PORTFOLIO PROJECTS PHOTOS ABOUT
South West Londoner •

Soft drinks tax helped to prevent 5,000 new cases of child obesity

The implementation of the soft drinks industry levy, known as the ‘sugary drinks tax’, resulted in a drop in the level of child obesity in England, research reveals.

Research led by University of Cambridge’s Medical Research Council’s (MRC) Epidemiology Unit concluded that the levy may have prevented over 5,000 cases of obesity among older primary school children.

Announced in the 2016 budget following pressure from campaigners including chef Jamie Oliver, the levy was designed by former Chanc
South West Londoner •

New world champion at world’s fastest ball game crowned at Queen’s Club in Hammersmith

A new world champion of one of the world’s fastest ball games was crowned at Hammersmith’s Queen’s Club last month.

Ben Cawston, 23, beat defending champion Tom Billings, five-games-to-love in a two-leg epic to become the youngest rackets world champion in a century.

The second leg was hosted at the cinch Championships venue, just weeks before players like Berrettini, Alcaraz and Tiafoe will battle it out at the annual pre-Wimbledon tournament.

Rackets, a legacy of London’s 18th-century debto
South West Londoner •

Padel tennis: world’s fastest growing sport takes off in London

Padel tennis, the fastest growing sport in the world, is rapidly growing momentum in London.

The hybrid sport, resembling a cross between squash and tennis, is attracting beginners with its defining qualities – it’s easy to learn, cheap to play and more social than tennis.

The surge in participation is driving a burgeoning market in the UK, with the number of courts growing by over 300% since 2019.

George Sandbach, 30, co-founder of Padel People UK said: “The sport in general is really going
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 including influencer Mia Regan and celebrity boyfriend Romeo Beckham.

Now they’re back with a long-awaited return of their custom rings along with a new collection of earrings, necklaces and
South West Londoner •

Campaign that adds £1 to restaurant bills set to raise £700,000 for homeless in London

A campaign that adds a voluntary pound to restaurant bills across London to support the homeless is on track to raise more than £700,000.

The initiative by StreetSmart that takes place over November and December has seen more than 540 restaurants in the UK sign up, including high-end eateries within Selfridges and Harvey Nichols as well as restaurant groups like MEATliquor.

The organisation is now urging diners to support now more than ever as the cost of living crisis looms large over London.
The London Centrist •

A midterms for the ages: What Congress’ new set-up means for the political environment

Days after tens of millions of Americans went to the polls, Republicans are just one seat away from gaining control in the House of Representatives.

The final outcome hangs on the results of tight races in states including California, with thousands of votes still yet to be counted.

The anticipated narrow win would certainly fall far short of the “red wave” predicted in the 8 November vote.

In the lead-up to the election, Republicans were expecting an overwhelming victory in the House due to
South West Londoner •

The best places to go ice skating in south west London

With Christmas lights brightening London’s streets and markets springing up across the capital, the festive season is well underway, so grab your skates as there’s one more way to glide into this year’s festivities: ice skating.

With the Natural History Museum’s famous rink closed to make space for an urban wildlife hub, these are SWL’s top venues to skate this Christmas.

London’s brand-new and only riverside ice skating rink has arrived at Battersea Power Station.

The power station opened to
South West Londoner •

WSL teams plan more games at men's stadiums after record attendance

Women’s football clubs are planning to hold more Women’s Super League (WSL) matches at men’s stadiums this season after the Euros inspired record crowd attendances.

Every WSL club has committed to hosting at least one game at men’s stadiums this season, with Arsenal leading the way by hosting six games at the Emirates.

More than 47,000 watched the WSL table-toppers, Arsenal, beat Tottenham 4-0 at the Emirates on 24 September, while almost 28,000 were present at the Merseyside derby at Anfield
South West Londoner •

Pupils campaign for free school meals for 800,000 kids in poverty

Pupils are demanding free school meals for kids in poverty in a new campaign that has seen a petition reach almost 225,000 signatures.

Youth-led charity Bite Back 2030 is urging the Government to take action for 800,000 children in poverty who don’t qualify for free school meals.

As the cost of living crisis deepens, nearly 225,000 people have signed the petition to support children struggling to eat.

Bite Back 2030 campaigner Barakat, 18, said: “Having to worry about something as simple as a
South West Londoner •

Merton Mayor joins Dons Local Action Group sleep out

The Mayor of Merton will be joining the Dons Local Action Group (DLAG) as they sleep out at Plough Lane next month.

Members of the AFC Wimbledon first team staff will also join supporters braving the cold by sleeping overnight at the Cherry Red Records stadium to raise money for the local community.

Following the success of their ‘Big Sleep Out’ 2021 where 60 people slept out and raised over £44,000 for various charities, the charity’s second sleep out will take place on 3 December.

