Brixton Bugle New Year 2016

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BRIXTON BUGLE No 39 | December/January 2016 | FREE

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BRIXTON: ALL CHANGE

PEDRO NEEDS YOUR HELP

Theatre, college, hotel – and more flats – to arrive soon

The pace of change in Brixton is accelerating into the new year with both large and small developments getting the green light from Lambeth council.

The long-awaited Somerleyton Road redevelopment has been approved. It will include 304 homes and a new theatre. Alongside the revamped town hall on Brixton Hill a new college will appear.

The closure of useful retail outlets offering jobs for local people continued with the news that Diamond the plumbers’ merchant next to Tesco on Acre Lane is to be demolished to make way for yet more flats.

Brixton’s cultural assets will get a huge boost from the arrival of the Ovalhouse theatre, which will move to a purpose-built new home from Oval.

Visitors to the new theatre and O2 Academy will be able to stay in the Premier Inn now taking shape across the road from the Ritzy.

Brixton resident Paulette Randall, MBE, the first black female director to bring a production to the West End, also welcomed the move. “I am doubly thrilled about the prospect of Ovalhouse relocating to Brixton. It’s always been a vibrant, exciting and invaluable centre for the arts. ” Half of the houses on Somerleyton Road will be at affordable rents.

Work on the £100m scheme will start

in the spring. The council is acting as its own developer, which means the focus is on affordable homes and community rather than profit, said Anna Quigley of Future Brixton.

Cllr Jack Hopkins, council cabinet member for jobs and growth, said: “Somerleyton Road is genuinely ground-breaking and has been created through a partnership that brings together Ovalhouse theatre, the local community, Igloo [the organisation that will manage the development] and five outstanding architects.”

Brixton’s famous Nuclear Dawn mural will be preserved in the redevelopment.

The new college campus will replace Lambeth College’s ageing Brixton Hill site. It will also be home to South Bank Engineering UTC and Trinity Academy, a co-educational secondary school.

The first part of the campus is due to open in August 2017 and will eventually house up to 1,860 students.

Lambeth College’s refurbished Brixton centre will be open for learners in the new year. The college will move to a building on the same site with its new entrance off Horsford Road It will have 20 teaching areas and dedicated places for social and learning activities.

The college will relocate to its new 2,000 square metre site in September.

INSIDE…

New fundraising drive for Ebony Club 3

MEET THE LOCAL HEROES

Brixton people who make a difference 4

Christmas is coming – which means Nativity plays like Hill Mead school’s nursery event (see page 23), and lights and music in the streets when Lambeth mayor Donatus Anyanwu and local restaurant and bar owner, former Miss Jamaica Universe April Jackson, switched on the Christmas lights outside Morleys

TOP POLICE OFFICER We talk to Janet Hills

BAD CAR – GOOD CAUSE The UK’s first charity art car

9

7

2 NEWS

BRIXTON BUGLE brixtonblog.com Proudly edited in Brixton

Both website and newspaper are published by a not-for-profit community organisation run by a committed team of people from Brixton » 020 3730 1312 » @brixtonblog » @brixton_bugle » brixtonblog.com ADVERTISING Jenny Shramenko 07811 878394 jenny@brixtonblog.com Circulation 10,000 copies Readership: circa 15,000 EDITOR Linda Quinn linda@brixtonblog.com MANAGING EDITOR Lindsay Faller lindsay@brixtonblog.com NEWS EDITOR Anna McKie newsdesk@brixtonblog.com ARTS & FEATURES Barney Evison, Ruth Waters arts@brixtonblog.com FOOD Miss South food@brixtonblog.com SPORT Sandra Brobbey sport@brixtonblog.com David Gibson

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Hundreds of jobs to go as Lambeth faces ‘extraordinary’ cuts Lambeth council needs to cut 500 jobs in the short term and possibly twice that many in the long term on top of 1,000 already lost as a result of central government cuts, chief executive Sean Harriss told a meeting of its cabinet in December.

In an unusual move, he had been asked to explain the impact on the borough of the government’s latest comprehensive spending review.

He said the council needs to make “almost immediate” additional cuts of up to £35 million to balance its books.

It was facing loss of income at an “unprecedented pace, scale and complexity”.

His report said that a review of agency staff employed by the council had already led to 170 temporary workers being “released” in November.

The council’s financial position will not be clear until it gets its provisional financial settlement from central government. It is due just before Christmas.

Sean Harriss told the meeting that the council’s statutory responsibilities would not change as its income fell, so children and adult social care would

grow as a proportion of its reduced spending.

Cabinet member for housing Cllr Matthew Bennett said that in January 2014 some 1,300 homeless families were housed by Lambeth in temporary accommodation. Now there were well over 1,800, including 5,000 children.

As rents in Lambeth soar, eviction from private rented accommodation is now the number one reason for homelessness in the borough.

Deputy leader Imogen Walker and cabinet member for health and wellbeing Jim Dickson said the cuts had created the most difficult financial circumstances they had known as councillors.

The council also had very low reserves.

Cllr Jackie Meldrum, the cabinet member for adult social care, said people should direct their anger and frustration at central government who wanted to “devolve the blame about the cuts that we have to make”. Council leader Lib Peck said the 56 per cent funding cut the council faces is “extraordinary and unprecedented” and will be “extremely tough”.

ISSUE 39 Writers: Nikki Griffiths Susan Sheehan Helen Reid Tom Sasse Leonie Rousham Angus Peters Marco Cillario Kimberley Mayo Lucy Hook Tamora Langley Nick Buglione Sub-editor: Jamila Omar Designer: Agnes Graves Production: Alan Slingsby Crossword: Josie Gardiner A massive thank you to everybody involved in making this issue, and the Blog & Bugle project, a success.

If you’d like to be a Bugle stockist please email distribution@brixtonblog.com

December/January 2016

Council leader Lib Peck and chief executive Sean Harriss at the meeting

Great Brixton, the photo book produced by local creative social enterprise The Champion Agency, was launched officially at the Brixton Pound shop (above). A percentage of sales will go to Brixton Fund micro-grant schemes. Four of the book’s images are shown here. Scott Leonard of the Champion Agency said: “Many of the images are poignant yet none define Brixton on their own – collectively they begin to tell the story. We hope the book creates more dialogue between those new to its culture and those embracing the new culture of the area.”The book’s recommended price is £15, from local outlets as well as greatbrixton.com.

December/January 2016

NEWS 3

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Council should monitor toxic fumes say Greens

by Anna Mckie 23,700 children in Lambeth attended schools where nitrogen dioxide levels were above the annual permitted levels by the EU, a report has revealed.

Research found that children are particularly vulnerable to unsafe levels of air pollution “partly due to higher exposure, and partly due to children being more susceptible to the effects of air pollution”, the report says.

High levels of NO2 causes lung irritation, increases the chance of respiratory infections and long term exposure has been linked to premature death.

Lambeth’s Green Party councillor Scott Ainslie called on the council to monitor air pollution at all schools in the borough and to introduce safer cycling routes and a clampdown on engine-idling.

“Parents need to know the council is taking seriously the risks to their children’s health and taking the steps needed to cut dangerous air pollution that is the biggest environmental cause of premature deaths,” he said.

Lambeth council’s cabinet member for environment and sustainability Jennifer Brathwaite said that while monitoring air quality is important, working to improve it was the way to make a difference.

“We do a lot of work with

schools, which includes encouraging children and parents to travel to and from school in a sustainable way through the TfL Stars programme,” she said.

“We explain to parents why it’s important not to leave their engines running while collecting children and involve schools in our borough-wide air quality action plan” The report Up in the Air,

by Policy Exchange’s Capital City Foundation and King’s College London, analysed data from more than 100 air quality monitoring sites across London.

The study also found that nearly 200,000 people are employed in areas of Lambeth that breach EU limits.

The report puts the failure to control NO2 emissions in London down to the growth in the number of diesel vehicles, including buses, taxis and diesel cars.

In January this year, diesel fume pollution in Brixton Road breached the legal limit for the whole of 2015 within a week. The road is one of the most polluted streets in Britain.

In September local families took to the street to protest against the high levels of pollution.

Leading civil rights lawyer Jocelyn Cockburn is currently seeking ways to challenge pollution on the Brixton Road in court.

VOLUNTEER TO BE A WINTER WARMER FOR LAMBETH Age UK Lambeth is running a ‘Warm and Well’ campaign supported by Lambeth council and the NHS. Its focus is on reaching vulnerable older residents and sharing tips on staying warm and places to ask for help. The charity is encouraging people to become Winter Warmer volunteers or befrienders.

Winter Warmer packs provide information on grants; advice on how to stay warm and keep the bills low; detail support services and offer tips on staying healthy.

The charity is also running a ‘Big Knit’ campaign to create blankets to give to the elderly. If you’re a knitter, send your six-inch squares to Age UK Lambeth.

If you know of a carer, older or disabled adult who would benefit from more support over winter, Age UK Lambeth will put people in touch with services that can help.

■■You can get a form by calling 020 7346 6800 or email sail@ageuklambeth.org.uk/

Comedy fundraiser makes thousands

Stand Up for Refugees, a comedy fundraiser organised by South London Stand Up to Racism with Mark Steele, Andy Zaltman and more performers at Brixton East last week raised several thousand pounds. The group takes convoys with food and clothing to Calais refugee camps.

■■ www.standuptoracism.org.uk

International show jumper Yazmin Pinchen visited Brixton’s Ebony Horse Club as part of her initiative to raise funds for the

Memorial single nears release A fundraising single recorded at Brixton’s Raw Material project to raise money for a permanent memorial to the Caribbean and African soldiers who died fighting for Britain in two world wars had its first live outing at Market House last week.

I Have a Song, written by African-American singer and songwriter Eric Roberson, was chosen by Jak Beula of the Memorial Aid campaign to be a “poignant and evocative call to remember”.

The official release for the song on iTunes is due on 22 January.

It features many up-andcoming artists from reggae, hip hop, r n b, afrobeat and world music.

Grammy award-nominated Roberson added his vocals to the track while he was in London in the summer doing gigs at the Jazz Café.

It is hoped that the memorial, currently stored at the BCA, can be unveiled at a memorial scheduled for VE Day (8 May).

■■ africanandcaribbeanmemorial.com

charity. She will be auctioning four specially commissioned limited edition bracelets (woven from gold and the tail hairs of

the four London 2012 Olympic Team Gold medal-winning horses), with proceeds going to Ebony.

■■ ebonyhorseclub.org.uk

BRIXTONBugle 2016 speCIAl advertising rates and dates We know money can be tight in the new year so to help Bugle advertisers we have extended our big festive advertising discounts to the end of January. Here are our rates, dates and sizes . . .

Size

ad sizes width x height

2 adS

3 adS

£60

£50 x 2

£40 x 3

64 x 81mm

Eighth

£110

£75 x 2

£65 x 3

132 x 81mm

Quarter

£200

£140 x 2

£110 x 3

132 x 166mm

Half

£450

£260 x 2

£200 x 3

268 x 155mm

Page

£800

poa

Small Ad

1 ad

poa

259 x 320mm

February deadline Thursday 21 January publication date Friday 29 January

May deadline Thursday 21 April publication date Friday 29 April

March deadline Thursday 18 February publication date Friday 26 February

June deadline Thursday 19 May publication date Friday 27 May

April deadline Thursday 17 March publication date Thursday 24 March

July deadline Thursday 23 June publication date Friday 1 July

Contact Jenny on 07811 878394 or email jenny@brixtonblog.com

4 LOCAL HEROES

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December/January 2016

CoPop embraces natural beauty

by Lucy Hook

Local business sellers on the Tree Shepherd stall at Lambeth Country Show

Free training to launch and grow your own business Back2Business, a project supported by Lambeth council, still has places on its training courses. The aim is to help local residents who are in long-term unemployment, have been made redundant or are facing financial instability to gain the

Chrissy Makhlouf selling her pottery

confidence, business skills and support they need to launch their own business.

The project is being delivered by Brixtonbased start-up specialists Brand Amplifier and Tree Shepherd who run business training programmes.

Residents from two priority groups are eligible – the rising 50s (in their late 40s and over) and breadwinners (lone parents with dependent-age children).

Each group will learn the skills, confidence and knowledge required to take a start-up business to the stage of being business ready.

Eight weekly workshops will run from January through to March 2016.

■■ For more information please call Lydia Gardner on 020 3697 1540 or email Lydia@treeshepherd.org.uk.

A long-time Brixton resident is one of 10 people from Lambeth who have set up their own trading co-operative in Pop Brixton.

CoPop, which opened on 9 December, has been set up by a collective who bring a diverse range of products and services to the shop.

From clothing and jewellery to beauty products and interiors, the range at CoPop is inspired by the rich cultural heritage of Brixton and its founding members.

