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>>> RECIPE, p16 >>> WHAT’S ON p18-19 >>> ARTS & CULTURE, p20-21
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TAPAS TURN ON: Resident foodie Nikki Griffiths takes on the Spanish vibes at Gremio in St Matthew’s crypt. Food review, p17
FROM GANGSTER TO GURU: Find out what inspires and motivates Block Workout founder Tyrell Lewis down on Somerleyton Road. Features, p13
CONTAINER PARK open for business
LOCAL start-ups and traders involved project has faced some criticism BY ANNA MCKIE Pop Brixton, the “creative hub” built entirely from shipping containers, will open on Friday May 29.
Pop Brixton gets ready (picture by Kit Oates). Inset: Philippe Castaing, Pop Brixton’s Commercial Director
The site on Brixton Station Road will provide units for restaurants and retailers as well as workspaces for local business, start-ups and “a community event space’. Pop Brixton is a partnership
between Lambeth council, which has provided the land for free, and Carl Turner Architects (who have teamed up with developers The Collective), to deliver the scheme which will be there until at least October 2017. Around a third of the venues at Pop Brixton will be food and drink establishments, including Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen,
FOOTBALL FOCUS: An exhibition in Brockwell Hall turned the camera on Lee Dema and the lads of the St Matthew’s Project. Features, p11
MY SECRET BRIXTON: Chef Brian Danclair shares his favourite Lambeth experiences, from driving down Brixton Hill to fnding a little piece of Barbados. Your Brixton, p8
Continued on page 4
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> more photos on Page 4 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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2 NEWS The Brixton Bugle & BrixtonBlog.com are edited in Brixton by Zoe Jewell and Tim Dickens. Both the website and newspaper are published by a not-for-profit community organisation. It’s run by a committed team of people from Brixton. Brixton Blog and Bugle 439a Coldharbour Lane Brixton SW9 8LN » Tel 020 3730 1312 » @brixtonblog » @brixton_bugle » www.brixtonblog.com ADVERTISING Jenny Shramenko 07811 878394 jenny@brixtonblog.com Circulation: 10,000 copies Readership: circa 15,000 DEPUTY EDITORS Keith Lewis Lindsay Faller Sub-editor: Jamila Omar Designer: Agnes Graves NEWS Anna McKie, News Editor newsdesk@brixtonblog.com
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Town Hall campus plans revealed in full By Anna McKie The planning application has been submitted for “Your New Town Hall”. Cllr Paul McGlone said it was “an important milestone.” Muse Developments Ltd, the property developer in charge of the project, have submitted two planning applications, which are expected to go before Planning Committee at the beginning of August. If approved, work could start before the end of the year. The plans, which are also part of Future Brixton, include a 14-storey block of flats in the place of Hambrook house, the demolition of Olive Morris House to make way for a seven-storey block of flats with 74 residential units, replacing part of Town Hall parade with a new civic centre and the renovation of Grade II listed Lambeth Town Hall. Around 200 new homes will be built as part of the project, which includes a development on Wynne Road, and 47 per cent will be affordable housing. Lambeth council says the reduction
Artist’s impression of the newly designed campus in its core office buildings from 14 to two will save the taxpayer £4.5 million per year in the running costs of their civic buildings. Some have criticised the height of the height of the block of flats where Hambrook House should be, made clear in objections from the public on the planning application. One commenter wrote: “a building 14 storeys high would look completely out of place” and another said it would
FEATURES Katrin Magnussen features@brixtonblog.com ARTS & MUSIC Barney Evison Ruth Waters arts@brixtonblog.com FOOD Miss South food@brixtonblog.com SPORT Sandra Brobbey newsdesk@brixtonblog.com ISSUE 33 Writers: Nikki Griffiths, Davy Gibson, Mark Wadie Pictures: Nick Weedon Cartoons / Illustrations: Kaylene Alder, Pam Williams Crossword: Josie Gardiner Columnists: , Frankie Holah, Jenn Woodcock A massive thank you to everybody involved in making this issue, and the Blog & Bugle project, a success.
June 2015
Brockwell Hall
as wedding venue By Barney Evison
Lambeth council and community group Brockwell Park Community Partners (BPCP) are considering new funding streams for Brockwell Park in the face of drastic cuts to park budgets from the council, including plans to turn Brockwell Hall into a wedding venue. The project outlined in a recent
feasibility study by Land Use Consultants (LUC) could cost up to £4m and suggests that Brockwell Hall would have “significant potential” as a venue for weddings, functions and corporate events. LUC were commissioned by BPCP and Lambeth Council to carry out the study in line with the council’s plans to generate alternative revenue for parks following their decision
“dramatically change the character of central Brixton.” However, Cllr McGlone said: “Let me be clear, we are building new council homes in the heart of Brixton, as well as offering intermediate housing as an affordable way for local people to get a foot on the property ladder. “The needs of our residents, rather than politicians or council officers are driving this project. It is a smart deal for Lambeth.” to slash their funding by almost half. The council plans to hand off responsibility for park management and funding in the borough to local residents and groups such as BPCP. The study presents suggestions for redevelopment within and next to the Hall building, and concludes that “there is a good economic case for converting Brockwell Hall into an events venue while maintaining access for less/non commercial community events.” The council’s proposed cuts to cultural services in the borough hits its green spaces the hardest, with money spent on parks reduced by almost 50 per cent from £4.5 million spent in 2014/2015 to just £2.3 million proposed for 2017/18. “The Hall needs to generate enough income to support it in the longer term as revenue funding for local councils continues to dry up,” said Ann Kingsbury, chair of the BPCP. “We commissioned the Feasibility Study to test our aim to restore the Hall and at the same time create an event venue in the stable yard… that would enable people to hold wedding parties and so on without interfering with public access.” The study also proposed other options including a new cafe, office rental and exhibition space. The Feasibility Study reported that the potential changes to the building will not challenge the preservation of the heritage aspects of the Hall.
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free arts workshops
Newly formed community arts campaign Our Brixton are recruiting young people for free arts workshops. They will be led by local rapper and playwright Potent Whisper. “The Art of Change” events will take place at The Rotunda Hall at Cressingham Gardens, from 1pm to 5pm on May 23 and 30 and June 6 and 13 and are for young people aged 11 to 16. To reserve your free place now you can email OurBrixton@gmail.com or telephone 07900 168 076.
IMPACT HUB’S 100th MEMBER
Impact Hub Brixton celebrated its first birthday by signing up its 100th member. The collaborative workspace provides flexible desk space and events programmes for start-ups, small businesses and freelancers. In May Sam Parton became the 100th business member to join the network. Sam co-founded OpenPlay, a marketplace that connects sports facilities and activities to the public. It makes it easier for them to find and book sports facilities and activities – from tennis courts to coaching sessions - whilst connecting people together. This June the Hub is moving from Lambeth Town Hall to the Pop Brixton site.
FRIDGE BAR LOSES LICENcE
The council has revoked the Fridge Bar’s licence after a number of violent incidents. In the last year there were 91 assaults within 500 metres of the club on Brixton Hill. Lambeth council had been called on to withdraw the licence by Scotland Yard, who accused Fridge Bar of being linked with serious crime and disorder. In June, CCTV captured 20 men fighting outside. One man was stabbed three times and had both lungs punctured and, in January, a man threatened door staff with a machete after being thrown out for urinating in the club. The council said: “The venue has 21 days to appeal and may continue trading during that period or until the conclusion of any appeal raised.” During this time, the club will breathalyse anyone coming in after midnight and close at 2am.
June 2015
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rape in brockwell
Police are investigating the rape of a woman in Brockwell Park. The attack occurred on Wednesday May 13, between 9.50pm and 10pm. A 41-yearold woman was walking along Dulwich Road, near the Brockwell Lido entrance, when she was approached by two suspects. She was then pulled into the park and raped. The suspects, both described as white and in their 20s, left the park together through the same Lido gate. Officers from the Met’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command are investigating and have appealed for witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to call 020 8721 4128 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Second protest at Estate
HIV SCHEME LAUNCHED
Lambeth council is managing a campaign to cut HIV infection across the capital, launched in May. The £3.4 million three-year programme, funded by all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, is a direct response to the fact that London has the highest prevalence of HIV in England.
Left: Banners have been hung from the balcony of the occupied flat. Right: protesters outside Guinness Trust’s offices BY MARK WADIE An occupation has begun on the Loughborough Park Estate as tenants continue to fight against evictions. For the second time this year Flat 82, Evleden House, is the centre of a protest against its landlords, The Guinness Partnership Housing Association. A group of “tenants, residents,
guardians and squatters” is occupying the residence, and a banner has been hung from the balcony which says: “No eviction! No more demolition!” Demonstrators want those forced to leave their homes as part of Guinness’ controversial regeneration of the estate to be re-housed at affordable rents with secure tenancies. Campaigners say a similar protest
Sunday Farmer’s Market to close It seems every day that we hear of something in Brixton coming to an end, and the latest is the weekly Farmer’s Market. London Farmer’s Market (LFM), who runs it, says that it is no longer financially viable to keep the market going and will hold the last one in Brixton on Sunday July 26. Since 2009, ever y Sunday farmers, bakers and cheesemakers have been selling their produce there. Richard Scroggs, who owns
NEWS 3
the Old Post Office Bakery - the winner of this year’s favourite stall at Brixton Farmer’s Market, said the proposed closure was a “terrible shame.” “It’s bad for us, personally, as it’s a good source of income but it’s also sad news for Brixton. Its one of those things, even though Brixton is becoming a foodie destination, the businesses that have been operating here for years aren’t really benefitting.” Mark Buttery, a regular to the market, said it seems “a decision has been made
without considering all the potential options and the impact on the local community. “Have you seen how busy the market is? One stallholder said Brixton Market was the busiest in London! Surely a solution can be found?” LFM said in a Facebook post: “We have increasingly found it difficult to improve customer numbers or increase the variety of stalls on offer at Brixton. Sadly we have therefore had to take the decision to stop running the Brixton Farmer’s Market.” Cheryl Cohen, who works at LFM, said: “We have had difficulty keeping the number of stallholders there. When somebody leaves its very hard to replace them. There are people who’ve been there a long time and do well, it’s just difficult to keep the numbers up. I’ve met with Lambeth’s street trading team and all stallholders have been written to. It seems the council’s rents are set and nothing can be done.” “I’m hoping that someone, either stallholders or local people, will be able to take it on but we can’t continue.”
earlier this year succeeded in pressurising Guinness make offers to re-house tenants in other properties they own. Guinness says that its £100 million regeneration project will see the 390 existing flats replaced with 487 new, spacious and energy-efficient homes. Residents on lifetime tenancies will be re-housed in the new flats, however
those on assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) are being evicted and forced to move out of the area. Beitel Mehari, 42, a single mother of two children, who lived on the estate for 10 years, was re-housed on Friday at another of Guinness’ estates at Kennington Park Road. Her rent has increased from £120 per week to £265 per week, which she says is “unaffordable”. Mehari said: “I am really devastated because I love Brixton. They have destroyed the community over the years. When I was leaving I was in tears. You feel really used. We were there when nobody wanted to live in Brixton, and now when it is all nice and clean and green, we get moved on.” Guinness say they have taken steps to help those who are being forced to leave their flats, including payments of £4,700 to each AST resident for the inconvenience and £1,500 towards the deposit for a property rented in the private sector. A spokesperson for the Guinness Partnership said: “We’ve been clear from the outset they would not be entitled to be re-housed when the site was redeveloped. They agreed to this when they moved in and we’ve given them more than a year’s notice. “The vast majority of the squatters who have broken into a vacant flat do not live at Loughborough Park, and we are working with the police to ensure they are removed as quickly and safely as possible.”
