The only Community Magazine for Forest Hill & Honor Oak Established 2006 www.semagazines.co.uk
Issue 232 - January 2026 In this issue What’s On Dulwich Hamlet FC Garden Talk Pets Corner Fitness Tips Travel Tips Dulwich Charity Lunch The Last Word
- P6 - P10 - P12 - P14 - P16 - P22 - P30 - P32
Local Events | News | Community News | Local Businesses | Features www.arounddulwich.co.uk | www.semagazines.co.uk
Dalmain Primary School
OUTSTANDING Ofsted 2024
Behaviour & Attitudes Personal Development
We believe in creating a nurturing & inclusive environment where academic excellence & creativity go hand in hand.
“Pupils flourish at this warm and 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 Grove Close, Brockley Rise SE23 1AS Phone: 020 8699 2675 Email: admin@dalmain.lewisham.sch.uk
Daily wrap around care available from 7:45am-6:00pm
Welcome to SE23 Happy New Year! I hope you have all had a lovely festive period and have enjoyed time with your family. As usual I have rounded up all the great events taking place in and around Dulwich. The events pages start on page 6. January is proving to be a busy month for events, so we have a fabulous eight 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.arounddulwich.co.uk too as many events get added after I have gone to print. You can often find out more details online too. Last month saw the 24th Dulwich Charity lunch which was organised to raise much-needed funds for Link Age Southwark. The lunch was very well attended and we raised a fantastic amount for the charity. Please do take a look on pages 30 & 31 to see how we got on. If you live or work locally, why not get in touch and have The Last Word in this magazine. I am now looking for people to write from February onwards. Just drop me an e-mail. 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, 18, 19, 24, 26 & 28 Dulwich Hamlet FC.................................................... 14 Garden Talk ............................................................ 12 Pets Corner................................................................ 14 Fitness Tips............................................................... 16 Children’s Activities.................................................. 17
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Call 020 8693 9040 angela@semagazines.co.uk www.semagazines.co.uk @semags_arounddulwich @SEMagazines @SEMags_ADulwich
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!
Volunteer Drivers Needed......................................... 17 Financial Matters...................................................... 20 Travel Tips................................................................. 22 Ripe Old Age ............................................................. 27 Community Index..................................................... 29 Dulwich Charity Lunch......................................30 & 31 The Last Word .......................................................... 32 Index ........................................................................ 34
February Deadline - 15 January (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 - January 2026 | 3
Events Calendar - January Monday
Tuesday
29th
3oth
Wednesday
Thursday
31st
1st
Friday
2nd
New Year’s Day Under 5s Explore, see p6. Lewisham Underwater Hockey Club p6.
5th
6th
7th
Alleyn’s Holiday Camp, see p8. Online Tak - Bell House, p9. Honor Oak WI meeting p9. Dulwich Park Runners see p9.
12th
13th
8th
9th
BNI Adventures p18.
Goose Green Coffee Mornings, p9. Goose Green Lunch Weekly Wine Club, see p19. Sessions, see p18. Edouward Manet & Music p18.
14th
15th
Saturday
3rd
10th
11th
parkruns, see p6.
Junior parkruns, p8.
Lewisham Underwater Hockey Club p6.
16th
Singaround, p19.
17th
Goose Green Coffee BNI Adventures p18. Morning New Mornings, p9. Goose Green Lunch Moon Sister Circle Club, see p19. Weekly Wine see p24. Cinnamon Roll & Sourdough Social, Sessions, see p18. Pineapple Tepache see p19. Lewisham Workshop, see p19. EDWI - Annual Underwater Dulwich Park January Quiz, p19. Matt Baker - A Taste Hockey Club p6. Runners see p9. for Murder p24. Gong Bath, see p19.
parkruns, see p6.
19th
20th
24th
New Moon Sister Circle with Mini Gong Bath see p24.
Breathing Class see p8.
Dulwich WI, see page 24.
26th
22nd
Tuning in to Teens parkruns, see p6. Goose Green Lunch - Parenting Course, Club, see p19. see p26.
Gong Bath, see p26.
Gong Bath, see p26.
Dulwich Park Runners see p9.
Weekly Wine Sessions, see p18.
27th
28th
29th
Weekly Wine Sessions, see p18.
Supporting the Dyslexic Learner p28.
Breathing Class see p8. David McCloskey in conversation, see p26. Dulwich Park Runners see p9.
23rd
BNI Adventures p18. Goose Green Coffee Mornings, p9.
4th
parkruns, see p6. Junior parkruns, p8. Men Walk Talk, p6. The Weekly Horniman Market p9. Print Club - Family Poster Printing p8.
The Weekly Horniman Market p9.
Breathing Class see p8.
21st
Sunday
18th Junior parkruns, see p8. The Weekly Horniman Market p9.
25th Junior parkruns, p8. The Weekly Horniman Market p9.
Cinnamon Roll & Lewisham Pineapple Tepache Underwater Workshop, see p19. Hockey Club p6.
30th
31st
BNI Adventures p18. Tuning in to Teens parkruns, see p6. - Parenting Course, Goose Green Coffee Goose Green Lunch see p26. Mornings, p9. Club, see p19. Creative Tales, p28.
1st
Phil Tyler & Sarah Hill, David Collins, Duncan McTaggart @ The Ivy House p28.
Forthcoming Events Further details where available can be found in the News and Events pages 6, 8, 9, 18, 19, 24, 26 & 28. Please read as not all the events can fit on the calendar! 4 | SE23 - January 2026
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What's On - January Friday 2 January: Under 5s Explore: Mini Masterpieces
Saturdays 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January: Parkrun 9am – 10am
Dulwich Parkrun 10am-11am or 12pm-1.10pm. Spark your child’s imagination through playful painting. Join these exploratory sessions for under 5s. Each session begins with a journey through the Gallery to discover the different people, places and animals in our paintings, followed by an artmaking activity. Our themes change monthly to keep your little creatives engaged and open them up to new ways of playing. www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk. College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7AD.
Fridays 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 January: Lewisham Underwater Hockey Club
7:30pm – 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 6 | SE23 - January 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 3 January: 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
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If you love to sing, don’t keep it to yourself!
Popchoir Dulwich St Barnabas Parish Hall 23 Dulwich Village SE21 7BT
Wednesdays 8:00-9:30pm
Book your free taster now to find out why our members love Popchoir so much!
