Message from Croydon

[Deleted]

Hi all

02.55am from the edge of Croydon

Earlier on I could see and smell the smoke from my garden and the Croydon shooting was half a mile away.

Earlier I saw hooded youths in cars pass my house heading for Croydon.

Sadly my friend Carl who owns the music shop Rock Bottom in London Road Croydon has had his shop looted. Bought my Jap Strat there in 1989. My son did work experience there with Carl in the mid 90's. The furniture shop Reeves at Reeves corner I know very well and its now gone, reduced to ashes.

Fortunately we are all safe here so far. I did consider driving with the family further into Surrey and staying in a hotel.

No sleep tonight, on guard duty here !!

George.

[Deleted]

HI GEORGE , I feel sorry for you mate ,I did hear some news on the ABC radio here in australia ,of this senseless rampage ,,..
Lets hope it is quelled soon & please Stay safe &well ..
Keep the chin-up george ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Barry..

[strat197]

How dreadful George -

What has our country come to ?

Keep safe -

regards Tony

[kipper]

stay safe george. i really dont understand whats going on i did my share of protesting against various goverment decisions ect but never in the way these are happening. this is working people stealing from working people. no respect shown to ordanary local people. i live about 20 miles away in surrey and never thought i`d see the likes of this on my door step
no way can it be justified just right out of hand. i dont care what reason is given just not right whatever they say . peter

[Rick]

Hi George,I sincerly hope that you and your family found some peace last night,It must of been terrifying to be so close to those troubles,Like many people,I am angered that this sort of thing could happen in our country and these people seem to have such a free hand.
I am also sorry to hear of the looting of the Rockbottom shop,I didnt know that it was even there anymore anyway,It was there that i bought my Gibson Lespaul Deluxe back in 1980 and this beaut is still in good use today.Sincere best wishes to you all,Hopefully this trouble will at least move away from you. Rick.

[shadmad]

Hi George,
I didn't realise you lived so close to the troubles,it must be terrifying.
I live about 300 miles away,but when you know someone who is so close,it brings it home just how close and frightening these things are.For yours,and everyone Else's sake,I hope this is soon over.
Best Wishes,
Garry.

[grip]

Hi George,

It's good to see that you are safe my friend. What a horror story this all is, sickening mindless actions of a few that the cost will be counted for a long time.

Some group with an agenda must be orchestrating all this, I sincerely hope they are caught and punished accordingly. It's all too easy to criticise the Police in these event, but I feel it was more a job for the Army. I hope last night was the last of these awful events.


Kind regards,


Chris

[joeboy]

At the bottom of all this there are probably valid reasons for protest. Everyone should have a right to protest peacefully to get their views across. Sadly these days thugs & hooligans take over & turn a protest into a war. As always it's the innocent who end up the victims

Sorry to hear about your friends shop - just honest folk trying to make a living! Keep safe George!.. if it starts to look iffy get in the car & get out of it for a few days.

[Deleted]

Hi all

Many thanks for the replies so far.
All OK here at the moment they did not come out as far as us.

I agree this is one for the Army.

I have had a look down there this morning and buildings are still being damped down by the fire brigade. The west side of Croydon is like a war zone, looted and burned out. Has to be seen to be believed. Overhead power for the trams down in places as is some of the track itself distorted. That much heat !!

Where Rock Bottom was looted they where going down the street with wheel barrows full of guitars and drums etc. and laughing about it.

George.

[nessmonst]

As someone who lives in Northern Ireland and therefore very well accustomed to this sort of civil unrest you have my sympathy.It does not matter why it started or by who but this sort of hooliganism can eke on forever if it is not nipped in the bud. There are people out there who will do just whatever they want for their own pleasure or profit regardless of how it affects their fellow man. The reason it started long forgotten --it is just an excuse for their anarchy. Without wishing to preach 'fascism' everyone should be aware that it needs to be put down and VERY HARD and by whatever means possible no matter how apparently distasteful or politically incorrect--no pussy cat cat footing about and let the 'bleeding hearts' who make mealy mouthed excuses for this sort of behaviour stand in front of the police/ambulance/fire line---that should change their minds PDQ!!
Rant over!!
Regards and keep safe to all
David

[Deleted]

David.

Agreed !!

George.

Aug 9, 2011 11:02:56 GMT nessmonst said:

As someone who lives in Northern Ireland and therefore very well accustomed to this sort of civil unrest you have my sympathy.It does not matter why it started or by who but this sort of hooliganism can eke on forever if it is not nipped in the bud. There are people out there who will do just whatever they want for their own pleasure or profit regardless of how it affects their fellow man. The reason it started long forgotten --it is just an excuse for their anarchy. Without wishing to preach 'fascism' everyone should be aware that it needs to be put down and VERY HARD and by whatever means possible no matter how apparently distasteful or politically incorrect--no pussy cat cat cat footing about and let the 'bleeding hearts' who make mealy mouthed excuses for this sort of behaviour stand in front of the police/ambulance/fire line---that should change their minds PDQ!!
Rant over!!
Regards and keep safe to all
David

[joeboy]

I'll second that

Aug 9, 2011 11:45:20 GMT hankypanky said:

David.

