Have your say on how we keep streets clean in Royal Greenwich
The Royal Borough of Greenwich is asking residents for feedback on proposed changes to street cleaning.
Street cleaning is a statutory service that includes scheduled, proactive and responsive work such as sweeping streets, removing fly-tipped rubbish, weed control and autumn leaf clearance.
Like the majority of councils across the country, the council has faced significant funding reductions since 2010, whilst demand for our services has never been higher. As such, we need to re-think our street cleaning service to keep it running efficiently and sustainably.
As part of Our Greenwich, we’re committed to making sure our neighbourhoods and town centres are vibrant, attractive and wellmaintained places for our residents.
This proposal is estimated to save the Council £150,000 from 2024 to 2025, rising to £1.2 million between 2025 and 2028.
If agreed, potential benefits could include:
• improving standards of street cleanliness
• reducing our carbon footprint
• ensuring that seasonal work, such as cleaning the A2 and A102, pavement jet washing and autumn leaf removal, does not impact daily scheduled work
• providing our service seven days a week.
Complete the survey to have your say at keepinggreenwichcleanandtidy.commonplace.is by Sunday 8 December.
Share your views in person
• Saturday 16 November, 9am to 5pm, Greenwich Library, 12 Lambarde Square, SE10 9GB
• Monday 18 November, 3 to 7pm, West Greenwich Library, 146 Greenwich High Road, SE10 8NN
• Tuesday 19 November, 10am to 6pm, Greenwich Library, 12 Lambarde Square, SE10 9GB
• Wednesday 20 November, 1 to 5pm, Kidbrooke Community Hub, 8 Pegler Square, London SE3 9GR
• Thursday 21 November, 10am to 6pm, New Eltham Library, Southwood Road, SE9 3QT
• Saturday 23 November, 9am to 5pm, Woolwich Library, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ
• Monday 25 November, 11am to 7pm, Plumstead Centre Library, 232 Plumstead High Street, SE18 1JL
• Tuesday 26 November, 11am to 7pm, Woolwich Library, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ
• Wednesday 27 November, 3 to 7pm, St Richards Church Community Hall, 26 Swallowfield Road, SE7 7NR
• Thursday 28 November, 3 to 7pm, Thamesmere Library, Thamesmere Drive, SE28 8RE
• Saturday 30 November, 9am to 5pm, Eltham Centre Library, 2 Archery Road, SE9 1HA
The
Pick of the Week
70 years of the Cutty Sark
Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender is an independent weekly newspaper, covering the boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham.
We publish every Wednesday, covering every postcode sector of the borough, and boasting, by far, the highest weekly circulation in Greenwich. Each week, we deliver our paper to every Greenwich neighbourhood, with further copies stocked at convenient public stands. We are also the highest distribution newspaper in Lewisham.
You can also view each edition online, as well as daily news and events, on our website: www.weekender.co.uk
The Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender covers all aspects of life in the boroughs, including music, theatre, comedy, film, events, and food and drink, as well as all your community events and campaigns.
Eliza Frost Weekender
The Greenwich and Lewisham Weekender is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 020 7231 5258. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk
Weekender Editor: Eliza Frost
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Offices at: A202, The Biscuit Factory, Drummond Road, SE16 4DG.
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Issue: GLW388
The Cutty Sark has been a feature of the London skyline for 70 years. On 10 December 1954, the ship made its final voyage to its new home: a custom-built dry dock in the heart of Greenwich. Since then, more than 17 million visitors have stepped aboard Cutty Sark, walked its decks and experienced a taste of life at sea. To mark its 70th anniversary, a new display in the Dry Dock, beneath the ship itself, tells the story of how the ship came to the Royal Borough. You will be able to learn how public support and royal patronage helped save the ship from ruin in the 1950s and find out how it was towed to its new home, including the work needed to preserve this survivor from the “glorious days of sail”.
Dates: Ongoing
Tickets: The display is included with all tickets to Cutty Sark King William Walk, SE10 9HT www.rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark/attractions/ 70-years-cutty-sark-greenwich
Finding Harmony: Live at Queen’s House
Everyone’s A Singer is hosting a special evening to celebrate Finding Harmony, held at the Royal Museums Greenwich Queen’s House. This free event marks the culmination of 10 singing for wellbeing workshops designed for African, African Caribbean and African Diaspora adults. Throughout the series,
Libraries as Spaceships
Blackheath Halls
Christmas Concert
Join Blackheath Halls for its annual concert celebrating the magic of Christmas. Featuring performances from community groups and the Blackheath Halls Youth Choir, the event will include a mixture of well-known Christmas classics and songs you may not have heard before, all in celebration of the festive season. A wonderful event for the whole family to enjoy and a magical way to see in the festive season.
