London Greek Radio

It’s been reported this week that 630 British Cypriots have died in relation to Coronavirus.

The weekly Parikiaki newspaper which has continued to print it’s circulation during the pandemic have been providing regular updates. The latest figures were published as of 11th February 2021, however it is not known whether the deceased have died directly from Coronavirus or whether they had tested positive for the virus, but died of other causes.

The newspaper has contacted hospitals, churches, funeral directors, Turkish Cypriot media and community, plus requests for their weekly death announcements, and confirmed 630 British Cypriots have died, with 9 deaths of UK Cypriots in the past week.

Reportedly, in London alone, at least 9 Cypriot families have lost loved ones to the disease, of which 5 were Greek-Cypriots and 4 Turkish-Cypriots.

This is the lowest recorded weekly figure recorded since almost two months by the London news outlet.

According to Parikiaki’s calculations the deceased are as follows:-

British Greek Cypriots – 311
British Turkish Cypriots – 270
British Maronite Cypriot – 1

[Which includes 12 cases of married couples, 2 cases of two brothers and 2 cases of fathers and sons and 1 of mother and daughter and 4 under 40 year olds.]

All of the above are from the London area with 12 additional Greek-Cypriot deaths and 1 Turkish-Cypriot in Birmingham, 1 in Cambridge, 1 in Cardiff, 2 in Cheltenham, 1 in Colchester, 2 in Coventry, 1 in Derby, 1 in Hemel Hempstead, 1 in Glasgow, 2 in Leeds, 1 in Leicester, 6 Greek-Cypriots and 1 Maronite-Cypriot in Liverpool, 1 in Lowestoft, 1 in Luton, 1 in Maidstone, 1 in Manchester, 1 in Mansfield, 1 in Margate, 1 in Middlesbrough, 1 in Newport, 1 in Northampton, 1 in Suffolk, 1 in Southend, 1 in Wakefield, 3 Greek-Cypriots (from the same family) in Weston-super-Mare.

The figure includes 582 in London and 48 outside London.

With 2,392,293 deaths worldwide, the above total of 630 British Cypriot deaths equates to 0.026% of deaths globally and 0.54% of deaths in the UK.

Cyprus currently has 32,288 cases of positive tests for Coronavirus with 219 deaths and so far, 2,057 have recovered from the disease, (just over 6%).

In Greece, of 170,244 cases, 6,077 people have died and 150,901 have recovered, (just over 88% so far).

Globally, from the 108,702,417 who have tested positive for the disease, 80,699,989 have recovered and 2,392,293 have died. [Just over 74% recovery rate so far and 2.2% spot-on who have died worldwide.]

The 108,702,2992, confirmed worldwide cases represents 1.38% of the world’s population who have been diagnosed with Coronavirus.

London Greek Radio (LGR) expresses our sincere condolences to the families and friends of all those who have sadly died during the pandemic and continuing to work with various organisations to help and support our communities at this challenging time.

John Kyriakides, Chairman of LGR said, “The LGR family are working hard to keep listeners informed, entertained and updated during this unprecedented time. I am saddened to hear of so many deaths in our communities.”

Tony Jay, Managing Director for LGR added, “LGR will continue to promote cross-partnership initiatives to help our listeners and communities. Our work to communicate the help that is available is more important than ever because we all have a role to play in fighting this virus.”

Information credited and attributed to Parikiaki newspaper and worldometers.info

Figures correct at time of publication 00:30 on Saturday 13th February 2121.

London-Cypriot Nick Parpa wins the Southern Area Cruiserweight title after beating defending champion Daniel Mendes, at a full-house including lots of Cypriot fans at York Hall in Bethnal Green last Saturday.

For Parpa, this was his first attempt at a title. He boasted a record of 8-1 with his only loss being against Czech Republic’s Vasili Ducar in his fifth fight, Parpa’s victory bolsters the young Cypriot’s career going on to fight at even higher level for more illustrious honours.

It was a tough fight for Nick and he went the distance in a 10 round fight versus the defending champion Daniel Mendes from Birmingham but came out with a comfortable and a comprehensive 99-91 points victory.

