The history man
Full of art
Beer we go
A Dulwich author’s must-read book
Ingrid Beazley’s inspiring legacy
The local pub that welcomes all
u Iss 39 e
Se t Oc pt/ 023 2
Girls united Empowering young people on the pitch
NEWS | 3
Welcome to issue 39 of The Dulwich Diverter Thank you for picking up the September/October edition of the Dulwich Diverter, your free local paper for Dulwich. Following the success of the Lionesses in the Women’s World Cup, which saw the England team reach the final of this year’s contest in Brisbane, we caught up with local initiative Girls United, which aims to empower girls and young women through football. We discovered more about the organisation – which runs football sessions for girls in Dulwich and the wider south London area – and featured some of its players on the front page of this issue. Read the story on page 10.
We also caught up with James MacManus, a journalist, novelist and longtime local resident to talk about his new book, which was partly inspired by his time as the Guardian’s foreign correspondent in Rhodesia during the 1970s and 80s. Read his fascinating story on page eight. We also popped over to Tulse Hill to chat with Clement Ogbonnaya, the charismatic local landlord who has transformed the former White Hart pub by the station into Queen of the South, a warm and welcoming boozer that is already proving a hit with the locals. Elsewhere, we took a look at the life of former Dulwich resident Ingrid Beazley,
who remains much missed since her untimely death in 2017. Ingrid left a longstanding artistic legacy in the area with the launch of the Dulwich Outdoor Gallery among other inspiring initiatives. Read more on page 19. As ever, the final pages are devoted to the regular Diversions section, with a Dulwich crossword, allotment column, book review and more. We’re now starting work on the next issue of the Diverter, which will be published in November. If you’re a local business or organisation who is interested in advertising, please get in touch via dulwichdiverter@gmail.com to find out how we can help promote your
business across Dulwich, south-east London and beyond, in print and online. We’re always on the lookout for good local stories too, so if there’s an interesting resident or business you would like to see featured on our pages – or an issue or story you think our readers should know about, such as the East Dulwich resident who’s preparing to swim the Channel this month – we would love to hear from you. Please contact our editorial team via the email address mentioned above. Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy the issue!
Mark McGinlay and Kate White
Loss of a legend Dulwich Hamlet are mourning the loss of the legendary Kimm Connett – centreforward extraordinaire and chairman of the Dulwich Hamlet Former Players’ Association – who passed away on 7 August aged 65. Kimm was born on 29 July 1958 and was a youth and reserve player for Charlton Athletic before joining the Hamlet as a 19-year-old. Dulwich was in Kimm’s blood – his father Pat was a stalwart player for the club in the 1940s and 50s and later served on the DHFC football committee for many years, including as vice-chairman, while mother Doreen was also a familiar face around Champion Hill, running fundraising raffles and jumble sales. Despite his own accomplishments, Pat always said that the proudest moment of his footballing life was when he saw Kimm make his debut in the Hamlet’s famous pink-and-blue strip. In all, Kimm made 202 appearances for Dulwich in two spells at the club, scoring 64 goals. He also played for Tooting and Mitcham United and Walthamstow Avenue, as well as abroad with the renowned touring team Middlesex Wanderers. Off the field, Kimm was a successful businessman, co-founding Hug-A-Bug World, an organisation that promotes the wellbeing and emotional development of children. Kimm’s first manager at the Hamlet was future Crystal Palace boss Alan Smith, who led Dulwich to Isthmian League glory in 1978, and spoke at length about his fond memories of his former charge. “I can’t emphasise enough what a good guy Kimm was,” Alan told the Dulwich Diverter. “He was a lovely, giving man. You
Illustration by Jessica Kendrew
can talk about Kimm as a player, and his contribution on the field, but above that I think Kimm, his dad and mum did more for Dulwich Hamlet, or as much for the club, as anyone has ever done.” Alan joined Dulwich from a coaching position at Wimbledon, who had just been promoted to the football league, and made Kimm, who had been released by
Charlton and subsequently joined Dulwich Hamlet, the focal point of the attack for the championship winning side of 1978. “He was a delight to work with,” Alan recalled. “He had a lovely, cheeky smile and was loved by all his team-mates. Bless him, when his poor mum and dad were in the crowd they had to listen to the stick I gave him during games.”
Alan further elaborated on Kimm’s role in the title-winning Dulwich side. “That season we had Ossie Bayram on the wing, he was our star man and supplied all the crosses and chances for Kimm, who really understood the division and what nonleague football was about. “Without Kimm we wouldn’t have won the league. He was fundamental. He also really helped me, coming in, as I didn’t know much about the Isthmian League. “As a footballer, I think Kimm was underrated. He was very good in the air. He hung in the air and was probably better in the air than on his feet. He’d say to Ossie and the others: ‘You get the ball to me in the box, and I’ll put it away.’” Despite Kimm’s on-the-field accomplishments, Alan believes that his greatest contribution to Dulwich Hamlet came later. “What he did after his playing career was arguably even more exceptional. Dulwich was always in his heart – the club and what it was about was ingrained in him by his father.” In his role at the DHFC Former Players’ Association he ran “all sorts of events and golf days for former players”, said Alan. “He was always the focal point of getting things done and looking after people. “If the boot had been on the other foot and I’d passed away, Kimm would have been first on the phone to my family and the first to look after them. He was a very caring man.” A minute’s applause was held for Kimm before Dulwich’s home game against Canvey Island on 15 August, where Alan was in attendance. His funeral was held on 30 August in Sevenoaks, Kent.
The Dulwich Diverter
Editors Mark McGinlay, Kate White | Designer Mingo Mingo Studio | Cover designer Jake Tilson Photographer Lima Charlie | Features editor Luke G Williams | Subeditor Jack Aston | Illustrator Peter Rhodes Contributors Lawrence Diamond, Emma Finamore, Jessica Gulliver, Julia Hawkins Marketing and social media Mark McGinlay For editorial and advertising enquiries, please email dulwichdiverter@gmail.com dulwichdiverter.tumblr.com | @dulwichdiverter | @dulwichdiverter | @dulwichdiverter
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THE DULWICH DIVERTER
4 | NEWS
Go Jonny, go An East Dulwich resident will take on the biggest challenge of his life later this month when he swims the Channel. The 32km (21 mile) route will see Jonny Ratcliffe tackle deceptively powerful tides, cross the world’s busiest shipping lane and dodge an unwelcome number of jellyfish. Often dubbed “the Everest of swimming”, it is among the most challenging open water swims in the world. The crossing can last anywhere between 10 and 17 hours and the rules are strict. Swimmers must not wear wetsuits or have any physical contact with another person or accompanying boat throughout the swim. While at school Jonny was a keen swimmer, competing at county level for Cheshire. He later got back into swimming as part of a recovery from a slipped disc in 2021. The recovery training soon became training for the Channel swim and for the last couple of years he has been training with Red Top Swim to get ready. As part of the training Jonny has competed in a number of competitions and challenges so far this year, including a three-person relay of the Channel and a 15km (9 mile) race across Torbay, south Devon, in July. Jonny is raising money for Stonewall, a charity that campaigns for the rights of LGBTQ+ people everywhere.
