SE23 August 2026

The only Community Magazine for Forest Hill & Honor Oak Established 2006 www.semagazines.co.uk

Issue 239 - August 2026 In this issue What’s On Bsuiness Profile Garden Talk Pets Corner Fitness Tips Financial Matters Community Index Dulwich Hamlet FC

Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST Future-focussed; grounded in heritage.

Visit our award-winning school to discover more. sydenhamdulwichgirls.gdst.net

- P6 - P10 - P12 - P14 - P16 - P20 - P31 - P32

FORGE YO U R

Future

Dalmain Nursery & Primary School

w Nursery & OUTSTANDING Ofsted November 2024 Personal Development - Behaviour & Attitudes

School

3 ANDING7 “Pupils flourish at this warm & welcoming school.” Ofsted Our exceptional facilities include multi-use Sports Pitch, Wildlife Garden, Art Studio, Library, Music Room, Rain Garden & expansive outside play areas.

Join our vibrant Dalmain community! www.dalmain.lewisham.sch.uk

er 2024 DalmainPrimarySE23 viour & Attitudes

On-site, all year wrap around care available from 7:30am-6:30pm

Welcome to SE23 Welcome to the August issue of SE23. Whilst many readers are on their holidays this month, there are still plenty of people who are staying put, so I am glad there is so much to do locally.

As usual I have rounded up all the great events taking place in and around Dulwich. The events pages start on page 6. August is still a busy month for events, so we have a fabulous nine pages of online and in person events happening in and around Dulwich.

Please do check any event before turning up to make sure that they are still going ahead. Remember to check out www.semagazines.co.uk too as many events get added after I have gone to print. You can often find out more details online too.

Our Busines Profile this month is on William Rose Butchers who are celebrating their 21st anniversary this month, Find out more on page 10 and 11.

Dulwich Hamlet are back in action and have sent us an update. Find out more on page 32.

Remember the magazine depends on all the wondeful local advertisers, so please do let them know if you saw them in this magazine!

Until next time.

Angela Angela Burgess Head of All Things Community SE Magazines/Around Dulwich

Contents Welcome ..................................................................... 3 Events Calendar ......................................................... 4 What’s On................... 6, 8, 9, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29 & 30 Business Profile: William Rose Butchers..........10 & 11 Garden Talk ............................................................ 12 Pets Corner................................................................ 14 Children’s Activities.................................................. 15

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Call 020 8693 9040 angela@semagazines.co.uk www.semagazines.co.uk @semags_arounddulwich

If you would like to advertise in our next issue, you can download our rates from our website any time.

Or if you prefer, give me a call!

Fitness Tips............................................................... 16 Financial Matters...................................................... 20 Link Age Southwark Volunteers Needed.................. 21 Maks Article.............................................................. 26 Community Index..................................................... 31 Dulwich Hamlet FC Update ...................................... 32 Index ........................................................................ 34

September Deadline - 14 August (please allow an extra two days if design is required) To advertise in SE23 please contact Angela Burgess on 020 8693 9040 or e-mail: angela@semagazines.co.uk for further information. You can download our media pack from our website: www.semagazines.co.uk.

Printed by Stephens & George Ltd ©SE Magazines Ltd All rights reserved. No reproduction can be made without permission. “This Publication is manufactured from (ECF) Elemental Chlorine Free pulp; sourced from certified or well managed forests and plantations, printed using vegetable based inks” “The fibres in this paper can be used up to a further seven times in the production of recycled paper. Please recycle this publication when it’s usefulness has been exhausted” Front cover image © istockphoto.com SE23 - August 2026 | 3

Events Calendar - August Monday

Tuesday

31st

28th

Wednesday

Thursday

29th

30th

Friday

31st

27th

10th

1st

Sunday

2nd

Junior parkruns, p8.

The Weekly Horniman Men Walk Talk, p6.

Market p9.

Peckham Farmers’ Community Wildlife Market, p8.

Garden Volunteer Bell House Open Day, see p9.

Garden, see p8.

A Likely Story: An Exhibition of Paintings from Artist in Residence Rosie Bayliss, see p8. parkruns, see p6.

Bach to Baby Double Troube p30.

3rd

Saturday

4th

5th

6th

7th

11th

12th

13th

14th

8th

9th

15th

16th

Summer Tennis Camps until 14 August, see p6.

Peter Morris Exhibition @ Jeannie Avent, see p23.

Summer Holiday Clubs @ Dulwich Prep & Senior see p6, 9, 22 & 29. parkruns, see p6.

Mini Junior parkruns, p8.

Goose Green Coffee BNI Adventures p22.

Masterpieces Peckham Farmers’ Weekly Online The Weekly Horniman Mornings, p22. p24.

Market, p8.

Breathing Class p9.

Community Market p9.

The Creative Arts Honor Oak WI Coffee Morning, Willow & Basketry Club see p24.

Zoom Portraiture Summer Outing, see p22.

Dulwich Park Games & Drama Workshop p28. @ Dulwich Art see p25.

Runners see p22.

SEN Prog, p25.

School, see p22.

South London Singaround, p25.

Lewisham Warlords Open Underwater Day p25.

Hockey Club p24.

Summer Tennis Camps until 14 August, see p6.

Summer Holiday Clubs @ Dulwich Prep & Senior see p6, 9, 22 & 29.

Goose Green Coffee BNI Adventures p22. Games & Drama Weekly Online SEN Prog, p25.

Mornings, p22.

Breathing Class p9.

Home for Everyone: Lewisham Dulwich Park How we are for EDWI Mudlarking Underwater Runners see p22. people and planet, Talk, see p28.

Hockey Club p24. see p28.

Junior parkruns, see p8.

Peckham Farmers’ The Weekly Horniman Market, p8.

Market p9.

Masterclass: Painting the Landscape, see p28. parkruns, see p6.

Peter Morris Exhibition @ Jeannie Avent, see p23.

17th

18th

19th

20th

Summer Holiday Clubs @ Dulwich Prep & Senior see p6, 9, 22 & 29.

21st

Peter Morris Exhibition @ Jeannie Avent, see p23.

Goose Green Coffee BNI Adventures p22.

Weekly Online Mornings, p22.

Games & Drama Breathing Class p9.

SEN Prog, p25.

Zoom Portraiture Dulwich WI, see Dulwich Park @ Dulwich Art Lewisham page 29.

Runners see p22.

School, see p22.

Underwater Hockey Club p24.

24th

25th

26th

27th

28th

Summer Holiday Clubs @ Dulwich Prep & Senior see p6, 9, 22 & 29.

Weekly Online Games & Drama Goose Green Coffee BNI Adventures p22.

Breathing Class SEN Prog, p25.

Mornings, p22. p9.

Dulwich Park Zoom Portraiture Runners see p22.

Lewisham @ Dulwich Art Cosy Sunset Gong Underwater School, see p22.

Bath, see p30.

Hockey Club p24.

22nd

23rd

parkruns, see p6. Junior parkruns, p8.

Peckham Farmers’ The Weekly Horniman Market, p8.

Market p9.

Li Li Ren and MazzyMae Green: Talk, see p29

29th

Introduction to Figure Painting Workshop p30.

30th

Junior parkruns, p8.

The Weekly Horniman Peckham Farmers’ Market p9.

Market, p8.

Masterclass: Painting the Landscape, see p28.

Family Festival at Dulwich Picture Gallery, see p30. parkruns, see p6.

Forthcoming Events Further details where available can be found in the News and Events pages 6, 8, 9, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29 & 30. Please read as not all the events can fit on the calendar!

