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Lib Dems wiped off Lambeth map The Liberal Democrats have been wiped off the political map in Lambeth, failing to gain a single seat in the borough’s local elections. The party lost 14 of its 15 seats to Labour in the poll on May 22, while the Conservatives fell to just three councillors, all in Clapham Common ward. The Green party took the 15th Lib Dem seat, as Scott Ainslie bagged 11 per cent of the votes in St Leonard, Streatham. Speaking to the Brixton Bugle after the results, a stoical Liberal Democrats leader Alex Davies thanked his “hard-working” colleagues for their time on the council. He said: “In the last four years is has been the Liberal Democrats as the opposition that has held the Labour council to account, for everything from the budget to planning applications and housing issues. “The council is going to make some big decisions, but it’s going to be very difficult indeed for the it to be held to account now.”
The election, which had a turnout of just 32 per cent in the borough, left a surging Labour party with 59 of the 63 seats up for grabs. Cllr Lib Peck, Lambeth council leader, said she was delighted with the result: “It’s a ringing endorsement of the last administration’s sound financial management, successful lobbying and push to Continued on p2
June 2014
Inside:
SUMMER IN THE CITY p12-13 Your double page guide to enjoying the sunshine in and around Brixton
Totally Tedx Talks
TedX Brixton, an event for local people to give inspiring talks to their community, is gearing up for its main autumn event by holding a Kick Off day in Lambeth Town Hall on June 7. All are welcome to the warm up gig. Turn to page 5 for more info. DELIGHT: Labour leader Lib Peck
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MAXI JAZZ INTERVIEW p17 New music editor Phoebe Robertson catches up with Faithless legend Maxi Jazz ahead of his Electric fundraiser
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Brixton Bugle June 2014
News The Brixton Bugle & BrixtonBlog.com are edited in Brixton by Zoe Jewell and Tim Dickens. Both the website and newspaper are published by a not-for-profit community organisation. It’s run by a committed team of people from Brixton. Brixton Blog and Bugle The Piano Club 9 Brighton Terrace SW9 8DJ » Tel 020 3730 1312 » @brixtonblog » @brixton_bugle » www.brixtonblog.com Circulation: 10,000 copies Readership: circa 15,000
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Labour celebrates result as ‘ringing endorsement’
Cont. from p1... get residents more involved. “We have seen Lambeth become an ever more popular place to live, huge investment in the borough and lots of new opportunities opening up to residents.” Despite and energetic campaign in Coldharbour ward by Green candidates Solomon Smith, Rashid Nix and Tom Green, Labour retained all three seats in the central Brixton area. In a message to his supporters following the results, Nix: “Greens in Brixton came second behind Labour but beat Conservatives, Libs and UKIP. Many thanks for all your support.” All 18 seats in the Brixton area are now held by the Labour Party.
Police gathered at the Town Hall, Brixton, to celebrate completing their two years probation in the service. 41 officers from Lambeth attended the confirmation ceremony on May 28, where they were thanked by borough commander Richard Woods.
POLITICS Kaye Wiggins politics@brixtonblog.com
ARTS Barney Evison Ruth Waters arts@brixtonblog.com MUSIC & LISTINGS Phoebe Robertson Phoebe@Brixtonblog.com
Theatre at home
OUT FOR THE COUNT: Lib Dem leader Alex Davies (above) Labour celebrate (top right) and the count arena at Brixton Rec
Stolen bike crash traps driver A woman had to be freed from her car by fire fighters after a collision with a stolen motorbike being chased by police. The motorcycle hit the Volvo near Halfords on Effra Road, Brixton at 4.15pm on May 21. The motorbike rider managed to escape from the scene and is still being hunted by police. The 38-year-old driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Effra Road was closed to traffic in both directions for about two hours.
FOOD Miss South Lindsay Faller food@brixtonblog.com SPORT Laura Dickinson newsdesk@brixtonblog.com
ISSUE 22
Sub-editor: Jamila Omar Design: Claire CranstonSelby Writers: Katie Lathan, Nisha Damji, Saara Jaffery-Roberts Pictures: Alistair Hall, Damon Hope, Antonio Sansica Cartoons / Illustrations: Kaylene Alder, Tim Bird Pam Williams, Bobby Groves Crossword: Josie Gardiner Columnists: Ms Bennet, Alison Alexander A massive thank you to everybody involved in making this issue, and the Blog & Bugle project, a success.
Community gardeners are bringing a taste of the Chelsea Flower Show south of the river this summer with a pop-up garden. Herne Hill residents are creating an exuberant garden display outside Brockwell Park’s Herne Hill Gate. Planters were designed, built and planted on Thursday evenings during the ‘Chelsea Fringe Festival’ and will remain in situ throughout the summer. Community Gardener Alison Alexander, said: “We’re really excited to plant this pop-up garden. We want everybody to get involved and come and help us plant – it’s a great way to get the community together and create something eye-catching and beautiful.”
Police awards
NEWS newsdesk@brixtonblog.com
FEATURES Keith John Lewis features@brixtonblog.com
Chelsea flowers
Ovalhouse theatre is looking for people to volunteer their homes for a very special production. The youth theatre company wants four homes on one Brixton street for a cast of up to three actors to perform to an audience of up to ten each time. The plan is part of the I Am Your Neighbour production from the group. Ovalhouse, currently in Oval, is preparing for a move to a new home in Somerleyton Road development, Brixton.
Gunshots Tulse Hill latest news etc
Four men have been arrested after a shotgun was fired into a crowd of people in Tulse Hill. Three people were taken to hospital with gunshot injuries after the event, on May 17 at about 9pm. Police have appealed for anyone who may have seen a dark Ford Focus speeding away from the scene, near the Leander Road entrance to the estate. They say there was an “altercation” between two groups before the gun was fired into a large group of people. Officers from the Trident Gang Crime Command are
investigating the shooting, but are keeping an open mind into whether this is gang related. Detective Inspector Danny Gosling said: “When the shooting happened, lots of people would have been outside enjoying the good weather and may have witnessed something.” Resident Tom Lowenstein said on Twitter: “That sounded like a gun going off on Tulse Hill, #Brixton. May be wrong but a lot of police heading towards it.” Another said two shots were fired into the crowd.
Herne Hill Piano
SHOTS: The shooting happened near the Leander Road entrance
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A beautiful film telling the story of a much-loved public piano in Herne Hill has been released online. The documentary was shown to local film lovers at the opening of the Herne Hill Free Film Festival on May 2. It was directed by Maureen Ni Fiann and filmed and edited by filmmaker Tom Rochester. See it at brixtonblog.com
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News Roof Dog Beer A popular Brixton pub and music venue is celebrating its well known mascot with a special organic beer. The Windmill, in Blenheim Gardens, off Brixton Hill, teamed up with brewers Pitfields Organic to launch the vegan Roof Dog Beer. The ale was welcomed to the venue on May 25 by a special all day party and barbecue. According to one source, the Roof Dog Beer is “a cheeky 4.5% number made with pale malted barley and added German hops.”
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College to cut 20 more jobs as unions back ‘indefinite’ strike BY TIM DICKENS
Lambeth College is preparing to cut the equivalent of 20 full-time jobs in response to massive cuts to its funding. The institution has began a consultation process on the job cuts after a savage £2m cash cut for the upcoming academic year. The news emerged last week as 89 per cent of union members voted in favour of indefinite strike action over pay and conditions. College student and Brixton resident Bridget Chapman said the new cuts will hit English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and courses for students with learning difficulties the hardest. She said: “I see the incredible difference these courses make to people’s lives. Cutting them is unthinkable. “Some of the members of the Lambeth College ‘leadership’ group are on salaries in excess of £100,000. They need to earn their money by fighting for more funding and consider taking a salary cut so that we can retain these vital courses. “The community simply will not accept losing these vital jobs.” Voluntary redundancy has also
been opened to staff during the 30 day consultation as talks begin with unions and lecturers. Mark Silverman, principal, said: “These proposals are made with the intention of ensuring that the College can manage the reduction in funding for next year and so that Lambeth College can continue to secure longterm financial sustainability. “Over the consultation we will work closely with staff and trade unions to minimise the impact of
potential redundancies.” The beleaguered college came under fire earlier this year for selling its Brixton Hill campus to the Government to make way for a controversial new “catholic-ethos” free school, though Lambeth College insists it will retain some adult learning on the site. In May last year it announced it would cut 30 to 40 jobs in response to earlier Government budget cuts.
Man jailed for eviction shooting
A Brixton man who shot bailiffs as they tried to evict him from his Brixton home has been jailed for 15 years. Andrew Stephenson, 49, shot at a bailiff and housing association worker when they arrived with a locksmith at his Strathleven Road home on July 3 last year. The unnamed bailiff was shot twice in the leg as he entered the property, and Norma Johnson, a worker from Metropolitan Housing, was shot in the knee after being chased into the street by the gunman. Detective Sergeant Paul Carruth said: “This was an appalling and excessively violent attack on innocent people, who were simply doing their job.”
