Brixton Bugle September 2019

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BRIXTON BUGLE YOUR FREE NO END IN SIGHT TO ATLANTIC ROAD JAMS No 75 | SEPTEMBER 2019

Published monthly in and for Brixton

ISSN 2397-852X

COMMUNITY PAPER

ART SHOW WINNERS

They topped the people’s vote 5

Platform one at Brixton overground station is now supported by a massive scaffolding system that extends into Atlantic Road

Closure of one lane to traffic and the footpath on one side of Atlantic Road looks set to continue.

Despite notices attached to the scaffolding causing the obstruction saying that the works were due to end on 31 August, there was no sign of any changes as the Bugle went to press on 29 August.

Planning permission for Network Rail to refurbish the Atlantic Road arches was granted more than three years ago.

Network Rail told Lambeth council then that it would take 12 months. When work did not begin immediately, Network Rail said that one of the reasons was the need to inspect the arches for safety reasons and to protect passengers on trains running over them.

A Network Rail spokesperson recently told the Bugle: “We are finalising the survey works to identify the extent of structural issues with the station platform overhang at Brixton station.

“We will be working on a solution to enable safe prolonged use of the platform and removal of the emergency propping currently in place so retail units are not obstructed.

“Although the extent of the

remedial works is unknown at present, we are working with designers, consultants and Arch Co [which bought most of Network Rail’s arches, including those below the platform, in 2018] to enable a more rapid and permanent solution without compromising safety.

“We’re sorry emergency works have impacted on local businesses.

“Safety has to come first on issues like this, but we are working with local businesses to keep them informed.

“Keeping people safe on and around the railway is at the heart of everything we do and will always be considered alongside the needs of the local community.”

As long ago as January 2017 local traders were warning that work on the arches had put a blight on the prospects of what had been a busy shopping area.

In November 2016 then Lambeth council leader Lib Peck demanded a meeting with the chairman of Network Rail over the failure to start work on the arches, despite the council’s planning sub-committee having approved it on 2 August 2016.

A Network Rail spokesperson said at the time: “We have always

TOP A-LEVELS

Now off to study medicine

been clear that the proposed redevelopment scheme would be completed within 12 months of our having vacant possession of all of the arch units” and blamed the delay on four of its tenants who had launched a legal challenge to their eviction.

The Network Rail spokesperson said that, while this would affect the timescale for completion of the overall scheme, “we are progressing with enabling and other necessary works to the vacant

arches in order to remain as close as possible to our works timetable.”

The spokesperson said that “the units under the arches are in poor condition and we also have to inspect the arches themselves for safety reasons, and to protect the many thousands of passengers whose trains run over them every day.”

Some local business people fear that delays to the final reopening of the arches may still be a matter of years away rather than months away.

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2 NEWS brixtonblog.com 2019 SEPTEMBER

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 @brixtonblog brixtonblog.com

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Jenny Shramenko 07811 878394 jenny@brixtonblog.com Circulation 12,500 copies Readership: circa 15,000 EDITOR Linda Quinn linda@brixtonblog.com NEWS EDITOR Anna McKie newsdesk@brixtonblog.com ARTS Leslie Manasseh arts@brixtonblog.com MUSIC Dave Randall music@brixtonblog.com FOOD Nick Buglione food@brixtonblog.com SPORT Sandra Brobbey sport@brixtonblog.com ISSUE 76 Contributors Jessica Dyer Michael Groce Charlotte Knowles John Lewis Leslie Manasseh Jamila Omar Steve Powdrill Dave Randall Simone Richardson Sub-editor: Jamila Omar Production: Alan Slingsby Distribution: Philip King A massive thank you to everybody involved in making this issue, and the Blog & Bugle project, a success If you would like to be a Bugle stockist please email distribution@brixtonblog.com

Rebellion in the park

Brixton Street Gym founder Terroll Lewis (left), who launched the project in Brockwell Park in 2010, celebrates the official opening of new premises for the gym at 10 Somerleyton Road with local MP Helen Hayes and Lambeth mayor Ibrahim Dogus.

Its former home was a few metres away at number 6, which will become part of the Ovalhouse theatre development.

Terroll Lewis thanked Lambeth council and Matthew Bennett, its cabinet member for planning, investment and new homes, for helping the Street Gym find its own new home.

“It’s been a long journey,” he said.

“I look forward to the growth and development of this whole project.”

He thanked the entire team that took part in creating the new gym, including volunteers from as far away as Tottenham, and Boyd Hill whose #bookstopbrixton project will share the premises as it did at the old site.

Historic Brixton pub warns that licence objections could close it The Duke of Edinburgh pub on Ferndale Road has warned that a campaign to impose what it says are “unreasonable” licence restrictions on it could threaten its existence after almost 160 years of trading.

The pub is a member of the Brixton Business Improvement District (BID) which said: “With pubs currently closing at a rate of 18 per week across London, let’s find a solution without putting the Duke of Edinburgh under threat of closure.”

Some local residents are complaining of noise, obstruction and general nuisance from the pub and its customers, and have organised a set of objections to a licensing application by the pub’s operators which will be decided by Lambeth council.

The objectors say they are not opposed to the application in principle, but want to see certain sections of it amended.

The Duke of Edinburgh was built in 1860. A Grade II listed building famous for its large garden, its current licensing conditions, which date from 1937, include the possibility of opening as early as 7am seven days a week, although the pub has never done so.

The pub currently closes at 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, although its current licence would allow it to remain open until 2am with a licence for live and recorded music through all these times and the ability to provide “late night refreshment” until 3am.

Campaigners say 7am is too early for a pub in a residential area to open and that its licence should only allow it to open at noon and close at 11pm.

Rose Pubs, the operators of The Duke of Edinburgh, currently open it at 3pm on weekdays and 12 noon at the weekend.

The pub says that it closes its doors each night at 11pm on weeknights and 1am on Friday and Saturday in consideration of its neighbours.

The application would enable the pub to retain current licensing conditions.

The campaigners’ objections include noise and nuisance, public urination outside the pub, queues that block pavements and incidents in which pub customers have stood on tables or chairs to lean over garden walls and abuse people living next to the pub’s garden.

They say that they have had one meeting with management of the Duke of Edinburgh, but that their concerns have not been taken into account in the licensing application.

They also have strong objections to the use of large screens in the garden to show sport events.

Brixton BID said that live music and DJs were not a consistent feature of the pub and that neither were outdoor event screenings – they had been used primarily to celebrate the men’s football world cup last year.

It pointed out that the pub was not being

accused of infringing on sound levels that can be monitored by the local authority.

The BID said the pub is “a vital community resource for members of the South American footballing community from Stockwell”.

It also had “a known history of complying with licensing conditions imposed by the local authority and is committed to making this area of Brixton safe for all, inclusive of residents and customers”.

“The Duke of Edinburgh has a rigorous and effective dispersal policy in place with security staff leading customers away from the area quickly after closure, followed by litter picking to clean the area of the remnants of night-time festivities.

“With pubs currently closing at a rate of 18 per week across London, let’s find a solution without putting the Duke of Edinburgh under threat of closure.”

Publican Stevie Mulgrave said: “We have reached out to this pocket of residents numerous times within the process and they have opted not to take that opportunity, preferring to bring this to a committee.

“I would like to make clear that this is a small group of residents in opposition.”

The objectors say that more than 40 residents have signed the letter seeking changes to the licensing application.

Mulgrave said:“We absolutely do not intend to extend our opening hours.”

Rebellion will take on a family-friendly face as climate activists from Extinction Rebellion Lambeth stage a mini-festival in Brockwell Park on Saturday 31 August to encourage local people to learn more about the environmental crisis.

The fast-growing protest movement says it is putting its most gentle grassroots approach on show at the South West Uprising in the park from noon to 7pm.

“The arrests of more than 1000 XR activists in April got lots of headlines,” says Eloise Smith-Foster. “But we want to show that being a rebel can mean spending time in the summer sun with friends, talking, laughing, listening to music and poetry, and just having fun.

The Uprising will begin with a celebration march by activists and other community groups, led by parents and their children, from Brixton Tube station to the festival site in the park where five tents will offer free fun activities.

The event is part of the build-up to an autumn of rebellion, including a global general strike for the climate on 20 September, and massive wave of XR protests and occupations in London that is planned to begin on 7 October.

Peter Bradley, chair of the Friends of Brockwell Park said while he and many local people were sympathetic to XR, “to impose a seven-hour event on local people that deprives them of a swathe of the park, imposes the infrastructure of a stage and stalls and a sound system pumping out loud music … is not a fair way of proceeding.”

He said failure to give attendees the protection of event insurance and a safety assessment “is very serious indeed”.

SEPTEMBER 2019 brixtonblog.com

NEWS 3

Lost in Brixton: food from ‘runners’ and unlimited drink deals

Henry GundryWhite at his window with the pillar and, above, the pillar from the ‘secret’ staircase

Artist finds new Village bar too close for comfort blocked one of his window and that he could not open others fully or at all.

And while publicity for Lost in Brixton makes much of its “secret” staircase, that staircase is no secret to Gundry-White.

He says that, while he received and continues to receive notice of other work done by the new owners of Brixton Village, he was never consulted about the new “mezzanine” bar that is just a few feet from his window.

He has been told that his windows could be moved and that they could be double-glazed, which is not what

Brixton Market owners buy home of 414 Club Hondo Enterprises, the owner of Brixton’s covered markets in a joint venture with the giant New York based investment manager Angelo Gordon, announced last month that they had bought the Coldharbour Lane building that housed the 414 Club.

Louise Barron and Tony Pommell who launched the 414 Club there more than 30 years ago, were forced to leave the premises before the sale.

They had fought off numerous earlier attempts to oust them.

Hondo said that Club 414, “unfortunately closed at the end of May”.

It went on: “following the purchase by Hondo Enterprises it will re-open in the coming months.

“Hondo are currently looking for a new tenant that will be able to retain the diverse,

fun and world-famous atmosphere of 414.

“Hondo recognise that Club 414 was a pioneer in Brixton’s night time economy and the cultural heritage it holds for the area.

“As with the market …

Hondo will look to protect the special character that has made the 414 so popular while also investing in it so it can continue hosting thousands of clubbers every year.”

Taylor McWilliams, founder of Hondo Enterprises, who performed in Ibiza this summer with his four-person DJ collective, Housekeeping, said: “We are completely committed to Brixton and want to preserve its unique history and culture.

“When the opportunity presented itself we therefore felt we had to step in and save Club 414.”

THEY HAVEN’T GONE AWAY …

Louise and Tony are still running Club 414 and have four events coming up, the first two will be on 7 and 14 September at the Union Club, a minute’s walk from Vauxhall Tube and run by someone who honed their DJ skills at 414 Coldharbour Lane.

Details of these and future events at http://club414.org.

he wants. He is also concerned about the noise from the bar.

While it has planning permission only for “ambient” music, GundryWhite said that the market owners had suggested to him that “ambient” could reach the same volume as the four trains an hour that take about 15 seconds each to pass over the arches.

Both Hondo Enterprises, that owns the market in a joint venture with the giant New York based finance company Angelo Gordon, and his landlord, the Arch Company, have said that they will endeavour to sort out his problems.

Hondo Enterprises is proposing to create a “community space” in its redevelopment of the Sports Direct site on Pope’s Road and is seeking ideas from local community groups.

It organised a workshop for invited groups hosted by Impact Hub’s Gerald Vanderpuye at the end of August to discuss this.

TWO FASHION MARKETS FOR SUNDAYS The Assembly Market, a platform for independent fashion and interior designers, has been invited to stage two Sunday events at Brixton Village on 15 September and 6 October. Described as a boutique pop-up event with a focus on sustainability with the ethos “buy less and buy better”, the markets promise a selection of the best slow and ethical brands in UK fashion, jewellery, accessories, homewares and prints, with items for both women and men selected

by Jannine Newman. The markets will run from 11 am to 5pm. For details visit www.theassemblymarket.com

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Lost in Brixton, the new bar built above the market stalls of Brixton Village, opened to glowing reviews from smart lifestyle magazines, but has not impressed one of its nearest neighbours.

Artist Henry Gundry-White rents three railway arches with entrances in Valentia Place. But they back on to Brixton Village with windows overlooking the covered market – and now Lost in Brixton.

Arriving for work one day, he was amazed to find that one of the massive wooden pillars holding up the platform that supports the 440-custoner bar and eatery had

The launch of “Lost” saw a packed bar (below) with drinkers ordering food via an app from various Brixton eateries that was then delivered by “food runners” (right).

It is open from 5 to 11.30pm every weekday evening except Monday and from 11am on Saturday and Sunday.

The bar is already taking bookings for Christmas which include “wristband” packages that offer parties of 20 or more unlimited amounts of beer, wine and single measures of spirits for a period of three hours.

The cost of a package ranges from £45 at lunchtimes from Sunday to Wednesday to £65 for weekends Thursday to Saturday.

foster?

Pop in for a chat and join us for a coffee at San Marino Cafe.

The fostering team will be holding walk in information sessions every Wednesday from 10.00am to 12.00pm.

Call us: 020 7926 8710 or online: lambeth.gov.uk/fosteringandadoption Location: San Marino Café, 413 Brixton Road, Brixton, SW9 7DG

4 NEWS brixtonblog.com 2019 SEPTEMBER

Brixton students celebrate A-level and GCSE success A student from Ark Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton is celebrating great A-level results and a place to study at a top medical school.

Hibo Yusuf (right) was born in Somalia and grew up in Brixton.

She got A grades in maths and chemistry and a A* in biology.

She is going to study medicine at Queen Mary’s in London.

The school said that, throughout her time at Evelyn Grace, Hibo was “an exceptional student – modest, supportive and extremely hard working”.

She said: “I had three university offers and have decided on Queen Mary’s. I did work experience in a neurology department and the intensive care unit. It ignited my interest in medicine.

“I want to make my family proud as they have always wanted the best for me and encouraged me to do something that I will love.

“I am from Somalia and was brought up in Brixton. When I visited Somalia, I felt like I wanted to give back and so tutored some younger kids. I could not imagine achieving what I have if I had gone to another school.”

Another Ark Evelyn Grace student, Hugo Pestana-Marques, achieved a distinction in his BTEC

IT professional diploma course.

“There was something new to learn every day and thanks to the amazing support from our teachers, I can happily start my dream journey,” he said.

Among Ark Evelyn Grace’s strongest performers in this year’s GCSEs was Amarie Phillips, who got two grade 9s in biology and chemistry; two grade 8s in maths and physics; five grade 7s in English literature, computer science, geography, P.E. and Spanish, and one grade 6 in English language.