Spring Term 14th January - 25th March (excluding 17th February) SE23 - January 2026 | 7
What's On - January Saturday 3 January: Print Club – New Year Family Poster Printing 1.30pm-5pm
Start the New Year with some inspirational fun in our Print Room & Bindery using our historic 1880’s Albion printing press and vintage hand presses to print your frameable motivational poster for the year ahead. It can be a list of New Year resolutions, it can be a favourite quotation or it can just be something silly that makes you smile every time you see it in all of its heritage crafted glory! Come alone or come en masse – 2026 is ready and waiting… Your New Year print will be designed by you using wonderful wooden and metal type and shapes from our huge collection, printed under supervision on a vintage press and then finished using thermographic powder and be ready to take home at the end of the session. ALL MATERIALS INCLUDED – NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. The workshop will be run by the Creative Directors of the Print Room & Bindery – Simon Trewin and Tania Hurt-Newton. £60 per person, concessions available. Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG www.bellhouse.co.uk
Monday 5 - Wednesday 7 January: Alleyn's Holiday Camp 8am-6pm Alleyn's Holiday Camp is an Ofsted registered provider, where every day bursts with fun, action, and adventure. We welcome children who are between Year 1 and Year 6 from any school, not just those attending school at Alleyn’s. Please note we are unable to take children attending school in Reception. Our camps are led by experienced staff who know how to maximise fun within a safe environment. With an emphasis on participation, we help children acquire new skills and confidence whilst making new friends. Our friendly team ensures that every day is bursting with variety and enjoyment. Days are planned carefully so there is plenty for every child to choose from. Unique to our camp, we provide every child with a swimming session each day. These sessions are delivered by our inhouse team of ASA and Swim England qualified swimming teachers in our state-of-the-art pool. https://www.alleyns.org.uk/camps-andcourses/holiday-camp. Alleyn’s School, Townley Road SE22 8SU.
Tuesdays 6, 13, 20 & 27 January: Weekly Online Breathing Class 7pm – 7.40pm
Sundays 4, 11, 18 & 25 January: 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. 8 | SE23 - January 2026
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
What's On - January Sundays 4, 11, 18 & 25 January: 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. 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ www.horniman.ac.uk/
Tuesday 6 January: Honor Oak WI Monthly Meeting 7.30pm-9.30pm. The Honor Oak WI is a friendly and supportive group of women of all ages, backgrounds and interests. We meet Monthly on the first Tuesday of the month. We also have a book club, craft club and gallery & museum visits group. January’s meeting is Laughter Yoga. All are welcome but to cover the cost of materials there’s a £6 charge to non-members. honoroakwi@gmail.com @honoroak_wi. www.facebook.com/groups/honoroakwi. Stanstead Lodge Café, Northwood Road, SE23 1DD
Tuesday 6 January: Online talk: Sexual Reformers in Dulwich 1870-1925 8pm-9pm
Discover the unexpected radicals of Dulwich at this online illustrated talk. Figures like Annie Besant, Havelock Ellis, Alison Neilans and Charles and Alice Vickery Drysdale lived here, challenging Victorian boundaries and reshaping ideas about sexuality and personal freedom. Join historian Duncan Bowie for a revealing, lively talk that uncovers just how surprising Dulwich’s past really is. Tickets are £5 per person. Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich SE21 7BG. www.bellhouse.co.uk.
Wednesdays 7, 14, 21 & 28 January: Goose Green Coffee Morning 11am-12.30pm
Tuesdays 6, 13, 20 & 27 January DPR Social Runs 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
Do drop into Goose Green Coffee Morning for 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, 62A East Dulwich Road SE22 9AT 18 SE23 - January 2026 | 9
Dulwich Hamlet FC dulwichhamletfc.co.uk | dhst.org.uk | Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.
Happy New Year from Champion Hill!
The pink ‘n’ blue festive jumpers were flying out of our Mega Container last month, but now it’s time to polish off the last of the spicey pies and turn our attention resolutely to results and the year ahead.
Fixtures After our Christmas fixture away from home, the new year kicks off back at Champion Hill when our men host Whitehawk on Saturday 3rd January. The following day, Sunday 4th, our women head to Chesham United looking to reignite the season after a full three-week break. Saturday 10th sees our men travelling to Potters Bar Town, before we gear up for a lively Champion Hill double-header mid-month. On Saturday 17th our men host Cheshunt at the Hill, followed by the visit of Millwall Lionesses, kicking off the Capital Women’s Cup campaign, on Sunday 18th. The following weekend both teams are out on the road, with our men heading to Brentwood Town on Saturday 24th and our women facing Fulham away the following day. Then the month ends back at Champion Hill with the visit of Chatham Town on Saturday 31st. Both these men’s matches offer a real chance to catch the play-off placed pack, while our women need all the points they can get and will surely head into the new year fresh and raring to go.
Community While we look forward with gusto to 2026, we also look back to great efforts off the pitch over this winter. In what has become an annual tradition, the club’s Christmas Appeal collected donations split between King’s College Hospital, to help provide Christmas gifts for children spending the holiday in hospital, and The Albrighton Centre, helping local families with food and essential items. In addition, the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters’ Trust partnered with All Our Relations, an organisation which supports families in crisis, raising funds through the sale of Hamlet Christmas cards and at a special fundraiser at the ever-brilliant 10 | SE23 - January 2026
Photo: Liam Asman
Photo: Rob Avis Dulwich Hamlet Comedy Club. Thanks to all who’ve helped, by donating, supporting or volunteering.
Join us We hope to see you all back at Champion Hill this month and throughout 2026. There are loads of ways to be part of your local football club. For all the match action, half-season tickets are available on the club site at dulwichhamletfc.co.uk . While joining the Supporters’ Trust costs just £10 (£5 concs.) And if you’re already a member, why not buy a Trust membership as a gift for someone else at dhst.org.uk/join or in person at the Mega Container. The Trust is the voice of the fans at the heart of our club. And both the Trust and the football club are always on the lookout for volunteers to help make your Champion Hill match day the best around. Join us in the year ahead and Up the Hamlet!
