Croydon 2008 year in review: September

8:10am Wednesday 31st December 2008

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Giant superstore Tesco pulled its funding for the Purley’s Christmas lights.

Despite the Purley store having an annual turnover of over £50m, the Scrooge-like giant retailer stopped its £3,500 contribution to the lights.

The funding cut meant Purley Business Association, who pay for the lights, had a much smaller budget for this year’s display.

A survey by the council’s youth offending team revealed half the teenagers who responded felt pressured into carrying a knife for protection.

The survey of more than 1,500 schoolchildren also revealed 83 per cent felt there was a gang problem in Croydon.

• Review of the Year in full

Croydon-born athlete Tasha Danvers came home from the Beijing Olympics a hero having won bronze.

The hurdler was immediately on the crest of a wave with offers of sponsorship and an invite to the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year.

The story was different for Blake Aldridge, who sadly failed in his Olympic bid with 14-year-old diver Tom Daley, finishing last.

A 50kg gold statue of Kate Moss was unveiled at the British Museum created by artist Mark Quinn.

A man died when a 486 bus crashed into a tram in George Street.

The 28-year-old was thrown from the top deck and died instantly as the bus collided with the 34 tonne tram.

The bus careered down George Street after the initial impact and only came to rest when it hit a parked BMW.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy caused a stir when he announced he wanted Paris’ suburbs to look like Croydon.

The bold statement prompted Croydon Business chief executive Brian Stapleton to invite the French premier to the borough for lunch.

The number of stray dogs found by the dog warden in Croydon was revealed to have doubled in three years.

Promising footballer Oliver Kingonzila was killed outside a bar in Croydon.

The 19-year-old, who had played for Barnet FC’s first team, was rushed to hospital but died later.

Tributes poured in for the former Archbishop Lanfranc pupil.

The search was on for Iggy the Eskimo, an iconic model who appeared on the front of a Syd Barret album.

Believed to have lived in Thornton Heath, Iggy was a regular at the Blue Orchid nightclub in Croydon.

Teenagers affected by knife crime came together and shared frank accounts of their experiences.

Organised by 16-year-old knife campaigner Eliza Rebeiro, the boys spoke about how money and girls drove them into the arms of gangs.

And the girls revealed they were often given knives to carry as they were less likely to be stopped and searched.

The council bought Davis House for £20m as part of their Urban Regeneration Vehicle.

In a move described as playing monopoly with taxpayers money by the opposition, the purchase was backed by URV partner John Laing.