Bruno Rocha Silva (below) got three grade 8s in maths, biology and history; one A* in Portuguese; five grade 7s in English Literature, English language, art, chemistry and physics; and two grade 6s in Mandarin and art.

“I was in an unfamiliar environment when I arrived in the country,” he said. “Since then my English has improved. My journey as an immigrant has taken place whilst I have been at this school.

If I hadn’t met some of the staff here I would not have achieved the grades I have.”

Do you have the bottle?

Evelyn Grace pupils visit China Thirteen pupils from Evelyn Grace visited Shenyang City in China for two weeks as part of a UK government programme designed to get at least 5,000 pupils in England fluent in Mandarin – the most widely spoken language in the world – by 2020.

The pupils, aged 12 and 13, were able to put their

Mandarin skills into practice in real-life situations and attended 40 hours of Mandarin lessons at Shenyang University.

They also worked on projects with Chinese counterparts at host schools.

Evelyn Grace students on the Mandarin Excellence Programme study it for an average of eight hours a week.

A campaign to encourage cafes, bars, restaurants and other businesses to allow people to fill water bottles from their taps launches in Brixton on Saturday 31 August.

Refill Brixton wants businesses to sign up to the Refill app and put a sticker in their window letting passers-by know they are welcome to fill up their bottle for free.

The launch is at the recently installed water fountain in Windrush Square from 10am to 3pm.

City to Sea, a not-for-profit organisation headed by campaigner Natalie Fee, launched the award-winning Refill Campaign in 2015.

It estimates that the scheme, now being rolled out nationwide with support from Water UK and local water companies, will cut plastic bottle use by tens of millions each year, as well as substantially increasing the availability of high quality drinking water.

Leonie Watson, Refill Brixton coordinator, said customers viewed businesses that provide free water refills more favourably and are more likely to return to them to make future purchases.

Anton Taratine of Stir Coffee on Brixton Hill is working towards removing all single use plastics from his operation.

“Although we have always refilled people’s bottles, having the sticker on the door breaks the ice and encourages someone who might not necessarily feel comfortable asking for water without buying anything, to do so,” he said.

AA Find out more about Refill Brixton and how you can take part @refillbrixton. Visit the Refill website at www.refill.org.uk to download the free Refill app and find out more about the Refill movement.

Rainbow crossings at Brockwell Park What Lambeth council says is the UK’s first permanent rainbow crossing opened last month outside the Herne Hill entrance to Brockwell Park.

It joins the Eley Kishimoto flash crossings on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton as a non-standard installation and is a celebration of Lambeth and London’s LGBT+ community. The rainbow crossings span four lanes of major roads.

The crossings have been installed on two crossings outside the entrance to Brockwell Park; on the junctions of

Greek pitas and plates made from scratch.

Now open at 441 Coldharbour Lane SW9 8LN. Follow us

@mikosgyros

Dulwich Road with Railton Road, and Norwood Road with Dulwich Road.

Lambeth council says it has “always been a borough that prides itself on inclusivity and openness, and the rainbow crossing is designed to be a symbol of that solidarity with the huge LGBT+ population of the borough, and London as a whole.”

Sonia Winifred, council cabinet member for equalities and culture, said: “This is a colourful and fun symbol of Lambeth’s inclusivity.

“We’re proud of our LGBT+ community and have a tradition of championing equality and LGBT+ rights – this crossing celebrates that and is a physical example of our bold and progressive thinking.”

Lambeth mayor Ibrahim Dogus said: “Lambeth’s diversity has always been our strength, and we have never been afraid to show it.”

The crossings use the colours of the internationally recognised Pride flag, signifying equality, diversity and inclusion.

Lambeth council is asking residents to let it know what they think about plans for 55 new bicycle hangars on local roads. There are already more than 220 in the borough. Cycle owners rent space in them. The online consultation ends on Sunday 15 September at 11pm. Visit http://bit.ly/LBL-hangars-2019 to see locations and complete a survey of your opinions.

SEPTEMBER 2019 brixtonblog.com

NEWS 5

Brixton Oxjam is back – great music, cool cause

By Steve Powdrill

Award winners Martin Grover and Janet Baker with their Bugle awards

Fanfare for Bugle art show winners The first Brixton Blog and Bugle Art Show winners were announced last month after 300 visitors to the week-long exhibition in Brixton library voted for their favourites in two categories – professional and self-taught.

Martin Grover was the people’s choice for his painting of Brixton Station in the professional

category. Janet Baker was voted no 1 in the self taught category for her atmospheric black and white shot of a bridge in Dulwich Woods.

They were presented with Brixton Bugle trophies made in architect Squire and Partners model workshop in the Department Store.

The horn, the plinth and the

mouthpiece were 3D printed.

Copper tubing was bent into the B shape and applied with metal paint.

The plinth and stand are made from reclaimed mahogany from an old Department Store staircase. The trophy bugle can also be played.

Janet Baker, a painter and

Town hall will host first Dwaynamics youth award The first Dwayne Simpson Foundation Inspirational Youth Award will be presented along with the annual Dwaynamics boxing club youth awards at an event in Lambeth Assembly Hall – part of the town hall in Brixton – on Saturday 7 September.

Up to 100 young people will be recognised for completing the Dwaynamics ABC 12-week non-contact programme, as will inspirational youths who have become beacons in Lambeth for achieving life-changing positive impacts.

The event, from 2 to 6pm, will be attended by the Mayor of Lambeth, Ibrahim Dogus, and other dignitaries and will be a special event for Pastor Lorraine Jones, who founded

Dwaynamics in memory of her son Dwayne who was murdered in Brixton five years ago.

She herself won this year’s Daily Mail Inspirational Woman of the Year Award.

A limited number of free tickets are available and all attendees must have one.

Visit http://bit.ly/Dwaynamics-2019 Dwaynamics is dedicated to raising champions through sport, and its services are designed to steer at-risk youth away from gang culture, knife crime and gun violence, and encourage them to see that there is a future for them.

AA The club is off Coldharbour Lane at The Arches, 282 Belinda Road, SW9 7DT.

Young Lambeth Co-op to cease trading Young Lambeth Co-op (YLC), one of the centrepieces of Lambeth council’s “co-operative council” policy has announced that it is winding down and will cease to trade “at the end of its natural contracting period” on 30 September.

Intended to be guided by the views of young people, YLC worked in four areas: AA C o m m i s s i o n i n g a n d assessing of youth services to meet local needs AA Lambeth Youth Council

– providing opportunities for young people to engage directly with decision-makers AA Providing funding, training, support and networking events to boost the effectiveness of projects and frontline services in the voluntary sector AA Engaging with young people to help them to connect with services that can give them the help and support they need.

YLC, which was based in Lambeth town hall in Brixton, had a deficit of more than £150,000 in the financial year

2016/17, but recorded a surplus of more than £25,000 for 2017/18, the most recent year for which published accounts are available. Its annual report for 2017/18 year set out plans for activities well into the future.

YLC had been expected by Lambeth council to fund itself through consultancy work, but its most recent annual report shows income from this source at £13,359, while it received £415,816 in donation and grants – mainly from the council.

decorator by profession, said: she was really excited to be the first winner in the self-taught category and hoped the show would encourage many more people to enter next year.

Martin Grover said: “It’s been a fantastic exhibition and I’m proud to be the recipient of an award that is Brixton’s answer to the Baftas.”

Oxjam Brixton, a one-day festival, is back on Sunday 13 October. The aim of the festival is to create a platform for up and coming artists, as well as to raise money for Oxfam to fight poverty.

In the lead-up Oxjam Brixton is hosting two events on 7 September. The first is a ten-hour-long Buskathon, in Windrush Square. Sixteen will play from 10am to 8pm and hope to raise plenty of money.

After the Buskathon, there’s a launch party at Market House to give everyone a taste of what to expect from the main event.

An Oxjam spokesperson said: “With a diverse line-up soon to be announced, we’re going to get everybody dancing and in the festival spirit. Oxjam Brixton has been a staple of the local scene for nearly a decade now and we’re excited to bring it back to Brixton this year to prove that music can help beat poverty.”

Oxjam is a national music festival that began in 2006 with the aim of creating a network of music-loving people across the UK united by a shared goal – to raise money to fight poverty and suffering around the world.

Tickets for the launch party and festival at AA Twitter: @brixton_oxjam AA Instagram :@oxjam_brixton AA Facebook: Oxjam Brixton AA oxjambrixtonfestiv.wixsite.com/ oxjambrixton2019

£32,000 per annum pro rata

Business Development Manager

2-year contract to start October 2019 21 hours per week

(including occasional evening/weekend work)

A vibrant local charity is looking for business development manager to promote, lead and grow the new Brixton Windmill Centre. The successful candidate will have worked for at least two years in business and have strong marketing skills. Experience in the charity or social enterprise sector preferred. This is a unique opportunity to work with a successful volunteer-led local charity to develop their new education, visitor and community centre.

For details and application form, email: info@brixtonwindmill.org.uk with BDM JOB as the subject. Closing date for applications 30th September 2019

£29,000 per annum pro rata

Project Administrator

18-month contract to start October 2019 17.5 hours per week

(including occasional evening/weekend work)

We are also looking for an organised and proactive project administrator to be responsible for the smooth running of projects at the new Brixton Windmill Centre. Experienced in dealing with the public, the successful candidate will have excellent administrative skills including IT, numeracy and premises management skills appropriate to the post.

For details and an application form, email info@brixtonwindmill.org.uk with PA JOB as the subject of your email. Closing date 30th September 2019.

Both these posts are funded by the Power to Change Business Fund.

6 COMMUNITY BUSINESS brixtonblog.com

BRIEFLY

Why Brixton is the only possible home for this design collective

By Jessica Dyer AWMA, a Brixton-based experimental design collective tells stories through art and architecture.

Four friends Arberor, Wasim, Mohammed and Abderrahim came together as AWMA for the 2017 Brixton Design Trail. In response to the brief “Love is Power”, they created Hubb (love in Arabic) “It was an ambitious first project – weighing five tons, five metres high – AWMA started with a bang!” says Arberor.

Hubb (right), now in the Central London Mosque, was inspired by the minaret, an architectural device that facilitates calling the local community to prayer.

They flipped the minaret on its head, creating an opening at the bottom. Displayed in Windrush Square, the Hubb invited people inside for reflection with scriptural engravings and audio composed by Yusuf Islam (formerly the acclaimed singer/songwriter Cat Stevens).

When Arberor and Abderrahim began to look for office space in 2010 “Brixton became the only contender.” it offered creative energy, many creative industries, market, food, people and activities. Now AWMA have made Pop Brixton their home. “The community has really kept us here; we were finding our own beat and Brixton has made our rhythm.”

AWMA’s recent collaboration with Squire & Partners, Brixton Boundaries, explored boundaries – physical, mental, invisible – and what they mean to the community.

“For the collaboration with Squire & Partners we always had community and culture in mind,” says Mohammed. “The project was therefore focused on Brixton where both practices are based.

“The installation crosses over different

2019 SEPTEMBER

PEOPLE’S FRIDGE

Brixton People’s Fridge is helping to launch two more fridges in South London and is now receiving surplus food from Marks & Spencer.

Anyone can use food from the fridge; just sign the clipboard to help them track usage.

communities which is very powerful.”

Thinking about Boundaries it quickly became clear that they wanted to find different voices with a Brixton-centric perspective to respond to the theme.

Participants took part in workshops that included performances, free-writing exercises and conversations; they collected lots of data to feed back into the project.

AWMA and Squire & Partners devised a series of artistic and architectural interpretations, including a word map that can still be found on the window of The Department Store, Squires’ headquarters on Ferndale Road.

“Grounded” is a concept project in which AWMA responds to “Displace” – the question of how to cater for refugees. It was a brief close to the founders’ hearts, “It is a challenge that we wanted to address, Mohammed and myself are both refugees, and so we have first-hand experience of being displaced.,” Arberor says.

“Grounded” would be a multi-purpose space, offering everything from legal clinics to health care to social spaces.

“Food always brings people together and we like the idea that there could be a restaurant where people prepare and serve food from their background to locals to start breaking down boundaries and sharing stories. The project resonates a lot with current conversations, and we’d love to materialise it.”

What does the future hold for AWMA? The next big project is to create their first building, but they are always looking for opportunities and challenges they can address. “Whatever project we approach it is always with a very Brixton flavour.”

With that it is time for lunch and the AWMA four are off to decide what Brixton delicacies they will be enjoying today.

IMPACT BRIXTON APP

Impact Brixton has launched an app that allows members to control their co-working by booking rooms and event spaces, logging hot-desking hours and connecting with over 170 businesses in the Impact Brixton network. The app allows them to connect with freelancers, entrepreneurs, start-ups and social changemakers on the “Connect” network. The app is now available to download for iOS at the App Store and Android from Google Play.

SHARE A SLICE

Share a Slice is a new pizza restaurant and social enterprise in Pop Brixton. For every slice bought, founders Raj and Sandeep make and donate one to someone in need and have already given away nearly 1,000 slices to people in need.

They set up Share a Slice after a homeless man told them there is not enough hot food available.

They spent time in Naples to learn how to make authentic Neapolitan Pizza.

A DREAM COME TRUE

Heads High is a new Brixton hair salon. Owner Jacob Lindie, a South Londoner, comes from a long line of hairdressers – including his mother, uncle and cousins. At 13 he was working as a “shampoo boy” in his uncle’s salon. He has worked in salons since he became an apprentice in 2006. Now, at 28, achieved his ambition – his own salon. “I love the shapes in haircuts, especially short haircuts,” he says. “And I love textures and colours. It’s amazing to see people satisfied with what I’ve created for them.

AA Heads High Brixton 020 7737 7828, 54 Atlantic Road, SW9 8PZ

7 # LO GO

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SEPTEMBER 2019 brixtonblog.com COMMUNITY NEWS 7

“You need a lawyer a couple of times in your life, you may need a doctor several times a year, but you need a farmer every single day,” says a Welsh farmer in a recent film.

Food is a core part of our lives but making choices about it is hard – how can I get a cheap, tasty, nutritious meal that doesn’t hurt our planet, or small local businesses?

Here are some Incredible Edible Lambeth tips: 1 When you can afford it, buy organic and FairtTrade. These are better for our planet, better for the producers and better for our health.

2 Try to buy from a local greengrocer or a local farmers’ market – they are both more likely to have seasonal food (less food miles, smaller carbon footprint) and you will cut down on plastic waste.

3 Avoid “convenience food”, if you’re not a confident cook or don’t have the time, there are lots of 10-30 minute recipes online or in a cookbook.

4 If you’re cooking on a budget, buy food at the end of the day when there are discounts. Buy pulses and grains – full of nutrition and cheap.