4 | SE23 - August 2026

Fitted Alcove Cupboards & Shelving

Thurs 3rd Sept

SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE MCT at Alleyn’s 7.30pm Tickets from £15

Mon 7th Sept

ROBERT HARRIS

Made To Measure Alcove Storage Solutions South East London

MCT at Alleyn’s 7.30pm Tickets from £12

Thurs 10th Sept

YOTAM OTTOLENGHI

For a Free Quote Call Karl:

07989 891581

VWA at Jags 7.30pm Book & Ticket £40 Sat 3rd Oct

CELIA IMRIE in conversation with Fidelis Morgan

MCT at Alleyn’s 7.30pm Tickets from £15 Tues 6th Oct

DAVID McCLOSKEY MCT at Alleyn’s 7.30pm Tickets from £15

Tues 17th Nov

JO BRAND The Great Hall at Alleyn’s 7.30pm Tickets from £15

EVENTS & TICKETS village-books.co.uk /events

1d Calton Ave, Dulwich Village, London SE21 7DE SE23 - August 2026 | 5

What's On - August Now until - Friday 14 August: Summer Tennis Camps

Saturdays 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 August: Parkrun 9am – 10am

9am-3pm. SUMMERTIME IS TENNIS TIME! Our Summer camps are back! Get ready for 6 weeks of tennis, fun, games, and unforgettable summer memories! Whether your child is picking up a racquet for the first time or already serving up aces, our experienced coaches will help them grow, compete, and have a blast on the court. Book for the whole week or individual days — all abilities welcome from beginners to advanced players! Let’s make this summer a tennis summer! Dulwich Lawn tennis Club, Giant Arches Road, Burbage Road, SE24 9HP.

Dulwich Parkrun

https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SebastienBlanchonCoaching.

Now until Friday 28 August: Summer Holiday Clubs at Dulwich Prep & Senior We have four age groups to cover children from 3 to 11 years old. All of our age groups have a variety of activities, including Cookery and Gymnastics. Our activities are designed to stimulate children of all abilities.

Tiny Scamps: Children must be 3 or 4 years old.

Children must be due to join a Reception class in September 2026.

Scamps: Children who are currently in Reception class in the academic year 2025/2026. Juniors: Children who are currently in school years 1, 2 and 3.

Seniors: Children who are currently in school years 4, 5 and 6. Places are limited, sign up today!

Dulwich Prep & Senior, 38-42 Alleyn Park, SE21 7AA avpsportsandscamps@dulwichprepsenior.org.uk 020 8766 5529 6 | SE23 - August 2026

Free, weekly timed 5k run, jog, or walk in Dulwich Park starting from Queen Mary’s Gate. Register once and bring your printed barcode (can be used at any parkrun across the world). Firsttimers briefing at 08.50. Also in Peckham Rye, Brockwell and Crystal Palace parks. https://www.parkrun.org.uk/dulwich/

Peckham Rye Park Run

A 3-lap anti clockwise course, entirely on tarmac and is mainly flat and therefore a potential PB course The start & finish are located close to the Colyton Road entrance of the park.

Peckham Rye Park, Colyton Road SE15 4JR. https://www.parkrun.org.uk/peckhamrye/

Saturday 1 August: Men Walk Talk - Honor Oak

10am-11am. A monthly walk for men, taking in the green spaces of SE23 and surrounding area.

Traditionally, men often avoid seeking mental health support, but we provide a community of support for guys to know they are not alone, and they can speak up. Join Richard for a walk and a talk on the first Saturday of every month.

For more information: menwalktalk.co.uk 76-78 Honor Oak Park, SE23 1DY 8

POTTERY PAINTING FROM £20*

Fun activity for the family 16 Half Moon Lane Herne Hill, SE24 9HU +44(0)20 3815 2671 contact@minopotterypainting.co.uk Instagram: @minopotterypainting *T&C’s apply

BOOK ONLINE www.diyalcovecabinets.co.uk

Find your

RU NNING MOJO WOMEN, MILES & SMI LES

Weekly running groups for women age 35+*

A club that understands what this stage of life actually feels like

Our inclusive, life affirming sessions bring women together to run with support, encouragement, motivation and fun

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10 Week Complete Beginners Course Beckenham - Mon Sept 7th 19.20pm Forest Hill - Weds Sept 9th 19.00pm

MO ME N T U M

Next Level - Can you run 4-5k already?

Beckenham - Every Monday at 8pm Forest Hill - Every Wednesday at 7.45pm

www. mojofit.uk/running *all ages welcome!

SE23 - August 2026 | 7

What's On - August Saturday 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 August: Peckham Farmers' Market 9.30am-3pm Peckham’s Bellenden Road gets a new weekly food destination as Peckham Farmers Market.

We’ve got an amazing line-up for you. Let’s first start by introducing Wild Country Organics, a certified organic, soil association certified family run farm growing an exceptional breadth of seasonal produce, far beyond the limited range of supermarket offerings. This is the freshest, most nutritious produce available, the time between harvest and sale is kept as small as possible to ensure maximum freshness With seating, music and a carefully curated trader line-up, Peckham Farmers Market aims to become a place to shop, eat, drink and connect, right in the heart of the neighbourhood.

The Belham Primary School, Bellenden Road, SE15 4DG

Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August: A Likely Story: An exhibition of paintings from Artist in Residence Rosie Bayliss 10am-5pm A Likely Story brings together paintings and drawings made by Bell House Artist in Residence Rosie Bayliss. The Georgian rooms, gardens and architecture of Bell House engage with and inform the works. The paintings move between domestic interiors and the garden beyond, creating pieces charged with psychological tension: places that hold memory, imagination, and the uneasy gap between the two. Small fragment paintings sit alongside larger works in the Thomas Wright Room, each approaching the same world from a different angle.

Rosie Bayliss is a painter and writer based in London. She graduated with a BA in Fine Art and Writing from the University of the West of England, Bristol in 2022, and was awarded the Dreamtime Fellowship at Spike Island from 2022–23. She has been Artist in Residence at Bell House since September 2025, where she also runs the Saturday Drawing Club. FREE ENTRY, NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road, SE21 7BG https://www.bellhouse.co.uk 8 | SE23 - August 2026

Saturday 1 August: Bell House Open Garden

11.30am-1pm. We welcome you to explore our garden in the heart of Dulwich. The wonderful three-acre site, designed and maintained entirely by volunteers, comprises three large gardens with a variety of features for visitors to enjoy and a range of different habitats for wildlife.

Visitors enter the Walled Garden through the newly landscaped dry garden; planting begins in Spring 2026. There are raised beds for organically grown fruit, vegetables and herbs, companion planting, and flowers for cutting. A meadow area and new fruit trees lead onto the compost area.

The tranquil House Garden has many points of interest, including large beds for pollinators which provide colour from Spring until late Autumn and interesting forms through the winter. The rear of this garden is wooded, providing undisturbed areas for wildlife. Finally, visitors reach Pickwick Garden, our Polytunnel and nursery plant area which help us in our commitment to garden sustainably. Take a moment to sit and relax with a tea or coffee from our refreshment stall and visit stalls or drop-in sessions run by the Creative Groups at Bell House.

Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road, SE21 7BG https://www.bellhouse.co.uk

Sundays 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 August: Peckham Rye Junior Park Run 9am – 9:30am A free, weekly, timed run for 4–14-year-olds, to get fit, stay healthy and have fun! We run 2km every Sunday morning at 9am, through rain and shine. The course is visible, well-marshalled, and all held on the paths around the sports pitches.

Peckham Rye Park, Colyton Road, SE22 0NE.

What's On - August Sundays 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 August: The Horniman Market

10am – 3pm. Located on the Bandstand Terrace, you will find stalls selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, artisan bread and cheese, organic meat, and delicious street food. If that’s not enough to have you feeling like our overstuffed walrus, we also have regular guest traders specialising in treats such as luxury chocolates, delightful drinks, irresistible cakes, and tasty pickle and preserves. www.horniman.ac.uk/ 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ.

Sunday 2 August: Community Wildlife Garden Next Volunteer Day 10am-12. noon. Peckham Rye Park. The Community Wildlife Garden is largely maintained by the Friends. Our volunteer mornings are usually on the first Sunday of the month at 10am.

The more volunteers the merrier, so please make sure to come along. If you want to know more please emai: peckhamryepark@gmail.com. https://www.peckhamryepark.org/activities.

