The South London Weekly - October 27th 2023

SouthLondonWeekly.

Community matters

Issue 22 ∙ 50p ∙ October 27 2023 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk

is scheme to stop dockLess bike dumping working?

derby bLues

'affordabLe homes cut by a third' See page 6

See sport

See page 2

26-storey tower approved

See page 5

teen found guiLty of murder

See page 7

diwaLi in bLackheath

See page 6

2 NEWS

London’s affordable homes programme expected to BE third less

Contents NEWS Pages 2-17 arts Pages 18-19 History Page 21 Classified Page 24 Public notices Pages 26-28

Pages 29-32

By Noah Vickers

Contact us if you have a story on 07973175511 or email hello@cm-media.co.uk

We are a London Living Wage employer Do you have a story

for our news team?

Call 0207 231 5258 You can WhatsApp us on 07494 070 863.

Local Democracy Reporter London’s latest affordable housing programme is expected to deliver up to a third fewer homes than originally planned, Sadiq Khan’s deputy has confirmed.

The current programme was due to run from 2021 until 2026, but no homes have been started under it so far.

The scheme is managed by City Hall, using £4bn of funding provided by the Government, and was originally intended to pay for 35,000 new affordable homes in the capital.

But at a Thursday meeting of the London Assembly, deputy mayor for housing Tom Copley said this figure has now been brought down to a range of between 23,900 and 27,200.

He said the delay in starting the programme

SouthLondonWeekly.

Community matters

Editor: Kevin Quinn Reporters: Herbie Russell; Isabel Ramirez Sports Editor: John Kelly Sports reporter: Kiro Evans Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Digital Transformation Editor: Katherine Johnston Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising: Clarry Frewin, Sophie Ali Design: Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen Finance: Em Zeki - Tel: 0779 883 3758 Subscriptions/Announcements: Katie Boyd Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Published weekly at: Community Matters Media Ltd, Unit A202, The Biscuit Factory, Drummond Road, Bermondsey, London SE16 4DG. News and Sport: 020 7231 5258 Advertising: 0020 7232 1639 News/Advertising: hello@cm-media.co.uk Finance: em@cm-media.co.uk Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500 www.iliffeprint.co.uk

had been caused by “frustrating delays” in signing contracts with housing associations and developers, resulting from a “pause” ordered by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

Mr Copley told the meeting: “We of course have been pushing the Government to top up the funding, to take us back to 35,000 [homes] and ideally, we would like even more funding than that, in order that we could support the sector to deliver at a scale which actually matches need."

London would need an extra £2.2bn from the Government in order to restore the 35,000 target, the Assembly was told by Heather Juman, City Hall’s assistant director for housing and land.

The latest edition of the London Plan – the mayor’s development strategy for the city – states that the capital needs “66,000 new homes each year, for at least twenty years,

SouthLondonWeekly.

Community matters

'THAT'S ALL FOLKS!'

Issue 21 ∙ 50p ∙ October 20 2023 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk

See sport

Last orders at 'GRANDEST' Wetherspoons in London See page 14

MARC OF APPROVAL

BRIXTON MAN SENTENCED TO 29 YEARS After he murdered his wife and then set their house on fire See page 14

THERE IS STILL MORE TO DO THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH See page 21

BUS CUT IS RUINING THE SCHOOL RUN

See page 16

PLANS TO CONVERT OLD TOWN HALL INTO FLATS

© Greater London Authority

SPORT

Tom Copley, London's Deputy Mayor for Housing

and evidence suggests that 43,000 of them should be genuinely affordable if the needs of Londoners are to be met”.

Mr Copley suggested that “extremely unfavourable market conditions” had combined with former prime minister Liz Truss’s mini-budget in increasing the programme’s costs.

He said: “These macro-economic headwinds were felt particularly acutely after the September 2022 mini-budget, which landed in the untimely context of an economy already struggling with the impacts of Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and Brexit.”

The deputy mayor separately pointed to the impact of changing fire safety regulations, arising from the Grenfell Tower fire.

Mayor Khan wrote to the Government last month, accusing them of “dither and delay” over the implementation of new rules which dictate the need for a second staircase in tall

buildings.

He claimed that uncertainty over the specifics of the rules was holding back the development of tens of thousands of homes in the capital.

The Government did not respond to a request for comment at the time.

Approached for comment in August on the fact that no new homes have yet been started in London under the current affordable homes programme, a DLUHC spokesman said: “The Government has allocated £4bn to the Greater London Authority (GLA) to deliver much needed affordable housing in the capital, and our support contributed to the delivery of more than 131,700 new affordable homes in the capital between 2010 and 2022.

“We expect the GLA to get on and build the homes the Londoners desperately need and deserve.”

The South London Weekly is an independent newspaper covering all of south London and beyond Community Matters Media has been running independent newspapers since 1987, and now boasts the weeklies: South London Weekly, Southwark News and Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender, as well as the lifestyle magazines The South Londoner and Bermondsey Biscuit & Rotherhithe Docker.

You can view all our content on www.southlondon.co.uk and sign up to newsletters to stay informed about news, lifestyle & events, people, sport and history.

We believe in community and in balanced, independent and responsible journalism. As a south London business, we also work to support fellow local businesses.

A dedicated team of staff work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that community-led, independent newspapers can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.

See page 2

Follow our social media to be updated on local news

southwark-news

@southwark_news

Community Matters Media Ltd 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 0207 231 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

NEWS 3

two young footbaLLers from waLworth fc cut hair off for kids' cancer charity

By Isabel Ramirez

two young girls, who met playing football at walworth FC, have cut off their hair and donated it to a charity that makes wigs for kids with cancer.

Leyla-Mae Kemal, 12, and Nikki Young, 11, had the big chop on Monday 23 October, which saw them each shed around fourteen inches from their long locks.

Rebecca Cox, Leyla-Mae's mum, said the idea first came about when they heard about Little Princess Trust - a charity that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair after undergoing chemotherapy.

"She wanted to help someone who has been through something," Rebecca, who lives in Walworth, told us. "Leyla-Mae has really long hair and said she couldn't imagine how these children feel when they lose theirs."

She said Leyla-Mae shared her idea with her friend, Nikki and the pair agreed to do it together, whilst raising money for the charity as well.

Nikki's mum, Kerry Lee, said: "Nikki's held on to long hair for as long as possible. I didn't think she'd want to so I was surprised at first but she decided it was the best reason to do it."

They set up a fundraising page and have raised over £600 so far. The charity gives out the wigs for free and each one costs £500 to make, so the girls are aiming to raise as much as possible.

Rebecca told us the girls met two and a half years ago at football, playing for Walworth FC, and have been 'inseparable' ever since.

"They bring out the best in each other and the club has brought out their confidence," she said. "Both of them want to be Lionesses when they grow up."

Following the double haircut, Rebecca commented: "They were a bit shocked at first - but they're excited to go back to school and show everyone their new bobs.

"It was a really nice moment. I think it should be something that is encouraged."

Left-to-right: Leyla-Mae Kemal, 12, Nikki Young, 11.

The girls are currently in the London Girls' Cup and the Tandridge League with their football team.

Rebecca said: "I'm just really proud of her. She's a very kind and sensitive girl - I'm proud that she knows the reason behind it and wants to help other people."

They added that Nikki's big sister Chelsea, and Leyla's sister, Leah-Jae have been their 'biggest supporters' throughout.

To donate to their fundraising page go to justgiving.com - Nikki & Leyla's fundraiser for Little Princess Trust For more information on the Little Princess Trust and how you can get involved, go to their website https:// www.littleprincesses.org.uk

Our guide for Halloween See page 15

4 NEWS Exclusive

By Herbie Russell Shoppers say “a serious amount of trolleys have gone missing” at the Surrey Quays Tesco, making it “hell” for customers.

Visitors to the Rotherhithe supermarket say the “ridiculous” situation has left them “scratching around” for carts since the summer.

A rumour is circulating that a man in a van stole stacks of trolleys from the car park during the summer.

Tesco has not confirmed this report, adding that it encourages “all customers to return their trolleys once they have finished”.

Rotherhithe resident Terry, who is in his sixties, said: “We’re talking about a serious amount of trolleys gone missing.”

“People are having to scratch around for trolleys asking people to give them a trolley before they’ve unloaded into their cars. It's getting ridiculous,” he added.

“Come Christmas, it’s going to be absolute bedlam in there.”

Terry claims a customer assistant informed him that a van with covered number plates had stolen stacks of trolleys. It's understood that Tesco has no record of any such incident.

Some customers, like 64-year-old Rotherhithe resident Simon Pearce, said a cart crisis had forced him to shop

shoppers claim 'ridiculous' trolley shortage is 'hell' elsewhere.

Standing by an empty trolley shelter while waiting for his wife, who’d gone “hither and yon” to find one, he said: “We’ve started going to Asda because at least you can get a trolley… it’s a very strange situation.”

However, 71-year-old Thora Foy, who lives on the nearby Canada Estate, also said thieves were to blame. “[At the] Osprey and Canada Estate there are tonnes there and people keep them in the garden,” she said.

She added: “For me, I take my own little trolley along but for most people it’s hell.”

Jo Krishnakumar, 28, said: “I’m not sure what’s happening with the trolleys. There’s usually never trolleys, especially the smaller ones.”

This paper understands that the Surrey Quays store recently received

new trolleys and will receive a further delivery ahead of the Christmas rush.

As part of the Canada Water Masterplan British Land will demolish the supermarket, with a new 12,500sqm Tesco set to be built underneath new apartment blocks on the masterplan site.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We encourage all customers to return their trolleys once they have finished their shop both for others to use and because we don’t want them to cause any harm to the local environment.

“We use a specialist company called Trolleywise to retrieve our trollies when they have been taken and we’d ask anyone who sees an abandoned Tesco trolley to use the Trolleywise app to report this, or let their local store know so we can get it back as soon as Simon Pearce said a cart crisis had forced him to shop elsewhere possible."

Southwark 'refuseS' to complete Businesses to vote in government's 'optional' LTN review Bermondsey's Blue area

Exclusive

By Herbie Russell

By Herbie Russell

Bermondsey business owners have said The Blue is “on the brink of a new chapter” as they urge local companies to vote ‘yes’ in the upcoming Bermondsey Improvement District (BID) ballot.

Southwark Council is “refusing to co-operate” with central government’s optional review of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs).

The national review, designed to check if the controversial traffic schemes have local support, was announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in July.

