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Good morning, Croydon.
Happy Saturday! It's a big weekend Star Wars Day is Monday, the election is five days away, and there's plenty going on across the borough today. Let's get into it.
Forecast from Accuweather
🗓️ Upcoming Events
See link in the outro below to self submit your events
2nd May TODAY
The Kiosk open 9am to 2pm The Kiosk Linktree
YA+ Reading Group - Aged 17-25 - Croydon Central Library 3-4pm
St Peter’s Church Mini Market - 10am - 12:30 (Ledbury Road, CR01EP)
4th May
The David Prowse Gym in Ashburton Park
9th May
The Kiosk open 9am to 2pm The Kiosk Linktree
📰 MORNING PULSE
🗳️ ELECTION COUNTDOWN: 5 DAYS TO GO
The three-way mayoral race is still too close to call. Latest polling has Labour's Rowenna Davis on 23%, Conservative Jason Perry on 21%, and Reform's Ben Flook on 20% with Greens and Lib Dems also in the mix. This is genuinely one of the tightest local races in the country. Every vote counts on Thursday 7 May.
(Inside Croydon)
🟨YELLOW BOX SCANDAL — QUIETLY SCALED BACK
After issuing 26,244 fines totalling nearly £2 million since 2017, Croydon Council has replaced the controversial yellow box junction on Addiscombe Road with a simple "keep clear" marking. No fanfare, no apology just gone. Following a London Tribunals ruling and sustained public pressure, the box that generated millions in penalties has been quietly retired.
(Inside Croydon)
🏫TRINITY SCHOOL £40M EXPANSION APPROVED
Croydon Council's Planning Committee has given the green light to Trinity School's £40 million expansion a new sixth form block and fitness suite. Work is set to begin later this year.
(Inside Croydon)
💛 HEARTBEAT
The gym that Darth Vader built
On Monday Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you) a brand new outdoor gym opens at Addiscombe Recreation Ground on Bingham Road. It's named after David Prowse, the man inside the Darth Vader suit, who lived right here in Addiscombe until his death in November 2020
The free, fully accessible gym was shaped by Croydon Calisthenics CIC and funded by government grants. The opening celebration runs 11am–1pm on Monday.
And here's the bit most people don't know: Peter Mayhew Chewbacca himself worked as a hospital orderly at Mayday Hospital (now Croydon University Hospital) between Star Wars shoots. Croydon is the only place on Earth where both Darth Vader and Chewbacca lived and worked. Not bad for CR0.
(East Croydon Community Organisation | My London)
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🌳 Hidden Gem: Solo Wood Recycling
Tucked away on Factory Lane in Croydon, Solo Wood Recycling is one of those places that makes you feel good just knowing it exists. This not-for-profit social enterprise rescues wood that would otherwise end up in landfill -- reconditions it, and sells it on as raw building material for DIY projects
They've worked with interior designers, builders, and hobbyists on projects of all shapes and sizes. Got a project in mind? They'll either help you or point you in the right direction. A 4.9⭐ rating from 187 reviews says it all.
Open today: 10am–2pm -- so if you're passing, pop in.
📍 43 Factory Lane, Croydon, CR0 3RL
📞 07444 729521
📸 Instagram: #solowood.recycling | Facebook: @solowoodrecyling
🕐 Opening hours:
Saturday: 10am–2pm
Tue–Fri: 11am–3pm
Sunday & Monday: Closed
⚡ PULSE POINTS
BOXPARK Saturday Sessions — Food, drinks, DJs from 7pm–1am at BOXPARK Croydon. Your Saturday night sorted. (boxpark.co.uk)
Thank You For The Music— ABBA tribute night at Fairfield Halls tonight.(fairfield.co.uk)
Big Family Fun Day at Snipe Inn— 2pm–11pm today. Food, fun, family-friendly.(Skiddle)
Heartwood 'Jack in the Green' Gathering— May Day woodland celebration today at Heartwood Woodland.(Eventbrite)
🏆 ONLY IN CROYDON
A borough that quietly retires a £2 million fine machine with zero announcement, opens a Star Wars gym on May the 4th, and is days away from one of the tightest mayoral races in UK local election history. Nowhere else
👋 OUTRO
Five days to the election. A Star Wars gym opening on Monday. And a Saturday full of things to do across the borough.
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