Agreed !!

George.

Aug 9, 2011 11:02:56 GMT nessmonst said:

As someone who lives in Northern Ireland and therefore very well accustomed to this sort of civil unrest you have my sympathy.It does not matter why it started or by who but this sort of hooliganism can eke on forever if it is not nipped in the bud. There are people out there who will do just whatever they want for their own pleasure or profit regardless of how it affects their fellow man. The reason it started long forgotten --it is just an excuse for their anarchy. Without wishing to preach 'fascism' everyone should be aware that it needs to be put down and VERY HARD and by whatever means possible no matter how apparently distasteful or politically incorrect--no pussy cat cat cat cat footing about and let the 'bleeding hearts' who make mealy mouthed excuses for this sort of behaviour stand in front of the police/ambulance/fire line---that should change their minds PDQ!!
Rant over!!
Regards and keep safe to all
David

[mojolomjl]

Hi David,
I agree with you, couldn't put it better myself.
Regards,
Maurice.

[John Haldane]

Hi George
Glad you and familly ok, must be very scary, there is no excuse what so ever for what as gone on, I feel sorry for the police, if they go in to hard they get blasted, if they do nothing they still get blasted.
Send in water cannons and rubber bullets, and forget all this human rights C---P.
John H

[solidlg]

Hi George,
I, and many Brits here in Canada, can only imagine the concern you feel for your family, this new mob type attack on society is something we saw in Vancouver when the Canuks lost the Stanley cup, although I would think there is a slight difference, and as explained on our News Channels on Monday.

Technology has made it possible through all these social networks for people with limited intelligence to arrange such attacks on society very easily, and you only need one event to inspire it, as was the case in the UK.

In the US, and now experienced in Canada ( Ottawa ) we have Mob Robbing taking place, and it appears to be centered within a particular ethnic community, the same community that seems to like to kill each other in Gang shootings around drug activity. The arrange for a store to be mobbed by people and then just walk out with product, seemingly non-violent at present but effective for sure.

However it will not be long before the authorities are into those networks and are ready to take down such an event, and I only hope the same will go for the UK riots, we all know that one incident does not motivate such aggression, it is going to be proven that kids are well and truly the center of such activity, and I know when we had youth doing similar things back in the 60's / 70's my old man used to say bring back conscription, and I think we all know what he meant, the lack of respect in youth today tends to drive this type of lunacy.

That's my lecture for today, keep safe and do not approach any of these neanderthals
Steve

[tonybiker]

Hi George.

I forgot you were so close to the troubles and thankfully your all safe. Hopefully now they have 500% more Police on the streets tonight the problems will be reduced. It was shocking to watch it on TV. I feel for Carl who has spent a lifetime building up his music business to see it stolen in front of his eyes.

No matter where you are in the UK we all have problems, if that's financial, unemployment or housing but we don't go onto the streets and take it out on our neighbors, so the excuses given from some of the culture youth leaders on TV last night was a lame one.

The Police are well trained for this sort of trouble and they will stay there until firearms are used, only then will the Army be involved. But the rioters know that, but rioters is the wrong name, their criminals

All this because someone was searched! If your 15 years old and out at 2am in the morning with your mates then you should be expected to be searched, more so when your in a local crime hot-spot. And the old question comes to mind, what exactly are their parents doing? Very little by all accounts.

The UK has become a soft touch and decent people are silenced and told they no longer have an opinion to the point I can't say that over 80% of those criminals involved in these troubles are of none english background, even though what I say is fact. I have a couple of friends involved policing the streets in London and I could spend all day writing an essay on what I was told this morning.

Tony

[colljaw]

Hi George, I'm glad you and your family are safe. I've been busy today and didn't realise the extent of last night's carnage throughout England. I noticed that a 16 year old has been arrested in Scotland for trying to organise something on Facebook for tonight.

Since the belt was banned in schools, respect is history! It didn't do you any harm, nor did a kick up the backside from a policeman.

I get annoyed at the end of a television prohgramme such as "Police With Cameras" when a tiny percentage of criminals get prosecuted.

Quite honestly, you could see the current activities were going to happen at some point.

Regards, Jim

[martyn]

I'm afraid as I get older my tolerance level is zero when it comes down to looting morons roaming the streets.
Rubber bullets? Forget it - put the b******s against a wall and use real ones - I'm sorry, did I say that out loud?

Hope everyone here keeps safe during this dreadful time.

Martyn

[kipper]

Martyn not many will say that out aloud but they will be thinking it of that i`m certain. peter

[Deleted]

Hi thanks for ALL the latest replies and concerns.

I tried to call Carl (Rock-Bottom) today but his phone just rings. The shop is obviously closed as its wrecked and indeed empty. The whole of the London Road Croydon still looks like a war zone.

I did not realise that even closer to me on the Purley Way which contains several large superstores that PC World, Comet, Curries, John Lewis and a massive Sainburys where all looted last night and in the early hours. Apparently they had the doors off at PC World.

This thread is bringing out emotions but we are all adults here.

Sincere Thanks for all support

George.