But Southwark Council has declined to fill in the Department for Transport’s initial questionnaire, which was optional, arguing it would not benefit residents.

In an email seen by us, the Labour council’s cabinet member for transport branded the review a “political stunt”, echoing claims that Rishi Sunak wants to make environmental and transport issues a key electoral battleground ahead of the next election.

Campaign group One Dulwich, which opposes the Dulwich Village LTN, has said it is “astonished” by the council’s response, and that local residents are “suffering” from the schemes.

LTNs have divided communities across the country ever since a flurry were introduced by local authorities, with the government’s support, during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

In 2020, Southwark Council introduced several traffic reduction schemes including in Walworth, Dulwich and Bermondsey.

The Dulwich Streetspace, arguably Southwark’s most contested scheme, bans all motor access through the junction, except emergency vehicles.

The council, and some residents, argue the restrictions have made the area less polluted and safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

Other residents have said the schemes

The Dulwich Village LTN. Image: Google are “undemocratic” pointing to statistics appearing to show widespread local opposition to the scheme.

The LTN review recently announced by the government now aims to check whether LTNs “are deployed fairly and with local support”.

One dataset, gathered by Southwark Council, showed an average of 67 per cent of respondents said they wanted LTNs in Dulwich Village, Champion Hill and East Dulwich “returned to their original state”.

As a first step to the LTN review, the government has asked local authorities to fill in questionnaires concerning the number and types of LTNs installed on their roads.

But according to the Guardian, local authorities were given just two weeks to return the “lengthy questionnaires”.

The Department for Transport has indicated the questionnaires were optional with councils asked to “voluntarily provide information”.

Cllr McAsh, Southwark Council’s cabinet member for transport issues. said: “The council’s resources – including officer time – are limited so we have to make choices regarding what to prioritise.

"This review did not seem to have any potential benefit for our residents and given the short timescales for this optional questionnaire, we decided to instead prioritise work to make our streets cleaner, greener and safer.”

But in a letter to the Department for Transport a One Dulwich spokesperson said the group was “astonished" to discover Southwark Council is refusing to cooperate” They told us: “We look forward to the LTN review being published and expect that its findings will persuade the Government to force councils to remove LTNs that don’t work and have been imposed on residents without their consent.”

In an email sent to a local resident, Cllr McAsh said the LTN review “appears to be primarily a political stunt”.

The Conservative party narrowly won the Uxbridge by-election with many analysts saying Labour mayor Sadiq Khan’s controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion had delivered the victory.

This, some argue, has prompted Rishi Sunak to make environmental and transport issues a major issue in a bid to drum up electoral support

Founded in 2014, the BID is a partnership of local businesses whose teamwork and financial contributions are fuelling the revitalisation of Bermondsey’s local economy.

Since its establishment, it’s raised £2.3m in external investment, transformed the historic market on Southwark Park Road, and adorned Bermondsey’s streets with trees, monuments and murals.

Local businesses must now vote on whether to give the BID another five-year term. Supporters say it’s “essential” if the area is to capitalise on Greystar’s landmark housing development on the Biscuit Factory.

Blue Bermondsey Chair Jack Shah said: “With the current Biscuit Factory housing development set to create a brand-new neighbourhood with 1,500 new homes, we stand on the brink of a new chapter in the long history of The Blue.

He added that “through the unified voice of the BID" local businesses could "grasp the opportunities and economic benefits this will bring in the coming years".

Thanks to the BID, The Blue Market Square has undergone significant changes in recent years. There’s been the installation of the new clock tower, fixed canopies for traders and the renovation of the Big Local Works office.

Local businesses have benefitted from discounted local services,

consistent marketing, and having their voice heard in discussions with Southwark Council and Greystar.

The BID’s work has also seen an influx of community events to the area, including the return of the much-loved Bermondsey Carnival last summer.

Luds Van Den Belt is Charity Manager at Big Local Works, an organisation that supported 300 clients with employment and welfare services, and set up 50 entrepreneurs at the market, last year.

He said: “I think the really great thing about the BID is it gives a united voice to the local business community.

“There are so many advantages such as the ability to lobby the local council over its letting strategy making sure it’s letting its buildings to complimentary services instead of it just being a betting shop.”

He said it also gave The Blue a seat at the table in business discussions with larger organisations based in London Bridge, Waterloo and Bankside, helping the area to capitalise on the wealth and footfall they pull in.

Roughly 400 businesses fall within the BID area which covers an approximate half-mile radius around The Blue.

Their contributions, which can be as low as £93.75 per year, depend on their premises’ rateable value.

Businesses with a rateable value of £7,500 or more are eligible to vote in the ballot. If a ‘Yes’ vote wins, the new term will run from April 1, 2024, until March 31, 2029.

A majority of those balloted must vote in favour to secure the BID its third term.

Voting begins on Monday, October 30 and concludes on Thursday, November 23, with the result announced the following day.

To receive a ballot paper, email the BID manager at russell@bluebermondsey.co.uk.

NEWS 5

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter A 26-STOREY student tower on surrey Canal road between south Bermondsey and deptford has been approved.

It was waved through by a Lewisham Council planning committee on October 12 after a three and a half hour meeting, with a councillor expressing concerns over communal space for students and more traffic.

The site on Surrey Canal Road is currently home to scrap metal dealer Southwark Metals Ltd, which is relocating to Thamesmead.

Under the plans the existing buildings on the site will be demolished and replaced with a 484-room student block, 42 flats, shops and studio space.

During the meeting, Councillor James-J Walsh, a member of the planning committee, said he had concerns about the amount of space for students to hang out in the building.

Cllr Walsh, Labour member for Rushey Green, told the council’s planning team: “There’s a massive mental health crisis amongst young people. Them being kept in rabbit hutches as their bedroom and study space is exacerbating that problem. There needs to be a good level of communal space for them to interact with each other, develop relationships and connect with one another. And I haven’t been assured that’s the case in this scheme yet.”

David Robinson, the council’s major and strategic project manager, said there would be communal space on the 25th floor of the building, as well as a roof terrace for students. He added that there was also a place in the basement

26-storey student tower approved in south bermondsey CGI of building viewed from Surrey Canal Road

What the site looks like today

for students to do their laundry.

Cllr Walsh also raised concerns about the lack of measures to deal with traffic from students arriving at the start of the university term and the end of the academic year in the design.

He added: “I’m worried about getting 500 families driving their son or daughter down from a shire, which you can’t cycle from, you can’t walk, with all their worldly belongings in the back of a car. That’s not coming on a train and it’s not coming on the back of a bike.

"What I’m really worried about is we’re going to have queuing for miles down our very small roads in this area for the weekend and it’s going to be chaos at the site.”

A representative for the applicant, Fosfel Apollo Limited, said he believed not all students would be arriving by car, with some expected to take the bus.

He added that students would be moved into the building over several weekends, rather than just a single one.

Of the 484 planned student rooms,

81 (17 per cent) will be available at affordable rents.

All of the 42 residential flats are classified as affordable, with 70 per cent of them at the cheapest social rents.

A planning committee made up of five Labour councillors approved the plans with amendments unanimously.

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: “The proposed student accommodation includes indoor and outdoor communal space for students, with study areas, shared lounge, TV

ELITE FISH BAR 020 7237 6409

and cinema screens, a fitness area and kitchen and dining areas.

“As a condition of planning permission, a Student Management Plan will need to be produced to ensure student use of the building is properly managed and issues such as access to communal areas and move-in and move-out arrangements are properly addressed. This plan will be reviewed by a specialist third-party expert to ensure it meets the high standards we would expect for this sort of development.”

Traditional fish & chips

OPEN Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 11am-9pm & Sunday CLOSED

Ambrose Street, Bermondsey SE16 3NY (opposite TSB bank)

SPECIAL OFFER*

FISH & CHIPS

REGULAR COD & CHIPS

WAS £11.20 NOW £8.50 *Limited time only

EAT IN OR TAKE AWAY

SPECIAL DEALS

Cod & Chips £11.20 £8.50 £10.50 Large Cod & Chips £13.20 £11.00 Rock & Chips £13.20 £11.00 Haddock & Chips £13.20 £11.00 Plaice & Chips £13.20 £14.50 Skate middle & Chips £16.70 £13.50 Skate wing & Chips £15.20 £9.00 Scampi & Chips £10.20 £5.50 Cod Roe & Chips £6.20 £3.00 Chip Roll £3.70 £4.00 Battered sausage & Chips £4.90 £4.00 Jumbo sausage & Chips £4.90 £4.00 Saveloy & Chips £4.90 £4.00 Fishcake & Chips £4.90 £6.00 6 Nuggets & Chips £7.20 £5.50 Pie & Chips £6.40 Chips Regular £2.70 Large £5.00

Now on Deliveroo and Uber Eats

36 seater restaurant, eat in or take away - same price

6 NEWS

By Adrian Zorzut Local Democracy Reporter A Soho resident said a scheme to tackle dockless bikes being dumped on footpaths has been “disappointing” – but the council has urged residents to be patient.

Jason Fisher-Jones said Westminster City’s scheme to create 320 e-bike parking bays has been “largely ignored” since it was introduced on Monday, October 9.

The resident, who is also a Soho Society board member, shared a photo of dockless bikes and e-scooters spilling out of designated parking bays into car spaces a day after the scheme came in.

Jason said: “The scheme can only be successful if it is strongly enforced by the council and by the operators.

“It is not clear that the operators are levying any penalties to those who park outside the permitted bays, and thus not changing behaviours.

“It’s disappointing the scheme is off to such a poor start already.”

The TV director said he is worried the issue will get worse as more bikes come into the West End. Tim Lord, who chairs the Soho Society, said the council seems to be doing everything it can and said there is a lack of primary legislation on e-bikes.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, who leads on city management for the council, said it will take a few weeks for the scheme to take effect He said: “We’ve worked with the bike companies on a solution which means people can continue to cycle around the city safely and ensure the pavements are accessible for everyone.

“And the council continues to push for new legislation from government to regulate e-bike hire schemes across London.

“It will no doubt take a few weeks for all e-bike riders to get used to the new parking system, but we hope that very soon the vast majority will park their bikes safely in the new designated bays”.

Since Monday October 9, cyclists using TIER, Lime or Forest bikes will now have to park their bikes in designated bays to end their journeys, or they could face fines and even a ban.

As part of an 18-month trial, the

is a scheme to tackle dockless bikes being dumped working in the west end?