Speaking of the immense challenge that lies ahead, Jonny said: “I’m hugely excited and nervous to be taking on the English Channel.
“It’s going to be a significant mental and physical test but I’m determined to do it and raise as much money for Stonewall as possible in the process. I’ve been training
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hard for the past couple of years and I’m grateful for the support of my partner, friends, family and Red Top. I’m looking forward to getting out there.”
NEWS | 5
Female figures A new body of work by the renowned local artist Sara Shamma will respond to specific paintings from Dulwich Picture Gallery’s historic collection. Bold Spirits sees Sara focus on the female figures in the collection, channelling the spirits of these women while connecting them to personal episodes from her own life, to retell their stories for contemporary viewers. Each of Sara’s paintings presents a powerful and thought-provoking
interpretation of works by artists including Rembrandt, Lely, Van Dyck and Rubens. She explores themes of identity, death, motherhood and unexpected beauty in works that demonstrate her technical expertise as an artist, as well as her longstanding appreciation of the old masters. Sara is interested in the creative possibilities of paint and her works often contrast hyperrealistic detail with thick bands of richly textured colour. Her practice explores themes of humanity and emotional connection and images of her children, her family and self-portraits, painted in a life-like, visceral way, often feature in her work. Sara grew up in Syria and was introduced to the old masters through a print reproduction of a Rembrandt in her parents’ home. At the age of 14, she joined the Adham Ismail Fine Arts Institute before going on to study at Damascus University. At both institutions, she developed her technique by copying the old masters, creating works that she subsequently sold.
Despite being exceptionally well-versed in the old masters, this is the first time she has directly responded to a collection of historic European paintings. Bold Spirits, which is on until 25 February, is part of Unlocking Paintings,
a series of displays that presents new perspectives on the gallery’s extensive collection, inviting contemporary artists and thinkers to reinterpret historic themes. The display is curated by the gallery’s Helen Hillyard.
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DULWICH’S BEST KEP T SECRE T? A culinary transformation is quietly unfolding on North Cross Road. Following a brand revamp and a fresh food concept, the team at Kix Bar + Kitchen have subtly introduced the SE22 residents to a captivating new dining experience. Drawing inspiration from street-food corners across the globe, Kix seamlessly merges the laid-back ambience of roadside stalls with the sophistication of gourmet dining, coupled with fun cocktail pairings. Think Tex-Mex Tacos accompanied with spicy Margaritas, or Caribbean Jerk chicken washed down with beach-bar twisted Daiquiris - just a teasing glimpse of the inspired fusion of flavours on offer.
Sundays at Kix pay homage to timeless traditions, with a menu sprinkling modern twists on beloved roast favourites. Guided by the expert palate of Consulting Chef Paul Holmes (formerly Head Chef at Moxons Next Door), the dishes strike a harmonious balance between inventive charm and familiar comfort. So what exactly is Kix? Is it a restaurant? A bar? No, it’s a captivating fusion of both! Exuding warmth and charm, Kix promises an experience that blends the cosy elegance of fine dining with the spirited buzz of an urban contemporary bar. A sanctuary of culinary ingenuity and local community spirit, waiting to be explored.
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Kix Bar + Kitchen, 57 North Cross Road, SE22 9ET www.kixbarkitchen.co.uk @kixbarkitchen
NEWS | 7
A book to treasure Local resident Coralie Bickford-Smith, the award-winning designer and creator of The Fox and the Star, has just brought out her latest book. The Squirrel and the Lost Treasure is an enchanting fable about growth, new life and finding hope in unexpected places. One autumn evening, a young squirrel spots an acorn glinting on the forest floor. Eager to protect her treasure from watchful eyes and hungry mouths, she buries it deep in the heart of the forest. But when she returns after the icy winter, her acorn is nowhere to be found. Where could it be? As with all of Coralie’s books, The Squirrel and the Lost Treasure has a truly profound message with a connection to the natural world. As Squirrel discovers, sometimes the most important and impactful actions we make in our lifetimes are the ones we
will never reap the benefits of ourselves. They’re the actions that make the world a better place for future generations. Often, these are environmental actions we can make to protect the future of the planet – in Squirrel’s case, planting trees. Coralie is one of the most renowned designers in the book world, especially recognised and celebrated for her illustrated covers of Penguin’s clothbound classics. Her first book, The Fox and the Star, which was published in 2015, was selected as Waterstones’ Book of the Year and is included in Time Out’s 100 Best Children’s Books. She then went on to create The Song of the Tree and The Worm and the Bird. Her design work has been featured in numerous publications, both national and international, including the New York Times, the Guardian and Vogue.
A positive approach to dyslexia The Dyslexia Fair at Bell House on 30 September will bring together families, teachers and the wider dyslexia community to learn more about dyslexia, talk to experts, discover useful resources and share experiences and advice. With a focus on positive approaches to dyslexia, it is completely free to attend. An interesting and diverse programme of talks will feature panel discussions on supporting students in primary and secondary school, workshops exploring how the use of technology can support learning at home and at school and one-toone advice clinics with local dyslexia experts who will be on hand to answer questions. Elizabeth Takyi from Aspire2Inspire will explore being an adult with dyslexia; blogger John Hicks will talk about the part assistive technology can play in learning and Carol Allen will look at ways to encourage reluctant readers.
Creative workshops for children and adults will take place across the day, inside and outside in the garden. They will include letterpress printing workshops run by Simon Trewin from the Garage Press, which is based at Bell House. There will also be pilates sessions designed specially for children with dyslexia called Matching and Mirroring, as well as qi gong for the young and not so young any more to help build positivity and resilience. The Write Sparks team will be back with their fun and active outdoor workshop for children aged nine-plus to help inspire the imagination. An exhibition of local and national dyslexia resources and products will be on display in the house and refreshments will be available at the cafe. Find out more about the Dyslexia Fair via bellhouse.co.uk/dyslexia-fair-2023
A-level highs for local school Students, staff and parents from Sydenham High School celebrated their success on A-level results day last month. Two Sydenham students will be heading off to Cambridge to study history of art, former head of school, Liza, is going to the Royal Veterinary College to study veterinary medicine and her fellow head of school, Kyah, is going to study medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Other destinations of choice include UCL, Birmingham, Leeds, Loughborough, Edinburgh and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Antonia Geldeard, the head teacher of Sydenham High, said: “It has been a privilege to celebrate these A-level results with our wonderful students.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
“I’m incredibly proud of all that they have achieved, their ambition, curiosity and hard work. Our school ethos focuses on harnessing the individual strengths of our girls, empowering them to forge their own path in life. “This is illustrated by the fantastic range of university courses, art colleges, conservatoires and apprenticeships chosen by our students.” Rebecca Parrish, head of sixth form, said: “The dedication that the students have shown over the past two years has been unwavering, and this has paid off with excellent results. “They have risen to the demands of A-level, overcome challenges and have shown a level of determination and
resilience that will serve them well for the future. We are so proud of them and I wish them the best of luck for the future.”