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News
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Latest shared office opens Opening your own shared workspace is positively de rigeur in Brixton at the moment, as the latest offering of whitewashed walls threw open its doors last month. 465Brixton, found above Barclays Bank on Brixton Road, offers a number of desks for rent by the month to freelancers and small businesses. It follows the recent launch of the Town Hall Impact Hub, as well
as Biz Space in Loughborough Junction and the ‘Community Hub’ at the Brix at St Matthews. The latest offering boasts desks made from reclaimed scaffolding planks and poles and a ‘vertical inside garden’. The three entrepreneurs who are behind the scheme explained to the Brixton Bugle: “We are a collective of individuals and small companies, that share a workspace
with like-minded people. “Our ethos is to invest into Brixton and share the time and knowledge that we have here. We are creating a talent pool, a skills register that allows us to look around us for skills before going to the open market.” 465Brixton will be holding an open day on June 26. You can find out more information at 465brixton.com
Splash crowdfund bid
COWORKERS: 465Brixton directors Oli Lyndale, Hannah Mir and Ibrahim Serra-Mohammed
Brixton Splash have launched a brand new crowdfunding project to help fund its annual Brixton party this year. The risky strategy means if they do not receive £20,000 they will not receive a penny of the money pledged to support the festival. Significant funding cuts as well as rising costs mean that the community-led free street festival is facing an uncertain future after eight successful and safe years. Festival organisers have been seeking alternative funding to ensure that the muchloved community event, can go
ahead as planned on August 3. Jo Birch-Faure, from Brixton Splash, said: ‘This is make or break for the event’s future. Losing vital local government funding was a devastating loss.” She added: The festival is the epitome of cool and is well-loved by the Caribbean diaspora that call Brixton or South London home as well as hipsters and music fans. It’s one day in the summer where London’s communities can come together in peace over good music and great food.” For information and to donate, go to www.buzzbnk.org/ BrixtonSplash2014
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News
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Somerleyton Road project to be transferred to local ownership
BY ZOE JEWELL A massive regeneration project along Somerleyton Road is to be transferred into local ownership instead of the hands of a private developer, the council has announced after consultations with the local community. The project, to include a theatre, housing and a cultural centre, has now moved into a crucial stage with key decisions to be made this year so that a formal planning application can be submitted. The council will then seek to raise a loan to pay for the project. Lambeth Council has chosen as development managers Igloo, who will work with urban design consultants Social Life and designers Metropolitan Workshop. Council officer Neil Vokes said: “It was felt they were a perfect fit for Brixton. They are about regeneration in the good sense of it. They had an
interesting design approach.” As part of Igloo’s plans, five architectural firms will be chosen to design different buildings on the site. A programme of intensive consultation workshops will be run by Social Life for the next year, but the council is also now talking directly to those who want space on the site, including local youth engagement agency Livity. Questions remain over the fate of Carlton Mansions, whose residents are currently under threat of immediate eviction. Livity, B3 Media, 192 Contemporary Art Gallery and Oval House Theatre have formed a ‘cultural group’ to explore how Carlton Mansions will be used. The Nuclear Dawn mural is to be kept and hopefully also refurbished. In a bold move, the council has now decided to transfer a long lease on the entire project to a community
Brixton illustrated James Lovelock, scientist
body. Though precise details haven’t been decided upon yet, Vokes said that this body will be made up of residents, local groups and council representatives, all chosen “as democratically as possible”. The council has also revealed a more detailed housing structure, to be overseen by a community-run housing co-operative. In the current plan, there will now be 60 care units and 85 units let at ‘capped rent’, which is 50% of the market rent and includes service charge, to those on the council housing list. A further 85 units will be let at ‘affordable rent’, which is 85% of the market rent, aimed specifically at working families who are not on the council housing list; 70 units will be privately rented. All rents will help pay back the loan for the entire site. Look out for more information about public consultation workshops on www.brixtonblog.com.
SPEAK: Soup Kitchen founder Solomon Smith at last year’s event
TedX Brixton hots up In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) has created a programme called TEDx, a series local, self-organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Following a highly successful event in Brixton last year, attended by over 400 people, TEDx Brixton is holding an open day for the whole community to attend and find out
how to get involved. No tickets are required - you can just pop along and learn more about what they are up to. This year the theme is: ‘When Worlds Collide’. The event is on Saturday June 7 at Brixton Impact Hub, Town Hall from 12pm to 7pm. TEDx Brixton is also looking for volunteers, so if you have ideas to share please email info@ tedxbrixton.com.
This month’s illustration was suggested via Twitter by Sara Lowlands who suggested James Lovelock, an independent scientist, environmentalist and futurist who is the originator of Gaia theory and who lived in Brixton as a child. A free print of the illo will soon be speeding through the post to Sara. Tweet your suggestions for next month’s notable Brixtonite to @kpictures and win a print of your own. See more of Kaylene Alder’s beautiful illustrations at www.kaylenealder.com
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Advertorial Brixton BID
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Interview: Stuart Horwood Founding Director of Brixton Market Traders’ Federation Brixton BID kicks off free training and cheaper recycling for businesses.The Brixton Business Improvement District (BID) has launched its first services to help local businesses save money. Thirty or so Brixton businesses attended an evening event that was held at our new office on Acre Lane on 7th May, where they were welcomed by Elly Foster, director of Satay Bar and Brixton BID Chair along with other board members. There was food, drink, networking and an opportunity to ask questions about how the BID works. Elly delivered a short speech together with former town centre manager Angelina Purcell from The means about the vision for the BID and what we plan to deliver during our first year.
We had a quick chat with Stuart Horwood, Founding Director of Brixton Market Traders’ Federation and Brixton BID board member Tell us a bit about what you do. I’ve been a trader in Brixton since 1984, fixing and selling watches, and trying my best to look after people. Everybody calls me ‘Stuart the Watchman’ or ‘The Watch Doctor’ When did you first hear about the Brixton Business Improvement District, and what was your first impression of the concept? I first heard about BIDs around eight years ago when I was on the Lambeth Enterprise board. I met with the manager of the Waterloo Quarter BID and thought the concept was a good idea and would be useful to businesses in Brixton. How do you think a Business Improvement District can benefit Brixton Businesses? The best thing about the BID in Brixton is that it gives businesses the opportunity to
have a unified voice. Plus it is helpful for businesses to have a point of contact that they can go to with issues such as parking, waste collections, parking, crime levels, parking, parking and…parking! What is your vision for the future of Brixton and its local businesses? I feel very confident about the future success of the area, and have recently invested in a brand new stall for my own business. I
Picture: Jeannine Mansell think that businesses in Brixton are on the right track towards a bigger and brighter future. We still have a lot of great independent businesses here, which is one of Brixton’s greatest strengths. Anything else you’d like to add? I’d like to invite anybody with a local business that has doubts about the benefits of the BID to come and have a chat with me – you know where I am.
Cheaper Recycling and Waste Collection
Free Training
Several businesses signed up for the free training courses that are being organized by the BID in partnership with Lambeth College. These training courses are funded by the ESF and are available to all local businesses. The training helps staff to develop their skills and knowledge whilst improving elements of your business operation. Courses are currently available in Health & Safety, First Aid and Customer Service and
How to contact the Brixton BID? If you have a question or would like to know more about what the BID is up to, please give us a call at the office: 0203 4177373, or send us an email: admin@ brixtonbid.co.uk. Apologies that we are a small team at the moment and often very busy, we will always aim to get back to you within a week. Want to get involved? We asked businesses what their priorities were, and from the responses we have formed three ‘Theme groups’ chaired by local businesses. The groups will meet every six weeks and help make decisions about how the BID levy income is spent. The three themes are Environment,
prepare candidates with basic training from which they can then progress towards a formal qualification. The BID is discussing with Lambeth College the possibility of organizing future training courses in other areas, such as food hygiene or marketing. If you are a BID levy payer and interested in free training for your staff, please contact the BID office admin@brixtonbid.co.uk
Partnerships and Marketing. Brixton BID was established In/2: &267 %86,1(66 :$67( $1' June we will be running our by a ballot of all eligible busifirst theme group meetings, and nesses which took place in we are encouraging businesses November 2013. The BID will 5(&<&/,1* ,1 %5,;721 to come along to share their now be in place for 5 years, ideas and help procure and so contact us now to get your implement BID projects. Please views heard on how you’d like contact Susie at the BID office if your money to be spent! you’d like to be involved. What is a Business Improvement District? A Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led scheme to improve a defined commercial area through additional services or new initiatives. The BID is funded by a levy which is charged to all businesses with a rateable value of £5,000 or over. The concept of a BID is to empower businesses to ‘raise funds locally to be spent locally’ on improving their trading environment. Decisions are made by a board of directors made up of local business owners and managers.
The BID has partnered with award winning recycling company First Mile to provide a reduced cost recycling and waste disposal service for all levy paying businesses in the Brixton BID area. First Mile work with several London Business Improvement Districts and can save businesses up to 40% on recycling costs compared with the council service and other providers. If you are interested in saving money on your recycling and waste collection costs, you can contact First Mile directly on 0800 612 9894 or email customers@thefirstmile.co.uk to find out more.
Want to work for the BID? Consultancy The means is seeking to recruit a Projects Officer to support its work with Brixton BID. Hours of work will be 24 per week, for a 9-week period. Applications are particularly welcomed from people from
ethnic minorities and from local residents. Please email susie. barlow@themeans.co.uk for a full job description. The deadline for applications is June 30. www.brixtonbid.co.uk
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Brixton Bugle June 2014
Feature
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Rooting for the community
Segan Ghebrekidan spearheads local community organizing in Brixton and Loughborough Junction
Far left: Segan poses in front of a colourful wall. Left: A mural on the estate. Below: Segan is a familiar face in her community
BY SAARA JAFFERY-ROBERTS
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Segan Ghebrekidan is a grassroots community organiser, group facilitator, teacher, leader, and listener. She plays seemingly countless roles, but above all she is a mother and a resident of Loughborough Estate. “On Saturday I had eight young people volunteering with me, handing out leaflets for one of our groups on our estate. One young girl asked, “why do you put so much time into these things, into printing leaflets, running workshops? I told her, if you don’t make changes, no one will make them for you.” “I used to go to the housing office to complain about issues and problems. But I wasn’t heard, nor respected, and things were never followed through. So I decided to take things into my own hands and became a board member of the Tenants Management Organisation (TMO), and then helped set up the Tenants and Residents Association. From then, Segan’s involvement in local issues deepened. She cites her biggest achievement as organising the first Big Lunch in 2012, an event which brought together different service providers and councillors. “It was a lot of hard work, but with the help of my councillors Rachel Haywood and Matt Parr in the end everything went smoothly.” One of Segan’s current projects is the Loughborough Women’s Group, which she co-founded with Cynthia Roomes from the London Community Foundation. Indeed, the main aim of the group is to improve the educational and economic prospects of local women, and raise their levels of confidence and self esteem. The group, now three years old, encompasses over 250 individuals who pool their different skills. Crucially, the informal, flexible and calm environment provides an accessible base for isolated women who might not usually approach such a project. Among the weekly workshops and activities are self-development, mindful thinking, trips out, henna, basketry and jewellery-making. A crèche is provided for under-fives, and inter-generational events are encouraged. Another initiative involving the London Community Foundation was Building Community Coldharbour Lane. Here, residents of Coldharbour Lane came up with their own ideas that could benefit the community, which were then linked to a nurture partner, who would then help with funding and monitoring. “This is what we lack. We have the ideas, but don’t
always have the means to get them done, and lack the paperwork knowledge. This partnership really worked. It gave us more power, and the opportunity to run our own projects. It did long-term good.” As part of this scheme, Segan’s idea was to invite a solicitor into the estate for a four-month period. Thanks to partnership with the local Tenants and Residents Association, this then provided practical legal advice to anybody that needed it. Culinary events that get everybody together are also high on the agenda. Food for Heroes was a project which ran until March this year. “The idea was to showcase the cooking of where you’re from, and then share the food together at the end”. Set in leafy Myatts Field Park, and running for two years, the event broke down boundaries allowing “people to connect… food is the best way to get in touch with people… people feel comfortable with their own cooking”. The event was a huge success, and although the funding has finished, they’re on the lookout for other sources to continue the project. “Any training happening, I will take part in. My latest thing is to collaborate with Lambeth Law Centre, where I’ve been trained to advise people on welfare reform. We then facilitate weekly sessions where we show people how to deal with welfare reform, debts, bailiffs, sanctions, evictions, - and she adds “there have been a lot of evictions. It’s been a challenge, because there is a lot to learn about welfare. But it is good for people to know that we are here for them. Working together as a community we are bigger, and we can get things done one way or another.” The list really does go on, and this is just a cross-section of the grass-roots organizing in local areas around Brixton and Loughborough Junction by people like Segan and many others. With a smile Segan finishes, “there’s a lot of talent in this estate. There are 1,250 dwellings. That’s a lot of people.”