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June 2015
Pop will be a creative hub continued from front page Mama’s Jerk, Baba G Bhangra Burgers, Miss P’s Barbecue and Koi Ramen. It will also be home to a local radio station and Impact Hub Brixton. Around 85 per cent of business owners in the development are Lambeth residents and 58 per cent from Brixton. The project has had a controversial past: originally the development was to be called grow:Brixton, a partnership
between Carl Turner Architects and the Edible Bus Stop, which creates design-led growing spaces, who won the competition to turn the former ice rink into a “green oasis” for local people. grow:Brixton was granted planning permission to use the land but last December, after “a number of difficulties” resulted in Edible Bus Stop leaving, the project became
Pop:Brixton, with more focus on enterprise. The development has also been criticised for its high rents with commercial rents ranging from £800 to £2,500 a month, a high level for small businesses. Philippe Castaing from Pop Brixton says this is to subsidise the start-ups, who will be charged a lot less, and the community programmes they hold.
Ten units have been made available at 20-50 per cent of the market rates. Cllr Jack Hopkins, Cabinet member for Jobs and Growth, said: “I’m excited… It’s something totally new for Lambeth and I’d encourage everyone to come down and have a look themselves - because not only will people have a great time, they’ll also be supporting the local economy and helping create new jobs.”
Ofsted slams Lambeth’s Children’s Services Lambeth council have been called on to account for “monumental failings of vulnerable children” after an Ofsted report branded Lambeth’s Children’s Services “inadequate”. The news comes only three years after they were rated “outstanding”. Ofsted says that services in the borough that help vulnerable children and young people have “deteriorated” since they were inspected in 2012. The report says: “weak management oversight has led to poor practice not being challenged and children’s needs
being unmet. This is particularly the case for children who would benefit from being adopted.” It also says there is “poor permanency planning, insufficiency of local placements, frequent changes of social workers and delays in initial health assessments”. The council said it was “disappointed” by the findings and that it was already taking “urgent action to address the areas of concern.” A team of Ofsted officials spent four weeks in February and March visiting
centres and spoke to staff, managers, carers, parents and young people. The Green Party has now called on Councillor Imogen Walker as Deputy Leader for Policy (Children’s Services & Public Protection) and Jane Pickard, Cabinet Member for Children & Families, “to account for monumental failings of vulnerable children following a damning report from Ofsted”. Green Party Councillor Scott Ainslie said: “Lambeth is one of the poorest boroughs in the country, with high
numbers of young people needing support because they are unable to live with their family or are at risk of domestic violence and abuse... it is not acceptable to blame front line staff or lower management for problems which are clearly the responsibility of those at Cabinet level.” In response to the report the council says a new Children’s Improvement Board has been established, an action plan focussing on adoption put in place and the recruitment of a new Director of Children’s Social Care is
now a top priority. Lambeth’s new chief executive Sean Harriss, who is chairing the board, said: “We know there are big challenges ahead. But the confidence I have in our hard-working social care staff, and our partner organisations, means I’m sure we can get this job done. “The report has already galvanised us and helped set in motion wideranging improvements that will ensure all Lambeth’s children and young people are safe from harm and achieve their full potential.”
June 2015
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NEWS 5
Arches dismayed by Network Rail letter BY ANNA MCKiE
In a blow to the Save Brixton Arches campaign, Network Rail has told tenants they will not be phasing their planned evictions. The company is refurbishing the the arches on Atlantic Road and Brixton Station Road between Brixton Road and Pope’s Road. Over 30 businesses will be evicted while it takes place and once completed tenants will face rent increases, which many will be unable to afford. The businesses, as well as Streatham MP Chuka Umunna and Dulwich and West Norwood MP Helen Hayes, had called on Network Rail to provide a scheme in which not all the shops would leave at the same time.
They say a phased approach would help with continuity of trading but, in a letter to the affected businesses, Network Rail bosses said this has now been ruled out. Tenants have heard nothing more about their right to return, or how high the rents will be, but say the latest letter doesn’t bode well for them. Jose Cardoso from A & C Continental Deli said: “It’s disappointing. They’ve had so much time to consider this and yet after months we are back to square one. “It just shows how little they are listening to us.” Network Rail said “owing to the
layout and interconnection of the rear areas” phasing is too complicated. A spokesperson said: “It will cost more and would therefore significantly reduce the amount of compensation we can afford to pay to the tenants.” They said they believe the work will take 12 months to complete. A recent report by community members on the impact of the plans said they found strong “indication of highly negative consequences” if the rent-rises and evictions were to happen. The report calls for Network Rail to “abandon the plans for refurbishment and associated evictions until a fully
Musician, artists and local supporters came together to support Save Brixton Arches. All pictures by Genius Mashiri
A community united
On Saturday May 23, Save Brixton Arches held “Community United” to fundraise and raise awareness of their campaign.. More than 200 people came to the event, supported by Brixton Market Traders’ Federation, to show their support for the local businesses threatened with eviction by Network Rail.
Beginning at midday on Brixton Station Road, there was music, live art and a T-shirt printing workshop. There was also face painting and limited edition T-shirts were on sale. 10 local artists including Nathan Bowen, Giusi Tomasello, James Pearson, and Zeroseven delivered “Spray Jam” and donated their work to be auctioned to support the
campaign. There were also performances from local musicians including Potent Whisper, Nia and Tommy Yaman. Local resident Laura Martin said “there has not been such a community vibe like this in the market for years! Local people fully back this campaign, and Network Rail need to listen.”
fledged impact assessment of the proposals... has been conducted.” The Save Brixton Arches campaign has vowed to fight on: it now sells T-shirts and badges and they have launched a crowdfunder to help cover costs. (You can donate at http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/savebrixton-arches-1)
Earlier this month when the banner over the Fishmongers, Mash and Son’s, which said “Triple the rents? You must be squidding!” was taken down (No-one knows who by and Network Rail says it was not to do with them) Lorne Mash said: “We’ve got more where that came from and we won’t stop putting them up!”
6 NEWS
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June 2015
Red rosettes are on the up
Labour candidates speak after hearing the results: (from left) Chuka Umunna, who remains as Streatham MP, Kate Hoey, who retains her seat as Vauxhall MP, and Helen Hayes, who is the new MP for Dulwich and West Norwood. BY ANNA MCKIE The General Election 2015 results held many unpleasant surprises for Labour. None occurred in Brixton, however, where the party safely held on to all three constituencies there. Indeed, the Labour candidates in Streatham, Vauxhall and Dulwich and West Norwood all managed to increase their share of the vote. In Streatham, Chukua Umunna’s share went up by ten per cent. Speaking to the Brixton Bugle immediately after the results, Umunna said it was an “honour to be re-elected”. He said: “I think there is a lot of change going on in our community, I think in particular gentrification is something that we need to have a proper comprehensive discussion about. “How we transition into this new decade that we’re in, and how Brixton changes with it, is something the whole community needs to be involved with.” Kate Hoey, who has been MP for Vauxhall since 1989, saw her share of the vote rise by 0.4% Hoey told The Bugle: “I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved in
Vauxhall over many years.” She said the shortage of housing in the area was a key concern to her, and she knew that the issue of the Brixton arches was also important to her constituents. In Dulwich and West Norwood, Tessa Jowell’s successor Helen Hayes increased Labour’s share by 7.5 per cent. Hayes said it was “a huge privilege” to be elected and said she would “work from day one to get Network Rail to take a different approach to the arches”. She added that she would “work on behalf of every part of our community to deal with the complex challenges that we face in Brixton.” These results ran counter to most others for Labour across Britain. By contrast, the fate of the Lib Dems locally did reflect the national trend – for they suffered a huge loss of support both in Britain and in the constituencies that cover the Brixton area. In the last general election, the Lib Dem candidates came second in each constituency. This year they were pushed into third by the Conservatives and in Vauxhall their candidate Adrian Hyyryläinen-Trett came fourth to the Greens. The latter party has clearly become a much stronger force in Lambeth: in Streatham the Greens went from 861 votes (1.8%)
The count: it was a busy night at Brixton Recreation Centre at the last election to 4,421 (8.9%). Jonathan Bartley, their candidate in the borough, said: “It’s been a great campaign. We’ve had a huge increase... we’ve done really well.”
Tessa Jowell launches her mayoral bid at Number Six
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Dame Tessa Jowell has launched her bid to become the next Mayor of London. In a speech to supporters at No. 6 Somerleyton Road on May 19, the former Dulwich and West Norwood MP announced she will be running to become Labour’s London mayoral candidate in 2016. Jowell said she wants to build “One London – where we all share in our city’s success” and promised to tackle the housing crisis “head on” if elected. She was MP for Dulwich from 1992 to 1997 and Dulwich and West Norwood from 1997 until she stood down at this year’s general election. The former culture secretary said London is “at the risk of being two cities” with more “luxury flats than ever but fewer than half the homes we need for Londoners.” “It’s not enough for the Mayor to exhort others to build homes. We’ve tried that – it hasn’t worked. The next Mayor needs to take the lead, building thousands of homes that Londoners can afford on the vast swathes of land that the Mayor owns.”
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Richard @ RichardWQuinlan Two goslings in Brockwell Park this evening @ BrockwellParkCP @BrixtonBlog Year 6 Hill Mead @Year6HillMead The animals of the Savannah have come to Hill Mead
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Join the conversation in #Brixton by Tweeting us @BrixtonBlog or @Brixton_Bugle
1/ Driving into Brixton
YOUR BRIXTON: Flickr user glossormatt uploaded this to our Flickr group this month, an image that suggests summer really is on the way outside Sainsbury’s in central Brixton! BELOW LEFT, Nick Weedon visits a mill with a view, at the very top of Brixton Windmill. Keep them coming to our Flickr group www.flickr.com/groups/brixtonblog
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Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!’ Mobile massage therapist Donna Wilson chilling out (literally) with the Brixton Bugle on a rather grey Bank Holiday weekend on Brighton beach
Tweet us pics of your Bugle in odd places for a chance to win a Brixton Blog bag
@brixtonblog
I live in Streatham and love driving into Brixton down Brixton Hill and looking at the Shard and the surrounding buildings in the city. It’s very futuristic.