5 Make a big batch of food and put half of it in the freezer for another day.

6 Waste nothing; don’t buy more than you need, keep leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.

7 Find out about the organisations sourcing surplus food – Good to Go, Plan Zheroes, Foodcycle, Karma, Olio, FoodCloud, Approved Food, Clearance XL, Low Price Foods, Star Bargains – just Google any of these and learn how to access (heavily reduced and often free) surplus food right from your phone.

8 Cut down on meat and fish.

It’s expensive and it’s not helping our planet.

9 Finally, grow your own! Try growing herbs on a window sill, the taste will be amazing and you will be adding to the nutritional value of your meal.

Local heroes to be honoured at library

Connecting U 2019, a boot camp summer club run by the Brixton charity CEF Lyncx (CEFL) took place this summer in Windmill Park – home of the Brixton Windmill – and kept a load of Brixton kids busy over the holidays.

The driving force behind the club is Christian Johnson, executive director of CEFL which provides learning opportunities to help children, young people and their families discover and achieve their full potential.

“The ethos and the energy behind it is amazing, a great way to keep kids occupied over the summer, my boys loved it,” says photographer and parent Fiona Freund.

As part of Lambeth Heritage Festival, Friends of Tate Library Brixton and Friends of Windrush Square are inviting local people to continue the celebration of Local Heroes on Wednesday 18 September at Brixton library, from 6.30 to 9pm.

A commemorative image of Norma Williamson by local artist and Bugle cartoonist Pam Williams will be unveiled at the event.

Norma, one of the Windrush Generation, was a tireless community campaigner who was director of human resources

‘A very special place’ Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses has been recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme.

The international award recognises that a space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.

Kate Sebag, director of the greenhouses said: “We are absolutely delighted and so pleased with the lovely things the judge had to say about us.”

The judge praised “the exceptional amount of diverse and interesting activities”, the “excellent range of different activities for different ages”,

and “the range of different habitats across the greenhouses and garden … maintained to such a high standard!”

He added that “Efforts from volunteers and staff really shine creating a friendly dynamic community hub.

“This really is a very special place.”

Gardening workshops for young people The charity Urban Growth is running six-week free “introduction to gardening” workshops starting 13 September.

They run from noon to 3pm at Slade Gardens Edible Playground, at the corner of Stockwell Park Road and Lorn Road SW9 0AD If you are 18-26 and live in Lambeth you can join the six sessions that will each cover a different topic – bulbs, composting, weeding.

Each session starts with a free lunch.

There will also be information on careers in the industry and the chance for paid work with Urban Growth after the sessions have ended.

No prior experience needed and all tools and materials will be supplied.

AA For more information email louisa@urbangrowth.london.

AA Sign up at http://bit.ly/UG-slade-workshops

Brixton mothers star in new maternity podcast Local mum Laura Broderick has launched a podcast with stories from new mothers as they navigate their return to work. All parents interviewed so far live in SW9.

The podcast is for women on maternity leave, or about to go on maternity leave, and

thinking about how their career might look alongside motherhood.

It’s also for all parents and carers, and line managers and business owners as people explore flexible working.

A pilot and three episodes to date cover maternity rights

and networks, paternal leave, career options and HR advice.

AA Search “Mother of All Solutions” on podcast channels.

AA twitter.com/ SolutionsMother AA motherofallsolutions. podbean.com/

NEW PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL

A star of London’s West End will launch a performing arts school in Brixton on 14 September, to teach singing, dancing and acting to children aged three to 18.

Alicia Mencía – currently performing in On Your Feet! at the Coliseum – and her partner Jon Lartey will run the school, which is part of a UK international theatre school group.

Make Believe Brixton will offer a weekly three-hour class on Saturdays at 10am at Evelyn Grace Academy. Parents with children aged three to five can opt to enrol their children into a 90-minute junior class. Fees are £75 a month for three hours a week, and infants £44.50 a month for 90 minutes.

AA See makebelievegroup.co.uk/make-believe-brixton

Carers’ charity wins lottery grant Carers4Carers, a Brixton charity, has been awarded more than £48,000 by the Health Lottery London East, to improve the wellbeing of local carers.

Co-founder Paula Bryan said: “We focus on the physical, emotional and financial wellbeing of carers and offer a personalised service which has led to many of our members referring to us as their extended family. It can be a

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very difficult and emotional time being a carer, so respite and support is so important.”

The project brings carers together by funding activities they might not normally be able to afford, from sound therapy, massages, yoga, boxing and aerobics to art and knitting lessons.

The project also enables carers to learn and share skills and develop friendships over a cup of tea.

New perspective on mental health The Perspective Project, a charity supporting artists with mental health issues, is hosting a pop-up exhibition in collaboration with Creative Voices Mind and Mosaic Clubhouse. “Stigma will take place at Pop Brixton on 15 September from 3 to 9pm. Expect a combination of art, music and live performance poetry, all inspired by the stigma surrounding mental health.

Rush Common consultation ATTENTION ALL ASPIRING SINGERS

at The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Suggestions for inclusion in the Local Heroes Roll of Honour in Brixton library an still be made.

A digital screen in the library shows who has been been nominated.

Jimmy Rogers, founder of Brixton TopCats basketball team, and John Cunningham, librarian of the Society for Co-operation in Russian and Soviet Studies, and Brixton Society stalwart are among those nominated this year.

AA www.brixtonsociety.org.uk

A Lambeth council online consultation on how to improve the Rush Common woodland walk runs until 11pm on Monday 30 September – specifically the section opposite Lambeth College between Brixton Water Lane, St Matthew’s Estate, and St Matthews Road. The aim is to keep the natural character of the historic common, building on the woodland walk, while improving play facilities and seating, and encouraging walking.

AA Visit http://bit.ly/Lambeth-rush-common

Black culture pop-up market Impact Brixton is to host a pop-up market in Pop Brixton to showcase Black businesses.

Entrepreneurs will display items including food, clothing, stationery, books, jewellery, and beauty products. The market is on 28–29 September.

AA If you would like to trade at the market, email team@impactbrixton.com for enquiries.

AA You can register at http://bit.ly/BC-PUM

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8 CREATIVE BRIXTON brixtonblog.com

2019 SEPTEMBER

ARTS

Black bodies in white space

Brixton Blue to be new Tube mural The latest Transport for London Art on the Underground mural is by Denzil Forrester and will be unveiled at Brixton Tube on the morning of 19 September.

Forrester, who had an exhibition at 198 gallery on Railton Road earlier this year, will use 1980s Brixton murals as inspiration.

Brixton Blue will recreate the essence of contemporary urban life – the sounds, lights and police sirens – with sharp, angular lines and imposing figures.

New elements have been integrated from his 1982 version, placing the work in the musical lineage of Brixton; large sound systems flank the edges of the painting, a DJ plays his records on the stage and a child captures the unfolding urban scene on his smartphone.

Block 336 gallery in partnership with Brixton’s Black Cultural Archives has commissioned a first solo exhibition, Restrained Restrained, by Bristol artist Kat Anderson in which she explores the trauma felt at the depiction of Black bodies in literature, film and photography.

Anderson is an artist and curator working in installation and moving image, with an interest in Black diaspora identities, Black trauma and mental health.

The work draws on the experiences of mental illness, violence and negligent behaviour that has led to deaths in police custody and in mental health facilities.

The title of the exhibition is a

Simultaneous realities Yuliya V Krylova was born in Kazakhstan when it was part of the Soviet Union. Her work, currently on show in the exhibition Simultaneous Realities in Brixton library, reflects a diverse cultural heritage and “her life from the age of four”. Leslie Manasseh spoke to her about her paintings and the inspiration behind them

Exhibition celebrates life of a local artist

Paintings on one wall are journeys “above the level of thought” where the images emerge along the way.

Spiritual energy drives this journey rather than the process of reproducing a vision or idea already in her head.

These works begin with a pattern created by smoke and ash as Yuliya slowly wanders beneath a canvas holding a lit candle above her head.

Images – often from the natural world, albeit slightly fantastical – then appear and are highlighted in colour.

For example On the Edge of Consciousness brings to the fore images which are hidden in the smoke patterns. These are complex, dynamic works with a dream-like quality.

In the paintings on the other wall, there is more obvious visual control.

There are, for example, some visual themes which appear in a number of works.

Many of these are animals or birds which Yuliya explained, echo the totems traditionally used to denote

tribes or places in the cultural history of Kazakhstan.

I thought a portrait of someone holding their own decapitated head was a rather dark image. Yuliya explained that this was more a metaphor for meditation and “disconnecting the mind from body” which is central to the way she creates her works.

This is an interesting show by an artist from a very different place and culture. It includes a series of poems

by Paolo Piccardo inspired by the paintings themselves and described as a conversation between two artists using different media but exploring similar themes.

The exhibition is free and runs until 20 September in Brixton library: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10am-8pm; Wednesday, Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 12pm-5pm AAwww.lambeth.gov.uk/places/ brixton-library

EMBRYOS is an exhibition and workshops at West Norwood library. The exhibition runs until 12 September. Workshops take place on 31 August and 1 September. Participants use various media to write a story that artist Qian Qian will visualise in a drawing visualising the link between an embryo and each person and discuss the transitional nature of life form.

Sound system book Photographer Mark Alesky is crowdfunding on Kickstarter to create his latest project – Bassland – a book that covers the weekly sessions of Aba Shanti-I Sound System at the legendary “House of Roots” at the arches in Vauxhall.

“The series of images in Bassland provides a discourse to one of the many instances of the contribution to British cultural heritage and identity brought to this land by a transatlantic migration, specifically the “Windrush” generation from

BRUNO /COURTESY OF BBM/BMC

LEAF Tenants and Residents Association based around Loughborough Road and the San Mei Gallery are launching an exhibition celebrating the life and work of orchid artist Nellie Roberts (1872-1959) who lived all her life and painted thousands of orchids while living on Loughborough Road.

The launch is on 5 September from 6pm at the San Mei Gallery, 39a Loughborough Road SW9 7TB.

reference to Frantz Fanon’s essay Concerning Violence, in which he argues that decolonisation can only happen by a purge of the colonisers.

The artist reworks the idea and argues that Black mind and body images are “colonised space” processed through public health and police institutions.

To explore this, Anderson has displayed works in darkness with glimpses of light to both subvert the whiteness of the institutional gallery space and to simultaneously conceal and subtly reveal how Black bodies are positioned and imagined in white space.

AAFrom 28 September until 26 October, Thursday – Saturday 12-6pm.

Symposium 12 October 10.30-1pm.

Jamaica and Rastafarianism with a gift in the form of sound system culture,” says Alesky.

Aba Shanti-I and his sound system have been playing throughout the UK and internationally for more than 30 years.

Alesky’s goal is to raise £16,000 which will pay for 500 copies of a high-end publication.

Pledge rewards include signed prints and copies of Bassland at a kickstarter discounted rate.

AATo support the project go to http://bit.ly/KS-Bassland

An International Reggae Day (IRD) Legacy Award to the Windrush Generation for their contribution to Britain’s cultural landscape has been deposited at the Black Cultural Archives.

It was received by BCA Trustee chair Dawn Hill from IRD UK co-ordinator Kwaku at an event Windrush, Migration & Reggae, supported by Arthur Torrington of the Windrush Foundation and photographer and BCA friend Neil Kenlock. (l-r) Arthur Torrington, Kwaku, Dawn Hill, Neil Kenlock

SEPTEMBER 2019 brixtonblog.com CREATIVE BRIXTON 9

MUSIC

A community must have music LMS/CHRIS HUNING PHOTOGRAPHY

With carnival now behind us and holidays coming to an end, students, parents and teachers will be gearing up to go back to school.

So too will some of the same local musicians who have graced the stages of summer festivals around the country.

They bring their expertise into schools via the Lambeth Music Service (LMS) and to many other education initiatives across the borough. Thanks to them, the outstanding musical reputation of South London should go from strength to strength as the baton is passed to new generations.

Music tutors of Lambeth we salute you. We must also support and campaign for you, and for the other things that make community music possible …

LMS employs more than 100 specialist music educators who teach in schools, lead workshops and provide training for over 6,500 children, young people and adults each year. It also runs an impressive events programme which has included concerts featuring 32 primary schools singing together at the Royal Festival Hall and performances by students at the Mighty Hoopla and Cross The Tracks festivals in Brockwell Park.

Its Saturday school at the Brixton Hill Music Centre offers children of all abilities, including those with special educational needs, an array of options including African drumming, steel pan, jazz

Local school pupils playing at the Lambeth Sounds music festival and rock bands, choirs, orchestral instruments and capoeira. Bursaries are available and classes are also offered to parents so they too can pick up some musical skills and make new friends.

Trevor Kentish, who has taught African drumming at the centre for seven years told me: “Working at the centre is a wonderful experience. It’s inspiring to see the amount of teaching that happens and the number of students who continue their music education independently.”

Senior manager Oliver Bailey

added that last September LMS launched Lambeth Sounds which is a hub of 12 partner organisations. They include Brixton Wings in the Angell Town Estate and the Stockwell Music Centre. Both offer affordable tuition and after school programmes.

The Youthsayers is another excellent initiative set up by local musical legends Soothsayers in collaboration with Raw Material and School Ground Sounds. Their website describes the band as “a creative music opportunity for 11 to 18 year olds living in the Lambeth

area … offering the chance to work with Soothsayers and other young musicians on Afrobeat and reggae influenced music.” One of Youthsayers’ current crop of rising talents, Keahnne Carlita Whitby, is featured in this month’s Brixton Hi-Five.

Other promising looking initiatives include the Groove School based in International House and the Brixton Guitar Club which attracted a regular crowd of adults to the Brixton Pound Café every Wednesday evening until that venue was forced to close.

The club is currently seeking an alternative affordable venue, which serves as a reminder that none of these opportunities can be taken for granted.

A decade of austerity politics has led to devastating cuts for many music services, cash-strapped councils have sold off community centres, and hikes in commercial rents are making other spaces unaffordable.

Arguably, the health of a society can be judged by the degree to which people participate in creating culture, rather than just passively consuming it.

By that criterion, Brixton is faring better than many places, but we could do more. For people to be able to participate we need music education to be properly funded and accessible for all. We need support for community events where budding musicians can show us their new skills and others can become inspired. And we need the community spaces in which those things can happen.

AAFor more about Lambeth Sounds (LMS and partners): www.lambethmusic.co.uk AAFor more about Youthsayers: http://youthsayers.net AAFor more about Groove School: www.grooveschool.org AAContact the Brixton Guitar Club: info@guitarsofbrixton.com Dave Randall is a musician and author of Sound System: The Political Power of Music.

... where we hi-five local musical movers and shakers. We ask five questions to get to know the people who play regularly or contribute in other ways to Brixton’s live music scene. This month it’s the turn of 17-year-old Keahnne Carlita Whitby

BRIXTON

What do you do and where do you do it?