In a statement from the Goodwin Boxing Facebook page, it said, “It’s Parpa who takes it! Winning 99-91 on the scorecard. More aggressive and pressed the fight from start to finish. Really great fight, Mendes was a worthy Champion but it was Parpa’s night tonight!!”

“Nightmare” Nick Parpa was fighting his tenth professional fight.

Nick Parpa wins his first title…

The Palmers Green boxer on his Facebook Page said he was absolutely thrilled at winning. “WE DID IT!!!! #AND THE NEW SOUTHERN AREA CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION Nick The Nightmareeeeeee PARPAAAAA. I just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to my team, my loyal supporters, family and friends for believing in me and helping me fulfil my dreams, I could not have done it without you all.”

Parpa had thanked his opponent for a formidable game and the work that went behind it, with his coaching network.

“Thank you Daniel Servant Mendes for the opportunity, he put up a great fight and was a worthy champion. We gave the crowd one hell of a fight. Thank you to my manager Steve Goodwin for giving me this opportunity and guiding my career in the right direction, he truly is a great manager and a friend. Thank you to my coach Joshua Burnham for everything and for pushing me every day in the gym helping me maximise my potential. We did it!!! Thank you to Dave Tausz for pushing me every-day also in the gym. He’s a top strength and conditioning coach.”

His Greek-Cypriot dad was proud of his son’s achievement, Sav Parpa said, “I am a proud father my sons the Southern Area Cruiserweight champion!!! Yo Parpa we did it.”

Nick Parpa is expected to find out his next opponent when the summer finishes.

Photographs: Michael Yiakoumi

London-Cypriot born Alex Solomon signs two year scholarship with League Two team Leyton Orient FC has been playing for various academies since 5 years old.

The 16-year-old attends St Andrews the Apostle School in Barnet.

“A big well done and congratulations to one of our own, Year 11 student Alex Solomon who has signed a 2 year scholarship with Leyton Orient! Well done Alex!”, a spokesperson for St Andrews the Apostle School said.

Alex who plays as a Centre back is the son of Dino and Christalla Solomon who are London born and his paternal grandparents are from Ayios Athanassi, Limassol and his maternal grandparents from Famagusta.

Barnet FC’s London Cypriot Antonis Vasiliou has signed his first professional contract with the club.

The young Cypriot midfielder joined the club’s academy at a young age and has gone onto to make two appearances from the bench for the Bees first team, all of which came in April 2019.

The Bees academy graduate was delighted to agree his first professional deal.

He said: “I’m really happy, I am really glad to sign, it feels like it’s been a long time coming and I am looking forward to starting the new season.

“The club has given me a few opportunities to express myself and I feel like I have learned a lot over the past few years.”

“I have been working hard in the off-season and I can’t wait to meet up with the boys again. I’m raring to go.”

Darren Currie, who has seen Vasiliou progress through the Academy, was full of praise for the Barnet youngster.

He said: “Antonis is a wonderful player with a box of tricks; we think very highly of him.

“He’s clearly showed huge potential in the youth team last season and earned one or two opportunities to train with the first team and he lived up to expectation.

“He did very well when he was given the opportunity toward the back end of last season and we’re delighted to agree a deal with him today.

“He’s got a big future in the game.”

The 18-year-old will join up with Darren Currie and the rest of the first team squad for pre-season ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

Anna Vissi illustrates her new song ‘Προτιμώ Να Πεθαίνω’ with a countryside inspired story. Featuring an unpredictable trip to Crete, filled with suspense, Anna Vissi brings her new single to life.

The music video is actually based on the remixed version of her song, created by Themis Georgantas. The song, titled ‘Προτιμώ Να Πεθαίνω’ features on Anna Vissi’s latest album ‘Συνέντευξη’, meaning ‘Interview’, which perhaps implies the singer feels as if though she is making a personal confession in this latest album.

The album consists of 14 songs, each titled with a statement and together they create a heartfelt ‘Interview’.

The music and lyrics of the album, are once again, written by Vissi’s lifelong fellow traveller, Nikos Karvelas. Furthermore, Gerasimos Evaggelatos has contributed to the lyric-writing.

Right before the premiere of her live shows in Athens, Anna Vissi visited the island of Crete for an adventurous four-day trip, in order to film her brand new music video. During her stay in Crete, a countryside inspired story evolved, which is different from anything else we’ve seen from the singer.

