News – Page 26

The news section of Greenwich.co.uk has been paused since 2018. Please enjoy browsing archive news articles below.

Competitors tackle Greenwich Park cross country course

July 5, 2011 By Rob Powell

Athletes competing in the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational rode their horses through the cross country course today.

Thousands of spectators, many of them school children, cheered on as the horses tackled the jumps on day two of the competition.

Great Britain’s Piggy French, riding DHI Topper W, continues to top the leaderboard, with Sweden’s Sara Algotsson with Germany’s Michael Jung in second and third respectively.

Speaking to Greenwich.co.uk in Greenwich Park today, Nick Raynsford MP hailed the Eventing Invitational as a “spectacular success.”

“It’s shown very clearly this is not damaging to the park, this is actually making the very most of the park and showing off to the world, as it will do, just what a lovely and wonderful park we’ve got here in Greenwich.” (Hear Nick Raynsford’s full comments here)

Tomorrow’s final day of the Eventing Invitational will see competitors tackle the showjumping stage back in the temporary arena and prizes will be handed out by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

See a slideshow of photos from today

Man dies in Greenwich shooting

July 4, 2011 By Rob Powell

A man died in hospital last night after a fatal shooting in Greenwich.

The victim, named as Genson Courtney, aged 23, was found by police in a black Volkswagen Golf in Banning Street at around 11pm last night.

The victim had gunshot wounds to his head and shoulder and was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3.43am.

The investigation is being led by Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Mark Gower of Trident.

DCI Gower, said: “At this early stage it is believed a male suspect may have ran from the scene in the direction of Christchurch Way, SE10 shortly after the shooting.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious to contact the police.

“I would like to reassure anyone concerned about contacting the police that Trident has great expertise in protecting witnesses and there are a huge variety of measures that can be put in place to protect you.”

Anyone with any information should call the incident room on 020 8733 4211 or if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational gets under way

July 4, 2011 By Rob Powell

After all the protests and arguments for and against, a horse was majestically ridden out into the temporary arena in Greenwich Park at 9 o’clock this morning.

A test rider had been out on the purpose built platform already but it was River of Joy, ridden by Germany’s Michael Jung, that enters the history books as the first horse to compete at this test event in advance of next year’s Summer Olympics.

The stands, basking in the morning sun, were significantly less than half full to witness the first display and its conclusion was met with a ripple of polite applause from the audience. Each of the highly technical dressage routines last about five minutes and are scored by judges in three stations around the arena.

Individual dressage will continue throughout the day. Tomorrow will see the horses out on the cross country course that has been built around the eastern side of the park and the Eventing Invitational will conclude with showjumping in the arena on Wednesday where the prizes will be given by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

Outside of the park, by the Queen Mary Gate, a band of peaceful protesters from NOGOE continued to make their opposition to the use of Greenwich Park known, unveiling their own new mascots, Gridlock and Stumpy.

UPDATED

Following the first day of competition, Britain’s Piggy French leads the rankings with Australian Clayton Fredericks in second place and Germany’s reigning World Champion Michael Jung lying third.

British rider William Fox-Pitt said of the day: “Wow, it has an Olympic feel already and this is just a test event. The [arena] surface is lovely with a bounce in it it’s so much kinder and more forgiving on the horses.”

Piggy French commented, “It’s got me hyped up. It’s surreal: all the same faces as if we were in a muddy field like last week, but you look to the right and there’s the City of London. I think it’s amazing; there’s a real buzz even though it’s a test event, and I hope it will bring more public interest and help people see what a fabulous sport this is.”

NOGOE setting up their protest – picture taken around 8.10am

Video of Ireland’s Jane Doherty riding The Only One.

Former police section house to become hotel

June 30, 2011 By Rob Powell

A planning application for a large hotel in west Greenwich has been backed by Greenwich Council.

The Council’s Planning Board last week gave planning consent for Maurice Drummond House in Catherine Grove to be converted into a hotel.

The eight storey building was originally built in the 1930s as accommodation for officers from the Metropolitan Police.

The new hotel will be called “The Greenwich” and will offer a “boutique” experience in its 168 rooms, according to documents submitted with the planning application.