Around and about most people would recognise me as a saxophonist as that’s what I’ve been heavily passionate about since I picked it up just under a year ago, however I also play viola, clarinet and a few other instruments as well as sing. I’m currently in a project called Youthsayers which is run by Soothsayers in Brixton, I would say we’re an Afrobeat, reggae, jazz fusion band. I’m also a part of Kinetika Bloco, a carnival band in London and alongside many other groups I’m currently working on my own collective which probably the most exciting thing.

HI-FIVE

Favourite memories of playing in Brixton?

My favourite gigs are always the ones in Brixton as the stage and the crowd feels like home, especially when I’m with the Youthsayers. A good one for me was Lambeth country show as its a celebration of the people, and the community which is so rich.

We’ve also played Pop Brixton a couple of times and that’s always a party. One of my favourite memories is from our gig at Cross the Tracks which was in Brockwell Park – the stage was huge so we were able to really unapologetically bring the vibes!

What are you listening to at the moment?

I would say you’d usually find me listening to reggae, classical, jazz or Afrobeat tunes. I’m currently listening to a lot more music from all over Africa. I’m always returning to Ethiopian jazz as I love the sounds and style of playing, and so I get a lot of influence from Gétatchèw Mèkurya, Akalé Wubé and Mulatu Astatke’s music. I also listen to The Soothsayers daily and, of course, I’m constantly listening to classic jazz saxophonists to gain as much knowledge through the music as possible.

Favourite album of all time and why?

This is a hard one, but I’d say Human Nature by Soothsayers, honestly just because this album brings me so much joy, and there was a point where listening to the song Human Nature would literally turn my day around. I love the messages in this album and I think everyone needs a bit of the Soothsayers in their lives.

Where can we hear you next?

I’ll be playing at the Portico Gallery on Friday 30 August with Youthsayers Outernational Orchestra. This is definitely going to be a night to remember as we have a lot of other wicked acts opening. I’ve also got a lot of my own compositions which I’m working on which you’ll be able to hear very soon online and at my own solo gigs.

10 COMMUNITY brixtonblog.com 2019 SEPTEMBER

School patrol: a focus on positive engagement Jessica Dyer sits down with Asher Senator and Serena Nalty-Coombs to hear more about Code 7 and the charity’s Lambeth Schools Patrol project which launches on 9 September Viewing early takes for the virtual reality film

What does it mean to belong in Brixton?

Michael Groce and Charlotte Knowles on the making of a film about Brixton and its people

The Coldharbour Project is a 360˚ virtual reality (VR) film and oral history project produced in Brixton during August with the intention of exploring what it means to belong.

The immersive film – viewed through VR headsets – takes viewers on an alternative tour of Brixton, meeting people along the way who have shaped Brixton’s strong and symbolic cultural fabric over several decades.

Produced by the Independent Film Trust and Booted and Rooted, the participatory project has involved local people at every stage of the production process.

The Coldharbour project started with six months of free workshops in research, 360˚ storytelling, recording oral Filming Brixton Immortals dominoes club players in the Sports and Social Club on Coldharbour Lane

histories and exhibition curation held at the Brixton Library, the Advocacy Academy Campus, the Brixton Pound Cafe, and Lambeth Archives.

From these workshops, more than 20 local people signed up to join the community production team that produced the final film.

The Coldharbour project takes viewers on a journey through Brixton Market to the Express Cafe in Market Row, Universal Roots Records, Windrush Square, Coldharbour Lane, Railton Road (the Frontline), and the Sports and Social Club.

Along the way, we meet acclaimed novelist Alex Wheatle, S I Martin, Felix Buxton (Basement Jaxx), Ricky Ranking, George Lightfoot (Nasty Rockers), Paul Reid, first director of the Black Cultural Archives, former Lambeth council leader Linda Bellos, Michael Groce of the Green Man Skills Zone project, the Legs Eleven Sound

System and the Brixton Immortals Domino Team, as well as market traders and customers.

Community production team member Michelle described the process as “an amazing opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and creatively work on a project together that benefits the community as a whole.”

The production process has offered an intensive training opportunity that will enable more heritage and VR projects to be made locally in the future.

The Coldharbour project will be exhibited at Brixton Library from 11 to 20 October. The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and has been supported by the University of the Arts London.

AA To find out more about the project and to book a place at the exhibition, go to independentfilmtrust.org/coldharbour or follow @independentfilmtrust on Instagram.

Code 7 is a Lambeth-based charity set up in 1996 which provides troubled young people with free development through music and performance; many of those who attend are self-referred by word of mouth.

“Currently we are running our summer sessions which last for four weeks,” says founder Asher Senator.

“The young people have to come up with the idea for the summer workshops, pitch for funding and run the classes. This year they won best presentation from the Young Lambeth Coop.

You can hear them in there recording now!”

The services are oversubscribed and heavily reliant on volunteers. Young people travel from all over the borough to access the Code 7 services and after an initial induction are able to use the studio space, mentoring service and participate in multiple projects.

Serena describes the encouraging atmosphere created at Code 7: “At Code 7 we celebrate all positive achievements.

“For example, if a student is repeatedly late to school but for a week makes it in on time, they will receive a certificate for that achievement.

“It’s about the life skills you are learning by managing your time and getting to school on time, when you are older you won’t be able to keep a job if you are consistently late.

“We also have a project called Global Graduates which offers leadership development and professional networking for young people who are failing to maximise their potential.”

The Lambeth Street Patrol is the latest project from Code 7, based in Union Road, Stockwell, and aims to provide “a positive befriending opportunity for young people to connect

with trained volunteers who will positively interact, guide, support and educate young people outside of the context of a problematic intervention.”

Says Asher: “This is a community-inspired project developed as a result of broad public consultation in partnership with the Brixton Business Improvement District (BID) and the Lambeth Green Man Skills Zone.”

During the public consultations it became clear that the community wanted a positive response to the problems facing young people.

“We are focusing on positive engagement – 95% of young people do not commit crime!

“We have a holistic approach to youth violence, which means providing guidance, making them feel welcome, letting them know what other opportunities are happening in the local area that they can be involved in.

It’s about coming at things from a different angle.”

“We have had a great response from volunteers who want to be involved in the project.”

Serena continues: “And we are still recruiting! Volunteer training commences this week and involves workshops on personal safety, safeguarding, first aid, interacting with young people and sessions with the Met Police.

All training will be accredited for the volunteers.”

Lambeth Schools Patrol will take place between 3 and 5pm on weekdays along Brixton High Street, from Windrush Square to the Brook Advice Centre, where Transport for London report that more than 20,000 young people of secondary school age travel during term time.

AA If you would like to be involved in the project contact Code 7 on 020 7998 1531 or visit https://www.code7.live/ lambeth-schools-patrol

SEPTEMBER 2019 brixtonblog.com

OPINION 11

BRIXTON BUGLE

COMMENT

Youth services need funds, not insults No surprise that yet another issue of the Bugle has several reports of what people in Brixton are doing about the issues that face young people today.

Because Brixton has consistently produced organisations, policies and people who, off their own bat, and with little or no help from the state or the great and the good, have led the way in tackling the effects of austerity, institutional racism and ill thought out government policies.

A list would fill the rest of this column and we would probably miss out many organisations and people.

But the opening – with the help of Lambeth council – of new premises for the Brixton Street Gym as its old ones become part of the first stage of the development of Somerleyton Road was a joyful and welcome event.

Lambeth mayor Ibrahim Dogus’ measured criticism at the launch of the government’s latest crazy policy to deal with youth violence – messages on the side of specially printed chicken boxes – was more than justified.

While governments have cut, cut and cut the funds available for youth services, people in Brixton and elsewhere have replaced them through their own efforts, with their own time, money and sweat.

To insult entire communities with this facile and insulting stunt speaks volumes about the government’s lack of real concern for such communities.

If you have a complaint about the Brixton Bugle, see bit.ly/BBB_complaints for how to pursue it Regulated by IMPRESS: The independent monitor for the press 16–18 New Bridge Street EC4V 6AG 020 3325 4288 complaints@impress.press www.impress.press

Mirrad Semra (third from right with altar servers) – 20 years of altar service– primary school teacher From left: Mirwet – 17 years of altar service – accountant Nnamdi – 16 years of altar service – aeronautical engineering Ezekiel – 16 years of altar service – primary school teacher Charles – 15 years of altar service– criminologist Joseph – 14 years of altar service – media engineering

There is a spiritual aspect to life that we must recognise Brixton teacher Mirrad Semra says the current education system is not working

I see a common theme that we must tackle: a sense of belonging. Who am I as a person?

Why do I do such things? What is the reason for doing them? How can I reflect on myself to better my future?

A lot of us – adults – live day-to-day and we never reflect on the person we want to be. It’s more the person we have to be.

Unfortunately, in some circumstances, this leads to bad decisions. I want to change that.

One of the ways I have done this is through altar service. The vast majority of children I teach serve with me at church.

I see that serving has enabled them to see that life is not always about living in the here and now. There is a purpose for all of us to achieve.

It is only recently that I have recognised the impact that I have had on the younger generation. Previously, they would commit from the age of eight to their early teens – tending to drop out through peer pressure and the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

However, five of the servers I have recruited

here. I feel the children I teach have respect for me. They recognise that what I bring is relevant and important and is going to shape their lives for the better. They also notice the type of character that I am. They recognise discipline; they recognise hard work; they recognise perseverance without reward in the I grew up in Stockwell, but have spent most of shape of my work for the church with them. my life in Brixton, it’s where my life is based – But there is a reward for doing this – school, church and everything in-between. because it is the right thing to do.

For the past year I have been teaching at One way of looking at it is that I am giving St Helen’s RC primary school on the Brixton back to the community – that’s why I am Road. It’s the school I attended as a child, and teaching in the primary school that I used to so did my siblings and many friends. attend – to give.

In my life I have witnessed gang violence, I want to demonstrate that a young man drug dealing, and general misconduct, and not who grew up in Brixton in the same deprived only by people of my colour, but by all young conditions as them, with the same threats, people, mainly boys. challenges and obstacles, can make it.

Perhaps I was a little naive as I was growing And making it does not always have to be up, because I could never understand why about music or sport as a means to success. someone would choose to go down that path or Don’t get me wrong, if you are talented enough be interested in such a life. musically and athletically, then go for it.

It was only when I became a teacher in We all have a purpose and sometimes your my mid-twenties that I understood fully the purpose may not be to a footballer or a rap decisions in life that people have artist. It can be to be a doctor, a to make and how that might affect teacher, an engineer, a nurse, a police We all have a purpose and sometimes your their choices. officer – anything, as long as you purpose may not be to a footballer or a rap artist.

I grew up quite deprived. It wasn’t are giving back, sharing your skills, poverty, but nobody gave me a silver knowledge and experience with the It can be to be a doctor, a teacher, an engineer, a spoon. Mum and Dad came from next generation. nurse, a police officer – anything, as long as you Eritrea with little to no knowledge of One person who helped and are giving back, sharing your skills, knowledge the English language. They worked inspired me, as I hope to do others, very hard. They imparted in me the is Dr Mahamed Hashi, one of the and experience with the next generation discipline of education and faith and founders of the Brixton Soup Kitchen that those two things, combined with and an activist and advocate for the hard work, would give you future success – have served for at least 15 years. There is whole community. which they have. a group of female servers who began very I hope that before I get old this epidemic of I have been an altar sever at Our Lady of early and have just finished their GCSEs. The violence and drug trading that affects young the Rosary church next to St Helen’s since I numbers are increasing. people can be got rid of. Only then will we see was a boy. I now organise a team of 50 servers, So, I would say, helping young people the fruits and the benefits that humanity as a mostly pupils or former pupils of St Helen’s. to recognise that there is a spiritual and whole can bring.

I have only been teaching for three emotional aspect to life, I have impacted their AA Mirrad Semra was the only Black male years, but I have worked with a range of lives. I know that practising Catholics are teacher of the 15 at his school. Until the end of children from all different ethnic groups, few and far between these days, but this is last term, he was working there in the third different social backgrounds and different an example of an approach both to life and to year of his teaching career on a one-year religious denominations. education that must be considered. contract. Following a discussion with his head My experience and my faith have made me Another problem we must deal with is teacher he has, to the great disappointment determined to work to change the whole shape the way teachers in Britain are now viewed. of many parents, one of whom contacted the of education in this country.

In the places where people like my parents Bugle, decided not to apply for a vacant post Its current set-up does not support the came from, a teacher is seen as an important as a regular class teacher. He has a degree success of this and future generations. person who can shape a child’s future and is in computer science from Brunel University And by success I don’t just mean academic respected by all. as well as the postgraduate certificate in success, I also mean spiritual and emotional Of course teachers must earn respect, but education (PGCE) all teachers need and a success and positive mental health. society and government play a major role Catholic certificate of religious studies (CCRS).

Brixton Business Improvement District (BID) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening Brixton’s diverse business culture. We represent more than 500 levy‑paying businesses and work to develop new and exciting opportunities for Brixton.

Brixton – beyond business rates and Brexit Michael Smith, Director of the Brixton Business Improvement District

support more local or innovative business options on our high street – a dedicated book shop or entrepreneurial start-ups?

Could the Brixton Pound concept be supported to find a space on the high street? More clubs/live music venues maybe, promoting more of that Brixton “edginess” for which we have become so internationally renowned … and with no residents to disturb.

Could this also be the chance for the provision of much needed public toilet facilities on our high street?

No one has really explained why Starbucks are leaving our High Street after nine years. Did they jump or were they pushed?

Could they, like Poundland, like New Look or like Virgin Mobile, have succumbed to the deadly combination of high rental values and, consequently, high business rates?

This major burden is still affecting all other high street business establishments in Brixton. But, who knows, maybe they will be back?

Brexit

A Brexit deal in October could add to the problems of the remaining high street retailers in Brixton. The possibility of a “No Deal” Brexit could significantly increase the pressures of business rates on the production model of many businesses even further afield than Brixton.

Worryingly, on Brixton’s High Street the perfect business storm appears to be gathering and the dark clouds are ominous.

Empty shops are remaining vacant for longer or not being replaced by “like-for-like” businesses. Discount stores, cash-only stores and hastily constructed minimini arcades are appearing. Could this be the beginning of the end of the crush to get into Brixton? Hastily assembled arcades provide no additional business rates for government coffers.

In Brixton, we seem to be avoiding the proliferation of charity shops – very noticeable on some other high streets – on the busy A23.

With a bit more of a “curated” approach to filling these empty units, could more be done to bring more lasting benefits to the Brixton area in the long run?