Patricia Whyte, who has lived here for almost 30 years, is creating and selling her own range of handmade

natural beauty products in the shop. The range – Whyte Bells – fuses Caribbean and African ingredients and was partly named after Patricia’s late mother – whose surname was Bells.

Patricia began making the products for herself before turning her skills into a business, and continues to make everything at home – though she is hoping to get a dedicated unit for production.

The CoPop co-operative grew out of a Lambeth social entrepreneur project, Tree Shepherd, which helps people from long-term unemployed and other marginalised backgrounds create local enterprises.

Patricia Whyte with her handmade beauty products

Local artist Margaret Lynn Atkinson has self published a colouring book for adults.

Atkinson, who has lived in Brixton for 33 years, said she was inspired to create Creative Journey Through Art – Adult Colouring Book after going through a period of depression and anxiety

following a series of muggings. Drawing pictures and colouring them in gave her great comfort. Atkinson then took up an evening course at Chelsea College of Art & Design.

Atkinson said she hoped “the drawings will help the stressed and vulnerable to unwind and to become creative with the empty pages also provided for their drawings.”

Determined to publish, she used Amazon’s Createspace to get into print herself herself and her book is now available at http://bit.ly/CJTA-ACB.

Everyone fits in at Mosaic

‘When you live in Lambeth you learn to fight’

by Tamora Langley A young woman who had brought up her sisters sang, I’ll Be Your Refuge to the crowded room, while people nodded, called out “Yes, sister!” or stood up to dance along.

This was Brixton’s first ever “Kinship Carers Awards”, hosted by the Family Rights Group. It was a night to celebrate the incredible efforts of local siblings, grannies and aunts, who bring up children they are related to who cannot live safely with their parents.

Some have taken on responsibility for younger family members following the death of parents, or because parents have health problems, learning difficulties or addictions.

Elaine, who organised the awards dinner with certificates for carers and presents for kids, explained: “When my grandson was born, the midwife told me not to buy too many baby clothes because we probably wouldn’t be allowed to keep him. But when you live in Lambeth you learn to fight.

“Thanks to the Family Rights Group I found a solicitor and got a special guardianship order for my grandson. My grandson will stay with our family now. Brought up with an aunt, a grandma and a grandpa – he will have a sense of self, a sense of his

KEEP CALM AND COLOUR

identity. But it’s still tough. I could have lost my home without support and advice from the Family Rights Group.”

Lambeth has the second highest rate of children in ‘kinship care’ in the country.

The Family Rights Group says that half of all kinship carers have to give up work because of the demands of caring for extra children. The group is campaigning for exemptions to the government’s welfare reforms for kinship carers, including the limiting of child tax credit to two children. Many carers end up looking after more than two children, through circumstances entirely out of their control.

■■ To help the Family Rights Group campaign for fair treatment for kinship carers, or to find out about support and advice, visit frg.org.uk

Helping others is what Brixton’s Mosaic Clubhouse does all year round. An award-winning charity providing supportive mental health services to Lambeth and surrounding boroughs in a light and airy building on Effra Road, it has been funded by Lambeth council and NHS Lambeth for 21 years.

The clubhouse model is about rehabilitation, with staff and attendees (members) working together to run the facility.

Mosaic is deliberately understaffed which creates the space for members to identify their skills and talents, with staff acting as talent scouts to help individuals achieve their personal recovery goals.

Mosaic business outcomes coordinator Lena Malkin says: “Members work on reception, run the café, maintain the gardens and support admin and finance activities.

“They participate in all our work, decision-making and governance.”

Mosaic’s information hub is a relatively new service for residents who need support and advice with their own or others’ mental health.

It offers rapid information, signposting and onward referral to other organisations specialising in benefits and housing advice, physical wellbeing and stopping smoking, alongside access to local mental health services.

■■ Just drop in or call 020 7924 9657.

Mosaic CEO Maresa Ness with club member Marcia Powell

December/January 2016

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Santi’s special ears – the change is amazing

by Helen Reid Santiago Lozada proudly shows off his ears, adorned with Minions, one dressed as Batman, the other as Superman. Santiago, or Santi as his family call him, suffers from major hearing loss.

His mother Nathalie took him to the doctor, and after hospital tests, he was diagnosed with severehearing loss in one ear.

Technicians took a mould of his ears and made him hearing aids.

Nathalie and her husband Cesar were emotional about the diagnosis, thinking how his life would be affected forever. “We thought immediately about bullying, that it may be hard for him at school, and to find a partner.

“And then we thought: either you cover this in a blanket, don’t speak about it or deal with it, or you accept it and create positivity from it.”

Nathalie told the headmaster of Santiago’s school he would be wearing hearing aids.

She accompanied him on his first

day at school with the hearing aids.

“Everyone wanted to know what was on his ears. He had never heard the tweeting of birds, and everything was louder – when he heard the school bell, it was so loud he cried.”

Santiago connected hearing aids with his school uniform and did not want to wear them on weekends and evenings.

Nathalie searched on Facebook for ways to make the hearing aids more fun for kids to wear and came across an American woman who made hearing aid decorations. Becoming friends with her, Nathalie asked her to send over an example of the decorations.

Finally the Spider Man decorations arrived, and Santiago was amazed. “He said ‘I have special ears, I’m a superhero!’ He was so happy!” Nathalie knew she had to learn how to make the decorations herself.

Nathalie and her husband Cesar set about creating Santi’s special ears by modifying Crocs shoe decorations to make them attachable to the hearing aid.

Now the table in the corner of the

WIN HOOTANANNY NEW YEAR TICKETS Brixton Blog and Bugle readers can win a pair of tickets for the Hootananny’s New Year’s Eve party. Three live bands will play, and revellers can enjoy the huge beer garden; food stalls; confetti cannons and a big screen to see the New Year in. It will be the biggest party of the year – but with a friendly pub feel.

Santi, with his mum and sister family’s living room is covered in little plastic decorations, labelled “superheroes”, “sports”, “Disney” … the list goes on. One bag contains miniature Colombian football team shirts, the other contains characters from the Pixar hit Inside Out. “For me to see the change in him is amazing – it’s a huge increase in happiness. It was a big shock but we are coping, and now the special ears are a part of him,” says Nathalie.

“Awareness of his condition at school has increased. He’s very popular, he’s always been very sociable so this has helped him hugely.”

The whole family has been very supportive and Nathalie plans to take some special ears with her to her audiologist aunt in Colombia when she visits next year. “I want other children to smile like Santi is now.”

CAROLINE TAYLOR

Andrea (left) and Sylvia

Meet the parent champions Andrea Joseph and Sylvia Hylton are local heroes who pass on their experience as parents to those just starting out.

They are volunteer parent champions with Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP), a Big Lottery-funded project that supports families from pregnancy through to four years so that children have the very best start in life.

Andrea says: “Sometimes parents find it easier to take up suggestions and tips from another parent rather than from a professional like a health visitor or GP. “Parent champions want to enable parents to connect with each other and with the services and support available in places like children’s centres.

“For the future I would like every child to be confident and reach their full potential; that starts from birth.

“It’s about giving children the best start in life, no matter where they are born, so that they achieve the best they can as adults and contribute to society.

LOCAL HEROES 5

“I hope I can help in some small way to achieve this. It’s brilliant to know my views and ideas are valued in LEAP and that I’m contributing to improving services for families with young children.”

Sylvia says: “As a parent and carer I am passionate about supporting families in our community.

“I like to be able to inform people of services available to them that are not always easily accessible. I look forward to being able to ensure that the LEAP programme takes on board the views and input of parents, to enable them to benefit and improve life chances for their children.

Andrea and Sylvia are members of the LEAP partnership board. They’ve even taken their expertise to a House of Commons event about health services and early years. In everyday situations they share their growing knowledge with other parents locally to great effect.

■■ If you would like more information visit leaplambeth.org.uk

KILLAMONJAMBO will play funk, rock, ska and dance skank.

BABILONDON have passionate music ranging through reggae, roots, dub, ska, hiphop, soul and further afield.

South London brothers Adam and Jon Seakens’ THE HIGHER PLANES will give you soul, psych and folk blues.

In between, festival favourite DJ JIMI NEEDLES with his hip hop skills will fuse funk and breaks with bass music, glitch hop, jungle and dutty house – plus soul, funk, latin and reggae.

To enter our draw, go to http://bit.ly/BB-Hoot or brixtonblog.com

#BrixtonFund – first grants given to local organisations! #BrixtonBonus Brixton Bonus is a monthly prize draw with two winners: you, and Brixton. It only costs £1 to enter, and every month someone wins B£1,000!

To enter, go to brixtonpound.org/brixton-bonus If you’re a B£ member already, you can play-by -text. Simply text ‘pay bonus [amount between 1-10]’ to the B£ number (07754832867).

The next very special draw is on Thursday 24 December – wouldn’t B£1,000 be a nice Christmas present? As a holiday treat we will have not five, but 15 runner-up prizes of cash and brand new B£ merchandise. Get your tickets now!

You may have heard of our new Brixton Fund – our way to award small grants to community organisations wanting to do great things in the area. Built up from ticket sales from the Brixton Bonus, sales of our merchandise, and 1.5% of every electronic B£ spent, we recently made our first awards to several deserving projects.

We had 18 applications to the Fund, demonstrating the need for funding for small grants for grassroots organisations in the area.

A shortlist of seven projects was produced after initial scoring by our panel of 13 Brixtonites with strong and varied local knowledge (you can see who they are on our website).

Finally – the panel met to whittle seven very strong projects down to a final four:

BRIXTON YOUTH FORUM: £1,000 – Training, workshops, advice, education & a democratic space for young people.

HEALTHY LIVING CLUB: £750 – Selforganised community replacing loneliness with belonging for those living with dementia YOUNG PEOPLE MATTER: £400 – Free

after-school clubs in Stockwell and Brixton

AGT SOCIAL: £250 – Training young people in

Loughborough Junction in IT and repairs

It was a really difficult process to reach the final decision – but with both successful and unsuccessful applicants we’re not just leaving it there – we’re using our contacts, shop space and networks of expertise to offer non-financial support also.

If you know an organisation that would like to contribute to the Brixton Fund and strengthen Brixton’s grassroots, please do let us know – we’re only a phone call or an email away!

Look out for more info on the successful applicants over the next few months – and for round 2 of the Brixton Fund in spring 2016.

In the meantime – you can contribute to the Brixton Fund and boost its funding power! Simply by using B£ pay-by-text (1.5% of each transaction goes into the Fund), by playing the Brixton Bonus, or by buying B£ products and merchandise in the B£ Shop.

It’s never been easier to be a positive force in your local community!

Merry BriXmas The B£ Shop (at 3 Atlantic Rd) is now also open on weekends – so you can stop by when you’re doing your Christmas shopping! And while you’re at it, why not get some brand new B£ merchandise?

We’ve got mugs, tote bags, t-shirts in different cuts and colours designed

by This Ain’t Rock’n’Roll, the same guys responsible for the iconic B£ notes – and they all look pretty rocking. And for the notes, we’ve got these cool presentation wallets that make them perfect gifts for just about anyone.

Plus, every sale contributes to the Brixton Fund, and thus supports Brixton and its community.

Could you ask for more of a win/win situation?

3 Atlantic Rd | brixtonpound.org | @brixtonpound | info@brixtonpound.org

December/January 2016

FOCUS 7

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Reach for a book – it is your weapon Leonie Rousham turns her attention to Lambeth’s libraries

Burning calories is all very well but burning books has horrendous historical precedents.

This sums up why new Lambeth council plans to merge some south London libraries with gym spaces will not work.

A few books shoved into an unaccommodating corner? No library-staff? 15 sweaty people riding on gym bikes next to me as I try to write articles like this? No thanks.

Our current south London libraries work. Brixton Tate Library has existed since 1893. As for these new GLL gyms, there is no business case, no market research and not even a basic feasibility study.

The protests that have taken place over the last couple of months have evidenced the support and importance of Lambeth libraries in creating a positive sense of community.

It is this that we will have to continue to defend. In these illustrations, I am recording the protests that, once again, have come to define our determination to make Brixton a better place to live for everyone (not just those that can afford a gym card).

It is ignorant to think that a library has only one purpose –to loan a selection of books. The library space should not be seen, solely, as an environment that grants you the freedom to lose yourself in a book,

but a space that provides many who may not have the resources at home, with computers and Wi-Fi. A space to be social, a space that hosts community clubs and talks, a space that involves conversation with the librarian about recommendations.

This is not a space that can be replaced by advances in technology – virtual socialising can only go so far. The internet does not equip us with peacefulness and we cannot climb into the computer for warmth and shelter during the winter.