THE DULWICH DIVERTER
8 | BOOKS
The magnificent Mr MacManus JAMES MACMANUS’S NEW NOVEL IS BASED ON HIS TIME AS A GUARDIAN CORRESPONDENT IN AFRICA IN THE 1970S AND 80S. HE TELLS US MORE BY LAWRENCE DIAMOND
I have written a variety of articles for the newspaper that you currently hold in your hands. I’ve interviewed chefs, musicians, actors, pub landlords and even an OBE or two. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly trepidatious regarding my subject today. As although I’d like to think that I’ve honed my interview craft over the years, it’s not every day one gets to sit down with a heavyweight from the golden age of print journalism. And it’s fair to say that is a description that fits James MacManus – who started his career at the Daily Express in 1966 before serving as the Guardian’s foreign correspondent from 1972 to 1984, followed by stints with the diplomatic team at the Daily Telegraph and as the MD of the Times Literary Supplement – to a tee. His is a remarkable career and one that could, and perhaps one day will, fill a book of its own. However, it’s not in his capacity as a journalist that I sit down to talk to James today. Rather it’s as a successful author of historical fiction, and one preparing for the launch of his seventh novel, Love in a Lost Land – a story of conflict and romance set against the backdrop of an African country in the middle of its fight for independence. Its sharp prose and detailed characters immediately transport the reader from their comfy reading chair to the dry heat of southern Africa in the 1970s and what James calls “the forgotten war” – the fight for Zimbabwean independence. It’s a backdrop that is well known to James, as he was based in what was then Rhodesia during his time with the Guardian. And, as if to prove my fears that he may be used to a slightly more heavyweight interviewing situation than the one he finds himself in this afternoon, he begins our chat by telling me about the time he spoke to a recently freed Robert Mugabe almost immediately after arriving in the country to begin his posting. “It was December 1974, in a little house in one of the townships. I got into the place, it was his sister’s house, and he was rubbing Vaseline into his legs and hardly looking at me as I asked him questions. But because I was with the Guardian he was prepared to talk,” James tells me of the man who would become Zimbabwe’s first prime minister after its independence in 1980. “In that moment I got a glimpse of a man who was both cold and very calculating – I could find no emotion in him whatsoever. I was to get to know him much better during the years of his exile until he finally deemed me to be an enemy of the country after independence. But that’s another story.”
THE DULWICH DIVERTER
Indeed it is not the tale of future presidents or the generals of the warring factions that drives the plot of James’s new work, but rather the more intimate story of a love affair between Patience, an idealistic young African teacher, and a fish out of water foreign correspondent called Richard Brady. Considering James refers to his time in the country that became Zimbabwe as “the most formative and memorable years of my life”, I ask him why it’s only now, seven novels in, that he’s decided to turn his pen to this story. “It’s a good question,” he says. “I realised I’d always wanted to set a story in Rhodesia at that time and see it through to becoming Zimbabwe. And I wanted to give a voice to a young black African teacher, because the people in the novel are mostly people I actually knew at the time. Their stories had always been there fermenting in the back of my mind. “There is also a thread that goes back to a girlfriend I had at the time who I left rather abruptly. As I wrote the novel I kept remembering her and her little flat we stayed in in Paris, and that story is bubbling throughout the novel. So writing the novel was sort of a redemption for the fact I treated her rather badly. “All of these things came together and I thought, ‘Well, you know, I’m going to write this now’, and that’s what I did.” It’s not a part of history that a lot of stories have been written about, fictional or otherwise, and the gripping narrative and characterdriven plot make it a welcome addition. It’s a page-turning read that satisfies the head and heart. Indeed, letting his protagonists drive the story is a method that James has applied to all of his work, even if it
means that sometimes the novel takes a different direction to the one he was initially expecting. “Narrative must be driven by the characters, not the author. You create the characters and then you have to let them go. And although I had the skeleton of the novel before I started, like most writers do, once I started writing I was constantly asking, ‘Would Patience do this’ or thinking, ‘No, she wouldn’t do that’. At the end of the novel I even had a tussle with my agent about how to resolve the story. In the end I said, ‘Look, let’s go back to the characters and see what they would do’. And actually we ended up doing it the agent’s way.” Or Patience’s way, if you prefer. As well as providing compelling plots, James’s writing is also renowned for its level of detail and historical accuracy. But rather than researching 19th century Paris or London during the Blitz, this time his work led him back to a period he had lived through in real time. Was it strange revisiting his memories, and finding out that perhaps things hadn’t quite happened in the way he remembered? It’s a question that raises a chuckle. “Yes, you’re quite right. Memory is a very fallible instrument and I’m not a young man any more. But I was adamant I’d get the small details right. For example, being sure about the guns that the nationalist forces were using, which were AK47s, versus the Rhodesian forces who were using the FN rifle, the standard Nato weapon. It’s quite important when you’re describing an ambush to get these details right – most people reading it won’t notice, but some of the people reading will have been there at the time, and I really don’t want a cascade of letters saying: ‘By the way, it wasn’t an AK47, it was something else.’”
IT WAS 1974 IN A HOUSE IN ONE OF THE TOWNSHIPS. I GOT INTO THE PLACE AND MUGABE WAS RUBBING VASELINE INTO HIS LEGS AND HARDLY LOOKING AT ME AS I ASKED HIM QUESTIONS
ABOVE: JAMES MACMANUS AT FRANKLINS Photo by Julia Hawkins
Pulling the magnifying glass back a little, I wonder what triggered James to shift from writing “the first draft of history” as a news reporter to the slower, more creative work of the novelist. Unlike the myriad threads of the Zimbabwean war of independence he has just grappled with, this is a slightly more simple story for James to tell. “I was in Beijing for the Daily Telegraph in I think 1982, and I heard the story of an Englishman called George Hogg who became a hero to the Chinese during the Japanese conquest of the country in the 1930s. He had taken a school-load of orphans to safety in the mountains and the Chinese honoured him by erecting a statue of him, something they never do for an ‘ocean devil’. “So I wrote the story, six paragraphs, and the Telegraph published it. Next thing I know I get a call from Barry Spikings in Hollywood [producer of such films as The Deer Hunter], who flew over to tell me it would make a great film.” James then wrote his first book, Ocean Devil: The Life and Legend of George Hogg, which was made into a film starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers. “Once you start as a writer, you never stop. And I thought, ‘Well, I like this’, so I kept on going, but after that I focused on fiction.” After our time discussing sunsoaked 1970s Africa and the rainy mountains of China during the Second World War, our talk turns to Dulwich – and as a longstanding local resident it’s safe to say that James is more than happy to discuss the area he has lived in for about 25 years. For someone who has seen so many contrasting and fascinating places throughout the world, what was it that attracted him to this particular corner of south-east London? “It’s a fabulous place which I love for lots of different reasons,” he says. “Partly the history of it, which goes back to the Shakespearean period, partly the greenery, the quality of air, the people, the tremendous parks, the library, the gallery – it’s just good fun.” Fittingly James’s two worlds will collide when he hosts the launch of his new novel at Franklins on Lordship Lane. “I know Rod Franklin very well and he’s a fabulous restaurateur. I used to go and have lunch at Franklins with Peter Preston, who had been my editor at the Guardian when I was in Africa all those years ago. He’s sadly passed now, but it was always so good to catch up with him there.” Based on the chat I’ve had with James today, from Zimbabwean townships with Robert Mugabe to rooftop flats in Paris with first loves and on to the bustling streets of Beijing, I’d imagine those conversations would have been worth a novel or two in themselves.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
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10 | SPORT
Girls with a goal in mind GIRLS UNITED ALLOWS GIRLS TO PLAY FOOTBALL IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHILE BOOSTING THEIR CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS TOO BY LUKE G WILLIAMS
With intensive and extensive female football programmes in Mexico and London, including several sessions every week in the local area, Girls United is a non-profit organisation with an ambitious outlook that manages to balance its grassroots philosophy with a global perspective. In its own words, it seeks to “empower girls through football”, aiming to go “beyond the tactical and technical to develop confident players and leaders”. Even more impressive than the promotional hyperbole, however, is the on-the-ground reality in the form of the positive results the organisation’s programmes have already had and the myriad benefits they are bringing to local girls and the wider south London community, with more than 30 sessions delivered each week to girls in Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham. In the organisation’s five-year history, older Girls United players have already gone on to become referees and coaches while others are now playing in adult teams such as Dulwich Hamlet.
