'I fled Croydon after the riots - and I'm not coming back'
A PROFESSIONAL musician who lost her home in last summer's riots says she doesn't want to return to "scary" Croydon.
Carla Rees's life was turned upside-down on August 8 when her flat above Greyhound Motors was torched.
Her two beloved cats perished in the fire, which also destroyed her handmade alto flutes and 15 years worth of musical scores.
Traumatised by the events, flautist Carla, 35, moved to a rented property in the village of Clewer, in Windsor, to escape the memory.
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She returned to her flat after the first night of rioting but left Croydon because she didn't feel safe.
She said: "I have had to start again. I am taking it bit by bit and rebuilding where I can by buying essentials. It has been pretty hard."
Carla said she has still not received a penny in insurance and has had to rely on handouts from family and an appeal fund set up by fellow musicians.
Carla, who is artistic director of chamber ensemble Rarescale and a music teacher, has been told her Croydon flat will be rebuilt by 2014.
She said: "I would be completely destroyed without my family and donations given by complete strangers.
"I would like to be able to stay here. I love it.
"It is very calm and completely different to where I was."
She added that she was not surprised rioting had broken out in Croydon, as it had felt "more and more scary".
A 17-year-old boy was arrested in August in connection with the fire, but later released with no further action to be taken.
Police are still investigating the fire and anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Comments
by BlodwynPig
Sunday, January 22 2012, 9:47PM
“Everyone's leaving Croydon I have, anyone with sence would leave Croydon you can see whats happening to Croydon to many People”
by AlanofCR0
Sunday, January 15 2012, 1:31PM
“What speaks volumes about many of those who have commented so far is that all they are concerned about is the Lady's insurance claim. What about the loss of her instruments, her music and yes her cats? You know the value of nothing. You are Croydon itself.”
by roomster
Sunday, January 15 2012, 9:35AM
“Not really sure if this an insurance company issue but insurance companies do sit on claims unless presure is put on them to settle, 2 years ago a neighbour had his inurance claim denied because tha insurance company claimed he was partly at fault because a side gate wasn't secured adequatly the gate is to his drive and was about 4ft high and made of wrought iron and was never designed to be secured after nine months and much hard work on his part the claim was paid.”
by msbloggs
Friday, January 13 2012, 8:13PM
“Nicecityboy does talk a lot of pigs wallop sometimes, but on the whole his a nice guy ;)”
by realtestman
Friday, January 13 2012, 3:33PM
“nicecityboy - How have you deduced what you just stated from the article? Her stating that she still hasn't received a penny could just as easily be because her claim is still ongoing. Maybe the insurance company needs more time, due to the type of very rare event or because of the amount of people claiming too. Maybe the insurance company is 100% at fault because they are a poor insurance company who loses information? Who knows?
She has only stated that she hasn't received a penny, she isn't blaming herself or the insurance company, clearly.
What you have said is pure speculation because there isn't any way that any reasonable person could just pluck a conclusion out of the air based on nine words that don't even place even slight blame anywhere. It definitely isn't based on any kind of fact whatsoever.
So lets not come to silly conclusions.”
by nicecityboy
Thursday, January 12 2012, 4:03PM
“realtestman - She either didn't have a comprehensive enough policy - her own fault!
or
She hasn't been following up on her claims and pestering the insurance companies to pay out. She's had nearly 5 months to get it sorted, so as I said - it's her own fault!”
by realtestman
Thursday, January 12 2012, 3:58PM
“nicecityboy, um why is it stupid of her to not have a penny in insurance money? I'd like to know how it's her fault her insurance company hasn't paid out?”
by The3rd
Thursday, January 12 2012, 2:28PM
“Certain areas within Croydon are beyond help and will only get worse. I fear that this "virus" will spread to south of the borough. I'm sure it is already happening with the residents of South Croydon moving out into Surrey whilst the underclass move in.
Such a shame.”
by JCroyCentre
Thursday, January 12 2012, 11:53AM
“I feel very sorry for her. I am hugely positive about Croydon; because it is a great place to be. But if this had happened to me, I'd probably do the same - too many bad memories to stay.
That being said, calling Croydon scary is a bit of a blanket statement. No one would disagree that the London Road isn't a bit sketchy. But its completely different to Sandilands, South Croydon, or, for that matter the vast majority of the town centre: I feel very safe in these places.”
by msbloggs
Thursday, January 12 2012, 10:51AM
“So sad. :( sorry to hear about the cats. I hope she can rebuild her life and not be forever burdened with the thought of what happened that day. Well, nicecityboy we all live and learn, well some do. ;)”