Looking at our most read stories of 2017, it appears to have been a year packed with tragedy, devastation and sadness. And school results.
We know there has been some good news and happier occasions during the past 12 months, but these items have been overshadowed by bleaker events based on what you, our readers, have been clicking on the most.
Here is a month by month rundown of what stories have attracted the most interest on Epsom Guardian’s website.
January
The High Street post office was in trouble last January when a winding up order was issue to the leaseholder.
A winding up order is a court order that forces the company’s assets to be liquidated in an attempt to repay its creditors.
A post office spokesperson said: “Epsom operates with a postmaster on a temporary basis and discussions with landlords and postmasters are in commercial confidence.”
2 Man in 'glittery' van caught masturbating near Epsom and Ewell
Febuary
1 Snooker legend Jimmy White 'loses everything but cue' in flat fire in Epsom
Jimmy White, fondly known in the Snooker community as “The Whirlwind” and the “People’s Champion”, was ‘gutted’ when his flat burned down.
After the fire in Alexandra Road he tweeted 'Fire at my flat this morning. Everything gone. Gutted. Cue was in car and most importantly no one hurt'.
Fourteen people and a cat were evacuated.
3 Jewellery and cash taken from during raid on an Elm Way home in West Ewell
March
1 Teenager stabbed in leg in 'violent' Epsom gang attack
A ‘violent’ Epsom gang attack left a teenager hospitalised and needing emergency surgery following a stab wound.
Detective constable Elliott Abdo said: “This appears to have been a violent attack which has left the victim requiring surgery.
“This behaviour is not acceptable in our community.”
2 13-year-old boy Daniel Ellingham from Ewell found
4 FOUND: Appeal to trace owner of missing keys with heartfelt message found on Waverley Road Stoneleigh Epsom
April
Drivers and office staff were left fearing for their jobs after a corporate takeover of Epsom Coaches, which had been approaching 100 years in business.
The company was founded in 1920, but is now managed by RATP Dev London, whose parent company RATP operates globally.
Epsom Coaches, which had record bookings for that summer according to managing director Steve Whiteway, was renamed Quality Line and no longer runs holiday packages.
4 German supermarket giant Lidl submits plans for new store in Upper High Street, Epsom
May
A 14-year-old charity volunteer lost 18 months’ worth of savings after an equestrian clothing store went into administration.
Rebecca Watkinson, a volunteer at a charity that looks after ex-racehorses, had put half of what she had raised through a weekly paper round – £411.50 – into an account with Lester Bowden.
She had hoped to buy a full set of riding gear from the company, and had already bought her boots and hat from the 119-year-old retailer based in Spread Eagle Walk, Epsom.
3 Six-man brawl in Epsom ends with man taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting with head injuries
4 Renovated Epsom Square to host free celebration launch party after makeover
5 Epsom and Ewell results in Surrey County Council elections
June
Masked thugs armed with crowbars who attacked and tied two men up were using ‘EastEnders slang’ according to police.
The victims also had their cash stolen in the terrifying home invasion.
One, who was hit in the head with a crowbar, required hospital treatment.
2 Rosebery School in Epsom celebrates ‘outstanding’ Ofsted inspection
3 Epsom man fined £535 for dropping cigarette butt in Sittingbourne High Street
5 Updated: Moped gang carrying 'stolen axes and hammers' steal watches during daring daylight robbery in Banstead High Street
July
1 Suspected brothel owner arrested in Epsom High Street
A suspected brothel owner was caught after furniture from an upper window was thrown out, prompting an onlooker to call the police.
Borys Bobinski, 36, was arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences.
Human trafficking is commonly associated with prostitution and slavery, with the Government estimating tens of thousands of slaves hidden in modern Britain.
2 Police appeal for witnesses after 12-year-old boy was ‘aggressively’ robbed in Downside, Epsom
4 Epsom man charged with running brothel
August
1 Man dies after car crash in Kingston Road, Ewell
A man in his 30s died following a car crash in Ewell
The air ambulance attended and road closures were put in place while emergency services dealt with the incident.
The man was taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, but died from his injuries two days later.
September
An 84-year-old woman was robbed in Worcester Park, suffering a broken finger and a broken bone in her back.
She was walking through a tunnel under the railway lines into Lynwood Road between 1.30pm and 2pm when an unknown man pushed her to the ground and stole her handbag.
Inspector Jackie Elkins said: “If you do regularly walk alone, please be aware of your own personal safety and avoid using short cuts, keep to well-lit busy streets and consider carrying a personal attack alarm."
2 Lucy Jinks, 33, gives birth to baby Indy in the carpark of Epsom Hospital
3 Man dies after falling from the Ashley Centre in Epsom
4 'Happy days' for this garden centre in Epsom which stars in a leading fast food chain TV ad
October
1 Epsom and Ewell's best and worst secondary schools for pupil progression
New Government figures revealed the improvement made by secondary school pupils in Epsom and Ewell.
This “Progress 8” score reflects the difference between the results SATs taken in year nine and results from GCSEs and other key stage four qualifications.
The top-scoring school in the area was Nonsuch High School for Girls.
3 Epsom & Ewell Council deny liability for teenager's smashed windshield
4 Man stabbed in serious attack outside Epsom station
5 Epsom bus drivers are voting on strike action this Monday
November
1 The Eight Bells in Ewell reopens after six-figure renovation
The Eight Bells in Ewell reopened after a £100,000 refurbishment.
After being closed throughout October, staff at the pub in Kingston Road began welcoming punters again on Friday, November 2.
Glen Rose, who now runs the pub, said: “I can’t wait to get started. It’s fantastic and really exciting. You know once it opens it’s going to be spanking.”
2 Large amount of designer goods stolen during burglary in Epsom
3 Epsom and Ewell Council approves Lidl Upper High Street plans
4 Man found critically injured in Miller Place, Epsom, off Sherwood Way
5 Armed police hunt men in balaclavas who 'ram-raided' Ewell cash machine
December
1 These are the best performing primary schools in Epsom and Ewell according to the 2017 KS2 results
The best primary schools in Epsom and Ewell in the Key Stage 2 tests for 2017 were revealed.
The Government published how well schools performed in tests at the end of Key Stage 2 which take place for maths and English.
Nonsuch Primary School and St Peter’s Catholic Primary School tied in top place with 90 per cent of their pupils reaching (or overachieving) the expected standard.
2 Woman taken to hospital after serious crash between Tolworth and Ewell
3 Man found unconscious and 'critically injured' in Epsom
4 Epsom High Street: Woman trapped under hoardings is rescued
5 RMT members to go on strike at Epsom's Quality Line bus depot
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