New B&Q Opens

The new B&Q has opened in Beverley Way, New Malden. The state of the art store includes solar panels and wind turbines on site to generate 10% of its own energy requirements, earning it the proud title of "eco store". The big tower you can see it on has signage which is self powered!

Find out more about the design of the B&Q in New Malden here.

Have you been down to the new B&Q yet? Post your comments below...

John Martyn Dies

Just the other day, we mentioned how New Malden born singer/songwriter has been given an OBE in the New Year's Honours list. Unfortunately it was announced today that John has died. The message was posted on this website:

With heavy heart and an unbearable sense of loss we must announce that John died this morning.

Sad news.

Gary Lineker in Tesco?

According to the celebrity gossip newsletter, Popbitch:

Gary Lineker was spotted shopping in New Malden's Tesco superstore "buying economy cupcakes and a copy of Hello! magazine".

Admittedly, as celebrity gossip goes, it's pretty tame.

New Malden in the FT

Matthew Engel from the Financial Times has been to New Malden. In his report on the town, which he calls a "bland and discreet commuter suburb", he discusses the Korean community and the reasons why it exists in New Malden, and why community cohesion has worked better here than it has elsewhere

Whilst describing New Malden as a success story, Engel remarks:

"It is easy to forget the low-level irritation felt by the locals every time a long-established shop closes and gets replaced by yet another Korean business. That does seem to be as bad as it gets, though. As one woman put it to me, "If you're going to have an ethnic group in your community, I recommend the Koreans.""

Promote Your Local Business

NewMalden.co.uk is busy putting the nuts and bolts together for its New Malden Business Directory. This will be a chance for local businesses to promote their goods and services on New Malden.co.uk

It will take us a few weeks yet to finish work on it, but if you're a business owner and would like to express preliminary interest in being listed, do email us.

Hays Employees Allege Racist Bullying

Three New Malden employees of global recruitment firm, Hays, are alleging that they were the victim of racist bullying and taking the company to an industrial tribunal. The story surfaced in yesterday's Sunday Mirror, which also claimed:

The pair say that after arriving at the Lal Akash curry house in New Malden a white work colleague made a Ku-Klux-Klan-style hood out of napkins, started racist chanting and turned to them saying: "I hope this doesn't offend you."

Hays, which houses its company service centre in St George's Square, New Malden, says that the allegations are "completely untrue".

Woolworths in New Malden Closes

The New Malden branch of Woolworths closed its doors for good on Saturday December 27th. The famous chain - part of the fabric of the UK High Street - announced its closure after failing to find a buyer to take on the troubled stores.

A closure timetable was announced, with the New Malden branch being in the first tranche of closures on Dec 27th, with all the remaining stores to close by Jan 5th.

The branches in Hook (Chessington), Guildford and Wimbledon also closed last Saturday. Epsom and Kingston branches are due to close today (Jan 2nd).

Fatality at New Malden Train Station

It has been reported that a woman died at New Malden train station on Monday lunch time after appearing to jump in front of a speeding train. The woman jumped from the London bound platform in front of a train not due to stop there. Her injuries caused her to die at the scene.

Read more

New Malden Woman Receives MBE

The Queen's New Year's Honours list has been published and a resident of New Malden has been recognised with an MBE.

84 year old Irene Clark received the award for voluntary service to the Royal British Legion in Worcester Park.

See the full Honours List here.

UPDATE - I was reading through the Honours and found another New Malden connection. Singer-songwriter John Martyn was apparently born in New Malden, according to a profile on the BBC website, and has received an OBE.

Do you know Irene Clark or John Martyn? Post your messages of congratulations in the comments box.