2/ Market House
I really like going to Market House on a Friday night with my staff because of the eclectic mix of music I hear there. I was there one night and the DJ had the audacity to play Sugar Bum Bum by Lord Kitchener, my all time favourite calypso.
3/ Being in Brixton
Working in the restaurant in Brixton means meeting and engaging in conversations with people of all backgrounds. It’s very interesting, and very chilled.
4/ Granville Arcade
I absolutely love Granville Arcade with all the restaurants, veg stalls and specialist boutiques. The vibe is rambunctious.
5/ The food and the atmosphere
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by numbers by numbers
For a moment, I sometimes forget that I miss Trinidad, because I get everything from ‘good mornings’ to golden ray butter to flying fish. Brixton still has the trappings of a small village in the islands.
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June 2015
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COMMENT
editorial 9
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Brixton illustrated MYATT’S FIELDS PARK - BY KAYLENE ALDER
This month’s Brixton Illustrated suggestion comes from Gabriella Borovsky via Twitter. She suggested Myatt’s Fields, a beautiful Victorian park opened in 1889. Tweet or email your suggestions for Brixton’s best green spaces to @kpictures or info@kaylenealder.com and win a free print.
This Friday, corks will finally be popping at the latest ‘destination venue’, Pop Brixton, in Brixton Station Road. Where once we had a multi-storey car park, and later an ice rink, dozens of ageing shipping containers have been stacked like a giant game of Jenga. Despite its resemblance to Shoreditch’s Boxpark, this version claims to be rooted in the community; 85 per cent of the incoming business owners are from Lambeth, says Pop-man Philippe Castaing, Opus Cafe-owner and he of Brixton Green. But this paper sounds a word of caution. It’s been a murky process to get to this point. The original bid was a very different one called grow:Brixton, which morphed into Pop Brixton following a row between those behind the scheme. There was no public consultation around the changed plans. Many small local businesses couldn’t dream to afford some of the rents charged by a so-called community scheme. In several years the rusting containers will go and the site is to be developed as part of Future Brixton plans. Will it be replaced by social housing, luxury flats, or retail? It is down to the Pop Brixton team, and anyone who cares about Brixton, to keep pressure on the council to listen to local people when drawing up the plans. The plans have already been drawn up for the ‘Your New Town Hall Campus’, stretching up Brixton Hill from Acre Lane to Olive Morris House. According to the planning application we’ll see a 14-floor block of flats replace Hambrook House; 74 homes rise from the rubble of Olive Morris House and a modern Civic Centre opposite St Matthews Church. Cllr Paul McGlone calls the scheme a “great deal” for Lambeth residents on page 2, with nearly half of all the homes classified as “affordable”. But there is a difference between (truly affordable) social rents, and the modern definition of “affordable” - which can be just a few per cent of market value. Time will tell which interpretation we get at this and regeneration developments coming across the town centre. It’s sad to see that as Pop Brixton opens its container doors, the Sunday Farmers’ Market is closing down at the other end of Station Road [see page 3]. It’s been operated by London Farmers’ Markets - who have to turn a profit - for some six years. But co-production and local ownership is what Brixton does best, so we hope that the traders can find a way forward for our Sunday dose of organic veggies and sourdough bread. Can the slot be offered to Stuart Horwood and the Brixton Market Traders’ Federation, who have run the Saturday market on the street so brilliantly for so long? We sincerely hope they’ve been asked. Finally, it seems the sunshine is here. We’ll celebrate next month with a bumper summer edition of the Brixton Bugle, with your definitive guide to summer in the city including the Lambeth Country Show, Splash and al fresco eating and drinking.
New campaign: sustainable housing for all JaCK CORNFORTH Lambeth Friends of the Earth
Against this backdrop, we looked into what groups; do further homework and networking was already being done to try and counter these to fully map and continue to collaborate with worrying trends and how we could provide existing campaigners which will maximise our Lambeth Friends of the Earth has launched a some support to those worst affected. After impact without duplicating efforts; develop new campaign to help ensure that everyone meeting many of the people working tirelessly case studies which clearly explain concrete in Lambeth has access to healthy, affordable, on a number of key housing challenges, we actions people can take to assess and improve greener housing and is looking for people to decided to divide our efforts into two distinct their energy efficiency; and focus on an estate get involved. but heavily related parts: 1) with strong community structures that is being You don’t need to have lived joining the many other residents targeted for redevelopment. in Lambeth long to realise how and activists in demanding an We have therefore started speaking to the Save much it’s changing. In fact, you large numbers of people end to profit-driven, community Cressingham Gardens campaign to see how we don’t have to live there at all. destroying redevelopments; and can help protect this thriving community up Downtown Brixton has gone are living in inadequate, 2) helping some of by Brockwell Park that Lambeth from being somewhere many most vulnerable is trying to demolish. We are now unsustainable housing residents access (usually misinformed) people working on a number of activities there’s a clear actively avoided to one of the advice and support to directly support residents, hottest ‘brunch’ spots in London. for making their bolster their campaign and help Gentrification has led to rapidly homes warmer, alternative to evictions amplify their voices. More news rising rents and property prices, meaning those more affordable and greener on this to come very shortly! and demolitions on lower incomes are finding it increasingly places to live - thus showing a We have a lot to do and are hard to live in the borough. clear alternative to evictions and looking for volunteers. If you are What’s more, Lambeth council’s budget demolitions. a local resident or organisation has been slashed by 50 per cent since 2011, We recently brought people working on any related issue seeing it begin to sell off large chunks of together at an event to discuss how to actually or just keen to help, please let us know: property to raise extra funds while the housing do this. Firstly, it was agreed that our efforts jackcornforth@hotmail.co.uk. waiting list for the most vulnerable sectors of must be driven by the needs of people living society grows ever longer. Troublingly, but in poor housing and at risk of losing their @JackCornforth unsurprisingly, large numbers of people are homes. It was therefore suggested that we try http://lambethfoe.wix.com/lambethfoe living in inadequate, unsustainable housing. to: mobilise and bolster existing community http://www.savecressinghamgardens.co.uk/
@brixtonblog
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t: 020 3730 1312
10 Feature
www.brixtonblog.com Meet The Trader spotlight:
Be the first to pay by tap!
The Turpentine
“A year after opening, we’ve doubled the number of artists whose work we showcase. We’ve seen people wearing our t-shirts at Brixton Academy gigs. Walking around Brixton there’s so much greeting and waving, because so many local people have been to our workshops. And we just hired our first employee! It’s a big milestone. But the best feeling is probably the realisation that it’s actually happening: no more office jobs, this is our life now, and we’re loving every bit of it!”
Our latest development makes paying in B£s even easier - just use your Oyster or contactless bank card! Here’s how to get involved: 1. Turn up at a participating business with a contactless-enabled card. This just means an Oyster card or contactless bank card you already own. 2. Either ask the business to link your card to your existing B£ account (if you have one) – or to use your card to create a shiny new B£ account for you on the spot! This will not affect in any way that card’s functionality as an Oyster or bank card. 3. If you’re linking the card to an existing account you can spend straight away. If you’re creat-ing a new B£ account to link to your card, you’ll first need to hop online here (brixtonpound.community-currency. org/) afterwards to transfer some funds in before you can get going. Participating businesses are below, and you’ll get a 10% discount for using B£s in some of them!
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Join us and Transition Town Brixton
on 2nd June to be an active participant in Community Supported Local Economy! More on transitiontownbrixton.org!
Brixton Bonus: a win for you, a win for Brixton
One Bugle ago we left in a bit of a cryptic infographic featuring the ‘Brixton Bonus’ and ‘Brixton Fund’ that we promised were ‘coming soon’… so what was it all about? Well, as the launch date for the B£’s latest adventure draws (there’s a pun in there, you’ll get it in a bit) ever nearer we can reveal a little more… The Brixton Bonus will be a monthly prize draw (see the pun now?!), open to all at £1 (or B£1) a go, with a jackpot of B£1000. The whole idea is that it is, genuinely, a bonus for Brixton. After the winning Brixtonite has been awarded their handsome winnings (which in turn will, of course, become a bonus for the Brixton businesses in which it will be spent), the remaining funds will be split between the Brixton Fund – our new local micro-grants scheme – and a contribution to the Brixton Pound’s costs, enabling us to continue our work supporting Brixton’s businesses and strengthening community connections. The Brixton Fund will create accessible grants of maximum £1000 available to Brixtonites with ideas to celebrate that address local employment or social justice (or both!), or simply create community benefit. We’re leaving it vague on purpose: we want to involve Brixtonites in helping decide what’s really worth supporting.
June 2015
How did three best friends start running workshops like Drink & Draw, Wax Carving, or a whole course in painting in the heart of Brixton? Find out more about The Turpentine’s story (including the bit about B£ t-shirts!) on our blog: brixtonpound.org/blog
Become a director of the Brixton Pound
London’s urban currency could only happen here. Brixton is peopled by dynamic, forward-thinking individuals who like to get up, stand up and create different ways to think and live. Come and be part of it. Over the past 5 years the Brixton Pound has: • provided a means of acting with your wallet to support local business • introduced innovative and fun ways to pay • given small independent business a strong collective identity • created a powerful voice for the unconventional right here, right now • put David Bowie on money! It’s a fresh approach to money, but we want to be more than just that. We believe that the Brixton Pound can be an anchor for positive and inclusive change in Brixton, celebrating the past while im-agining a better future. The board of directors develops the strategy and supports the team
Together the Brixton Bonus and Brixton Fund will: • Create a new angle for people and businesses to engage with the currency, and the local enterprise and community it supports • Generate funds for valuable local projects, enabling individuals and businesses to contribute to important grassroots work • Create a splash - this is a new take on the idea of local lotteries, and will be one more reason for people to visit and spend local in Brixton • Strengthen the Brixton Pound - helping us continue our work building connections and supporting local independents in Brixton. As a punter you’ll be able to buy tickets - or, better, join the Bonus on an ongoing basis for just £1/month - online or by popping into one of our Bonus vendors and doing it in person ( you’ll re-ceive a special Brixton Pound contactless card that will hold your tickets and allow you to ‘pay-by-tap’ using B£s in participating businesses). If you like what you hear and want to be kept updated, think you might want to help us launch with a few volunteering hours here or there - or perhaps want to join the Brixton Fund board and lend your local expertise to the decisions process, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ brixtonbonus and let us know! Just remember: whether you’re the lucky winner or not – it’s a win for Brixton, hands down.
to deliver it. Several long-standing directors are standing down to make way for a new group to help take us forward. If you are: • passionate about Brixton being and reflecting all that we are • pro-active, innovative and entrepreneurial We would like to hear from you. We are interested in people with range of skills, expertise and ide-as, with the energy to make them happen. We want to create solutions to fundamental issues around business, money, opportunity and yes, regeneration. What would you want to do? How would you do it? To register your interest or find out more information, drop us a line via email or Twitter. www.brixtonpound.org info@brixtonpound.org @brixtonpound
The Brixton Bonus
Building Brixton. One ticket at a time A prize draw from The Brixton Pound. Giving you the chance to win B£1000 for yourself, whilst helping fund local projects. To enter visit brixtonpound.org
June 2015
www.brixtonblog.com
FEATURES 11
football in total focus BY SANDRA BROBBEY
One of South London’s biggest football projects was the focus of a photography exhibition at Brockwell Park. A collection of images charting the history and evolution of St Matthew’s Project (SMP) was shown at Brockwell Hall on May 16 and 17 as part of the annual programme of arts events at the park. SMP, founded on a Brixton housing estate in the summer of 2004, has trained hundreds of aspiring young football players and coaches. The FA-backed project featured archive images of dozens of past and present members and was part of a series of events set up to celebrate its tenth anniversary. “We amassed so many pictures over ten years... so we thought it would be good idea to display a selection of them”, said Lee Dema (pictured left), the founder of SMP. “We wanted to sum-up what we are all about with the selection of images we had on show. We wanted to reflect where our kids work with come from and capture their personalities. @sandrabrobbey78
Heels & Souls:
For the love of music and charity
“Last time, I was very naïve about how swimmingly everything was going to go; then one of the speakers broke the night before, we ran out of float money and I had to flag down a cabbie on Brixton Road at 12.30am for change.” Patrick Forrester, 22, laughs heartily as he explains to The Bugle’s Features Editor Katrin Magnussen how his first Heels & Souls charity event went.