Is the local authority prepared to encourage and

There are shops in there

This is what customers see – or don’t see – of some local shops not far from the high street. And Atlantic Road may remain like this for at least the next two rounds of business rates payments for these businesses (April 2020/21 and 2021/22). Something needs to be done and it’s more than simply business rates relief. Starbucks would certainly have demanded much more for its business rates payments.

Who gets what?

Local authorities collect approximately £25 billion a year in business rates from businesses. They are then allowed to retain 50% of what they collect. Business rates and council tax are now the largest source of income for local authorities.

Lambeth council’s use of business rate relief to support a range of businesses is commendable. Its

newly announced policy of supporting businesses to pay a Living Wage via business rates relief [see http://bit.ly/ LBL-NDR-LW] is also very commendable. However, care needs to be taken that this new policy does not add an even greater burden on businesses whose business rates may already be close to matching or exceeding the rental value of their property.

Businesses up and down the country are crying out for a non-domestic rates (business rates) assessment process that is transparent, fair and nationally acceptable to all businesses at the point of assessment.

Councils collect it all

Business rates or council tax, local authorities collect them all. So, when licensing campaigns are waged against businesses by residents wanting to see pubs/ bars replaced by housing and shops, local authorities are winners at every round, collecting tax from either party.

Local representatives (councillors and officers) in Brixton must be careful about being drawn into taking sides in such disputes. Councils with their licensing and planning functions need to remain objective, independent, inclusive and engaging with all parties in these disputes.

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have now been created to represent the interest of businesses in many such disputes. Residents’ associations and neighbourhood forums act adequately to gather and represent the views of residents.

Residents or businesses people come to live, work and visit Brixton for the same reasons.

They all see Brixton as: ●● Iconic ●● Fashionable ●● Electrifying ●● Buzzing with nightlife and independent shops and coffee bars ●● Excellent for food and transportation links

Residents and businesses will, however, leave Brixton behind should these things continue in happen: ●● An above average crime rate for London ●● Theft ●● Violence and assaults

After Brexit, and irrespective of what you pay, council tax or business rates or just plain old VAT and PAYE, let’s continue to make Brixton a place for everyone.

Only in Brixton

AN ORCHARD TO CONNECT WITH AND CARE FOR Brixton Orchard, which the BID began to create in 2016 following its green infrastructure audit of the area funded by the mayor of London, serves more purposes than being a beautiful and restful place in a bustling town. Urban Growth Learning Gardens, the Lambeth-based social enterprise that helped to dig and plant the orchard, outlines some of them …

Green infrastructure consists of natural and semi-natural measures that address issues like air quality, urban heat island effect* and water drainage problems.

Brixton Orchard, opposite the new Lambeth town hall development, aims to showcase how green infrastructure interventions to address air quality can also serve other functions, like reconnecting people to where food comes from.

Trees and plants help to reduce air pollution created by vehicle emissions by trapping small particles that are suspended in the air on the surface of leaves.

By trapping pollution, the leaves act as a protective barrier for people and animals.

Deciduous plants and trees, which shed their leaves as winter approaches, do this in spring, summer and autumn.

Evergreen plants and trees do it all year round.

Rain washes particles off leaves and away to another location and out of the air we breathe.

Brixton Orchard is nurturing 35 fruit trees, and hundreds of examples of edible and woodland hedging. These produce apples, pears, quince, plums, damsons, cherries, sloes, rose-hip, hawthorn, amelanchier (a large shrub or small tree with edible berries), gooseberry, alpine strawberries and others.

Planting has been chosen to encourage and support biodiversity and to provide food for pollinators all year around.

Improving biodiversity creates a more resilient ecosystem that can complement other green space nearby like the rest of Rush Common, and possibly extend its support to areas like Brockwell Park where stunning native wildlife like the elusive stag beetle can be found.

Brixton Orchard is for the people, plants and animals living in and visiting Brixton. Please come and enjoy this public space, it is part of Rush Common and is for you to connect with and care for.

The orchard is part of a wider strategy to promote Brixton as a destination and

to raise awareness about sustainability in the city. *An urban heat island occurs when a city area experiences much warmer temperatures than nearby rural areas.

The difference in temperature is the result of how well the surfaces in each environment absorb and hold heat.

Urban Growth Learning Gardens host free weekly open gardening workshops at Brixton Orchard where people are invited to help them take care of the local ecosystem and learn skills and knowledge about fruit trees, edible and ornamental plants and horticulture.

They are open to people of all interests and skill levels, so do join in on Thursday afternoons between 1pm and 2:30pm.

■■ Sign up for free tickets at http://bit.ly/UG-orchard

Resolution of concerns must not close this pub The BID has called for a resolution of residents’ concerns about the Duke of Edinburgh pub on Ferndale Road that does not threaten its continuing operation.

With pubs currently closing at a rate of 18 per week across London, we need to find a solution without putting the Duke of Edinburgh under threat of closure.

Some local residents have compiled a list of objections to a licensing application by the pub’s operators which will be

decided by Lambeth council. While concern has been expressed about live music and DJs, these are not a consistent feature of the pub. Neither are outdoor event screenings – another issue raised by residents.

The pub has not been accused of exceeding sound levels that can be monitored by the local authority.

The Duke of Edinburgh is a member of the Brixton BID and, among other things, a vital community resource for members

of the South American footballing community from Stockwell.

It has a history of complying with local authority licensing conditions and is committed to making its part of Brixton safe for all, inclusive of residents and customers.

It has an effective dispersal policy in place with security staff leading customers away from the area quickly after closure, followed by litter picking to clean the area.

CONNECT WITH US

BRIXTON BID Room 3C, Floor 3 International House Canterbury Crescent London SW9 7QD

020 3417 7373 BrixtonBID BrixtonBID brixtonbid.co.uk

14 MUSIC EXTRA brixtonblog.com 2019 SEPTEMBER

Windrush story inspires a new generation ‘Exploring Windrush’ was a three-week summer camp for young people run in collaboration by local charities School Ground Sounds and Brixton Wings Jessica Dyer reports

Young people aged from six to 15 researched Empire Windrush as a summer project in Brixton. They looked at the physical journey by boat, the search for jobs once the people who had travelled to the UK to look for work arrived, and the tales that the streets of London were paved with gold.

Each student found one indiv­ idual’s story and used this as inspiration to produce lyrics for a song.

The project was run by Deirdre Pascall from Brixton Wings and supported by Garnet Jackson, Teshay Makeda and Bad LayDee from School Ground Sounds (SGS).

Supported also came from Lambeth Sounds, part of Lambeth council’s music service, Raw Material Music & Media, the Brixton-based charity, and Brixton

Recording Studios.

A showcase took place at Brixton Wings in the Angell Town estate and displayed the drama, art and music (including pop-style ballads, hip hop and rap) the students had been working on.

The young people who performed to a small audience had produced consistently powerful, thought-provoking and emotional lyrics from their research.

Students showed support for each other. When one girl, who had arrived in Brixton three weeks earlier from Nigeria, performed acapella, they joined in producing a beat for her by alternating claps and clicks.

A young man involved in the project announced: “Nice one guys – that one is going to be a hit!” after

hearing someone else’s rap.

Brixton Recording Studios helped the students record their songs professionally for an upcoming EP and each student has painted a canvas that will make up the cover artwork.

Bad LayDee who worked as vocal coach and confidence mentor told the audience: “We see many negative news stories about Black young people, but these children have come here consistently and dedicated their time to learning about past generations … In one of the workshops some of these students said they haven’t experienced racism. How amazing is that!”

Medg Sullivan, who runs Brixton Wings, said: “For 10 years we have been providing music, academic support and sports for young people

from disadvantaged backgrounds living in this community, particularly the Angell Town community and surrounding estates.

“You can see from our children what a diverse local community we have here.”

Both School Ground Sounds and Brixton Wings aim to empower young people through music.

Brixton Wings caters for young people who would not otherwise be able to access extra-curricular opportunities focused on music and sports.

SGS believes in the benefits of music-making in all aspects of school life and beyond, from academic achievement to improved personal and social development.

Exploring Windrush was funded

by BBC Children In Need.

How wonderful it is to have support and a great instant party …

Simone Richardson meets Sisters of Reggae, five regular Brixton DJs who also play all over the world Zoe, known as “Lucky Cat” when she is DJing, created the selectors and collectors who are Sisters of Reggae.

She was born in South London and still lives here.

“God’s own side of the river as they say,” she remarks.

The sisters – Lucky Cat, Debbie Golt, Miss Feelgood, Naoko The Rock and Sweetie – have supported some of the biggest names in reggae.

They have all decided that reggae DJing is their thing. Zoe says it is “where her passion lies”.

Growing up in South

London “Reggae was always played everywhere you went”.

She discovered ska music at 11 and fell in love with it.

Naoko said not many people listened to reggae in Japan where she grew up. “I simply wanted to meet someone who loved reggae”.

The Sisters of Reggae have guaranteed that.

Zoe was inspired by a magazine article about all-female club nights that spurred her on to DJ in Dublin with Women’s International.

“I found that they were part of a crew who all looked after each other and created an amazing vibe at their night Reggae Fever.

“I thought how wonderful it was to have

support and a great instant party atmosphere with a crew!

“All of us have different qualities and styles which I think complement one another.”

Zoe also makes programmes for Resonance FM, the long-running London-based non-profit community station specialising in the arts run by the London Musicians’ Collective.

Sisters of Reggae have been all over the world together, but Brixton has now become a very important part of their world with appearances at venues including The Dog Star, Prince Albert and Pop Brixton, where they have been playing a monthly Saturday slot since 10 August.

SEPTEMBER 2019 brixtonblog.com FOOD & DRINK 15

FOOD & DRINK REVIEW: RUM KITCHEN

Kitchen Confidential Nick Buglione joins the party people at Rum Kitchen Blurring the lines between restaurant, bar and late-night hangout, Rum Kitchen embraces, and goes large, on all. And can be initially confusing. Last time you had to show ID to get in somewhere to have dinner? Security guards? And amidst seemingly borderline crowdy chaos, how it all works?

(Magic) Malcolm and yours truly missed the memo about Rum Kitchen weekends.

Friday night is a dressed-up party-friendly crowd letting it go for the start of the weekend.

High-rise stilettos and micro-skirts, check.

Shirts extravagantly unbuttoned and skinny chinos check. They didn’t let me in for my sartorial elegance, of that we can be assured.

So, it’s packed. Bar at the front, dining tables at the rear. Waiters and bar staff plugged into turbo mode. So right there and then Malcolm (he has come from a big meeting, so at least looks the part) and I are expecting something must give?

Party place, dodgy food? Packed, so service all over the place? Terminal waiting for cocktails to arrive? What happens when the dancing starts?

Thing is, much like the NHS and the traffic system, it shouldn’t work but it does. There is a coherent, slick operation flowing through the hectic. There are the earlier evening diners like us (and a “mature” couple on the next table who do look a little confused), dressed up party groups getting warmed up, a scrum at the bar, DJs and a kitchen sweating away at the grill.

Clearly, we start with rum cocktails. Classic Rude Boy; Goslings 151, Wray & Nephew, pimento liqueur, grenadine syrup, passionfruit and fresh lime. Or a sub-tropical Pineapple Daiquiri; Jamaica Cove pineapple rum,

pineapple liqueur, sugar, pineapple juice and fresh lime. Sharp, tangy and effective both.

Followed by Appleton 12 rum sours. The bar guys look ridiculously busy but they are sending out cocktails on point.

The jerk-infused menu is, considering the area, reassuring rather than revolutionary.

And thankfully not just careless stodge to soak up the rum (another of my prejudices leaves the building). We have starters of tangy jerk BBQ wings in their eponymous sauce and crispy saltfish fritters with tamarind dip.

Both were excellent. A slight misstep with island spiced squid with ginger and lime aioli – hard to locate essence of squid in the deep-fried batter.

Our mains plunder jerk grill. My pork belly ribs are lovingly slow cooked and irretrievably indulgently sticky, with cassava fries, rainbow salad (think Joseph and his amazing technicolour coleslaw) and a spicy jerk gravy.

Magic had the proper fried chicken – crispy buttermilk bird with pickles, slaw and Mac n Cheese pie. Magic is a bit of a fried chicken fiend, and a home fryer so passing his test is a decent benchmark – in between mouthfuls, I get “as good as MFC” (Malcolm Fried Chicken).

As we eat, the Kitchen is morphing into its later evening guise. Diners are moving barwards, the music ramps up, many of the women get even more scantily clad, the bar staff go from turbo to post nuclear and the queue at the door is keeping the security guys busy.

Malcolm is a Scot who could drink Peter O’Toole under the table for breakfast, but we decided discretion was the better part of valour (err … we have to be kid chauffeurs in the AM) and made a diplomatic exit as the party really got going.

Rum Kitchen is not the place to go for a quiet romantic supper with wine and roses.

It’s not a place for a quiet catch-up – decibel levels are dialled up to 11, but the food is jerky good, the cocktails are great and once you get past the slightly intimidating door, everyone is having a great time. S’what’s not to like?

437 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8LN | 020 3668 2539 | therumkitchen.com/brixton | @TheRumKitchen

Our dough is made fresh on site, daily.

SOURDOUGH PIZZA FROM £5 Find us at: 3-4 Market Row, Brixton, London SW9 8LD, the original Franco Manca

16 FOOD & DRINK brixtonblog.com 2019 SEPTEMBER REVIEW: TURTLE BAY BRUNCH

Morning has broken Nick Buglione and the spice girls check out brunch at Turtle Bay Call it the lottery of coincidence, call it summer holiday madness or off-piste planning but, as we write, on the eve of this year’s Notting Hill Carnival, it’s all gone a bit Caribbean at Bugle Towers.

All of the day and all of the night.

Rum Kitchen looked after our night, Turtle Bay is handling the aftermath and launching a bottomless brunch menu. The mid-morning after the night before.

Turtle Bay Brixton, further down Brixton’s main drag, is, for first timers, an expansive reproduction of Carib shackery. Slowly waking up from morning slumber with a spicy, and optional hair of the dog, twist on middle morning dining. This dog, and fellow poodles, are going alcohol free but for weekenders, bottomless brunch is an accompanying two hours of bellinis.

We’ve gone midweek mocktail and “homemade softs”.

Sky Juice; frozen pomegranate, pineapple, orange and lemon, Virgin Raspberry Reggae; with pomegranate, lime and lemonade and Pink Lemonade with strawberry, watermelon – all in

retro milk bottles.

There is a diffused mini menu for little Turtles (they are good on feeding kids, veggies and vegans BTW) from a jerky brunch line-up fusing Caribbean flavours, and heat, with classic brunch dishes. From the Big Kingston Grill Down to rum infused porridge and curried goat.