Monday 3 - Wednesday 5 August: Ready Prep Cook Summer Finale Feast 8.45am-12.30pm. On the final day of the Summer Finale Feast, children will learn to set the table and enjoy a sit-down meal together.

Our holiday club offers a unique opportunity for kids to embark on culinary adventures in a safe and supportive environment. From mastering basic kitchen skills to exploring new recipes and cuisines, every day is an exciting culinary journey. Led by Dulwich Cooking Club chef Amanda, children will receive expert guidance every step of the way. Our instructors are passionate about inspiring young chefs and fostering a love for cooking that lasts a lifetime.

At Ready Prep Cook, we believe in handson learning experiences. Children will roll up their sleeves, don their aprons, and dive into immersive cooking activities that ignite their imagination and creativity. We prioritise healthy eating habits and empower children to make nutritious food choices. From fresh salads and hearty soups to scrumptious desserts, our recipes are not only delicious but also nourishing for growing bodies and minds.

Beyond the kitchen, our holiday club is a place where friendships are formed and memories are made. Through teamwork and collaboration, children will develop valuable social skills while having a blast with their peers.

The safety and well-being of our participants are our top priorities. We maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all children to thrive.

We also offer a half-day booking option for children to join the Holiday Club in the afternoon.

Dulwich Prep & Senior, 38-42 Alleyn Park, Dulwich, SE21 7AA. avpsportsandscamps@dulwichprepsenior.org.uk 020 8766 5529.

Tuesdays 4, 11, 18 & 25 August: Weekly Online Breathing Class 7pm – 7.40pm A 40-minute breathing and relaxation class. Unwind, centre yourself and use the breath to help relax and prepare for a restful evening. Using different breathing techniques that can be incorporated into your day along with a few gentle mat-based stretches and ending with Yoga Nidra a full body guided meditation for deep relaxation. All welcome. No experience is needed. £7. To join see: https://liveyogateachers.com/classes/meditation-open-level-kerry-flower 22 SE23 - August 2026 | 9

21st Anniversary

William Rose SPECIALIST BUTCHER

Ethically sourced free range meat & poultry supplier

10 | SE23 - August 2026

William Rose Butchers

It’s our 21st anniversary in East Dulwich and we would like to say a big thank you to all our customers, new and old, who have continually supported us.

Native Bred Beef - Saltmarsh Lamb - Blythburgh Pork Free Rrange Poultry - Homemade Sausages - Seasonal Game.

HOME DELIVERY SERVICE: THURSDAY AND SATURDAY

020 8693 9191 / 07525 590947 wrbutchers@gmail.com www.williamrosebutchers.co.uk 126 Lordship Lane, London SE22 8HD SE23 - August 2026 | 11

Garden Talk With Janine Winlaw | Instagram @janinewinlaw

Going away?

Here’s your preholiday to do list 1) Give your perennials a good cut back. Tired hardy geraniums can be sheared right back – they’ll produce new growth and may flower again for you on your return. The same goes for plants like nepeta and Alchemilla mollis. Cut off the spent flowering spikes of salvia or penstemon – these may come again.

2) Deadhead roses before you go away so they’ll put energy into new growth and more flowers, rather than seeds. Don’t be afraid to cut back hard to thick stems and strong buds – it’ll encourage stronger new shoots. Then given them a feed and a good soak.

3) Lightly trim lavender removing old flower spikes with a pair of hand shears. Take a few cm off the tips of leafy growth to encourage side shoots and keep the plants bushy.

4) Trim back taller perennials that have flopped onto the grass or are smothering other plants – or stake them securely so they’ll cope with any windy days while you’re away.

5) Water. This is particularly important given the hot weather we’ve had. Drench your garden before you go - a really good soak to the roots is better for developing deep rooting. Focus on plants that need moisture – ferns, hydrangea (the clue is in the name), newly planted shrubs, trees or climbers and anything that’s showing signs of drying up. Don’t worry so much about more drought tolerant plants like iris, sedum, some grasses and lavender. Then mulch around the roots with bulky organic matter such as compost to lock the moisture in and prevent too much evaporation.

6) If you can, get someone to pop round and water your pots – and the rest of the garden while they’re at it! It’s best in the early morning or at night. Group containers together in a shady spot 12 | SE23 - August 2026

to make it easier for the person watering. This increases humidity around the plants – but it may encourage disease if left like this for too long.

7) Ideally put containers on saucers, or even something bigger to collect possible rainwater – as long as it’s not going to rain a lot, as they don’t want to drown! Putting plants on soaked capillary matting can also prevent them drying out too much. You could also consider investing in a self-watering system for the garden and pots, which is attached to timer if you’re away for a while.

8) Any favourite plants can be planted into beds in the shade, to keep them cooler and stop them drying out.

9) If you have time, remove weeds before you go away – so much easier when they’re small.

10) If the forecast is for rain, remember to protect plants like hostas from slugs.

11) Mow the lawn a few days before you leave but don’t cut it too short if the weather is hot and dry – long grass copes much better with drought than short grass. Neaten up the edges to help it keep its shape for your return.

12) If you’ve been cultivating some vegetables, its Sod’s law they’ll all be ready just as you go away! Pick as many vegetables as possible like runner beans and courgettes even if they’re small. Water fruit and veg thoroughly before you go and ideally persuade a friend to come and pick in return for watering.

I N D E P E N D E N T W E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T

Please contact us to find out more about our range of ethical and ESG pensions, investments and savings

French Polishing to all wood furniture Polishing of staircases & paneling Repairs & laying of wood floors Established for Fifty Years All Work Insured & Guaranteed

Please call us on: 020 8699 4439 or e-mail: info@sterlingandlaw.com Quoting SE23

Member of The Guild of Mastercraftsmen

www.sterlingandlaw.com Sterling & Law Group plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

As with all investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest.

@robert1cox www.robertcox.net | mail@robertcox.net | 020 8778 0712

Saturday 8 August 10.30am - 5pm Come and join us for a day of wargames at our home in Dulwich!

We will be presenting games to suit all interests, from historical and fantasy to sci-fi and welcoming all visitors to join in.

Many of these games are unique to our club, with a social focus on participation by multiple gamers.

Find out why we are the fastest growing wargaming club in London.

St Barnabas Parish Hall 23 Dulwich Village, London SE21 7BT Go to: www.southlondonwarlords.co.uk for more information and to plan your visit!

Due to our safeguarding obligations, all visitors under 18 shall require the presence of their guardian throughout.

SE23 - August 2026 | 13

Pets Corner Leonie St Clair | www.londondogstraining.co.uk

It Started With A Lick

I

t’s thought that when a dog or cat licks its owner or another animal, it is a demonstration of affection, akin to a loving kiss. However, new research from Ghent University suggests that while mutual licking between cats can show affection, it can also mean the exact opposite. The big news is that cats, at least, may use licking to harass other cats!

Mutual grooming is well known across the animal kingdom; primates, horses and birds all get involved in mutual grooming, often focussing on areas of the body that are harder for the individual animal to reach and tend. Upkeep of fur or plumage, including removal of insects, is not only an essential survival mechanism it also consolidates social bonds between members of the same species. Grooming is a feature of many mating rituals.

An additional effect of mutual grooming is scent exchange, so that groups, or pairs of the same species, develop a shared signature scent, distinguishing group members from outsiders. The scent exchange aspect can also work between different species. A dog to human lick carries a range of possible meanings. With its roots in the evolutionary history of the dog, where ancestor wolf cubs licked the mother’s muzzle for food regurgitation, it is thought licking behaviour resurfaced in the context of the dog/human relationship but with a different meaning. Since most pet dogs are very well fed, hand or face licking has evolved from food begging into a signal of social affiliation, where scent exchange is a key driver, strengthening family bonds.