I relied on the library environment to motivate me to keep working during exams, something I could not have found at home or at school.

The Brixton Tate Library saved me, my friends and hundreds of other students who need that space and support to revise for A-Levels and GCSEs. My mum used it while she was studying and we watched films on Saturday morning in The Ritzy next door.

Maybe we should take inspiration from the Book Bloc that took part in the 2010 London student protests.

They carried protest shields emblazoned with titles and spray-paint to resemble covers of books offering protection and knowledge.

“REACH FOR A BOOK – IT IS YOUR WEAPON”, said Berthold Brecht.

■■ V&A Disobedient Objects [bit.ly/VA-DO] or unicommon.org have images and tutorials on making your own Book Bloc.

From bad memories to positive action Imogen Paton organised a hugely successful charity fundraiser at Brixton East, Angus Peters talked to her about her Bad Karma Impala, the UK’s first charity art car Imogen’s first studio was in Brixton. She talks fondly of her friendship with famous Brixtonites, like poet Michael Groce, and of the influence of the area on her work.

“Brixton was my stomping ground after I returned from America at 17 and it was the setting for most of my early inspiration.

“It’s a melting pot of imagination and reality, countries and colours.

It has been a constant source of dynamic pleasure and has allowed me to explore the world as I could only dream it to be in fantasies where we are all one race, the human race.”

But in recent years, Imogen’s life story has been a much less happy one. For a year and a half she was abused and exploited by a partner.

Alongside physical violence, she was controlled financially, creatively and emotionally. Her abuser even painted over her artwork under the guise of collaboration, making her art from that period a striking visual reminder of the psychological forms abuse can take.

One in three women (and one in six men) nationally are victims of domestic abuse at some stage in

their lives. Jools Ramsey, Senior Manager at Solace Women’s Aid, the charity which helped Imogen, explains that “if it’s not you, it’s someone you know.”

What does make Imogen’s story unusual and inspiring is the spectacular way in which she has turned bad memories into positive action.

One of the ideas she and her former partner had was to import classic cars and start a rental business. Having developed complex and extravagant business plans, Imogen’s partner persuaded her to buy five classic imported American cars.

“I don’t even have a driving licence, and I don’t know the first thing about cars,” she admits. “He promised me that he was going to be the one to sort it all out.”

After she ran away, Imogen sold four of the cars, but was left with a rare but badly damaged 1960 Chevrolet Impala that she could not afford to have repaired.

It was here that the idea for the UK’s first charity art car was born.

Once restored to full working order, the car will be painted and upholstered according to her

Bad Karma Impala and, below, Imogen Paton at Brixton East

designs, and will then be rented for functions and special occasions.

Imogen says her design will try to keep the car as profitable as possible for Solace.

“Yes, it’s a form of therapy for me, I’d be lying if I said that there isn’t something in it for me,” she says.

The publicity generated by Bad Karma Impala and its art auction fundraiser has already given two other women the confidence to come forward and say that they were abused by the same man who tormented Imogen.

Solace Women’s Aid and charities like it tend to receive less widespread public donations than other organisations. Most of Solace’s funding comes from local authority grants, which are under threat in the climate of austerity.

Perhaps then, by using art as a visual representation and reminder of abuse, Bad Karma Impala will encourage widespread public donations towards charities dealing with domestic abuse. The profits from the car’s rental will also go to Solace Women’s Aid, although the project itself still needs more funding to get off the ground.

Imogen auctioned her artwork at her fund­raising event which raised £2,000 from artwork alone. She is planning further fundraisers to reach the £10,000 she needs to get the car in working order.

■■ You can donate to Bad Karma Impala at fundrazr.com/ campaigns/811QXe?fb. Donate directly to Solace Women’s Aid at solacewomensaid.org/ donate-now.

8 OPINION

brixtonblog.com

December/January 2016

I have sat at Merlot-heavy dinner parties while friends tell me the exact yardage from a particular school gate they will have to buy or rent in to beat the school’s catchment and admissions criteria

Vigilante parents fight middle class turf wars Are you expecting your first baby together?

Family Foundations is a unique course which will help you and your partner build a strong family unit where your child can grow and thrive.

Family Foundations is for couples expecting their

first baby together who are between 20 and 30 weeks pregnant at the START of the course. The couples must be living within one of the four LEAP wards (Coldharbour, Stockwell, Vassall,and Tulse Hill). Couples can also be parents with children from previous relationships who are expecting their first baby with their new partner.

Course details

• Seven 90-minute sessions over seven weeks, made up of four sessions before birth and three sessions afterwards

• Delivered by two trained Family Support Practitioners to small groups of couples.

Where and when The Family Foundations course is running at Children’s Centres in the four LEAP wards and starts w/c 18th of January 2016.

James Coventry

National Children’s Bureau – brand tidy up June 2015

+44 (0)7859920541 contact@jamescoventry.co.uk www.jamescoventry.co.uk

Get involved

Icon style To add consistency when using icons within our work, an icon style has been created.

James Coventry

In order to give a clear sense of uniformity, each icon should be placed within a circle shape that is based upon the NCB logo.

These icons add warmth to communications and make Icon use style of rounded corners, edges andconsistency when using To add thick outlines. They canicons be used within our work, an icon to highlight sections orstyle particular has been created. areas of our work and have a In order to give a clear sense of clear tie in with the brand that is uniformity, instantly recognisable as NCB. each icon should be placed within a circle shape that is based upon the NCB logo.

These icons add warmth to communications and make use of rounded corners, edges and thick outlines. They can be used to highlight sections or particular areas of our work and have a clear tie in with the brand that is instantly recognisable as NCB.

Ask your midwife for a Family Foundations leaflet

National Children’s Bureau – brand tidy up June 2015

+44 (0)7859920541 contact@jamescoventry.co.uk www.jamescoventry.co.uk

Visit the LEAP website: www.leaplambeth.org.uk/familyfoundations Call the Parenting Service Team on 0207 926 8662 or the LEAP team on 0207 582 4182 Email: leapadmin@ncb.org.uk Places are limited and you must sign up by 8th of January 2016.

Lambeth Early Action Partnership

LEAP ad 320.5x132mm.indd 1

10/12/15 13:50:28

criteria, in descending order – looked-after children; siblings of children in the school; children with exceptional medical or social needs; children of school staff and, last but definitely not least, distance (as the It is a rare, and slightly troubling, day crow flies). when I say to myself “That Giles Coren For a Church school, in our family’s has a point”. Smugly sat behind his case Catholic, it’s much the same with Murdoch paywall at The Times, our Giles “Catholic” and “baptised” inserted and … recently went on a rant against the “middle wait for it … “the strength of evidence of class hypocrites” who have “stolen my commitment to the faith demonstrated by daughter’s place at our local primary” and levels of attendance at Mass on Sundays”. “forced” him to go private.

So it’s fascinating to see how Mass and What Coren has highlighted is perhaps liturgy classes swell around the time the principal obsession of the modern nursery or school places are up for grabs. metropolitan parent, played out equally And how many surprising conversions to fiercely here in Lambeth – schools the faith happen to the same timetable. admissions and the predominantly middleAccording to a recent survey, one in four class, monied, manipulation of school families moves house to secure a school selection. Primary or secondary. place and one in six say they have rented I have three young kids in our local or bought a second property for the same Catholic primary and, without even reason. Of parents with kids aged four wanting to, am encouraged into the turf-war to 18, 5 per cent cheerfully admitted they game, where people had rented a second like me jettison any School admissions are like performance property (by definition morals they may hold enhancing drugs in sport – you may not temporarily) … to go all ends up to get which, by the way, is start out wanting to ‘dope’, but everyone their kids into a good pretty close to fraud, else is doing it so you ‘must’ join in school, regardless of especially if (or when) who they metaphorithey decamp back to cally trample over to get their way. their nice big house in leafier areas once I have sat at Merlot-heavy dinner parties the first sibling gets in. while friends tell me the exact yardage Camden has apparently seen parents from a particular school gate they will using mail-drop addresses for applications. have to buy or rent in to beat the school’s Vigilante parents (who didn’t get in) go catchment and admissions criteria. I have feral to “out” the perceived fraudsters … listened while someone muses on whether it’s quite a battle out there. In most cases, anything from a nut allergy to a lisp gets proof of council tax payment and electoral their kid higher up the list, and even heard roll registration is required, but even that people objecting to new housing builds – can be played. including dedicated social housing – as it The result? Back to Mr Coren, arguing would make getting into the nearby school that there is no such thing as a good trickier. Any short trip onto Mumsnet ordinary state school as they are artificially forums shows the intensity of the debate. populated with “spoilt middle-class white For me, school admissions are like kids”, that we have “selection by income performance enhancing drugs in sport – through the back door” and that the middle you may not start out wanting to “dope”, classes have destabilised “the very notion of but everyone else is doing it so you “must” a local school by coring out the catchment join in. Except. of course, you don’t … but, areas and then abandoning them”. of course, almost everyone does (if they can While he sits all self-righteous afford it). indignation at The Times, some people, I know strident lefties who forget all including those I know and like, could take sense of equality when it comes to their a look in the mirror … kid. Did someone mention Dianne Abbott?

The fact that out of the same mouths come Nick Buglione has lived in Brixton, bar expressions of outrage at the gentrification a five-year sabbatical in Peckham, for of Brixton’s railway arch businesses, is for over 25 years. By day, a charity content me, highly ironic. manager, by night an occasional blogger Lambeth schools decide admission on set at nickbuglione.com.

How far wold you go when your child’s future is at stake, asks Nick Buglione

December/January 2016

BRIXTON BUGLE

COMMENT It looks like the relentless pace of change will continue in Brixton in the new year. This is mixed.

There’s the good, the bad and the downright ugly. Ugly that our nurses, teachers and other public servants are being driven out of close proximity to their places of work.

The price of houses and rents seems unstoppable, even though common sense tells us it is not sustainable.

How bad is it that our local businesses that have their roots in the area are being driven out by rising costs? And how bad is it that pollution in central Brixton is above acceptable levels?

Good, bad, ugly. Or, to nick the new Star Wars movie title, is it time “The Force Awakens”?

Yet there is plenty to celebrate too. The Brixton Pound is going from strength to strength. Pop Brixton is open and offering affordable rents to local business start-ups. The Brixton Design Trail has ambitions to be bigger and better next year.

The BCA showed it can lay on a fine exhibition with the Black Georgians, and there was the annual Splash.

Our markets are also in transition, but thanks to money from Heritage of London Trust (HOLT) the traditional market stalls will still be with us.

The council, oft criticised, particularly on a lack of consultation with residents, is pioneering involving tenants, architects, and others in the design of the Somerleyton Road scheme.

A new campus is being build on Brixton Hill with stateof-the-art engineering facilities.

And Brixton gets a fantastic theatre back when Ovalhouse moves onto the Somerleyton estate in the near future.

So, lots to look forward to.

We would love more of you to get involved in the Brixton Bugle and Blog to help us become an effective campaigning community newspaper. One that celebrates your successes and holds those in power to account.

So calling all you reporters, designers and illustrators let “The Force Awaken …”

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

brixtonblog.com

OPINION 9

DS Janet Hills, the first female leader of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, has spent 24 years on the force, largely in Brixton. She talked to Kimberley Moyo about new dynamics in policing Janet Hills joined the police in 1991 during a drive to recruit more black and Asian police officers. She had been a revenue inspector on the buses and took part in fare evasion operations backed by the police.

Colleagues who had left to join the police encouraged her, as did her brother, who was also in the force.

She was told: “You’ll change when you join the police. You’ll lose your friends.” But, says Hills: “I was determined, very mindful not to change and to be true to myself. On coming in, I knew there weren’t going to be loads of black people. But it did not stop me.

I was not scared or apprehensive.”

Her parents are from Jamaica and she says her cultural background allows her access to communities that do not usually trust the police.

Asked about Home Secretary Theresa May’s statement that there need to be more black and ethnic minority police officers, Hills says: “You can just say that because it looks good! But how are you going to achieve that?

“I know we have the Equalities Act that will allow you to do certain things, but it is very restricted.

“If you couldn’t find at least one black person who wanted to be a police officer, that means you need to work a little harder at your community engagement.”

Asked if a police force that represents a particular community could be effective in establishing a healthy relationship between the community and the police or merely highlight ethnic differences, Hills says: “I would like to call it cultural competency.

In London, you have every single colour. It is the most diverse city in the UK. So I do think it is a good idea; it shouldn’t be seen as a negative.”

Hills says the relationship between police and community has improved. “There is still some way to go but, overall, there has been some good improvement to bridge that gap between the police and the community.

“I think that there should be a sort of archive for all police stations that have had a history of community relations that haven’t gone so well. The community will always remember and that gets passed down from generation to generation.”