Girls United (or Chicas Unidas as it is known in Mexico) was founded by Romina Calatayud, a Mexican graduate of King’s College London. Partly guided by the university’s graduate entrepreneurship programme, Romina wrote her business plan for the organisation while waitressing and coaching, fuelled by a desire to empower girls who loved football, but didn’t have an outlet through which to express their passion for the game. Girls United’s first sessions took place in Quintana Roo, an area in the east of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula in 2017. A year later, and 5,000 miles away in Peckham Rye Park, Girls United’s London branch commenced operations. More than five years on, Girls United is going from strength to strength with three regular bases in Dulwich at Charter school, Alleyn’s and JAGS Sports Club, as well as five other south London locations including the aforementioned Peckham Rye Park and Burgess Park. Through these bases, Girls United runs a variety of regular sessions and programmes to cater for all
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SPORT | 11
abilities and confidence levels. The Club sessions are aimed at girls aged eight to 16 who want to play and compete as part of a regular team. For these players, there are two training sessions a week and a full programme of league fixtures on a Sunday. Then there’s the Play Like a Girl programme, designed for players aged five to 18 of all abilities who want a safe space to play football and socialise. Finally, there’s the Love the Game programme, sponsored by Nike, which delivers sessions and workshops in schools across south London. As well as nurturing young female footballers, Girls United also offers opportunities and pathways for young coaches to hone their skills and develop their careers via a programme headed by London coach development lead Ryan Dempsey (well known to readers of the Dulwich Diverter as head coach of Dulwich Hamlet Women’s FC). Robert Wright is another of Girls United’s dedicated and talented coaches. The programme lead for London, Robert – like everyone involved with the organisation – exudes positive energy and enthusiasm. His route to his current role with Girls United was circuitous, and speaks to how a passion for
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
football as a force for good seems to motivate everyone within the Girls United family. “I had a career in the City for about 10 years but realised gradually that by working in sales and business development I wasn’t following my passion, which was football coaching,” Robert says. “Working in the City was slowly killing me – I felt like a line on a spreadsheet. “So I studied for my coaching badges, got some grassroots football jobs and also started coaching at the Chelsea foundation, which led to a more full-time role at Chelsea. When that contract came to an end I kept my sessional coaching role at Chelsea but I also wanted a programme-based role for my day-to-day work. “I saw the vacancy at Girls United and was really interested in working for Romina and [London manager] Abigail Ingram, having seen the work they were doing in women’s football.” Robert has been with Girls United for about a year-and-a-half now and, as well as organising special events and the summer camp programme, he has also assumed responsibility for the competitive Club programme ahead of next season. “I’ve got a wide involvement at several different levels,” he says.
“We’ve seen some really decent growth in terms of participation. It’s always good to see new players come in. We have a core of players who are very engaged across all of our programmes but we also want new players to come in so we can continue to grow. “Things are going really well. My colleague Connor [Hearty] runs the Love the Game programme in schools and we are seeing lots of examples of girls attending these sessions at school and our sessions outside of school too. The sites we use in Dulwich are really good sites with an excellent catchment area and very good facilities. “We want to embed and nurture girls’ relationship with football. It’s good for girls to play with boys up to a certain age, but then physically speaking, when boys get a bit stronger and rougher, it can be off-putting for some girls. “The Girls United environment where it is exclusively girls I think allows for greater freedom of expression and prevents the sort of drop-off in participation you often see in girls playing football at secondary schools.” All Girls United sessions are reasonably priced and the organisation also offers a community
WORKING IN THE CITY WAS SLOWLY KILLING ME – I FELT LIKE A LINE ON A SPREADSHEET. SO I GOT SOME GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL JOBS AND STARTED COACHING
pricing scheme enabling some participants to pay what they can afford rather than full price. To that end, a World Cup project launched by Girls United this summer saw members walk, swim, run and cycle 10,262 miles in 31 days – the distance from Peckham Rye Park to Brisbane, where the Women’s World Cup took place. Those taking part exceeded their £10,262 fundraising target thanks to more than 100 donations. It is also hoped that the high profile of the World Cup will help drive new members to Girls United for the upcoming season. “We’re hoping for a boost from the World Cup,” Robert says. “There was one during the European Championship last year when we were able to offer some great opportunities for Girls United players and members to be mascots for the Lionesses. “The interest created by tournaments is great but it’s more important what happens after that. You don’t want to see an increase in participation which then tails off again. It’s got to be sustained.” To find out more about Girls United sessions, email london@girlsunitedfa. org or visit girlsunitedfa.org/london-play
THE DULWICH DIVERTER
12 | PUBS
Fit for a queen A DERELICT PUB HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO QUEEN OF THE SOUTH – A BRILLIANT LOCAL BOOZER THAT WELCOMES ALL. WE FIND OUT MORE BY EMMA FINAMORE
Standing at the intersection of Tulse Hill railway station and the south circular, it is impossible to ignore the imposing old pub on the junction, its bold magenta pillars adorned with golden crowns and the central column above its grand corner entrance emblazoned with the words “Tulse Hill’s Very Own”. Inside behind the bar a huge, striking afro-futuristic mural of a woman in pinks, purples and greens melds with the traditional, newly smartened-up pub fittings. This is south London’s latest, most anticipated pub – Queen of the South, royal sibling to Peckham’s legendary, award-winning boozer, Prince of Peckham, established in 2017. And if this mini empire has a king then it is Clement Ogbonnaya, founder and landlord of both premises, who over the years has built a name for himself as a champion of pubs and their potential to bring communities together – as well as making TV appearances, giving TED talks and being shortlisted for industry awards. When I visit his latest project on a damp Saturday afternoon, the football is being intently watched by families, solitary older gents and couples. Lunches of fragrant jerk chicken are being served along with pints of beer and glasses of wine. Tables are covered in reserved signs for the evening, and I browse flyers demonstrating the range of events and specials on offer, from an Afrobeat quartet performance to celebrate Nigerian Independence Day on 1 October, to “birthday bubbles” – a free bottle of fizz for visitors booking a table on a Friday for their birthday – and the cool but cosy Boom Room space available for private hire upstairs. A real Tardis of a pub, a quick snoop around Queen of the South also reveals a chalet-style karaoke booth, large gallery events room and underground rave cave for the pub’s extensive music offer. A rooftop terrace is in the works too and is just awaiting planning permission. As of October, the Flygerians will be taking over the kitchen – an independent, family-run Nigerian street food enterprise – serving up classics such as jollof rice alongside “fly wings” and fiery beef suya. Having earned high praise from the likes of restaurant critic (and fellow south Londoner) Jimi Famurewa, they will no doubt take the tastebuds of Tulse Hill by storm. Perhaps unsurprisingly, all this has taken a whole lot of work. “So much more work than we planned for,” says Clement, sitting in his office overlooking the junction where Norwood Road meets the south circular. A portrait of himself standing outside Prince of Peckham is in pride