A picture of a dockless bike bay.

Photo from Westminster Council.

council has extended a number of existing bays designated for e-scooters and repurposed underused car parking spaces and yellow lined areas into e-bike parking bays.

In addition to the 200 physical parking bays, more than 100 geofenced virtual bays have been created at under-used bike stands.

The council said it has worked closely with e-bike companies over several months to identify suitable locations for the parking bays, which will be rolled out during October and November.

It said geofencing will be used to get riders park designated bays, while

those who don’t face being fined or banned from using the platform.

The council said bike companies have also employed rangers to make sure e-bikes are properly parked and to move any blocking the pavement.

Disability charity Scope welcomed the announcement and hopes more councils follow Westminster City’s lead Executive director James Taylor said: “It’s good to see a council taking this issue seriously. Leaving rental bikes and e-scooters across pavements and streets reduces accessibility for many disabled people such as wheelchair users and people with mobility issues.

“It creates a trip hazard for blind and visually impaired people. We are greatly concerned that bikes and e-scooters being left on pavements and crossings are hindering disabled people’s access and can be a real danger to getting around safely.”

He said many British streets are already narrow and hard to navigate and leaving bikes and e-scooters in the wrong places will make that task hard.

He said the attitude that rental bikes and e-scooters can just be left anywhere once someone has finished using them needs to change.

Alex Berwin, Forest Head of Policy,

said the company was “acutely aware” of the issue of inconsiderate parking in the borough. He said the company is using geofencing measures and AI to encourage drivers to park properly.

Lime’s Hal Stevenson said the new bays were “a hugely positive and collaborative step forward”.

The head of policy said: “We’ll be supporting the launch with Lime’s Parking Wardens on patrol this week in Soho, rewarding riders that park in the new bays with some surprise golden ticket prizes to say thank you.”

Benjamin Bell, a senior director at TIER, added: “We welcome this bold, forward-thinking step to create an expansive network of parking bays for shared e-bikes in the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities.

“Shared micro-mobility helps people travel locally with ease while leaving the car at home, thereby easing congestion and improving air quality.

“The collaboration and openness from the Council has been so impressive. We are sure our users will adapt to the new system quickly and the wider public will benefit from this move to tackle clutter in Westminster.”

have worked with for our previous events, and are always able to get everyone up and enjoying the dancing.

"We are very excited about the performers this year as they are all highly experienced musicians.

"The tabla player Harkiret Singh has been to Blackheath Halls several times before, playing at our Diwali event in 2022 and our Holi celebrations earlier in the year.

"Joining him will be special guest Debipriya Sircar, an established vocalist and sitar player, performing here for the very first time.

"I would say that Cohesion Plus are very clever, teaching the moves in a relaxed and fun way so that there is no pressure.

"It’s all about enjoying the music, and if people would rather just sit and watch, they’ll have plenty of space to be able to do that as well."

Babur is a well-known and popular Indian restaurant in Forest Hill. They will also be providing a vegetarian dinner and the bar will be open throughout the event.

The Diwali event falls a week before the festival itself, and a night before

Guy Fawkes. With no fireworks display on Blackheath anymore, having the opportunity to embrace Diwali, another festival of light, could make up for it.

Diwali: Indian music, dinner and dance is taking place at Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, Blackheath, London SE3 9RQ.

November 4, 6pm.

Admission: £60/£30 under 18s. www.blackheathhalls.com/whatson/diwali-evening/

A picture of dockless bikes being parked in a car parking bay. Photo by Jason Fisher-Jones.

The scheme can only be successful if it is strongly enforced by the council and by the operators - local resident Jason Fisher-Jones

Dance and dine for Diwali at Blackheath Halls

By Holly O'Mahony

Falling just after the official Festival of Lights that’s celebrated by communities across the world, Blackheath Halls’ popular Diwali event returns with live music, dancing and a sumptuous dinner.

Guests will be serenaded by a classical music recital before tucking into an authentic Indian meal cooked by local gourmet restaurant Babur Brasserie.

Once fed, it’s time to get back on your feet to take part in a Bhangra dance workshop.

Moving into the venue’s larger space this year, the Great Hall, the Diwali celebrations will be the first chance many visitors will get to see the Grade II-listed concert hall following the refurbishment of its outdoor space.

Nicola Metselaar, marketing manager for Blackheath Halls, said: "As with previous years, the audience will enjoy a variety of entertainment starting with a classical music recital, followed by a fabulous tasty Indian dinner and culminating in a fun and enjoyable Bhangra dance workshop led by Kent-based Cohesion Plus, who we

NEWS 7

an independent preparatory schooL opens up in the eLephant and castLe

By Herbie Russell

A FEE-PAYING preparatory school with capacity for 48 children has opened in Elephant and Castle.

The owners have said pupils at Imperial Oak Preparatory School would benefit from small class sizes and “quality teaching”.

Imperial Oak, which has years Reception to Year 2, invited the public to the grand opening on Friday, October 6.

Visitors were greeted by owners and married couple Chizzy and Collins Chukwukere, who already run Zippys Day Nursery in Greenwich, which is rated Good by Ofsted.

Mrs Chukwukere said: “We want to bring the best out of children. They’ll benefit from smaller classes and preparation for the eleven-plus. That’s why we’re called a prep school - we prepare them.”

The independent school, where annual fees are £15,999, has reserved ten pupil spaces for SEN students.

Headteacher Emma Aduaka said: "I think one problem is there are a lot of SEN schools that are full. There aren’t enough spaces for SEN children so that’s a real worry.”

Staff aim to create an environment

F.A.A.

Staff, children and Southwark Mayor Michael Situ gathered for the grand opening. suitable for children of all abilities.

“Every child should have an opportunity to learn - it doesn’t matter if you’ve got SEN. We’re all equal,” Mrs Chukwukere said.

Southwark primary schools are already facing an admissions crisis, with four schools amalgamating and roughly twelve facing a budget deficit due to low pupil numbers.

F A ALBIN & SONS

St Jude’s and Charlotte Sharman Primary School, both in Elephant and Castle, have recently considered amalgamating due to low pupil numbers.

Asked if Imperial Oak risked pulling children away from already undersubscribed schools, Mrs Chukwukere said choosing a school “depends on what you want as a parent”.

Elephant and Castle and Walworth are some of Southwark’s most deprived areas but the school’s owner said the area is “changing” meaning it could attract families that can afford the fees.

A government report by the Department for Communities and Local Government found that Elephant and Castle was in the top 20 per cent of most deprived wards in England.

But the £4 billion regeneration of Elephant and Castle, spearheaded by projects on Elephant Park and the Elephant Park Town Centre, could usher in scores of wealthy families.

Mrs Chukwukere said: “The area is changing anyway. There are families who want to rent a flat here now. Do you know how much it costs to rent a flat here now?”

However, the school also hopes to introduce a scholarship-style scheme where private companies would pay for local children to attend the school.

“I want children who are here already to benefit from it,” Mrs Chukwukere said.

020 7237 3637

Family Run Funeral Directors

RotheRhithe 52 Culling Road, London, SE16 2TN OuR OThER bRaNCh addRESSES aRE: welling 4 Welling Way, Welling, KENT, da16 2Rj T: 020 8856 7514

deptfoRd 164 deptford high Street, LONdON, SE8 3dP T: 020 8694 1384

sidcup 163 Station Road, Sidcup, KENT, da15 7aa T: 020 8308 0015

eAst london 378 barking Road, Plaistow LONdON, E13 8hL T: 020 7476 1861

MottinghAM 54-56 Mottingham Road, London, SE9 4QZ T: 020 8857 0330 cRAYfoRd 30-32 Crayford high Street, Crayford, KENT, da1 4hG T: 01322 533012

wAlwoRth 88 brandon Street, LONdON, SE17 1Nd T: 020 7313 6990

Serving the people of Bermondsey & Rotherhithe for over 200 years

www.albins.co.uk

8 NEWS

poLice fear brixton man may have 'come to harm' after his vehicLe was found in duLwich

By Herbie Russell

poLiCe Fear a Brixton man may have “come to harm” - with the last sighting over a week ago.

Justin Henry, 34, was last seen on CCTV buying food at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Croydon on Sunday, October 15.

His car was later found in Dulwich near Crystal Palace. It’s unclear who drove his vehicle there due to the indistinct CCTV footage but Justin’s family believe it wasn’t him.

His disappearance has been called “out of character” and detectives are now seeking the public’s help amid growing concerns for his safety.

One person has been arrested in connection with the investigation and bailed pending further enquiries.

DCI Matt Coop said: “Based on the available evidence this remains a missing person enquiry. However, my concern that Justin has come to harm is, sadly, increasing with every day.”

Justin, who has links to the SE23 area, which includes Forest Hill and Honor Oak, was first reported missing to police on Monday, October 16.

He was last seen in person on the

His disappearance on Sunday October 15 has been called 'out of character'

evening of Sunday, October 15, at his partner’s address in Brixton.

Later that evening, at around 9.50pm, Justin was captured on CCTV buying food at the McDonald’s drive-thru on London Road, Croydon.

Police believe he drove from there to a nearby location in Croydon where his car, a silver Mercedes E Class, remained for roughly two-and-a-half hours.

His car was later found on Kingswood Drive, Dulwich, near the Kingswood Estate. Having viewed the CCTV footage, Justin’s family do believe somebody else drove the car there.

Officers are keen to establish Justin’s movements, particularly late on Sunday, October 15, and in the early hours of Monday, October 16.

Police said this remains a missing person investigation. However, officers from the Specialist Crime Division have been providing support since October 18.

DCI Matt Coop said: “We are now appealing to the public for their

assistance. I need to hear from anyone who may have seen Justin over the past week.

“We are particularly interested in any information about Justin’s movements after leaving McDonald’s last Sunday night (15 October), and I also want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious or heard a disturbance.

“If you have any information, no matter how small it may seem, please call police or to remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers.”

The police have said they are pursuing "a number of active lines of enquiry".