We offer piano, violin, ukulele and singing lessons at our music studio in East Dulwich. We teach adults and children from age 4. We also tutor students for Music Scholarship entry to local private and state secondary schools including Kingsdale, Habs, Prendergast and Norwood School. Consultation lessons can be booked online:
www.se22piano.co.uk
85 Pellatt Road, East Dulwich, SE22 9JD
SE23 - January 2026 | 11
Seedheads for Winter Interest Garden Talk with Janine Winlaw | Instagram @janinewinlaw
T
here’s something magical about bright frosty mornings in a winter garden. And while evergreen topiary used to be the main focus of winter structure, the seed heads of perennials and ornamental grasses also give beautiful winter interest. It used to be common practice to chop everything down for winter, but as well as creating beautiful structural shapes in faded greys and browns, leaving seed heads also provides invaluable food for birds and wildlife. Sedum varieties such as S.‘Autumn Joy’ have wonderful flat heads that turn a chocolate brown in winter and catch the frost beautifully. The dark cones of rudbeckias and echinacea create beautiful winter silhouettes on long stems, while Phlomis russeliana has a strong sculptural form in the winter. Other perennials that tend to have long-lasting seed heads include Agastache ‘Blackadder’ and veronicastrum, that have spirelike flower heads that fade to brown, as well as eupatorium which has delicate but upright skeletons and some asters. Baptisia australis, a member of the pea family, has flowers that turn
12 | SE23 - January 2026
to black seed pods for winter interest. Hydrangea seed heads are also lovely and sculptural - and leaving them on protects the plant over winter too. The shapes of dying perennials look particularly effective when highlighted against golden grasses such as sporobolus and deschampsia. Sunlight enhances the whole effect – particularly the magical early morning or late afternoon sun. Ornamental grasses such as Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ or Miscanthus sinensis varieties look wonderful when they’re backlit by the slanting winter sun giving off a silvery glow. Varieties of panicum also take on a gorgeous fiery orange colour into winter that lights up in the sun. The winter sun also makes the silvery white stems of perovskia or the silvery architectural foliage and seed heads of Eryngium giganteum shine beautifully. Delicate grasses and seed heads may get a little battered over the winter period by rain, winds, frosts and snow. But just trimming off any tatty or damaged material should keep them going until you’re ready to chop everything down in late winter to make way for new spring growth.
Stephen J. Smith F.C.C.A.
Local Chartered Certified Accountant with 30 years small business experience
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.
Small Business Accounting Financial Administration & Reporting Payroll VAT Personal Tax Advice Tax Compliance
Boiler Installation • Boiler Services • Boiler Breakdowns • Radiator Installation • Emergency call outs • Gas Safety (landlord) Inspections
Inheritance Tax Advice
020 8693 1581 | 07931 558480 ssmith@sjsaccountants.co.uk www.sjsaccountants.co.uk
www.trooneyheating.co.uk trooneyheating@gmail.com 07944921626
Part-time Administrator
The Mark Evison Foundation is a local charity promoting the personal development of young people through challenge. We work directly with London state schools, encouraging non-academic proposals for challenge from 17 year olds. It is exciting work, bringing out the best in young people. To read more, visit: www.markevisonfoundation.org. We are seeking a part-time administrator (up to .6 WTE, very flexible hours) for a key role within a lovely team, based in Court Lane, Dulwich. The work is varied and very interesting. We are very flexible about time, happy to accommodate short days and time off during school holidays. The successful candidate should be well-organised, with good communication skills, able to work independently, manage priorities, work to deadlines, and take initiative. They will be able to deal efficiently and accurately with our administration requirements, and have good PC skills – Word, Excel and Outlook. The post involves general office duties, printing off applications, filing, handling some emails, accurate data input onto spreadsheets, etc. We would train you to deal with our systems. Salary is in line with experience, with room for increases.
Contact: info@markevisonfoundation.org Tel: 07789 765 867 SE23 - January 2026 | 13
New Year: New Pet Diet Pets Corner with Leonie St Clair | www.londondogstraining.co.uk
M
ost of us will face 2026 with a host of resolutions in mind. This time round, how to save on energy costs and stay warm and healthy are probably going to be higher on our lists than losing weight. However, do take a good look at your pet’s diet, because there is more than a grain of truth in the adage, ‘you are what you eat’. Quality food may cost more but it could save you large vet bills down the line. Obesity, diabetes, gut and pancreatic disease are all increasingly afflictions of the modern pet, and diet is thought to be a major factor. As a behaviourist, I see hyper dogs and vicious cats morph into sweet biddable pets overnight, once a change in diet has been made. Let’s be clear, cats are obligate carnivores, they need to eat meat. Not any old meat, but fresh, and as close to live and kicking as possible. Look inside your cat’s mouth, these are teeth for piercing and tearing, not for grinding vegetables. In the wild cats would eat some carbohydrate from the undigested stomach contents of prey, but this would account for around 5% of their diet, not the 30% that is the norm in many packaged cat biscuits. Some proprietary cat foods are excellent, but it is wise to check the label on the packaging. Ground up bits of animal and fish do not count. Beaks, feathers and trotters may all get thrown into that category and will be called meat and animal derivatives. Sure, the animal attached to those body parts may have been passed fit for human consumption, but when did you last eat beaks on a regular basis? There is no such thing as a vegetarian cat, so why do we consider it okay to feed cats a main diet of biscuits? Plant protein concentrates and various types of grain or sugar beet are routinely used as biscuit bulking agents. These may raise the overall protein content of the product, but is it the sort of protein a cat was ever made to digest on a regular basis? No, is the answer. The quality of protein will always trump quantity. All those extra, unnecessary carbs simply get turned into fat, and we wonder why our cat is getting porky? Our dogs fare no better. Unlike their wolf ancestors, they are opportunistic scavengers, not pure carnivores, and have evolved enzymes
14 | SE23 - January 2026
to digest carbohydrate in a way wolves cannot, but they still have the lupine short gut, and the dentition, of a meat eater. If morphology is anything to go by, dogs have developed to digest starch if need be, but overall are designed to consume flesh. The convenience of kibble, together with clever marketing, persuades many of us that we are feeding our pets a quality diet. There is no doubt that our infinitely adaptable canine chums may appear to thrive on kibble but, as one eminent Vet explained to me, it is like feeding your kids chips with everything! Just take a look at your cat, is he getting fat despite eating very little? Is your pooch itchy, flatulent, irritable, edgy and unpredictable? Diet may be the culprit. A healthy pet has well formed, firm to hard stools; anything less should prompt dietary investigation and a visit to the vet. As responsible pet owners we have the opportunity to make informed choices for our pets, it doesn’t have to be hard - you just have to know where to look and how to read the labels. Do some research and discover the high- quality options available. A place to start is: http://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/
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for your business Logo Design, Branding, Advertisements, Brochures, Leaflets, Flyers, Posters, Illustration, Concepts, Artwork & more ...... Call Stephen on 07891 061118 design@stephenshillito.co.uk www.stephenshillito.co.uk
Why not join these local companies & advertise in SE23 Magazine? Dulwich Carpet Care, Not Just Travel, Pickwicks, St Dunstan’s, Sterling Law, Steve Smith Accountants and many more .... To find out how your company can benefit from advertising with SE Magazines, call Angela Burgess on 020 8693 9040 0r e-mail: angela@semagazines.co.uk
ROSEMEAD PREP
Register now to join our award-winning schoolin the heart of Dulwich
www.rosemeadprep.org.uk Dulwich, SE21 8HZ
Places available in Nursery, Reception and Year 3 for an immediate or September 2026 start SE23 - January 2026 | 15
Dry January
Fitness tips with Antonia Bannasch | www.bodyshotperformance.com Why Dry January Might Not Be as Helpful as You Think (If You Go Back to Drinking in February)
E
very January, countless people hit the reset button. Swapping wine for water and hoping 31 days of “being good” will undo December’s indulgence. Dry January has almost become a cultural tradition, a way to prove we can take a break and that our health still matters. But did you know that if you go straight back to your old drinking habits in February, Dry January might not do much for your fitness, energy, or long-term health? In some cases, it can even work against you.