Despite spending the evening “running around like a madman”, Patrick is undeterred and the second Heels & Souls night is set for May 29. This time, he is being helped by partnerin-crime Ben Croft, 23, who relocated from Manchester only two weeks ago. The two friends met at York University where they bonded over Philosophy studies and music. The club night takes place at Xperience, an intimate Congolese restaurant in
Loughborough Road which provided Patrick with his first taste of Brixton after his move from Stratford-upon-Avon six months ago. “On my very first night living in Brixton I went down to this bizarre and really great place because a good DJ called John Russell was playing there,” explains Patrick. “Xperience is small with just the kind of vibe that I like, and it always stuck in my mind that if I was going to do an event in Brixton this would be a great place.” “And their Congolese food is delicious!” He adds with another big laugh. “At 3am, as we were packing up after the first Heels & Souls event, Lopez and Michelle, who run the restaurant, thought it was a good time to slow-cook a lamb so I got to try some chilli lamb just before we were leaving. It was great!” What about the name Heels & Souls? Patrick laughs sheepishly:”Funnily enough I haven’t even told Ben this! I couldn’t come up with a name so I scrolled through my iPhone and came across Lafayette Afro Band’s song ‘Soles and Heels’. I toyed a lot around with it before my flatmate suggested calling it Heels & Souls.” Ben interjects: “The name goes really goes well with the charity aspect as well.” The first event made £110 for the charity War Child. ”I have been supporting War Child for a while so it was a natural choice”, says Patrick, “Helping children in war zones is probably one of the more noble causes you can support.” The next club night will donate its proceeds to Ben’s choice, Visyon, a charity supporting young people’s emotional health and offer invaluable coping mechanisms and avenues to help deal with challenging issues.
“My main worry is that people would think that we are doing this for self-promotion which we are not”, says Patrick, “we want to raise money for charity. And, for the next one, we will probably choose a locally-based one.” “As a DJ”, adds Ben, “you want to help create something, and if you can also give something back to charity that makes it a double whammy. It’s nice to be playing to 50 or 60 people and to be involved in every aspect of the night from the music to the publicity. We want to keep the event small and intimate, especially in the beginning.” Patrick and Ben are keen to keep overheads as low as possible so that all monies taken on the night are directed straight to their chosen charity. Apart from venue hire and printing of promotional posters, sound systems are borrowed for free and DJs are lining up to play for nothing to gain exposure. “It’s fantastic how supportive everyone is! You move down to London and think everyone will be sharking around trying to snap at you“, says Patrick with an incredulous laugh, “But because we don’t run in competition with larger events, and people respect the fundamentals of the night such as a small party, music diversity and helping the local nightlife, they have offered to come play for free because it’s for charity.” Both Patrick and Ben DJ in their spare time, at Brixton Hill’s White Horse and online radio station ‘Blend ‘Em Gardens’ (geddit?) from Patrick’s bedroom in its namesake location. Their diverse musical tastes are mirrored in the Heels & Souls club night. “We want to keep Heels & Souls as musically diverse as possible, from Northern Soul and Hip Hop to disco and House”, explains Patrick. “The idea was to give the DJs complete autonomy as to what they want to play. Put the trust in the DJs. And then in the bar, Lopez will be playing some crazy African music!” If you want to support charity club night Heels & Souls, the next event is on May 29 at Xperience African Restaurant, 88 Loughborough Road SW9. £4 on the door, with all proceeds going to the Visyon charity. bit.ly/heelsoul
Pop Brixton Opens Today, May 29, at 5pm Pop Brixton opens today for its official launch. Set between the Brixton Rec and Brixton Market, on the corner of Pope’s Road and Brixton Station Road, the space is home to an eclectic mix of independent businesses – including street food, vintage clothing, makers, designers and more. Pop comes to life through the hard work and talents of many local people – from the Lambeth College apprentices that helped to build and fit the shipping containers, to the architect behind the ideas, Carl Turner. The 200 capacity event space will host a wide range of events, including TEDx Brixton (October 2015), gigs and screenings. The gallery will feature work from across London along with free space for local artists. People will be able to learn about food growing or sit and relax at the ‘Pop Farm’ (polytunnel and garden area). Pop will be rooted in the local community – 85% of the businesses are local and tenants have to commit to an hour a week of sharing skills with Brixton residents and businesses. With affordable workspace still to be allocated and ideas needed for events and exhibitions – Pop Brixton will be what we make it.
Meet some of the tenants H Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen H
Born and raised in South London to Irish and Ghanaian parents, Zoe Adjonyoh first took the London street food scene by storm four years ago. A well-established chef, Zoe has served her widely-acclaimed modern interpretation of classic Ghanaian flavours at supper clubs, residencies and festivals across the UK and Europe.
H Maria Sabina H
H Baba G’s H
Baba G’s is an Indian fusion street food company, started 6 years ago on a Brixton street corner. Baba G’s is the umbrella company to our different brands “Bhangra burger”and the soon to open “Shack Tandoor” this is just the start. Baba G’s Bhangra burger is about the flavour, spice, aroma colour with a touch of theatre.
H Mamas Jerk H
Upcoming events 29 May – The Chelsea Fringe, Garden of Disorientation opening event 5-28 June – RIBA exhibition opens 13-14 June – Pop Brixton Street Art Event opens in the gallery 27-28 June – Grand opening of The Pop Festival 28 June – Event space opens
Maria Sabina is an authentic Mexican street food stall established in Brixton in 2013. Recipes have been handed down from generations of cooks in Monica’s family in Guanajuato, Mexico. Dishes are made with a high quality, fresh and locally sourced (when possible) ingredients.
Contact For more information, to book event space and check out what’s going head to www.popbrixton.org
visit futurebrixton.org • follow @futurebrixton
West Norwood based Mama’s Jerk is an innovative Caribbean street food team serving great tasting Jamaican Jerk inspired cuisine. Over the past five years Mama’s Jerk has become popular for fiery and succulent 24 hour marinated jerk chicken as well as a few innovative Jamaican Jerk spiced vegetarian and fish dishes.
June 2015
www.brixtonblog.com
Feature 13
From gang member to
urban fitness guru
Earlier on this year Brixton Bugle met up with urban fitness expert Terroll Lewis. He is the savvy founder of a fast-growing keep fit movement he created in prison way back in 2009.
BY SANDRA BROBBEY, SPORTS EDITOR
Since Lewis led his very first public training session with six students in Kennington in 2010, his unique take on keeping fit has gone
Sh a rk a nd b a ke T h u rsday is h e re.. C o me do w n a nd h ave o n e of Tr in idad a n d To b a g o’s m o st p op u la r st re et fo o d . .w h o is e atin g ja w s s s ! !! ! Wa s h it ba c k w it h a c o ld C a r ib
Ta ke h o b ott le m e a of o u r le g e n d ‘G ra n n a r y y Pepp e r S u z y S a u c e’ !
Unit 79 Brixton Village on Coldharbour Lane SW9 8PS
from strength to strength. Today his energetic Block Workouts, which include sessions hosted at a minimalist street gym in Brixton, pull in more than 100 people every week. It’s a diverse group of men, women and teenagers of all fitness levels - all adherents of Lewis’ high octane approach to exercise. This year marks the first anniversary of the Brixton Street Gym established by Lewis on Somerleyton Road. Here he reflects on his time behind bars and the origins of the Block Workout. “I got into a lot of gangs growing up as a youngster and got involved in a lot of trouble. I was lacking a father or older brother figure. I was a lacking a role model. So I started running into trouble, moving with the wrong crowd and ended up in prison in 2008. “When I was inside I started training. It was just me in my cell training surrounded by four walls everyday. I was using my bin and bed to do press-ups, reverse dips and sit-ups. “That’s where Block Workout started for me. It was about doing something to keep my mind occupied. When I was released from prison after being found not guilty of the crime I’d been accused of, I put my street life behind me and decided to keep my fitness routine going. “I went to a public playground on the Myatt’s Field Estate not far from Brixton. I started doing press-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and leg conditioning work on parallel bars. “I posted videos of my sessions on YouTube and things took off from there. It was a shock to see that people were interested in what I was doing to stay fit. For me this was about doing something to keep busy and stay focused
instead of getting back into trouble. “With my videos on YouTube I found that more people were getting in touch and asking me to run training sessions. So I ran little classes where people would come and train with me for free. Word of mouth and social media helped things to take off. “There are lot of young people out there who are lacking the stability provided by good role models or a strong family. That’s what Block Workout is about. It’s all about a family of people coming together and striving the same goals through fitness. “Social media really helped things to take off. Last year I secured a deal with a TV show (Star Block Workout) and got the chance to travel to Brazil and South Africa training celebrities. “At the moment I have the perfect balance between commercial and community activities. I run my own charity, the Block Workout Foundation, which works with 13 to 16-yearolds who are on the fringes of crime or active gang members. “My main goal now is to get more funding.” Clockwise from top left: Block Workout members using parallel bars to practice arm dips, doing warm-up exercise, doing press-ups and Block Workout Founder Terroll Lewis
Brixton BID
brixton bid theme groups
If you are a Brixton BID member and you would like to attend our Marketing and Partnerships or Environment meeting, please email the BID team admin@brixtonbid.co.uk
For all the latest Brixton BID news follow us on Twitter @BrixtonBID
Local businesses who volunteer on the Brixton BID board were recently invited to City Hall this month by the London Mayor to show his appreciation to Londoners whose efforts in improving their local communities often go unheralded. The reception celebrated the importance of London’s communities, and the contributions made by volunteers. The event gave guests the opportunity to find out about projects being undertaken by the London Mayor, and the chance to share stories of the work they champion within their communities. Left: London Mayor Boris Johnson meets Calvin Rattray, founder of Brixton hairdressers Hype Coiffure.