Date: Sunday 15 December 2024
Tickets: £19, under 12s £10 23 Lee Road, Blackheath, SE3 9RQ www.blackheathhalls.com/ whats-on/blackheath-hallschristmas-concert-2024
MANIA: The ABBA Tribute
Direct from London’s West End, experience the ultimate ABBA tribute show with MANIA at Woolwich Works. Expect a special concert to celebrate the music of ABBA; the production revives memories of when ABBA ruled the airwaves. Take it as your chance to thank them for the music. MANIA brings together fans of old and new, so dust down your flares and join in with such classics as ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Voulez-Vous’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Winner Takes It All’, ‘Super Trouper’ and lots more.
Date: Friday 29 November 2024
Tickets: Advance price from £27
The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 Street, Royal Arsenal, SE18 6HD www.woolwich.works/events/ mania-the-abba-tribute
Finding Harmony has brought together participants from across Greenwich to connect, sing and access valuable wellbeing and mental health resources, led by experienced music facilitators and wellbeing practitioners. This finale evening will feature a singing workshop, live performances, interactive wellbeing
Join artist Ruth Beale at the Deptford Lounge as they share the secrets of turning libraries into spaceships. Using drawing and collage, this workshop will be a chance to create your own library spaceship inspired by the art of sci-fi illustration. This event is part of the Imagined Worlds series, which is a month-long celebration of fantasy and sci-fi exploring world-building and utopian and dystopian futures.
Date: Saturday 16 November 2024
Tickets: Free but bookable online 9 Giffin Street, Deptford SE8 4RJ deptfordlounge.org.uk/whats-on/event/imaginedworlds-libraries-as-spaceships-drawing-andcollage-workshop
activities and reflections on the journey shared by the participants.
Date: Tuesday 26 November 2024
Tickets: Free Queen’s House, Royal Museums Greenwich, SE10 9NF everyonesasinger.com/ findingharmony
The Windrush Concert 2
Fresh from the sell-out Windrush Day Concert stage show, Broadway Theatre presents the “Return of The Drop Foot”. This stage concert tells the story of the Windrush Generation through music, comedy and dance, with the glass fish Blue Spot Gram, Axminister carpet and paraffin heater. Dress up in your Sunday best and enjoy a night of Jim Reeves, John Holt, Millie Small, Ace Cannon, Bob Marley, and Desmond Dekker, plus ska, rock steady, calypso, gospel and reggae beats.
Date: Sunday 17 November 2024
Tickets: £23.50 to £31.50 Broadway Theatre, Rushey Green, Catford, SE6 4RU www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk/ events/the-windrush-concert-2
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Weekender hears from the cast ahead of the run of shows at Churchill Theatre this festive season
Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? It’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, of course, which is being brought to life this festive season at Churchill Theatre in Bromley.
Taking to the stage are TV personality, doctor and presenter Dr Ranj as The Man in the Mirror, pop and musical theatre star Gareth Gates as The Prince, and panto comic Simon Fielding as Muddles.
They will be joined by West End stars Britt Lenting as The Wicked Queen and Laura Emmitt as Snow White.
Throw in a magical mirror, the magnificent seven and plenty of audience participation and you have the perfect recipe to outwit the Wicked Queen and let love prevail in this seasonal treat for all ages, running from Saturday 7 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025.
What can you look forward to from the show? Gareth Gates says you can expect a “really accomplished panto”.
He adds: “Crossroads, the producers, are so good at what they do, and the production values are always really high, from the script to the costumes. Plus, the cast is brilliant, we’ve got West End stars alongside the allsinging, all-dancing Dr Ranj. I’m really excited to be back at this great theatre – not least because it means I can be at home during the run, so I can finally put up a Christmas tree this year!”
Laura Emmett adds that it is a “good old fashioned panto” with “all the good stuff” – jokes, silliness, audience participation, glitz and glamour.
Simon Fielding says: “The great thing about panto is there’s something for everyone. As a parent, it’s so nice to watch the kids being so entertained, and there’s always lots for the grown ups to enjoy as well.”
And if it’s your first time going along to see a panto, Britt Lenting explains how it’s all about the spectacle, panto is for “the ears, for the eyes, and hopefully for the heart as well”.
Having starred in a run of pantos, with Snow White being his fifteenth, Gareth says he’s a bit of seasoned pro by now.
For Dr Ranj, Snow White is his fifth panto. Between medicine and performing, it was actually the stage that came first.