Dogs may also lick human skin or clothing, as well as other pets in the home, as means way to gather information- think how your dog sniffs and licks you when you have been away. Dogs that approach other dogs often emit self-directed mouth licks which are thought to signal appeasement or are self-calming. Research indicates that dogs exposed to angry human faces show increased mouth licking. Highly social breeds, like Golden Retrievers, show more self-directed mouth licks than less social breeds, like Akitas. PTSD service dogs may learn to lick their handlers to calm them down if their human has a panic attack.

14 | SE23 - August 2026

The new research on cat licking behaviour suggests we are only just scratching the surface of animal communication. In this case, the lead researcher followed a hunch based on observation of licking patterns between her own pet cats. One of the pair seemed to use persistent licking of the other as an irritant to move its fellow cat away from a coveted sunbathing spot. Deciding to put her hunch to the test, the research analysed video material of cat licking behaviour from 53 cat-owning households, across Europe. It was concluded that some mutual grooming was indeed prosocial, and in these cases the cats adopted similar body postures, snuggling or sitting together. These ‘friendly’ licks tended to be to head, ears and neck.

On the other hand, some types of cat licking behaviour seemed indicative of social tension.

These cats adopted different body postures, with the ‘perp’ cat often standing and persistently licking the other, while the ‘victim’ cat would exhibit stress signals, including vocalisation and staring, ear rotation, lip licking and even paw swipes at the ‘jerk’ cat. The conclusion was that unwanted licking may be sufficiently irritating to move another cat away from a location or something else the ‘offender’ cat wants, without things escalating into an outright fight.

Take a look at your own pet’s licking behaviour in different situations, you may be surprised.

Interior & Exterior

Painting & Decorating Experienced, Reliable & Clean Fully Guarenteed & Insured References Available

FREE No Obligation Quote & Advice Given Contact John at James & Lamont 020 8462 4646 | 07802 535695 jamlam@btinternet.com

HartBeeps Mondays at Christ Church, 263 Barry Road, East Dulwich, SE22 0JT. Mondays 10am Happy House, 11.15am Baby Beeps & 12.30pm Baby Bells.. http://hartbeeps.com

Family Space Free, creative workshops that take place on the last Saturday of the month at the South London Gallery, 6567 Peckham Road. For children aged 5-12 years old with their parents and carers. Drop-in, no need to book. www.southlondongallery.org

Little Superhero Training

Practice your Superhero moves! Discover Superhero fun facts!

Any Little Heroes, Boys and Girls aged 2 - 5, Come along for a FREE taster session. Mondays & Fridays (term time only) St Barnabas Parish Hall, 23 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BT. Contact Lucy 07813 791757 | lucy@littleherocompany.com www.littleherocompany.com

Mini Athletics (SE London) Winning the gold medal for children’s sports classes! Start your child’s fantastic journey in athletic development, designed for toddlers up to children of 7 years old. All through a fun play-based format. To try us out, contact Sam: 07811787153 | smcdermott@miniathletics.com www.miniathletics.com

Stephen J. Smith F.C.C.A.

Local Chartered Certified Accountant with 30 years small business experience Small Business Accounting Financial Administration & Reporting Payroll VAT Personal Tax Advice Tax Compliance Inheritance Tax Advice

020 8693 1581 | 07931 558480 ssmith@sjsaccountants.co.uk www.sjsaccountants.co.uk

Nature Makers Eco-friendly crafting for little creatives! Join our awardwinning classes & events, where your child can get creative, connect with nature, and have fun in a safe, welcoming environment!

Contact: marie@nature-makers.co.uk or visit: www.nature-makers.co.uk

Tennis-4-Kids Learn young, have fun. Rally around for a smashing time.

Serving ages 3-11. Rackets supplied; fun guaranteed.

Gordon 07877 391005 | www.tennis-4-kids.com | gordonwood@hotmail.co.uk

‘Unicornios y Dinosaurios’ Fun and interactive Spanish language play classes, for children aged 0-5, and their parents and carers. Thursdays mornings (term-time only) in East Dulwich. Suitable for all levels of Spanish! Contact Hazel on 07852 553 239 or hazelcarr@ hotmail.com.

Your Class Here

If you would like to advertise your children’s class here, please e-mail angela@semagazines.co.uk for details.

SE23 - August 2026 | 15

Your Fitness

Fitness tips with Antonia Bannasch | www.bodyshotperformance.com

What to Think About in August

I

t’s August; it’s holiday time. Heat, travel, long evenings, more booze; this month throws a different set of problems at your training than January ever does. It’s also the month that prompts people to think about their training in general. For example, ask yourself: Has your training frequency quietly dropped off without you noticing?

Here is what’s actually worth paying attention to and what the research says about each.

Heat Changes the Rules Training hard in high temperatures is genuinely different, not just less pleasant. Studies show exercise in extreme heat causes more physiological strain than the same effort in mild conditions, and exercise capacity drops as a result. But your body adapts fast. In a study, cyclists who trained in heat for just ten days saw improvements across almost every performance measure researchers tracked and that held true even when they were later tested in cool conditions. More useful still: even four to seven days of heat exposure is enough to bring perceived effort down. The session that feels punishing in week one of summer training genuinely gets easier by week two. Give it that long before deciding you just don’t do well in the heat.

Sunlight and Sleep Don’t Always Cooperate More daylight is good for vitamin D and mood, but it plays havoc with sleep timing. Evening light delays melatonin release and pushes back your body’s readiness for sleep. This is exactly what tends to happen on holiday or during long summer evenings bedtime creeps later, wake time follows, and each day you get a bit more evening light and a bit less morning light. The clock drifts. The simplest counter isn’t cutting screens at night, it’s getting outside earlier in the day morning light before 10am is linked to earlier, steadier sleep timing. A walk before coffee does more here than any evening wind down routine.

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Hydration Beyond Just Water Sweat rates go up in the heat, and water alone doesn’t always replace what you’re losing sodium included. This is better established in endurance athletes than in casual exercisers, so take it as sensible practice rather than gospel: if you are training hard for an hour or more in the heat, adding electrolytes is worth doing, not just water.

Travel Doesn’t Have to Mean Time Off Most people lose their routine on holiday because they assume no gym means no training. It doesn’t.

Bodyweight work, a resistance band, or just walking and swimming properly can hold onto fitness rather than just stop it slipping. You’re not trying to replicate your normal week you’re trying to avoid starting from zero in September.

The Bottom Line In short August really isn’t the month to chase a summer body.. The heat, the light, the disrupted schedule all of it is working against consistency by default. Adjust your training intensity, get outside earlier in the day, keep moving on holiday. Do that much and September is just another month, not a restart.

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4.30pm - 7.30pm 1.30pm - 6.30pm 4.30pm - 7.00pm 4.30pm - 7.00pm

• Wednesday 23rd September • Wednesday 14th October • Wednesday 4th November • Wednesday 25th November

Year 11 Open Day Events 2026 for Year 12 Entry September 2027

9.30am - 8.00pm 10.00am - 6.00pm 9.30am - 8.00pm 9.30am - 8.00pm 10.00am - 6.00pm 9.30am - 8.00pm 10.00am - 6.00pm

• Wednesday 16th September • Saturday 19th September • Wednesday 23rd September • Wednesday 30th September • Saturday 3rd October • Wednesday 7th October • Saturday 10th October

Year 6 Open Day Event Dates 2026 for Year 7 Entry September 2027

Financial Matters

With Akwasi Duodu | akwasi@sterlingandlaw.com | www.sterlingandlaw.com

Why It’s Crucial To Encourage Your Parents To Plan For Inheritance Tax

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nheritance tax is often spoken about in hushed tones, treated as something distant, uncomfortable, or simply something to consider later. Yet for many families in the UK, it’s becoming one of the most significant financial issues of later life. What’s often overlooked is that inheritance tax doesn’t really affect your parents but it directly impacts you, their children. If your parents don’t plan ahead, you could be left with a substantial and unexpected tax bill at precisely the moment you’re dealing with grief, logistics, and potential life changes.

Encouraging your parents to plan for inheritance tax isn’t just sensible, it’s an act of care for your future self.