The arrested individual has been bailed pending further enquiries to a date in January 2024.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or post @MetCC quoting reference CAD 5224/21102023. To provide information anonymously to Crimestoppers please call 0800 555 111 or visit https://crimestoppers-uk.org

ominee r award n ie v li O m o ter fr ) ollercoas Sky’s Edge A musical r ing at the d n tion c ta u (S d o n r o p m e e theatr g in Maimuna M n in w i-award in the mult

Justin Henry was last seen on Sunday, October 15

OV

19 OCT - 11 N

T E E R T S C I N A M E R U T A CRE S BY LYRIC & K O O B , C I MUS N O M E M A N U MAIM

oe nora Brisc Photo: Eleo

****

ian the guard

****

om £16 tickets fr

ndent the indepe

****

tage whatsons e.co.uk kplayhous 34 0 020 74 7 02

southwar

NEWS 9

the Peckham bus conductor who was a 1960s Olympic weightlifter and set a British record

By Isabel Ramirez

A Peckham bus driver, who came to London from the Caribbean in the '50s, was a weightlifting champion and set a new British record.

© TfL Corporate Archives

Blair Adelbert Blenman (23 November 1932 – October 1999) was a British Olympic weightlifter who worked at Peckham garage as a bus conductor.

Mr Blenman's story is one of the many being celebrated in Transport For London's (TfL) exhibition for Black History Month - to highlight people's stories from the African and Caribbean diaspora who lived in and contributed to Britain.

Born in 1932 in Bridgetown, Barbados - he moved to the UK after the Second World War. Mr Blenman, known as Conductor Blenman, was part of a wave of new recruits to London Transport from the Caribbean from the late 1950s onwards - making him part of the Windrush generation.

As well as serving London passengers, he was often featured in the London Transport staff magazines for his passion outside of his day job weightlifting.

In 1958, at 24-years-old he represented Barbados in the Empire Games in Cardiff and won a gold medal in the middle-weight event by lifting a

total weight of 795 pounds.

Then in 1960, he represented Great Britain in the Summer Olympic Games, which took place in Rome.

He was reportedly selected just days after his success in the British championship in Leeds. After lifting 805 pounds, which is equivalent to 57.5 stones or 365 kg, he raised the national

record by five pounds.

He was forty-five pounds in front of his nearest rival.

Unfortunately, despite training 'really hard' he didn't come away with a medal, which would have been his second.

As well as competing at an international level, he ran weightlifting classes for other bus drivers.

Advertorial

Referenced in one of the staff magazines printed in the 1960s, weightlifting was the 'off-duty sport of more than thirty central bus drivers: "Twice a week they practise their skills and train hard for honours at the Johanna Street school, near Waterloo station," it reads.

By 1965, Mr Blenman had retired

from competitive sport but continued with bodybuilding exercises. He believed there were two purposes of weightlifting: to train for competitive sport, like him, but for most athletes, it was a practice they engaged with to develop the body.

Interestingly, there's even an account of him making his West End stage debut with four other central busmen in the weightlifting class.

The staff magazine of 1965 states that the producer was looking for five 'muscular, strong men' to take part in a production of Kismet. It continues: "Casting these roles posed a problem for producer Miss Bertha Peek until she visited the floor beneath her dancing class at a Southwark school.

"There she found driver Blair Blenman putting the members of the central bus weightlifting club through a variety of lifts and snatches with weights of up to 340 pounds. The busmen readily agreed to take part in the show."

They performed it at the old Scala Theatre, just off Tottenham Court Road, which was demolished just a few years later in 1969 after being destroyed by a fire.

Blair Blenman died in 1999 aged just 66 but his cause of death is not listed.

Look out for more stories like this on TfL tubes and buses throughout Black History Month.

The extend of Private Life in the UK with the validity of Exceptional Circumstances, ICS Legal Explores this avenue Foreign nationals entering the UK have a lot to prepare for and given the changes being implemented recently by the Home Office, here are some updates to those could be impacted.

What is regarded as exceptional circumstances?

As part of an immigration application (LTR), the applicant is advised to provide an outline on the independent circumstances, clearly setting out their reasons to remain in the UK. In some instances, you may be able to switch your visa under a different purpose based on the intention.

At ICS Legal, our specialist Immigration Lawyers help our clients through strategic, thoughtful and valued advice & guidance.

Children

When applying for LTR, you are able to write out a personal statement to give clarity towards the timeline of residence spent in the UK. Followingly, adding evidence available to validate the circumstances.

A child born in the UK having lived in the UK for a period of 7 years, allows the child to potentially claim settlement in the UK. So here is a list of requirements to be met when applying under the 7 years policy: 1. Where a child spends 7 years in the UK, after having entered the UK, this enables the child to gain leave to remain under exceptional circumstances.

2. If a child is born in the UK, that could lead to the child applying for ILR or also referred as settlement.

3. Note other family members such as parents can apply along with the child.

UK Home Office have a strong point of view when matters are considered under the best interest of a child.

British nationality Where a child is born in the UK, having lived in the UK for 10 years since birt, is able to register as a British national.

1. Note this is a matter that will be considered under best interests.

Applying under private life and exceptional circumstances Whether you are studying, working or building your business in the UK, in time, UK becomes a settled life for the most. The Home Office allows in most cases for a migrant and their family members to settle in the UK. Applying for indefinite leave to remain can range from 5 years up to 10 years living in the UK. 2. Applications can also be made on the grounds of established private life and on exceptional circumstances.

3. A student who has spent time studying in the UK, may be entitled to

apply for leave to remain, as their visa category does not lead to automatic settlement after 5 years.

Alternatively, if an individual spends 20 years in the UK continuously, they can apply for leave to remain on this basis. This would be on the route to settlement after 10 years of residency.

Private life & exceptional circumstances grants of leave Based on the immigration rules, leave to remain is normally granted for a period of 30 months. To qualify for settlement leave needs to be held for 5 to 10 years before being eligible.

Otherwise, where eligible for Indefinite leave to be awarded or being recognised as a British national.

Taking immigration advice in London Getting immigration advice from one of our experienced Lawyers, allows you to understand your legal position and how likely you can apply on various immigration programs. You can find more information about how our structured advice can help at https://icslegal.com/ immigration-lawyers-london.php.

We can advise and help on lodging your application to the Home Office. Using our expert help, allows you to find confidence on an application and the prospect of being successful.

Speaking to ICS Legal Immigration Lawyers You can reach us on 0207 237 3388 and find more information on www.icslegal.com.

SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING

Thursday 2nd November 5.30-7pm Principal’s Talk - 6pm

MULTI M ULTI A AWARD WARD WINNING WINNING

CONTACT US 0207 450 9570

sixthform@walworthacademy.org https://www.walworthacademy.org/admissions/sixth-form

NEWS 11

Kids' fun run raises £32,000 for schools in Rotherhithe and Bermondsey CGI of how the proposed hotel (to the right of Lincoln Tower) would have looked.

By Isabel Ramirez Hundreds of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey children gathered last weekend for a huge fun run and raised £32,000 for their schools.

Southwark Park was buzzing with excitement last Sunday, October 15, as runners from five Southwark schools came together for a fundraiser organised by Run Kids Run. More than 750 runners from Rotherhithe Primary School, Redriff

Primary, Alfred Salter Primary School, St James Church of England Primary School and Galleywall Primary School turned up in force to tackle the 2km course.

Children as young as three years old from nursery and reception ran or skipped a 1km course with their parents, while the older children raced their five laps around the track.

The idea behind Run Kids Run is to promote running as a fun way to keep children fit and healthy, mobilise school communities to raise funds for

their schools and secure sponsorship from local businesses operating in that community.

Each participating school will receive £5,000 from the event sponsor ArtInvest to fund an improvement project that enriches the education experience of all their pupils.

So far they have raised over £7,000 to supplement the £25,000 Art-Invest is donating.

The funds will go towards new PE equipment, climbing frames, trampolines, reading sheds, playground

enhancements, a new green space for learning and wellbeing and hiring an on-site swimming pool and coaches to complement the sports programme.

As the owner of her own skipping brand, TV presenter Miquita Oliver led the warm-up and inspired the crowd of runners as they jumped on ropes donated by Decathlon.

As with the other Run Kids Run events, this is the first of many events in Southwark and will return next year with more schools taking part.

Ali Abbas, Managing Director, of

Art-Invest Real Estate, commented: “Sunday was a great success and the funds raised will make a meaningful difference to the schools that took part.”

A spokesperson from Alfred Salter School said: “We have never experienced a charity-based event that drums up so much excitement and buzz around the school. Children were keen to take part and very keen to discuss their experiences with us on Monday.”

If you would like your school to participate in next year’s event get in touch: contact@runkidsrun.org

Students' prestigious awards for exceptional community contributions

Two Bermondsey students have received £300 prizes for their dedication to their school communities.

Roshawn Jenkins, 19, who attends Spa School, and Rhea Kelly, 12, from Compass School, received their Jack Petchey awards earlier this month.

In total, 89 Southwark students received the award, which was founded in 1999 to recognise the societal contributions of people aged 11 to 25.

Rhea Kelly, who attends the Charter School Bermondsey, received her award for getting stuck in with afterschool activities.

Her schoolmates nominated her for the award citing her kindness and willingness to help them inside and outside the classroom.

She will donate her £300 back to the school to be spent on art therapy and

sensory resources for children with disabilities and SEN. Roshawn Jenkins, 19, from Spa School, received the prize for his “outstanding performance” in the creative arts.

A spokesperson for his school said: “Roshawn is a gifted artist whose work is known for its striking use of contrasting colours, setting him apart from his peers.

"Roshawn is also an exceptional dancer and has a natural sense of rhythm.”

He has decided to spend the £300 on creative books and games for young people at his school to use.

On top of their cash prize, every Jack Petchey award recipient gets a medallion and framed certificate.

Since the Foundation was founded, it has given out over 200,000 awards and one million young people have benefitted from its work either directly or indirectly.

@ Jacket Petchey Foundation

By Herbie Russell

Roshawn Jenkins (left) and Rhea Kelly (right) both received awards.

By Isabel Ramirez A trader in Elephant and Castle, who was relocated after the shopping centre closed, has just opened a new shop, amid uncertainty over when the new development will be finished.

Anna Castro, 40, has been running a jewellery and clothes shop on the ground floor at Castle Square for the last few years - and has now managed to open a new branch on the Old Kent Road.

Before then, Anna Castro Boutique was based in the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre until it closed down in 2020 and was later demolished.

Castle Square was supposed to be a temporary solution to house some of the displaced traders - but there is still no answer to when the new town centre will be completed, or how much affordable retail space there will be.

Refusing to wait indefinitely, Anna said she took matters into her own hands.

"I heard a space was becoming free on the Old Kent Road," she told us, "and I had the idea to have a nail salon inside the shop as well to share it with another business."