He explains: “I loved music growing up, particularly singing, though I never really thought of it as a realistic career at the time. I was also quite academic, so I pursued a vocation as a doctor and qualified just over 20 years ago.
“I’m glad I did it that way around because medicine actually led to me being able to flex my performing muscles.”
And he loves taking to the stage as it brings joy to so many people. It is hard work, he adds, but he “definitely has the bug because there’s nothing quite like the buzz you get from the audience”.
Dr Ranj will play The Man in the Mirror, of the role he explains: “Well, his job is basically to tell people they look pretty, and I think I’m very well qualified for that because I do it in my everyday life.”
Of performing at Churchill Theatre this season, Dr Ranj says: “I have a real affection for Bromley because I used to work at the Princess Royal Hospital. So, it’ll be strange going back in a very different capacity. I hope some people I may have met at the hospital will come and see the show.”
Simon says that a great thing about doing panto is that “it really intensifies the festive feeling. There’s nothing quite like getting home on Christmas Eve after a performance, it’s just magical”.
Gareth agrees that panto is a “great way to end the year”, adding: “My daughter’s 15 now and has watched me in every one; she still loves it and I don’t think it would feel like Christmas if I didn’t do panto now.”
But what keeps him coming back to the festive stage isn’t what you might expect: “I actually enjoy wearing the tights. It’s the only time of year I can get away with it. They also help with reaching the high notes,” says Gareth.
Dates: Saturday 7 December 2024 to Sunday 5 January 2025
Tickets: £25 to £54
Churchill Theatre, High Street, Bromley, BR1 1HA
trafalgartickets.com/ churchill-theatre-bromley
Any wick way: candle making at Lelia Ann Rose Studio
“I’m such a candle fan,” says Tashana Rose as she goes on to talk about the memories that a scent can evoke.
In her early 20s, Tashana was making candles while living at home. She started to think about the aromas from her childhood – having grown up in Jamaica before moving to England when she was 10 – and she used the memories as inspiration when forming her staple scents.
“We grew up in the countryside, so we had a lot of citrusy scents, coconut, mangoes and sweet citrus, a real amalgamation of different tropical fruits,” she explains.
This memory led to the first scent she created, which is called New Ground. It is still her favourite scent, too.
“It is the one that started the whole thing,” says Tashana, “and it also takes me back to running around the countryside as soon as I smell it, and thankfully, as soon as my family smell it, too, it’s like, ‘We’re back to New Ground.’”
Lelia Ann Rose candles are clean burning, and are made using 100% soy wax, phthalate-free fragrance
Eliza Frost visits the Greenwich spot to speak with founder Tashana Rose about scents and running workshops
and with a 100% cotton wick.
“From start to finish, it is a clean burn,” says Tashana, “and we really encourage people to reuse the vessels that the candles come in.”
“We are big on unique, memorable scents,” she explains. “All of the scents are based on a travel memory or a memory of a specific space. So, the stories that go with the scents are unique to me.”
After building her selection scents, Tashana launched the business and began to set up shop at markets, like Spitalfields, Black Culture Market and others.
She explains how other people from the Caribbean have said it reminds them of
Barbados or the Dominican Republic.
“It’s great to connect through that because islands can change, but it’s just really cool that our stories can link through those scents,” she adds, especially as smell is one of the strongest senses that can trigger memories.
“The reception to our candles was really positive, selling out in most of the markets, which was great,” she says.
Continuing to expand and grow, Lelia Ann Rose Studio found a home between Greenwich and Deptford, on the Greenwich Quay.
“It’s been great having this space with a view and it’s been wonderful working from here, with the relaxation
of the water,” says Tashana.
With the new space, she thought introducing workshops would be a great way to bring people into the Lelia Ann Rose experience.
She says: “It’s really important to me to always provide unique experiences to people. Even when I’m having dinner parties at home, I’m the person that goes the extra mile.”
With experience in interior design, the space for the workshop is based on areas of the home – the office, the kitchen counter, and the living room, with the main workshop table being the dining room.
And when you enter the studio, the aromas and homely feel hit you, and
you automatically want to get cosy and settle into your candle-making.
Tashana adds: “For each workshop, we decorate the table like you’re going to dinner. It’s meant to be a really gorgeously informal table, so we chat, we drink, we eat, and we make candles.”
Looking ahead, Lelia Ann Rose has candle collaborations coming up that will tell the stories of others, too. Working with a local florist, she will be releasing a Christmas scent based on their story, after curating the aromas together.