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Letters
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YOUR TWEETS
My Secret Brixton
Some of your #Brixton tweets:
@LukeBoga Two payday lenders have opened within less than 30 seconds of one another on Stockwell Road, #Brixton. (One for you @lambethpalace) @rosieseed: on @bbc5live now; story of the Blackwash tour of 1984. West Indies thrashed England at cricket, feat Brixton residents.
People’s Kitchen @BrixtonPK We’re #hiring a paid co-ordinator! (1 day a week) Get in touch on brixtonpk@gmail. com
Join the conversation in #Brixton by Tweeting us @BrixtonBlog or @Brixton_Bugle
Daniel Longe, 18, is the Lambeth Youth Cabinet member for crime and safety. Here he shares his favourite things about Brixton with us.
YOUR PICTURES: Mother Duck takes kids to the pool
Big thanks to Lido swimmer David Grafton who snapped this cutest of pictures on his phone. The ducklings become a well-known feature at Brockwell Lido this Spring. Have you spotted them yet?
How do you read yours?
Far left: Nathalie Pannequin enjoys a little read of her Brixton Bugle in sunny Paris. Left: Richard Miller took this photo while rehearsing with Blackheath Halls Orchestra. The red thing in the foreground is his alto trombone (it’s made of plastic, but it sounds more or less the same as a normal one). Below: Much missed Bookmongers legend Patrick wishes his best after heading to Nova Scotia
Food
Now you have probably heard of living life on the edge of the world, but Brixton is a world of its own. Jam-packed with different cultures that merge into one, creating an atmosphere that is unique to only Brixton. You don’t need to travel to central London to taste exotic food, no, Brixton has a variety of cultural cuisines right at your door step.
Myatt’s Field
The area where I grew up has now calmed down from all the crime associated with it. Myatt’s Field has a nice setting and its beauty is clear during the summer period. There are many local residents who have lived in the area for many years, with a local park brimming with children. I advise you to visit and experience the lovely atmosphere.
Brockwell Park
I recommend you take a jog around Brockwell Park on a nice humid morning. It is good to refresh your mind and get fit along the way. The view from where the hill peaks near the entrance is amazing, you can catch the sunrise piecing through the skyline and bring light down on central Brixton.
Windrush Square
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The
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»70 privately rented housing units to be built along Somerleyton Road »59 out of 63 seats now held by Labour in the council »FIVE things we love about Brixton are in our summer special on page 12 »40 years of the Lambeth Country Show »7pm time of brixton Blog running club - every Monday at Windrush Square »ONE Coconut in Miss South’s fresh coconut salad on page 18 »40% saved in waste and recycling costs for businesses by Brixton BID
Newly refurbished, Brixton’s square can be mistaken for an American Miami setting on a sunny day. It is a nice place to relax and socialise. To the left is the iconic Ritzy cinema; if you want to watch a movie with your friends. Directly across the road is the Lambeth Town Hall. The structure of the building is powerful and stands out with the clock tower rotating every hour; so it’s not too much of a problem if you left your watch at home.
Love Brixton
What I love about Brixton mainly is the drastic change it’s made over the years. We have come a long way from the stereotype of a crime-based area and rioting which stemmed from the past. It is a nice area that is improving and changing, with new buildings sprouting everywhere; all for the people. Brixton is for the people, we are the elements that make Brixton.
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Comment & Analysis
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The Brixton Blog and Bugle Est. 2012
Election day – voting is always accompanied by a frisson of excitement for us, but casting our vote this year in the local elections, it was noticeable just how few people had bothered to turn up. A great shame, really, because our local councillors will have a lot to do with what happens to Brixton at a time of fastpaced gentrification coupled with serious austerity and crushing benefits cuts. Turnout in Lambeth was devastatingly low - just 32% of residents went to vote. When they did vote, they voted Labour. The Lib Dems have dropped from the second to the fourth party in the borough and now have zero seats on the council. Whatever you think of either party, this has left Lambeth Labour – already a highly centralized party group – virtually unaccountable within the council. Three seats are with the Tories and one with the Greens, but the remaining 59 are Labour. In the past, as the opposition party, Lib Dem councillors have picked up on and publicized problems in the borough. All part and parcel of party politics of course, but these problems might otherwise have gone unnoticed by us all. So where does that leave us? If questions aren’t asked of the Labour group within the full council itself, then there’s now even greater onus on us all to be asking them outside of council. As your local newspaper, that’s our role too – so whether you turned up to vote or not, send us your views via email or social media whenever you can. This month we are back to swimming at the Lido, which can only mean one thing – summer is here. See pages 12 and 13 for our focus on Brixton summer 2014, with picnic tips, a cocktail recipe, festivals and more. There’s a fresh coconut salad recipe from Miss South on page 18, while Lindsay Faller visits the lovely Little Ochi fish restaurant on page 19. In this issue, we also introduce our new Music Editor Phoebe Robertson, who has interviewed a Brixton great, Maxi Jazz, as he returns to Electric Brixton for the second Crystal Palace FC fundraiser (page 17). In his top five favourite things about Brixton, Daniel Longe – who is youth cabinet member for crime and safety – describes Brixton as a ‘world of its own’. In our sports section this month, we’ve taken that idea and talked to people of the many different nationalities in Brixton about their hopes and dreams for the World Cup 2014. We might have a hegemonic council, but we certainly don’t have a hegemonic community…
Mayor of London’s plans attack the principle of ‘policing with consent’. Lee Jasper The Lambeth Community Police Consultative Group (LCPCG) was founded in the aftermath of the 1981 civil disturbances in Brixton. The Scarman Report into the uprisings found that an important contributory factor was the breakdown in communication between the police and the community. For thirty years LCPCG has held monthly public meetings, holding the Met to account. Anyone could walk in off the street and raise issues of concern directly with the Borough Commander or seek election onto the Group. As one of LCPCG’s longest standing chairs and former Director of Police for London, I have witnessed first-hand their cutting-edge work on tackling domestic violence, rape, establishing independent custody visitors, highlighting the issue of mental health and deaths in police custody and the creation of London’s first stop and search monitoring group. This important work is now under extreme threat as a result of the decision in 2013 by Mayor Boris Johnson to reshape police-community consultation arrangements for London. His proposals
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will see local consultative groups replaced by new unelected Safer Neighbourhood Boards that will further erode police accountability in London. We oppose the Mayor’s plans as currently proposed and have published our counter proposals and we have launched an online petition, all available on our website. The new Lambeth SNB will not be directly accountable or transparent to the people of Lambeth. These ill thought-out proposals must be radically amended to be credible. The response of our new Borough Commander of Lambeth, Richard Wood and Labour lead for Community Safety Cllr Jack Hopkins has been to dismiss outright, proposals that we believe are fundamental to any effective police-community engagement proposals. Last week, at the annual Police Federation conference, Home Secretary Theresa May delivered a devastating critique of the institution of British policing, setting out a radical agenda of root and branch reform. There is a real crisis of confidence between Lambeth black communities and the Met. It’s a point I have made repeatedly, one that has been routinely denied by the Mayor and
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Commissioner Bernard Hogan Howe. The Home Secretary confirmed the reality of this crisis when she spoke about the low level of public confidence in the police, among diverse communities, stating, “And for different communities, the numbers can get very worrying indeed. According to one survey carried out recently only 42% of black people from a Caribbean background trust the police. That is simply not sustainable. Change is therefore required.’ In the context of a growing crisis of confidence, the Mayor’s proposals spell disaster for Lambeth. After 30 years’ experience we know what works in Lambeth, not the Mayor. Lee Jasper serves as a board member of Lambeth CPCG.
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Building Future Brixton Who will build the new homes, workspaces, shops and theatre that are part of Future Brixton? We’d like it to be people like Shaqueele (pictured), Zethan and Miguel – apprentices helping to rebuild the area they grew up in at Myatt’s Field North. They feature in a short film that you can see at www.love.lambeth.gov.uk/june-apprentice We want to see as many apprentices as possible get their first break through Future Brixton and 45 apprenticeships are already planned as part of the Your New Town Hall development. If you’re interested in a construction apprenticeship there will be Construction Taster programme this summer, where 4 weeks of pre-employment training and work experience will see 15 new apprentices employed by Byrne Bros. For more information email construction@lambeth.gov.uk
Building works are expected to start at Somerleyton Road and Your New Town Hall next year and Your New Town Hall is estimating 800 workers will be needed over a four year construction period. We’re challenging developers to fill at least 20 per cent of their construction jobs with local residents. This is already happening in Nine Elms to the north of the borough and Lambeth Working is helping residents interested in this type of work get ready for the 25,000 jobs expected over the next 10 years. Whether you’re working, returning to work or just starting out come along to the construction Recruitment Day (details below right) this month to find out more.