Inheritance tax currently sits at 40% on estates above the threshold. More families are falling into this tax trap than ever before. Rising property values, especially in places like London and the Southeast, mean that even ordinary family homes can push an estate into taxable territory.

Without proper planning, a large portion of your parents’ hard earned assets could end up with HMRC rather than with you.

The emotional difficulty is understandable.

Talking to your parents about money, death, and what happens after they’re gone can feel awkward or even intrusive. But avoiding the conversation doesn’t make the issue disappear. In fact, silence can make things far more complicated later. When parents don’t plan, children are left to navigate tax rules, probate, and financial decisions at a time when clarity is hardest to find.

Encouraging your parents to plan isn’t about greed or impatience. It’s about ensuring their wishes are honoured. Most parents want their children to benefit from what they’ve built over a lifetime. But without a strategy, their intentions may not translate into reality. Simple steps such as writing a will, setting up life insurance, making use of gift allowances, considering trusts or exploring the residence nil rate band could dramatically

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reduce the tax burden. These are not loopholes, they’re legitimate, government approved mechanisms designed to help families pass on wealth efficiently.

Another reason planning matters is liquidity.

Inheritance tax is usually due within six months of death. If most of your parents’ wealth is tied up in property, you may find yourself in the painful position of needing to sell the family home quickly just to pay the tax bill. Proper planning can prevent this scenario, giving you time to make thoughtful decisions rather than rushed ones.

The conversation doesn’t need to be heavy or dramatic. It can start with something simple: “I want to make sure we understand everything, so your wishes are carried out exactly as you want.”

Framing it around their legacy, their values, and their desire to support the family can make the discussion feel positive rather than morbid.

Ultimately, inheritance tax planning is about protecting your parents’ intentions and safeguarding your own financial stability. The easiest way to engage them is to encourage to speak to a financial adviser you trust. Then let the adviser do the work. By encouraging them to take action now, you’re not only helping them make informed choices, you’re ensuring that the wealth they worked for stays within the family where they always intended it to be.

Volunteer Drivers Needed

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or 30 years, Link Age Southwark has eased loneliness and reduced social isolation for local older people and those living with a diagnosis of dementia. Today, they urgently need more volunteer drivers like Mark.

Every Thursday, he collects four older women, from very different backgrounds, driving them to and from singing sessions run by the charity.

“I enjoy listening to them chat when I’m driving them. Hearing about their lives and families is fascinating – they may have limited mobility now, but one of them told me that at 18 she’d been a long jump champion!

They seem to really appreciate the interaction – they’ll ask about my sons, my dogs – it’s lovely to just be me. I retired last year from a very highpressure career where I was constantly ‘on call’.

I wanted to explore other aspects of what I can bring to the world.

Link Age Southwark needed drivers. I have a roomy car, and it was an opportunity to give my

brain a rest, whilst hopefully making a difference.

Being a volunteer driver makes me feel good: you’re taking time – listening and being there for others.”

To find out more about becoming a Link Age Southwark volunteer, contact 020 8299 2623; volunteering@linkagesouthwark.org or visit: www.linkagesouthwark.org

Hi, I’m Tommy Rooney, owner of T Rooney Heating Limited, a family run gas and heating company. I was born and raised in Dulwich and have worked in the local area within the gas industry for over 10 years.

Please do not hesitate to contact me.

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www.trooneyheating.co.uk trooneyheating@gmail.com 07944921626 SE23 - August 2026 | 21

What's On - August Tuesday 4 - Thursday 6 August: Sports & Fitness Club at Dulwich Prep & Senior 9am-3pm. Our Sports & Fitness Club for ages 11-14 runs each weekday and offers boys and girls from any school an exciting blend of fun, fitness, and personal development in a positive, supportive environment. Throughout the programme, participants will explore a wide variety of individual activities and team sports, helping them build confidence, teamwork, coordination, and communication skills. Each session is packed with engaging games, challenges, and skill-based activities that develop tactical awareness and are carefully adapted to suit all ability levels. In addition to sport, attendees will take part in strength and conditioning sessions tailored specifically for their age group. These focus on improving fitness, mobility, balance, speed, and overall athletic performance, always delivered in a safe, structured manner. Dulwich Prep & Senior, 38-42 Alleyn Park, Dulwich, SE21 7AA. avpsportsandscamps@dulwichprepsenior.org.uk 020 8766 5529.

Tuesdays 4, 11, 18 & 25 August: Social Runs with DPR 7:30pm – 8:30pm. Fantastic local running club.

Social runs every Tuesday 7.30pm at Trevor Bailey Sports Ground on the south circular. Plus runs every Sunday morning; coached sessions on Thursdays; cross country races; competitions; weekends away; frequent social activities. Come along on a Tuesday to try us out! www.dulwichparkrunners.co.uk enquiries@dulwichparkrunners.com Trevor Bailey Club House Dulwich Common SE21 7HA

Wednesdays 5, 12, 19 & 26 August: Goose Green Coffee Morning 11am-12.30pm Do drop inf or a warm welcome, coffee, tea and cake! We are open every Wednesday, it's a great place to get to know others from the local community. ALL WELCOME! FREE! St John The Evangelist, East Dulwich, 62A East Dulwich Road, East Dulwich, SE22 9AT 22 | SE23 - August 2026

Wednesdays 5, 12, 19 & 26 August: Zoom Portraiture

@Dulwich Art Group & School

2pm – 5pm. Paint a clothed model with a focus on the portrait over two three-hour sessions. We give you a wide view and a closer portrait view so you can work out the framing for yourself. The model will at times be engaged in conversation in order to bring some animation to the face.

ONLINE EVENT: www.dulwichartgroup.co.uk.

Thursday 6 August: Community Coffee Morning 10.30am-11.30am. All welcome to our very relaxed and friendly community coffee morning.

Freshly brewed fair-trade coffee, teas and friendly conversation. Free but donations very welcome. Come and spend time in our very peaceful and beautiful church, tucked away in peaceful gardens and next to a heritage orchard.

St Clement with St Peter Church, 140 Friern Road, London SE22 0AY.

Thursdays 6, 13, 20 & 27 August: BNI Adventures 6:30am – 8:30am. BNI Adventurers brings together businesses local to Dulwich with the aim of passing business and keeping money in the local community. Givers gain, and members of Adventurers have excelled at both over the last 12 months. Breakfast included. Free parking.

Get referrals: boost your business! Please contact Hayley on 07843 989728 for more information.

Register for this event on: www.eventbrite.co.uk Dulwich & Sydenham Golf Club, Grange Lane, College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7LH.

Thursdays - Goose Green Lunch Club Back on the 11 September 24

SE23 - August 2026 | 23

What's On - August Thursday 6 August: Disco Orchestrated with Brixton Chamber Orchestra

6pm-9.30pm. Enjoy an unforgettable evening as your favourite disco hits are transformed live by the Brixton Chamber Orchestra. Disco Orchestrated is a show fuelled by a genuine passion for disco music and draws inspiration from legends like Earth, Wind & Fire and the Bee Gees with the unique infusion of intricate orchestral arrangements and captivating live improvisation. You’ll hear two non-stop sets celebrating the iconic beats and melodies of your favourite disco anthems performed by four incredible vocalists and a 17-musician ensemble.

The band will bring to life the horn stabs, string lines, and bassline bravado that have come to define disco. The truly original sets are created with intricate orchestral arrangements, segues, and remixes worthy of the greatest disc jockey.

Live horns & strings allow for infinite avenues of sonic exploration, built on a driving four-onthe-floor foundation. Information and tickets at: https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/discoorchestrated-with-brixton-chamber-orchestra.

Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ.

Fridays 7, 14, 21 & 28 August: Lewisham Underwater Hockey Club 7:45pm – 9pm Try out underwater hockey at Forest Hill pools every Friday evening. We’re a mixed ability club who play for fun and exercise. Complete beginners welcome - we’ll ease you in gently and have kit you can borrow.