“So, whether it’s my story or someone else’s, Lelia Ann Rose candles are about bringing stories to people, and for people to use them as a connection. And essentially, with the workshops, that is following that same theme,” says Tashana, inviting you to visit and melt down your own memories at a candle-making workshop. You can buy candles or book workshops via the Lelia Ann Rose website.
Candles start at £4.50 and workshops from £35. Greenwich Quay Clarence Road, SE8 3EY www.leliaannrose.co.uk
Box office 020 8463 0100
Sun 22 Dec 1.30pm & 4pm Mon 23 Dec 11am & 1.30pm Sat 23 Nov, 7.30pm Sun 22 Dec 1.30pm & 4pm Mon 23 Dec 11am & 1.30pm
What's On
Sun 24 Nov, 7pm Mon 13 Jan 1.10pm
Sun 2 Feb 8pm
Consultation on changes to Royal Borough of Greenwich’s School Admission Arrangements for entry in September 2026.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich is consulting on the following changes to the admission arrangements for community nursey, primary and secondary schools, including Sixth Form, for the 2026/27 academic year:
1. Reducing the published admission number (PAN) at Discovery and Montbelle Primary Schools for entry in the reception class from September 2026.
2. Adopting date changes to the Pan-London Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for both Primary and secondary planned admission for entry in September 2026.
3. Amending the definition of children of staff to include children of all staff members.
The consultation documents are available via the following link: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200286/apply_for_a_school_ place/2588/comment_on_changes_to_the_admissions_ arrangements_for_2026_to_2027
Responses should be submitted to school-admissions@ royalgreenwich.gov.uk with Admissions Consultation in the subject heading.
The deadline for responses is noon on 20 December 2024.
Sunday 17 November 10.30am-4.45pm
Blackheath Halls 23 Lee Road
Blackheath SE3 9RQ
Friends of Age Exchange’s Blackheath Christmas Fair
£3 entry (Free to Friends & under 16s) All sales support Age Exchange and their dementia services
Devika James Audiology
Justin Moorhouse
S o c k S : The Art of
NOW Gallery’s 2024 Fashion Commission is awarded to artist Celia Pym who explains how mending ‘doesn’t erase damage but makes the story more interesting’
Focusing on the concept of sustainability in fashion and our lives more broadly, the NOW Gallery exhibition “Socks: The Art of Care and Repair” will celebrate the everyday act of mending through darning.
Created by London-based textile artist Celia Pym, who has been awarded this year’s Fashion Commission. She has been exploring damage and repair in textiles since 2007 and will be taking over the gallery for the exhibition from 6 December 2024 to 9 March 2025.
NOW Gallery at Greenwich Peninsula
is known for showcasing exciting emerging names across fashion, photography, design and art, and celebrated its 10-year anniversary this year, which has been marked with some special exhibitions.
Concluding the 10th anniversary programme is the Fashion Commission, which continues the gallery’s long-standing tradition of showcasing forward-thinking names in fashion. Past recipients include Matty Bovan, Robyn Lynch, Nicholas Daley, Mowalola, Molly
Goddard, Charles Jeffrey and more.
Central to “Socks: The Art of Care and Repair” will be a vibrant, colourful installation of 488 socks, each stitched and darned by the Surrey Square Primary School community in Southwark using industry “warehouse” waste socks.
Children, staff and families of the school learned and practised their darning and stitching skills on socks during a series of 26 workshops facilitated by Pym in early 2024.
care and Repair
In addition to the school’s mended socks, there will be a map of socks belonging to Pym’s friends and family – people she loves and cares for –mended visibly by Pym herself, in order to record patterns of wear and tear, and in styles that are designed to suit the respective sock-owners’ personalities.
The idea behind “Socks: The Art of Care and Repair” is to encourage a feeling of resilience, to be able to mend something; to play creatively with colour and yarn, and to foster a sense of care for ourselves, our clothes, the
environment and the people around us.
Pym’s commission will see NOW Gallery transformed into a creative workshop space, with mending materials and socks to inspire the community to learn the art of darning.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own socks to the gallery to repair and will be welcome to drop in and try their hand at darning, mending and stitching.
Pym’s interactive videos and step-bystep guidelines will invite all to create
a unique “visible mend” to either take home or put on display in the gallery. You will also be able to book darning workshops at NOW Gallery facilitated by experts during the exhibition run.
Celia Pym says: “It’s a small act of care to mend a hole in your sock or the sock of someone you love. It has a ripple effect. Caring for something or someone is expansive; it sets in motion something you can’t anticipate – a gift in return.
“Mending builds on what is left behind, it is an action that adds to the thing in
front of you. It doesn’t erase damage but makes the story more interesting. A spot of bright colour, or a scar line, indicates an act of care. I’m so pleased to be able to bring this to NOW Gallery and to share some skills for all to learn and take with them through life.”