Somerleyton Road Community Day Saturday 21 June 1 to 7pm
Hundreds came out to enjoy the last event on Saturday 26 April, which took place alongside Brixton Come Together's Spring Session and the launch of Block Workout’s fantastic new Brixton Street Gym. It’s a great way to find out a bit more about what’s coming to Somerleyton Road and the variety of things already happening at Six Brixton, including yoga - and the first session is FREE.
Tuesday 17 June, 12 noon to 7pm Lambeth College, Vauxhall Centre, Wandsworth Road SW8 2JY (Bring a CV if you have one, your CSCC and any other tickets if available)
Popping up near you A garden and pedal-powered cinema is being planned at Pope’s Road on Saturday 7 June. Brought to you by grow:brixton and Future Brixton you can follow us @FutureBrixton
PHOTO: FIONA@FIONAFREUND.COM
PHOTO: FIONA@FIONAFREUND.COM
We’re excited to be sharing our next community day with Hillmead Primary School’s Summer Fair. Pop along to meet the new team – Igloo and Metropolitan Workshop – along with the Somerleyton Road Partnership of Brixton Green, Ovalhouse and Lambeth Council.
Construction Recruitment Day
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Brixton Bugle June 2014
Brockwell Lido
We’ve got the weekend covered Come along to our Open Weekend on 14 14 to to 15 15 June May 2014 and try us out for free*
Win a Family Summer Swim Pass!
Try out the gym, spa and group exercise classes at Brockwell Lido FOR FREE!* Pre-register online at www.fusion-lifestyle.com/bugle If you pre-register, you could also WIN a Family Summer Swim Pass Brockwell Lido, Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, London, SE24 0PA
Tel: 020 7274 3088
*New customers only, subject to availability.
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In FOCUS
SUMMER IN THE CITY
Blooming gardens, police sirens on hot, heavy nights, bare bodies in the Lido, and street BBQs – the Brixton summer is tangible, smelly, sweaty and (in the main) so much fun. In this summer special, we bring you some of the delights that 2014 has to offer.
PICNICS IN BRIXTON
Brockwell Park
TAKE FIVE: Things we love about the Brixton Summer
Rosie’s Deli
Five of our editors pick their top things about the south London in the sun Roses
Our food editor Miss South shares her top places in Brixton to source picnic goods from. And don’t forget to tidy up after yourselves once you’ve eaten up all these scrummy good – we’re fed up of a messy park! The place to be on any sunny summer day. I love the Lido but can’t cope with hot weather queues. I pick up a picnic in Brixton and then find a shady spot in the park to laze the day away. Here are my favourite places to go for the perfect picnic: I am obsessed with the smoked mackerel pate sandwiches here and who can resist the pork pies or sausage rolls for finger food? There are salad boxes too. Everything can be taken away as well as eaten in. 14e Market Row
Ms Cupcake
Nip next door for a vegan cupcake. There are so many types to choose from I could use up the entire word count listing half of them. You can also pick up vegan sarnies and snacks here if you’re eating animal free. 408 Coldharbour Lane
We’re convinced Brixton has a better display of roses than anywhere else in London. On our street alone, there are already pink, red, cream and yellow ones out. Nothing fills the heart with more summer joy than the sight and smell of these beauties on every street corner.
Salon
Music
The place for ready-made picnic hampers, cheese, charcuterie and even ‘build-your-own Ploughmans’. Everything is British and top quality. The beer sticks (like posh Pepperami) and pasties are a perfect snack as you walk up the road. 18 Market Row
I love how music is front and centre of the Brixton summer and creates an even greater buzz around the market. The sun inspires the music sellers to blast amazing tunes, adding fantastic reggaeton or dub rhythms to the daily shop. With the Brixton Splash and other various street performers, there really is a soundtrack to the summer in Brixton.
A&C Deli
I defy you to go in for just one thing. I nip in to get some slices of their amazing tortilla for a quick easy lunch and come out with pots of hummous, slices of manchego and puro lomo salami, a few olives and of course a few custard tarts just to be sure. Also their tomatoes are delicious with just some salt sprinkled on. 3 Atlantic Rd
The Agile Rabbit
Why not get a selection of slices for your picnic or even to eat in Windrush Square if you’ve only got a short amount of time to soak up the sun? There’s something fantastic about hot food on a picnic and these super thin slices of pizza are perfect. 24 Brixton Village
Brockwell Park Miniature Railway
As a parent, it has to be the Brockwell Park Miniature Railway, no? The perfect way to pacify an ice-cream intent toddler. Note, they don’t take Oyster card. We asked - TFL rejected the application. And then up to the wall garden. A right little suntrap...
Bickles
I like to call in to get jerk chicken and patties for a hearty lunch that’s as good cold as it is warm. 423 Coldharbour Lane
Oracle Juice Bar
A juice from this shop in Brixton Village is perfect with the Bickles lunch or just on its own. You’ll never look at a bottled smoothie the same way after you’ve tried one of Ita-Tunde’s creations. Brixton Village
Early Morning Swims
A quiet walk through the park to the Lido and a blissfully calm swim in the blue waters of the Lido is an indescribably wonderful early morning activity. If you time it just right you get the golden, pinkish light of dawn and the early warmth of the sun. For just a moment each morning before work you can exist in an entirely different world and we are all so lucky to live only minutes away from it.
Cornercopia
The shop attached to the restaurant has a great selection of local beers and gin to drink in the park. Grab a hat from one of the stalls next door and some sun cream from Boots if needs be and make a day of it in the park. Make sure you pack enough to be able to snack all afternoon! 16 Brixton Village
Pubs
The Trinity Arms, The Effra Tavern, The Prince Albert – Brixton’s pubs come alive in the summer months. We’re still mourning the loss of Mango Landin’ but there are plenty of pub gardens to choose from. And they’ll be packed come the England World Cup games of course.
Photo by Alistair Hall
Photo by Alistair Hall
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SPORT
CELEBRATE!
Come on, now, there is no excuse for not joining us for a Whirled Cup feeble run at our Brixton Blog running club or helping out at June 12-July 13 Well, yes, obviously also the the Good Gym each week. Here are five sports activities for the World Cup, but our footie pick for summer months to get you going. The Good Gym arrived in Brixton earlier this year and on Tuesdays at 6.45pm they run from Market Row to help out an organization which changes weekly. Examples of good deeds include clearing a ditch at Rosendale allotments, weighing and lifting at the Foodbank, or planting at Dominos Community Centre.
you this summer is the Whirled Cinema, where all games plus football-themed films will be screened at their cosy space in Loughborough Junction. There’ll be a bar. Go to www.whirledcinema.com/ whirled-cup for more information.
Block Workout
Lambeth Country Show,
Good Gym
Photo by Alistair Hall
Brixton fitness champ Terroll Lewis runs free Saturday workshops in Brockwell Park for all levels of fitness. Meet at the Water Lane entrance of the park. Women at 10.30am-11.30am, men at 12-2pm and kids at 9.3010.30pm.
Boxing
Afewee club succeeded in their campaign to get boxing sessions at the Rec this year so if you’re keen get to the leisure centre, whatever your ability, every Wednesday from 7-9pm.
Brixton Blog Running Club
Join us at whatever pace you wish to run from 7pm at Windrush Square. We either go once or twice around the park – it’s your choice – and range from slow to super speedy. And we like to have a chit chat on the way too!
Team sports in Brockwell Park Photo by Alistair Hall
Sean’s Summer Cocktail Sean Blake from Sean’s Bar in Market Row (Rosie’s Deli by day) schools us in the art of the peach bellini. Bellinis have come a long way since their creation at Harry’s bar in Venice. What started life as a seasonal specialty, in a massive glass, has become the all-year-round-‘funkin’ white peach puree’-champagne-glass-nightmare we see most of the time in bars today. Flat white peaches are here for most of the summer & English ones normally appear around July, so these are your prime target. Never use yellow peaches, it’s just not the proper way, like looking at a piece of art through those blue and red 3D glasses - you just wouldn’t do it. After September, put the prosecco away. This drink is best enjoyed in the sun. The puree is easy. Just chuck six white peaches, peeled and stoned in a blender with a squeeze of lemon, a few raspberries, and a spoonful of sugar, whizz it for ages. The lemon helps it keep for longer and the raspberries are traditionally used to give it the pink colour. Chuck the peach stones in a bottle of vodka and in a week you will have some nice peach liquor. Pass the puree through a fine sieve and what you have left over is your Bellini base. This should be enough for a bottle of prosecco’s worth of bellini. Dave at Market Row Wines has a great prosecco for around a tenner but any will do. Don’t use champagne as it’s too rich. The drink itself should be a third of a glass of puree and then prosecco to the top. This needs to be added slowly to a tall glass and stirred in to avoid an eruption, save that for the last 1cm you unleash a dramatic foam overspill. If the glass, the puree and the champagne are all chilled, then you’re all cool. Float a mint leaf on top if you think it needs it but I’m always happiest serving them as is. There is no need for smoke and mirrors when what’s in the glass is real magic.
Buy a rounders bat at Argos, a football, a cricket bat, a Frisbee, or whatever you want for some team sport fun with a bunch of friends. Easy.
July 19-20, 11am-7pm “The cows and sheep were there to add flavor, as it were, to this ‘real treat for townies’”, reported the Municipal Journal on August 2 1974. Many of you will have been going to the Country Show for several years now, some for your whole lives, but how many since the very beginning? This year, we celebrate 40 years of bringing veg sculptures and sheep to Brockwell Park for our favourite annual get-together, the Lambeth Country Show. It nearly got cancelled in 2012, but thankfully local protests meant the Show has made it to 40 in a straight run. It drew 25,000 in its first year and this year over 150,000 are expected to attend. Best of all, reggae legends Aswad are headlining on the Sunday and fancy dress from the four decades of LCS (that’s 70s, 80s, 90s, noughties) is being actively encouraged. We’ll be there in our shell suits.
Pollination Festival
Brockwell Park Community Gardens July 26-August 3 Bit of an unusual one, this. The Community Gardens are holding a pollination festival, with UK experts in various insect groups coming to Brockwell to give lectures and workshops. There’ll be a hoverfly lecture, a moth night, a solitary bees lecture and much, much more. You are pretty much guaranteed to learn something new…
Brixton Splash
August 3rd 2014 Our favourite street festival is set to be back this year with the usual sexy sound systems, stage performances on Windrush Square, family activities, dance, food and more across Brixton. Significant funding cuts have meant that the festival is facing an uncertain future though, so donate as much as you can to the fundraising page on Buzz Bank. A Brixton Splash ‘Our Big Gig’ event will be held from 4pm on July 13 in which potential Splash artists will take part in a Brixton’s Got Talent-style competition for a coveted slot on the main stage.