A combination of factors has brought about the change for the better, says Hills.

“The Deputy Mayor for Policing has helped, although it is a political role, because they are the people that hold the police accountable in a lot of things.

“Even though there have been some improvements, stop and search is still contentious. People are still complaining they are stopped disproportionally in comparison to their white counterparts.

“You could have young black men going to university or going to a job who have nothing to do with crime but, because of colour, they are profiled.

It is a tough job − you are speaking out against things that are uncomfortable but they are uncomfortable truths “Even though there have been some positives, there is still a bit of a way to go before we get the results we want.”

Hills says crime trends have changed. “In Brixton in the 90s you had a lot more street robberies. Brixton was the number one hotspot for robbery in Europe!”

The transition to her new job with the BPA has been fine, she says. “Bevan Powell (now a councillor in Kensington and Chelsea borough and the former chair of the BPA) told me: ‘You’ll never know the people you will influence’. It is a tough job − you are speaking out against things that are uncomfortable but they are uncomfortable truths.

“You just do your job and do it as best as you can. When you are in the force for 24

‘Even though there have been some positives, there is still a bit of a way to go’ years, you do not want to be critiquing to that level but it needs to be done, or things will never change.

The issues faced are the same as ever, she says: “There is trouble in recruiting, trouble in promoting and then there are problems in retaining black officers.

“What I would like to do is to make all the black police associations, nationally, become more consistent about what they are trying to achieve and to have more positive outcomes.

Asked if black police associations could create a “you versus us” culture, Hills

says: “The problem is that it is all about the lived experience. What does it feel like to be a black person in London fearing the police will stop or harass you when you step out of your door? How are you able to communicate that to anybody that would care? It is not about divide, it is about understanding.”

Black police associations were formed in 1994, a year after Stephen Lawrence died.

“That family were treated differently and things that should have been done were not done. It is not right that we should be treated differently, we should be treated equally. We are needed so that our communities have access and so that people journeying into the profession do not find it so challenging.”

Hills welcomes the growing number of women joining the police. “It is still male dominated, but there are loads of women coming in and this is brilliant! Women are doing relatively well in this aspect. Gender is doing better than black and ethnic minorities when we consider diversity.”

Looking to the future, Hills acknowledges the high profile problems of places like Angell Town estate, but says the Brixton she knew in 1991 has changed.

“Those areas that people talk about exist. But the only way you are going to combat the problems is through community relations and for the police to be more proactive and to ensure the voices of people on estates are heard.

“What is needed is accessibility on the ground. It is about everybody working together so that people get the very best in terms of community satisfaction and objectives being met in how the area is policed.”

10 SWEEPING AND SHOPPING

www.brixtonblog.com

December/Janaury 2016

Why Santa doesn’t get stuck in Brixton

Linda Quinn meets the man who will be making sure the chimney’s clean for Christmas Alan Naish’s family have been sweeping Brixton’s chimneys since 1870.

Their office was in Railton Road where his great grandfather Walter joined his father in the family business aged 13.

Alan joined the firm at 16, but got into plumbing and gasfitting as the demand for chimney-sweeping died away with central heating. Recently, however, demand has risen again as wood-burning stoves have become popular.

Alan is the fifth generation to take up the brooms, and business is booming. “When I started there were seven of us, and we could do 10 chimneys a day each. We were never out of the area. Some of the older folk say: “I remember your grandad used to come here 50 years ago. You get that a lot.”

Alan’s grandfather Walter swept the chimneys of Winston Churchill and 50s harmonica maestro and celebrity Larry Adler, as well as almost every London hospital.

Alan says people leave the strangest things up their chimneys – old newspapers, letters to Santa and even a wad

of £50 notes.

“Sometimes you can put your arm up the chimney in kids’ bedrooms and find packets of fags. B&Q sell DIY rod sets and you can find them stuck up the chimney.”

When Alan’s father moved to the suburbs, his mum made him get magnetic signs for the van so he could take them off before the neighbours saw.

The picture on the right was taken in 1919 outside the Naish shop at 277 Railton Road, where there was a victory parade celebrating the end of the First World War. Alan’s grandfather Walter (who had started at 13) had joined up and, according to his obituary in the South London Press, was probably the youngest man ever to be awarded a life pension by the army. He also served in the Boer War. As many old Brixton businesses close, it’s nice to see one still going strong.

■■ If you’re thinking of getting your chimney swept in time for Santa to drop off the presents, you’ve left it too late. But you can make a clean sweep in the New Year at chimneysweeps@btinternet.com.

Forget the sales – swap, crop and charity shop Lucy Hook met Brixton favourite Potent Whisper to find out about the Second-Hand First campaign Brixton rapper and activist Potent Whisper is no stranger to taking on world issues – he uses his rhymes to confront pressing political and social issues.

In his latest video, a spoken word piece, Potent takes on the global impact of the fashion industry and its damaging effects on the environment. He has teamed up with the textiles charity TRAID for their #Secondhandfirst campaign to get people sourcing more of their clothes from second-hand sources – such as the TRAID charity shop in Brixton.

“The fashion industry is connected to, and has tremendous bearing on, the lives of so many people around the world, and contributes heavily to many of the

problems that we are faced with today,” says Potent.

“I was astounded when I learned that I could make such a huge difference in the world by making one simple decision about my clothes – putting second-hand first.”

He got involved in the campaign in 2014 after releasing a video, Changing Room [youtu.be/ SVUtYcvg74Y], which explored ethics in fashion – how big brands operate and exploitation and death among the 60 million who work in the industry.

“I was invited to perform the piece at a demonstration and there I met Maria Chenoweth-Casey, the CEO of TRAID. I started to learn more about the Second-Hand First campaign, and more about the industry in an environmental context. I realised that my small fashion choices have a huge effect on the planet, and I felt inspired to write about it.”

Celebrating peace in Railton Road outside the Naish family shop in 1919. Inset: Alan Naish today.

Potent Whisper performs his anti-war work Just Wondering at Tate Modern [youtu.be/5VmcRoYX_2E]

And the buyer benefits too.

“Second-hand clothes are so inexpensive,” says Potent.

“There are endless bargains on quality clothes and access to high-end products that you might not be able to afford otherwise.

There’s always something new to discover. You could go into the same TRAID shop every day and find something different.

And, of course, there are environmental benefits: “You’re saving money; and saving the

world”. To get started with Second Hand First, says Potent: “Just think ‘swap, crop, or charity shop’.”

SWAP: consider swapping clothes that you don’t want any more, for ones that you do want.

CROP: when the clothes that you love get roughed up a bit, mend them.

CHARITY SHOP: buy clothes at a charity shop to get a first-class closet for a second-hand cost.

The epitome of style himself,

ILLUSTRATION: Kaylene Alder

Potent tells people worried abut their look: “The next time you pass a charity shop, pop in and see for yourself. Thank me later.”

I ask: “Is it really possible to change the world with a change of clothes?” Potent’s reply: ”I’d love your readers to watch the campaign video, consider the argument I put forward, and tweet me their answers!”

■■ Watch the Second-Hand First video at youtu.be/zO1_fm6jBvM ■■ Potent Whisper is on Twitter at @PotentOfficial.

■■ Visit TRAID Brixton at 2 Acre Lane.

Potent Whisper is releasing new material with “an incredible electric harpist”, Maria-Christina.

“Our debut single Now! is due very soon. I’ve also written and produced a new short film, an urban romance delivered in sign language, which is due early 2016.”

And, of course, he is keeping up his work with the Our Brixton anti-gentrification campaign.

December/January 2016

www.brixtonblog.com

Food poverty is a strong wake-up call Benefits sanctions and delays and low pay are strongly linked to food poverty in the borough, the Lambeth Food Partnership (LFP) heard in December.

Incredible Edible Lambeth is one of the core partners of LFP, with Lambeth council and Lambeth Public Health.

At a panel discussion at its annual general meeting in Pop Brixton, LFP members heard that the biggest single cause of food poverty is benefit sanctions and delays.

Hannah Laurison of Sustain, a national food campaign organisation, has been comparing London boroughs and found that Lambeth council is not doing badly in terms of the interventions it is pursuing – giving out Healthy Start vouchers and Alexandra Rose vouchers to families with very young children.

She also praised the exemplary work of the council’s jobs and growth team on financial resilience and Lambeth’s support for the London Living Wage.

But one in five residents of Lambeth is employed in a job that pays below the London living wage – and that is strongly linked to food poverty, Hannah said.

Jon Taylor of Brixton Food Bank thanked LFP for its support. Lambeth feeds more people through food banks than any other borough, he said. Single adults and single-parent families are the majority of people who need help.

Jon talked about a woman whose benefits were twice sanctioned for three months because she failed to attend a job club. Her daughter was in hospital so the woman needed to take care of her grandchild.

She was told to find a babysitter but this was an emergency and she did not have easy access to anyone she trusted. For six months the woman was dependent on friends and family for

the survival of herself and her grandchild.

Brixton Food Bank is opening a new debt centre in the new year with Christians against Poverty.

The Food Bank would welcome donations of strong cloth bags. If anyone can get fresh fruit and veg to the distribution centres on the day of distribution they would love to be able to give it out.

Kemi collects surplus food from local shops and offered to help make a connection with food banks, although the challenge is getting the surplus food to the places it is needed, and Kemi herself spends a lot of time picking up food on her trailer bike.

Brixton People’s Kitchen cooks surplus food and teaches people to cook at the same time.

So – “What’s the single biggest cause and the one

Brixton Food Bank is opening a new debt centre in the new year big solution?” asked a questioner. It’s not that easy but “in the US inequality is accepted and food banks are institutionalised – the rise in food poverty should be a big wake-up call in the UK and benefit delays and sanctions, and low wages should be addressed,” said Hannah.

Jon agreed and saw a strong link between the benefit system and the unacceptable amount of surplus food that is wasted, but he can only deal with individuals.

Kemi would add supermarkets and their refusal to sell “wonky veg” and ask them to be part of the solution.

■■ To find out more about Lambeth Food Partnership please visit www.lambethfood.org. Sign up to receive updates and contribute to campaigns and activities.

LAMBETH LARDER

INCREDIBLE EDIBLE 11

Sue Sheehan rounds up the latest and greatest food initiatives

In Ruth’s garden with Ruth, Mary, Tracey and Magda

The front garden farmers of LEAF Love Your Roots is a small grant scheme run by Incredible Edible Lambeth.

Grants are usually for things like compost bins, planters, raised beds and trees. But the projects supported vary hugely.

In an inspiring project in the Loughborough Road area, LEAF gardeners have been bringing residents together to improve the look and feel of their streets and transforming front gardens into food-growing spaces.

(LEAF takes its name from the streets Loughborough Road, Evandale Road and Akerman Road near Fiveways Junction).

“We came together because of the terrible traffic situation at the north end of Loughborough Road,” says co-project organiser and local resident Dawn Kalu.

In one of LEAF’s first activities, Dawn and Tracey Gordon – TRA chair and her friend and neighbour – organised a street clean-up day with the help of Lambeth’s Freshview programme.

Then, with the help of the Myatts’ Fields greenhouse, residents planted summer and winter vegetables.

Residents cleared and planted the garden of an elderly resident who was recently bereaved and they regularly help each other in their own gardens.

“Planted gardens raise questions and inspire.

People have reminisced about the past, like their auntie’s garden and about plants and veg grown in their countries of origin.

After a conversation I have given passers-by plants

The Lambeth Larder is a website and print booklet full of information on the food resources available in the local area to help people make ends meet. It contains an up-to-date list of locations and hours of food banks, resources for saving money and budgeting, food-growing and more. Visit lambethlarder.org/

that I have grown in the greenhouse or that I have a surplus of in the garden,” says Dawn. “Neighbours swap watercress for tomatoes, raspberry canes for chard, etc.”

A street party brought residents out on the street.

“It was the first year ever in my 20 years living here that the pears on the ancient pear tree were made into cakes and jam. We used as much of the local produce

as we could on our street party day.”

As residents reminisced, they unlocked some amazing creativity and held an art exhibition in the Loughborough Hotel Gallery that showcased the work of 16 of them.

■■ Applications for the latest round of the Love Your Roots grant have just opened. There is a new category for a larger grant for innovation. Incredible

Edible Lambeth recognises that food growing is nearly always about more than gardening and, at the very least, builds community.

Can we encourage more links with art and heritage, campaigning, reducing social isolation for example? Visit incredibleediblelambeth. org for more information and please contact us if you would like to talk through your idea.

We are a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening Brixton’s diverse business culture. We represent 656 levy-paying businesses in the local area and work to develop new and exciting opportunities for Brixton.