Short-Term Detox, Long-Term Rebound A break from alcohol brings real benefits: better sleep, fewer cravings, less bloating, and clearer thinking. Workouts feel stronger, recovery improves, and mood often lifts. But when February comes around and you slip back into old drinking patterns, your body has to re-adjust again. That sudden stop-start cycle can stress your liver, hormones, and sleep cycle which makes it harder to build the consistency your body needs for real change.
Alcohol Messes with Sleep and Recovery Reintroducing alcohol often wipes out deep sleep fast. And poor sleep isn’t just inconvenient, it affects everything: • Your recovery from workouts • Your hunger hormones • Your motivation • Your ability to handle stress When sleep tanks, energy tanks and so does consistency. Instead of hitting your exercise sessions feeling good, you might find yourself skipping workouts or dragging through them without that energetic spark you felt in January. Consistency, not perfection, is what changes your body composition and strength over time. And alcohol is one of the biggest consistency killers.
Fitness Progress Doesn’t Like Stop/Start Habits So, fitness isn’t about 30 day streaks; it is about long-term patterns and choices that add up over 16 | SE23 - January 2026
time. Dry January can spark motivation, but if it leads to a “Wet February,” you lose momentum just as your body starts responding to better sleep, hydration, and nutrition.Instead of going all-ornothing, a more sustainable approach is finding your middle ground of alcohol that lets you still feel strong, energised and consistent.
Moderation Beats Abstinence For Most People If your goal is to feel strong, sleep well, and stay motivated, it’s less about never drinking and more about how often and how much. Try: • Saving alcohol for one or two meaningful occasions a month • Drinking water between drinks • Noticing how even one glass affects your energy or workout When you start connecting those dots, drinking less becomes natural. No strict “challenge” needed.
So What Is the Better Strategy for 2026? If you are doing Dry January, great! It’s a powerful awareness tool. But instead of treating February as the finish line, see it as a fresh start: • Fewer drinks overall • More mindful choices • Better sleep and recovery • Stronger, steadier energy for your workouts The real win actually is not 31 days without alcohol. It is creating a lifestyle that feels so good, you don’t want to undo it in February.
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
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
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
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 - January 2026 | 17
What's On - January Wednesdays 7, 14, 21 & 28 January: Zoom Portraiture @ Dulwich Art Group & School
Thursdays 8, 15, 22 & 29 January: BNI Adventures 6:30am – 8:30am. Part of the award winning multi-national networking organisation, 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. Dulwich & Sydenham Golf Club, Grange Lane, College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7LH. Register for this event on: www.eventbrite.co.uk
Thursday 8 January: Edouard Manet and Music 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.
Wednesdays 7, 14, 21 & 28 January: Weekly Wine Session 7.30pm-9.30pm The Dulwich Wine Society started in 1991 meets most Wednesdays and provides a way for novices and seasoned wine lovers to explore the world of grapes and wine regions. Taste, learn and discover new favourites. We take a break mid-way through the meeting which provides a chance to get to know others socially, and you can bring your own cheese and biscuits. The Rosendale, 65 Rosendale Road SE21 8EZ. https://www.dulwich-wine-society.co.uk. You can submit your events for free via our website: www.arounddulwich.co.uk 18 | SE23 - January 2026
8pm-9pm. Music was a constant theme in Manet’s life and art. His wife Suzanne Leenhoff was a gifted pianist, and regular musical soirées were held at the Manet family home. His pictures of musicians and their audiences range from early canvases depicting itinerant gypsy musicians and Spanish dancers through to paintings encompassing the full range of Parisian musical culture, from private performances to street entertainment, café concerts and the Paris Opera. Manet also designed cover illustrations for music composed by his friends. The Arts Society Dulwich membership fee is £60 single, £110 double, £12 for students for ten lectures October to July. Lectures also live on Zoom but not recorded. Guests welcome at £10 per lecture at the door, cash or card, or for the Zoom link; contact info@theartssocietydulwich.org.uk James Allen's Girls' School (JAGS) Sixth Form Centre, Green Dale, SE22 8TQ. https://www. theartssocietydulwich.org.uk/programme/lectures
What's On - January Thursdays 8, 15, 22 & 29 January: Goose Green Lunch Club 12.30pm-2pm
The lunch club is a friendly and informal club for people over 55. We meet every Thursday during term time and enjoy a delicious main course and dessert with tea and coffee for £5. If you’re interested in joining us for lunch or if you would like to volunteer with us, please call: Martin: 07939 288885 / Barbara: 0208 693 2090 Goose Green Centre, 62A East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AT.
Sunday 11 January: 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. For lots more information, see our website www.thegooseisout.com. £5 on the door (cash or BACS only). https://www.thegooseisout.com/
Tuesday 13 January: Sourdough Social in South London 7pm-8.30pm Taste homemade sourdough from Elise and kimchi from Loz, meet new people, and chat all things fermentation. It’s a relaxed social, not a workshop — come for the flavour, stay for the community. Tickets via www.eventbrite.co.uk. Kingswood Road, Penge, SE20 7BL.