THE DULWICH DIVERTER
I’VE FOUND MY ‘WHY’ – CREATING SPACE IN THESE POCKETS OF SOUTH LONDON. WE NEED TO USE THESE SPACES FOR THE COMMUNITY
of place in the corner, serving as a visual reminder of the thread that runs between the two venues. He explains that the former White Hart pub building was in such a state of disrepair when he first began the process of obtaining the lease and the licence about four years ago, that the roof needed to be replaced, along with every single one of the floors. The pub’s foundations also had to be built – it turned out the original ones were barely there, a terrifying thought – and it has had to be connected to mains electricity. After a few false starts, Queen of the South finally threw open her colourful doors on 25 May – and she was worth the wait. “The relief was incredible and the turnout was phenomenal,” Clement says. “But I don’t want anyone to think business is easy – if it was just about the money I would have tapped out [of this project] a while ago.” That is because this is a pub with a purpose. Having lived around the corner on Palace Road for years, Clement says he observed how people from Tulse Hill and the surrounding areas – Streatham, West Norwood, Dulwich – went to Brixton or into town for nights out, and wanted to offer them another, more local option. “I don’t even recognise Brixton any more,” he muses. “It’s so oversaturated [with bars, cafes and
restaurants]. I’m never against progress, but progress needs to be done responsibly. So we want to offer an alternative – but that takes work.” And he really does mean work. As well as the nuts and bolts of building and running a new pub, Clement puts thought and care into nurturing its personality and place in the community. When we meet he has just arrived back from a rare holiday – upon touching down in the UK he got off the plane and went straight to the pub for an event, a live interview titled “Look how far we’ve come” hosted by old friend Julie Adenuga, an award-winning journalist and presenter and sister of grime legends Skepta and Jme. Back in 2016, he recalls telling her that he was leaving his former job to open Prince of Peckham and how supportive she was of the prospect of a Black-owned pub. The event aimed to give the audience an insight into the vision behind the pub, what it stands for and its ambitions. It was also somewhat of a reset for Clement, who had initially intended to keep a low profile regarding Queen of the South but has since realised the power of having a face and a story attached to it, and how much that resonates with communities. “It was about introducing myself,” he explains, “and putting myself to the fore again, like with Prince.”
ABOVE: CLEMENT OGBONNAYA BELOW: THE FLYGERIANS
Clement says he’s recently had an epiphany about what keeps him going with this work, and why he wants to be at the centre rather than sit at the sidelines simply managing a successful hospitality business. “I’m obsessed,” he laughs, describing how even on holiday he could not switch off from the pub. “I’ve found my ‘why’ – creating space in these pockets of south London, reinventing them for the ‘other’.” For him, this means people of all ethnicities, ages, gender identities and sexual orientations being welcome and feeling comfortable in his establishments. It is a similar ethos to that of Prince of Peckham – a place that has actively aimed to welcome everyone since its founding, winning the hearts of pubgoers all over the city. But far from London-wide popularity, it is the locals who are top of the priorities list. “That’s why ‘Tulse Hill’s Very Own’ is bigger than our own name on the pub outside,” Clement explains. “It’s about lifting up areas and putting them ahead [of the business]. We need to use these spaces [pubs] for the community.” He talks a lot about his two young daughters too – the youngest born in the time it has taken to get the Queen off the ground – and how he wants them to see the world as their oyster, having their dad at the helm of proudly Black-owned businesses. Clement reveals that he has been approached to write a book on the subject – something he says he has never imagined for himself before but is tentatively excited about, talking animatedly about its potential as a platform for celebrating the great British pub and its place in modern communities and culture. And more south London venues are also apparently on the horizon too – the missing foundations and caved-in roof of his recent project clearly were not enough to deter him from his space-making mission. “I can’t tap out now – I’m fully committed,” Clement smiles, looking around the Queen in all her glory. And you get the feeling that even if he could, he wouldn’t.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
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14 | DULWICH IN PICTURES
That’s how we roll PHOTOS BY JULIA HAWKINS
Nestled in the middle of Peckham Rye Park, Peckham bowls club was closed for eight long years and fell into disrepair after membership numbers dwindled. But the club has been given a new lease of life thanks to enterprising duo Seb Morley and Sam Moulton, who took it over in March. After transforming the former clubhouse into a bar, they reopened the lawns for bowling over the summer – and they say that it’s proving hugely popular with a wide range of age groups, including younger people. Our photographer went along to capture some of the sporting action...
THE DULWICH DIVERTER
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
DULWICH IN PICTURES | 15
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
THE DULWICH DIVERTER
16 | DULWICH IN PICTURES
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
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DULWICH PEOPLE | 19
One of a kind WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE LIFE OF THE MUCH-LOVED FORMER DULWICH RESIDENT INGRID BEAZLEY – AND HER LONG-LASTING LOCAL LEGACY BY LUKE G WILLIAMS
As an educator, art curator and writer, Ingrid Beazley was influential and innovative. As a human being, friend, family member and mentor she was – by unanimous consent – truly special. Ingrid, who tragically died of cancer in 2017, was born on 16 January 1950 in Guildford, Surrey, the daughter of doctor Ian Marrable and his wife Kari. Much of her childhood was spent in Tanzania (then the colonial territory of Tanganyika), where her father was a medical officer and she attended Lushoto prep school. Her family returned to the UK when Ingrid was 12, and she later studied for a BA in art history and psychology at the University of St Andrews and the University of London before attending teacher training college in Gloucestershire. In 1980 she married Tom Beazley, who would be her constant companion for the rest of her life and with whom she had two daughters, Kim and Beatrice. Ingrid taught in Singapore and in various schools across London but it was in Dulwich Picture Gallery’s education department, which she joined in 1996, where she had her biggest and most profound impact. Indeed, she was such an integral part of the gallery and Dulwich itself that it felt to many that Ingrid was a component of the topography of the area – she was part of Dulwich and Dulwich part of her. As she would later say in an interview with the Inspiring City website: “I’m not in love with any place other than Dulwich.” Ingrid’s roles and achievements within Dulwich Picture Gallery and the wider Dulwich community were many, varied and considerable, winning nine national and international awards, as well as earning her recognition as a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2010.