020 3417 7373

@BrixtonBID

admin@brixtonbid.co.uk

brixtonbid.co.uk

SAFER IN BRIXTON At the beginning of November a Friday night briefing was introduced to encourage Brixton businesses to work in better partnership to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. The short fortnightly meeting, held at new Brixton venue Phonox, has been well attended by representatives from Brixton’s many night time venues.

The purpose of the briefings is to open a line of direct communication between the businesses, Lambeth’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership and the Metropolitan Police. Intelligence is shared to help venues prepare for the busy weekend and ensure best practice is in place for the safety of their patrons.

CARDS FOR ALL OCCASIONS! A HIDDEN GEM IN RELIANCE ARCADE Passing through Brixton and Looking for a last minute birthday card, or planning a valentines surprise for that special someone? We recently met with Black and Gold Retail in the fantastic Reliance Arcade, who sell cards and gifts for all occasions at a great price.

Black and Gold Retail in Reliance Arcade is open Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 5:30pm

Since the introduction of the briefings, five more Brixton businesses have signed up for the radio scheme which now has 42 members in Brixton and 146 members across Lambeth. The radios allow security staff to keep in touch with other venues and with Police and CCTV where necessary. There is a shared intranet site which enables venues to upload images and information about trouble makers, which can lead to criminals being banned from participating premises.

BCRP is a small, non-profit organisation which was initially set up with funding from MOPAC. The organisation covers its operational costs by charging a fee to members of the radio and intranet network.

The organisation has recently reached its goal of becoming fully sustainable, which means any surplus funds can be directed into developing the programme further. In a survey conducted by the charity 62% of Lambeth’s businesses said they have felt an increase in confidence in Lambeth Police due to the scheme.

CHRISTMAS CRACKER

ANIMATING BRIXTON’S SPACES

On Friday 4 December businesses and members of the community gathered to celebrate the switching on of Brixton’s Christmas lights. A small event was organised by the Brixton BID with music from local choir Rapture Ministries and musicians Divine Steel, in partnership with the Brixton Night Market.

In early December a team of contractors funded by Brixton BID installed a creative lighting display to the London Plane tree in Windrush Square.

Mayor Councillor Donatus Anyanwu was in attendance to meet with members of the community and say a few words. Local entrepreneur April Jackson of BBC’s The Apprentice fame also joined in the celebration as local businesses welcomed her new Café, Three Little Birds, which recently opened on Coldharbour Lane.

The Brixton BID board allocated funding to purchase new festive lighting motifs for the lamp columns on Acre Lane and Brixton Road for December 2015 onwards, as well as new baubles for the Christmas tree.

The installation is intended to bring animation to Windrush Square, an important civic space and a busy and highly visible location for visitors and locals to Brixton.

The creative and technical brains behind the installation are local visual collective L.E.G who also worked on the Eley Kishimoto X Vans launch at House of Vans last July. The collective comprises of a team of passionate creatives hailing from a wide range of artistic backgrounds, intuitively utilising structural design, light and technology allow them to achieve immersive structures. Visual performances (VJ), stage design, large scale mapping, lighting and interactive installations all lie at the heart of their process and output.

The tree lighting will be in place until the end of January and is intended as a pilot project to explore the idea of future creative installations to animate the Square.

14 CHRISTMAS

www.brixtonblog.com

December/January 2016

Jumbo Christmas crossword

Word Wheel Find as many words as you can of four letters or more, using each letter in each word only once, and always using the letter in the centre.

Special points if you find the nine-letter word.

15 words pretty good 25 words anagram aficionado 30+ words word wheel wizard

ACROSS

DOWN

1 Residency; tahini boat (anag) (10) 6 Act of adding baubles (10) 13 Building mastermind (9) 14 Diplomats (11) 15 Gin accompaniment (5) 16 Colour of Snow White’s hair (5) 17 Grin (5) 18 Piggy grunt (4) 19 Headgear of Rudolph and co. (6) 20 Sound of a bell (merrily on high?) (4,4) 23 Musicians from The Twelve Days of Christmas (6,6,6) 29 Sailing contest (7) 30 Let loose (7) 31 Cow-tenders from The Twelve Days of Christmas (5,5,1 – 7) 35 eg. O’Malley from Aristocats (5,3) 38 Rookie (6) 40 Discount shopping period (4) 43 Like Gabriel? (7) 44 Signs (5) 45 Go backwards (7) 46 Beheld slime (<anag) (11) 47 Fruit for the toe of a stocking (9) 48 Third person in the Trinity (4,5) 49 The stuff between your ears (4,6)

1 Deep and meaningful talk (5-2-5) 2 Breakfast goods (5,3,4) 3 Sea God; Ariel’s father (5) 4 James Henry Trotter’s famous fruit (3,5,5) 5 Porridge (7) 7 Unborn child (6) 8 Watering hole (5) 9 Incredible (7) 10 Three magic words (1,4,3) 11 Horse or donkey food dispensers (8) 12 Worker (8) 21 Buckled sash (4) 22 eg. Pink Ladies (6) 24 Sacred songs (6) 25 Member of The Beatles (4,9) 26 0-0 (3,3) 27 Flavour meat before cooking (8) 28 Ursa Major (3,5,4) 32 That’s what she said (8) 33 Home of Mary and Joseph (8) 34 Garden pest (4) 36 Piece of wood burnt on Christmas Eve (4,3) 37 Part of a curve (7) 39 Guest (7) 41 Headgear to be worn with a tailcoat (3,3) 42 Greek Goddess of war and wisdom (6)

ANSWERS WILL BE ON BRIXTON BLOG IN THE NEW YEAR

Your New Year’s resolution …

Help to produce the Brixton Blog and Bugle. We need people who can contribute to Brixton’s community publications … reporters, photographers, social media, business and more. If you have the time and willingness to make a regular contribution – experience not necessarily required – email contribute@brixtonblog.com

BRIXTON

BLOG & Bugle

December/January 2016

CHRISTMAS 15

www.brixtonblog.com

Christmas

– what’s changed and what’s the same Marco Cillario discovers what Christmas means to Brixton people Walking through Brixton on a busy winter’s day is like wandering around the world, from Britain to the Caribbean passing through Mediterranean Europe and central Africa.

And a simple little question like: “What is Christmas for you?” helps you learn so much about the planet.

“I think Christmas is for children,” says Richard Caraffi, who runs the vintage shop Tique Booty. “It’s really exciting if you have children. But when you get older it changes and if you are not religious it’s not a big deal.

“The most important thing,” he says, “is to sit together with your family and spend two days with them, all in the same place.” It is surprising how many people will express exactly this sentiment when asked about Christmas, no matter where they are from.

Mr Caraffi says that during Christmas the market is “a bit busier” than usual, “but many people leave to go back home to see their families”.

Walk to the other side of the market and you will understand what he is talking about. Most of the Italians working at the pizzeria Franco Manca have already bought their tickets to go home.

“My parents will kill me if I don’t spend Christmas with them this time,” Domenico tells me over an espresso, sitting at a table outside the restaurant on Market Row. At 75 Atlantic Road you’ll find the Black & White Café.

Inside is a meeting point for the Jamaican community and many of the people working here or sitting at the tables are happy to say what they think about Christmas.

Andrea Brown, born in London to a Jamaican family, is

Reverend Rosemarie Mallet: Innocence and hope the organiser of the Saturday ‘It’s Your Local Market’ in Angell Town where residents sell and buy food, clothing and crafts. The nearby Atlantic pub, which became the Dogstar in 1995, is one of the first things she mentions.

“When my grandmother came here from the Caribbean, it used to be a place everybody from the community knew and they used to spend time there together,” she tells me. “when you came here from the Caribbean and were looking for somebody, this is where you would go and just leave a message for them.”

“Brixton has changed over the years,” she says. There is nothing like the Atlantic anymore. The sense of the community, although still alive, is not as strong as it used to be and this is reflected in the habits at Christmas: “December is the time when people go back home,” says Andrea, who sees the change as positive: “It’s good because now we have different communities here learning more about each other.”

A story about Christmas would not be complete without a word on religion, nor would a walk around Brixton without a visit to its currently newsworthy area. I decide to accomplish both by walking along Brixton Road to St John’s Church in Angell Town.

Reverend Rosemarie Mallet is a human force of nature and there is no topic she will not address. I met her after the service, as the members of her congregation, mainly African and Caribbean, came out of the church.

“This church is the longest presence on the estate,” she tells me. “It was one of the first places that welcomed

Richard Caraffi: Exciting for children migrant people and is here 365 days a year.” She takes her time to find the right words before answering my question about Christmas. She tells me that “Christmas is about being closer to God” and “looking at a child”, since “God came in the form of a child”. She goes on: “It’s a return to an understanding of innocence and hope, because I think looking at a child means looking at hope.”

Yet the minister is well aware of the world outside.

“It’s all about commercialism and materialism. For many people Christmas is about having a nice meal, getting a gift and having a nice time for the children. It’s also a time of potential stress because they often cannot afford the things that they have to afford in order to fulfil the image of Christmas that television tells us about.”

At the entrance of the church I also meet Belinda, a young girl with Ghanaian roots. She is more optimistic about the relevance of the religious aspect in a secular society. She says passionately: “The sharing part is very important for everyone. People spend time together giving and this resembles the religious aspect. People are generous even if they don’t realise it: otherwise why would the shops be full with people at Christmas? And they buy presents they think people would appreciate.”

Her words echo in my head as I walk back to Brixton Road. Night has fallen when I reach the Tube after my trip around the world, and the Christmas tree is lit. The station is still as loud and full with people as any other day. Yet, just walk in and the Christmas jingles will remind you what time of the year it is. Here and all over the world.

When Sherlock Holmes visited unfashionable Brixton Alan Slingsby tracks down the connection between Christmas, Brixton and Sherlock Holmes. Illustration by Becky Brewis Christmas is a time for the family. But who hasn’t wondered, after the day itself, that it might be nice to get away from the leftovers and visit a bachelor pal with a flat in the West End. Dr John Watson had just that thought in the only Sherlock Holmes story set at Christmas, but one of nearly a dozen to mention Brixton.

He finds himself caught up in The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, a classic Sherlock Holmes story by Arthur Conan Doyle, with a plot that is beyond belief; a supporting cast of clichéd characters; and examples of the superhuman powers of our hero – who else could look inside a hat and pronounce that the owner’s wife had ceased to love him?

Like all the great Sherlock stories, it mixes up mundane ingredients to produce a compelling read.

But what about Brixton? The story is set several rounds of gentrification and de-gentrification ago, at a time in the late nineteenth century when someone living on

the Brixton Road could keep a flock of geese to fatten for the Christmas market.

A priceless stolen gemstone finds its way into the throat of one of those geese, which, in turn, ends up in Holmes’ Baker Street apartment just as his pal Watson turns up to wish him compliments of the season and, no

doubt, to lecture him about his cocaine habit.

The great detective’s journey in search of how the goose got the stone – the Blue Carbuncle – takes readers through the sights and sounds of Victorian London.

Some, like the original Covent Garden Market, are gone. The Alpha Tavern near the British Museum is fictitious. But its likely model, the Museum Tavern, is still there.

Nowadays you are more likely to bump into an American tourist in it than an elderly gent down on his luck who keeps warm in the museum’s reading room – also now lost to us.

It is that fellow who is at the start of a tangle of events that Holmes unravels with a masterly combination of intellect and low cunning.

Mugged on Tottenham Court Road, the gent loses both his hat and the goose he has just got from the Alpha Tavern’s Christmas goose club.

And where did the club’s

geese come from? Brixton.

A first-time thief, riven with guilt and fear, had popped his haul – a priceless gem – down the throat of a goose being fattened by his mother and sister at 117 Brixton Road.

How the gem – “the nucleus and focus of crime” – ends up with Sherlock Holmes, you can find out by reading the adventure, published in 1892.

Brixton occurs in more Sherlock Holmes escapades. One of two brothers in the early short novel, The Sign of Four, lives in a villa off Coldharbour Lane.

There could be no better demonstration of how the reputation of districts changes over time than Holmes’ remark to Watson as they travel through south London to get there: “Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions”.

Conan Doyle lived a few miles south of Brixton in Tennison Road, South Norwood between 1891 and 1894. Another Holmes story, The Adventure of the Norwood Builder, is set in West Norwood, known in his day as Lower Norwood.

■■ For a good run down on Sherlock in south London, try the excellent article

by Luck Munro on the Smoke, a London Peculiar website: bit.ly/smoke-sherlock.

16 ARTS & CULTURE

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December/January 2016

Arts Co Editor Barney Evison caught up with Norwegian singer Aurora Aksnes – best known for singing the cover of Oasis’ Half the World Away on John Lewis’ Christmas advert – before her gig at Brixton Academy supporting Of Monsters and Men

What happened after the advert aired?