Wednesday 14 January: The East Dulwich WI Annual January Quiz Night with Peter Hillyard 7.30pm-9.30pm We are delighted to welcome our dear friend Peter Hillyard, a charming quizmaster who has challenged our brain cells for many years with his quizzes. He always surprises us with a new twist and we are looking forward to start the year with a great quiz! And yes there are prizes to be won. The East Dulwich WI welcomes guests to this event, first time guests attend for free, returning guests pay a fee of £5.00. (cash only). We welcome new members, pro rata membership for 1/1/26 to 31/3/26 is £11.75. (cash only). We are a group of local women of all ages and backgrounds, with monthly events, plus a monthly book club and other activities. For information email: join@eastdulwichwi.co.uk. The Castle Pub, Upstairs Function Room 280 Crystal Palace Road, East Dulwich, SE22 9JJ
Thursdays 15 & 22 January: Cinnamon Roll & Pineapple Tepache Workshop 7pm-8pm Learn how to make kimchi in a workshop that is suitable for both beginners and fermentation enthusiasts. You will be chopping and prepping veg and fruit to take home and ferment with full instructions. The recipe I use is vegan. Everything you need is provided. No experience is required and your ferment will be ready to eat within a week of the workshop. Kimchi is a spicy Korean condiment made from fermented cabbage. As well as being delicious, it has lots of brilliant gut health boosting properties. Yellow House #71, Kingswood Road, Penge, SE20 7BL. https://southlondonferments.wordpress.com.
Thursday 15 January: Gong Bath on Sydenham Hill - a cosy evening Sound Journey 8pm-9pm. Step into the magical realm of my Secret Soul Sanctuary 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. Secret Soul Sanctuary, Sydenham Hill, SE23 3PH. Bookings via Eventbrite & www.thesoulnurturer.co.uk.
24 SE23 - January 2026 | 19
Financial Matters
With Akwasi Duodu | akwasi@sterlingandlaw.com | www.sterlingandlaw.com
New to investing? Here’s how to get started It’s a New Year and you know that the best way to build wealth is through long term investing. You’ve been meaning to get started for a while but haven’t gotten round to it. But here to start? With so much information out there, it’s bewildering. Worry not. Here are some practical tips to help you get started.
1) Define Your Goals Before You Invest Ask yourself, what am I investing for? Is it for retirement or buying a home? You may be investing simply to build wealth for no particular purpose. That’s fine too. But having a goal will determine your time horizon and risk tolerance. For example, saving for retirement decades away allows you to take more risk, whereas saving to buy a home in 5 years may require a more conservative approach.
2) Build Your Financial Foundation a) before investing, make sure your financial basics are in place. These would include paying down any high interest debt such as credit cards. This is particularly important because the interest rate on debt is usually much higher than the returns gained from investing. b) Build an emergency fund. This should be three to six months of living expenses just in case. c) Make sure you have all the essential insurances, without which investing becomes like building a castle on the sand.
3) Start Small And Stay Consistent You don’t need a large sum to begin. Many of the platforms we use as financial advisers allow our clients to start from as little as £50 per month. The key is consistency. Over time, regular contributions, even modest ones, tend to grow due to the power of compounding. Direct debits are great because you invest automatically without you having to remember or think about it. You could always invest an ad hoc lump sum if you had any spare to invest at any time during your investment journey.
4) Understand Risk And Diversification Risk is an unavoidable part of investing, but it can be managed. Diversifying or spreading your money across different types of assets like stocks 20 | SE23 - January 2026
and bonds helps reduce the impact of any single investment performing badly. Beginners often find it easiest to achieve diversification through low-cost index funds. If you’re unsure or find this confusing, speak to a financial adviser.
5) Think Long Term Markets will rise and fall, sometimes sharply. It’s tempting to react emotionally to short-term fluctuations, but successful investors stay focused on the bigger picture. Investing is not about timing the market; it’s about time in the market. The longer you stay invested, the more opportunity your money has to grow.
6) Don’t Overthink It So many people defer investing due to the fear of getting it wrong. Analysis paralysis is a real barrier to getting started. There is almost too much choice out there. This paradox of choice can stop you in your tracks. If you suffer from this, my advice would be to speak to a local financial adviser. Most would be delighted to help guide you through the maze of options, even as a small or beginner investor. Wealth is not built overnight—it’s the result of steady, disciplined effort over time. By acting now, you’ll thank yourself years down the road.
Emotionally Intelligent Parenting Course 2026 A six-session parenting programme for parents of children aged 11-18 years Delivered by two HCPC registered child psychologists
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN HOW TO:
• Be better at talking with your teen? • Be better at understanding your teen? • Help your teen learn to manage their emotions? • Help to prevent behaviour problems in your teen? • Teach your teen to deal with conflict? Tuning in to Teens® shows you how to use emotion coaching to help your teen develop their emotional intelligence . WHERE: Rivoli Meeting Room, Unit E, 59 Ladywell Road, SE13 7UT WHEN: 7pm - 9.15pm on 23rd & 30th January, 6th February, 13th, 20th & 27th March 2026 To find out more & to book a place please visit: https://bit.ly/4p8XsP5
SE23 - January 2026 | 21
Peaks & Waves
Hayley John-Charles at Not Just Travel | https://hayleyjohncharles.notjusttravel.com
Why the Best Time to Book Your 2026 Holiday Is Just Around the Corner
A
s the festive lights begin to sparkle and diaries start filling with Christmas plans, another important season quietly approaches in the travel world — a period known as Peaks and Waves. For those already thinking about their 2026 holidays, this is the moment that could save you money, secure your dream itinerary, and give you the widest choice of flights, resorts and cruise cabins. Peaks - The industry’s biggest booking season, running from just after Christmas through to the end of February. It’s the time of year when holidaymakers feel inspired, start browsing destinations, and look for guidance from someone who can help turn ideas into real plans. It also happens to be when airlines, resorts and tour operators release their strongest earlybird offers — often the best you’ll see all year. This year, the travel industry is expecting an especially strong Peaks season. Some partners have released early deals sooner than usual, meaning savings for 2026 holidays have already begun to appear. These early Peaks offers typically include reduced deposits, discounted upgrades, addedvalue extras and lower prices on long-haul destinations that rarely drop later. For families, early bookers, or anyone with set travel dates, planning during Peaks can make a huge difference. Alongside Peaks comes Waves, the cruise industry’s prime booking window. Running over the same period, Waves is when cruise lines reveal their biggest incentives of the year — cabin upgrades, onboard credit, reduced fares and exclusive promotions. Whether you’ve been dreaming of a Mediterranean sailing, a Caribbean escape or an expedition cruise further afield, Waves is when availability is at its best and prices at their most competitive.