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Common to much of Ingrid’s work was a slant towards social and cultural improvement, by bringing art to people and contexts that might otherwise not experience it. As well as a lecturer and teacher to “anyone from [age] five to 100”, Ingrid ran outreach work for Dulwich Picture Gallery in a prison and remand home and was a key contributor to the Magic Lantern project, which brought art into local schools. Forward thinking and always ahead of the curve, Ingrid advocated for a greater focus on e-learning as a tool for spreading an appreciation of art, serving as the gallery’s e-learning project developer. Among her many innovations in this role she created and ran DiGit, an interactive art interpretation tool for palmtop computers. From 2005 until 2008, Ingrid served as the chair of the Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery, again proving to be an innovator and ideas
generator, advocating for late-night gallery opening, film screenings and co-founding Dulwich OnView, a gallery and community blog that won the prestigious best small museum website award at the Museums and the Web conference in Denver, Colorado in 2010. Dulwich OnView is still going strong today. However, it was arguably her work promoting and advocating for street art for which Ingrid is most fondly remembered by the public at large. In 2012 she began to collaborate with the street artist Stik, a project that developed the following year into Dulwich Outdoor Gallery. It saw leading modern street artists paint outdoor murals in and around Dulwich that were inspired by conventional works of art by the old masters in Dulwich Picture Gallery. “The only reason I’ve done this [project in this] area is that I live in this area, I love this area and I know Dulwich Picture Gallery intimately,”
I’M NOT IN LOVE WITH ANY PLACE OTHER THAN DULWICH
ABOVE AND BELOW: DULWICH OUTDOOR GALLERY
Ingrid said. “This was done as a labour of love.” In 2014, Ingrid’s book Street Art, Fine Art documented the project and made an important contribution to legitimising and drawing attention to the street art phenomenon within more traditional art circles. Ingrid delighted in leading walking tours of Dulwich Outdoor Gallery, and after her untimely and cruel death from lung cancer in 2017 – having never smoked a cigarette in her life – Amanda Greatorex took up the baton of continuing her work with Dulwich Outdoor Gallery. Indeed, a common theme that emerges from talking to or corresponding with people who know Ingrid was the support she gave to others in the art world, whether they were people she worked with and alongside or aspiring artists. Martin Aveling, an acclaimed artist who uses his work to draw attention to wildlife conservation
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20 | DULWICH PEOPLE
issues, told the Dulwich Diverter: “Ingrid was a really important person in my professional and personal life. She was one of the best people I’ve ever met – kind to the core and so generous. When I first met her I was in quite a bad place and on the cusp of maybe giving up [art]. Ingrid is definitely the reason why I’m still doing this now. “She was clearly very interested in art and in the work I was doing. She offered me a place at her open house event that year and every year after that. I would spend that whole weekend at her house with her and other artists and it became really clear to me that she was a generous person who supported so many other people. Every year you’d see the same faces coming back but also new faces. “I can’t praise her enough. Being an artist you have enough self doubt as it is, so for someone like her to have belief in me was very special and she even backed it up by buying work from me. Every time I had an exhibition she would come to it. She was the loveliest person and I was absolutely devastated when she passed.” With the support of Ingrid’s family, Martin has – alongside the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation – created an award in her honour. “Ever since she died I wanted to honour her in some way,” Martin explained.
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SHE WAS ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE I’VE EVER MET – KIND TO THE CORE AND SO GENEROUS
“I’m quite heavily involved with the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, and we worked together to create a youth category for their Wildlife Artist of the Year awards. The award felt like the perfect opportunity to honour Ingrid because supporting young artists was what she was all about. I was just one artist among so many that she helped. “There’s a grant attached to the award, which we designed in a way to try and maximise its impact. The winner gets a cash prize but also gets to make a donation to a charity
partner of their choice and buy supplies for an underresourced art group of their choice. A percentage of the grant also goes to the Resilience Project, which supports young people who suffer from eco-anxiety. “The grant is broad, it’s about creativity and it supports a lot of young people – and that’s what Ingrid was about. It’s established now and going into its third year. “It’s many years since I first met Ingrid, and it sort of feels like I’m carrying on some of her work now through this award.”
Martin’s words touch on an important point: although Ingrid died tragically before her time, her legacy endures; it’s there in the Ingrid Beazley award and on the walls of Dulwich; it’s there in the consciousness of the thousands of children and adults she taught and whose horizons she expanded; it’s there in the memorial stone carved in her honour at Dulwich Picture Gallery. But above all, her legacy resides in the hearts, minds and memories of the many, many people she loved and who loved her.
TOP: DULWICH OUTDOOR GALLERY RIGHT: INGRID (FAR LEFT) WITH THE DULWICH ONVIEW TEAM
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
22 | PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
A New Era at Rosemead Preparatory School THE DULWICH PREP SCHOOL LOOKS FORWARD TO AN EXCITING FUTURE Rosemead Preparatory School and Nursery, Dulwich, south London, is an independent, co-educational day prep school for children aged 2 and half to 11. The school’s motto ‘Inspiring Brilliant Futures’ is at the forefront of all the school does. Their focus is providing a unique education to each and every child, nurturing their individual strengths, interests and needs. Speaking about the school, newly appointed Head, Graeme McCafferty says: ‘At Rosemead, we strive to provide a balanced curriculum that nurtures the holistic development of each child. While academic achievement is important, we firmly believe that education should encompass much more than just exams and grades. ‘Our approach is centred around ensuring that your child receives a well-rounded education that includes a strong emphasis on Music, Art, Drama, and Sport, without compromising on academic excellence.’ ‘Every year, we witness the artistic talents of our children as they win National Art Awards and perform in breathtaking productions. Moreover, our sporting achievements are equally commendable, with several students qualifying and competing at the National Athletics competition in Birmingham this year.’ Most recently, Rosemead merged with St Dunstan’s College to create a
community of schools consisting of St Dunstan’s Junior School, St Dunstan’s Senior School and Rosemead Preparatory School. Speaking about the merger, Rosemead Head, Graeme McCafferty explained: ‘This is such an incredible opportunity for sharing best practice, working collaboratively and sharing experience to make all schools in the community unique, excellent educational establishments. We have a shared vision to provide an ambitious, forward-thinking education to the young people under our care and to ensure that, in so doing, we both inspire and support each child to thrive as an individual.’ He added: ‘There are numerous advantages presented by the merger. For children, we can share facilities, resources and learning opportunities. For staff, we can share best practice and work collaboratively through staff training and development. It is probably the most exciting and significant development for Rosemead in its 80-year history.’ Rosemead is also taking the lead in its approach to artificial intelligence (AI), incorporating it into its forwardthinking curriculum. ‘At Rosemead we like to take risks in our learning, we instil this into the children but also encourage our staff to do the same,’ Graeme McCafferty explains. ‘At the early stages of our journey into using AI in the classroom the fundamental question to ask was whether it genuinely enhanced the quality of teaching and learning.