The music video is directed by Manolis Leventelis, and the song was released under the Panik Records banner. The video, which is featured below is quirky, fun and something we haven’t seen before from Vissi.

On Saturday 29th October, we had the pleasure of welcoming Giorgos Papadopoulos to the LGR airwaves for an interview with radio presenter, Paris Tsoulfas.

Giorgos Papadopoulos is a singer of Greek Cypriot origin.  After three successful EPs he released his first album and has since gained huge popularity and following in Cyprus, Greece & the UK. Whilst we all know Papadopoulos as a talented singer, he is also a songwriter and has written songs for many popular Greek artists, including Helena Paparizou, Giorgos Mazonakis, Tamta, Kostas Martakis, Panos Kiamos, Kaiti Garbi, Melina Aslanidou and Notis Sfakianakis to name a few.

To listen to the interview, which includes chat about Papadopoulos latest song, “Oloi Mou Lene” and talk of recent collaborations with Natasa Theodoridou and Melina Aslanidou, listen below:

British Cypriots once again demonstrated in great numbers at the annual ”Rally for Cyprus” in central London on Saturday 16 July, calling upon Turkey to end the 42-year long occupation of the northern part of the island.

The demonstrators gathered outside Turkey’s embassy, where a delegation of the rally’s organisers, the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, led by its President Christos Karaolis delivered a resolution addressed to the Turkish Ambassador.

The resolution condemned the illegal Turkish invasion of 1974 and the ”unlawful and unjust military occupation and colonisation” of the northern part of Cyprus. ”Turkey must now change its intransigent stance on Cyprus and respond with positive actions to encourage progress in the direct negotiations taking place on the island towards a just and lasting settlement,” read the resolution text.

Speaking in front of the Turkish embassy, Mr Karaolis said: ”For 42 years Turkey occupies the northern part of Cyprus. We are here once again to send a message to the Turkish Ambassador and to Turkey, that enough is enough; now is the time for real deeds and not words to resolve to Cyprus issue.”

The Rally outside the embassy was followed by the annual march through central London, with the demonstrators holding Cypriot flags, banners and pickets and calling for a ”Free, United, Cyprus” and for ”Turkish troops to be removed from Cyprus”. GLA Member Andrew Dismore, Cypriot MEP Mr Takis Hadjigeorgiou and the Mayor of the occupied Town of Lapithos Mr. Neoptolemos Kotsapas also joined British Cypriots for the Rally.

Before this year’s Rally, 10,000 leaflets explaining the rights and demands of Cyprus were distributed at 15 central London locations with additional leaflets also distributed during the march.

Following the Rally, a delegation including Rt Hon Theresa Villiers, representatives of the Cypriot Women’s League, the leadership of the Federation, the Cyprus High Commissioner, H.E. Evripides Evriviades, and Greek Ambassador H.E. Konstantinos Bikas, laid a ‘Cyprus’ wreath at the Cenotaph.

Then the Federation President Mr Karaolis handed a letter addressed to the new Prime Minister of the UK Theresa May at the entrance of Downing Street. He was accompanied by the leadership of the Federation as well as the north London Conservative MP and long-standing friend of Cyprus Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers. Mr Karaolis said that the letter congratulated Theresa May on her appointment and urged her ”to make sure that the Cyprus issue would be kept high on the political agenda of the UK.” As the letter to Mrs May pointed out, “you have the power to make a lasting difference in relation to Cyprus and now is the time to exercise this proactively and constructively.”

Theresa Villiers said: ”I have been campaigning for the freedom of Cyprus for 17 years. It is a great tragedy that Cyprus remains divided and I believe that it is crucial to keep on working hard for a negotiated settlement. We have a new Prime Minister in Britain, a whole new Government and a new Foreign Secretary and I will do whatever I can to make sure that Cyprus is high on their agenda. It is important to support the Cypriots to reach a lasting, balanced and just settlement to reunify the island and bring all of its people together once again.”

The President of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots Andreas Papaevripides pledge on behalf of Cypriots abroad to keep fighting for Cyprus no matter how many years have passed – especially in the UK where the largest Cypriot overseas community lives. ”We will fight more than ever so that our positions are made known to the new UK Government,” he added.

