Local News
Deputy Mayor and colleagues mark Cable St anniversary
CLLR MAIUM TALUKDAR, Deputy Mayor of Tower Hamlets, was joined by councillor colleagues outside the Town Hall as he led calls to remember the message “they shall not pass”. Aspire councillor colleagues joining the Deputy Mayor included Cllr Bodrul Choudhury (Bromley South), Cllr Gulam Kibria Cho...
Local messages
London marathon 2027 divides men and women
EVEN IF we’re not running, we all know – especially those of us who live in the boroughs on the marathon route – that the London marathon takes up a Sunday in April, right? Wrong! The London Marathon 2027 will be a two-day event, taking place on Saturday, 24th April and Sunday, 25th April. The...
Sounds on Sunday: 50 years ago – 1976-25
FIFTY YEARS AGO we were humming along to the hits of 1976. Some have magnificently stood the test of time; others have not. Join us on Memory Lane as we review them on their golden anniversaries. This week we say good-bye to Abba, thank them for their service – and move on to Mississippi by ... Th...
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Get ready for National Hate Crime Awareness Week
IT’S KNOWN for its diversity. It’s known as a place where neighbours get on well with each other. But Tower Hamlets Council has still found time to run a series of events to mark National Hate Crime Awareness Week. The week take place from 10th to 17th October and is organised by the National Ha...
Firefighters deal with Whitechapel shop fire
A FIRE in a shop in Whitechapel Road, opposite the Town Hall, yesterday, 2nd October, was brought under control by London firefighters in just over three hours. The London Fire Brigade received notification that there was a fire at approximately 6.51am. Six fire engines brought some 40 firefighters ...
Combatting Violence Against Women and Girls
VIOLENCE Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is still very common in UK society – and local, regional and national governments are trying to combat it. Are their strategies working? Tower Hamlets Council has a detailed Strategy on how to combat VWAG. It’s very worthy and well meaning. It may be a lit...
“Dangerous offender” jailed for Hackney manslaughter
THE JUDGE called him a “dangerous offender” – and that was no exaggeration. A burglary that went wrong led to the death of John Burke, 86 – and the burglar is now paying the price. The Court heard the heart-rending story of the burglary. On the night of 28th September 2025, Ashley Malcolm, 3...
Mayor Lutfur Rahman welcomes new homes in Stepney
IT’S OFFICIAL! Construction has begun on the Council’s HAP Regeneration Scheme in Stepney Green. HAP is the regeneration of Harriott, Apsley and Pattison Houses – hence the name. Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Cllr Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Homebuilding and Enhancing Council Homes and Neighbour...
Car crash on The Highway causes traffic chaos
TRAFFIC was in chaos this morning, 1st October, as The Highway was closed in both directions. There had been a collision just before 3.30am, and crash investigators needed to keep the road closed. The collision was serious, with the London Ambulance Service sending two crews and paramedics in fast r...
Posh chocs in salmonella contamination scare
TWO UPMARKET chocolates have been recalled by World of Sweets as salmonella has been found in the products. The recalled products are: ●Alyan Dubai Style Chocolate Truffles (120g, product code 319456); ●Alyan Dubai Style Crunchy Knafeh and Pistachio Milk Chocolate (100G, product code 3185910). ...
Bananas spotted in Bethnal Green
THEY CAME, ten years ago, as two tiny trees, that Museum Gardens were throwing out. They were adopted by the Russia Lane Day Centre. Now, after a long and exceptionally hot summer, the banana trees have produced fruit. Russia Lane is a day centre for people living with advanced dementia. The residen...
Newham man jailed for killing his mother
A MAN WHO killed his own mother was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 22 years at a hearing at the Old Bailey on 28th September. Richard Clayton, 45, had strangled her – and then rang police to confess. The family of the dead woman, Angela Clayton, spoke about her with love ......
Council develops partnership with local businesses
WE KNOW that Tower Hamlets Council delivers quality services to residents – sometimes, but not always, targeted at those struggling with the ever-increasing cost of living. Did you know that the Council also delivers quality support to people who are running, or want to run, small businesses? That...
Man jailed for life after Hackney shooting
A MAN has been jailed for life after a shooting classified as attempted murder. He did not pull the trigger himself. Although he was convicted of attempted murder, he recruited someone else to carry out the shooting. The jailed man has been named as Beytullah Gunduz, 39, of Hackney. The police found...
Mayor Lutfur Rahman extends school clothing grants
MORE FAMILIES will now be eligible to claim grants to help with the cost of school clothing – and now’s the time to apply. The clothing grants are part of a package of support for families on low income. The scheme initially offered grants in respect of children starting primary or secondary sch...
Sounds on Sunday: 50 years ago – 1976-24
FIFTY YEARS AGO we were humming along to the hits of 1976. Some have magnificently stood the test of time; others have not. Join us on Memory Lane as we review them on their golden anniversaries. Abba are still doing a Manchester City – hogging the top spot and leaving other players languishing in...
Three more charged in fatal Newham shooting case
ONE MAN has already been charged with murder – and now three other men are also facing a murder charge. The men have now been named after attending Court, where they were all remanded in custody. The murdered man is Masum Miah, who was found in St Bartholomew’s Road, Newham, with gunshot wounds....
Crowds flock to Brick Lane Curry Festival
BRICK LANE was thronging with people who had come to have a last bit of summer fun as the famous Curry Zone held its 2026 Curry Festival. It was the biggest one yet. Tower Hamlets is one of the most harmonious communities in London. Its residents turned out in force for the Festival, and they ... Th...
Trump gets his geography wrong again
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump met Andy Burnham while they were both at the United Nations in New York last week. They sat together for a few words with the press after their meeting. It was then that Trump became confused over whom he was meeting. He mentioned the “tremendous patriotism in Britain”...
Mayor Lutfur Rahman congratulates Cricket Cup players
IT WAS all smiles as teams took part in a tournament for the Mayor’s Cricket Cup over August and September. It wasn’t so much “Cup” as “Cups”, as six winners proudly took home their trophies. Mayor Lutfur Rahman voiced his enthusiasm for the competition, saying, “It has been fantastic ...