Mayor of
South West Londoner •

Tyger: The Wandsworth-based jewellery for Gen Z returns

Tyger, the sought-after Gen Z chunky ring company based in Wandsworth, is back with a new collection.

Since emerging last year, the company’s emphasis on individual style, unisex appeal and carbon-conscious design has drawn thousands of avid fans as well as big names such as Romeo Beckham.

Now the company and its 21-year-old founder Amelia Heard are back from a brief hiatus with a long-awaited collection.

Heard said: “Inspired by the 90s grunge era we’ve conjured up a never-before-seen mix of
The London Centrist •

Review: Aaron Sorkin’s west-end adaption of To Kill a Mockingbird does justice to Harper Lee’s bestselling book

Aaron Sorkin does two things brilliantly: statesmen and strong women. The writer of A Few Good Men, polisher of Schindler’s List and creator of Globe-nominated The West Wing never misses. To Kill a Mockingbird is no exception.

The play earns the many five stars plastered upon its West End billboards and attached to the side of the Gielgud Theatre, its home for until February 2023. With a slick production, clever set design and acting brilliance, the play manages to live up to the bestselling no
South West Londoner •

Putney MP claims Heathrow is ‘pushing the rules’ on early morning flights

Following calls from Putney MP Fleur Anderson the Government has agreed to launch an investigation into early morning flights at Heathrow Airport.

Kevin Foster, a transport minister, has agreed to investigate the increasing number of early morning flights after Anderson raised her constituent’s concerns in Parliament.

The Labour MP said her constituents were suffering from flights taking off and landing at England’s largest airport from as early as 4am.

Anderson said: “Local residents have sh
The London Centrist •

The Marijuana Pardon: Biden pardons thousands for drug possession heralding era of legalisation – The London Centrist

President Biden has issued a pardon to thousands of Americans convicted of marijuana possession under federal law.

The pardon on Thursday applies to those convicted of ‘simple possession’ since it became a crime in the 1970s.

The offence was originally codified in the Controlled Substances Act of 1971, at the start of Nixon’s campaign to reduce illegal drug trade in the US, coined the ‘War on Drugs’.

Biden’s landmark pardon represents the beginning of the end of the government’s purge on smal
The London Centrist •

Biden’s Unprecedented Student Debt Forgiveness Plan Highlights US Education Crisis – The London Centrist

US President Joe Biden is cancelling billions of dollars of federal student loans.

The unprecedented plan, which will cost the US government over $300bn, has been introduced to help students amid ballooning tuition costs.

This news comes as total federal student debt has more than tripled over the past 15 years rising to $1.7tn in 2022.

In August, Biden announced he will cancel $10,000 of student loan debt per borrower for millions of Americans earning less than $125,000 a year, the equivalen
South West Londoner •

Twickenham gallery dedicates anniversary to unsung heroes

A gallery in Twickenham celebrated 50 years of bringing art to the community last week, by recognising the many volunteers that keep the organisation running.

Orleans House Gallery, set in beautiful gardens overlooking Twickenham’s riverside, has been showing contemporary art since its opening as a public gallery in 1972.

To celebrate the anniversary, Head of Service Tim Corum dedicated a private event to all the volunteers that help bring art to the surrounding community.

He said: “They are
The London Centrist •

Review: Sally Rooney’s ‘Conversations with Friends’ Struggles to Translate onto our Screens

Conversations with Friends, the critically-acclaimed debut from an Irish writer falls short of the sky-high parameters set by its unofficial TV prequel. Normal People, the emotionally and sexually intimate tale of schoolmates’ on-again-off-again romance rekindled was one of the best shows of 2020. Streamed on BBC during the first UK lockdown, the electricity of first love and refreshingly real sex made it an instant and memorable hit. Viewers were just as hooked by Connell’s chain as they were b
The London Centrist •

Harry’s House Review: The Full Commercial Reality of Harry Styles has Finally Been Realised

‘Harry’s House’, the third studio album of British star Harry Styles is an overwhelming triumph of pop power.

A third album is often make-or-break for an artist, with Blondie’s ‘Parallel Lines’, Bon Jovi’s ‘Slippery When Wet’ and Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ either breaking them into a global audience or consolidating them as world-renowned artists.

Not that Styles needs either, considering the success of his self-titled debut album and Grammy-winning sequitur ‘Fine Line’.
The London Centrist •

Roe vs Wade: Why are we surprised?

A leaked draft of a US Supreme Court opinion that could overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling legalising abortion in the US, has caused outrage in the US and beyond.

The leak, which was published by Politico on May 2, has brought reproductive rights back into the political conversation and sparked nationwide protests.

Roe v Wade was a landmark decision in which the Supreme Court sided in favour of ‘Jane Roe’ the legal pseudonym of Texan Norma McCorvey who lived where abortions were ban
Load More