The “Grill Down” jerks the bacon, jerks the sausage and spices chick peas alongside roast tomatoes, mushroom, grilled roti and “eggs your way”. It’s the big breakfast.

And the spicy infusions work.

Blackwell Breakfast is coconut milk porridge, shaved coconut,

pomegranate and muscovado (with a shot of rum for those inclined) and arguably the start of the show, Curry goat hash. Slow cooked tender goat, potato, onions and crispy fried eggs, big on flavour, not shy on heat.

I first had goat years ago, at a NYE party we sort of “crashed” where we interlopers were welcomed in and given plates of goat curry. It’s a minor mystery why it is a meat the “British” haven’t really embraced.

We also pick and mix from (our old new friend) avo-smash on grilled roti with chilli flakes, chives, “island” dressing and meaty or

veggie toppings and closest thing to a bacon or sausage sarnie, grillblistered roti rolls with cream cheese, chilli relish and your filling of choice. We went jerk bacon.

The only, minor, disappointment was the porridge, which was pretty dense and a little homogenous to get all the way to the finish line.

Bigger, more established highstreet diners – your Byrons, Stradas and Jamies’ are in meltdown, smaller, aspirational operations such as this, have put the effort into being pretty good at what they do.

By definition, it is reproductive, part-identikit “Marley postered”

homage to the “real thing” but the food is good, the service is enthusiastic, and they are not messing around with their rum-infused drink and cocktail menus.

It wasn’t packed at 11 o’ clock on a Monday. A slumbery Brixton may take a while to wake up to a brunch option outside of the “Village” epicentre, there is dining life beyond Nando’s at this end of town and quite how much spice and heat we want for our brunching, but for a no-nonsense, possibly introductory day trip into Caribbean “fusion” brunch dining (with bellinis on tap) you could be doing a lot worse.

382 Brixton Road, SW9 7AW | 020 7737 2264 | turtlebay.co.uk/restaurants/brixton | @Turtlebayuk

GET A TASTE OF BRIXTON IN OUR NEW TAP ROOM! Super fresh beer right where it’s made.

10 taps, other drinks, merch & more!

DRINK IN / TAKE OUT

OPENING HOURS

WED & THURS 5-10PM FRI 5-11PM SAT 12-11PM SUN 2-6PM

ARCH 548, BRIXTON STN RD, SW8 9PF TWITTER @BRIXTONBREWERY INSTAGRAM @BRIXTONBREWERYTAPROOM

Directly from block to plate.

Family run, local butcher – Established in 1962, three generations of Jones family have been working in the business.

Focus on quality – We supply quality meat and poultry with first-class service.

Visit our online shop jonesthebutcher.me.uk

Meat, the way it’s meant to be.

SEPTEMBER 2019 brixtonblog.com FOOD & DRINK 17 SMALL PLATES SOUVLAKI STREET

DIY COCKTAIL: BARRIO BRIXTON BLACK BEAR

LONDON COCKTAIL CLUB

Brazilian Lady Sultry, passionate and indulgent femme fatale.

Spend some time with the Brazilian Lady, a twist on the classic White Lady.

Barrio’s Amigo Hour has cocktails for a friendly fiver and beers for half that until 9pm.

Ingredients Quite the biggest queue last of times we have lunched at POP, Souvlaki Street is giving Mikos a run for its money with authentic Greek souvlaki. Try the classic combo of marinated (with their secret rub) pork or chicken skewers, in pitta with all the red onion, parsley, oregano, paprika and Tzatziki trimmings. souvlakistreet.co.uk @souvlakistreet

TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD New cocktail practitioners in town.

Former Dip & Flip on Atlantic Road is now home to the Tequila Mockingbird guys and their decadent cocktail creations. And for the Brixton outpost, food on the menu too. Wings, burgers et al to keep your martinis company. tequilamock.com @Tequila_Mock

Bucking the trend for the de-burgerisation of Brixton, Liz and Stew of Black Bear Burger will be bringing their sizzling creations to a new perma-home in Brixton Village with an emphasis on high welfare, high quality British meat (Stew’s family run a beef farm in Devon).

Keeps Honest and the rest … honest. blackbearburger.com @blackbearburger

If you want your cocktails turned into a semi-immersive movie-themed big night out, get yourself to Clapham High Street for the latest outpost of the London Cocktail Club, who have taken a night with some drinks up a cinematic notch. londoncocktailclub/clapham @LDNCocktailClub

HALOBURGER POP’s plant-based burger joint Halo have added some innovations to their vegan burgers. How about a deep-fried, cornflake and biscuit coated vegan magnum ice cream or chicken nuggets that aren’t. Meat-free dining isn’t going anywhere and these guys apparently are even convincing carnivores. haloburger.co.uk @haloburgerUK

NN 35ml Abelha Cachaça NN 15ml Cointreau NN 25ml lemon juice NN 25ml egg white NN 15ml passion fruit syrup NN Passion fruit

Method

¡¡ Combine all cocktail ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake for 30 seconds ¡¡ Strain the liquid and discard the ice ¡¡ Return to shake and shake again for another 30 seconds ¡¡ Strain into martin glass or coupe ¡¡ Add slice of passion fruit for garnish Barriobars.com/brixton

18 WHAT’S ON brixtonblog.com 2019 SEPTEMBER

WHAT’S ON Upholsterers to pop up in Station Halls Visit Herne Hill Station Halls on Sunday 29 September to see the first ever pop-up exhibition by a group of artisan upholsterers.

This community of upholsterers plans to revive the dying art of traditional upholstery using exciting contemporary styles.

Traditional upholstery is relatively expensive because natural materials such as horsehair and coir fibre from coconuts are used and because the process is very time-consuming. But the results will last a lifetime and can be exquisitely beautiful.

Upholsterer Sarah Harman says: “In our throwaway society people do not realise how their existing household furniture can be rejuvenated. Cheap furniture is available on the net and in stores like Ikea. But it is usually made of materials which are damaging to the environment, such as plastic and foam, and built by workers who are grossly under-paid.”

The upholsterers will be showing and selling some of their work as well as creating some unique designs.

10am to 4pm. Free entry.

Tell your true story Spark London says it is Britain’s first true storytelling club, connecting people through true stories. It holds an open mic event on the third Monday of the month Upstairs at the Ritzy. Anyone who wants to tell a story can sign up on the night or just sit back and enjoy those of others. The next event is on 16 September, with the theme of politics.

If you have ever clashed with someone over personal convictions, had your mind changed by a persuasive argument, met a politician or even spearheaded your own campaign, this is your chance to share. Entry is £5. Doors open at 7:30, stories start at 8pm.

AA For more information visit stories.co.uk

Botanical market in Brixton Village

Circus as you have not seen it before Former Brixton resident Lucy Frost will be bringing her daredevil show Prison Factory Cult Circus to the Bureau of Silly Ideas in Brixton on Friday 6 September at 7.30pm.

Through circus arts, live music, story and the soundtrack of life in the North of England, Lucy dissects her Sheffield-born past with an autobiographical show looking at the impact of poverty in the UK through the story of her and her siblings and the four very different paths they took – prison, factory, cult and circus.

Expect a thrilling combo of knife-throwing, lasso and musical saw. Embarking on her first-ever UK tour in Brixton, Lucy will also be the country’s only heavily pregnant circussideshow performer at the time of this show.

AA See a preview at https://youtu.be/FQaLNB6-l7o AA Bureau Of Silly Ideas, 18 Valentia Place, SW9 8PJ AA Tickets £10 + booking fee from http://bit.ly/BOSI-PFCC

Green Rooms’ Botanical Market visits Brixton Village Market for a day of botanical shopping and hands-on workshops on Sunday 8 September from 11am to 5pm. You can wind your way through the market, browsing Green Room’s plant-filled stalls. Green Rooms says the market brings together the best independent sellers of plants, pots and everything in between.

SEPTEMBER 2019 brixtonblog.com WHAT’S ON 19

WHAT’S ON Brockwell Park event to confirm local area as youth music hotspot On 15 September Junior Open Mic performers from all over South London will gather to perform at JOM Micro Music Festival II in Brockwell Park.

Thirty-two acts (totalling 52 young artists with an average age of 12) will perform one song each before two top local guest acts – one of which is already signed with Rough Trade Records – appear.

Within a two-mile radius of Herne Hill station are four independent Junior Open Mics – including the largest and second largest in the UK. Pretty handy for aspiring young musicians when you consider that there are merely a handful in the entire country.

Organiser Andy Gray from JOM, the parent-led community group behind the festival, says the line-up is comprised of self-driven performers.

“Some are making their public debut, others are veterans. Our aim is to move young performers on from performing at home or Junior Open Mics (which are more intimate gigs).

“However, the festival is not entirely about showcasing talent. It’s also about building confidence and encouraging performance by making young performers feel as special as possible.

“So the format has festival-quality sound, a performers’ VIP tent with complimentary refreshments, two

performer assistants and a green room.”

Pushing Herne Hill further to the centre of youth music in September will be “No ID” – a music event at Off The Cuff Music Bar in Railton Road with a line-up of five experienced young bands.

As the name suggests, it’s also a chance for young people to experience a proper

in a professional environment.

Contact them on Instagram at @NoIDLondon, or email on NoID@vaux.net if interested.

JOM MICRO MUSIC FESTIVAL II 15 SEPTEMBER 1-5pm

Brockwell Park by Brockwell Hall, Admission free Reservations: http://bit.ly/JOM-2 You can bring a picnic and a bottle of wine. Seating at the front, picnic at back.

The festival encourages £3 donations (or what you can afford) to Brockwell Park Community Partners – the charity that has paid the event’s licensing and insurance costs. [https://secure. thebiggive.org.uk/donation/to/7419] gig. Parent organiser Kester Brewin said this will be the sixth No ID event in 18 months.

“We scout for youth bands at local talent contests like Battle of the Bands or the BRIT School.

“Most of the audience are aged 14-17 and we run from 3 to 6.30pm, so it’s safer for teenagers making their way home.”

No ID are also keen to build youth talent in areas other than music performance – handing over design, fanzine creation, lighting etc to young people so that they can hone their skills

NO ID6 29 SEPTEMBER, 3-6.30pm

Images from the first JOM Micro Music Festival in Brockwell Park last year

Off The Cuff Music Bar, Railton Road, Tickets £5 – buytickets.at/NoID

LOCAL JUNIOR OPEN MICS

AA Junior Open Mic – Sundays @ Off The Cuff Music Bar (contact andyg.coms@gmail.com for dates) AA Brixton Youth Open Mic – Ritzy Cinema Mezzanine – second Saturday of the month at 1pm AA West Norwood Feast – Junior Open Mic AA • Longfield Hall Youth Jam – Myatts Field

Soul Stripped autumn Sessions Vol. 35

Thursday 26th SEPTEMBER 7.30 doors

Bee Bakare Noa Lauryn Verushka Mileva 4 headliners. Carefully selected, each artist individual in unique soulful style and stage persona, have made a name for themselves as experts within the spectrum of soulful music.

A unique live music experience featuring the finest soulful female singer-songwriters. ............................................

FOR

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D A T EPlease S O call C T 0207 2 4 T095 H 1978 & NorOemail V 2info@pow-london.com 8TH Serving every Sunday from 1pm at The FPrince of W Wales, to book your table All of our fryers use groundnut oil if you have any allergy concerns please ask a member of staff

20 WHAT’S ON brixtonblog.com 2019 SEPTEMBER

Jamila Omar’s selection of gigs and more in Brixton and nearby FRI 30 @ PORTICO GALLERY

Members of the Brixton-based YOUTHSAYERS band will join with fellow young musicians from Cologne, Germany to create an Outernational Orchestra event. Also appearing will be Akin Soul and the Soul Tribe, It’s a Collective featuring Jazz Lee, and more. 7 – 10pm. £5.

SAT 31 @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON

SAT 7 @ BRIXTON LIBRARY

Lambeth’s Heritage Festival kicks-off with a day-long LOCAL HISTORY FAIR, including dozens of local societies and local history organisations with illustrated talks, tours and walks, bookstalls, exhibitions and refreshments. 10.15am – 4.15pm. Free.

SUN 8 @ HACKFORD ROAD

End of summer party from I LOVE REGGAETON. Expect podium dancers, lasers, CO2 jets, flames, special effects and the Electric’s world-class sound system blasting out Anuel AA, J Balvin, Daddy Yankee, Maluma, Lunay, Nicky Jam, Ozuna, Don Omar, Karol G, Bad Bunny, Becky G, Wisin y Yandel, CNCO and more. 11pm – 6am. £8-£20.

Discover 87 Hackford Road, where the Vincent Van Gogh fell in love with Britain. Enjoy a GUIDED TOUR of the surrounding area and the house itself. This will be an opportunity to gain insight into the house’s future as a site for artist residencies and to view artefacts uncovered during the recent renovation and conservation of the house. Tour starts from San Mei Gallery. 1 – 2.30pm. £7.50.

SUN 1 @ PRINCE OF WALES

MON 9 @ ALLEYN’S SCHOOL

The Annual SOCA ROOFTOP PARTY carries on with the postCarnival vibe, with rum punch and some of the UK’s top soca DJs. 2pm – 1am. £6-£15.

MON 2 @ POP BRIXTON

Each Monday, Neville from Wu Style TAI CHI CHUAN holds a free community class in Brixton. This traditional Chinese martial art has many potential health benefits including improved posture and balance, circulation, flexibility, core strength, joint mobility, focus and concentration. Open to all and suitable for all ages and abilities. 12.30 – 1.30pm. Free.

Brockwell Swimmers’ WATER POLO sessions are held in Dulwich every Monday until 9 December. Open to all levels over 18, from complete beginners to seasoned shooters. All are coached by professional and nationalleague players. The sessions normally start with basic skill techniques, finishing with a team match before decanting to the pub for a “game analysis”. 8 – 9pm. £15.

TUE 10 @ POP BRIXTON

Test your knowledge to win a £25 bar tab at this weekly PUB QUIZ, held every Tuesday. 8 –10pm. Free.

From reading to karate, every Tuesday Pop Brixton’s KIDS KLUB has something to keep them learning new things until dinner. This time Ming from Koi Ramen Bar provides an introduction to this ancient martial art.

Expect lots of shouting and jumping around.

4.30 -5pm is for 5–8-year-olds, 5-5.30pm, 8-14-year-olds. Free.

WED 4 @ THE WINDMILL

WED 11 @ BLUES KITCHEN

TUE 3 @ TRINITY ARMS

Following a stunning headline performance at The Lexington back in May, Ohtis return for an intimate show at The Windmill. Evolving from their experimental FOLK MUSIC beginnings, the new album tells a story of songwriter Sam Swinson’s journey through indoctrination and addiction. With support from Tina. 8pm. £9.