Forest Hill Pools, Dartmouth Road SE23 2HZ. For more information: www.luwhc.org.uk 24 | SE23 - August 2026

Friday 7 August: The Creative Arts Club: Cyanotypes – Working with Summer Light 10am-12.30pm. Come along and immerse yourselves in the wonderful gardens at Bell House and create some beautiful blueprints using nature, sunlight, water – and your own creativity. Cyanotype printing is a form of contact photography using an object placed directly onto light sensitive paper which is then exposed to sunlight.

You will use sunlight, water, nature and your own creativity – it is as simple as that! We will take inspiration and, weather depending, some samples from the Bell House gardens to use for the prints but you are all welcome to bring objects from home to try. Good examples of the sort of thing to bring would be: black and white negatives (large), lace pieces, an intricate stencil, small, pressed plants – anything flattish that has interesting pattern allowing light to shine through. No experience is necessary. All materials and refreshments will be provided.

Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road SE21 7BG https://www.bellhouse.co.uk

Friday 7 August: Mini Masterpieces 10am & 12pm. Spark your child's imagination through playful creative activities. Join these exploratory sessions for under 5s with each session beginning in the Art Play Pavilion.

Journey through the Gallery to discover the different people, places and animals in our paintings, followed by an art-making activity.

These sessions are recommended for under 5-year-olds. 2 adults maximum per child. Event begins in the ArtPlay Pavilion, moves to the Gallery and ends in the Art Studio Dress children for messy play or bring a change of clothes. We have wet wipes on hand and there are toilets nearby.

All materials are non-toxic and safe to put in mouths. Our ‘baby paint’ is made from cornflour, water and food colouring. Please do get in touch in advance if your baby has any allergies and we will provide an alternative. learning@dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk.

Dulwich Picture Gallery College Road SE21 7AD.

What's On - August Fridays 7, 14, 21 & 28 August: Games & Drama SEN Programme (9-15) | Summer Holiday Club 11.30am-2.30pm

Saturday 8 August: Honor Oak WI Summer Outing - Kew Gardens The Honor Oak WI is a friendly and supportive group of women of all ages, backgrounds and interests. We usually on the first Tuesday of the month but this month we have a summer outing.

We also have a book club, craft club and gallery & museum visits group. All are welcome but maybe a charge for materials for non-members.

Instagram: honoroak_wi. honoroakwi@gmail.com. www.facebook.com/groups/honoroakwi.

Stanstead Lodge Café, Northwood Road, SE23 1DD

Saturday 8 August: South London Warlords Open Day 10.30am - 5pm The Games & Drama SEN Programme is for neurodivergent and anxious young people aged 9-15 who find social spaces hard, but still want connection, fun, and somewhere to feel comfortable being themselves. Delivered by SEN Manny Mentor, a specialist SEN mentoring and tutoring organisation, the programme runs across the rooms and front garden at Bell House.

Young people can move between quieter spaces for solo and creative time, smaller spaces for gentler interaction, and bigger spaces for higherenergy group activities, with space to simply sit back and watch. Choice is at the heart of the day, with no expectation of full participation. Please note this is a group setting, not a 1:1 service.

Our mentors work across the cohort, so if your young person needs the safety of 1:1 attention, you are welcome to stay with them. For many young people, having a parent or carer nearby is what makes a new environment feel possible.

If ongoing 1:1 work is what they need week to week, our 1:1 SEN mentoring service exists for exactly that. The programme reflects a core belief of SEN Manny Mentor: that young people educated through EOTAS, home education, or those still linked to school but struggling to cope, deserve access to meaningful peer groups and shared experiences, not only individual support.

Sessions are delivered by experienced Specialist SEN mentors with oversight from our Founder and Lead Practitioner.

Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road, SE21 7BG. https://www.bellhouse.co.uk

Come and join us for a day of wargames at our home in Dulwich. We will be presenting games to suit all interests, from historical and fantasy to sci-fi and welcoming all visitors to join in.

Many of these games are unique to our club, with a social focus on participation by multiple gamers. Find out why we are the fastest growing wargaming club in London.

PLEASE NOTE: All visitors under 18 require the presence of their parent / guardian throughout.

St Barnabas Parish Hall 23 Dulwich Village, London SE21 7BT www.southlondonwarlords.co.uk

Sunday 9 August: The Goose Is Out! Singaround at The Castle 7pm-10.30pm If you like singing, come to our Singaround! It is very informal and participative. We take it in turns to sing a song - any genre, any language.

Everybody is welcome. You don't have to be a "good singer", and you can just listen if you want. £5 on the door (cash or BACS only). For information see: www.thegooseisout.com.

The Castle, 280 Crystal Palace Road SE22 9JJ. Submit your events for free via our website: www.semagazines.co.uk SE23 - August 2026 | 25

28

Forest Hill TheatreMaker Asks Neighbours To Help Bring AutisticLed Show To The Stage

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orest Hill writer-performer Maks Marzec has brought together a 10-strong autistic and neurodivergent creative team for a new bilingual show. The Polish-British queer artist is crowdfunding £33,500 for How I WrotE a book at 6 AND PROOFREAD IT AT 8, a Polish-English piece about autistic masking, language, migration, queerness and the pressure to self-correct in order to belong.

The title comes from a childhood memory.

Maks wrote a book at six and, two years later, unprompted and probably smiling, returned to it with a red pen to correct every mistake. He told no one. After his autism diagnosis, it took on a different meaning: an early image of learning to correct himself before anyone else could.

On stage, two performers expand this solitary act into repeated gestures, shifting patterns and language under pressure.

Lighting designer Daisy Simmons says: “With this piece, it is the power of patterns and subtleties that means the most to me. So much of the reason people don’t ‘see’ autism in others, or even realise that they themselves are autistic, is because that conflict is internalised, masked and covered up to ‘fit in’.”

“For me, an autistic mind can create immense beauty and carry immense pain with some of the same tools,” Maks says. “Theatre lets the audience feel that change: a pattern can bring joy, a bell can become a command, and applause can turn into pressure.”

Although autistic masking sits at its centre, the piece may resonate with anyone who has ever made themselves smaller, quieter or easier to read in order to feel safe or accepted. It arrives as more people re-read their lives through autism, ADHD and masking. NHS England data shows that 13 times more people were waiting for an autism assessment in September 2025 than in April 2019.

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Yet the project grew independently, without a producing theatre or institution. With the script complete, Maks approached artists he had never met before and whose work and perspective felt right. Different elements resonated with them, and a group of collaborators gradually formed around the script to carry it into rehearsal.

Alongside his language-teaching work, he has put more than 300 unpaid hours into writing the script and shaping its intricate architecture, bringing the team together and preparing the piece for its next stage. Moving forward now requires proper funding. The Crowdfunder will pay the artists and fund rehearsals, access work, technical development, documentation and at least three free London previews in late 2026.

Around 75% will go to professional fees.

The main campaign runs until 21 August, with donations possible afterwards. Scan the QR code to watch the video, contact the team, donate or share. A £10 “This Should Exist” pledge can help show that neighbours want the work to reach the stage.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/how-iwrote-a-book-at-6-and-proofread-it-at-8

LOCAL

EVENTS ADD YOUR LOCAL EVENTS TO OUR WEBSITE VIA THE LINK ON OUR WEBSITE OR SCAN THE QR CODE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY FREE! EVENTS WILL BE LISTED IN OUR MAGAZINES.

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SE23 - August 2026 | 27

What's On - August Sunday 9 August: Willow & Basketry Workshop 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm. Unleash your creativity and support local wildlife in this hands-on willow weaving workshop. Under the guidance of basketmaker, Katie from Twinefolk, you’ll learn traditional basketry techniques, including 3-rod waling, pairing, and dropping a border.

Using sustainable willow grown in Somerset, you will craft a beautiful, eco-friendly bird feeder designed to blend seamlessly into any natural setting. Suitable for complete beginners, you’ll leave with a unique, handmade garden feature and the skills to weave more. Join us to create something for your garden and its feathered visitors! This workshop will be held in our Sculpture Garden, weather permitting. We have our Art Studio as a wet weather option. Book tickets via website.