22 | SE23 - January 2026
Why is this season so important for travellers planning 2026 holidays? Firstly, it’s about choice. Airlines release batches of seats, hotels update inventory, and cruise lines open full seasons. The earlier you look, the more likely you are to secure the flight times, cabin categories or accommodation you really want. Secondly, it’s about value. With so many providers competing for early bookings, the offers available in Peaks and Waves are rarely matched later in the year. If you love great deals, planning between January and February is your golden window. Finally, it’s about clarity and support. During Peaks, more people begin searching, comparing and dreaming about their next break — which can make the process feel overwhelming. This is where travel agents across the industry come into their own. A knowledgeable travel professional has access to early-release promotions, understands where the real value lies, and can help cut through the noise to find holidays that truly suit your needs. Instead of spending hours scrolling, travellers benefit from expert advice, financial protection and personalised recommendations. With exclusive offers already beginning to arrive and the busiest booking months just ahead, now is the perfect moment to start thinking about your 2026 getaway. Whether it’s a beach retreat, an adventure across continents, or a cruise during the Waves season, planning early ensures the best deals, the best choice, and a far smoother journey from dream to departure.
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
YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY STARTS HERE
Please call us on: 020 8699 4439 or e-mail: info@sterlingandlaw.com Quoting SE23 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.
Let Hayley John-Charles be your personal Travel Consultant and create your perfect getaway! Whether it’s a honeymoon, family holiday or cruise, I’ll take care of all the details for a seamless, stress-free experience. From sunny Caribbean beaches to the charm of the South of France, I’ll take care of everything—saving you time and money
Why book with me?
CONTACT DETAILS 0203884 1146 07843989728
Bespoke stress-free planning Exclusive offers and deals Specialist in Caribbean, cruises & winter escapes
hayley.jc@notjusttravel.com
Personalised service you won’t find online Industry knowledge
https://hayleyjohncharles.notjusttravel.com/
JUNIOR SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Tuesday 20 January 2026 www.stdunstans.org.uk London, SE6 4TY
SE23 - January 2026 | 23
What's On - January Thursday 15 January: Matt Baker - A Taste For Murder
Friday 16 January: Morning New Moon Sister Circle With Vocal Toning for Chakra Clearing 10.30am-12pm Come and connect in at this month’s sharing circle gathering, where you will be surrounded by sisterhood as you step into the magical realm of my Secret Soul Sanctuary by the woods. It is a safe haven in the heart of London, where I invite you to join me for a sister 'talking stick' /'Red Tent' style sharing circle over a herbal tea. This Sister Circle is about sharing from your truth in that moment to the group to witness (and not fix). Followed by oracle cards, chakra humming/ clearing/vocal toning and tea and cake social.
7pm-8pm. Join television screenwriter Matt Baker as we celebrate the launch of his first novel, A Taste For Murder. For widowed DCI Joe Mottram, a summer on the island of Capri was meant to be an opportunity to reconnect with his teenage daughter Angelica. What better place to bond than in his late wife Francesca's childhood home, the renowned beachside restaurant, Di Vinale's, run by her parents. But when the body of a British tourist is found at the bottom of an iconic landmark, Joe is tasked with helping local detective Lara investigate and his plans for the holiday are shattered. As he learns more about the events surrounding the death, Joe begins to suspect that the island is not as idyllic as it seems. And when a second body is discovered, he realises he and his family might be in real danger... Matt is a television screenwriter best known for creating the ITV series Hotel Portofino. He co-wrote and adapted the series Professor T, Suspect, and Before We Die, and is the lead writer on Channel 4 series Patience, which aired in January 2025 and attracted 3 million viewers on its first episode. Matt studied English Literature and Drama at Goldsmith’s College, University of London, and went on to a career in journalism and corporate communications, specialising in media and entertainment. He devoted himself to writing full-time during the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn’t looked back. A Taste For Murder is his first novel. Dulwich Books, 6 Croxted Road SE21 8SW. Book tickets via www.eventbrite.co.uk. 24 | SE23 - January 2026
Secret Soul Sanctuary, Sydenham Hill, SE23 3PH. Bookings Eventbrite & www.thesoulnurturer.co.uk. Tickets via Eventbrite.co.uk.
Monday 19 January: 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.
Monday 19 January: New Moon Sister Circle with Mini Gong Bath & Fire Release Ceremony 8pm-9pm Come and connect in at this month’s sharing circle gathering, where I invite you to join me for a sister 'talking stick' /'Red Tent' style sharing circle over a herbal tea. In a departure from my usual Sistership Circle events, this one will be less curated, more about sharing from your truth in that moment to the group to witness (and not fix). Followed by a 20-30min gong bath, journalling on what you'd like to manifest and what's needed to be released to make this happen. We will then gather round the fire for a short fire release ceremony under the stars by nature (weather permitting) Secret Soul Sanctuary, Sydenham Hill, SE23 3PH. Bookings Eventbrite & www.thesoulnurturer.co.uk. Tickets via Eventbrite.co.uk.
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SE21, SE22 or SE23 magazines The local community magazines for Dulwich Village, East Dulwich, Forest Hill, Honor Oak and West Dulwich
REACH 15,000 HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN THE AREA To find out more, please call Angela on 020 8693 9040 or e-mail angela@semagazines.co.uk
www.semagazines.co.uk
SE23 - January 2026 | 25
What's On - January Tuesday 20 & Wednesday 21 January: Gong Bath on Sydenham Hill - a cosy evening Sound Journey
Tuesday 27 January: David McCloskey in conversation with Tim Shipman 7.30pm-8.30pm
8pm-9pm. Step into the magical realm of my Secret Soul Sanctuary 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. Secret Soul Sanctuary, Sydenham Hill, SE23 3PH. Bookings via Eventbrite & www.thesoulnurturer.co.uk.