THUR 5 @ PRINCE OF WALES

Thursday nights at the POW are dedicated to LIVE JAZZ. Jazz nights have been running weekly here for four years now, making this a south London institution for late-night live music. The Banger Factory House Band are often joined by industry professionals. 11pm – 3am. Free.

FRI 6 @ HOOTANANNY

Movimientos present a BALKAN vs CUMBIA night with an all-star line-up. Balkan beat pioneer and all-round legend Shantel will be making his debut at the Hoot for what is set to be an almighty dance floor-shaking DJ set alongside fellow DJ Gypsy Box. Live music is from local Cumbia acts Nirk Molina and Brixton Cumbia Association. 9pm – 3am. Free before 10, £5 OTD.

Inspired by legends from across the pond, Too Much Talking bring their signature DELTA BLUES sound to Brixton. Known for their foot-tappin’, feel-good vibe, you’ll be out of your seat and strutting away in no time.

Come and enjoy a throwback to feel-good fun. Live music from 9.30pm, open until midnight. Free.

THUR 12 @ PRINCE OF WALES

MUSICAL BINGO has a South London home at the PoW – It’s like regular bingo but, instead of calling numbers, the organisers play songs. Each round has a different theme with song choices that punters mark off on their cards. Plus “multi-choice mystery boxes”, and the “Killer Question”. 7 to 11pm.

From £13.

FRI 13 @ SLADE GARDENS

Urban Growth is running a six-week long series of free GARDENING WORKSHOPS for 18–26-year-olds living in Lambeth.

Learn about composting, bulbs, building raised beds and much more. Email lousia@ urbangrowth.london to book a place.

Midday to 3pm each Friday, with free lunch included. Free.

SAT 14 @ INTERNATIONAL HOUSE

Calling all local poets! The Independent Film Trust (IFT) is running free virtual reality POETRY FILM WORKSHOPS on how to turn poetry into 360˚ virtual reality (VR) experiences. Over two weekends you’ll work with film professionals to develop poetry for 360˚ film, make a storyboard, film and edit a VR poetry experience. Email charlotte@ independentfilmtrust.org to book a place (there are ten on offer). Saturday 14/21 Sep 11am-4pm. Sunday 15/22 Sep 11am-1pm. Free.

SUN 15 @ HIDEAWAY

Sashay over to Streatham to catch The Jive Aces, the UK’s number one JUMP-JIVE outfit, for a swinging Sunday lunch as they bring along their high-energy stage show. Joining them will be West End star Kara Lane. Doors midday, show 2pm. £15.

All musicians and all styles are welcome to the No Frills FOLK CLUB. Expect Irish, Welsh, English and Scottish, American old time, bluegrass and western swing, French, Yiddish, East European, Scandinavian, Greek, Turkish, Balkan and more. Swap styles, share tunes and learn stuff. 7pm. Free.

MON 23 @ EFFRA SOCIAL

Comedy improvisation show Duck Duck Goose host their IMPROV JAM plus guests in the Effra Social’s Churchill Lounge every Monday. You can watch or join in! 7.30pm. Free.

TUE 24 @ BRIXTON ORCHARD

Hosted by everyone’s favourite bartender Josh, this PUB QUIZ gives you a chance to win prizes such as a bottle of wine, free drinks rounds and, of course, the mega cash pot.

Book a table through hello@elmparktavern. co.uk. 8pm start, £2 per person.

This community project aims to encourage more people to interact with the natural world on their doorstep.

Help to maintain this green oasis on one of Brixton’s busiest junctions by joining in at this weekly VOLUNTEER GARDENING session (held each Thursday afternoon) where you’ll learn to care for fruit trees and young edible hedgerow plants. 1 – 2.30pm. Free.

TUE 17 @ POP BRIXTON

WED 25 @ HOOTANANNY

MON 16 @ ELM PARK TAVERN

Each Tuesday (except the first one of the month) Pop hosts a LIFE DRAWING session with Rana Fadavi. Expect great models and friendly tuition. With poses from one minute to one hour there is something for everyone and all abilities are welcome. Buy materials in the class or bring your own. 7 – 9pm. £10.

WED 18 @ EFFRA SOCIAL

Tuesdays mean nothing other than PUB QUIZ. Tommy McTrivia hosts one of the busiest quizzes in Brixton, with a generous cash prize for first place and boobie prizes for others.

To book, email effrasocial@anticlondon.com.

Starts at 8pm, £5 per team.

THUR 19 @ HOOTANANNY

If it’s Thursday, it must be REGGAE at the Hoot presented by Cecil Reuben with live bands and sound systems. This week: Prince Hammer, Rough Trade and JahRevelationMuzic. 9pm – 2am. £3.

FRI 20 @ PHONOX

Enchufada presents Branko, one of the key figureheads from the new LISBON SOUND, along with Dengue Dengue Dengue, who bring their tropical storm of electronic psychedelia straight from Lima, Peru. 9.30pm – 4am. £5 advance, more OTD.

SAT 21 @ HOOTANANNY

The bishops of bounce, the sorcerers of skank, the undisputed masters of SCOTTISH DEATH REGGAE, the one and only Bombskare, a nine-headed ska demon, are the closest thing you’ll see to an actual northern powerhouse.

With support from The Kubricks. 9pm – 3am.

Free before 10pm, £8 OTD.

DnB AT THE ACADEMY

What is said to be the world’s biggest drum & bass festival, Let It Roll, will take over Brixton’s O2 Academy on 25 October. Announcing the first wave of artists Let It Roll named Sub Focus as headliner following the success of his crossover hit Desire. The Brixton show will feature over 20 of the planet’s most exciting d&b acts across four rooms, organisers say. Let It Roll said the Academy is a fitting venue for the event’s full venue takeover: “Large enough to make a splash with their signature supersized production, giant robots and impressive circular Portal stage, but perfectly sized to capture the intensity of their parties, Brixton Academy is rich in London music heritage and drum & bass culture.”

Tickets £24 – £36 from http://bit.ly/O2BRX-LIR. 9pm to 4am.

SUN 22 @ THE WINDMILL

Nova presents Pink Yesterday, a three-piece CONTEMPORARY SOUL/ blues, indie pop band, along with Milly Cannington, an electronic, pop alternative artist. 9pm – midnight. Free.

THUR 26 @ EFFRA HALL TAVERN

This long-running JAZZ JAM SESSION is still going strong at this much-loved Brixton boozer. Get there early for a seat. 9pm – midnight. Free.

FRI 27 @ BROCKWELL GREENHOUSES

Each week Better Fridays run THERAPEUTIC GARDENING afternoons, where you can enjoy a spot of gentle gardening with support from qualified psychotherapist Cathy. Bring your own lunch. Tea and biscuits provided. 1pm – 4pm. Free.

SAT 28 @ BLOCK 366

Restraint Restrained, the first solo EXHIBITION by Bristol artist Kat Anderson, draws on the experiences and narratives of the many mentally ill Black people who have met their deaths in police custody or mental health facilities. Runs until 27 October.

Midday – 6pm. Free.

SUN 29 @ BLUES KITCHEN

Come nurse your souls with the Sunday ritual of BBQ and booze. Wind down the weekend as James Riley provides the soundtrack with a mixture of soothing blues and country. 8pm – midnight. Free.

HERNE HILL MUSIC FESTIVAL

IMAGINARY FRIENDS

They return to the Windmill for the last time on Monday 9 September, before they move away from London. This time with confessional punk and exclamation mark feelings from Breakup Haircut, bedroom synth pop from Spike, and weird folk for parrots from Bity Booker. As usual, there will also be soap bubbles, doodling, a hula hoop, and glitter.

Doors at 8 pm. ₤5 entry.

The Herne Hill Music Festival (4–13 October) kicks off at the Half Moon with the first of 22 events – it features modern jazz from local Becky Handley and her band. It will be followed by a 2019 approach to “contemporary classical music”, with a live electronic performance from non-classical composer Gabriel Prokofiev, at Off The Cuff. Over the first weekend there will be a play day for wind and brass players, and music to involve young children. Proceedings end with Evensong. Music every night of the week includes two performances celebrating Herne Hill’s own John Ruskin in his bicentenary year. The second weekend is equally packed, beginning with the fabulous Junior Open Mic (see page 19), and ending with a silent film with live music.

Full programme at www.hernehillfestival.org

SEPTEMBER 2019 brixtonblog.com WHAT’S ON 21 The festival is sponsored by the Walcot Foundation which itself dates back to 1618 when its social purpose was “the relief of the Lambeth poor”. Nowadays the Foundation makes grants to local groups. Kicking off the festival, dozens of local societies and history organisations are running a local history fair at Brixton Library …

Lambeth Local History Fair Saturday, 7 September 10.15am – 4.15pm 11.30am The Sharp Edge of Hope. Hannah Ishmael, archivist for the Black Cultural Archives, talks about the growth of institutions and archives in London devoted to collecting Black history.

1.30pm Lambeth town hall Bill Linskey of the Brixton Society uncovers the history of the site now occupied by the town hall, the squabbles over its design and the history of the building since its opening in 1908.

2.30pm A B C Merriman-Labor: Black Before Britons. Steve Martin’s talk commemorates the centenary of the death of A B C Merriman-Labor, author of the comic novel Britons Through Negro Spectacles. Merriman-Labor was an important Edwardian Black writer who lived in Brixton.

3.30pm Radical politics in Lambeth 1790s to 1830s. Sean Creighton looks at the history of radicalism and dissent in Lambeth in the years leading up to the great Chartist meeting on Kennington Common.

Throughout the day: Guided walks looking at the history and architecture of the buildings around Windrush Square; tours of the Black Cultural Archives.

Learn about the history of Brixton in Brixton Lambeth Heritage Festival is a month-long festival led by Lambeth Archives and the Lambeth Local History Forum.

Below is a summary of local activities in the Brixton area.

For history buffs there is plenty to discover in a month of talks, walks, films, music and exhibitions. For the full list of what’s on pick up a Lambeth Heritage Festival brochure from your local library or download from http://bit.ly/LHF-19

were ambitious and well-illustrated. This talk from Nicholas Weedon takes a trip through this brazenly optimistic vision, explains how it came about, how it vanished, and the consequences from it that remain today. Free light refreshments. Free, no booking required.

Thursday 12 September, 7pm Nellie Roberts – Royal Horticultural Society orchid artist San Mei Gallery, 39 Loughborough Road, SW9 7TB Deborah Lambkin, the Royal Horticultural Society’s current orchid artist, will talk about the life and work of lifelong Loughborough Road resident Nellie Roberts and the role and history of RHS orchid artists. £5, email leaftra@gmail.com to book.

Thursday 5 September 7pm London’s oldest prison – 200 years of Brixton: the house on the hill Brixton Library Her Majesty’s Prison Brixton celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. It has held some of the most notorious people in criminal history as well as being a pioneer of prison reform. Learn more about the prison with Christopher Impey, the author of a new book The House on the Hill. Free, no booking required.

Saturday 14, Sunday 15 September Saturday 21, Sunday 22 September Guided Tours of Brixton Windmill 1pm – 5pm Visit this wonderful reminder of Brixton’s rural past.

Discover the two mills in one and learn about the Ashby family, who produced flour at Brixton from 1816 to 1934. Refreshments, exhibition and shop.

Take a full 40-minute tour to the top (must book in advance at www.brixtonwindmill.org/visit) or just turn up for a shorter guided tour – every 20 minutes 1 to 4.40pm

Saturday 7 September, 1pm Lambeth Migration The African and Caribbean War Memorial, Windrush Square, Brixton Join the Migration Museum for a three-hour guided migration walking tour. From Windrush Square to Little Portugal, Venetian glassblowers to Irish railway workers, the tour will explore the many migration stories – personal and political, past and present – woven into Lambeth’s history. £10. Visit migrationmuseum.org or email info@migrationmuseum.org to book

Saturday 14 September, 2.30pm Brixton Market Heritage Walk Meet at the Brixton Society stall in Brixton Station Road A guided walk taking in the street markets, covered arcades and high street. Organised by the Brixton Society. Booking essential. Email marketwalks@ brixtonsociety.org.uk. Price £3 incudes a walk booklet.

Sunday 8 September, Friday 13 September 1pm and 3pm Van Gogh House San Mei Gallery. 39a Loughborough Road, SW9 7TB A guided walk from San Mei Gallery in Loughborough Road to Hackford Road with a tour of the house where Van Gogh stayed while he lived in London in the 1870s. The tour offers a fascinating insight into the artist’s life and the history of London’s domestic architecture. The house re-opened recently after six years of conservation. Lambeth Heritage Festival special price £7.50. Booking essential via eventbrite: http://bit.ly/LHF-19-VG or for this event and listings of other events and tours at Van Gogh House, visit vangoghhouse.co.uk/News-and-Events Thursday 12 September, 7pm Markets, Megastructures and Motorways – Exploring the 1969 Brixton Plan Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 1EP Fifty years ago, plans were drawn up to demolish the centre of Brixton and replace it with multi-level megastructures connected to clusters of 50-storey residential towers. The plans

Sunday 15 September, 12.50pm for 1pm start Brixton Windmill Heritage Walk Meet Windmill Gardens Ninety-minute walk with a Blue Badge guide, covering 19th and 20th century developments near Brixton Windmill including the prison, waterworks, trams and telegraphy. £6, concessions £4, children free. Ends back at the windmill for tearoom, toilets and the opportunity for free tours (last at 4.40pm). All proceeds support the windmill.

How our predecessor, the Brixton BOSS, reported plans for huge tower blocks in the centre of Brixton – see The Brixton That Wasn’t events

Wednesday 18 September, 6.30pm Local Heroes Initiative Brixton library Of course you know about David Bowie, and maybe MRI scan inventor Peter Mansfield, but do you know about Brixton Top Cats founder Jimmy Rogers? Or even barrow boy Buster Martin? Now in its third year, the Local Heroes Initiative (LHI) celebrates the achievement of their lifetimes, as well as those of others connected to Brixton.

LHI opens eyes to individuals among us who, often unknown, have addressed issues of importance for the benefit of our community. The project plans to celebrate the opening of its digital roll of honour, and unveil an artwork in Brixton library, as well as auction works

donated by local artists. All proceeds go to Friends of Tate Library Brixton. Free, no booking required.

Thursday 19 September, 7pm Loughborough Road shops San Mei Gallery, 39 Loughborough Road, SW9 7TB Find out about the Loughborough Road shops and the people who ran them, exploring the stories of some of the people who have lived and worked on Loughborough Road over the past 150 years. Free.