Save money on business waste Brixton BID has teamed up with award winning recycling company First Mile Ltd. We are offering savings of up to 40% on business waste and recycling costs. Sign up now stating you are a member of Brixton BID. Call First Mile on 0800 612 9894 or email customers@thefirstmile.co.uk to find out more. Benefits First ton of cardboard recycling FREE each year 40% lower cost waste and recycling Daily collections from outside your business Free waste transfer notes and recycling reports
111 Brixton Hill SW2 1AA tel: 07453078592 email: pottsbrixton@gmail.com instagram: potts_antiques
www.pottsantiques.com
Brixton BID
Enabling amazing Brixton businesses to take ownership of their success
Thanks to all Brixton BID members who joined us on 19 May at our latest Brand Amplifier Masterclass event at the Beehive Place. The Brand Amplifier team assembled a star lineup of expert mentors to explore the importance of Thought Leadership in the Digital Age, who gave insights across storytelling, brand psychology, agile strategy and hands-on best practices to keep Brixton’s businesses growing, employing and innovating together. For those of you that couldn’t join us, we wanted to share some of the insights, so we sat down with Patrick McAleenan, journalist and professional storyteller who spoke on Nailing Your Brand Story, to give a snapshot on his outtakes from the event.
BA: With a career spanning 2 decades in PR and journalism, you must have heard quite a few good and bad brand stories. What is the secret to getting it right? PM: I certainly have! Storytelling is arguably the most ancient art form since the dawn of man. It’s innate in every social culture, and with the digital revolution, is finally getting the attention it deserves by businesses from every sector. No brand – however staid, controversial or fresh off the startup block – can afford to get it wrong. As I mentioned in my workshop, the key is to capture the imagination of your audience as you would in any non-business scenario. Be authentic. Show your personality. Make it relatable to real people. Have a structure. Give enough – but not all – away, so you’ll keep them coming back for more. BA: What stood out to you from the stories you heard on the day? PM: The journalist in me was fascinated
by the diverse mix of businesses in the room and if I’m honest, I was delighted to make several connections that I plan to put forward for upcoming editorial feature ideas. Watch this space! BA: What made you want to get involved as a Brand Amplifier mentor? PM: I’ve been following the successes of the charity and its many amazing alumni over the past year and a half or so, and there’s something special about the energy, sincere sharing and solid networking that happens at every Brand Amplifier gathering – on or off-line. Brand Amplifier proves its own philosophy – that businesses of all shapes and sizes can and should collaborate and share best practices with each other, as it only makes the local ecosystem that much stronger. I’m delighted to be a part of that, and I am quite sure I learned more from the other experts and attendees as I was able to share!
Brand Amplifier is a Brixton-born charity that has developed into one of the UK’s most energising and effective business growth platforms. Find out how you can get involved as a mentor, or join one of our upcoming events on www.brandamplifier.com or @brandamplifier on Twitter/Instagram.
Get Creative at the Turpentine Come learn something new and reconnect with your creative side Life Drawing
DIAMOND CAR WASH
Car repair service and specialist in car valeting Car Wash Only £5 Car Wash, Interior Polish & Vacuum £10 Engine Steam Clean £15
Mini Valet £35 Hand Polish £50 Full Car Valeting £70
Enquiries: 07903 587 448 173 Ferndale Road, Brixton, SW9 8BA
6 week evening course for beginners and improvers. Learn the skills of proportion, gesture, tone and mark making, to create beautiful drawings.
Drink and Draw Want to learn something new as you relax with friends over a drink? Then join our alternative drawing class!
Jewellery Making Learn the core techniques of jewellery making and silversmithing using traditional methods. Learn how to cut, shape, solder and polish metal to create your very own jewellery to love and wear.
Make Your Own Silver Ring In this two part workshop you will make your own silver ring by carving your design into jewellers wax. These designs are then cast in solid silver to be finsihed up to a high shine for you to wear with pride.
For dates, more info and to book, go to:
www.theturpentine.com
The Turpentine, 433 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8LN Tel: 0203 302 7860, info@theturpentine.com
16 food and drink
www.brixtonblog.com
June 2015
By Miss South
RECIPE west african scotch eggs
(makes 4 scotch eggs) ingredients 4 eggs, hard boiled 4 sausages 50g rice flour 2 eggs, beaten 100g gari
1 teaspoon ground crayfish 1 teaspoon mustard powder salt and pepper 250ml vegetable oil
Summer is coming with its excuse to sit in Brockwell Park watching the world go by. I like something more substantial to fortify me for this than a sandwich and frankly what
could be better than a homemade Scotch Egg in this situation? How about a completely wheat- and gluten-free version that takes under 30 minutes to make from scratch? Your wish is my command with these. The egg is covered with sausage meat as normal but is then covered in dried gari instead of breadcrumbs. Gari is popular in West Africa and is made from cassava or tapioca. It is usually combined with liquid to make a variety of dishes, but left dried it makes an excellent substitute to breadcrumbs, holding its crunch nicely. You could use it for fried chicken, fish or vegetables as well. You can buy a bag of it easily just about anywhere in Brixton. Start by hard-boiling your eggs. I have always found it tricky to get the timings just right until a fellow Bugle writer told me this trick. Bring a
pan of water to a boil, add the room-temperature eggs and boil vigorously for 1 minute. Take them off the heat and put the lid on the pan. Leave for 7 minutes. Lift out and put them in ice water. Cool for 5 minutes, then peel them and you will have perfectly boiled eggs with soft golden yolks. Once you’ve got the eggs right, everything else is about preparation. Use nice chilled sausages to cover the eggs to prevent gaps, lay out everything for covering the eggs and get your oil to the right temperature where it would shimmer with heat rather bubble before you start and they are very easy to make. Put the rice flour on a plate, crack the remaining eggs into a bowl and beat well and put the gari in a shallow bowl. Arrange them in that order. Add the crayfish, mustard powder and salt and pepper to the gari.
Put your hand into the rice flour and take the skins off the sausages, flattening each one into a patty in your hand. Wrap this round the eggs and pinch the eggs together to prevent any gaps. Roll this in the rice flour, then dip into the beaten egg and then coat in the gari. To get a really good crisp coating, dip it back into the beaten egg and then in the gari again. Set aside and repeat until all the eggs are covered. You will have some flour, egg and gari left as it’s better to put slightly too much out than too little. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry two eggs at a time for about 2 minutes on each side until the outside is golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen roll and repeat with the other eggs. Eat warm or cold with some hot pepper jelly on the side. They will keep for a day or two in the fridge if you have willpower or make spares. They are so easy to make I might try a salt cod version next.
Foodie news As we all know, Brixton is ever-changing but each month we bring you a round-up of what’s happening to keep you in the loop: Pop Brixton opens on May 29 with several street food vendors getting their first bricks and mortar places after local residencies in Brixton and Clapham. After a stint at the King and I in Clapham, Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen is opening there, as are Miss P’s barbecue (try the catfish!) and Baba G’s after a great reception at Market House last summer. Koi Ramen is building on acclaim as one of Time Out’s top cheap eats and opening permanently, after some time trading at Brixton Station Road market. We’re still waiting for Sh! Burger Club and BoomBurger to open and there’s no sign of work on either venue. Things are definitely happening at the old site of Gyoza on Coldharbour Lane, which is to become Masterchef winner Tim Anderson’s first restaurant Nanban (another Market House alumni in fact) in collaboration with the guys behind Satay and Market House itself! The empty site where William Hill used to be on Brixton Road near Plan B is becoming a huge double-fronted BBQ chicken restaurant, presumably catering to the late-night clubbing crowd.
June 2015
www.brixtonblog.com
Food and drink 17
REVIEW: going underground for GREMIO OF BRiXTON’S Tasty tapas BY NIKKI GRIFFITHS
Having thoroughly enjoyed reviewing Brindisa’s Food Rooms in the last issue, my tapas tastebuds were asking for more. Luckily, I could turn to Gremio de Brixton. Set in the crypt of St. Matthew’s Church, I had wondered if the location was too good to be true and that in fact they would be serving up no more than novelty nibbles and regular Rioja. Well - gracias Gremio, you are so much more. Sure, it might not be perfect. But who cares? It’s an amazing space, romantic, relaxed and down to earth and isn’t going to break your bank. Gremio de Brixton, translated to mean the guild, or union of Brixton, opened two years ago and for many locals has since been a reliable and consistent go-to. That said, this was my first time. My favourite thing about eating Spanish food is that you get to choose so many things off the menu. Of course, we started with the obligatory meat and cheese. To be precise, we ate the jamon serrano and the most famous Spanish sheep’s
cheese, manchego. The servings were generous and the ham had a similar creamy and nutty taste I remember so well from Brindisa, and which I now benchmark all thinly sliced Spanish hams against. The couple of choices we had from the starter menu did let the side down a bit and could do with a little refining. But they’re good staples to have on the menu. The calamari was a bit pot luck, with half of it being delicious and the other half really tough. That said, the batter was lovely and crisp and the lemon mayo was spot on. We also tried the chorizo bites which came served with an apple mayonnaise. They were a bit overpowering and could have used a fresh herby flavour injection.
Onto the good stuff. I notice quite a lot of people aren’t sold on Spanish food and see it as bland and unimaginative. This menu however, with the inclusion of a parrilla (meaning grill) section, makes Gremio not just another generic tapas joint. The chefs have taken crowd pleasing succulent cuts of meat and fresh fish and cooked them in their own style. From the grill, we decided to try the grilled scallops wrapped in crispy pancetta with white bean mash and baby spinach. To my delight, the scallops were cooked perfectly and the classic pairing with crisp pancetta was as pleasing as it usually is. The white bean mash gave a great texture and allowed the scallops to really show off. Next up my boyfriend had chosen, purely at the sight of the word ‘oxtail’, the piquillo peppers stuffed with confit oxtail in Rioja wine. These little guys were one of the stars of the night. A dark gravy, which at first I expected to be more red wine flavoured, was a real surprise on the tongue. It felt like a little nod to my Yorkshire homeland amongst a table of Spanish exoticism and
it was delightful and comforting. The oxtail, inside the sweet pepper, was melt-in-the-mouth - a triumph of a dish. Finally, the confit of suckling pig, served with swede and apple mash and onion marmalade. Any slow cooked pig, in my opinion, is a winner. In this case, the flavour was great and the crispy top was exactly what I’d hoped for. Again, the chefs did an excellent job with this super juicy and succulent offering. Despite best intentions, we even gave in to desert, opting for the white chocolate mousse. Actually, when it arrived, it was much thicker than expected and was more like a panna cotta. That aside, it was sweet and indulgent and I wouldn’t have changed it. But it’s definitely one to share between two. To accompany your Spanish supper, I’d recommend the Val de los Frailes - a tempranillo red wine from Cigales. It’s dark and full-bodied and complimented our food perfectly. Also worthy of kudos are the wonderful staff at Gremio. From the moment we arrived, it felt like we were amongst friends. Our waiter, Sean, was a gentleman. He clearly cares a lot about the food he’s serving
up, was interested to know what we thought of it and was working very closely with the chefs to continue to refine their menu. His sense of pride made me like the place even more. Gremio gets a bit louder later on at
weekends so if I were you, I’d book an earlier table and then stay behind to sample their cocktail menu later into the evening. Dinner for two including drinks: £60
18 what’s on
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June 2015 to longfieldhall.co.uk for more information.