Photo by Alistair Hall
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Can you provide great memories for children and young people? Become a foster carer and make a difference to a child’s life. Contact us today or come along to our Fostering information and Recruitment Events: Wednesday 14th May, 5pm to 7pm at Lewisham Library Thursday 29th May, 5pm to 7pm at Brixton Community Centre Wednesday 18th June, 5pm to 7pm at Dulwich Picture Gallery Freephone: 0808 284 9554 Tel: 0208 768 8643 email: enquiries@kindercare.co.uk www.kindercare.co.uk
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Brixton Bugle June 2014
HILL MEAD Herald Wonder of the Wetlands
LOOKING GOOD: Year 3 line up for their visit to The London Wetlands Centre in Barnes
BY MAYA, Year 3 Year 3 have been learning all about plants this term and one Friday we all went on a trip to the London
Wetlands Centre in Barnes to find out about them. First, we all climbed on board a coach and it took us about 45 minutes to get there. It was a lovely sunny day
and we were very excited. Finally, when we got there, a lady showed us around and explained why they had built the Centre. Then we split into two groups
for our workshops. A man showed us lots of things about how plants survive in wetlands and the difference between land and water plants. He gave us a leaflet which showed all the different plants in the centre and we went to find them. We dipped our hands in mucky pond water and saw lilies, frogs and water flies. It was really interesting, but really smelly. I loved it! Then, we washed our hands and went for a picnic lunch. After that we got to play in an adventure playground. There were tunnels to run through, a zip wire, bridges, a climbing wall and water ducks to play with. On our way back we went inside a hide. This is where people go to watch birds with binoculars and cameras. We even got to see some otters. They looked exactly like beavers!
Kew Gardens BY FELA, Year 4
On a gorgeous, sunny day, Year 4 were very lucky to go on a trip to Kew Gardens in south-west London. We took the tube from Brixton station and then a train to reach our destination. When we got there we saw a beautiful peach tree and a huge glass building called the Palm House, which was opened by the Queen in 2004. In the Palm House we met a lady called Jill, she showed us lots of rainforest plants and we learnt all about how they survive in the tropics. Jill showed us a bamboo tree. The wood can be
made into spoons, forks and knives. My favourite plant was the cocoa tree where chocolate comes from. We looked at the cocoa beans, but could not eat them because they are too bitter! After that we went to the Princess Diana Conservatory, where we saw an iguana. Then we climbed up high, above the trees on the Treetop Walkway. This was my favourite part of the day. It was an unbelievable climb, although I was very nervous because we were so high up. We were 18m above the ground and could see for miles! Some of us could see a peacock in the distance.
Year 5 use their imagination Year 5 have been looking at Victorian artefacts that were used by the rich and poor. They wrote in character as some of the artefacts. Can you guess what they are? BY LISA, Year 5 Every morning I am always covered with bits of paper and dust. In the morning a maid comes in my room and dusts it al off of me. Thank goodness for that! Moments later, a little girl comes in and with no mind at all, she starts jumping on my back. Then I
knew that my terrible daily routine begins … back and forth I went, having no control of myself. It is so tiring. No one is even amused by this hard labour. Time gradually went passed and I was alone again. The little girl’s pockets were always covered with dust and paper so because she was so violent with me the dust and paper just fell out of her pockets and all over me. By the end of the day the little girl’s friends decided to visit her, the little girl looked absolutely delighted although I was not the slightest bit happy. She and her friends went out of control and
then chucked me away out of the window. I, of course, was disgusted. BY TA’MYRA, Year 5 SLAM! The door under the apples and pears is now locked. Blimey! It’s so dirty under there. My mind is always runnin’ on gettin’ a new home. Like when I was in the shops with all my friends. The man who bought me smelt of the bread and butter (gutter). Every mornin’ the same man who brought me takes me out of the dirty cupboard under the apple and pears then chucks me onto the freezin’ cold
floor. He drags me and the carpet to the washing line outside, where I get beaten every single morning! Sometimes I wonder why I get beaten, all I do is stay under this stupid cupboard! When the bread and butter smelling man is done with me he throws me back under the apples and pears then locks the door. Every time I hear the rusty old keys rattling I think I’m going to go back to the shop but it never happens. The only time I breathe is when I’m getting beaten.
SATS are over BY DEQA, Year 6 For months we have been revising, but it was all worth it. Many of us have spent our time after school doing booster classes. Revising the main parts we struggled with or needed extra help with. It was very nerve-wracking waiting for the SATs to come and not knowing what to expect from the new maths and reading papers. However we were as prepared as we could have been. We had to wait a long time for the exam papers to arrive. All our displays were hidden and our tables separated. Our teacher, Miss Harris, read the instructions and wished us good luck. Then we were on our own. The test had begun! This made us all incredibly anxious. I believe the hardest test was the reading paper, but I was relieved when it was over. However, I found the maths paper quite easy. A couple of other children and I were unlucky to have done the Level 6 paper. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. After a week, which seemed like a month, finally the SATs were finished. Everyone was glad it was over and done with. We had nothing to worry about anymore and we could enjoy the rest of our last year at Hill Mead Primary School. Luckily for us, to celebrate we went to Brockwell Park. It was a very fun time and everyone forgot their worries. We played cricket and football. We all enjoyed ourselves. It was the perfect ending to one of the hardest weeks of our lives. I’m so glad I tried my best. Next stop GCSEs!
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Arts
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Painting in parallel: a tale of two cities Ruth Waters, Art Co Editor, reveals a unique artistic collaboration This June, Brixton Market’s Studio 73 will be hosting a transatlantic exhibition exploring gentrification in Brixton and Harlem. The exhibition, ‘Brixton/Harlem: From the Final Call to the Front Line’ is the ambitious undertaking of local artist Tony Margerrison and Harlem-based artist Terrenceo Hammond who met by chance and mutual curiosity on Brixton Hill. “I’d been working on painting Brixton for a while and was always walking around looking for new stories,” Tony tells me. “I saw this guy wearing a white tux coming out of an off-licence; he was absolutely covered in tattoos and was carrying a trumpet with no mouthpiece. I just thought ‘there has to be a story there’ and asked [Terrenceo] for a light.” A onetime homeless LA street-artist, Terrenceo’s life has taken many
twists and turns from growing up in downtown Los Angeles’ infamous “jungle”. Almost instantly the two started to work each other out as artists and documenters of Brixton and Harlem. “The parallels between the two communities were - are incredible” Tony says, and he’s not the first person to see the twin-like characteristics between the two communities, both dominated by a black Afro-Caribbean population throughout the twentieth century and seeing mind-boggling rent hikes in recent years, where properties bought for a couple of dollars are sold for millions in a whirlwind of gentrification. The two artists decided to swap cities, with Tony flying out to Harlem and Terrenceo staying in Brixton, each working to capture the other’s community, creating personal visual reactions to the
gentrification they saw. The body of work being exhibited at Studio 73 this month shows these reactions, with more also being shown at Harlem’s Maison D’Art in a twin exhibition, also opening this month. The journey has one more twist for both artists. “I love Brixton,” Tony tells me, “I always said if I moved out of the area it would be to leave the country. Ironically that’s what I’m doing now, I’m moving to Harlem and Terrenceo wants to move here!”. After one chance encounter, the two artists have shared inspiration and now swapped home cities. Brixton/Harlem: Studio 73, June 2 to June 15. Private view on June 5. Free entry. Right: Brixton’s Electric Avenue
The Blue Elephant Theatre gets physical The Brixton Bugle Arts Team caught up with Brixton-based physical theatre man David Ralfe, currently directing ‘The Flying Roast Goose’ at the Blue Elephant Theatre in Camberwell. David Ralfe is a local actor and director who practices an unusual type of theatre. He trained at the acclaimed Jacques Lecoq physical theatre school in Paris, where the approach is very physical, playful and dynamic, avoiding more “text-based” or “naturalistic” styles, as David puts it. David’s current project ‘The Flying Roast Goose’ at the nearby Blue Elephant Theatre is a good example of how his work strays from the confines of traditional theatre. He’s collaborating with Paula Siu, who wrote and conceived the play and also studied a similar style of theatre in the UK. Although there is speaking in the show, the text of the play is not the most important part. “I think the word play can make people think of a huge amount of talking or something that comes from a playwright,” says David, “our approach is a lot more organic. What [Paula and I] bring is a really energetic style of performance.” The play follows a Cantonese chef and her pet goose in Hong
Kong during the Japanese occupation of the 1940s. It uses physical theatre, puppetry and object manipulation to tell their story. “Some people strongly associate puppetry with children’s theatre, but in fact puppetry has a very rich heritage beyond that,” says David. “In most other countries outside Britain there is no assumption that puppets are for children.” ‘The Flying Roast Goose’ also addresses a chapter of colonial history that not many audiences in the UK are familiar with. “Paula and I agreed that there isn’t a shortage of World War Two stories about evil Nazis in Europe. Although the primary purpose of play is to provide a satisfying theatrical experience rather than an educational one, we’d be delighted if people went away more curious about that part of the world”. The cross-cultural element is also particularly suited to the Lecoq style of theatre. The schools where it’s taught have very international student bodies, with a huge mixture of nationalities. “It’s really interesting making theatre in an environment where language isn’t the main way in which you’re telling a story,” says David. “You get very used to
having to find a common ground between different cultures.” David has worked at the Blue Elephant Theatre several times before and feels very much at home there. The first show he put on after leaving drama school, ‘Machines for Living’, was commissioned by the Blue Elephant in May 2012. “It’s a really important theatre in London,” he asserts. “There aren’t many fringe theatres in London with a dedicated artistic director who actually programmes a season and makes sure it fits together coherently. I’ve always found the Blue Elephant theatre to be a really exciting hub for new emerging companies.” Is there anything that David would like to see change in London’s rich theatre landscape? “I would like to see a greater diversity of theatre styles on stage in major British theatres” he answers, “I feel that audiences are a bit more adventurous than programmers given them credit for.” ‘The Flying Roast Goose’ runs at the Blue Elephant Theatre from June 3 to 21 and tickets are £12 (£10 concessions). You can book tickets by calling the box office on 020 7701 0100.