Dulwich Picture Gallery College Road, SE21 7AD. www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk.

Wednesday 12 August: EDWI: Mudlarking Talk/Presentation with Germander Speedwell 7.30pm-9.30pm. We are excited to welcome Germander Speedwell in August for an illustrated talk on Mudlarking. She is a licensed Thames mudlark. In her presentations, she will explain about mudlarking generally, give examples of the different types of finds - from jewellery and coins to pottery and old toys - and tell some of the fascinating stories that they uncover.

Plus she will reveal some of the beautiful and eccentric decorated clay pipes that she has found.

Guests are welcome to this event; for returning guests, the guest fee is £7 (cash only).

We welcome new members; the pro rata membership for the year to 31st March 2027 is £40.50 for ladies joining in August. We have 12 events a year, a book club, and arrange some other events from time to time.

Please email: join@eastdulwichwi.co.uk for further information. The Castle Pub, Upstairs Function room, 280 Crystal Palace Road, SE22 9JJ.

Submit your events for free via our website: www.semagazines.co.uk 28 | SE23 - August 2026

Thursday 13 August: Home for Everyone: How we care for people and planet 11am-3pm. Climate change is increasingly becoming a major driver of migration. As extreme heat, drought, wildfires and flooding make some regions harder to inhabit, more people are leaving their homes in search of sanctuary and a chance to rebuild their lives. Through a drop-in crafting activity, we will reflect on ways to care for our environment, our neighbours, and how we can nurture resilience in our communities.

Share your thoughts, chat with the Migration Museum team about the opening of their permanent home and share your migration story through their migration story discs collection.

THIS EVENT IS FREE. https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/home-foreveryone-how-we-care-for-people-and-planet/ Pavilion - near the Bandstand at the top of the Gardens, Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ.

Sundays 16 & 30 August: Masterclass: Painting the Landscape en Plein Air with David Sawyer 10am-4pm Join acclaimed landscape painter David Sawyer for a day of plein air painting. Painting alongside him offers a rare opportunity to observe, at close quarters, how a leading landscape painter sees, simplifies and resolves a motif. Throughout the day, David will demonstrate his approach and offer guidance as you work, sharing the practical methods that allow him to paint quickly, decisively and with clarity.

This is a chance to step outside, work directly from nature, and develop a more confident, fluent approach to landscape painting under expert guidance. There will be a one-hour lunch break. Depending upon the weather we will take a view about remaining outdoors or continuing in the studio. Please note that all artists are asked to bring their own materials and easels.

Sunday 16 August - Central London (location to be defined) Sunday 30 August - A Park in South London (location to be defined). www.dulwichartgroup.co.uk/product/ masterclass-painting-the-landscape-en-pleinair-with-david-sawyer.

What's On - August Monday 17 - Friday 21 August: Musical Theatre Camp at Dulwich Prep & Senior 10.30am-4pm

Join West End Director Benji Sperring and a team of theatrical experts as we host our Musical Theatre Camp for children in Years 4 to 9. Enjoy a week of singing, dancing, acting, and propmaking, focusing on all things musicals. The course runs for the whole week and is open for children in Years 4 to 9 (aged nine years and above), culminating in a performance on the Friday. Places are limited, so if it’s something your son or daughter wants to hone their skills in, sign up today!

Dulwich Prep & Senior, 38-42 Alleyn Park, SE21 7AA avpsportsandscamps@dulwichprepsenior.org.uk 020 8766 5529

Monday 17 August: Dulwich WI Monthly Meeting 7.30pm-9.30pm Launched in 2018, the Dulwich WI is a supportive and stimulating group for women of all ages and backgrounds. We meet once a month at No 57, 57 North Cross Road, SE22 9ET. We would love to meet you and look forward to welcoming you to our group. https://dulwichwi.com

Submit your events for free via our website: www.semagazines.co.uk

Saturday 22 August: Li Li Ren and Mazzy-Mae Green: Talk

2pm-3pm. Join artist Li Li Ren and curator MazzyMae Green for a live conversation exploring Ren’s immersive sculptural installation, To Find a Way Home (2023). Installed in our Sculpture Garden, To Find a Way Home is a series of immersive sculptures - coral-like forms reminding us to look out for the strange and the surreal.

In discussion with Green, Ren will reflect on the development of her practice and the ideas that underpin her installations. Her work negotiates the shifting relationships between objects in space, constructing environments that stretch beyond the physical exhibition into speculative realms suspended between the biologically plausible and the highly fantastical.

Working across sculpture and installation, Ren uses unexpected materials and abstractions to reimagine familiar forms - hard glass may appear soft and gelatinous; bodies may become tidal, porous or hybrid.

Li Li Ren is an artist whose practice explores the constantly shifting relationships between objects, bodies and environments. Working across sculpture and installation, she creates built worlds that move beyond the physical exhibition space into imagined realms that are at once biologically suggestive and highly fantastical.

Her work often incorporates forms associated with the ocean, biology, maternity, altered states and the Anthropocene, while deliberately queering and destabilising those references through abstraction, material play and transformation.

Mazzy-Mae Green is a curator working across interdisciplinary, sculptural and installationbased creative practice. Book tickets via website.

Dulwich Picture Gallery College Road SE21 7AD www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk SE23 - August 2026 | 29

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What's On - August Sunday 23 August: Introduction to Figure Painting Workshop With Simon Dunstan. 10am-5pm. Making the jump from drawing to painting can be a bit daunting and yet for many it is the natural progression of their interest in describing the human figure. No one is going to learn to paint competently in four hours and yet that is precisely the amount of time that we will give you to grasp the fundamentals – it’s enough to get you going.

Who is it for? Not for the absolute beginner but for those who have some drawing under their belt and are not sure of the best way forward with figure and oil paint.

Painting the human figure is central to what we do at the Dulwich Art Group. Like life drawing it is technically challenging but once a few simple principles are understood the way becomes clear. When we work from the nude, we gain the skills to paint almost anything. Landscape artists will talk of how painting the figure improves their landscape immeasurably.

Dulwich Art Group & School, 4a Champion Hill, SE5 8AH. www.dulwichartgroup.co.uk/product/

Monday 31 August: Bach to Baby Double Trouble - Tutti Flutti 10.30am-11.15am Mary Thorneloe, flutes & Dan Watts, piano.

Double the trouble, double the fun! Two flutes take the stage: is it a dashing duel or a harmonious duet? Decide for yourself as these free-spirited flutes chase, dance and trill their way through the programme. Trouble never sounded so good! See our website for the latest programming information for this concert.

Remember: Up to 2 children come free on every Adult Ticket! Book directly from our website: https://www.bachtobaby.com/dulwich-villagemusic-concerts-for-baby-and-family St. Barnabas Church, Calton Avenue, SE21 7DG

Saturday 5 September: Peckham Rye Fete

introduction-to-figure-painting-workshop-sunday.

Tuesday 25 August: Cosy sunset Gong Bath Meditation & Sound Journey 7.45pm-9.15pm Step into the magical realm of my Secret Soul Sanctuary, Sydenham Hill, SE23 3PH, by the woods! It is a safe haven in the heart of South London, where I invite you to join me for an evening Gong Meditation / Sound Journey. Book via Eventbrite and www.thesoulnurturer.co.uk

Sunday 30 August: August Family Festival 10am-4pm You are invited to experiment, have fun and explore as a family. From hands-on art adventures and imaginative workshops to nature-led discoveries and playful moments, there’s something to spark every curious mind.

Come ready to try new things, explore freely, and enjoy plenty of fun together. Book tickets via website. www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk.