‘Upon exploring Century Tech and AI in the classroom, we determined that the answer was a resounding yes. A year ago, we introduced a comprehensive digital strategy at our school, which outlined the transition to a modern and dynamic curriculum, moving towards 1:1 Chromebooks in Years 4, 5 and 6 with iPads being used in Nursery to Year 3. ‘At Rosemead, we value balance and moderation in all aspects of our curriculum, including the use of AI. We recognise the immense potential of personalised learning programs for our students, and the progress they have made throughout the year stands as a testament to our model of embracing technology.’ In June, Rosemead also announced an exciting new garden wall with the school’s Eco Club working closely with SovTech. The project, led by the Eco Club, will build upon the school’s commitment to sustainability and outdoor learning. Pupils in the club have eagerly embraced the new opportunity and will play a nurturing role in looking after the new wall, ensuring it supports the club’s sustainability pledges and helps to combat pollution. ‘We are incredibly excited to be working closely with SovTech to develop our new wall garden,’ the Head adds. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing the work of the Eco Club in building and bringing this space to life over the next few years.’
Rosemead is now accepting 15 hours free childcare. Find out more about Rosemead Preparatory School and Nursery at their upcoming open day on Saturday 7 October 2023. To book, please visit www.rosemeadprep.org.uk
THE DULWICH DIVERTER
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE | 23
Looking to the Future AWARD-WINNING ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE IS LEADING THE WAY AS LONDON’S MOST PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL St Dunstan’s College, Catford, south London, has championed a forwardthinking approach to education for over a century, with the opening vision of the school in 1888 being to provide a curriculum ‘in advance of the present time.’ The school’s first head, Charles Maddock Stuart, was a pioneer in heuristic education, designing the college to have science laboratories for students to discover learning themselves. St Dunstan’s was one of the first schools in the country to have laboratories and to devote significant time to hands-on scientific practical experiments for students to innovate and ‘do’, rather than passively observe. Today, St Dunstan’s modern senior school curriculum builds on the legacy of its founding heads. Students entering the school embark on an educational journey of curiosity, studying a wide range of subjects, enhancing their study skills, and committing to a variety of co-curricular activities, not just in those they arrive more confident in, before specialising in the older years. The school, led by Head Nick Hewlett, believes that this wide-ranging and ambitious approach to education sets up a lifetime of inquisitive independence, allowing students to approach new and challenging concepts with courage and conviction. ‘Our world is changing at breakneck speed. A truly globalised future dominated by AI and biotechnology will require different skills and attributes from the
young people we are educating today,’ Nick Hewlett explains. ‘Our social values are more precious to us than ever before, and so are they under threat. We inhabit a society where the art of rhetoric has diminished and the polarised, entrenched view has consumed us, amplified as it is through the platform of globalised cyberspace. We have a duty to respond to this in the curriculum we offer. Yes, pulling out values through education is important, but we need to be more radical than this. ‘We need to see beyond the GCSE conveyor belt and offer young people an education that facilitates an understanding of self and of the importance of diversity of thought. An education that teaches young people the skills they require to navigate the increasing complexity of an uncertain future. An education that equips young people not just with a knowledge-rich foundation, but one that is agile and from which children can move to adulthood with the ability to be flexible in their thinking, empathetic to others and active challengers to falsehood and injustice.’ Most recently the school has won praise around the world for its groundbreaking Stuart Curriculum, which looks at relationships, skills for the future and critical thinking. Stuart lessons have tackled the rise of toxic masculinity and individuals such as Andrew Tate. Speaking about the lessons, St Dunstan’s Deputy Head Academic, Jonathan Holmes, says: ‘As well as having the confidence to react to specific examples such as Andrew Tate, it is important that our teaching is
predominantly proactive and enables students to independently understand when views are harmful and dangerous, and how they can protect themselves from being exposed and influenced by them online.’ St Dunstan’s bold and brave approach to education has led to the school winning many accolades. Last month, the school was named the ‘Most progressive independent school in London’ at the Private Education Awards 2023. Last year, St Dunstan’s was also named Independent Senior School of the Year at the Tes Schools Awards in London, which are known as the Oscars of education. Judge David James, who has worked in independent schools for over 20 years, said: ‘There’s a very clear and coherent vision of what they want to do, both with the curriculum and the local community. ‘The head is asking interesting questions of the sector, including areas like privilege and responsibility, which go beyond the usual platitudes. It’s a really interesting school in a tough market, trying to not just survive but actually make something different for the children and families they’re working with.’
Following the pandemic, St Dunstan’s marked the opening of the most significant developments to the school grounds. A new Junior School, STEM Centre for Excellence and Innovation and Sixth Form Centre was opened. The College’s forwardthinking approach is now matched by modern, bright, and inspirational facilities. However, the Head has more plans for the site over the next few years. ‘We are soon to receive our 10-year master plan from Walters and Cohen, our chosen architects,’ Nick Hewlett says. ‘We are very excited for our future plans. I don’t want to give too much away but I can tell you that sport and recreation features very highly.’ This summer, the school celebrated their best A Level results on record, outside of the pandemic. 86% of all grades achieved were A*-B and 56% were A* - A. Sixth Form students departed St Dunstan’s Sixth Form for a variety of prestigious destinations across the country. This includes Russell Group universities, prestigious dance and music conservatories and top art schools. Head, Nick Hewlett, added: ‘The diversity of destinations our sixth formers will now be embarking on is a true testament to St Dunstan’s ethos and values.’