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Music
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Faithless fundraiser for Youth Academy Faithless return to their old stomping ground this month to raise money for Crystal Palace FC Youth Academy. The Bugle’s Music Editor Phoebe Roberston tracked down Brixton boy Maxi Jazz to ask him some essentials… How long have you supported Crystal Palace FC? How long have you been involved with the club? I started supporting them around the age of 10 and I’ve been involved with the club for about three years. Why is it important for you to raise funds for the Youth Academy? Well Crystal Palace is a rather tiny team, we don’t have massive sponsors or lots of money flowing in so we are going to be relying on a): Staying in the Premier League for the next few years so we get enough TV money to do what we want with the club and b): for players to be brought up and out via the Academy. How has Brixton influenced your music?
Pictures by Damon Hope
It has influenced it in a big way because in Brixton you just get to hear so much stuff. As I said, you know you get a lot of people who are all doing creative stuff with very different things when you start
hanging out and listening to what they’re listening to and putting on very creative nights. I guess from there comes eclecticisms. Essentially you might grow up thinking ‘I love hip-hop’ or ‘I love reggae’ but as you grow up you think ‘Well actually I just love music’. When it’s good I like it, if it’s got melody and a rhythm, I’m there. Brixton is known for its food and its music, what would you say Brixton’s flavour is? OK, well I’ve been to a lot of cities and there are very, very few cosmopolitan cities in the world. There are a lot that claim to be so but very few that actually are. One that I know that is completely cosmopolitan is London. And the most cosmopolitan bit is South London. It’s amazing here, you walk into a local bar or pub and every kind of nationality, all sizes, all genders, everybody’s in there, sitting next to each other with no problem just having a drink. That is really amazing, given that it doesn’t really happen in very many cities in this world.
Well alright, let me put it like this, in October this year it will be 20 years since myself, Sister Bliss and Rollo all got together. It’s 20 years since the birth of Faithless so... something might happen as a result of that... No plans to do any gigs this summer at all. So the fundraiser at Electric Brixton on June 6 is the last chance to see Faithless before October? Absolutely. Maxi Jazz is at Electric Brixton on June 6, prices from £22.40.
Finally, what can we expect from Faithless in the future? I don’t know if I’m allowed to say.... Go on, give us a little something...
Spirit of Basquiat from Mangoseed Mangoseed have just launched their debut album ‘Basquiat’. With an influence that is closely linked with the diverse sounds of Brixton, the Bugle spoke to them about what to expect from their new material and what they love about our corner of London… How long have you been making music? As a band for six years. How did you meet? Work, party and friend of a friend. You describe your sound as global fusion - from where in the world do you draw inspiration? A while back when we begun we were pulling inspiration and influences from music and artists we listened to and admired. So we had the reggae from Jamaica, the soca from Trinidad, the hip-hop from the US, the funk, soul and rare groove also from the US and the experimental from Iceland. We could go on but I’m sure you catch the drift. Why is the album called ‘Basquiat’? The late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat was fresh and innovative when he did his work by not boxing himself in to one specific genre, we feel the same about our art. What is the album about?
People... and what drives them to do what they do and experiences that make them into who they are. The album is inspired by the work and spirit of Jean-Michel Basquiat and his use of old and new, his focus on suggestive dichotomies and rebellious ability to use any influence in his work. In Mangoseed terms that means that we have pulled from all the genres that we love, all the artists and bands that have inspired us and lead us to create music and made unique homage to them, so Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Wu-Tang Clan the Watts poets and Bjork meet in the same track and hopefully it becomes an homage to all of them but also taking the inspiration from those artists and many more to create our own idea our own flavour. The video for ‘Brix-tone’ is set in Brixton and features footage from past riots and festivals in Brixton. What is the message in the song? Simple message: never forget the love and attachment you have for a place. The song is trying to take it easy and chill while there is a lot of s*** going on outside: drugs, police, poverty and all the craziness, just riding it all out and keeping your head up. Why did you choose Brixton? I grew up in Brixton and have seen it change over the years. I wanted the video to resonate with fellow Brixtonians. When in Brixton, what food do you like to
From left to right: Richard Hardy, Nicholai La Barrie, Karlos Coleman and Sam Campbell We will be playing at Brixton Jamm and eat? Any favourite places? Upstairs at The Ritzy in July. Jamaican food. Favourite places: Geoff the Chef ’s takeaway van in the market, hush What does Mangoseed have planned for puppies from The Joint and Fish, Wings and this summer? Tings. Playing as many gigs as possible. Will you be playing here soon?
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Brixton Bugle Month 2014
Food
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Recipe: Fresh coconut salad INGREDIENTS (Serves 4 as a side dish) 1 dry coconut, grated 2 small cucumbers, chopped ½ red onion, finely diced ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds ½ red chilli (optional) juice of 1 lime 25g fresh coriander, chopped
BY MISS SOUTH When I was a child you only saw brown hairy coconuts at Halloween,
so when I moved to Brixton I was thrilled to find you can buy them throughout the year. They are also fresher than the ones I remember, and contain a good amount of refreshing water inside which means the flesh is moist and tender. Once shelled, they can be grated for a variety of recipes. This is a light and refreshing salad, perfect in the summer or with spicy food. The coconut flesh freezes well if you want to reduce the quantities. Pick out a coconut that feels heavy when you shake it. Look for the three eyes at the bottom of the nut. Using a screwdriver, poke each one until one gives. Drain the water out and drink it to refresh you. Place the coconut on the floor
or a sturdy background and tap with a hammer around the middle, moving the coconut over so you tap the whole way round. It should crack open more easily than you expect. Give the two halves a hard tap with the hammer and the flesh will come away from the shell. Reserve the flesh. Grate on the
largest holes of a box grater. You don’t need to remove the brown outer. De-seed the cucumbers and chop. Finely dice the onion and mix it all together. Stir in the black mustard seeds. When you are ready to serve, dress with the chilli, lime juice and coriander. Serve with grilled fish or
jerk chicken. Stockists note: you can buy the coconuts at any greengrocer in the market. Shake well before buying. Look for the small cucumbers at the A&C Deli on Atlantic Road. They taste amazing. This recipe is from Recipes from Brixton Village (see below).
Win a signed copy of new Brixton Village cookbook Brixton Village’s unique mix of restaurants, producers and retailers has won widespread acclaim, and the food on offer here spans the globe. Celebrating this vibrant food scene and the only book about Brixton for years, Recipes from Brixton Village introduces you to its food and traders and gives you a sneak peek at some of the famed dishes from the restaurants there. The book is perfect if you’ve ever eaten in the Village and wondered just how Okan makes those fabulous okanomiyaki or Restaurante Santa Fereño gets its beans so creamy. It’s also fantastic if you haven’t been able to get a table at your favourite place for a while or if you used to live in Brixton and need a fix of the area from afar. With over 100 original recipes that capture
the flavours of the market, whatever your particular taste you will be able to make the most of the incredibly diverse range of ingredients Brixton market has to offer With illustrations from the Brixton Bugle’s very own Kaylene Alder and written by the Brixton Blog and Bugle’s Miss South, Recipes from Brixton Village costs £15.99 and is available from the Brixton Blog online shop www. brixtonblog.com/shop
To win a copy of the book simply email your answer to the following question to competitions@brixtonblog.com: How many recipes are featured in Recipes from Brixton Village?
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Brixton Bugle Month 2014
Food
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Review: Simply seafood at its best
BY LINDSAY FALLER
What makes a ‘good’ restaurant? Is it only about the food or is it something more, perhaps atmosphere and décor, or that it is a place to see and be seen? We are so spoilt for choice in London, but to make it in this industry, is a restaurant forced to hold that balanced trinity of ambience, quality and attractiveness to be considered actually ‘good’? I’m not so sure anymore. Exposed brickwork and stripped-back aluminium ceilings is so 2009, and really, who has the time to keep up with the latest darling of the foodie scene? What does continue to matter, however, is quality - whether one is eating a kimchi burger off a street van or on the 40th floor of Heron Tower. And yet, we are all guilty of making assumptions over places without trying them. Judging them from the outside, we pass by and assume we have safely curated our own dining experience and perhaps avoided a disastrous one at that. But we are missing out. It is often places that seem to promise little that end up surprising us the most. Little Ochi is one such place, living in a small line of low-key shopfronts along Dulwich Road. Its signage states plainly that it is a Jamaican seafood restaurant; a simple interior gives nothing away. We went on a sunny and subsequently quiet midweek evening - my friend and I, plus a table of four, the only diners. The menu is equally uncomplicated and under the slightly sceptical eye of our hostess, we ordered a prawn meal and steamed fish. She sent me towards the back of the restaurant where a refrigerator full of fresh seafood sat next to the kitchen. The guys back there know their stuff and recommended the sea bass: fewer bones and a meatier flesh. Works for me. The wait for our food passed quickly as we chatted to each other and the other diners. When it finally arrived, the portions were vast, steaming and fragrant. The large prawns were served whole bathed in a rich coconut-y sauce. Labour-intensive but entirely worth it, the sweetness of the meat was nicely complemented with allspice and chilli, and served with salad and little triangles of fried and crunchy bammy (a flat bread made from cassava). The sea bass was denuded of any frippery and was served as it lived, modestly bathed in only the juices in which it was steamed and a bouquet of fresh thyme leaves filling its gut. Tasting as if it had been caught to order, the meat was juicy, subtly flavoured and cooked perfectly. It came with a stew-like mixture of okra, potatoes and carrots, as well
Picture by Tim Mitchell. timmitchell.co.uk as soda crackers and more bammy. Years have passed since I’ve had okra but Little Ochi reminded me of how much I love it. The sauce from the fish made a satisfying gravy for the entire plate, although I would have preferred my bammy to be served fried as opposed to wet, and found the soda crackers far too soggy for my liking. We finished our meal and I sat entirely contented and also a bit embarrassed. I consider myself an adventurous eater but I was ashamed that I would have normally walked by a place like this. Here sits a small restaurant that does what it does exceedingly well, quietly and confidently. It needs none of the extras that we find so irritating or endearing about the London dining scene. Instead, it relies on quality and simplicity and is, ultimately, very good. Little Ochi, 113 Dulwich Rd, Herne Hill Tel: 020 7737 7329 Meal for two including soft drinks, no service, £24. Lindsay blogs at blondevsbland.com
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Brixton Bugle June 2014
What’s On From folk-electronica, classic house and creative jazz to legendary hip-hop and slamming bass, this June it seems to be all about the music. But if that ain’t your thing then don’t worry, you could always go horse-riding, urban-foraging or even learn swing dancing. For your full guide to what’s on in and around Brixton and Lambeth go to www. brixtonblog.com SUN 1 @ BROCKWELL PARK A day of creative family fun down at Brockwell Park where you can make a stage set in a box to suit your own particular story. Jo demonstrates how to use drawing, collage and montage techniques to create your own story box. The suggested theme is ‘Trees’ but you can choose your own. There is also a tree trail to follow afterwards. All ages welcome at Brockwell Hall, 1pm - 5pm. MON 2 @ ELECTRIC SOCIAL If you’ve ever wanted to learn swing dance, now is your chance. With a new Monday slot at Electric Social you can jive like the best of them, you don’t even need to bring a partner. The beginners’ class starts at 7:30pm and at £6 on the door it’s a bargain! TUES 3 @ RITZY UPSTAIRS C.R.A.T.E.S presents Art Launch: Emily Evans. C.R.A.T.E.S supports all different related art forms, with the ethos of ‘artists supporting other artists’ so that emerging audio and visual artists are able to experiment and create and develop their own styles and profiles within
www.brixtonblog.com the creative world. This month sees Emily Evans taking over with her range of mixed media and collage, using everything from photocopies to letterpress to create illustrations swathed in texture and symbolism. 7pm, £12.50.