To book, email leaftra@gmail.com Saturday 21 September, 2.30 Herne Hill Heritage Trail Walk Meet at Herne Hill Station From the handsome Grade 2 listed Herne Hill Station, participants will look round Station Square, including the foyer building of the former Cinema Grand. They will see the location of Herne Hill’s first cinema, the Picture Palace (1910-1915), meander around Poets Corner, identify the location of the Wellcome Physiological Research Laboratories, possibly visit Brockwell Lido, and finish up at one of our splendid local pubs. Led by local historian Robert Holden. Free, no booking required.

Wednesday 25 September, 6.30pm The Brixton That Wasn’t and Utopia London Photofusion, 3Space International House An evening exploring the utopian visions of the 1960s including an introduction to The Brixton That Wasn’t walking tour project by artist Ellie Laycock exploring the abandoned Brixton development plan of futuristic motorways and 50-storey tower blocks; a screening of Tom Cordell’s featurelength documentary film Utopia London observing modernist movement architects. A short panel Q&A with the artists. Booking essential at http://bit.ly/LHF-19-TBTW. Donations welcome.

Wednesday 25 September, 7.00 pm Rising up: exploring real bread and its social benefits Brixton Windmill Centre The fourth annual Windmill Lecture looks at the subject of bread. Real bread not only provides nutritional and environmental benefits, but also offers a chance to transform communities. The lecture will explore the social importance of baking, from its therapeutic effects to providing employment opportunities. Line-up includes: Chris Young, Real Bread Campaign Coordinator Richard Scroggs, Old Post Office Bakery Malcolm Cock, Bad Boys Bakery Manager at HMP Brixton.

Book at http://bit.ly/LHF-19-bread Saturday 28 September, 11.30am The Brixton That Wasn’t Photofusion, 3Space International House, Join local artist Ellie Laycock on a walking tour to explore what Brixton would look like now if the 1967 Brixton Plan of overhead motorways and tower block clusters had gone ahead. The walk starts and ends at Photofusion and is step-free. Free, but donations welcome.

Booking essential at http://bit.ly/LHF-TBTW-walk Monday 30 September, 6.30pm Layers of London – a hands-on seminar Lambeth Archives, 52 Knatchbull Road Heard about the Layers of London project (www.layersoflondon.org) but are unsure of how to get involved to – quite literally – put your stories on the map? This will get you started. Bring a photo or two on your laptop or memory stick and you will quickly be up- and-running as a contributor. Free, no booking required.

AND A BUS RIDE AWAY . . .

Sunday 1 September, 2.30pm Cemetery Guided Tour Meet main entrance West Norwood Cemetery Led by a Friends of West Norwood Cemetery tour guide. Encounter outstanding monumental architecture and the final resting places of famous people. Hear about Doulton pottery, Bessemer steel, the Maxim gun, Tate sugar and art gallery, Reuters news agency, Mrs Beeton of cookbook fame and the Greek necropolis. Free, but recommended donations of £1 (50p concessions) are encouraged to aid conservation work.

22 WHAT’S ON brixtonblog.com 2019 SEPTEMBER

What’s on at Whirled Mid 90s Monday 2 – Wednesday 4 September | 8pm Sunday 8 September | 6pm Jonah Hill’s Mid90s follows Stevie, a 13-year-old in 1990s Los Angeles who spends his summer navigating between a troubled home life and a group of new friends that he meets at a skate shop.

Island of the Hungry Ghosts Thursday 5 September | 8pm Island of the Hungry Ghosts takes place on the remote and extraordinary Christmas Island. Home to few humans, it is famous for one of the world’s largest land migrations – 50 million crabs (inset) desperate to reach the ocean’s edge. It also has a troubling relationship with human migration. Its jungle hides Australia’s biggest offshore refugee detention centre. The only connection to the outside world for asylum seekers is counsellor Poh Lin Lee. Winner of the best documentary award at New York’s Tribeca film festival, the first feature documentary from Gabrielle Brady is a deeply moving examination of inhumanity.

A Season In France Monday 9 – Wednesday 11 September | 8pm Sunday 15 September | 6pm Mahamat-Saleh Haroun’s soul-searching film focuses on the plight of undocumented asylum seekers desperately trying to find sanctuary in Europe. Abbas (Eriq Ebouaney), a college professor and father of two, seeks political asylum in France.

Two years of waiting finally elicit a response from the authorities. Everything he holds dear, including his hopes for both his future and those of his children, lie in their decision. Haroun masterfully

contrasts the intimacy of human relationships with the cold bureaucracy of a vast, impersonal system.

Border Monday 16 – Wednesday 18 September | 8pm Sunday 22 September | 6pm Sweden’s entry for the Oscars and from the writer of Let the Right One In, Ali Abbasi’s Border is a film like no other. Tina (Eva Melander) is a border guard who has the ability to smell human emotions and catch smugglers. When she comes across a mysterious man with a smell that confounds her detection, she is forced to confront hugely disturbing insights about herself and humanity.

The Kindergarten Teacher Monday 23 – Wednesday 25 September | 8pm Sunday 29 September | 6pm Maggie Gyllenhaal stars as Lisa Spinelli, a kindergarten teacher and poet fed up with her career, her oblivious husband and teenage kids who largely ignore her in Sara Colangelo’s film. When she discovers that a five-year-old in her class may be a poetic prodigy, Lisa becomes fascinated and tries to protect him from neglectful parents. She soon finds herself risking her career and family to nurture his talent.

Booksmart Monday 30 September – Wednesday 2 October | 8pm Sunday 6 October | 8pm Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart is a comedy about high school best friends and the early bonds that last a lifetime. The film is a coming of age story for a new generation.

Whirled Cinema | 259 Hardess Street, SE24 0HN | whirledcinema.com | 020 7737 6153

Art show will Save time, celebrate female money and African culture the planet

‘Little leaders’ fest for children of colour

The Azawala Cafe Gallery at 55 Loughborough Road is to present a debut exhibition by London-based Karen Alleyne, aka Oya Arts – The Deliverance of Womban: The sacred passage to self.

It will run from Saturday 9 November to Sunday 1 December and celebrates “the colourful undertones of Afro-Caribbean feminine culture” with acrylic paintings.

The Azawala Cafe Gallery has been a centre for West African and Caribbean culture in Brixton for three years and hosts a collection of African artefacts and a collection of art and crafts from UK-based artists – not always from a Black background.

Jos Brient, owner of the gallery, says “As an African it is important to recognise our history and culture but also portray and elevate ourselves to be represented as occupants of the 21st century.”

AA Azawala Cafe Gallery 55 Loughborough Road, SW9 7TB Open Thursday to Saturday 11am to 6pm 020 3583 6387 azawala20@ymail.com

Pop Brixton will host a “Little Leaders Fest” celebrating children of colour on Sunday 1 September.

From 11am to 6pm there will be art and dance workshops, hair education, and culture-inspired storytelling and more creative workshops.

There will also be a marketplace and the festival will end with a DJ playing positive vibes only.

The festival is an endeavour by Charlotte Francis and Jane D’Offay, who are both passionate about nurturing diversity and inclusion.

They want to create a “little-fest” that showcases different ethnic backgrounds from all over the UK, to unite in one place without experiencing any harassment or feeling unsafe, but to bounce positive energies off each other, in a fun, creative, diverse environment learning and respecting the different range of race and culture.”

The festival will focus on “Black, Asian, mixed, other ethnic backgrounds”, but children from five to 10 and adults from all backgrounds and races are welcome.

AA www.littleleadersfest. wixsite.com/littleleadersfest

Lough­borough Junction’s Platform Café is to host two free cookery classes featuring quick and easy recipes with writer Mandy Mazliah on a theme of reducing food waste.

Londoners bin an estimated 910,000 tonnes of food a year.

On 25 September, it’s POTATOES: Curried potato quinoa burgers (can be made with leftover mash) with potato peel chips, grated carrot and mustard salad and vegan slaw On 2 October, it’s BANANAS: Banana curry, spiced banana bread and vegan banana milkshakes The classes, run by the Small Change, Big Difference campaign, are part of a series of free pop-up events. All ingredients are provided and will be low cost, healthy and easy to source. Classes run from 6.30pm to 9pm.

You can book up to two weeks in advance at http:// bit.ly/SCBD-autumn19. A £10 deposit, repayable in full after arrival, is required.

Regular supper club events at the Platform continue through September, see http:// bit.ly/LJAG-supper-sep19 AA Platform, 2 Ridgway Road, SW9 7AH (opposite Loughborough Farm).

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SEPTEMBER 2019

Hill Mead HERALD

Working together at Hill Mead

Meeting Elizabeth Kneafsey, the Wild Wool Shepherdess, and one of her lambs

Year 5 swap visits with a village school Year 5 took part in an exchange with another primary school towards the end of last term.

East Bridgford in Notting­ hamshire may only be 132 miles away, but its population is less than 2,000, compared to Brixton’s 80,000 or so, and St Peter’s C of E Academy is in the middle of farmland.

Computers and games are

common interests – although St Peter’s play lacrosse, not hockey – but a tractor outside the school and a mural dedicated to a dead rock star were normal for one set of children and a new experience for the other.

Julie Marston, who teaches year 5 at St Peter’s, saw the Hill Mead Herald while visiting her daughter

who lives in Brixton. It gave her the idea for the exchange visits.

The Hill Mead visitors to East Bridgford experienced local activity, including a demonstration by Elizabeth Kneafsey, the Wild Wool Shepherdess, and met farmer James Fisher and his tractor “Ding Dong”.

They also tried the local speciality, Stilton cheese.

Hill Mead deputy head Becky Lawrence (left) and Hester Kidson who was a St Peter’s pupil Lacrosse at St Peter’s, hockey at Hill Mead

Julie Marston who teaches year 5 at St Peter’s and had the idea for the exchange

In Brixton, St Peter’s pupils toured local highlights including the Bowie mural, and enjoyed lunch in the park. At both get-togethers the pupils worked together on a variety of projects, including creating slime at Hill Mead.

As the visits took place, Jane Swain, who helps with reading at St Peter’s, told the visiting Hill Mead

party that her daughter, Hester Kidson, is a teacher at the Brixton school and had been a pupil at St Peter’s. Hester was on hand to welcome St Peter’s pupils to Brixton.

■■BBC Radio Nottingham broadcast an item about the visit from Hill Mead, which you can hear at http://bit.ly/HM-SP_visit-audio

Visiting the Bowie mural and meeting farmer James Fisher and his tractor Ding Dong

BRIXTON

Bugle SPORT

Dulwich still in with a chance Dulwich Cricket Club go into their last two games of the season with their hopes still alive of promotion from Division 2 of the A J Fordham Surrey Championship. They held on to third place with a three-wicket victory at Farnham. John Lewis reports FARNHAM 201-9 (50) lost to DULWICH 205-7 (47.5) by 3 wickets All of the top five teams in the league won on 24 August, so Dulwich kept third place with two matches to go.

On 31 August they have their last home match, against Worcester Park who are currently seventh. Their final match is away against Bank of England (currently fifth) on 7 September in Roehampton.

Against Farnham, the home side elected to bat, and Toby Ward and Guy Hicks got them off to a rapid start. Dulwich’s Jon Lodwick, returning from illness, was not at his best, but Sahir Hussain was tighter and took the first wicket with the score on 33 in just the sixth over, bowling Ward for 23, who had scored them at a run a ball. Farnham’s acting skipper Jim Berry joined Hicks in a stand of 33 for the second wicket before Elliot Miles had Hicks lbw for 13.

Russell Golding joined Berry and the third wicket pair also added 33 before Golding was caught and bowled by Miles for 21. Two wickets in successive overs for Alex Gledhill saw Farnham decline to 102-5 after 27 overs.

Matt Crew helped Berry add 29 for the sixth wicket before falling lbw to Gledhill for 16, and the captain was the seventh wicket to fall, caught behind by Will Bancroft off Salaar Waqar for 49 with the score on 149 in the 39th over.

Mike O’Mahony kept the scoreboard moving before being caught behind. Adam Elstow gave Bancroft his third victim when he was stumped.

The innings closed on 201-9, with Miles, who had taken the last two wickets, finishing with 4-33 and Gledhill 3-47, while Hussain had conceded just 26 runs off his ten overs.

Dulwich hit 18 runs from the first three overs, but for the loss of both openers, with Chris Purshouse falling lbw and Alex Leyshon caught at first slip. Matt Marfani and skipper Ed Stolle added 39 in 11 overs for the third wicket before Marfani was run out by a direct hit having made 23 off 42 balls.

14-year-old Veer Patel then helped his skipper add 50 in 14 overs for the fourth wicket before being lbw for 16 with the score on 107.

Bancroft helped Stolle add 24 before both fell to Golding. Stolle made 60, his highest score of the season, off 74 balls. Miles and Lodwick thus came together with the innings in the balance on 133-6 after 33 overs. After a slow start they gradually accelerated to add 55 in 13 overs before Miles became the second player to be run out by a direct hit, having made 19 off 39 balls.

Waqar joined Lodwick and together they saw their side home with 2.1 overs to spare, Lodwick finishing with 39 off 45 balls, and Waqar 10 off 8.

Volleyball to return to Brixton Rec Brixton Rec is to relaunch adult and junior volleyball on its renovated court. Çisel Ormanci of Little Giants volleyball club worked with Rec operator GLL, Lambeth council’s leisure services supplier, to bring it back into use for the sport.

The club will run two new adult groups and a junior after-school group will play on Fridays from 4.30 to 6pm.

Little Giants already runs five school groups, five junior sessions and women’s and men’s adult national teams.

Immortals spread the word Brixton Immortals domino team continued their outreach programme spreading the word about their sport again at the 24th Jamaica family fun day and food festival in Crystal Palace Park. Sponsored by Victoria Mutual building society and Grace Foods, the Immortals staged a men v women match. The team is based at the domino club at 297 Coldharbour Lane (SW9 8RP).

The Diamonds women’s team (and Domino Club Chair Mervin Stewart, centre) celebrate

“It is a project I’ve been working on for the past two years”, Çisel said. “I’m super excited as there has been no volleyball at the venue for many, many years”.

AA https://www.volleyballevents.org AA littlegiantsvolleyballclub@gmail.com

Run Talk Run Brixton is a mental health running support group which meets weekly at the Prince Regent pub on Dulwich Road opposite Brockwell Park on Wednesdays at 7pm for a 7.15pm run for a 5km run in the park and supportive space to chat. All abilities are welcome, no runners are left behind, it’s free to attend, and runners can leave bags at the Prince Regent during the session.

Run Talk Run was launched two years ago by Jessica Robson and what started as a weekly meet-up for a single group in London has grown into a global mental health support group – the Brixton group started up this summer.

You can sign up via the mycrew app (https://get.mycrew.com) then find Brixton’s run.

To find our more visit https://runtalkrun.com or email julialowis@gmail.com.