Kaia Charles, curator at NOW Gallery and Greenwich Peninsula, says: “Celia Pym’s ‘Socks’ is a space for connectedness, respite and co-creation. Celia Pym has created a joyful, inclusive exhibition exploring the art of repair.
“NOW Gallery is inviting everyone in our local community, in particular schools and young people located in Greenwich Peninsula, to get involved and get mending.”
Dates: 6 December 2024 to 9 March 2025
Tickets: Free NOW Gallery, The Gateway Pavilions, Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10 0SQ www.nowgallery.co.uk/exhibitions/ socks-the-art-of-care-and-repair
• Location: Conveniently located near Lower Sydenham Station (SE26)
• Contract: 40-48 hours/week
• Shift: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday (08:30-18:30)
• Pay: £13-£15 per hour (including service charge) with strong potential to increase your earnings as you progress in your role.
As a Prep Chef, you will play an essential role in supporting our Central Kitchen Team. We’d love for you to bring your expertise in:
• Selecting top-quality ingredients to craft exceptional dishes.
• Ensuring smooth food rotation and restocking with high standards.
• Maintaining kitchen and food safety practices using advanced equipment. We value flexibility, adaptability, and a positive, team-oriented attitude If you’re ready to grow, don’t miss your chance to join a team that values your skills!
Apply today and be part of the Din Tai Fung family!
https://dintaifung-uk.com/discover/careers/
At The Heart Of The Community
Nathan Jones: “charlton is a life-changing football club”
Charlton Athletic men’s first-team manager Nathan Jones has lauded the work of the club’s award-winning Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT).
Speaking at the annual CACT Awards Ceremony, which took place in the House of Lords last month and was hosted by CACT Vice President Lord Michael Grade of Yarmouth, Jones spoke about his admiration for CACT’s work.
“I was privileged to be here tonight. The impact CACT has on people changes lives, and it’s so evident from being here that this is a life-changing football club,” Jones said.
“As a first-team, we always make sure we support the club in the community. We play a minor part in the work CACT does, which is on a different level. To use a football analogy, what CACT does is Premier League level. The things they do are inspiring.
“CACT reaches so many people, and the impact it has is truly life-changing.”
Jones was particularly moved by
the story of Michael, one of the speakers on the night, who is a member of Charlton’s facilities team. Michael shared the story of how CACT’s Men’s Health Services helped him overcome his battles with addiction, mental health conditions and social isolation.
“I listened to Michael’s story and I was welling up,” Jones admitted. “I tried to speak to him afterwards but I found it difficult because of the emotion, so I’ve invited him for a coffee. What he has had to come through to achieve what he has should make him proud of himself, and we should be proud of him as a football club.”
Having spoken with CACT staff,
participants and partners on the night, Jones concluded by sharing that the awards ceremony had reinforced the sense of pride which he feels about being Addicks manager.
“This has been one of the most humbling nights of my life. I’ve met the award winners and I’m overcome with emotion,” Jones said.
“While you are Charlton manager, you have to enhance the football club and make sure you are influencing the work of CACT.
“I love being part of the club, because it means I am part of something that is life-changing.”
I spoke to the cervia’s Master just a day before it capsized
Some years ago I bought a book from the Falconwood Bookshop “London Ship Types” published in 1938 by the East Ham Echo. The first chapter is headed “Points of Vantage on the London River”, and lists good places to stand and watch the shipping. It says “Greenwich and its opposite shore are particularly popular”. What was there in 1938 for people to see? We could look at some of the places where you can stand today - although you’ll see nothing even remotely like they could have seen in 1938.
The River has been very much in my mind all week because I’ve been looking at a Facebook page on the preserved steam tug, Cervia. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ steamtugcervia?locale=en_GB). There has been a memorial service for the 70th anniversary of her terrible accident in the river at Gravesend. Cervia was working at Tilbury docks undocking the P&O liner Arcadia by towing her, stern first, away from the landing stage. Arcadia put her engines full ahead to avoid a collision with P&O liner Orcades which was in Tilbury entrance. Cervia was pulled sideways, capsized and sank. Although they tried to release the towing hawser the Cervia’s Master, Bill Russell, MBE, and five of her crew died. Another Watkins owned tug, Challenge, rescued three of the crew.
I had been talking to Bill Russell only 24 hours or so earlier, standing in his garden where he had been mowing the lawn.
Next morning there was his picture on the front page of the News Chronicle with a whole story about the accident.