Editor’s Pick: BIG LUNCH Brixton Village, June 1
WEDS 4 @ BRIXTON ACADEMY Since moving down to the big smoke in 2011, London Grammar have made a name for themselves as the folk-electronic band of the moment, lead vocalist Hannah’s voice soars over the clean-cut snares and bass rhythms.
Shoppers, foodies and traders will come together in Brixton Village on Sunday for a Big Lunch event. Covered market businesses have teamed up with Brixton Pound for the charity event, which starts at 11am by the Coldharbour Lane entrance to Brixton Village. The event will include live music, games and an art workshop from Brixton Bugle illustrator Kaylene Alder. There will also be a “pick n mix” market lunch on offer for £6, with all proceeds going to local charities. Brixton Bugle food editor Miss South will also be on hand to sign copies of her new cookbook Recipes from Brixton Village. Food will be served from 1pm until it runs out.
THURS 5 @ POW Big Fish Little Fish, the Brixton family-rave experts, present The Minnow Club. Social, quirky and fun for all the family, The Minnow Club combines party, crafts, baby play area with coffee and tea for Mum and Dad. 10am - 12pm, £5 per family.
Hoxtonwhores, D Ramirez, Shane Watcha and many more, this fundraising night for Crystal Palace FC’s Youth Academy looks set to be an explosion of electronic dance music. If you love house music get down for some classic Faithless. 10pm - 6am, tickets - £25.
TUES 3 @ CROWN & ANCHOR A pub quiz night that promises great food, prizes, cash and bottles of wine. Why not mosey down and put your brain to the test? Book a table for your team. The quiz starts at 8pm.
THURS 5 @ BRIXTON ACADEMY Does Snoop Dog... or aka Lion... need any introduction? No he doesn’t. Get down to Brixton Academy for Snoop-fest. 7pm 11pm, tickets from £39.37. FRI 6 @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON With artists such as Maxi Jazz and Sister Bliss, Electronic Youth,
SAT 7 @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON Grammy Award-winning hiphop legends Public Enemy take over Electric Brixton for a night of American old skool hip-hop magic. This is a hot ticket so make sure you get in quickly, it is their ONLY London gig. 7pm - 11pm, tickets £23.50.
SAT 7 @ WINDMILL BRIXTON Colleen Green’s first full-length album for Hardly Art, ‘Sock It To Me’, is grounded in pure pop. With multi-tracked, emotive vocals her performance takes an enormous leap forward, evoking all-time heroes such as Rose Melberg and Tina Weymouth, with every drummachine-tracked song awash in the dreamy slacker romanticism of California. Throw in some nods to The Ramones, The Descendents and Blink 182 and you have something simply quite different. 8pm till late, £3 on the door. SUN 8 @ BROCKWELL PARK Creative Modern returns to
Brockwell Park with their mix of free activities and entertainment for all ages: urban dance, free-running and workshops galore. It’s a great day out for the whole family. Grass Bank, Brockwell Hall, 1pm - 3pm. SUN 8 @ CLUB 414 Jazzmo’thology welcomes Spoken Word Artiste HKB FiNN to launch his new brilliantly conceived minialbum ‘Prelude: Urban Roots’. It explores stories of loss, love and life’s sweet moments where HipHop melds together intense Jazz, Gospel & Afro-Beat influences to form a concise collection of blissful songs. 7pm, £15.
35 GRESHAM ROAD, BRIXTON, LONDON SW9 7NU 020 7274 7484
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Brixton Bugle June 2014
What's On MON 9 @ EBONY HORSE CLUB So you think you know Brixton? Did you know that there’s a horse club charity for children just minutes from the market? Come and see what is happening at this a reception for Brixton businesses, food by Etta’s Kitchen. Call 020 7738 3478 for your invite. MON 9 @ QUEENS HEAD Brixton’s favourite Folk Up returns for its lively Monday billing. With a summer garden and stage full of commanding folk music, if you want a great party on a Monday this is the place for you. 8pm - 1am. MON 9 @ THE RITZY Kevin Spacey, Sam Mendes and the Bridge Project Company go on the road in ‘Now: In the Wings of a World Stage’. In more than 200 performances across three continents, they reveal some of the most intimate moments behind the scenes of their staging of Shakespeare’s tragedy Richard III. Catch this Q&A session with Mr
www.brixtonblog.com Spacey himself as he guides the audience through his Shakespearean journey. 6:15pm, tickets - £12.50. WED 11 @ DOGSTAR Ravercise, yep, thats rave with exercise. Why not get down to Dogstar for a workout with DJs and choreographed by professional dancers for a fun, energetic and colourful training session. 7:30pm - 8:30pm, £11.50. THURS 12 @ ELECTRIC BRIXTON She has made a name for herself from smash hit collaborations with drum & bass collective Rudimental and now Ella Eyre is coming to Brixton to perform solo. Her soulful voice is nearly as big as her hair and energetic performances confirm her presence on the national music stage. 7pm - 11pm, tickets - £12.50. SAT 14 @ ELAM ST OPEN SPACE Inner-city and learning about wild plants don’t usually appear in the same sentence, however this is Brixton. You are warmly invited
Editor’s Pick: Rude Bass Dogstar, Fri June 6
This month Rude Bass celebrates summer in the only way they know how: with bucket-loads of bass. Brixton Bugle caught up with DJ Raggs to learn more... When did you start Rude Bass? We had our first one in November, but I started thinking about the concept around August last year. I wanted something that typified Brixton and I wanted something that was as much of a party for others as it was for us. What genres of music do you have at Rude Bass? The main genres of music we have been representing so far have been jungle, UK garage, dubstep, dub/reggae, house, bashment and dancehall. Anything with a decent bit of bass music although the term bass music seems to be morphing now. Why did you decide to hold the night in Brixton? Its a great focal point for socialising for young people. There’s a lot of nightclubs here, lots of great
pubs and clubs and also an alternative/transient scene. For me, culturally, Brixton has an amazing history. What’s your favourite thing about the musical make-up of Brixton? You’ve just got to walk down the street in Brixton and hear the music coming out of cars and that is the kind of music we represent. There’s UK garage, and a lot of reggae and you know you’ll hear that booming - there are still guys with ghettoblasters around! How would you describe Rude Bass in a nutshell? At Rude we have the tagline “Out of many one music” which alludes to how we see our party as a way of celebrating life through music, through ‘bass music’, with roots in sound-system culture, and a rich vibrant scene that we represent at Rude Bass, in the streets of south London, and in the heart of Brixton. Rude Bass @ Dogstar, 10pm 4am, tickets start at £7.
to cook up a feast and enjoy some South London greenery at Elam Street Open Space. Join Ceri as she shares world food recipes from her new book on urban foraging. Wear warm clothes and bring your choice of drinks and food. Meet at Loughborough Park mulberry tree at 11am. SUN 15 @ BROCKWELL PARK Macmillan hold their inaugural 10k Father’s Day run in Brockwell Park. Get down to support or give it a go and celebrate the lives of loved ones. Kick off at 11am. FRI 20 @ BRIXTON ACADEMY After bursting on to the hip-hop scene in 1993 Jurassic 5 really brought soulful hip-hop to the fore. The deep and often heartfelt lyrics along with excellent hooks meant they quickly accumulated a cult following. After a wildly successful tour they have decided to return to Brixton Academy. Don’t forget to respect the Thin Line… 7pm 11pm, tickets start at £36.56.
FRI 20 @ BRIXTON JAMM If you want to join in the hip-hop flavour of Jurassic 5 Brixton Jamm are holding their afterparty with J5 member Akil the MC himself taking over the mic for a solo performance. Also playing will be Harry Love, our own London hip-hop legend, Taskforce and more. 10pm - 5am, £6. SAT 21 @ PLAN B Plan B’s resident hip-hop night Doctor’s Orders returns and this month it’s celebrating its 9th Birthday. Acts include DJ Nu Mark, The Nextmen and J Rawls plus many more. To mark the occasion Doctor’s Orders are giving away the first 9 tickets for 99p. Last month the queue was round the block so get in quick. WED 25 @ QUEENS HEAD Going from strength to strength (with a live band too) Reggae Wednesdays carry on the good vibes this summer at The Queens Head. Free before 10.30pm.