This move, she explained, was to attract more customers to the high street. "People have stopped shopping in person mostly, but they will always come out to get their nails done," she noted, "You can't get your nails done online."

"The idea is people come and get their nails done, and then have a look at the clothes or accessories to buy as well."

The shop owner and proud mum came to London from Colombia nearly 14 years ago.

She said back home she worked for the government and was studying for her master's in business - "To complete my course I needed high-level English," she said.

So in 2010, when an opportunity to come to London presented itself, she jumped at the chance - but said she 'never expected' she would end up living here long term.

Anna remembers it wasn't easy when she first arrived, but she quickly settled in. "When I first got here I was completely lost. Then my English got better and I met lots of other Latin American people here."

Reminiscing on how she came to run a store in the shopping centre in Elephant, Anna explained that it came about one day after she'd gone there to buy some shoes for her sister.

"My sister was back home in Colombia and she asked me to buy some boots for her and send them over," she continued,

NEWS 13

Castle Square trader hopes new shop on Old Kent Road will be a hit with locals

"So I went to the shopping centre."

At the time, Anna said she was working as a dental nurse whilst still studying English.

She said the owner of the shoe shop got chatting to her, asking where she was from and what her story was. "He then asked if I wanted to buy the business from him," she recalled.

"I thought it was too much at first but he said he wanted to give me the opportunity. At that point, we knew the shopping centre was going to be closed soon but he didn't know when."

Anna said they made a deal and she agreed the next day, commenting: "I studied business so I thought, why not?"

"He was so kind to me - he showed me where to buy stock and how to do it all."

With the shop in her hands, she transformed it into Anna Castro Boutique, offering an array of products

from shoes to Colombian shapewear, known as fajas.

Anna worked at the shopping centre until its closure and was one of the businesses to get relocated to Castle Square.

At the time, she said she was excited to move in. But as the other traders have reported, the excitement dwindled once the dust had settled. "The business I have done there has not been as good as in the shopping centre. I can't say everything is bad though and I did get a better location than some other traders."

Whilst the footfall wasn't the best, Anna said she turned her attention online.

"I was always trying hard with my website and social media."

She posts regular videos trying on her products - a mixture of ladies' fashion, body shapewear and jewellery, and has established herself as a brand - mostly

Guy Thomas, Head of Retail & Place Assets at Lendlease, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what has been achieved and believe a new owner for the ground floor retail units will be able to support their continued progress.

“It would also release capital that will help us realise the potential of some of our other projects and we’re excited by that prospect.”

The developer has said it aims to remain the manager of the retail spaces post-sale.

Lendlease has not specifically said which other projects it needs funds for.

Thirteen separate projects, mainly in London, are listed on its website.

This includes the £3.5 billion

Silvertown regeneration scheme where construction began earlier this year. It will see 6,500 homes, offices and leisure facilities built on a 60-acre Dockland site near the Thames Barrier.

Elsewhere on the Elephant Park site, Lendlease's office block on the final plot, H1, is currently subject to a planning inquiry.

The planning inspector's decision on whether to let the sixteen-storey building go ahead is expected within the next few weeks.

Lendlease's Guy Thomas said: "Elephant Park has become a landmark neighbourhood in central London and demonstrates what’s possible if you actively pursue and support the local and

amongst the local Latin American population.

Anna said this is what has made her successful. "People have seen I have opened this new shop now and they're saying - 'Oh you're rich'.

"I'm not rich - I just can't afford to wait for them to make a decision with the shopping centre so I had to have a different idea.

"If the new town centre opened tomorrow and it was affordable for me, I would definitely relocate there from Castle Square. But I can't wait for that to

happen. That's why I have opened this new branch."

She said she briefly opened a shop in Brixton but had to close it because her mannequins kept getting stolen.

Asked how business is going at her new spot, she said: "It's going really well already. People love it."

You can find the new shop at: Anna Castro & Back2Brows, 157-163 Old Kent Road, SE1 5UT. Her other shop is still in Castle Square: Unit 4, Castle Square, London SE17 1EU.

Lendlease puts 50 Elephant Park retail units up for sale

By Herbie Russell developer Lendlease has put the ground floor of Elephant Park up for sale as it looks to “release funds to support other projects”.

It means more than 50 retail units, as well as leisure and community space, across 100,000 square feet, are now on the market.

The developer has said retailers’ occupational terms won’t be affected by the sale.

Elephant Park is Lendlease's £2.3 billion regeneration on the site of the former Heygate Estate in Elephant and Castle.

independent operators that help create a great sense of community."

Retail units on Elephant Park are up for sale.

© Google

Exclusive

14 NEWS

Bermondsey to be lit up

By Isabel Ramirez A free lantern festival is returning to Bermondsey and this year it will celebrate the area's rich history of food.

On Friday 24 November, the annual parade will go from the Blue Market in Bermondsey to Southwark Park, where visitors will be invited to set their homemade lanterns free.

This year’s parade theme will be ‘Food and The Blue’.

Rotherhithe and Bermondsey have a

celebrated history as a bustling dock, where food for the city would arrive by ship for storage and processing in the vast warehouses and factories, Bermondsey became known as London’s Larder.

The parade will narrate the story of boats arriving by water in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe, bringing food from all corners of the globe, along with people and culture.

Here was Britain’s first Tin Can Factory, and the famous Peak Frean’s Biscuit Factory employed thousands

of local people. While the factories and warehouses are now homes and workspaces, people from all over the world still come here to sell and share their food in local shops, cafes, and marketplaces.

In the run-up to the festival, starting Monday 23 October, there was a series of free lantern-making workshops across the area. Go to illuminaterotherhithe.co.uk to see your nearest one.

During the free lantern-making workshops, you can create boats

Herne Hill Halloween celebration is back on after organisers raise £3,000

journeying from overseas with flags representing different places, or you can make lanterns depicting the various types of food that were brought here – biscuits, cans, coffee, fish, dumplings, cheeses, cakes, and an array of fruits and vegetables.

The last workshop will be in the Blue Market on Sunday 18 November.

The Illuminate Rotherhithe and Bermondsey procession aims to celebrate migration by bringing people together to share a common moment.

It returned last year and saw

hundreds of people attend after a twoyear hiatus due to the pandemic.

Organisers said on the festival’s website: “The more we mix, the more we feel part of the community, and the aim of the festival is to encourage our communities to be involved, to participate, to collaborate and to mix.”

Where? From the Blue Market to Southwark Park When? Friday 24 November, meet at 5pm Admission: Free - the workshops are also free.

The Herne Hill Halloween celebration will take place in Station Square and Station hall above the train station.

Check out latest inventions at a free event in waterloo

By Isabel Ramirez

Visitors will have the chance to try out 'world-changing' inventions next month - from robot rescue dogs to edible 'plastic' pockets - at a free interactive event in Waterloo.

By Herbie Russell The Herne Hill Halloween celebration is officially back after its organisers raised £3,000 - marking its return after a four-year hiatus.

The free event, featuring a ghoulish ghost trail, bewitched biscuit decorating and a devilish disco, will take place at Station Square and Station Hall on October 31.

The return marks the end of a four-year hiatus for the much-loved community

get-together, which was a seasonal staple before it was first cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.

A spokesperson for community group the Herne Hill Forum, which is organising the event, said: “Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve reached our first Crowdfunder goal for the Herne Hill Halloween 2023 Celebration in Herne Hill! Special thanks to Lambeth Council who pledged a fang-tastic £1,500.

“We now need to gather a horde of helpers for the event! There is set-up to

be done (3-5pm), spooky stalls to be run (5-7pm) and ghastly cleanup (7-8pm), we promise it’s fun!” As well as all the usual spooky fun, visitors can expect arts and crafts, extravagant decorations and even a magician.

The Herne Hill Halloween Celebration 2023 will take place at the area around Herne Hill Station and Station Hall from 5pm until 7pm on Tuesday, October 31.

The crowdfunder is still open and people can donate www.hernehillforum.org.uk/ crowdfund-halloween-2023

Taking place in the historic graffiti tunnel on Leake Street, 'Innovation Late' will showcase some of the latest inventions that tackle some of the world's greatest challenges.

The one-off event will be presented by the host of Channel 5's The Gadget Show, Georgie Barrat, who will introduce rapidfire talks from some of the country’s most inspiring inventors.

Interactive exhibitions will include micro-robotic eye surgery with King’s College London; chocolate welding with Great British Bake Off winner Rahul Mandal and the University of Sheffield;

robot rescue dogs with the University of Bristol and edible “plastic” pockets with Earthshot prize-winners Notpla.

Robot dogs can be used in search and rescue operations to avoid the possible loss of real dogs or humans entering a dangerous building or place.

There will also be a variety of speakers, including Tom Birbeck, Founder and CEO of ARC Marine, a keen scuba diver who developed a brand-new product and company to help restore damaged reefs.

It is being put on by the Royal Academy of Engineering, on Wednesday 1 November, from 6 pm - 10 pm. The evening is free to attend and the first 150 people get a free drink on arrival.

Where: 26 Leake Street Graffiti Tunnels, 7 Addington Street, Waterloo, SE1 7RY. When: Wednesday 1 November 6 - 10 pm.

Admission: Free. Attendees must be 18+.

Go to raeng.org.uk to register.

NEWS 15

By Isabel Ramirez stay south of the river this Halloween, where you'll find a haunted mansion, a mysterious immersive experience, or if you don't like a good scare - sausage dogs dressed up as pumpkins.

1. immersive horror show

A brand new immersive Halloween experience inspired by an ancient Greek myth is coming to Borough.

Brought to you by theatre company COLAB, The Descent is a 'heart-pounding journey into the unknown'. It's inspired by the Greek myth of Orpheus’s descent into the Underworld in an effort to find the soul of his late wife Euridice. The show is expected to truly scare its audience.

When? Until 11 November Where? COLAB Bankside, between The Globe Theatre and Borough Market.

Entry is via Park Street.

Admission: £28.00 Go to designmynight.com for the tickets.

what's on for haLLoween around south London?

2. Terror of London

Delve into history and hear gruesome tales of what went on in the Tower of London.

Listen to stories of torture and imprisonment and explore the Bloody Tower where you'll collide with roaming ghosts of past inmates at the Tower of London.

Visit over the October half term and follow a spooky trail around the ancient landmark and see if you can spot medieval queens, Roman soldiers and wizards lurking about the place.

Follow the ghosts you see along the way and drop by the ruined garden in the shadow of the White Tower where you’ll see the decaying walls and barred windows of a lost palace.