BRIXTON MUSIC NEWS
MONDAY 15 @ LISBON GRILL
Arts Co-Editor Barney Evison rounds up the latest music news from our corner of south London. rents, regeneration schemes and social housing evictions. The video was shot at the Reclaim Brixton protests in April.
Fat White Family and Alabama 3 headline Brixton Fightback gig A special gig at Electric Brixton is happening on June 11 to raise funds for local housing campaigners struggling to keep their homes. Brixton bands Fat White Family and Alabama 3 are headlining, with support from Misty Miller, Lara Lee and Potent Whisper. This is gonna be big. Lara Lee releases anti-gentrification song with Potent Whisper Not only is she performing at Brixton Fightback, The Voice finalist Lara Lee also released an anti-gentrification music video with Potent Whisper to protest rising
MONDAY 1 @ RAW MATERIAL
Raw Material, a youth arts group, is looking for creative young people between 11-15 to become part of a music group. There will be sessions every Monday from today for seven weeks, from 4.30pm-6pm. Kids will be given the opportunity to learn an instrument, write lyrics and perform live to an audience. Sessions cost £3 each. Visit rawmusicmedia.co.uk for more information.
TUESDAY 2 @ UPSTAIRS AT THE RITZY
Tonight is the launch of the Massive Arms Pop Tarts exhibition at Upstairs at the Ritzy. Illustrator Dave creates pop art-y graphics of his personal icons from downtrodden British TV characters to hip hop stars, soul music heroes and more. The party starts at 7.30pm and entry is free. The exhibition runs until July 5.
Local punk collective organise HIV/AIDS charity festival The South London Punk Collective is the brainchild of local punk guitarist John Youens and he’s on a mission to bring live punk back to South London. Check out our interview with him on Brixton Blog. They’re organising a punk festival to raise money for AIDS charities on July 11 at the New Cross Inn. Oxjam Brixton 2015 is in search of volunteers and bands Oxjam Brixton is looking for local bands, DJs and volunteers to get involved in this year’s annual charity gig which raises funds for Oxfam. Potential volunteers should email oxjambrixtonvolunteers@gmail. com, bands should contact oxjambrixtonbands@gmail.com. Childhood get new bassist and he’s French Important local music trivia coming up: Brixton -based psychedelic rock band Childhood have a new bassist. According to their Facebook
WEDNESDAY 3 @ HOME
If you live in Brixton and you’re in a band or fancy volunteering for OxJam Brixton then take a moment today to get in touch with the organisers at oxjambrixtonband@gmail.com or oxjambrixtonvolunteers@gmail.com so you can get involved come October.
THURSDAY 4 @ WINDMILL BRIXTON
Garage, rock’n’roll and blues at Windmill Brixton tonight with One Man Destruction Show headlining. Doors open at 8pm and tickets cost £3. Go to windmillbrixton.co.uk to book.
FRIDAY 5 @ PLAN B
Going to Field Day tomorrow? Start the weekend in Brixton tonight at Vagabondz at Plan B, with MJ Cole headlining and Champion, Mella Dee, Boyson, Hutch, Purge and Denzel also playing. Tickets from £8, doors from 10pm-5am.
critics choice:
potent whisper arts workshop sat 6 @ rotunda hall
Local rapper and playwright from the Our Brixton campaign is leading a free arts workshop today at the Rotunda Hall at Cressingham Gardens from 1-5pm. The theme is ‘change’ and workshops across the series will include theatre and performance, singing and poetry. It’s for young people aged 11-16 and you can reserve a free place at ourbrixton@gmail.com or on 07900168076.
page Thomas Tomaski was born on April 24, is French and likes to shout at roasted peanuts. Of Monsters and Men to play two dates at Brixton Academy Folkpop giants Of Monsters and Men have announced two dates at Brixton Academy in November as part of their UK tour. The Icelandic fivepiece are set to release their second studio album Beneath the Skin on June 9. The Big Noise Festival returns to Lambeth Hop on the bus to Elephant and Castle for The Big Noise Festival, a o n e -d a y music and arts festival tackling homelessness. It takes place on Saturday June 13 at the Coronet Theatre. Headline acts include DJ Yoda, Slamboree and Scratch Perverts.
SUNDAY 7 @ BROCKWELL PARK
FRIDAY 12 @ BRIXTON Join the Friends of Brockwell Park RECREATION CENTRE for their annual tree celebration. People pay to have trees planted to remember loved ones and celebrate family, and at this moving occasion the Mayor of Lambeth comes to help dedicate the trees. Meet at 2pm at the clock tower by Brockwell Hall.
If you’re planning to let your hair down at the end of the week, then why not balance it out with a quick sports session at the Brixton Rec? Go
We’ve heard great things lately about the Studio B Swing Patrol classes, so if you’ve never tried out swing dancing, then go to the beginner class at 7pm tonight. No need to book, just turn up and learn the basics plus some ‘fun moves’ to wow the crowds. Entry costs £8. Go to swingpatrol.co.uk for more information.
FRIDAY 19 @ BEEHIVE PLACE
If you’re a fan of supperclubs and willing to spend the money, then Beehive Place in, erm, Beehive Place, has extended its run. The menu changes every week and is a fivecourse tasting menu for £36. Book at beehiveplace.com.
SATURDAY 20 @ BROCKWELL PARK COMMUNITY GREENHOUSES
If you’ve got kids into gardening then get them along to the Shine Saturday school veg-growing project at the Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses, from 10.30am today.
Wild Tales starts today for the rest of the week at Whirled Cinema in Loughborough Junction. It’s been roundly applauded this year for its telling of six separate stories in one film, all about how different people cope with the drive for success and competition in the worlds we live in.
A group exhibition called Third Six opens today at Brixton East with the private view at 6pm. The artists featured are brought together by gallerist India Dickinson. Go to brixtoneast.co.uk for more information.
Artist and researcher Dr Angela Brew will share her expertise in observational drawing and animation to help you make dynamic drawings of growing plants, at 10.30am today. Booking is essential and costs £30 for three sessions. Email brewdrawing@ gmail.com to book.
THURSDAY 18 @ STUDIO B
wed 17 @ whirled cinema
TUESDAY 9 @ BRIXTON EAST
THURSDAY 11 @ BROCKWELL PARK COMMUNITY GREENHOUSES
Prosecco Tuesdays are back at The Lido Café for the summer – a glass of prosecco or a prosecco cocktail for £3 every Tuesday overlooking our favourite outdoor pool in London.
wild tales
Start the month with a relaxing yoga session at 8.45pm at St Matthew’s Tenants Hall. Classes are open to all levels and cost £10 for a drop in (cheaper if you’re a resident of St Matthew’s).
Popular opera La Boheme is returning to the Royal Opera to be streamed straight to the Ritzy cinema screens tonight, with Israeli conductor Dan Ettinger taking us through one of Puccini’s most emotional scores. Book at picturehouses.co.uk. Show starts at 7.15pm.
TUESDAY 16 @ THE LIDO CAFE
critics choice:
MONDAY 8 @ ST MATTHEW’S TENANTS HALL
WEDNESDAY 10 @ RITZY CINEMA
Can’t be bothered to cook dinner but not sure where to go in Brixton on a Monday night? Our current favourite is take-away grilled chicken from the Lisbon Grill on Brixton Hill. The menu is online at Lisbon-grill.co.uk.
Go to whirledcinema.com to book tickets. to the group cycle at 6pm, the water workout at 6.30pm or yoga at 7pm and be out in time for dinner, drinks and dancing.
SATURDAY 13 @ ROTUNDA HALL
If you missed last Saturday’s free arts workshop with local rapper and playwright Potent Whisper and you are between 11 and 16, then get to it today at 1pm. It’s at the Rotunda Hall at Cressingham Gardens from 1-5pm. You can reserve a free place at ourbrixton@gmail.com or on 07900168076.
SUNDAY 14 @ LONGFIELD HALL
Longfield Hall in Knatchbull Road will have two new theatre pieces previewing this weekend. Go
SUNDAY 21 @ PHOTOFUSION
A favourite Sunday activity is to pop to Photofusion to catch up with the latest exhibition. This month is the Select/15 in which four members of Photofusion have been selected to show their work. It closes on June 26, so make sure you get to it in time.
MONDAY 22 @ UPSTAIRS AT THE RITZY
Flamenco band Flamenco Express come to the upstairs bar at the Ritzy to get Brixtonites moving and dancing from 8pm today. Tickets cost £12.
TUESDAY 23 @ YOGA POINT
If you work from home, then take your lunchbreak at the Feldenkreis yoga class at our favourite yoga centre
June 2015
what’s on 19
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june RITZY ROUND-UP Terrifying hybrid dinosaurs. Inter-dimensional time travel. Indonesian genocide survivors. Jason Statham. Yep, it’s just another month at the Brixton Ritzy. Film contributor Adam Marshall guides you through June’s cinematic highlights.
Despite no Spielberg in the director’s chair. Despite the gaping absence of Jeff Goldblum. Despite the shoddiness of the other sequels. In the scaly animatronic face of it all, it’s still difficult not to get caught up in the excitement of the new JURASSIC WORLD (from June 12). Latest action-hero-in-chief Chris Pratt is at the heart of the… action, as the eponymous theme park tries to quell falling visitor numbers by developing a hybrid dinosaur known as Indominus Rex. Full marks for guessing that not all necessarily goes to plan. Clever girls. If removing yourself one step from reality
tickles your fantasy fancy, then you’ll no doubt want to keep an artificial eye on SCIFI LONDON 15 (short for the word-limit hassling London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film – from May 29). This year’s programme features a series of world premieres and Q&As. If the thought of warp speeds and phasers bring you out in a cyber rash, then fear not - the films on show are far more cerebral. TERMINUS June 6), in which a small-town American discovers a lifechanging phenomenon sounds intriguing. As does the Mexican EL INCIDENTE (June 1), billed as ‘Tarkovsky directing Groundhog Day’ - sufficient to baffle cinephiles and casual film goers alike. Can you believe that the horrific spate of prostitute killings in Suffolk perpetrated by
Steve Wright took place more than eight years ago? LONDON ROAD (from June 12) Artistic Director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris’s big screen adaptation of the award winning play of the same name – is based on interviews with Wright’s neighbours, who found themselves at the epicentre of national headlines in 2006. It takes a cast with the gravitas of Olivia Colman, Tom Hardy and Anita Dobson to give such events the sensitivity they deserve, and they will also be giving a satellite Q&A from the National Theatre in a special screening on June 9.