For many years Cervia was in Ramsgate in a dock next to the Museum as a preserved ship - like Greenwich has got Cutty Sark so Ramsgate had Cervia. She is now in the hands of a voluntary sector organisation, dedicated to her.
It is a small illustration of daily work on the River and its frequent dangers – and the people who worked with all those ships. Also it tells us that in 1954 there were really big passenger ships on the River –P &O liners on the Australia run. I’ve been reading how Tilbury’s magnificent 1930s landing stage (opened by Ramsay Macdonald) is now an arts centre.
Back to the book about Thames Shipping in 1938. As the author says people enjoy looking at the River and the ships. He says Greenwich “has the advantage of an unusually long stretch of river in view and so narrow that the ships are bound to come close. Thousands of people stand on the bank here for hours!” I don’t know where those thousands stood in Greenwich to see the ships. I hope they weren’t all there
at one time or most of them would see nothing but other people’s heads! In 1938 the pier and the river frontage next to it - Garden Stairs –Billingsgate Dock - were much as now but behind them there were streets with industrial buildings and lots of pubs! The Cutty Sark wasn’t there; Cutty Sark gardens weren’t there - so there was a lot less space for all these thousands of people.
What would they have been looking at and what would they have seen?
In those days newspapers published very long lists of the ships that were expected in the Port, and also lists of those that were here already. Almost all movement around the world was by ship for both passengers and goods. I know most goods are still are moved by ship, although we don’t see them – and in the Port of London they go to termini down river. In 1934 most of it would have been coming up river - and by a lot - I mean a lot!
If you want to know about how the Port used to operate – there is a film made in 1940 called City of Ships. If you’ve never seen it. then you should.
Mary Mills
South Met Gas Co. collier ship Dulwich
It’s in the BFI collection so you can see it on-line (https://player.bfi.org.uk/ free/film/watch-city-of-ships-1940) It was made by Basil Wright – the same man who made ‘Nightmail’, which I wrote about last year.
The lists of ships in the newspaper cover the whole port, right down to Gravesend and beyond. I think the people watching at Greenwich will just have seen ships which were going up River (and back down) from, say, Charlton. So that would exclude everything down river of Charlton and, I’m afraid, would exclude shipping using the Royal Docks because the entrance at Galleons is further down river. I guess that most people these days will have no idea about the various docks and dock names.
The vast Royal Docks are very much still there but in other use, including the airport.
Now a very, very rough count of the ships listed as in the Port of London on the 12th November 1938 which would pass Greenwich was probably about 100 vessels. The lists include ships at riverside wharves and that includes wharves up as far as Brentford and beyond. It also includes the upriver docks.
Going upriver from Greenwich on the north bank were the East India Docks which have very largely gone - but there are some bits and pieces if you walk around the site. They were directly opposite Blackwall Point and the Dome. Next were the West India Docks and Millwall Dock, which are the water areas all round Canary Wharf. Although they are not used you can still get boats in and out of them. Then Regents Canal Dock, which now seems to call itself Limehouse Basin and gives access to the whole of the Midlands and north in England via canals. The London Dock which was in Wapping and is now just a few bits of canal and then St Katharine’s right by the Tower which is still there and used as a ‘yacht basin’ or a marina.
On the south side of the River were the Surrey Docks. An awful lot of the vessels in the list were going there. Surrey Docks was the area around Canada Water and that great big Tesco. There are still two docks there - the South Dock which you can get enter from the River and the Greenland Dock which is a rebuild of the oldest dock on the river. The Surreys specialised in timber imports.
On the 12th November 1938 the list says that a ship called Aurania was
expected in the Surrey Commercial Docks that day. Aurania was very typical of ships coming into the Port of London. She was owned by Cunard and had come from Montreal in Canada, stopping off first at Le Havre and Plymouth. Cunard had bought her from a Newcastle based shipping company called Cairns Line, who had established the trade with Canada. Aurania and her sisters were basically cargo vessels but they also carried passengers. Almost all movement around the world in 1938 was by boat and while we know all about the big glamorous passenger liners on the Atlantic run we don’t hear about the ships which went to everywhere else. Ships took part cargo and part passengers and a lot of the ships going up river past Greenwich would be like this.
Many of the ships were ‘colliers’every day there would be many of them bringing coal down from the Durham coalfield for gas works and power stations in London – some using several 1,000 tons of coal every day. Some of the big gas companies had their own fleets and, South Met. for instance had a site on Deptford Creek where they not only serviced the ships that went to Durham but also had tugs and various small
workboats. Some gas works and power stations were upriver and vessels had to pass under bridges to get to them. Wandsworth Gas Works, for instance had collier vessels called ‘flat irons’ whose funnels were hinged so they could lay flat as the boat went under the bridges.
