What happened in Croydon last night and our community, by Wendy Ager

What happened last night was rather ironic.

I was really looking forward to it, a community get-together in Purley, just 2.5 miles south of Reeves Corner, Croydon.

After a few months of a growing and fantastic Purley Breakfast Club, it was time to try out the first ever real-life Purley Dinner Club at Big Mike’s.  Purley Breakfast Club was organised originally on Twitter by nutritionist Susie White and Purley fanatic Jonny Rose On Twitter #purleydinnerclub has also been growing.

I’d met most of the people who came last night before at one or other event; Purley Festival, Purley Business Association, Purley Tweetups or networking in Croydon and nearby in Surrey, but this is a chance to stop talking business and start socialising and bringing the community together.

Jonny Rose, Purley fanatic, on the right!

There we were chatting and joking, introducing people to those they’d not met, and then suddenly the technology took over.  Out came the iPads, phones and eventually on went the restaurant TV for us to watch, in shock, at the disturbances unfolding just down the road in Croydon.

Dinner was fantastic – I had rice and peas for the first time with fabulous beef, but it was hard not to keep an eye on the riots in Croydon, especially when I was sat next to a poor guy who lived quite near to where Reeves Furniture Store was ablaze! I didn’t think too much of Purley Tesco being closed early as I walked passed when I’d arrived about 7.30pm!

My first ever 'Rice & Peas' at Big Mike's Purley

The meal ended fairly quickly when it became clear that there were transport problems and the violence was spreading.  Everyone wanted to be sure they could get home safely.

This single sausage fire in Purley

Sausage Fire at Purley Dinner Club, Croydon

was no match for the blaze at Reeves Corner, Croydon.

What has been great to see since is the way the people who were at Purley Dinner Club last night, and the whole online community have been collaborating, offering support, assistance and even shelter to those disadvantaged by the problems.

Several pages on Facebook, some with thousands of Likes already I’ve seen are: Clean Up Croydon,  Clean-Up Croydon Crew, Riot Cleanup  not to mention #riots #CroydonRiots and loads of other hashtags being used on Twitter with people, businesses and charities offering assistance to those affected.

I always say, you get out what you put in.  Those who have done these terrible things will not get much out of it.  There’s little satisfaction or money in stolen goods or destruction of property.  Nor will they prosper in life, if they continue as they are.  Those who can hold their heads high and work to put things right will gain the most, as always, if you ask me.

I can’t wait for the next Purley Breakfast Club on 27th August / Purley Dinner Club, thanks to Jonny Rose.  Check out his blog and video from the night!

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