This is a family-friendly adventure designed to spook, but not to terrify.

When? Saturday 21 – Sunday 29 October Where? Just over the river at the Tower of London, EC3N 4AB Admission: Kids under 5 go free. Adults £33.60; Kids 6 and up - £16.80.

Go to hrp.org.uk for tickets.

3. Halloween Drag Show

A riverside venue along the South Bank is hosting two back-to-back drag events for Halloween.

Head to the Halloween drag show brunch hosted by Ru Paul's Drag Race UK stars Black Peppa and Elektra Fence at Between the Bridges.

Expect bottomless prosecco, games, and the chance to win prizes for the best Runway look all whilst listening to all your favourite drag & pop anthems.

Or if you're more of a night owl, there's a Halloween Drag Extravaganza Party later on.

When? Saturday 28 October (all day) Where? Between the Bridges, Queen's Walk, South Bank, SE1 Admission: Brunch: From £25; Party: £5 includes a drink Adults only.

4. Halloween costume Party

Peckham Levels is throwing a big old party the night the clocks go back to allow for an extra hour of dancing.

Come dressed to impress. The theme is 2023’s viral moments - think movies, music, memes, Tik Tok or basically anything Beyonce got up to this year. As for music, local legends BORN N BREAD will be playing a special set of their trademark funky house, UK Garage, Hip Hop and nostalgic R&B. Warming up the decks for them will be DJ collective WA Radio and the BBC Radio 1Xtra-backed Shifa Ligero.

The first 100 people through the door get

LEFT: Inspired by an ancient Greek myth an immersive horror show is on in Borough

a free shot and there’s a cash prize for the best dressed, so pull out all the stops and feel free to get freaky with your costumes.

When? Saturday 28 October 7:30 pm Where? Peckham Levels, Centre Carpark, F1-F6, 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST Admission: Admission: £5 – £10 Go to ra.co for tickets.

Adults only.

5. Puppy Halloween Fest

Take your Dachshund down to make friends and get spooky at a pop-up dog event in Bermondsey.

There's no reason your pup needs to miss out on all the fun! On Saturday 28 October, visit the pop-up dog Halloween event taking place at Fourpure Brewery.

Get some spooky photos taken and trick or treat on entry. Mingle with up to 50 dachshunds per session and indulge your pooch with unlimited 'puppuccinos.'

Finally, don't go home without checking out the stalls - where local dog businesses

will have lots to buy. There is also a later event for all 'Doodle' breeds - anything from a Cockapoo to a Sheepadoodle is welcome.

When? Sat 28th Oct at 10:00 am- 1:30 pm (Dachshund) and from 2 pm (Doodle) Where? Fourpure Brewing Co.25, Bermondsey Trading Estate, Rotherhithe New Rd, SE16 3LL Admission: £9.50 (owners), £15.00 (general entry) Go to www.pupup.cafe/london for tickets and more information

6. Fright Night Funfair

The annual Halloween & Half Term Funfair is arriving in Crystal Palace - where 'every night is fright night.'

Forget ghosts and demons - for some, the scariest thing they can think of is a rollercoaster. If that is you, then this October half-term, dress up and head down to the family-friendly fair in the heart of Crystal Palace Park.

This year you can even win a free ride

if you post a photo of yourself in costume at the fair and post it with the necessary hashtags.

Go to irvinleisure.co.uk to find out more.

When? Friday 20 October – Sunday 29 October; 1 pm – 9 pm Where? Crystal Palace Park, SE19 1UA Admission: £2 Per Person (Must be paid Contactless); Under 3's go free.

7. Haunted Roof Riot

For one night only, the Bussey Building rooftop is being transformed into a ‘haunted graveyard of terror.'

Celebrate his Halloween with 'wickedly themed' cocktails (you can enjoy one for free if you arrive before 7 pm!) live DJs and views to, er, die for – but don’t: you won’t want to miss this party.

Blankets will be on hand to warm those who get thoroughly chilled.

When? Saturday 28 October, 6 pm – 11 pm Where? Bussey Building, 133 Unit B3.1 Bussey Building, Copeland Road, SE15 3SN Admission: £5 – £10.

Adults only.

Go to designmynight.com for tickets.

8. London Bridge Experience

Head on down to the vaults this Halloween to visit the 'UK's scariest attraction.'

The London Bridge is hosting two Halloween shows to celebrate the spookiest time of the year. For younger

guests, there's the daytime family-friendly Halloween show but for older guests try out the ultimate evening adult-only scare show 'Cir-Curse.'

When? Thursday 26 October to Tuesday 31 October.

Where? The London Bridge Experience, The Rennie Vaults, 2 - 4 Tooley St, SE1 2SY Admission: Kids £19.50; Adults from £26.95 Go to londonbridgeexperience.co.uk for more information.

9. Neon Naked Life Drawing: Halloween Special

So you don’t fancy a full-on horror fest or dancing until you drop down dead, but you still want to do something to mark the season?

Paint your perfect vision for the night at Prince of Peckham, where a horrorthemed edition of its fruity arts and crafts class is unfolding.

It’s life drawing, but with a twist: you’ll be using neon reactive materials to draw the models. Rusty? The class starts with some playful drawing games to get you warmed up, then it’s over to you to produce your night’s masterpiece.

When? Tuesday 31 October, 6 pm – 9:30 pm Where? Prince of Peckham, 1 Clayton Road, SE15 5JA Admission: £16.76 Adults only.

Go to eventbrite.co.uk for tickets.

16 NEWS

Portobello Market traders fear going cashless will force them to close up Dee Mackenzie has been trading at Portobello Road for six months and is worried going cashless will drive some customers away.

Local Democracy Reporter Traders at a famous London market say they’re being forced to go cashless and fear they’ll have to close their stalls.

Portobello Road traders claimed customers will miss out on the “authentic” market experience if stalls continue to go cashless.

JP McCormack, 41, runs the Portobello Vegan Market and fears people are losing the “elemental freedom” cash offers.

He said: “Cash is important, especially for the likes of markets. It has always been cash and very rarely were card payments common.

“Cash is part of the experience of coming to a market. It’s authentic and lets you interact with people.

"There are a lot of people from different generations that use cash and people who prefer to use cash probably won’t come down.

© Facundo Arrizabalaga

By Adrian Zorzut and Alicia Curry

People walking down Portobello Road “Cash is a freedom for people. There is an elemental freedom to using it.”

JP, who manages 20 traders, claimed a lot of people aren’t ready to go cashless.

He said: “It’s a big problem for smaller businesses, especially for people who maybe don’t have a good credit score.

“I don’t think cash is dead and I think smaller businesses that stand up for cash will make it part of society.”

Dee Mackenzie, who is in her 50s, has managed an acrylics and abstract art stall on Portbello Road for the past six months. She takes cash and card but worries going cashless could scare tourists, elderly people and the homeless away.

She said: “I think it would make a huge difference to your daily takings a lot of that custom will be from tourists or there are a lot of local people who shop and literally live on the road to you know, they tell you they’re local so they

will support you.

“I would perhaps have to re-evaluate my place here if I didn’t have that.

Because there are so many ramifications if somebody can’t pay by cash.

"I think I would have to expect perhaps few sales to see that drop and I guess just monitor it from there.”

She said it was “suicidal” to push this demographic away, who she claims aren’t able to keep up with technological changes.

Meraj Aisha, 56, has run a fruit and veg store since 1996 and is worried what going cashless means for his business.

He said: “I take cash and card but it will drive away customers. I don’t want a cashless society, it will affect the business, people will just walk away and find somewhere else if they don’t have access to a bank. It will turn away like half of my customers.”

Kerem Ozogul, 52, has been selling

hand-crafted mobile phone accessories at the market every day for years. He said he relies on tourists for business and said many rely on the safety of cash.

He said: “Tourists don’t trust cash machines, even though they are perfectly safe, it’s understandable why they want to pay in cash. It doesn’t make sense to get rid of that option. It should be both.”

Bar owner Dermot Cadogan disagrees.

He said taking Acklam Village to the cashless world has boosted his profits by 38per cent in six months.

He still accepts cash but said he “hardly” takes it these days because he claims customers prefer to pay with their cards.

Dermot accepts card machine providers “have you by the short and curlies” when it comes to charging feed, but feels the pain is worth the gain. He said he pays roughly £500 a month for six card machines.

The cost includes a percentage of each transaction and renting the machines out.

He said: “At the end of the day it is what it is. There’s no point fighting it. It is too late. Cashless payments are here to stay.”

HM Treasury said the government has legislated to protect access to cash through the Financial Services and Markets Act of 2023, which gives the Financial Conduct Authority the power to ensure there is a “reasonable provision” of cash withdrawal and deposit “facilities” for the public and businesses.

It said the government’s Cash Access Police Statement has set out plans to ensure people and businesses in urban areas are no further then a mile away from an ATM, and three miles for rural areas.

The Treasury also said LINK, which runs the UK’s largest ATM network, has committed to protecting the spread of free-to-use ATMs. The department added that non-cash transaction now account for 86 per cent of UK payments and expect the use of cash to reduce over the next decade.

A government spokesperson said: “The way people access and manage their money has been changing for decades. While it is the choice of businesses to determine the methods of payment they accept, for many, cash still has an important and continuing role to play as a means of paying for goods and services.

“The government has legislated to protect access to cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for people and businesses.

"This will support businesses to continue accepting cash by ensuring they have reasonable access to facilities to deposit their cash.”

Kensington and Chelsea Council was approached for comment and said it would not be issuing a statement at this time.

ULEZ van caught parking illegally while on patrol

Local Democracy Reporter A Transport for London mobile camera van used to enforce the Ultra Low Emission Zone has been caught parking illegally in South London and slapped with a fine.

A fleet of vans has been driving around the capital to make sure vehicles are sticking to the ULEZ rules since Mayor of London Sadiq Khan expanded the scheme to all boroughs at the end of August.

Kingston Independent councillor James Giles said he spotted the van parking illegally on the pavement on Cambridge Road in Norbiton on October 17 in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

After he reported the vehicle, he said, a parking enforcement officer “swiftly” came out and issued it with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

Councillor Giles added it was “entirely inappropriate and unacceptable for enforcement vans to be illegally parking on Kingston’s streets” and that he hoped TfL had “got the message”.

TfL said it would remind drivers of their responsibilities and that its contractor would pay the fine.

