Kingston review of 2014: April to June

The school’s head, Dr Sarah Sayce, was suspended after “trying to rally” students in its defence.

A university-commissioned report said the department was “not a good fit”.

Claire Whittaker

Artists at Old London Road Tattoos helped a mum complete the final step in her breast cancer journey by giving her new nipples.

Claire Whittaker, from Berkshire, had a double mastectomy after learning she had the same potentially-deadly BRCA2 gene as Angelina Jolie.

A missing Easter bunny was reunited with its owner after an appearance in the Kingston Guardian.

Treacle escaped when his hutch was left open.

Owner Ciara Hill, of Berrylands, said: “We spent the whole of Easter miserable so it was just amazing to get him back.”

• May

Town centre managers Kingstonfirst celebrated 10 years since the UK’s first ever business improvement district was created.

It launched a successful campaign for a third five-year term of shaping, managing and marketing Kingston as a shopping hub.

More than 900 businesses were polled.

Sir Jack Brabham, the Formula 1 and car building legend, died aged 88.

The Australian, who died in Sydney, won the F1 championship in 1960, 1966 and 1969.

He ran a garage in Hook Road, selling petrol at the front and tuning cars in the back.

Nervous politicians during the vote count

It was a rotten night for the Liberal Democrats as the Conservatives triumphed in the council elections.

Defeated Lib Dem leader Councillor Liz Green said the result came down to “a few hundred votes in a few key wards”.

The first results were not announced until 6.30am.

• June

They rode out recessions, won awards and served generations of regulars.

But Manuel and Janet Turnes finally retired from running the Wych Elm pub in Kingston after 31 years in charge.

The couple thanked their loyal customers at a farewell party – where one old regular even made the trip from Somerset to send them off.

Nando's staff

Portuguese-style peri-peri chicken purveyors Nando’s announced it would set up shop in New Malden.

The popular restaurant chain took over an empty former furniture store overlooking the Fountain roundabout.

The move sparked jubilant reaction online.

The Kingston Guardian revealed Kingston Council had raked in £890,000 in bus lane and box junction fines in just 12 weeks.

That meant an average of 72 drivers a day were caught breaking the rules in bus lanes alone.

One Surbiton van driver was fined for pulling into a bus lane to allow police to pass, but appealed successfully.