Has it changed things for you?

The main thing is that I’m getting a bit more busy. I get to be in England a lot which is wonderful. I have lots more fans and there are lots of articles out there about me now. I feel like people are talking about me.

So, the John Lewis advert – how did it all come about?

I’ve been asking myself the same question! About two years ago one of the guys from my publishing company contacted some guys from John Lewis about it. We heard nothing.

Then in June this year I was performing before Nick Mulvey at Somerset House and someone from John Lewis saw me and liked what she heard.

How does it feel to be in the same company as people like Ellie Goulding and Lily Allen, who sang on previous John Lewis adverts?

I’m like the underdog. It doesn’t seem that I fit in with all those names. It’s nice that they’re giving me a chance!

Did you record it specially for them?

Did they choose the song?

They sent me an email asking me to record a version of Oasis’ ‘Half the World Away’. They wanted it to be open and emotional, we did the best we could. They liked the direction but wanted it a bit more quiet and simple, so we worked at it for them. I think it’s a brilliant commercial.

The song is very me as well. I probably would have added a little bit more spice but I like it. It doesn’t steal any attention from the video.

Did you know what a big deal it was when you did it? Were you expecting such a big reaction?

I didn’t know at all. I just knew it was a commercial and that was it! Now I understand that it’s kind of a big deal over here. But I didn’t know before, it was kind of a shock.

I’m just a girl from Norway – it’s very strange!

Did you cry when you watched it?

Yeah I did, I cried. Me and my band, we all watched the video and cried. Very moving. I cried just telling people about it. I’m really emotional, I cry a lot.

© BENT RENÈ SYNNEVÅG

Norwegian star who made us cry

What are you doing for Christmas?

I’m spending it with my family in Norway. I’m away every day until the day before Christmas Eve so it’s going to be extra fun to finally get home. I’m just going to be at home, playing with snow a lot. Because I love snow.

This year John Lewis teamed up with Age UK to raise awareness of loneliness amongst the elderly at Christmas. Do you think this is an important message?

Yes, it’s a really important message. If you’re lonely I imagine it gets extra intense at this time of year, because it’s all about friends and family. I think it’s wonderful that they’re cooperating with Age UK this year. It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of it, I’m very proud.

Now on to Brixton; are you looking forward to playing at the Academy tonight?

Yes I am – I’ve just been inside, it’s a beautiful venue.

Really cool.

Have you been to Brixton before?

No I haven’t, it seems like a lovely place. I’m going to stick around for a bit. We have some time between the sound check and the gig.

You have a debut album coming out soon – how’s work going on that?

It’s been done for a long time. It’s driving me mad, I’ve changed a lot already. It’s hard to feel you’re actually done with anything these days. I can’t wait to get it out. Then I can get on with the next album, the next day!

Is your album similar to the music on your EP, Running with Wolves?

Yes, there are a few really big songs, some more intimate songs. There’s a bit of hope and a lot of darkness, and some folky melodies. It’s going to be a bit more me. I think it’s kind of schizophrenic, there are a lot of different moods and stories.

■■ Watch out for Aurora’s debut album out in March 2016.

December/January 2016

ARTS & CULTURE 17

brixtonblog.com

School mosaic marks the lost River Effra Pupils from five Lambeth primary schools have contributed to the creation of a two-metre-wide circular mosaic in the centre of a traffic island garden at the junction of Milkwood Road and Lowden Road, between Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction.

Artwork produced by the children on the theme of water and wildlife, as well as photos of the mosaic installed on Lowden Road, will be on display at Pop Brixton (left) until 28 December.

The children – from Christ Church Primary, Jessop Primary School, St John’s Angell CE Primary School, Loughborough Primary School and Stockwell Primary School – used a variety of materials and techniques to create art based on the wildlife that once flourished along the lost River Effra, which now flows beneath local streets.

Their work inspired the final

Blueprint for the rave scene When legendary DJ Danny Rampling played Brixton Bloc, Helen Reid asked the south Londoner about his work You’ve had a long and illustrious career.

What have been the high points?

The high points of my life and career continue. As always I’m working on creative ideas and projects, and this is what drives me.

My high points after a few years of being an apprentice DJ are getting a show on the south London pirate radio Kiss FM as an unknown DJ, through my taste in music.

I started with a 2am Tuesday morning slot from there and went on to a primetime weekend show, followed by seven years on Saturday night on BBC Radio 1 with The Love Groove Dance Party, which attracted millions of listeners worldwide. My career took off professionally with my club night Shoom, that was the blueprint for the Rave scene.

How do you think DJing has changed in the course of your career?

The role of the Dj is forever evolving. When

I began professionally it was about personal taste and style of music and the energy you brought behind the decks playing records for a modest amount of cash in return.

Now, in the present, a DJ has to be 360 degrees, a DJ of all trades encompassing producing, promoting, marketing, and being an expert businessman or woman amongst many other things.

There is now an abundance of new technology that has taken some of the skill out of the craft and it has been simplified in some ways for many; however passion and flair we are born with, and technology can never substitute that core human gift. This is still a very exciting time in the evolution of the DJ and opportunity comes through passion and the love of the craft and music.

Being born in Streatham, do you still feel a connection to south London?

How do you feel it’s changed?

I grew up and left SW16 long before it became gentrified. I’m a Sarf Londoner.

There are many good people in south London and diversity has always been its strong point. There has been much creativity through music and fashion throughout the years.

I remember my mum taking me to Brixton Market for the first time at 11 years old, to Harry’s shoe shop where I bought a classic pair of brogue shoes, plus a lime green Ben Sherman shirt from Temple’s fashion store. Still have a love of the Crystal Palace football team.

What do you aim to bring to people through your DJing and music?

Happiness and sharing good times collectively through the love of music.

mosaic, which the children helped to create with the aid of local artists Hannah Littlejones and Esther Adesigbin.

Seeing her work at Pop Brixton, Ivanna from Jessop Primary said: “I can’t believe it – we are going to be famous now, everyone seeing our work!”

Stephanie Serbis, one of the school staff who attended the workshops with the children, said the experience was amazing.

“Being able to see their wonderful pieces displayed in such a vibrant space is a huge honour.”

With help from London Wildlife Trust’s ‘Lost Effra’ project and Lambeth council, the site of the traffic island has already been transformed into a green space as part of a community project Hard paving has been replaced with a wildlife-friendly rain garden planted and cared for by the local community.

Such rain gardens are designed to soak up rainwater in a sustainable manner, and can help to prevent localised flooding whilst also bringing a welcome touch of nature to urban streets.

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18 FOOD & DRINK

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December/January 2016

R ECI PE • G RANOLA

It’s crunch time Miss South reveals a resolution that you will want to keep

It’s about this time of year that you start thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions and all those little life changes you’ve been meaning to make.

The only New Year’s Resolution I think I have ever stuck to for more than three weeks is eating breakfast, so I’m here to tempt you into doing the same with a recipe for granola.

In case you’ve ever wondered, granola differs from muesli in that it’s cooked and crisp while muesli is raw (and yes, I am a riot at parties with facts like that.) It’s also eye-gougingly expensive to buy pre-made and yet incredibly easy to make at home …

This is the basic recipe I have used for years. You need the oats, sesame seeds and wheat or oat germ as a base, but customise to your heart’s content especially if you want to go gluten or wheat-free.

Use rye or barley flakes as well, add fibre and protein with quinoa or chia seeds or add a couple of tablespoons of nut butter to the oil and honey mix. You could add a bit of coconut oil and spices if you want more flavour to it all. Just visit Brixton WholeFoods and the Nour Cash and Carry and see what takes your fancy.

The egg white here allows the granola to clump together into big satisfying crunchy clusters but if you want to go vegan, leave it out and sub the honey for golden syrup or rice bran syrup. Because the egg is cooked, you can store the granola for up to a month in an airtight container.

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The only New Year’s Resolution I think I have ever stuck to for more than three weeks is eating breakfast, so I’m here to tempt you into doing the same with a recipe for granola

GRANOLA (makes about 750g) ¡¡100g jumbo oats, rye or barley flakes ¡¡175g porridge oats ¡¡35g wheatgerm or oatgerm ¡¡50g sesame seeds ¡¡50g pumpkin seeds ¡¡50g sunflower seeds or linseeds ¡¡50g flaked coconut (not desiccated) ¡¡50g amaranth, quinoa or buckwheat ¡¡100g nuts of your choice (I like

halved Brazil nuts and pecans) ¡¡pinch of sea salt ¡¡120ml sunflower oil ¡¡120ml honey ¡¡1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¡¡1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or ginger (optional) ¡¡1 egg white, beaten ¡¡100g dried fruit (I used dried blackcurrants added as it cooled)

This is so easy to make. Preheat the oven to 160º.

Find two large non-stick roasting tins or dishes for the granola.

If there is any worry that they aren’t non-stick, line them with greaseproof paper for ease. Measure out all the dried ingredients (except the dried fruit) into a large bowl and set aside.

Put the oil and honey in a small saucepan and heat for a few minutes to melt together. Take off the heat, add in the vanilla extract and pour over the dried ingredients.

Mix well until all the oil and honey seems to have been absorbed in the oats and seeds. Add the beaten egg white and mix well again.

Put it all into two large non-stick roasting tins or dishes and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. It will seem slightly soft when cooked as it crisps up as it cools, so don’t be tempted to overcook it.

Allow to cool without moving it around at all.

If you want big clusters of granola or if you want smaller ones, break it up a bit with a wooden spoon as it cools. Stir through the dried fruit once cool and store in an airtight container.

Serve with your choice of milk or yoghurt or simply eat it dry as a snack.

You’ll still be making batches of this granola this time next year, trust me.

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December/January 2016

FOOD & DRINK 19

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FOOD NEWS Don’t bring on the substitute Bickles is back R EVI EW • VEG BAR

The food news doesn’t stop in Brixton just because it’s Christmas you know ...

NNThe much missed BICKLES is

back! Opening for cocktails and jerk at 75 Norwood Road from 12 December, I’m hoping they do delivery again too.

NNCafe culture is alive and well in

Brixton with the relaunch of BALANCE on Ferndale Road with a range of fresh juices, sandwiches and cakes.

At the opposite end of town is THE LOUGHBOROUGH CAFE on Loughborough Road, who have teamed up with Baked Salt supperclub to create a cafe and gallery space with good food and coffee, even in the evenings.

NNBINKS’ GIN SHOP is now curing its

own salt beef for sandwiches – which makes the £5 weekday special better

value than an over-chilled chain store meal deal in my book.

NNIf your tastes are sweeter, try the

Christmas and New Year workshops at the CHOCOLATE MUSEUM on Ferndale Road. There’s not usually much to do on 2 January but you’ll have eaten all the selection boxes by then …

NNSpeaking of the New Year, BOOM

BURGER are finally set to open their Caribbean-inspired burger restaurant on Brixton Station Road in early 2016. I mean, they said that about early 2015 too, but fingers crossed it finally happens.

NNAlso coming in 2016 is BARRIO.

Taking over in the old Verandah space on Acre Lane, it’ll be a bar and restaurant with a 200 capacity and a 2am licence serving cocktails and Peruvian-inspired meat on sticks.

NNBrixton favourite FISH WINGS AND TINGS is opening a second venue at Croydon BoxPark next year showing how Brixton still sets trends.

NNAnd keep your eyes peeled for

the next issue of the Bugle when we have all the news behind the changes at Unit 16 in Market Row, including being a great new place to work during the day over a slice of cake.

Nikki Griffiths finds that good intentions and bad imitations are not enough to win her over to veganism

I can’t deny being a meat eater and loving it. The draw for me usually comes in the intensity of the flavour that you can miss with a vegetarian or vegan diet. And there’s actual science to back that up, since flavour molecules react to fat, which seafood and meat naturally have much more of.

That said, some of the best food I’ve eaten and certainly some of the most handsome dishes I’ve seen, have been made up purely of vegetables.

What’s more, I take my hat off to the chefs who dedicate their time to making the most of these wonderful natural resources we have growing all around us, and avoiding unnecessary slaughter. And to top it off, if you believe what they say in the papers, you’d know there are health benefits to a meat-free diet. Though I could never commit to it full-time, I’m a big supporter of vegetarian food and I’d like to see more restaurants showing us meat eaters what we’re missing.

Veg Bar on Tulse Hill is a little under a year old and claims to be south London’s first 100 per cent vegan restaurant. Having never been, I was excited to see what creativity they had in store.

The unassuming entrance gives way to a big, bright space with an open plan kitchen.

The walls are plastered with posters of musical influences – and someone working there clearly has a thing for vegan hero Morrissey. Downstairs they have a live music venue open until 11pm on weekends, and a punk-themed line up. The drinks menu has enough on it to keep you happy – pints of Heineken, gin cocktails and house wine. The red was more sweet than I’d have liked but it wasn’t all that bad.