The former section house received RIBA’s London Architectural Medal in 1946. The company behind the scheme is Periquin Limited, the sole director of which is Lady Rona Delves Broughton.

Greenwich Hospital recently won the the right to build a boutique hotel at Greenwich Market and another is planned within the Movement development at the corner of Norman Road and Greenwich High Road.

Duchess of Cornwall to visit Greenwich twice next week

June 30, 2011 By Rob Powell

Greenwich will receive two visits from HRH The Duchess or Cornwall next week.

The Duchess, who is patron of the British Equestrian Foundation, will be present at the Greenwich Park Eventing Invitational, part of the London 2012 test event series, on Monday and Wednesday.

On Monday, Her Royal Highness will attend a reception for 400 guests including riders and international equestrian federations. On Wednesday, she will be present for the final show jumping phase of the event and will present the prizes.

Speaking to journalists at a press briefing yesterday, the Leader of Greenwich Council, Chris Roberts (pictured below), said that being a host borough continued “to be a source of tremendous pride” and listed the benefits for the Greenwich.

“1000 of our residents are working on the Olympic sites, our businesses have secured something like £70million worth of contracts and we have the most iconic venues of the games which will continue to support our tourism in the years following the games.

“We are investing close on £20million across our borough on playgrounds, parks and school in terms of additional facilities… to raise our parks and get 12 of them to Green Flag status. We’re planting 2012 trees in recognition of next year and ensuring the Cutty Sark and new pier are constructed in time for the games.

He also confirmed that Greenwich school kids are working to “design a Greenwich jump” which will feature in the course for London 2012.

David Luckes MBE, London 2012’s Senior Sports Manager and a former Olympian himself, said Greenwich Park was a “fabulous location” but also a “historically sensitive site” which they were “committed to treating with great respect.”

The next phase of closures begins in the park tomorrow as footpaths on the eastern side of the park are closed until the 6th July.

Local pressure group, NOGOE, will be holding peaceful protests on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week at the St Mary’s Gate entrance to the park.

Flower Garden gate reopens after unexpected closure

June 23, 2011 By Rob Powell

One of the gates to the Flower Garden in Greenwich Park has been reopened after being fenced over yesterday.

While the Flower Garden itself and the entrances at Vanburgh Hill Gate and Blackheath remained open, park users were surprised yesterday to find that the gate at the corner of Bower Avenue and Great Cross Avenue had been blocked by metal fencing.

Public information brochures and maps had not given advance notice of the gate being closed yesterday.

Greenwich.co.uk raised this issue with London 2012 organisers and was today told by a LOCOG spokesperson:

“We are pleased to say that we have been able to remove the two fencing panels in front of the gate in question today and the gate is now open.

“However, this gate will be closed again and fenced off from 1st July when Great Cross Avenue and the routes to and from Maze Hill and Vanbrugh Gates will be closed off for part of the test event period. This gate and the paths will re-open from 5th July.”

Organisers also say they will update access notices which they put up yesterday.

Preparations for the Greenwich Park Eventing International are now well underway – see yesterday’s post on the jumps that are being installed for the cross country event.

Picture credit: Nogoe

Jumps installed for Cross Country test event

June 22, 2011 By Rob Powell

The next phase of closures has begun in Greenwich Park as the cross country course for this July’s Olympic test event takes shape.

Most of the east side of the park will now be inaccessible until July 10th as dozens of jumps are placed around the course by course builders, London Eventing.

The cross country course for the Greenwich Park Eventing International will not be as difficult as next year’s Olympics but it will still be challenging for the “younger and less experienced” horses expected at the test event, says Eventing Manager, Alec Lochore.

They will be ridden by top class riders, however, and the best four in world are expected to be at the Test Event.

A variety of fence styles will be used around the course including tree trunk jumps, brush fences, flowerbed jumps and novelties such as oversized benches.

“We”ll make some more bespoke ones for the Games but for this it’s less about what the jumps look like and it’s more about the types of jump and it’s about the course designer, Sue Benson, being able to test out certain design concepts.” explains Tim Hadaway, the Equestrian Manager for London 2012..