Councillor Giles told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) vehicles operating on behalf of TfL “really ought to know better than most where it’s legal to park and where isn’t”.

He said the route was used by people walking to and from school, and that parking on the pavement in such a way posed a “pedestrian risk”.

He added he was pleased TfL had confirmed its contractor would pay the fine.

ULEZ expanded to cover all London boroughs on August 29, including Kingston. People have to pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive in the zone if their car does not meet certain emissions standards.

A TfL spokesperson said: “TfL fully supports the use of highway authority powers to enforce against parking in unauthorised locations. We will remind drivers of their responsibilities and our contractor, who will be paying the penalty charge notice.”

© James Giles

By Charlotte Lillywhite

The TfL mobile ULEZ camera van spotted in Norbiton.

NEWS 17

Thames flood defence repair plans approved © NTR Planning - Greenwich Limited

The current state of the flood defences at Morden Wharf.

By Joe Coughlan Local Democracy Reporter Plans to update flood defences on a stretch of the Thames in South London have been approved despite local concerns about tree felling and a walking path.

Greenwich Council has approved plans to repair flood defences on Greenwich Peninsula in a series of works that will include updating a footpath along the River Thames.

The project will see the existing flood defences at Morden Wharf being updated, which council officers described as being in a very poor condition.

The works will also see the width of the Thames Path expanded to 4.5 metres and 11 willow trees removed and replaced by seven semi-mature ones.

The topic was discussed at a planning board meeting for Greenwich Council on October 17.

Labour Councillor David Gardner said he disagreed with officers’ comments that

"This is about not just tomorrow, this is about the next 50 years. And we are all being encouraged, and it’s part of Greenwich Council’s policy, to be more active.”

Edward Koops, senior development manager at LandsecU+I, said at the meeting that the developer had undertaken further work to respond to the concerns of councillors and residents since the last application was refused.

He added that the area around the path was a safeguarded wharf, meaning the Port of London Authority would object to additional land being built on to widen the path.

Mr Koops said: “It’s always been our intention to improve this section of the Greenwich Peninsula to the benefit of the wider community and this planning application is predicated upon the necessity to replace a flood defence which is in an extremely bad state of repair.”

Conveyor belt plans also approved on wharf The updated flood defences were also

carried out to allow Sivyer to use a jetty in the area to transport goods across the Thames by installing a set of conveyor belts.

Simon Sivyer, executive managing director at the Sivyer Group, said at the meeting the move would help the company to switch to water transport instead of using lorries to and from its site.

Council officers said at the meeting that two barges a week would visit the site, equating to 200 tipper truck journeys.

Ralph Hardwick, who lives in the Isle of Dogs and faces the site, said at the meeting that he was worried about the additional dust that may arise from the extra activity on the jetty. He said he had already complained to Greenwich Council numerous times about the dust arising from the area.

Mr Hardwick said: “I’ve got other residents who sit along the river walkway on the Isle of Dogs. They have tables and chairs out and they can only leave them for a day or two before they’re covered in dust. All the cars that are over there are all

said: "Rommel's death has left his friends and family devastated. Juhvaine Elliott will now spend a long period of his young life in custody.”

Elliot was friends with Rommel but attacked him on Hicken Road, next to Brixton Hill, on April 4, 2022.

CCTV footage showed Elliot run at Rommel and produce a knife before the pair went out of view. Rommel then stumbled toward St Matthews Road where he was initially assisted by members of the public.

He was then treated by air ambulance staff and transferred to Kings College Hospital. Tragically, he died from his wounds in hospital on April 22, 2022.

Detectives identified Elliot via CCTV that showed him wearing a distinctive lightweight blue and white jacket.

Police said that witnesses also stated that he was the one who’d stabbed Rommel.

Police conducted a search warrant of Elliot’s home on April 21, 2022, but he wasn’t there. Later that day, detectives established Elliot was boarding a flight from Gatwick Airport to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Airport security was contacted and the plane was stopped. Elliot was arrested and taken into custody.

Police said he gave a series of interviews, which were mainly ‘no comment’, before being charged with murder on May 10,

2022.

DI Fitzpatrick said: ”Another young life has been lost on the streets of London as a result of knife crime. Juhvaine Elliott had been friends with Rommel but that did not stop him from launching an unprovoked, fatal attack on him.”

Murder conviction for Brixton teen who stabbed friend to death before attempting Jamaica escape

By Herbie Russell A Brixton teenager who stabbed his friend to death before trying to escape to Jamaica has been convicted of murder.

Juhvaine Elliot knifed sixteen-year-old Rommel McKoy on Hicken Road, Brixton, on April 4, 2022.

Rommel tragically died from his injuries in hospital eighteen days later on April 22.

A jury found eighteen-year-old Elliot guilty of murder after a trial at Southwark Crown Court. He will be sentenced on Friday, December 8.

Detective Inspector Jason Fitzpatrick

covered in dust a lot of the time.”

Mr Sivyer said in response to the claims about dust coming from his company’s site that they had never received any negative comments from regulators.

He said he was aware about the comments made regarding emissions from the site, but said he felt they were subjective and refuted them.

Mr Sivyer said: “We have a considerable responsibility also to the people who work on site, our colleagues who we work with every day. Nobody wants to come to work to get covered in dust every day.”

The plans for the updated flood defences and new conveyor belts were approved by the planning board at the meeting, on the condition that the conveyor belts are totally enclosed and that air quality monitoring data is kept on record at the site.

Mr Koops said at the meeting that the time for the repairs to the flood defences to be carried out, including the Thames Path and hoarding works, was planned to take up to three months. © Met Police

the existing trees were of poor quality and thus of limited value, but admitted he saw no reason not to approve the application.

Similar plans to repair the revetments were brought to the planning board in February this year, but they were rejected on the basis of the Thames Path not being widened enough and inadequate provision of replacement trees.

The new plans include a wider walkway for the Thames Path and an additional tree being planted.

The extra space given to the Thames Path compared to the previous application was taken by permission from waste management company Sivyer’s industrial site. Despite this, several residents questioned why the path couldn’t be expanded to six metres, as it is at other points of its route. The path is currently 1.5 metres wide at its thinnest point.

Labour Councillor Majella Anning said at the meeting: “I accept that the officers and the developers have worked hard to increase the size of the path, but I don’t think it’s enough.

GUILTY: Juhvaine Elliott

VICTIM: Rommel McKoy

18 ARTS

what’s on

An Orgiastic Festival of Plenty

Peter Paul Rubens is a man so known for his sumptuous female nudes that his name has been coined to describe the style: Rubenesque.

But whilst the Dulwich Picture Gallery’s latest exhibition Rubens & Women includes these voluptuous figures, it paints a fuller portrait of an artist whose oeuvre is not just a feast of women but a feast for them, writes Madeleine Kelly...

It is the eyes that first hold you, from every corner of the room. Marchesa Maria Serra Pallavicino looks commandingly down at you, a stately head perched on top of an extravagant ruff. In the unfinished work, Portrait of a Young Woman Holding a Chain, the face of the captivating sitter shines against a dark background. A portrait of Ruben’s first wife painted shortly after she died, brings her back to life for a moment, gently smiling across the gallery space.

It is no wonder that when Maria de’ Medici wanted to decorate her new residence, the Palais de Luxembourg, with the events of her life, she chose Rubens.

This Flemish painter had learnt to capture women, not as erotic show things but as people. The Picture Gallery has a preparatory sketch for this ambitious scheme. De’ Medici’s head is turned to the side, and she looks up witheringly. She is not beautiful; she is in charge.

Curators Ben van Beneden and Amy Orrock make the case for the importance of women to Rubens’ work. Not just as the subjects of much of his oeuvre but the inspiration. We are not encouraged

to dwell too much on Rubenesque bodies until this point has been sufficiently made.

For die-hard Rubens’ fans, however, there is still plenty of flesh on display at The Dulwich Picture Gallery this Autumn.

There are, of course, the undulating stomachs, the dimples, and the full breasts that the artist is known for, but here again, Orrock and van Beneden subvert our expectations. Ruben’s sketch of Hermaphrodite shows a reclining male figure with breasts and a woman’s hair.

In another drawing, a woman’s stomach muscles resemble those of a classical male nude. Ruben’s nudes no longer appear as merely sensual women but erotic experiments in form.

The final room is an astounding orgiastic festival of plenty. Juno appears as the giant goddess of love handles, squirting milk across the galaxy. Breast milk flows from Venus too, as she benevolently feeds Cupid. Where men appear in these paintings, they are mostly lurking in the shadows. In Diana Returning from the Hunt, the satyrs leer at the goddess, offering only fruit whilst she cradles her kills. Next to weary Diana, you recognise her follower’s gaze. They appear to be the eyes of Isabella Brandt. Whilst the satyrs fawn, she looks out at you, knowingly – a Ruben’s woman yes, but a woman all the same.

Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, London, SE21 7AD until 28th January.

Times: Tue-Sun, 10am–5pm.

Admission: Adults £16.50. Booking: www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

The King is Here - Elvis Presley exhibition opens in Bermondsey

There is nothing better to cheer up a gloomy autumn day than indulge in glitz and glamour, and now there is a new exhibition serving this up with gold lamé on it. This can only be one of the most iconic and influential figures of the 20th Century - Elvis Presley, writes Luigia Minichiello

Direct from Graceland: Elvis, is a major new retrospective exploring the life of Presley in a new arts and culture venue, Arches London Bridge.

This is the most significant collection of items from the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll to ever leave the gates of his home, Graceland in Memphis, and includes instruments, stage outfits and personal belongings – even his famous gold suit.

Over 400 artefacts, such as military uniforms, motorcycles and cars, and an amazing array of jumpsuits. There are, too, personal items like Lisa Marie’s baby clothes, Elvis’s first job application and the crayon box he took to school. The collection is vast and gives a fascinating insight into The King’s meteoric career, larger-than-life persona, influential sense of style, life at Graceland, and lesser-known aspects of his early years, hobbies and personal life.

Key periods are explored from living in

a ‘shotgun shack’ in Tupelo, Mississippi, his break-out Sun Studio hits, U.S. Army service, Elvismania sweeping the world, his movies, his unforgettable “’68 Special” performance, “Aloha From Hawaii” (the world’s first live televised satellite concert)and the glamorous Vegas years.

A special feature of the exhibition is candid photos and items from his unseen life away from performing, including the EP football team made up of close friends; his American Football

uniform, and his love of karate including the karate card showing lessons he took.