[Deleted]

22.00 08/08/2011

quiet so far but the night is young.

ALL local shops have shut early except the chippy so had fish and chips tonight.

The Texaco at the end of my road was attacked last night that's 700-800 yards away. 5 minute walk !!

Croydon today was obviously a sober place but with a very strange atmosphere and an eerie silence. I can best describe it as a world where everybody is deaf. Peculiar.

George.

[tonybiker]

It started here at 5pm tonight. One of the big supermarkets, Aldi I think, is in flames. You can't even get into the City now. Most of the trouble is about 100 yards away from where I picked up Len and Judy from their hotel for the June get together event.

Tony

[abstamaria]

I am so sad to hear all of this, even if one almost cannot be farther in distance from the troubles than I am. I have never been to the places now in the news, but, as a teenager in the 60s, England seemed a magical place for me; there were tiny Lotus cars, Morgans, Vox amps, the Beatles, the Avengers, the Shadows... so many wonderful things that came from there. In 1974, I bought my first good 10-speed bicycle frame. It was English, a lovely metallic blue with very fine lug work; the builder's name was on the frame - "Geoffrey Butler" - and beneath that "Croydon."

I hope you will all be safe and that your homes are spared and your neighborhoods recover quickly.

My best, sincere good wishes,

Andy
Manila

[gthomson]

George,

My heart goes out to you, as to all those caught up in this mindless thuggery. So far, it hasn't spread north of the border, but it can only be a matter of time.

Have our authorities become so impotent that no-one can take the hard decisions and deal with these animals in the appropriate manner? They threaten the lives and livelihoods of innocent families, yet they are treated with kid-gloves!

I mourn for a society lost.

Grant
Edinburgh

[JohnJ]

Hi George

Keep your hopes up and your head down mate the powers that be must soon get these ratbags under control
Our thoughts are with you and everyone up there
JohnJ Oz

[salvo]

Hi George,

I hope you are and your Family are OK
and this big trouble finish very soon.

I'm not a fascist , and I'd like a world of "Peace & Love" bla,bla,bla...
I dream about a perfect world, but we must be realist.
so,I think the only solution is the use of The Army.

...this time no flowers in guns!... but only explosive bullets!!!

I'm near to you.

Best Regards
Salvo

[Simon Underwood]

Glad you're ok, George. being Croydon born and bred myself, I was absolutely horrified to see the scenes of what was happening. Really rotten for Carl at Rockbottom, and I couldn't believe what happened to Reeves.

Simon

[harley]

Hi George

I can only echo everyones best wishes and share their concerns. This rediculous business surely connot go on much longer before "proper" action is taken. I heard on the news that police had been fired on in one of these incedents which i believe is reason enough to bring in the armed forces, impose curfews and police them with an iron fist! on the street after a certain time? arrested and locked up AND LEFT. one of the biggest problems in this country has for years been lack of any realistic form of deterent. criminals are treated with kid gloves while normal decent hard working people are expected to pay for their actions. Time for change!! punishment relevant to the crime, not holidays abroad!!
rant over (for now)

our thoughts are with you and yours George

regards
Ian

[Deleted]

Many many thanks to all for recent comments and concern.

It also seems that Tony Biker is close to the Manchester riots of yesterday. I hope you are relatively unaffected Tony, I for one know first hand that it is a very serious and disconcerting if not scary matter !!

All is quiet today in Croydon. I drove down the Purley Way where all the mega stores are and PC World is totally boarded up as is Comet, Curries and John Lewis. It's ironic that I would dearly love a Mac computer for my music but just cannot afford one. My point is obvious.

Also along the same road the mobile phone mega-stores are also totally void following looting. I spoke to somebody today that had guitars, drums and amps left in the front grounds to their block of flats. They where collected half an hour latter by hooded yobs in cars. Obviously all looted from Rock Bottom.

I appreciate that the same problems / mayhem is repeated in many other locations. These examples are merely those I seen with my own eyes. The eerie silence is beginning to lift.

I hope that now all can be rebuilt and repaired go back to normal albeit it will clearly take time.

Pleased to say that me and my family are all well. My heart goes out to the innocent bystanders that are in hospital now. At least four people have died, one shot in his car at the other end of my road. One man who is yet to be identified, probably robbed of all items that could have identified him, is in hospital in a coma hanging on to life.

The price paid and misery inflicted is far too high and defies belief.

Best regards to all.

George

[dobroman]

Firstly I hope everybody has remained safe during the current problems. My wife's family live in the Croydon area, so problems were of major concern.

I think the basic solution to the problem is very simple . . . make it more unattractive to commit crime that not commit crime!

There is a sheriff in Arizona, US that seems to have the right idea, all offenders are held in a tented prison in the desert (temperature around 40 deg) they all wear pink underwear and there is a large sign at the entrance "Vancancies". they are used on chain gangs wearing stripped outfits repairing the roads so that everybody knows they are offenders.

And if all else fails there are a number of uninhabited islands around the UK where prisons could be set up. Then see if they come back for more.

I had promised myself I wouldn't get involved in this thread . . . Oh well!

Brian