THURSDAY 25 @ DOGSTAR
car boot
Sun 14 @ brockwell park It’s the car boot sale in Brockwell Park! Stalls will be running from 9am and if you want to sell something, you need to turn up at 7am and it costs £10 a car. Follow it up with a swim at the Lido. in Brixton, Yoga Point on Dalberg Road. It’s at 1pm today with Karine and is open to all abilities.
WEDNESDAY 24 @ BRIXTON REC
If you think your kids would be into boxing, then take them along
critics choice:
bake off
SAT 13 @ Station rd market Something is smelling good on Station Road this month, as the ever popular Brixton Bake Off returns to the street market. The tough decision of whose baking is best will fall on a panel of judges, including Levi Roots, Stacey Raymond, Manager of Morleys, the Mayor of Lambeth; and Victor Scalzo from Patisserie Valerie.
Looking for more excuses to avoid the sun? Then you can hug it out with the smallto-big screen shenanigans of those chaps from ENTOURAGE (date TBC) or delve back into post-revolution Indonesia with THE LOOK OF SILENCE (June 12) – Joshua Oppenheimer’s documentary follow up to the remarkable The Act of Killing.
All sounding a little sober? SPY (from June 5) reunites Bridesmaids star (Melissa McCarthy, pictured above) and director (Paul Feig) for a James Bond-esque secret agent spoof. Jude Law and Jason Statham are acting on Her
to the Afewee boxing club tonight at 5.30pm until 7pm. Open to juniors from 5-16 years old and coached by the brilliant Bobby, head coach at Afewee.
critics choice:
Majesty’s Secret Service as her mentors, and Miranda Hart also appears to be in it for some reason. Do we expect you to talk? No, we expect you to chuckle along merrily.
Thursday nights mean Throwback Thursday dancing at the Dogstar. DJ Bella Taylor plays soul, funk and disco classics with cocktails and pizza served from 4pm.
FRIDAY 26 @ BRIXTON STATION ROAD
Welcome in the weekend with street food for lunch from the Friday market at Brixton Station Road. You can usually find vintage clothing stalls here too.
SATURDAY 27 @ DOGSTAR
Double up at the Dogstar this week with a Brixton classic, Audio Sushi, on tonight from 10pm until 4am. The sounds range from reggae, dubstep, house, robotic pop and much, much more. Go to dogstarbrixton.com for information on how to get on the guestlist.
SUNDAY 28 @ BRIXTON FARMERS’ MARKET
Farmer’s market day in Brixton and Herne Hill, means picking a loaf of the yummy Creole bakery soda breads in Brixton, stopping by the Post Office Bakery stall and then heading to Herne Hill market for lunch at the Ethiopian stall or a crepe to eat in the park.
MONDAY 29 @ THE LIDO
It really is summer now, so if you have wimped out so far – like us – then make sure to get in an early morning dip at the Lido this morning. It really is life-changingly glorious. And think of the brave Brockwell Icicles, who have been swimming all the way through the year in the Lido waters.
TUESDAY 30 @ BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVES
This is your last chance to catch the brilliant Staying Power exhibition – photos of the black British experience since the war – at the Black Cultural Archives. Free admission.
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June 2015
THEATRE
docu drama on housing crisis after the last eviction, in a capital city with a housing crisis. When we all learned of Network Rail’s plan to evict our convenience stores on Brixton Station Road, Atlantic Road and Pope’s Road, we realised that Brixton was on the verge of changing forever. This was when we decided to create the piece.
A Saltoun Road-based group of creatives, the Changing Face Collective, are currently working on a new verbatim play, responding to Brixton’s changing face as a community. Arts Editor Ruth Waters caught up with Lucy Curtis, the play’s director. Who’s in the collective and how long have you been working together? Our core members are theatre-makers me (Lucy Curtis) and Eve Mazza, photographer Dashti Jahfar, illustrator Gaurab Thakali, and short film producer Rohina Cameron-Perera. The collective first came together in response to the 2011 [London] Riots. Using our different
specialisms, including photography and filmmaking, we documented events as they unfolded. We found we were interested in the same things and we learned about each other’s different skills through teaching each other. Why did you decide to work on this particular subject and why now? One of our collaborators, who is part of Lambeth’s housing activist group, has experienced eviction. We have witnessed home evictions on Stockwell Park Estate and Loughborough Park, having lived in neighbouring blocks and find it shocking that their boarded-up homes remain empty a year
How have you been selecting local people to interview to form the script? Verbatim theatre [a form of documentary theatre where the script is constructed from the precise words spoken by people interviewed] is a lengthy process; the initial research and development phase is key to gathering all the information you need. We have interviewed over 100 local people who are affected by the evictions, as well as organisations. We want a balanced documentation, and have interviewed people who are pro-regeneration, including developers, and new people moving into the area. What have been the most interesting stories you’ve uncovered about Brixton from local people? It was interesting to sit down with a Lambeth archivist and hear about the different waves of classes and people who have lived in Brixton over a 200-year period. Brixton has gone through so many historic, social and economic changes. We have been very moved by people’s individual stories - people facing the loss of a family business, or their homes and community.
People feel as if they are being robbed of their achievements, livelihoods, and friendships. As one interviewee said: “Do they want us to become beggars?”
What’s your opinion as a collective about the changes happening in Brixton at the moment? We question the logic of destroying social housing [...] why demolish an estate like Cressingham Gardens when it’s more expensive and far less sustainable to do so? We believe it’s vital for people and estates to come together to fight eviction. We wonder, at what point did perceptions change about what we consider to be valuable and acceptable -does something have worth if it doesn’t have an economic value? Most importantly, we believe that people should be in charge of their own lives. It’s about everybody making a decision about how we all want to live together. Changing Face will be performed at Brixton East in August and then tour to other parts of London, Bristol and Edinburgh. Changing Face Collective are searching for Brixton-based actors and musicians to join the cast or contribute to the performance of Changing Face. Acting experience is not essential, but they are looking for committed individuals who are passionate about the topic. Visit www.changingfacecollective.com Pictures by Dashti Jahfar.
film
New film tackles sporting taboos Play The Game is the title of a new short film starring Malcolm Kamulete of Top Boy fame which will tackle homophobia and racism in professional football. We caught up with writer Alexander Walters and director Sasha Nashwani to find out more.
sexuality.” “We’re telling a story about those in high profile arenas who to this day still aren’t able to express their true identity for fear of not being accepted,” adds writer Alex. “They’ve exchanged their freedom for acceptance. That’s something that I don’t think any film has done properly.” Play The Game is set in 1980s Brixton and The opening shot shows a dressing-room Sheffield, and is seeking crowdfunding so it full of half-naked men, thrusting the audience can be pitched to top straight into the central TV executives for a tension of Play The potential series later Game; being gay and this year. Its creators, not being able to tell Alexander and Sasha, anyone. While this hope the project will story takes place in 30 highlight the stigma years ago, it addresses facing gay sportsmen a theme which remains in a way that has never something of a taboo been done before. today. “It’s 2015 and this is The short, which still something that’s could go on to really quite sensitive,” become a TV series, says director Sasha. Above: Malcolm Kamulete (left) in Channel 4 tells the story of “Even now we don’t drama Top Boy fictional footballer have any examples Top right: Sasha (left) and Alexander (right) Johnny Cassells, the of p ro f e s s i o n a l only black player on footballers at the the team of a major highest level who are open about their football club. Johnny not only faces the much
more widespread racism of British football in the ‘80s, but also harbours a secret which could ruin his career: he’s gay. Johnny is from Brixton and has a troubled background with a brother Sylvester in prison. This central character will be played by 18-year-old Malcolm Kamulete, now famous for his role as Ra’Nell in Channel 4’s hit show Top Boy. Malcolm, whose own brother is in prison, is perfect for this role, say Alexander and Sasha. “I always try and use real people in real situations to convey a sense of authenticity,” says Sasha. “We didn’t want thespy actors [...] when [Malcolm] got the part in Top Boy he’d never been in front of a camera before but he has an authentic, natural quality.” The plot of the planned TV series will follow Johnny as he leaves Brixton to play for a big club in Sheffield, where the team’s weatherbeaten manager Frank is the first to guess his secret. He eventually returns to his home town but gets caught up in the 1981 Brixton Riots which will feature heavily as a climactic scene. Alex suggests that the ‘81 riots haven’t yet been depicted on screen in a convincing way. He’s
spent the last few months pacing Railton Road, working out how to script the events of 30 years ago. “We’re telling a story about Brixton that we don’t think has been done justice,” he says when I ask why Brixtonites should support this project. “[Brixton of the 1980s] embodies that era of Thatcher’s England” adds Alex, explaining that the locations of Brixton and Sheffield help establish the wider context of an England undergoing huge cultural changes. These changes eventually redefined people’s attitudes towards sexuality and race - but unfortunately we still struggle to get it right today, as Play The Game should serve to remind us. Play The Game needs to raise £7,500 on Kickstarter by 14 June - if you want to support it, head to www.kickstarter.com and search for “play the game film”. Perks available for supporters include a signed script or the chance to appear as an extra.
June 2015
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arts & culture 21
ART
Memorial show for prolific local artist Acclaimed Brixton artist Anthea To o rc h e n d i e d earlier this year at the age of just 59. Co Arts Editor, Ruth Waters talked to Philippa Jones, one of the organisers of a memorial exhibition of Anthea’s work to be held at Brixton East later this month.
Her subject matter varied enormously. For the first part of her career, Anthea worked as a portrait artist, with “quite a traditional focus” - her skill was recognised by the National Portrait Gallery - where two of her paintings were displayed - but she produced her most intriguing and experimental work Anthea Toorchen’s in her late 30s and artistic journey defied early 40s. convention - where During her earlier most artists establish years as a portrait a medium, and style artist, Anthea visited at art school and local old people’s work within these homes and the bingo confounds, Anthea hall in Camberwell, worked as painter, drawing portraits of drawer, illustrator, Above: Local artist, Anthea Toorchen’s self people there. “Her sculptor and print portrait, previously displayed at the National choice of subject maker during her Portrait Gallery; Top right: Anthea Toorchen, always reflected her career, returning to local artist with one of her works; Right: Detail social commitments. college in her 30s to from work of Anthea Toorchen She was interested try new things. “With and committed to the exhibition we wanted to pay homage to people who had been held back or who were all the different areas of Anthea’s work, her oppressed by society in some way.” complete journey as an artist” Philippa tells Later Anthea went on to use derelict street me. “She had always wanted to have a solo furniture including broken lampposts, covered exhibition”. in plastic and worn out motorbike covers.