The people watching at Greenwich would also have seen a lot of boats - probably most of what was in the River – which were not in these lists of arrivals from overseas. Lot of vessels worked on the river. There would be official launches owned by the Port of London Authority and other organisations doing actual business about the River. There would also have been River maintenance boats – like dredgers. Some of them were owned by Tilbury Construction based on Dreadnought Wharf in Greenwich.
Then there were boats delivering cargoes from up and down the river and never going to sea. Of course there were lots of sailing barges – just as glamorous then as they are now but in those days they would be at work.
They have a lot of fans and a lot of websites which will tell you about every one of them. For example https://sailingbargeassociation.co.uk/
We mustn’t forget the cable ships – always ready to keep world communications working by going off and repairing a cable in midAtlantic in a Force 12! Clearly there was always one based in Greenwich at Enderbys and further downriver - actually in Charlton - was Faraday at Siemens. There were other specialist ships for local works and I would be interested to know about them.There were lots more types of boats up and down the River which I have no space to mention.
So those river watchers in Greenwich in 1938 would see a busy, crowded, River. What would they see on the River today? To be perfectly honestnot much! Do all the visitors leaving the various tripper’s vessels take much notice of what is going on - and in the end who wants to look at lots and lots of identikit flats anyway? On the River itself there are still working boats from organisations like PLA but otherwise it’s just the Clippers and party boats with very occasional visitors like a battleship or a cruise liner.
The old world of the River was hard and dirty – watch ‘City of Ships’ and see the heavy labouring work and the black smoke stacks. We shouldn’t romanticise it. But... still...
Cervia
Old map of Greenwich pier area
Bowen London ship types
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1. The Royal Borough of Greenwich makes this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Thames Water who need to carry out repair works..
2. The Order will come into operation on 19 November 2024 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However, the works are expected to take 2 days. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.
3. The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, exiting, proceeding, or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading), in Osborn Terrace at the junction with Lee Road.
4. Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via the placing of the appropriate signage. Prohibitions remain in force; pedestrians are not affected, and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.
5. Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.
6. The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.
7. Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.
Ryan Nibbs Assistant Director, Transport. The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ
Dated 24 September 2024
INTERNAL REF:
ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 – SECTION 247 PROPOSED STOPPING UP OF THE HIGHWAY-(WOOLWICH PAVILION)
1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the Royal Borough of Greenwich intends to make an Order under section 247 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 ("the Act"), entitled the Royal Borough of Greenwich (Stopping Up of Highways) (No. *) (Woolwich Pavilion) Order 202*.
2. The general effect of the Order would be to authorise the stopping-up of the areas of the highway located in Beresford Square around the existing toilet block shown in orange on the deposited plan. The term “stopping up” means that these areas of highway would cease to be public highway.
3. If the Order is made, the stopping up would only be authorised in order to enable the provision of the development described in the Schedule to this Notice to be carried out in accordance with the planning permission reference 22/4187/F.
4. Further information may be obtained by telephoning Strategic Transportation on 020 8921 2103.
5. A copy of the proposed Order and the relevant plan are available for inspection by any person, free of charge, during normal office hours until the expiry of those normal office hours on 11th December 2024 at the Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise and Skills, Strategic Transportation, Royal Borough of Greenwich, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ.
6 Any person who wishes to object to the making of the proposed Order should send a statement in writing by 11th December 2024, specifying the grounds on which any objection is made, to the Council at the following address: Directorate Communities, Environment and Central, Strategic Transportation, Royal Borough of Greenwich, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ, or by email to Ben.Murphyroyalgreenwich.gov.uk (quoting reference PCL/SUO/1000010210).
7. Persons objecting to the proposed Order should be aware that in view of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, this Council would be legally obliged to make any comments received in response to this notice, open to public inspection.
Assistant Director, Strategic Transportation The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ
Dated 13th November 2024
SCHEDULE
(DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT – see paragraph 3 above)
To allow the proposed Woolwich Market Pavilion development bounded by Beresford Street and Beresford Square consisting of the demolition of existing toilet block and erection of replacement building providing toilet facilities and commercial food and beverage unit and landscaping works, including the removal of trees, hard and soft landscaping, installation of street furniture including seating and changes to ground level.
ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) CALVERT ROAD PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER)
1. The Royal Borough of Greenwich intends to make this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Thames Water who need to carry out works on a service pipe repair.
2. The Order will come into operation on 25th November 2024 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However, the works are expected to take 5 days. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.