I asked Sue Benson if there was a “gold standard” cross country track that those in the sport looked upon as being in the one they had to match.

“Well, after this, there’s going to be one.” she said.

“My dream is that when people go to Rio in five years time, in 2016, they will look at the course and say ‘well it’s good but not as good as London 2012′”

Pictured: Tim Hadaway

Council grants £100,000 to festival organisers

June 21, 2011 By Rob Powell

Greenwich Council has agreed a £100,000 grant to the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, just days before it’s due to begin.

The funding was signed off by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Chris Roberts, last week.

A report by council officers says that the £100,000 will allow the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF) to run a 9 day programme of events.

The grant will be funded from the Olympic Legacy fund for the Cultural Olympiad and from the Arts grants budget.

Conservative councillors on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee used their powers to “call-in” the decision – a move designed to allow more time for the decision to be considered.

But after meeting with the cabinet member for Culture and the Olympics, Cllr John Fahy, last night, the Conservatives have agreed that the funding should be provided.

Councillor Nigel Fletcher, who is Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Greenwich Conservatives’ spokesman for Culture, said:

“We support the Festivals, which have been a growing success, but in the current financial climate we need to look very closely at how taxpayers’ money is being spent. Earlier this year we spent night after night hearing from community groups that are losing grant funding, so it was right for us to exercise our powers of oversight when it came to this very large item of spending.

“There must be much greater transparency over next year’s funding arrangements, and ideally we should be helping them attract sponsorship so that Greenwich taxpayers are not bearing such a large share of the burden. I hope the Labour leadership will take those points on board, and if so we will work constructively with them to ensure we get value for money.”

Cllr John Fahy, the Cabinet member for Culture and the Olympics, told Greenwich.co.uk:

“Funding for the Greenwich Festivals is provided by the Council as seed funding for the participating organisations to maximise inward investment. This funding forms part of the Olympic Legacy funding. The Council element is small in comparison to the income achieved. For instance GDIF brings in £800k, the Council contributes £100k. Summer Sessions brings in a similar amount. Their grant is £60k.

“We are working to develop a Cultural Trust which will promote the Greenwich Festivals post 2012 as this particular funding stream will cease to exist.”

Other organisations that provide funding the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival include the Arts Council and Tower Hamlets Council. It’s London’s biggest outdoor performing arts festival, and one of the biggest in Europe. The nine-day programme of events kicks off this Friday.

Greenwich nursery gets Montessori nod

June 17, 2011 By Rob Powell

A nursery in Greenwich has become the first in the borough to be endorsed with the Montessori accreditation.

Little Sponges Montessori in Hyde Vale, which takes children between two and four, was praised for its “high quality, homely, warm and loving educational provision for the children and their families” by Montessori assessors.

Head and owner Nicole Bacon said: “We’re all thrilled to be officially accredited by such a prestigious organisation. It is a tribute to all the hard work and love we put into Little Sponges.”

The Montessori scheme takes it name from Italian educator, Maria Montessori, whose methods are practiced around the world.

New weekly newsletter launched, win Greenwich Monopoly set

June 17, 2011 By Rob Powell

Greenwich.co.uk is launching a new weekly newsletter where we will round up all the news from Greenwich over the past week.

There will be exclusive content not seen on the website, links to the best of the local web, competitions, a guide to what’s on over the coming week and some special local discounts for subscribers.

The first edition will be sent out to subscribers next Friday – you can sign up to the newsletter here. There’ll only be one email a week and of course you can unsubscribe at any time.

As a shameless attempt to encourage you to subscribe, Greenwich.co.uk will be giving away one of its Greenwich Monopoly sets to one subscriber picked at random next Friday. These sets, made at the official Monopoly factory, can’t be bought in shops and this will be only the third time one has been produced.

In order to stand a chance, all you have to do is go and subscribe to our new newsletter.

But I already get an email from Greenwich.co.uk?

Some people already subscribe to the website by email in a daily digest format and you may indeed receive this very post by that method. That service will continue unchanged but the newsletter is a new feature with content not published on the website and you won’t receive that unless you have signed up specifically for it.