment to shine’

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THE LONDON 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will arrive in Greenwich tomorrow morning.

The flame will start the sixty-forth day of its nationwide tour at the Prime Meridian in Greenwich Park in the hands of 15-year-old John Road student, Natasha Sinha.

With the park closed, the first chance for the public to see it will be when it exits the park and heads for Cutty Sark Gardens. Once there, it will be taken on a lap around the restored tea clipper by Sir Robin Knox Johnson – the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world.

Crowds are expected to line the streets and the flame then heads east, travelling along Trafalgar Road and Woolwich Road.

It will then go on to Eltham and finish its trip to the borough in Woolwich.

Councillor Chris Roberts, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “Royal Greenwich is proud to be the first London Borough to witness the fantastic spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay.

“It will provide a rare opportunity to welcome the Olympic Torch and share in the excitement of the Olympic spirit, as we mark the countdown to the 2012 Games.”

Full Details of Flame’s Journey in the royal Borough of Greenwich

07:21 Greenwich
07:21 Greenwich Park
07:31 Royal Observatory and Meridian Time Line
07:31 Narrow sloping path leading down from the Observat
07:32 Tarmac pathway through park
07:33 Path to Equestrian venue
07:34 Equestrian venue
07:36 Pedestrian ramp leading out of Equestrian venue
07:36 Right hand side of Queen’s House
07:38 Guilded gate onto Romney Road
07:38 Royal gate at Old Naval College
07:38 Upper Grand Square, Old Naval College
07:39 Cobbled road through College
07:41 King William Walk
07:42 Cutty Sark Gardens
07:44 College Approach
07:45 King William Walk
07:46 Romney Road A206
07:50 Trafalgar Road A206
07:57 Woolwich Road A206
08:04 Combedale Road
08:04 Westcombe Hill
08:13 Charlton Road B210
08:16 Stratheden Parade B210
08:17 Stratheden Road B210
08:20 Shooters Hill Road A2
08:23 Kidbrooke Park Road A2213
08:32 Kidbrooke Way
08:37 Rochester Way
08:48 Well Hall Road A208
08:59 Eltham High Street A210
09:06 Westmount Road
09:25 Well Hall Road A205
09:29 Academy Road A205
09:38 Woolwich Common A205
09:41 Grand Depot Road A205
09:46 John Wilson Street A205
09:47 Wellington Street
09:50 Thomas Street
09:55 Woolwich Ferry Approach

The progress of the torch can be followed live online via the BBC’s website.

Daily Photo: 20/07/2012 – Mega yacht Octopus

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Following on from super yachts such as Ilona, the Thames today saw the arrival of a mega yacht: Octopus.

The 126-metre yacht was built in 2003 and is owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. She has joined the other other luxury yachts at West India dock for the Olympics.

Greenwich cross country “jump zone” unveiled

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Greenwich Park - Greenwich X-Country Furniture

LONDON 2012 organisers have unveiled the Greenwich-themed “jump zone” on the Olympic cross country course.

National and London landmarks will be the inspiration for the areas around the 40 jumps on the course, known as jump zones, and local school kids were last year invited to come up with designs for a Greenwich-themed jump zone.

Successful designs came from students at Joan Roan School, Alderwood Primary School, Timbercroft Primary School and Invicta Primary School. The plans were then turned into a plywood backdrop by students at Ravensbourne College and shown off for the first time this morning.

Double Olympic champion, Jonathan Edwards, said the sculpture was “brilliant” and offered a “super view” with Canary Wharf in the background behind it.

Greenwich Park - Greenwich X-Country Furniture
Local school kids and students from Ravensbourne pose in front of the jump zone.

Course designer Sue Benson told Greenwich.co.uk that the cross country course was “beyond my dreams.”

“It’s been brought together beautifully,” she added. “There’s masses of decoration to put in but the fences are all in their correct sites and they’ve all been measured to legal height. I’m really comfortable with it.”

The cross country event will take place on July 30th.

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Course designer Sue Benson with Jonathan Edwardes from London 2012.

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London 2012 branding being hung around the temporary stadium

London 2012 chairman Seb Coe told journalists this morning that parts of Greenwich Park had been left “waterlogged” by recent rain.

 

Greenwich Market: No redevelopment for at least a year

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GREENWICH Market bosses have told traders there will be no start to its controversial redevelopment for at least another year.

The news was delivered by Edward Dolby, Resources Director at Greenwich Hospital, at a recent meeting with traders, held at the Trafalgar Tavern.

The naval charity, which owns large parts of Greenwich town centre, committed itself at the meeting to giving all commercial tenants twelve months’ notice before beginning works.

When Greenwich Hospital won its planning appeal to go ahead with the scheme, it was anticipated that the project would get under way in January 2013.

The delay is good news to some traders who feared for their place at the market  during, and after, the regeneration. John Dawson, who runs a spanish food stall, welcomed the news and told this website it was a “huge relief.”

“You invest thousands of pounds and many hours of work into setting up the business, so to think it could be lost in a few mounths time was a bad feeling,” he added

The market revamp which includes a new 99-bedroom boutique hotel had been unanimously rejected by the Greenwich Council’s Planning Board, but the decision was overturned by an independent planning inspector.

Mr Dolby told Greenwich.co.uk, “We are continuing to take strategic advice on the best method of moving the market regeneration forward in these very challenging times.”

Greenwich People: Alex Brooks

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Alex Brooks, 23, is a 2nd-year student at the University of Greenwich studying politics and has just been elected again by his peers as a part time officer for the Students’ Union. He is also the Students’ Union Advocate for the Stockwell Street redevelopment, which means “ensuring the development is as beneficial to the Students’ Union as possible.”

“The decisions and choices that staff are making about what goes in there could miss out some aspects of how it could benefit students, so my aim is to heighten the position of the Students’ Union within that building,” he says.

Since moving to Greenwich from Corby for his studies, he has become a big fan of the area. “There’s something about Greenwich, I’m a big defender of Greenwich. It’s green, it’s got immense amounts of history and loads of stuff to see. ”

And after he’s finished his studies? “For as long as I live in London, I’ll stay in Greenwich.”

Alex also runs the respected Apple news website, World of Apple.

Greenwich People is Greenwich.co.uk’s new series of portraits of people that love Greenwich.