Fridays 23 & 30 January: Tuning in to Teens®: Emotionally Intelligent Parenting Course 7pm-9.15pm
A six-session evening parenting programme for parents of children aged 11-18 years. Delivered by two HCPC registered child psychologists. Would you like to learn how to: • Be better at talking with your teen? • Be better at understanding your teen? • Help your teen learn to manage their emotions? • Help to prevent behaviour problems in your teen? • Teach your teen to deal with conflict? Tuning in to Teens® shows you how to use emotion coaching to help your teen develop their emotional intelligence. Plus 6th February, 13th, 20th & 27th March 2026. To find out more & to book a place, please visit: https://bit.ly/4p8XsP5 South East Psychology CIC at Rivoli Meeting Room. Unit E, 59 Ladywell Road SE13 7UT. You can submit your events for free via our website: www.arounddulwich.co.uk 26 | SE23 - January 2026
Join us for an evening with bestselling author ex-CIA analyst David McCloskey to celebrate the publication of his new book The Persian. David will be interviewed by author and journalist Tim Shipman, Political Editor at The Spectator. David McCloskey returns to his inside knowledge of the Middle East in his fourth novel: a gripping thriller exploring what happens when a loner spy is forced to reckon with the consequences of his deception. From Tehran to Tel Aviv, Istanbul and Stockholm, The Persian traces the rise and downfall of Kamran Esfahani, an Iranian Jew caught in the high stakes struggle between the spy agencies of Israel and Iran, and the secret he’s trying to take to his grave. David McCloskey is a former CIA analyst. While at the CIA, he wrote regularly for the President’s Daily Brief during President Obama’s tenure, delivered classified testimony to Congressional oversight committees, and more. He worked in CIA field stations across the Middle East. He is the co-host with Gordon Corera of the successful The Rest is Classified podcast. His first novel, Damascus Station, set in Syria, was the bestselling debut spy novel of its year and shortlisted for a British Book Award. His second, Moscow X was a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and a Sunday Times Thriller of the Year. And his third, The Seventh Floor, was a Sunday Times Bestseller. The Persian is his fourth novel. A Village Books event in association with Alleyn's Schools Enterprises. The Great Hall, Townley Road SE22 8SU. www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/98793? 28
Ripe Old Age
Practical Advice for Navigating Later Life with Michael Scott | rightathome.co.uk/mitcham
80 Is the New 70: The Joy of Ageing Well
I
f you’ve noticed lately that 80-year-olds are looking suspiciously energetic, you’re not imagining it. Today’s octogenarians are out walking the dog at sunrise, booking city breaks, joining community choirs, and signing up for yoga classes that would make their younger selves raise an eyebrow. It’s no wonder people have started saying 80 is the new 70. Part of this shift comes from the way we now think about ageing. Not too long ago, turning 80 was seen as entering a “quiet phase,” the kind involving a good armchair and a safe pair of slippers. But modern 80-year-olds are rewriting the script. They’re proving that ageing can be a vibrant, fulfilling chapter of life—not a slow fade to grey. Of course, there’s no magic potion that turns back the clock, but the ingredients for ageing well are surprisingly accessible. Staying active, for one, is no longer optional. Whether it’s a brisk walk, a dance class, or gentle stretches, moving the body keeps everything—from joints to mood—in better shape. It’s never too late to start. Plenty of people
find their fitness groove well into their 70s and 80s. Then there’s the social side of things. Staying connected, laughing often, and having people to share life with are some of the most powerful predictors of long-term wellbeing. Many 80-yearolds today have richer social calendars than millennials. Community groups, lifelong learning courses, book clubs, and even online friendships help keep the mind sharp and the heart full. Adding a positive outlook doesn’t erase challenges, but it does make them easier to navigate. Those who embrace curiosity—trying new hobbies, exploring different routines, staying mentally engaged—often feel younger than the number on their actual age. Credit also goes to better healthcare, smarter technology, and improved understanding of nutrition. These factors combined, mean people are living longer and living better. But what really makes 80 feel like 70 is the shift in mindset: the belief that life at this age can still be active, joyful, and meaningful. So maybe the real secret isn’t trying to stay young—it’s ageing with a plan and positive mindset. Because if today’s vibrant, spirited, can-do 80-yearolds are any indication, the later decades of life are looking brighter than ever. SE23 - January 2026 | 27
What's On - January Thursday 29 January: Supporting the Dyslexic Learner - Signs & Symptoms of
Friday 30 January: PHIL TYLER & SARAH HILL, David Collins, Duncan McTaggart 7pm-11pm
10am-11.30am. This six-week course has been designed to help you understand how you can best support a child at home and at school. Children with dyslexia may learn differently from you. We will cover how to recognise different learning profiles, multi-sensory learning, ageappropriate reading matter and tools, note taking, mind mapping, making numeracy more visual and how to gather evidence that a child needs help and support. Tina Hunter is a highly experienced specialist teacher and assessor with over 20 years of experience in the field of further education. She has worked both in the UK and abroad, gaining valuable insight into a variety of educational systems and practices. Tina has worked with students across primary, secondary, and further education levels, allowing her to develop a comprehensive understanding of the diverse needs of learners at different stages of their academic journey. Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich SE21 7BG. www.bellhouse.co.uk
Phil Tyler and Sarah Hill sing mainly traditional British and American folk music, with passion, from the heart and with minimal instrumentation. Duncan McTaggart and David Collins are both fine singer-songwriters and interpreters of traditional music. £12 advance, £14 on the door (cash or BACS only). For more information about the artists, the evening, the Goose and tickets, please see: www.thegooseisout.com The Ivy House, 40 Stuart Road SE15 3BE
Dyslexia & Exam Arrangements
Friday 30 January: Creative Tales 9.40am-10.50am or 11.40am-12.50pm Join Rosie Tells Tales for these joyful and interactive storytelling sessions for under 5s, inside the ArtPlay Pavilion. www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk. College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7AD 28 | SE23 - January 2026
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 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
Local MPs Ellie Reeves (Lab, Lewisham West) Tel 020 7219 2668 ellie.reeves.mp@parliament.uk Janet Daby (Lab, Lewisham East) Tel 020 8461 4733 Janet.daby.mp@parliament.uk
Local Councillors Forest Hill Ward Peter Bernards (Labour) Tel 020 8314 9927 cllr_peter.bernards@lewisham.gov.uk Sophie Davis (Labour) Tel 020 8314 3493 Cllr_Sophie.Davis@lewisham.gov.uk Billy Harding (Labour) Tel tba Cllr_billy.harding@lewisham.gov.ukSurgeries All councillors: 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month, 11am-12.30pm. Forest Hill Library, Dartmouth Road, SE23. 11am–12.30pm.
Perry Vale Ward John Paschoud (Labour) Tel 020 8314 3437 John.Paschoud@Lewisham.gov.uk Susan Wise (Labour) Tel 020 8314 2214 cllr_susan.wise@lewisham.gov.uk Sakina Sheikh (Labour) 020 8314 7963 Cllr_Sakina.Sheikh@lewisham.gov.uk
Surgeries Meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month (excluding August) at The Lodge Cafe (Stanstead Lodge Senior Club), 260 Stanstead Road, SE23 1DD. We’ll be there from 10:30am until 12:30pm.