But that’s when the disappointment really started. The food menu – to put it simply – was uninspiring. I’d been ready to see a menu packed with wild mushrooms, roasted beetroot, the freshest of avocados and deeply-smoked tofu. But there was none of that. Instead, there were imitation meats and easy-way-out mains.

The menu isn’t split into courses, though it did have two price-indicating starters: a soup and a tofu frittata (below). We chose to share the latter which came served with a too-much-vinegar dressing. The frittata itself was dry, crumbly and lacked any trace of seasoning.

My burger-loving other half excitedly went straight for the jackfruit sandwich (inset).

Jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh

and he’d been wanting to try it ever since reading about its similarity to pulled pork.

I totally get it! If I was vegan I’d eat this the whole time. Unfortunately corners had been cut on the simple things such as the bread bun, wilted lettuce and unmelted cheese substitute.

In a time where detail is more and more important, those things really let it down.

It was also swimming in way too much barbecue sauce, which overpowered the jackfruit.

My “seitan wings” (above) were reportedly the star of Veg Bar’s menu. But, three down, and I’d already had more than I could take. Seitan is a wheat gluten, usually used as a meat substitute and in

serving

and

the case of these “wings”, it wasn’t doing a particularly convincing undercover job.

Each had soaked up an uneasy amount of oil and left an aftertaste I just couldn’t get rid of. The texture was like nothing I’ve tasted before and certainly gave my jaw a workout.

I almost feel bad for not liking Veg Bar, because I wholly support their intentions.

But, in all honesty, the food and ambience just didn’t live up to my desires.

There is a glimmer of hope. The manager was keen to tell us that they’re in the process of reinventing their menu to move away from imitating meat classics and offering more of the fresh veggies and pulses I’d been hoping to see. If that’s the case then I’d love to go back and give Veg Bar another go. Until then, giving up meat probably won’t be this year’s resolution.

breakfast

lunch

dinner

by 14 street food stalls from around the world featuring a fully licensed bar and heated seating area opposite brixton rail station

20 WHAT’S ON SAT 19 @ CAFÉ CAIRO

Nouvelle Manouche - acoustic folk influenced by world styles - and six-piece Klezmer outfit Tell Tale Tusk provide the entertainment. Café Cairo provide the mulled wine and mince pies . Free before 9pm, £5 after. 6pm to 2am.

SUN 20 @ O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON

Two reggae legends, UB40 and Steel Pulse , are playing together for the first time. Tickets, £40. 7pm to 11pm.

MON 21 @ POP BRIXTON

Never heard of Capoeira? It’s a Brazilian martial art that combines dance and acrobatics . Head to Pop on Mondays for teaching from Brixton resident Baris Yazar. £10. 7.45pm to 9.15pm.

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THURS 31 – NEW YEAR’S EVE IN BRIXTON: OUR PICK OF THE BEST SOUTH POLE SALOON’s first NYE in Brixton, hosted by Spacestation, will feature eccentric performances, street food and headline DJs. Tickets range from £5 to £35 and include a welcome glass of prosecco.

6pm to 2am.

Bring in the new year at HOOTANANNY’s NYE party with live bands, food stalls, confetti cannons and more. £12 to £15. 9pm to 5am.

Sasha will be playing all night long at Last Night on Earth at ELECTRIC BRIXTON. Also featuring performances from Jonas Rathsman and Matt Tolfrey and Room 2 hosted

by Soul of Noise. Tickets £35 plus booking fee.

9.30pm to 6am.

Gold Teeth Ltd return to BRIXTON JAMM to host its NYE event, promising giveaways,

TUES 22 @ HIDEAWAY STREATHAM

British jazz legend Courtney Pine , who recently played with jazz royalty Herbie Hancock and toured all over the world, lands in Streatham for two nights only (Mon 21 & Tues 22). Tickets £22.50.

Doors 7pm.

TUES 29 @ RITZY

Hopster Showtime’s Winter Special is showing old favourites including Pingu, Bob the Builder and Thomas and Friends. £3 for kids, adults are free.

Starts 11am.

WEDS 30, @ UPSTAIRS AT RITZY

Singer/writer Helen McDonald gets London’s best African-influenced jazz musicians together for Future Groove.

Free. 8pm to 11pm.

confetti, piñatas and back-to-back DJs all night.

Tickets £8 to £15. 9pm to 5am.

Lock N Load Events presents RAM NYE at the ACADEMY this year. The line-up features Wilkinson DJ set with MC AD-APT, Noisia, Camo & Krooked and special guest Roni Size. Tickets £25 to £45. 9pm to 6am.

Joy Orbison will be behind the dials for PHONOX’s first New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Joining him will be New York producer Evan Baggs and Will Bankhead. £25 to £35.

6pm to 5am.

Don’t forget: Psyrhythmix at CLUB 414, £10 to £20; Love Not War peace party at the DUKE OF EDINBURGH, free; Party Like It’s 1989 at the EFFRA SOCIAL, free; DOGSTAR presents Glow NYE, £5 to £11.

FRI 1 JAN @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON

For those who still want more …

Audiowhore are running the New Year’s Day Party equipped with a long line-up of house and techno DJs. £15- £30, 10pm to 6am.

SAT 2 @ RAILWAY TAVERN

Kick off the New Year with new tunes from two young bands: Shame (surely London’s only ‘Slavic bashment’ outfit?) and Hester, a soul/jazz quintet. Free. 8pm.

SUN 3 @ EFFRA HALL TAVERN

After all that, relax with live jazz .

Free. 8pm.

MON 4 @ SUMULACRA

Gurpreet leads a yoga class through dynamic vinyassa flow and slower

December/January 2016 meditative practices, all to eclectic, contemporary music. First class is £5, book at brixtonyoga.co.uk.

4pm to 5.30pm.

TUES 5 @ BROCKWELL PARK

Remember that New Year’s resolution you made? Well, the charity Silverfit run

fun & fitness sessions for the over-45s involving pilates and Nordic walking.

All levels welcome. £2.50 per session, £1 for members. Starts 2pm at the café.

WEDS 6 @ NEWPORT STREET GALLERY

Check out ‘Power Stations’, an exhibition

by John Hoyland, one of Britain’s leading abstract artists at this new gallery dedicated to exhibiting works from Damien Hirst’s collections. Free. 10am to 6pm.

THURS 7 @ ST FAITH’S CHURCH

VOCALIZE is a brand new choir launching in 2016. Rehearsals are Thursday nights and the choir will perform various styles, from Tina Turner to Thomas Tallis.

Everyone welcome. 7.45pm to 9.15pm.

FRI 8 @ MARKET HOUSE

Nanker Phelge and Boy About Town return to present Breakaway at Market House, bringing you a night of vintage soul, ska, funk, mod, punk, pop, rhythm, disco & 60s beat classics. Free. 10pm to 4am.

SAT 9 @ BRIXTON LIBRARY

If you still need a new year’s resolution, why not take up chess ? All ages and levels welcome, every Saturday from 11am.

SUN 10 @ HOOTANANNY

Rootmaster presents free Sunday evening sessions. This week it’s Boubacar Kafando on kora , with friends on percussion.

Pay as You Go Hot Desk

Black Cultural Archive Café

Stuck for a freelance hotdesking space in Brixton? Black Cultural Archives are launching a new service for those looking for an alternative office space.

No contracts required, our hotdesking service allows you to pay as you go.

Our café is the warm and authentic hub that serves African and Caribbean inspired dishes and refreshments.

Dishes are freshly prepared and include warming hot plates such as Roti Canai wraps and Green soup, freshly squeezed juices and pressed Ethiopian coffee and Kenyan teas.

Competitively priced at £15 per day, our service includes access to Wifi and locker space. Based in our heritage centre, you can enjoy a comfortable environment, and our café is the perfect breakout space for informal meetings and light refreshments.

Find out more www.bcaheritage.org. uk. To make a booking email recepetion@bcaheritage.org.uk, spaces are limited.

Enjoy a relaxing coffee with friends, sit in our reading corner selecting from a range of authors, and make Black Cultural Archives your lunchtime destination.

Cafe opening times: Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm.

Opening Times: Tues – Sat, 10am-6pm | Black Cultural Archives, 1 Windrush Square, Brixton, SW2 1EF | 020 3757 8500 | www.bcaheritage.org.uk | @bcaheritage | faccbook.com/bcaheritage

December/January 2016

WHAT’S ON 21

brixtonblog.com

WINDMILL SUPPORTS INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK WITH BIG LOCAL NAMES One of our favourite local venues has again been chosen as an official venue for Independent Venue Week. Windmill Brixton has booked some big local names to mark this week-long celebration, which runs from 25 to 31 January.

“We’re pleased once again to represent south London during Independent Venue Week,” says band booker Tim, “we’ve decided to focus on the huge amount of talent around here rather than trying to get in touring bands. Many of the acts playing during the week can pack out bigger venues these days so naturally we’re pleased to have them back where they started out!”

Independent south London label Trashmouth Records (who brought us Fat White Family) kick off the week on Monday with the mighty scuzz-rock of Warmduscher and guests.

On Wednesday night, local girl Misty Miller (left) is playing her first London gig of the year, with a

MON 11 @ EFFRA SOCIAL

Duck Duck Goose is a comedy/improv collective who get together every Monday.

7.30pm to 10pm.

TUES 12 @ THE REMAKERY BRIXTON Calling all cyclists: The good people at Remakery are running a fortnightly winter bike maintenance course .

Free. 4pm to 7pm.

WEDS 13 @ BLUES KITCHEN Get on your dancing shoes for a swing night with a live band at Blues Kitchen. Open til 12am.

THURS 14 @ BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVES

Jon Newman of Lambeth Archives presents a talk on ‘Black people in Lambeth’s 18th-century parish registers’, exploring the histories of the small black community who arrived long before the Windrush generation. Free but booking is essential. 6pm to 7.30pm.

FRI 15 @ WHIRLED CINEMA 45 years is a moving portrait of a marriage shaken to its core by things left unsaid.

Stars Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay . £12 for a weekly pass. 8.30pm.

SUN 17 @ DEE DEE’S JAZZ AND FUNK

Popular comedy club with Junior Booker and guests. Free. From 7pm.

MON 18 @ BLOCK 336

There are two exhibitions running in January: Carnival Glass, featuring abstract large paints and ceramics , and Homeware, which plays with image.

Thursday to Saturday, 12pm to 6pm.

TUES 19 @ TATE SOUTH LAMBETH LIBRARY Free films AND tea and cake for a pound.

The Ladykillers (1955) is a black comedy about a bank robbery starring Peter Sellers. Starts 2.30pm.

WEDS 20 @ DOGSTAR

All new ‘let’s laugh’ comedy night showcases a handpicked line-up of upand- coming comedians and established acts. Pay what you can from 7.30pm.

THURS 21 @ 02 ACADEMY

The Macabees bring their anthems to the Academy. Tickets £31. 7pm.

FRI 22 @ PHONOX

Omar-S mixes from his discography of funk and soul-infused house tonight.

Free before 9, £10 on door. 10pm til late.

SAT 23 @ THE WINDMILL

Tellison play their new album with

support from no fewer than seven other acts – and all for £8. Starts at 3pm.

MON 25 @ KNIGHT WEBB GALLERY

‘Contemporary Abstractions from the Pacific North West’ exhibits the work of Karen Silve , Tues to Sat, 10am to 6pm.

UMOJA: CELEBRATING BRIXTON’S COMMUNITY Saturday 19 December 6.30 to 8.30pm

In the spirit of the African tradition ‘Umoja’, celebrating community, family, and togetherness, the Black Cultural Archives are inviting Brixton’s community to come together. The courtyard will be filled with song and music for a special evening.

The acapella Solid Harmony Vocal Collective (above) will perform a fusion of gospel, soul and traditional African

song. Solid Harmony is a young people’s community choir directed by Jane Wheeler, which continues to go from strength to strength. It has more than 40 members aged 10 to 25 from schools, colleges and universities, and a strong senior and alumni membership.

Enjoy mulled wine and traditional rum cake. Suggested donation £3, just drop by and bring your community cheer.

‘Umoja’ is a Swahili word meaning unity.

full band. 2016 promises to be a big year for Misty, with her much-anticipated second album due out on Relentless Records in February.

South London dreamscapers Childhood play their first London headline show in a year on the Friday night, in the run-up to the release of their second album on Rough Trade Records.

Local favourites Phobophobes support, with post-rock-rap newcomers Ghost Kings Of The Five Regions opening.