What’s On is edited by Phoebe Robertson. If you’d like to join the What’s On team, either to review, preview or interview, please contact: Phoebe@ brixtonblog.com
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Brixton Bugle June 2014
Cartoons
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QUICK CROSSWORD Across 1. eg Pterodactyls (9) 8. Capital of Norway (4) 9. Country music shindig (4,5) 10. Where a 9 across might take place (4) 13. Uplift (5) 15. Assassin (6) 16. Spicy sausage (6) 17. Fortune-telling cards (6) 19. Sit with lazy posture (3) 21. Test (4) 24. Household manager (9) Le (4) 25. Level 26. Sparkling wine (9)
Down 2. Coloured part of eye (4) 3. Sign (4) 4. Woman warrior; River (6) 5. Break (6) 6. Vegetable (9) 7. To work an extra job (9) 11. Exhausted (9) 12. Watcher of the skies (9) 13. Pour juices over meat (5) 14. Tot up (5) 18. Snog (6) 19. Flow (6) ro (4) 22. Hot rock 23. eg fava, broad, butter (4)
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Brixton Bugle June 2014
Columns
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GREEN FINGERS: Start of Summer ALISON ALEXANDER Brockwell Community JUNE is officially the start of the summer in the gardening world. The frosts should be over. Our tender plants can finally enjoy some fresh air. Hundreds of pretty ornamentals, herbs and crops that we’ve grown from seed since early spring will be planted out this month around the site. By the time you read this, we will have built recycled wooden planters for our Chelsea Fringe display outside Brockwell Park. In a few days, you’ll see us outside the Herne Hill Gate planting them up with a riotously vibrant mix of annual flowers suitable for all sort of pollinating insects. Do join us. Back on site, there will be familiar staples like tomatoes, aubergines, chillies and French beans, although you won’t recognise many varieties from the supermarket. We like to choose two to three varieties of each vegetable so we can taste the difference and see how well the plants perform. We also aim to grow food plants widely used in other cuisines. So we have crops like tomatillos, okra, cape gooseberry, peanut, yard-long beans and bitter gourd. Growing unusual plants is about having fun but it’s also about celebrating the wonderful diversity of cultures in the community around Brockwell Park. Social inclusivity is one the joys of community gardening. It’s a chance to show children who don’t have a garden where their food comes from. It’s socially supportive – garden volunteers look out for each other and enjoy each other’s company. Selling
fresh organically-grown produce at reasonable prices from the Greenhouse door or the market is local food production in action, albeit on a small scale. I’m writing this month’s column from a muddy field in Hay-on-Wye, a small town on the Welsh border which hosts the country’s largest literary festival. The uplifting words of one speaker, Ian Goldin of the Oxford Martin School, are ringing in my ears: cities as centres for innovation, migration bringing with it ingenious ideas, the need for solutions to our food supply and individuals coming together in communities for social good. So much activity in Brixton and Lambeth fits with this vision. Incredible Edible Lambeth, Lambeth Council, Myatt’s Field Park, Streatham Common Community Garden, Rosendale Allotments and the Greenhouses have just formed a partnership called Growing Lambeth. The aim is to educate people about food, cookery and horticulture to help people get growing. Over in Tulse Hill, the estate’s polytunnel is likely to be used again soon for social enterprise. In Brixton,
restaurants are forging links with local growers to reduce food miles and boost local employment. Groups like the Edible Bus Stop are creating gardens in spare pockets of land. There are lots more examples. It’s an exciting time to be involved in a community garden: I’m not saying we’re solving the world’s problems but gardening can contribute to a lot of small improvements! At the Growing Lambeth Hub Gardens this month there are several activities Myatt’s Field Park, for instance, has a plant sale on June 21 with rock and salsa music, a children’s fairground, football tournament and cake competition – see www.myattsfield.info for more on this. At the Greenhouses, you can learn about companion planting on Saturday, June 7 2-4pm. And you can join us to plant up our Chelsea Fringe display on Thursday, June 5, 5-7pm. For more information, visit www. brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk Email: garden@brockwellgreenhouses. org.uk Twitter: @GardenBrockwell
A date with Ms Bennet There are very few certainties life. But there are a few things I am certain of. I’m certain that as soon as I stop obsessing over someone (namely the French guy) I will be on their radar again. I’m certain that if I told a boy I missed him after only a few dates, he would think me clingy. I’m certain that if I told a boy “I heart you”, he would never speak to me again. And if I ever dared to ask a boy to move in with me, he would think me insane. Given these certainties, why is it perfectly acceptable for boys, or one boy in particular, namely The Beard, to do this? After a lovely meal in Negril, and a few glasses of wine in The White Horse, where I always seem to end up (so much better in the week than on the weekend, but that’s just my opinion) I thought ‘OK, this guy likes me. I can work with this. Confusion over, I know where I stand’. Then this happened. Him: “Babe, what do you think of Ferndale Road?” Me: “it’s OK” Him: “would you move there with me” Me: “is that a question?” Him: “yes” Me: “I don’t normally agree to moving in with a guy after one date”. I did agree to help him though, so we went to see a few flats. How expensive is it to live in Brixton/ Clapham?! One bed flats for £400,000 plus. Is this the same Brixton I grew up in? I think not. All along I’m making very sure that he understands that it’s HIS choice, and HIS place, and HE would be living here. And yet
I’m still being asked if I’ll move with him. This is a joke right? Is this normal? Do I believe him? Are Portuguese men more forward? Part of me is thinking that he is waiting for me to fall for it, then turn around and tell me it’s a joke. To add to this, we are going to spend next weekend in Oxford, apparently. We are also going to a gig at the Brixton Academy, and he has asked me if I would go to go Paris with him. And yet, recently we were meant to meet up, but he cancelled because it was his friend’s birthday. Maybe I’m missing something, but surely if you want to move in with someone, you also want them to meet your friends. Not that I’m saying I want to meet his friends, I don’t, it’s too soon, but things just don’t add up. So it’s because of this that I’ve decided I’m done with The Beard. This month has been so up and down, and this has been the hardest piece I’ve had to write. At least I knew where I stood with the French guy. We both knew exactly where we stood on things, he never gave me false promises and I knew what I was getting into. Perfect. With Mr Director I put an end to it once I knew what he wanted. Which was just to have fun. I was over just having fun. But I can’t have some telling me they have a good feeling about me, about us, telling me he “hearts me” (actual words), asking me to spend weekends with them, but be all talk. I would rather have nothing. So nothing is what I’m going to settle for. I think...
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Brixton Bugle June 2014
Sport
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Getting ready for the World Cup
People from around the world who call Brixton their home share their hopes for their team with Laura Dickinson game, you’re not going to win if you play every game like a final. Style of play: “Catenaccio”, which means “The Chain”. It’s a defensive style of play that Italy is famous for. It started because so many of the team were killed in a plane crash in 1949. We didn’t have any strikers left to play so we adopted a defensive strategy and it’s been part of our style ever since. Best place to watch Italy in Brixton: There’s a huge Italian community in Brixton. What unites everyone is football. A lot of people come to San Marino café. We’ll have a screen here and will be open late. WOUTER, BELGIUM (BELOW) RYAN, SOLANI AND WILSON, COLOMBIA (ABOVE) Prediction: Our group is OK but it will be really difficult to beat Ivory Coast. Player to watch: We love Radamel Falcao. His style of play is amazing. He’s not as skillful as Ronaldo but he has good accuracy and he never gives up. Biggest rival: Argentina, of course! If our team doesn’t win, our tip is Belgium. Our dad thinks Belgium has the best team in the World Cup. They have brilliant players but we don’t know yet if they’ll be good as a team. What Colombians do to celebrate: We watch the game with our family, eating lots, jumping and always dancing. KOBE, GHANA Prediction: Playing Portugal in the group stages is a tough one but you have to believe. I say semi finals this time. Most memorable World Cup moment: Unless you’re a Liverpool fan, no Ghanaian likes Luis Suarez because of that moment [Suarez used his hands in the last World Cup to stop a goal from Ghana that would have put them into the semi
finals] I was gutted. It was so, so rude! Style of play: Ghana’s like the Brazil of Africa. No two ways about it. We’ve always played attacking football. We’re one of the greats. Best place to watch Ghana in Brixton: Asafo restaurant off New Park Road. It’s going to be packed. MARIO, ITALY (BELOW) Prediction: Italy always makes it to the last four. We’ve won it four times and we’ve lost many finals too. We know what it takes to win a World Cup from start to finish. You need to just do enough each
Prediction: People are talking up Belgium’s chances but we haven’t been in an international tournament since 2002, so I think that’s premature. We’ve got a great young team but we lack experience. Let’s see how they deal with the pressure in Brazil. It will be good practice for the European championships in 2016. The further we get in Brazil is a bonus. Biggest rival: Holland has always been our biggest rival. But this World Cup we’re seeking revenge on Brazil, too. They knocked us out in 2002 when we had a goal controversially disallowed – the
referee even admitted that later! The guy who scored that goal, Marc Wilmots, is now our coach so he’ll want to beat them more than anyone. Favourite player: There’s no doubt that it’s Vincent Kompany’s team. He keeps the team together, the archetypal Belgian bringing together Flemish and Walloons! He’s got the skills, the calm and maturity too. I also like Thibault Courtois – he’s great but really down to earth. Belgians like that! PHIL AND HELEN, ENGLAND (BELOW) Prediction: If I use my brain, we’ll struggle to get through the group. If I use my heart, they’ll scrape through but get knocked out in the next round. I don’t think it’s a good enough squad. No decent strikers. Wayne Rooney is over-rated! Most memorable World Cup moment: It’s got to be the Maradona goal against England. Not the “Hand of God goal”, but his other strike. Lots of England fans think we were robbed in that game but we weren’t. They played us off the park. Best place to watch in Brixton: The Canterbury is old-fashioned pub and really multi-cultural. The Duke also tempts us. They’ve a big screen and a garden that’s like the tardis it’s just huge!
KARA, ALGERIA (ABOVE) Most memorable World Cup moment: In Algeria we can never forget when we played Germany in 1982. They were one of the best teams, but we beat them. It was unforgettable! But then Germany and Austria fixed their subsequent game, which meant we did not pass through the qualifying rounds. It was so bad that FIFA changed the rules. Every Algerian remembers that. Prediction: We’ve never had a better team. They’re young and play in some strong teams in Europe. There will be some surprises; I hope Algeria will be one of them. What Algerians do to celebrate: Fireworks. Literally! We all go into the streets, singing, dancing and lighting flares. It really is total madness.