Top ChiswickW4.com stories from the past twelve months

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January 2008

Michelin Award La Trompette One Star
Devonshire Road restaurant receives much anticipated accolade

A Different View of The Birds and The Bees
After Gunnersbury Triangle is revealed as a hot spot for 'cruising'

Post Office, Parking, Pavements and Parents
A-Z of what residents would put into Chiswick's Room 101

Cleaners Sued Over Riverside Fire
Esporta claim negligence and want £31 million

Armed Only With Skates and Some Seriously Glittery Costumes Chiswick celebs Sarah Greene and Tim Vincent take to the ice on ITV

February 2008

Heritage Lottery Fund Confirm £7.6m Award
Chiswick House restoration project set to begin in spring

Spandex Suits, Snoop Dog and a Small Nylon Dog
"It's the most natural thing in the world," says Colin Firth

Riverside Epiphany Turns The Tide For One Commuter
Who goes in search of a cleaner, greener, serener route to the office

With Renovation Work Set to Begin
We meet the team responsible for managing Chiswick House project

Chiswick Date Ends In Brutal Murder
Court hears how Kate Beagley was stabbed more than 30 times

March 2008

Fifteen Years For Chiswick Care Home Murderer
Leslie Maynard found guilty of stabbing fellow resident Roy Barber to death

O2 Abandons Plans For Sutton Court Road Mast
Formally agreeing to seek a more suitable alternative site

Chiswick's Des Lynam Masterminds His Move Back To BBC
Home-loving presenter to host sports spin-off of TV's toughest quiz

What Does The Future Hold For Chiswick Health Centre?
GPs concerned that 'polyclinic' could replace current services

Smile For The Camera!
Council to step up CCTV parking enforcement

April 2008

CCTV For Hogarth Roundabout Underpass
Fuller's fund new camera in joint venture with Chiswick police

Liar Liar Pants On Fire!
Chiswick woman calls in fire brigade to free her from trousers

Pregnant Brides' Boutique Sparks Moral Debate
A 'sad reflection of today's society' or 'meeting consumer need'?

Chinese Decide They Don't Like The Look of Cracknell
Olympic officials reject accreditation application over issue with photograph

Green Cross Toad
Business Park helps protect of short, fat and warty local residents

May 2008

Fall In House Prices? No Problem!
Gloomy predictions of little consequence to majority of homeowners

Chiswick House Trust Appoints New Director
Sarah Finch-Crisp to steer historical site through regeneration project

Eco Leads Campaign To Turn Chiswick Into 'Eco-Village'
A-list traders aim to galvanize community around key green issues

Chiswick B&B Is High Point of Capital's Tourism
As travel poll discovers tourists are largely unimpressed with London

New Bovine Resident For Fauconberg Road
The Copper Cow moves into the home of former Coyote

June 2008

Boris Says No To Piccadilly Line Stop
New Mayor tells Councillors 'It's not going to happen'

Sugarbabes Join Line Up At 2008's House Festival
As the 'most middle class benefit gig in history' returns to Chiswick House

Sunshine and Sophie Bring Out The Crowds At Green Days
Thousands enjoy opening event of 42nd Bedford Park Festival

Chiswick's Sub Post Office Ceases Trading
As the council continues to challenge closures across the borough

The Things We Hate Most About Customers...
Local restaurateurs turn the tables on difficult diners

July 2008

Chiswick's Reluctant Celebrity
Are W4's streets paved with gold for dancing Ziggy Dust?

Sugarbabes Steal The Show At 2008's House Festival
As 'most middle class benefit gig in history' continues in Chiswick House

Open All Hours
Decision to close Chiswick Park ticket office reversed

Chiswick Teacher Forced To Retire Aged 68
European Court of Justice to rule on pursuing age discrimination claim

Shackology Bids Farewell To Chiswick
Crown & Anchor now 'de-shacked' to become a proper pub

August 2008

Chiswick Close to Top of Debt Chart
Survey says area is sixth most indebted in the UK

Walpole House on Chiswick Mall Sold for £12,500,000
Jasper Conran banks massive profit in two years

Dita the German Shepherd Dog Found
Back safe and well with her family after 12 days

Customers Bid Fond Farewell to Burlington Cafe
As Eileen hangs up her apron after 11 years at Chiswick House

Turnham Green Going Down The Pan?
Plans in the works to change former public toilets into a cafe

September 2008

Starbucks for Chiswick Library?
Age old rules of etiquette to make way for coffee and conversation

Chiswick Audience Hears of Poet Laureate's 'Thankless' Job

Andrew Motion claims writing verse for the Royal Family gave him writer's block

Don't Take Us At Facebook Value
Jack Collins writes about life through a teenager's eyes

Gastro Trio Make Michelin Guide
The Devonshire, The Bollo & Duke of Sussex feature

60 Year Sentence For Marmalade Jewellery Gang
'Fagin type character' recruited members to help carry out robberies

October 2008

Michelin Starred Chef, Author and Pub Landlord
Emma Brophy finds out from Mark Sargeant how he finds the time for it all Tracking The Invasion of Tube Spiders
Colony of alien arachnids set up home in arches of Kew Bridge

The New Thames Tunnel - Blight or Blessing?
Thames Water provides project's historic and technical background

Staffing, Stamps and Matters of Taste
Post Office responds to residents' concerns about Heathfield Terrace branch

Bureaucracy and Inaction Alive and Well in Gunnersbury
Cyclists await verdict on where they should park their bikes

November

Chiswick 'Ad Man' On Exposed BNP List
Five W4 residents named as members of right wing political party

Woman Ticketed During Two Minute Silence
Claims warden issued PCN as she paid her respects to war dead

Black On Track For Turnham Green Terrace
No cactus on the menu for former Texas Lone Star

Mackens Hit By Top Restaurants' Bankruptcy
Tom Aiken's company placed in administration

Westfield Opens
Hundreds queue up but warnings of traffic gridlock prove unfounded

December

Forum Regular Dies in Road Accident
Michael Fletcher hit by truck while cycling on A4

Buy One House Get One Porsche Free
Chiswick TV actor makes home buyers an unusual offer

St Michael's and The Great War
90 years on as recorded in the Church magazine, 1915-1918

The Cardinal's Coming To Town
Cormac Murphy-O'Connor to retire to Chiswick next year

Congestion Charge Zone's Western Extension To Be Scrapped
By Spring 2010 following Mayor's public consultation

Something missing?

If you feel there is a aspect of local life that we haven't given sufficient coverage to, let us know. Most of the articles listed above were not written by us but contributed by local people.

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