Also at the rally were Federation officers and members of its Executive Bambos Charalambous (Federation Vice-President), Michael Kashis (Federation Vice-President), George Adonis (Federation Vice-President), Ninos Koumettou (Treasurer), Neophytos Nicolaou (General Secretary), Marios Minaides (President, Greek Orthodox Communities of the UK), Antonia Savvides (President, NEPOMAK), Michael Ellinas, Suzy Constantinides (Chair, Organising Committee), Menicos Kouvaros, Tony Vouros and veteran Executive Secretary Andreas Karaolis.

Start Of Summer Party 2016

TAKE NOTE! On Friday 8th July, LGR Club Nights are hosting another epic Greek style party!! 

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Come and join us for “The Start of Summer Party” a night full of Greek music.

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This will be a summer party like no other featuring our very own DJ’s Andreas Michaelides & Andreas Demetriou. They will be mixing non-stop Greek & English hits, all night long. Fusing all the best Modern Laika, Greek Club, Greek Classics, English club anthems, RnB & Garage.

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This event will be held at: Club Azure, 8-10 Sliver Street, Enfield, EN1 3ED. Doors open at 9pm and the fun won’t stop till 3am.

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If the dance floor gets too hot for you – you can take your drink to the roof garden where there will be Greek souvlakia for sale provided by Taste Of Cyprus Cheshunt.

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Grab your tickets below for only £10.

Please note: no ID no entry. No trainers allowed.

Powered by: Skiddle Promotion Centre

Alex Loizou

Entrepreneur Alex Loizou, age 28 is the first Cypriot to make it onto Forbes 30 under 30 list. Alex is originally from Nicosia and his hard work over the last three years in London has paid off. It has earned him a place in the ‘Technology’ category in the famous Forbes magazine.

After finding out about the news, Alex Loizou took to Facebook and Twitter, writing “Awesome to be selected in the Forbes 30 under 30 consumer tech list! Trouva ftw!”

Alex is the co-founder of StreetHub now called Trouva, which is a marketplace that brings independent shops together on the same platform giving them the right technology to fight back against larger chains in the industry. StreetHub got going in 2013 by helping independent fashion retailers find online buyers and drive them to physical stores.

Alex, who graduated from the University of Cologne and the London School of Economics, spoke to Sigma Live English about what this means to him and he explains what Trouva is and the philosophy behind it all.

The main aim is to help urban places in cities such as London to have a platform in selling their unique items. He found that individual shops in London have no real technology to sell their products globally and people can only buy their unique products from the shop itself as they are not well versed with technology and marketing.

‘Trouva.com’ enables these small individual companies to sell globally through this website. Alex says that technology is something these shops need in order to branch out and gain more customers. The Trouva website therefore helps independent boutiques stand out and sell their unique products to more people. “We make boutique shopping simple,” the Trouva website proclaims. “Shop 150 of the UK’s best independent boutiques. All in one place. All online.”

A joint application from the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots has been put forward to grant Halloumi the same protected status as champagne or Parma ham, meaning only cheese produced on Cyprus could be called halloumi or hellim.

The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has offered Greek and Turkish Cypriots his full backing in an attempt to save their brand name in the UK.

The British government are contemplating changing the famous brand of Halloumi/Helim in support of the British halloumi producers.
However, the president of European commissions has hailed the Island’s government by defending their cheese, he said: “The halloumi affair is proof that the island’s leaders are committed to reunifying Cyprus”.

Euripides Evriviades, Cyprus’s High Commissioner in London, vowed: “We will fight to the bitter end to secure our halloumi hellim, a truly Cyprus product.” Hellim is the Turkish Cypriot name for the national cheese.

A columnist from the Cyprus Weekly has made their feelings clear and fired this message: “We can tolerate drunken UK tourists in Ayia Napa and British troops on Cyprus soil, but we will not surrender our soft cheese colonial rule”.

In 2013 Greek Cypriots exported £58 million worth of Halloumi, with Britain accounting a third of that sum. This proves Halloumi is more than just cheese. It represents Cyprus and is accountable for a high amount of their profits.