Evening Standard
‘Incredible, intimate photography’
‘The very ordinariness of the images – their humour and easy self-confidence – that makes this exhibition special.’ Observer
Time Out
From documentary to portraiture, Staying Power documents experiences of Black Britain from post-World War II to the 1990s.
“Her work was always about redeeming and repairing things - she took the ugly and the shrouded and transformed it into something interesting and beautiful. Through her work she reclaimed things and showed us their qualities”. Anthea’s detailed prints of covered broken lamp posts were what gained her membership to the Royal College of Art. Having lived in Brixton since the mid- 80s, starting off in a squat, Anthea loved the area “the urban environment of Brixton - especially in the ‘80s and ‘90s - inspired her. She really identified with the area”. As a member of the Brixton Housing Co op, “she felt supported” and she also loved her local studio in Loughborough Junction. Philippa, and I suspect many of Anthea’s friends, wonders about the parallels between her interest in shrouded and hidden objects and her own battle with Hepatitis C. “It’s strange that as she was working on these beautiful drawings and prints of objects with broken parts hidden from view, her own body was hiding a secret ‘brokenness’.” The stigma around the illness which would eventually take her life was something Anthea attacked with her signature style of bravery - “she kept her symptoms hidden from her friends, and was working all the time.” She
1 Windrush Sqaure, Brixton, SW2 1EF
bcaheritage.org.uk 020 3757 8500
Tues – Sat, 10am – 6pm
@bcaheritage #inspringpower
The Staying Power project is a partnership with the V&A and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund:
was also involved with the Hepatitis C Trust, working to raise awareness of the condition. I ask Philippa what people who aren’t familiar with Anthea’s work can expect from the her memorial exhibition “They’ll see the journey of an artist, finding different ways of expressing the same thing. Whatever Anthea created she did it with brilliant craftswomanship - whether it was making an accordion of crisp packets or drawing the folds of fabric - everything she created was beautiful and redeeming in its own way.” The Anthea Toorchen Memorial Exhibition opens at 6pm on Monday June 22 at Brixton East and runs for two days. The exhibition is free to attend and everyone is welcome.
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June 2015
Flower of the month
COW PARSLEY Jenn Woodcock of the Brixton Flower Club shares her favourite flower to be seen growing in Brixton this month. Cow Parsley is traditionally known for adorning countryside hedgerows and woodland with vast clouds of tiny white flowers, but we are lucky to have plenty of this beautiful plant edging the wilder parts of Brixton. The frothy flowers are overflowing in the borders of Brockwell Park right now. Cow Parsley is a tall plant that grows rapidly as soon as things start to warm up at the end of spring and so is a sure sign that summer is on the way. The flower is also known as Queen Anne’s Lace because it was said that the flowers would bloom on the edges of roadsides especially for Queen Anne when she was due to travel. Parts of the plant are edible but the taste is unpleasant and great caution
must be taken as it looks very similar to other poisonous plants including Fool’s Parsley and Poison Hemlock. You have been warned! The plant is in the carrot family and if you crush the flowers between your fingers you will be able to smell a strong aniseed aroma. Most people consider Cow Parsley to be a weed because of its tendency to take over areas, but in wilder areas it is a great plant. It is hardy and will cope in shade and doesn’t require a huge amount of maintenance. A vase of Cow Parsley on its own looks great and will last for about five days if you keep the water fresh. Jenn Woodcock is a local florist who does flowers for events and weddings and holds regular floristry workshops. See www.brixtonflowerclub.com for further information.
>>>join the tribe
Female Calisthenics with frankie holah 2015 really feels like the year of bodyweight training (aka calisthenics), the style of training that I have been involved in and promoting for the past couple of years. I have seen bodyweight training open up unexplored opportunities for women and men keeping fit, without the need for a gym membership or lots of equipment.With busy lifestyles, this style of training removes plenty of barriers and for those just starting their fitness journey, it allows them to build confidence, body awareness, and realize their inner bad ass!! On a personal level, I love the freedom and creativity of training with nothing but my own bodyweight.Whether I am in a park, at my flat
or on the go, I can keep fit! I make the world my gym! It is great to see female calisthenics in the media and I was delighted to appear on Women’s Health as a Female Ambassador for Calisthenics recently. If you want to get involved with bodyweight training & calisthenics my bootcamp in Brixton (females only for now) will be starting from June 8 and you can find out more information by following me online @frankieholah or emailing frankie@frankieholah.com Here’s to more people reclaiming their bodies and getting fit and strong bodyweight style, both in 2015 and beyond! @FrankieHolah
June 2015
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hill mead herald 23
THE
Hill Mead Herald Tuning in at music fest By Du’rone & Theresa The curtains were up for Hill Mead at the Lambeth Music Festival at Southbank Centre in March. We put on a great show thanks to our music teachers Mr Jordan, Mr Osborne and Mr Smith. The choir sang a Beatles medley. We were practising so hard and this is what made us perfect.
It was the best concert ever. The guitarists certainly raised the bar this year, and the drummers really did prove that if you try you will be able to achieve anything. The crowd gave us rapturous applause which really did boost our confidence. At the end we were all presented with a medal. There is an album of photos on our website.
Staying safe on our bikes By Kaleb & Caoimhe
Learning about World War I By Lanre The two themes Year 6 explored in this topic were the life of soldiers, and the performers that influenced the era. To support our learning, the teachers organised two exciting trips. The first was to see the play Britain’s Best Recruiting Sergeant at the Unicorn Theatre, and the second was to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. The play, Britain’s Best Recruiting Sergeant, was based on one of the music hall favourites, Vesta Tilley. We discovered she was one of the best recruiting sergeants. Through her lyrics she told men about the adventurous, noble and heroic life that awaited them if they joined the war.
In Year 5, a lucky few of us had a week of bike training to help us ride our bikes safely on the road. Fred and Pim are fantastic teachers and have made a dramatic impact on our bike riding ability. Some of the things that we have been doing include games and test rides on the road. One of our games was about control. What we had to do was go in and out of each other, while also staying within the lines. To make it harder the box got smaller as the game went on. We also studied the brakes and gears. One of the main rules that we learned is that you must always have your fingers on the brakes when cycling. This is so we can stop quickly.
One of the men she recruited was young Algie. He had reluctantly come to watch one of Vesta’s plays and immediately fell in love with Britain’s sweetheart. Algie’s letter to Vesta showed the opposite of life for soldiers – a tough and gruesome life in the trenches. We wanted to find out who was right – Vesta or Algie. So off we went to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. We took part in an interactive workshop to explore the realities of how the soldiers lived. We found out how the government used propaganda posters and promises of a better life to get men to volunteer in the war (just like Vesta said in her songs). Taking part in the workshop made us realise that Algie was right. Now back in school, we are writing a speech persuading men to join or not to join the war.
Extra awards at end of the footie season By Khaleed & Ashraf.
Hill Mead has already won the 6-a-side league (organised by Hill Mead’s own Mr Wight), so all that was left was the awards presentation. We had 18 schools come from all different parts of Lambeth to visit Hill Mead for the occasion. There were many awards in the running and we got most of them, such as Jephty winning Player of the Season. It was no surprise to any of the players in the
football team. Most Valuable Player was also given to Jephty for scoring 33 goals in 18 games!!! Next, Khaleed won goalkeeper of the season, only conceding 7 goals in 18 games which sets a fantastic record.
Lambeth & Southwark Saturday league
The Saturday league is just as exciting, with Mr Elusade as coach. We go to Rosendale playing field and Dulwich sports ground. Hill Mead started in
Division C two years ago and made our way up to the top two of Division B. Next year, Hill Mead will be playing in the Division A. Our latest match, in a knockout tournament, stopped league champions Rosendale Green’s winning streak, as we beat them 1-0. Manuella came to our rescue once more. We have now made our way to the quarter finals. We will either be facing Sudbourne Primary or Henry Cavendish Primary School.
24 sport
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June 2015
Hamlet Conference bid scuppered BY SANDRA BROBBEY Dulwich Hamlet hopes for promotion from the Ryman Premier Division to Conference South, were scuppered by their semi-final playoff loss away to Margate earlier on this month The game, which had been postponed following a points deduction case involving Enfield Town, ended in an undeserved 2-1 loss for the Pink and Blues. A goal from Margate striker Ryan Moss four minutes before the end of the first half put the Blues ahead. This was despite Dulwich dominating possession for long periods of the game and threatening to score within the first thirty minutes with a headed chance for striker Harry Ottaway. Gavin Rose’s men levelled the game with a fiercely struck equaliser from Nyren Clunis in the 68th minutes. A header from Margate’s Lews Taylor in the 77th minute proved to be the decisive goal against the run of play. Want to see your sports team featured in the Brixton Bugle? Email newsdesk@brixtonblog.com
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Dulwich Sporting Crabs go fourth BY DAVY GIBSON East Dulwich Sporting Crabs secured a fourth spot finish in the Third Division of the Southern Sunday League. After a strong start the Crabs’ form took a minor dip towards the second half of the season with points dropped against London rivals Westminster and Putney Pacers. Here Brixton Bugle contributor Davy Gibson reflects on the highs and lows of the Crabs’ season. It was a year of transition for the
Sporting Crabs with last season’s top scorer departing for pastures new, and a new manager easing into the role as his predecessor’s involvement faded into oblivion. It was clear the tectonic plates in East Dulwich were about to shift. Luckily there were no aftershocks as John Martin’s cool, calm and collected approach managed to steady the ship to the point where promotion looked a realistic target. Mike Garvin recruited George Dalman from his Amsterdam scouting trip. Ali Dewji brought in powerful dribbler Adil. The team was also strengthened by the
Michael Garvin, right, is named ‘Players’ Player’ for the second year in a row. Picture by @SportingCrabs
Mancunian invasion of Chris Taylor and Dom Curtis. The Crabs started the season strongly. With Dalman netting 11 goals (that won him top scorer) in the first half of the season, Martin could not have been blamed for having a cheeky eye on the title before things went pear-shaped. The Crabs can sit back and blame injuries to Adil and Liam Weyell or the failure to tie down a consistent goalkeeper (they fielded a record 17 different goalkeepers) on the dip they experienced in the second half of the season. But deep down they’ll know
there were avoidable points dropped against Westminster at home and Putney Pacers in the summer heat. The players cursed their luck on the fateful Sunday mornings where they fielded less than 11 players but lessons will have to be learned for next season. Organisation is key, as the more successful teams proved in Division Three. A short but sweet cup run will be remembered fondly. The Crabs beat Division One opposition in extra time before a heart-breaking loss on penalties in the quarter finals. In the end Martin’s lads were left devoid
of silverware but with a respectable fourth spot confirmed on the final day. Daughtry may have come into his own midway through the season but it was towering centreback Garvin who took home the player’s player award for the second year running. The morale in the camp is high after the first season of what many are calling the ‘Martin Era’. Many players have suggested promotion as a realistic target if they can secure the signing of a keeper over the summer. @davygibson