On Saturday the UK’s foremost Americana music label Loose present a half-day jamboree headlined by homegrown country-soul sextet Danny & The Champions of the World, and the week ends on Sunday with some of the Windmill’s hotly-tipped bands for the future – Brixton-based indie-funk punters Shame headline.

■■ Grab your tickets now at windmillbrixton.co.uk.

TUES 26 @ BRIXTON BLOC

FRI 29 @ JAMM

WEDS 27 @ WINDMILL

SUN 31 @ S LONDON BOTANICAL INSTITUTE

Head down for a life-drawing class followed by an arthouse film. Donations for the drawing, from 6.30pm, £1 for the film which starts at 8.30pm.

Young singer-songwriter Misty Miller returns to home turf to perform ukulelefuelled folk along with guests. £5. 8pm.

The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club is back by popular demand.

Tickets £13.50, 10pm to 4pm.

SLBI offers the chance to make your own perfume , and discover the art behind perfumery. £35. 10.30am to 2.30pm.

LISTINGS COMPILED BY TOM SASSE

22 COLUMNS

brixtonblog.com

GEMMA SINCLAIR

December/January 2016

FRANKIE HOLAH

Bright and breezy

Resolve to have fun

It’s a struggle at this time of year to think positively about the garden. It’s cold and windy and dreary out there … but fear not, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and spring is around the corner.

Keep your spirits up and battle the January blues with colourful bedding plants in window boxes and hanging baskets. There are bedding plants that thrive in winter – cyclamen, hellebores, or Christmas roses, geraniums and pansies are all colourful and readily available.

Available from garden centres and even large DIY stores, you can buy these plants in trays and are they often on some kind of offer.

Plants and foliage can be mixed and matched, but there are some key things to remember when planting up your window boxes and hanging baskets.

1 Give your bedding plants and foliage a good soak before planting – just pour a watering can over them or use the hose pipe and leave them to soak for about 30 minutes.

2 Make sure you have got some good quality compost – try to use peat-free.

3 Ensure that window boxes and hanging baskets have drainage holes – if they don’t, put some in yourself with a drill or hammer and nails.

4 Don’t pack in too many plants, they need to take root to establish, flower

Let’s break the mould – how about instead of waiting for January to put those resolutions into action, you start them now and get ahead of the New Year madness?

You hear so many stories of people starting and quickly giving up, so maybe January isn’t the best time after all.

Come January it’s one of those things we all do … myself included. We set so many goals for ourselves in a time of pressure for constant self-improvement and it can all feel a little overwhelming.

Well, let’s shake things up and get cracking. And let’s be honest, if you can get started now and work through the festive period, you’re basically bad ass!

So this is where I come in with some survival tips for making the most of your training ventures, which I hope will help you on your journey …

Do something you ENJOY! Consistency is key in training and trying to do something regularly which you simply don’t enjoy very much means you’re less likely to keep it up … There are so many options out there that are as individual as you are and you mustn’t be afraid to PLAY and try things out … have FUN!!

FOCUS your goals and don’t overwhelm yourself. Give yourself two to three fitness goals to attack and this should help you to stay on track. When working on these remember to enjoy the PROCESS and celebrate achievements as you go …

Being ACCOUNTABLE to someone can really help on those days you struggle to find motivation. If you have a friend who

and grow.

5 For extra fun why not throw in a few strategically placed bulbs?

6 Once all the plants and bulbs are in, make sure there is plenty of compost in there and the plants are carefully compressed into place ... but don’t be too heavy-handed!

7 Once you have put the window boxes and hanging baskets in place give them a good water, and maybe some liquid plant food.

As ongoing maintenance, make sure you continue to deadhead, this encourages more flowers and growth.

Follow these steps and you will be able to brighten up your garden in these dark and dreary months.

■■ If you think this is a bit beyond your green fingers, call Gardening Girl on 07826 551353 or thegardeninggirlat82@gmail.com.

I will happily plant and deliver window boxes to you, ready-made to your specific preferences.

also wants to train, agree times to work out together … encouragement, support and maybe a touch of competitiveness could be just what you need. There is also the option of hiring a personal trainer to help you to step out of that ‘comfort zone’.

FIT KIT is my weakness. There’s nothing better than a super-slick pair of leggings to get me in the mindset for training like a warrior – It’s the Lycra effect. Investing in great training gear can give you a real boost and it’s also a lovely reward for yourself … feeling good is really important. Some of my favourite brands for kit (not just for girls) include: fizzYcaL, GymLuxe, Adidas and Catalyst Activewear …

Whatever fitness journey you are on, I hope it is a journey full of fun, tons of sweat, great achievements, goal-smashing and some wicked Lycra … Go forth and conquer and when you do, give yourself a massive high five!!!

Lets do this!

■■ For personal training or advice: frankie@frankieholah.com Follow me @frankieholah.

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Hill Mead HERALD NEW YEAR 2016

INTO UNIVERSITY

We looked the part of real students for our presentation

By Jayshauna

to find as many possible courses and found out what they were and what Do you think it is possible we can they are aiming to achieve. start university now?

Following that we had to find a After such an inspirational week course we would like to study and at ‘Brixton Into University’ centre, explain why. We were given a sheet we are all so excited to head off to of paper and we had to write about our chosen universities. what course we want to study, The staff at the centre have really why we want to study it and what made us think about our aspirauniversity we would like to go to. tions for the future. We learnt We then used our sheet to present presentational skills, prepared for to the class. the university visits and learned On our final day we went to King’s about plant research, for example College. While we were there, we bamboo, cactus, California redwood went to visit the halls of residence, and Venus flytrap. Did you know the gym and the library. bamboo is the fastest growing plant?

We were lucky enough to be able Or that a cactus can grow up to 20 to speak to real students and ask metres tall? them a few questions. This made For our plants project we were us even more excited about going each given a different plant to to university. study for the week. We then had to The main reason for us being answer a couple of questions about at the university was to graduate our plant that we put on our own from our week at ‘Into University’. handmade posters.

The excitement had been mounting We were then given another all day until it was finally time secret mission (shhhhh) to create to present our secret missions a presentation at King’s College – shhhhh!

London using rap. We had to come We put on our mortarboards and up with a role play to demonstrate gowns to present to our friends and different things that happen in family in a real lecture theatre. We daily plant life, like seed dispersal looked the part of real students. and deforestation.

Walking in, at least half of the On Tuesday of class was trembling. o u r f o c u s w e e k We put on mortarboards When we heard our we were lucky name being called enough to visit Kew and gowns to present (We were team Gardens. We split to our friends and family Cactus) we quickly up into two groups in a real lecture theatre jumped up ready for and explored the our moment! gardens or did a The graduaworkshop based on different things tion was an incredible end to the that grow in the rainforest. week where we showcased our In the workshop, there were three collaboration, presenting skills different parts: the first group were and knowledge. looking at different items that are At ‘Into University’ we learnt a useful in the rainforest such as a lot about different types of plants, basket which you could use to carry but not only that, we also learned a bananas, mangoes, sugar cane or lot about ourselves and our futures. cocoa beans. There was also an This helped us learn a lot more activity where we looked at the about our topic and different things things we use today that grow in the in the rainforest. rainforest (for example chocolate).

Looking at our aspirations made To make chocolate you gather us think about our futures and what cocoa beans and then grind them would help us pursue our dreams. into pieces to then make a bar of It also helped us think about our chocolate. The final activity was presenting skills and different things tasting foods from the rainforest to make the best presentation.

– delicious!

Going to a university made us Finally we looked in Temperate really think about the different House, which has all different things we could do in university types of plants (apart from cactus) and what societies we could join and like bamboo, Venus flytrap and learn from. cocoa bean.

We had a fantastic week all Back at the centre the next day, we because of the ‘Into University’ staff, looked at different universities and our peers and the Hill Mead staff courses. We were given a challenge who were able to plan it for us.

ABOVE: No room at the inn – Mary and Joseph in our Nursery’s Christmas Nativity

LEFT: Hill Mead’s football team winning the SportsFusion Xmas Cup

BELOW: Our Wind and String concert

I’LL BE BACK

BRIXTON

Bugle SPORT Dulwich held to score draw

by Leiston

by Sandra Brobbey

Dulwich Hamlet kept their place at the top of the Ryman Premier table despite dropping points against seventh-placed Leiston at Champion Hill.

Although the south Londoners dominated the game from the off, it was the away team who managed to take the lead with Gavin Heath getting on the scoresheet in the ninth minute.

Pressure from the Pink and Blues eventually paid off when Nyren Clunis managed to level the game for Hamlet shortly before half time.

The home side were more dangerous in attack for the bulk of the game, but were unable to capitalise thanks to a series of quality saves by the away team’s goalkeeper.

Dulwich boss Gavin Rose believes the decisionmaking of Dulwich players around the box contributed to the scoreline remaining honours even.

“We’ve seen similar types of performance over the years here. The ball didn’t seem to want to go

Brixton boxer Whyte unbowed by loss to arch rival Joshua The highly anticipated ‘Bad Intentions’ encounter between Brixton bruiser Dillian Whyte (left) and Anthony Joshua certainly lived up to its billing.

There appears to be no love lost between Joshua and Whyte who have history, with Whyte having defeated his rival at amateur level.

But it was Joshua, the reigning WBC International champion and now the British Heavyweight titleholder, who emerged triumphant from their clash played out in front of a raucous O2 arena crowd.

Enmity between Whyte and Joshua was best epitomised by an altercation that broke out at the end of the first round.

A brief exchange of post-round punches led to a mini melee, with the entourages of both fighters entering the ring to separate the pair.

Joshua looked to over­ whelm Whyte from the get-go with a succession of devastating combinations.

It was a heavy barrage the Jamaican-born boxer gamely managed to weather.

While some spectators predicted an early knockout win for Joshua, the Olympic gold-medallist didn’t have it

in their net,” said Rose in a post-match interview with Football Exclusives.

“I thought Ashley was very good for them in goal and pulled off some really good saves.

“But I also think we made some wrong decisions around the box in terms of when we should pass and shoot and take another touch.

“I do think we played the match in the right manner and approached the game on the front foot.

“Although they scored on the break in the first half and we had our backs against the wall, I thought we played in a controlled manner in the first half.

“I thought we did OK overall. I think we know what we need to work on and I was really happy with our general play in the attacking sense”.

Grays Athletic are up next for Dulwich as they continue their push for promotion before they take on an in-form Kingstonian (who are currently one point behind them in the table) on Boxing Day.

Lightning Bolt Ellett sees off old foe Khan Super-welterweight Lloyd Ellett defeated fellow prospect Faheem Khan at a Festive Fight Night bout in north London this month.

The Brixton-based boxer emerged victorious from the encounter despite suffering a grim-looking injury following a collision of heads with Khan.

“I got a cut from a clash just as he (Khan) was on the verge of being stopped so I had to get on my toes and move a bit,” said Ellett who goes by the nickname Lightning Bolt.

“He tried to butt me a few times during the fight and I think it was a head-butt more than a ‘clash of heads’ that caused the

offending injury.

“I needed nine stitches after the fight and it was really painful having them put in. I could feel the blood streaming down my face so could easily tell that it was wide open with the amount of blood that was coming out.

“I actually felt that I’d lost the next day when looking in the mirror! It’s definitely the worst injury I’ve sustained in boxing but I’m pleased to have won.

“Khan went down a couple of times in the fourth and fifth rounds. I took all six rounds and was well on top throughout.

“There was no celebrating after the fight because my

eye was so bad I didn’t do anything. I’ve not been doing a great deal since the fight, to be honest, just resting and trying to work out my next move.

A bid for a title will be a top priority for Ellett following his successful end to the year.

The Brighton-born boxer, who trains at iBox Gym in Bromley, alongside WBO European welterweight champion Bradley Skeete, hopes to be in contention for a major honour.

“I’ve got a lot that I want to get done in 2016”, says Ellett.

“I want to fight for titles next year, maybe one more fight before stepping it up all the way to major honours.”

entirely his own way.

A thumping Whyte left hook caught the heavyweight champion off guard and saw him come under pressure shortly before the end of the second round.

Had Whyte been able to capitalise on this moment, the outcome of the clash might have been different.

But in the end a seventh round uppercut from Joshua proved to be decisive.

It was a fierce blow that unravelled Whyte who had pushed his rival further than his previous opponents had.

“Everybody was saying I was going to get knocked out in one or two rounds”, said Whyte in a post-match interview with iFL TV. “These people don’t know me, they don’t know what I’m capable of. I was ready to go 12 rounds.

“I was fighting all the way up until then and I made one mistake and got clipped.

That’s how it goes.

“I’m still in the process of learning things and working on things. In two fights, I’ll be back and I’m not going to come back and fight some bum.

“I’ll have a decent fight just to shake a few things off and get back on the horse and ride the hell out of it.”