Dulwich Picture Gallery College Road, SE21 7AD. 30 | SE23 - August 2026

12pm-5pm. It takes a lot of work to run the fete, and we especially need volunteers to run the coconut shy and children’s races. Please contact us on peckhamryepark@gmail.com if you can give us an hour or two of your time. Paws and Pause took over running the wonderful fete and dog show last year. What a triumph it was delighted they are returning for another go. A busy crowd enjoyed all the fun of the dog show, sack races, coconut shy, Punch and Judy, the Friends-run stands and stalls such as the Pimms, wine and beer stand, the tea and cakes tent, the book and plant stalls, along with a variety of other food stands and stalls. www.peckhamryepark.org/news.

Peckham Rye Park, Straker's Road, SE15 3UA.

Community Index Useful Contacts The University Hospital Lewisham Tel 020 8333 3000 Lewisham Borough Council Tel 020 8314 6000 (24 hrs) www.lewisham.gov.uk Lewisham Early Years Service Tel 0800 085 0606 Forest Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team Tel: 020 8721 2723 Email: ForestHill.SNT@met.police.uk

Community Groups

Local Councillors Forest Hill Ward Peter Bernards (Labour) Tel 020 8314 9927 cllr_peter.bernards@lewisham.gov.uk Fergus Navaratnam-Blair (Green) Tel 020 8314 8358 Fergus.Navaratnam-Blair@Lewisham.gov.uk Annabelle Roberts (Green) Tel 020 8314 8361 Annabelle.Roberts@Lewisham.gov.uk

Surgeries All councillors: 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month, 11am-12.30pm. Forest Hill Library, Dartmouth Road, SE23. 11am–12.30pm.

Forest Hill Society www.foresthillsociety.com Friends of One Tree Hill http://friendsofonetreehill.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/friendsofOTH / @Friends_of_OTH Tewkesbury Lodge Estate Residents’ Association www.tewkesburylodge.org.uk Sydenham Garden Tel 020 829 11650 www.sydenhamgarden.org.uk Our Lady and St Philip Neri Friends Association www.olspnfriendsassociation.com Independent community websites www.se23.com

Perry Vale Ward

Local MPs

Aaron Regisford (Green) Tel 020 8314 8341 Aaron.Regisford@Lewisham.gov.uk Natalie Thomas (Green) Tel 020 8314 8331 Natalie.Thomas@Lewisham.gov.uk

Ellie Reeves (Lab, Lewisham West and Penge) Tel 020 7219 2668 ellie.reeves.mp@parliament.uk Janet Daby (Lab, Lewisham East) Tel 020 8461 4733 Janet.daby.mp@parliament.uk Vicky Foxcroft - (Lab, Lewisham Deptford) Tel 020 8469 4638 vicky.foxcroft.mp@parliament.uk

Justin Calcutt Cheadle (Green) Tel 020 8314 8394 Justin.CalcuttCheadle@lewisham.gov.uk Maria McKenna (Green) Tel 020 8314 8458 Maria.McKenna@Lewisham.gov.Uk Mike Podmore (Green) Tel 020 8314 8433 Mike.Podmore@Lewisham.gov.uk

Surgeries Meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month (excluding August) 10:30am until 12:30pm at The Lodge Cafe (Stanstead Lodge Senior Club), 260 Stanstead Road, SE23 1DD.

Crofton Park Ward

Surgeries Crofton Park councillors offer in-person councillor surgeries on: 2nd Saturday of each month at 11-12 4th Saturday of each month at 11-12 4th Tuesday of each month at 2-3pm All sessions take place at Crofton Park Community Library, Brockley Road.

SE23 - August 2026 | 31

Dulwich Hamlet FC dulwichhamletfc.co.uk | dhst.org.uk | Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.

Season 2026/27

W

ell, here we go again then. Not long before another season of exciting football at Champion Hill for Dulwich Hamlet, and you are absolutely invited to come and join the fun.

Some of you may be aware that the teams may not be at the current stadium for too many more years, with a new ground next door in the pipeline.

So, make sure you make the most of it while you can, and get along to as many games as possible.

While you are there, make sure to come and speak to the Supporters’ Trust about our plans for the season – and please do also think about renewing or signing up for membership.

The Supporters’ Trust exists to ensure the fans’ voice is heard at the Club, and we have three Trust nominated members of the Club Board to help make that happen. We also do community work, invest in projects to support the matchday experience, and we run the shop at the famous Mega Container, including designing all your favourite scarves, hats and shirts.

Our membership runs from 1 August onward, so there is no better time to join than now – or you can renew via direct debit. Sign up and show your support to the teams, as well as help us continue in our work. If you’d prefer to join in person, come sign up on a matchday at the Mega Container, or you can do it online at dhst.org.uk.

What you may have missed…

Whilst there have been no games for a while, the Trust has continued our work – including electing a new member to our Board. A huge thank you to all the members who voted and came to our AGM to hear about plans for the season ahead.

We have been thrilled to have so many come and support fundraising activities over the past couple of months. We raised hundreds of pounds through a performance of Cymbeline at the club (following on from Hamlet at the Hamlet earlier in the year), and also the inaugural Dulwich Hamlet Dog Show, which was every bit as much fun as it sounds. Money went to Compass Collective, who do amazing work to help refugees in the UK. 32 | SE23 - August 2026

Fixtures We have already had a couple of games in preseason for the men’s and women’s teams, but don’t worry, there is plenty more friendly action to enjoy in the summer sunshine.

On Saturday 1 August our men’s team are hosting QPR at Champion Hill, with a kick off at 3pm. The weekend after we have the women’s team taking to the field on Sunday 9 August against Dorking Wanderers. If you haven’t been to the ground before, these friendlies are a great way to experience a day out at Champion Hill before the league action kicks in, and there are few better ways to spend a sunny August day than here at Champion Hill.

Keep an eye on the club website and socials for our upcoming league fixtures, and let’s hope for a promotion push in 2027! Up the Hamlet – and see you at Champion Hill soon!

Open Garden

B

ring your picnic blanket and listen to some lively and light-hearted music in this tranquil garden, tucked away in a small cul-de-sac. The garden is mainly laid to lawn, with herbaceous borders featuring dahlias in particular, and backs onto woodland. Wine, prosecco and soft drinks available to buy as well has hot sausages in rolls and a choice of pudding.

Sunday 6th September Open 6 –9pm.

Wood Cottage, Dome Hill Park, London SE26 6SP. Nearest bus stop – bus 202 and 363, Dome Hill Park stop on Sydenham Hill. Bus 3 also nearby.

Limited parking. Limited space available. £25 tickets available to purchase at: www.linkagesouthwark.org/Event/woodcottage-open-gardens" SE23 - August 2026 | 33

Index of Advertisers Dalmain Primary School...............................................2 DIY Alcove Cabinets......................................................7 Dulwich Carpet Company .........................................35 Google Reviews: SE Magazines..................................27 Horniman Dance School: Silver Swans......................17 Interior & Exterior Painting & Decorating .................15 John @ James & Lamont: Painting & Decorating .....15 Karl Hutton Joinery ......................................................5 Kingsdale Foundation School: Open Day Events .............................................18 & 19 Mino Pottery Painting & Café......................................7 Mojo Fit Running..........................................................7 Peter Morris Exhibition...............................................23

Pickwick Estates ....................................................Back Robert Cox French Polishing......................................13 SE Magazines: Local Business Advertising................21 Silver Swans Classes..................................................17 South London Warlords..............................................13 Sterling and Law ........................................................13 Steve Smith Accountants ..........................................15 Studio 23 Performing Arts Company............................5 Sydenham & Dulwich Girls GDST.................................1 T Rooney Heating.......................................................21 Village Books Author Events .......................................5 William Rose Butchers......................................10 & 11

If you contact any of our advertisers, please do say you saw them in SE23. Thank you!

Next Issue - September | Copy Deadline - 14 August

If you would like to advertise in our next issue (or SE21 and SE22), you can download our rates from our website or just get in touch with Angela on 020 8693 9040.

www.semagazines.co.uk 34 | SE23 - August 2026

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47 Honor Oak Park Honor Oak London SE23 1EA

8 Woodwarde Road Dulwich London SE22 8UJ

020 3397 1166

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info@pickwickestates.com