Crofton Park Ward Chris Barnham (Labour) Tel 020 8314 9896 cllr_chris.barnham@lewisham.gov.uk Tauseef Anwar (Labour) 020 8314 9930 Cllr_Tauseef.Anwar@lewisham.gov.uk Carol Webley-Brown (Labour) Tel 07795 915362 cllr_carol.webley-brown@lewisham.gov.uk
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
Vicky Foxcroft - (Lab, Lewisham North) Tel 020 8469 4638 vicky.foxcroft.mp@parliament.uk
4th Tuesday of each month at 2-3pm All sessions take place at Crofton Park Community Library, Brockley Road. There are no surgeries in August, nor on 26th July, 24th or 27th December. SE23 - January 2026 | 29
Fundraising
The Dulwich Charity Lunch
The Dulwich Charity Lunch, held in December last year, raised a fabulous £2,070 for Link Age Southwark. The lunch, now in its 24th year, is held every December and is a fantastic way for local businessmen and women to meet up and get into the festive spirit. We were back at The Lordship where they kindly closed the pub for the event. 56 locals got together and had a great Christmas party. The organisers enjoyed great support from local businesses who donated prizes for the raffle and came along and enjoyed the day.
30 | SE23 - January 2026
Dulwich Charity Lunch 2025
A BIG THANK YOU TO: Alcander, Amphlett Lissimore, Bloom Directory, Austen Jones Solicitors, The Chair Sanctuary, Dulwich Maths, Franklins Pub, Goodness Goodies, Greg Horton, Harvey & Wheeler, Healthy Habits, Hello Social, The Illusioneer, Kathy Daniels Coaching, Link Age Southwark, The Lordship Pub, Lynlea West Studio, Mac Support, Marcus Bishop Associates, Mark Kavanagh Decorators, Mino Pottery Painting, Oakhill Embroidery, Portrayed Photography, SE22 Piano School, SE Magazines, Sagacious GOAT, Sartoria Lab, Simon Pimenta, The Soul Nurturer, Stephen Shillito Design, Susie Pajaries Private Chef, Therapy, Tidylicious, Toni Horton, William Rose Butchers, the ED Women’s Institute, Yoga with Michele and Zen Oven Cleaning. SE23 - January 2026 | 31
The Last Word with Janet Thornton What do you most value about the area? Location! I’m lucky enough to live within easy reach of both Honor Oak and Forest Hill stations, which makes everything feel very accessible. But it’s the green spaces that make this corner of London feel so special, Honor Oak Crematorium, Nunhead Cemetery, One Tree Hill, Brenchley Gardens and of course Peckham Rye Park. As a funeral celebrant, I find great peace in wandering through these places with my “random rescue” terrier, Charlie. They’re spaces of history, reflection and surprising beauty.
Where are you to be found on Saturday? Starting the day with a coffee and an almond croissant from Norris & Knight or The French Café, once my dog Charlie and I are suitably fuelled, we head out for a long walk, often finishing with a stop at AG Flowers in Nunhead Lane, where I still work on high days and holidays. I purchase flowers, tulips being my absolute favourite.
Cafe, pub or bar? I’m equally at home in a café, pub or bar, depending on whether I’m meeting dog-walking friends or catching up somewhere quieter.
Where’s your favourite place to walk? I’m a proud member of the Academy of Professional Celebrants and as a funeral celebrant, my purpose is to create ceremonies that feel truly meaningful, personal, respectful, and rooted in the life, love, and stories of the person being honoured. My background in floristry, therapy, and the charity sector, with Link Age Southwark, has shaped the way I work, teaching me the value of empathy, gentle guidance and genuine human connection.
How long have you lived in the area? Although I only moved to SE23 in September this year, the area already feels wonderfully familiar. For the past 35 years, I lived just a hop, skip and a jump away in Nunhead, right opposite Peckham Rye Park.
What has changed most during that time? The biggest change has undoubtedly been the shops. The rise of independent cafés and businesses has brought so much vibrancy to the area, and I’m a firm believer that you can never have too many coffee shops. The friendly atmosphere, green spaces and community spirit are what keep me here. 32 | SE23 - January 2026
Any open space! I enjoy walking around Honor Oak Cemetery and Nunhead Cemetery but also enjoy One Tree Hill, Peckham Rye Park, Brenchley gardens. We are so lucky in this area there are plenty to choose from.
What is your favourite shop? Hands down A Charity shop! I absolutely love a bargain, and there is ALWAYS a bargain to be bought, and if it doesn’t work, I can always re-donate it.
Best bargain you’ve ever landed. My best finds are either Charlie himself or a Vera Wang dress I snapped up for £10.
My perfect holiday.. My perfect holiday involves camping in Cornwall, complete with cream teas, Cornish pasties and maybe a taste of the local scrumpy.
janthorntoncelebrant@gmail.com
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www.arounddulwich.co.uk SE23 - January 2026 | 33
Index of Advertisers Around Dulwich: Local Website..................................30 Casa of Peckham: Eco Wood Stoves............................5 Dalmain Primary School...............................................2 The Digital Health Passport........................................21 Dulwich Carpet Company .........................................35 Healthmatters Health Store..........................................7 Interior & Exterior Painting & Decorating ...................5 John @ James & Lamont: Painting & Decorating .......5 Mark Evision Foundation...........................................13 Not Just Travel............................................................23 Part-time Administrator.............................................13 Pickwick Estates ....................................................Back Robert Cox French Polishing........................................7
Rosemead Prepartory School & Nusery ..................15 SE22 Piano School......................................................11 SE Magazines: Local Business Advertising..........15, 25 St Dunstan’s College Junior School Open Morning....23 Sherlock Portrait Studio................................................5 South East Psychology CIC........................................ 21 Stephen Shillito Graphic Design.................................15 Sterling and Law ........................................................23 Steve Smith Accountants ..........................................13 T Rooney Heating.......................................................13 Tiny Medical Apps......................................................21 Tuning in to Teens: Parenting Programme.................21
If you contact any of our advertisers, please do say you saw them in SE23. Thank you!
Next Issue - February | Copy Deadline - 15 January
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 - January 2026
Specialists in sustainable, family friendly and moth resistant carpets “I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Stephen. He has just fitted a new carpet for us upstairs and did an absolutely first-class job. Everything was done to an extremely high standard. He clearly takes great pride in his work, has great attention to quality and detail, and also fantastic to deal with – super professional, personable and helpful.” Alison, Dulwich
Get in touch Call now to arrange your free consultation:
020 8693 8101 or 07507 407 289
stephen@dulwichcarpetcompany.co.uk
www.dulwichcarpetcompany.co.uk
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM EVERYONE AT
Honor Oak Office:
Dulwich Office:
47 Honor Oak Park Honor Oak London SE23 1EA 020 3397 1166
8 Woodwarde Road Dulwich London SE22 8UJ 020 3397 1144
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