3. The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, exiting, proceeding, or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading) in Calvert Road outside 65 - 67.
4. Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via the placing of the appropriate signage. Prohibitions remain in force; pedestrians are not affected, and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.
5. Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.
6. The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.
7. Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.
Ryan Nibbs Assistant Director, Transport.
The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ
26 September 2024
INTERNAL REF - PL /LA477860 FN704 / Lic. No: 72163
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ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14(1) TALLIS GROVE PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER)
1. The Royal Borough of Greenwich makes this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Southern Gas Network who need to carry out works on a gas mains replacement work.
2. The Order will come into operation on 18th November 2024 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However, the works are expected to take 11 days. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.
3. The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, exiting, proceeding, or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading), in Tallis Grove at the junction of Wyndcliff Road to outside 47.
4. Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via the placing of the appropriate signage. Prohibitions remain in force; pedestrians are not affected, and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.
5. Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.
6. The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.
7. Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.
Ryan Nibbs Assistant Director, Transport. The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ
Dated 20 October 2024
INTERNAL REF: PL / LA477163 FN705 / Lic. No: 72352
Royal Borough of Greenwich
Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (AS AMENDED)
Town & Country Planning (Development Management Procedure)(England) Order 2015
Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (AS AMENDED)
Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 (AS AMENDED)
Town & Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007 (AS AMENDED)
Notice is hereby given that application(s) have been made to The Royal Borough of Greenwich in respect of the under mentioned premises/sites. You can see the submissions and any plans at http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/planning.
If development proposals affect Conservation Areas and/or Statutorily Listed Buildings under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 (As Amended) this will be shown within the item below.
Anyone who wishes to comment on these applications should be made in writing to Development Planning within 21 days of the date of this notice.
Please quote the appropriate reference number.
Date: 13/11/2024
Victoria Geoghegan
Assistant Director - Planning and Building Control
List of Press Advertisements - 13/11/2024
Publicity for Planning Applications
Applicant: The Hyde Group 24/1568/F
Site Address: 64 AND 64A GRANBY ROAD, ELTHAM, LONDON, SE9 1EN
Development: Replacement of existing windows and rear garden door. (Revised description) Conservation Area: PROGRESS ESTATE
Applicant: Padel Social Club 24/3026/F
Site Address: The O2, Peninsula Square, Greenwich, SE10 0DX Development: Erection of a one and two storey building as an extension to The O2 to accommodate a Padel Social Club leisure facility, including use of part of The O2 for leisure use, and associated works.
Applicant: Mr Guillermo Fernandez 24/3069/F
Site Address: FLAT 4, 16 GLENLUCE ROAD, LONDON, SE3 7SB
Development: Replacement of existing windows on property with white uPVC double glazed windows. Conservation Area: WESTCOMBE PARK
Applicant: Mr Tipping 24/3179/F
Site Address: FLAT B, 91 BLACKHEATH HILL, LONDON, SE10 8TJ
Development: Construction of a single storey side/rear extension. Conversion of the basement into a habitable space. Internal refurbishment of the ground and basement level. Installation of a lower ground floor window opening to the front and side elevation, replacement of front rear window openings, formation of a front lightwell and relocation of the side boundary fence.
Conservation Area: WEST GREENWICH
Applicant: Mr Murat Demircan 24/3456/F
Site Address: 2 NEVADA STREET, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 9JL Development: Change of use from single-family dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) into a 7-bedroom 7-person HMO (Sui Generis); erection of ground floor side extensions; other associated alterations.
Conservation Area: WEST GREENWICH
Applicant: Hainault House Limited 24/3489/F
Site Address: HAINAULT HOUSE, HAINAULT
Information from the Royal Borough of Greenwich for our residents
We will remember them
From Friday 8 to Monday 11 November, remembrance events took place across the Royal Borough of Greenwich, with the Abbey Wood and Thamesmead, Blackheath and Charlton, and Eltham and Well Hall branches of the Royal British Legion.
Thank you to everyone that came to mark Remembrance Day.
You are cordially invited to Charlton House’s open evening!
Join us in the Old Library in Charlton House on Wednesday 20 November from 6pm to 8pm to get a glimpse into your dream wedding or civil ceremony venue.
While building works are taking place in Woolwich Town Hall to repair the Grade II listed building, guests are welcome to hold weddings in the Old Library in Charlton House between 16 December and 30 April.
Come along and meet the Royal Greenwich Registrars team, who will be happy to show you around the historic Old Library and answer any questions you may have regarding your ceremony.
No need to RSVP, but if you would like to confirm a spot or have any questions, please contact registrar@royalgreenwich.gov.uk