Find out more about St Dunstan’s College at their upcoming open day on Saturday 23 September 2023, or their Sixth Form Open Evening on Tuesday 3 October 2023. St Dunstan’s offers a variety of scholarships and bursaries for students joining at 11+ and 16+. Find out more and book at stdunstans.org.uk The college is also on Twitter @StDunstansColl Instagram @StDunstansCollege
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023
THE DULWICH DIVERTER
Love in a Lost Land James MacManus
From the Managing Director of The Times Literary Supplement and author of On the Broken Shore, Black Venus, Sleep in Peace Tonight and Midnight in Berlin
‘A compelling love story set against a backdrop of betrayal and brutality… a time and place MacManus can bring to life like few others.’ – Alexandra Shulman
‘Frederick Forsyth meets Graham Greene with a touch of Romeo and Juliet.’ – Sally Emerson
‘There are echoes of Hemingway in this intensely atmospheric story of a foreign correspondent covering an African war… a novel that is both authentic and ultimately uplifting. A truly memorable read.’ – Jane Thynne
9781915635419 | £10.99 | Paperback | whitefox Publishing
14th September 2023
DIVERSIONS | 25 TO THE BOOKSHOP
London Shopfronts BY JESSICA GULLIVER
London Shopfronts is a compendium of current – erm, clue in the title – London shopfronts. From the biggest and boldest such as Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly to the smaller shops that are scattered across the capital, the book features areas of central London and select parts of north, south, east and west. Restaurants and other businesses are also included. Described as a “love letter to London’s most cherished shops [that] celebrates the city’s past and present, as well as its diversity and vivaciousness”, the book is illustrated by Joel Holland. It follows his first book, NYC Storefronts, which he created when he was missing all the places he couldn’t visit in his hometown during lockdown. Holland uses layering to incorporate intricate details into his drawings
and the bright colours make London Shopfronts a joyous read. It’s fantastic to see my favourite shop in Peckham, Khan’s Bargain, included in the pages. The story of its owner, Akbar Khan, and of the historic building itself – a story that takes us from Kabul to Rye Lane – is an interesting one. South London staple Morley’s is in there, of course, the Sydenham branch representing this chain of 90 chicken shops that are a familiar sight throughout south London. It’s pleasing to see the Ritzy in there – a “film lover’s paradise” that survived the Blitz among other threats. From one beloved cinema to another, there is also an entire page devoted to the inimitable Peckhamplex. It used to be a Sainsbury’s – before the supermarket packed up and left to open a megastore on Dog Kennel Hill after just a year in its purpose-built
premises in Peckham – and has been a cinema since 1994. London Shopfronts absolutely succeeds in bringing the shops of London to life. Perfect as a gift to give to friends arriving or leaving the capital, the book is packed full of not just beautiful illustrations but interesting facts about the shops, too. The illustrator has a lot more London to explore as well – there’s plenty of scope for a second volume. Riffing on the famous remark by Napoleon (or was it Bertrand Barère?) about the English as “une nation de boutiquiers” – a nation of shopkeepers – the author and illustrator of London Shopfronts certainly lend this assessment credence. It is true that for hundreds of years, small businesses and shops have proliferated in the capital. After the storm of Covid, the ongoing cost of living crisis and myriad other
factors that have combined to render trading unviable for so many independents, here’s hoping that there will be a renaissance – and may those that do remain, flourish. London Shopfronts is published by Prestel and costs £19.99
TO THE GARDEN
On the allotment BY JANE MERRICK
On holiday in East Sussex this summer, as we drove through countryside near Rye and Hastings, we seemed to pass as many vineyards as apple orchards. While viticulture in Sussex is far from new, the industry is booming, in part due to hotter summers, and last year the county’s wine was given protected designation of origin status by the European Union. The climate and geology of Sussex – warm temperatures, cool sea breezes and chalky soil – may be perfect for the sparkling wine for which the region is
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renowned, but this does not mean you cannot have success growing vines in London, for example. The problem, as I have found after years of trying to convert my grape harvest into anything other than food for hungry birds in September, is what you do with the fruit when it is ripe. When my name reached the top of the allotment waiting list in April 2013, I was offered a choice of two plots: a simple patch of slightly weedy earth or a much more overgrown site with a large grapevine that was just coming into leaf. It had been planted by a Cypriot couple who used the young leaves in spring for dolmades. I don’t think they ever made wine from the grapes. Nevertheless, I chose the latter plot, imagining myself picking armfuls of bunches of grapes in autumn, effortlessly converting them into my own East Dulwich vintage. The reality was very different, of course: crushing the fruit took hours and several feet of space in the kitchen, and the end result tasted like vinegar with notes of aluminium. The next year I crushed the fruit – a black grape whose variety I’ve never been able to pinpoint – into grape juice, which was decent but too sugary in large amounts. Since then, I’ve let the birds help themselves to the grapes and enjoyed the shade the vine offers in summer. But it has become far too large, taking over my quince tree nearby, so this winter I will
cut it back hard and keep it more tightly trained. Happily, you don’t have to be an expert vintner to make the most of your grape harvest. There are community winemaking projects in London where you can take your fruit, usually in September, if it is free of mildew and in good condition, and for a processing fee you will be rewarded with your own wine for consumption the following autumn. To start growing grapes for next autumn, plant a bareroot vine during the dormant season this winter, in a southfacing spot against a wall or trellis, with a deep hole filled with composted manure. Keep it well watered during the growing season. Ashridge Nurseries (ashridgetrees. co.uk) has a chardonnay vine that produces a white grape for eating and winemaking, and a black cabernet sauvignon, with both plants available from £14.99. When she’s not on her allotment in East Dulwich, Jane Merrick is policy editor at the i paper. Follow @jane.merrick on Instagram and read her blog at heroutdoors.uk
THE DULWICH DIVERTER
26 | DIVERSIONS TO THE PUZZLE
TO THE PEOPLE 6 Across is a place in Dulwich.
ALDHELM
DOWN 1 REGULAR, DAY-TO-DAY (6) 2 CHOW MEIN INGREDIENT (10) 3 COOK IN HOT OIL (3) 4 ADORN (8) 5 AMUSEMENT (13) 6 SENIOR SOLDIER’S RANK (7) 7 SEA BETWEEN EUROPE AND AFRICA (13) 8 LIBERATE (4) 13 SENT A DIFFERENT WAY (10) 15 LAUGHING CHILDISHLY (8) 17 ONE MOVING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY (7) 19 HUGE (4) 20 PAINTED ROUGHLY (6) 23 BABY’S BED (3)
ACROSS: 6 Goose Green, 9 Tenement, 10 Horrid, 11 Rural, 12 Permanent, 14 Allegro, 16 Dreamer, 18 Navigator, 20 Dogma, 21 Easily, 22 Accurate, 24 Incoherent. DOWN: 1 Normal, 2 Beansprout, 3 Fry, 4 Decorate, 5 Entertainment, 6 General, 7 Mediterranean, 8 Free, 13 Redirected, 15 Giggling, 17 Migrant, 19 Vast, 20 Daubed, 23 Cot.
SOLUTION
TO THE HAMLET
Illustration by Peter Rhodes
ACROSS 6 SOGORENEGE (ANAGRAM) (5, 5) 9 HOUSING BLOCK (8) 10 AWFUL, NASTY (6) 11 RUSTIC (5) 12 NOT TEMPORARY (9) 14 MUSICALLY FAST (7) 16 IDEALIST (7) 18 ONE FINDING THE WAY (9) 20 STRICT BELIEF (5) 21 SIMPLY (6) 22 PRECISE (8) 24 ILLOGICAL, NONSENSICAL (10)
Camilla Crosland Camilla Crosland was born in 1812 in the City of London. Described as a “precocious girl”, she could read at the age of three. Her father had money troubles and died when she was eight. Crosland first appeared in print in 1838 and was involved in editorial work for various annuals. She wrote fiction, poetry, essays and sketches,
including the book Stories of the City of London: Retold for Youthful Readers. She also translated some works by Victor Hugo. She later married Newton Crosland, a London wine merchant with literary tastes. In 1886 she moved from Blackheath to Ondine Road, East Dulwich, where she died in 1895.
TO THE ART
Carlton Fairweather Position Winger Born 1961 Carlton Fairweather began his career in 1979 with Dulwich Hamlet before moving on to Bromley and Tooting & Mitcham United, where he was spotted by scouts from Wimbledon. He made his debut for the Dons on New Year’s Day 1985 and went on to make 138 league appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals as they established themselves as a First Division side and became one of the 22 founder members of the new FA Premier League in 1992. In 1988 Wimbledon won the FA Cup final with a shock 1–0 victory over Liverpool. However, a broken leg meant that Fairweather was not in the squad. He left the Dons in 1993 for Carlisle and then played for clubs in Hong Kong and the US. After retiring he took on various
THE DULWICH DIVERTER
managerial and coaching positions at Wimbledon and Sunderland among others.
Dog in a kennel
To read more about the Hamlet, visit thehamlethistorian.blogspot.co.uk
This bronze statue by the artist Steve Bunn and Nautilus Fine Art Foundry can be found in St Francis Park on Dog Kennel Hill.
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VI S I T E L LYA L L E N . C O M
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