Fashionista’s will know that Elvis carefully crafted his own look, borrowing from eclectic sources to perfect a groundbreaking new style. There are plenty of opportunities to get up close to some of these amazing outfits and see previously hidden details, such as the lining of his capes. Elvis was decked out in threads from the ultra-hip Lansky Brothers store on Beale Street in Downtown Memphis.

Combined with slick, coiffed hair and

black mascara, his appearance was as sensational as his music. His audacious style evolved over the decades: from the soft trousers and argyle socks of his youth to the leather rocker of 1968, to the flamboyant bling of the 1970s. Details such as the creases worn into his white leather shoes bear witness to his famous hip-shaking stage presence.

It is a testament that all these items are in such fantastic condition, and the chance to see these outfits and to appreciate the workmanship that went into creating these iconic looks is aweinspiring.

The exhibition also moves beyond the familiar story of his musical and acting career to present his more private side - his devotion to his parents, his love of books, motorcycles, horses and karate and the haven he created in Graceland for his friends and family. It includes garments and jewellery worn by Elvis throughout his life, personal items from Graceland, as well as vintage Elvis-branded merchandise, costumes, and scripts from the Hollywood movies and much more.

Elvis’s playful side is shown in items such as a police department uniform, badge and blue light that he owned.

Apparently, he would stop cars and

issue them with an Elvis autograph instead of a speeding ticket.

There is so much to enjoy in this exhibition - it is a fascinating and thorough collection curated by The Graceland Archive team, all well labelled with detailed descriptions, with an awesome soundtrack as you snake around the exhibits, plus, there is an audio guide if you need any more intel.

Direct from Graceland documents the life of an artist who single-handedly changed the face of popular culture around the globe like no-one before him or since and is a must see for any music or fashion fan, as well as those obsessed with The King.

Save yourself a trip to Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee - Elvis has come to London.

Arches London Bridge, 8 Bermondsey St, London, SE1 2ER until 26 February 2024. Admission: Adult: From £19.90 Student: from £19.90 Must have valid ID Child Aged 5 -15: From £16.90 To join the waiting list, book tickets or plan your journey please visit elvislondonbridge.co.uk

ARTS 19

Arts

James Graham’s Penalty Shootout Win

Rotherhithe artist Natalie Webb has taken up residence at Battersea Power Station’s art’otel where she will be working on a new series of sketches and paintings continuing with recurring themes of ‘Future Memories’ ‘Human footprint’ and ‘Resilience’, writes Michael Holland...

Natalie will be in an open door studio where you can pop in at any time to watch the artist at work across a variation of mediums. She will also be running some workshops in the studio focused on community and accessibility to art and fashion.

Natalie is an ambidextrous artist so creates art with two hands simultaneously, and mostly when her ‘sitter’ is moving around. She explains: ‘I always work this way; it feels natural to me as I am ambidextrous… When painting I often don’t know afterwards which lines or brush marks were

painted with which hand.

‘I enjoy creating live art at events. I love to embrace unpredictability and its effects on a finished artwork. It pushes me to concentrate on capturing the essence of the subjects, with economy of line. This way a finished image is revealed by the way a viewer’s brain perceives what is there and not there and fills in the gaps.’

Battersea Power Station, 1 Electric Boulevard, London SW11 8BJ until November 26th.

Drop in Monday - Friday from 10am 5pm.

Workshops on 24th October; 3rd & 17th November. Tickets - £10: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fashion-fusedart-workshop-tickets-741701267457 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/741712180097 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ two-hand-sketch-masterclasstickets-741680284697

Dear England focuses on the managerial journey of Gareth Southgate as the England team football manager and the squad and the backroom staff he has assembled along the way. In an era where the big streaming platforms have TV production companies following behind the scenes of sports teams around the world, what Graham offers here is a deep dive to explore the nation's identity and psyche, something placed into sharp focus based on the performances of our team in major championship competitions.

Especially when it comes to penalty shootouts.

Football tends not to lend itself to the confines of a theatre stage. The drama of a penalty shootout however certainly does; the constant building of tension and emotional release play over and over. That could get repetitive but Rupert Goold’s directions never lets the energy dip. Utilising great set design from Es Devlin, with multiple stage revolves and an interactive

Photo by: Marc Brenner

Natalie Powers Up Battersea Hotel

James Graham has had a lot of success in recent years writing for stage and screen. His Dear England had a sell out two month run at the National Theatre’s Olivier stage in the summer. And off of the back of that success the show has now transferred to the West End where it will play until the New Year, writes Christopher Peacock...

lighting halo above the stage, not only is the show constantly in motion, even in the stiller moments the ensemble are captivating.

In the modern age of sport and social media we have so much access to our country's sports stars and cultural figures. Often, portrayals of these fall into caricature and pastiche. However, the whole cast does amazing well in their performing of these household names, even though there is a lot of comedy to be had and exploited.

Joseph Fiennes as Southgate is the key to all of the performances, nuanced and exacting he does not stray too far into the comedic overplaying of the England manager and finds heart and compassion in his choices.

Being a football fan, I, like many others in the auditorium watching, can recall exactly where I was watching each of those tournament knockouts and although it felt at times like reliving trauma, it is a shared trauma of a nation of football fans that the show highlights. Even for those that are not fans of the beautiful game the excellent execution of a very witty script makes for a great night's entertainment.

Prince Edward Theatre, Old Compton St,W1D 4HS until January 13th.

Times: Monday to Saturday: 7:00pm; Thursday and Saturday: 2:00pm.

Admission: £15 - £169.50.

Booking: www.princeedwardtheatre.co.uk/

MAB BUILDING SUPPLIES

FRIGHTENLY GOOD DEALS

VINYL SILK 5 LITRES

£1.50

VINYL MATT 5 LITRES

£21

MOULD REMOVER

from £5

PARCEL TAPE

ANTI DAMP PAINT

BED BUG

4 PACK AA & AAA

10 PACK BRUSHES

HENRY BAGS 10 BOX

233 EAST STREET • LONDON • SE17 2SS 020 7231 7778 • INFO@MAINTAINABUILD.COM

HISTORY 21

History

Photo by: Banskide Open Spaces Trust

A skull displayed at Crossbones Garden. Photo by: Bankside Open Spaces Trust

1990s hoardings for the Jubilee Line extension at the Cross Bones grave site. Photo by ico Hogg Crossbones Garden today.

The Southwark graveyard where thousands of prostitutes are buried

After the Medieval era, the South Bank gained a reputation as London’s ‘pleasure quarter’ - where punters could dabble in bawdy shows, bear-baiting and heavy drinking.

A further 11 per cent were less than a year. Of the adults buried here, the majority were 36 or older.

The burial ground was finally closed in 1853 when it became “completely overcharged with dead”.

Prostitution was also a key part of the area’s black economy. But when sex workers died, local churches were often reluctant to bury the women they believed had led a “sinful life”.

This religious conservatism led to the creation of the Crossbones Graveyard and Garden, a little-known green space near London Bridge containing 15,000 skeletons.

Photo by: The Wellcome Trust

The Garden Today

Digging for Bones

While digging for the Jubilee Line extension between 1991 and 1998 construction workers made a shocking discovery.

When excavating around Redcross Way, Borough, they found large collections of human skeletons stacked on top of one another.

Museum of London archaeologists removed 148 sets of remains. But they estimated that this was just 1 per cent of remains on the site, meaning there's likely to be up 15,000 corpses there.

The 'Pleasure Quarter'

From 1598 to 1853, part of Borough was designated the Liberty of the Clink, a small area of land

An illustration of a man gambling in a brothel during the Elizabethan Era surrounding the notorious prison which was presided over by the Bishop of Winchester.

The area lay outside the City of London meaning all sorts of morally questionable activities were allowed within its confines.

But the Liberty of the Clink was arguably most famous for its brothels, known as ‘stews’ at the time bathhouses where sex workers were known to work.

Despite the warnings of preachers, who often gave sermons decrying

these places, they were well-attended by men looking to meet sex workers, otherwise known as ‘Winchester Geese’.

However, churches were often unwilling to bury women who had worked as women of the night, leading to the establishment of Crossbones Garden.

A Pauper's Graveyard

The first reference to the graveyard comes from John Stow’s ‘A Survey of London’ (1598).

In it, he refers to “a plot of ground

called the Single Woman's churchyard” near the Thames’ bank, “appointed far from the parish church”.

But by 1769, the graveyard is thought to have been used as a burial ground for the general poor.

This was confirmed when postexcavation tests found those buried had been riddled with smallpox, tuberculosis, Paget's disease, osteoarthritis, and vitamin D deficiency.

Sadly, over one-third of the bodies were perinatal, meaning babies 22 weeks into gestation up to seven days after birth.

Through the 20th century, the site was rarely used except for the odd fairground and sometimes as a timber yard.

Today, Crossbones Garden is a community garden that has been transformed through the efforts of the Friends of Crossbones.

Since 1996, they have worked to protect the site and raise awareness of its historical, cultural, and spiritual significance.

In collaboration with the Bankside Open Spaces Trust, they have maintained a Garden of Remembrance on the site since 2015.

An important figure in the graveyard has been John Constable who claims to have had a shamanic experience in which he chanelled the spirit of a Medieval prostitute named 'The Goose'.

From 1998 Constable, also known as John Crow, began conducting The Halloween of Crossbones and other ritual dramas.

Today, Crossbones Garden serves as a peaceful place for contemplation, honoring and remembering "the outcast dead".

24 CLASSIFIED MASTER KEBA spiritual healer in London expert in removal of bad energy and any curses or relationship problems.

Distance works or face to face fast results.

Open Wednesday-Friday 9am-3pm

Walworth Living Room Cafe ScotsCare is here to help and support Scots and their families in Greater London

WANTED

CARS + VANS ANY CONDITION ANY AREA PROMPT & POLITE SERVICE TELEPHONE

020 8659 8988 ANY DAY, ANY TIME, 7 DAYS MOBILE

07850 323 508 CLASSIC & UNSUAL CARS ALSO WANTED

CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH

CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH

mobile: +447438233538 Website: keba-healer.com Email: gaoualbakeba@gmail.com

Elim House Day Centre

To find out more, visit

www.scotscare.com or call

0800 652 2989 to speak with a case worker to see how we can assist you.

Registered Charity No.207326

• Learning Disabilities Service • Youth Adventure Project • Starfish, Domestic Abuse Project

Contact us on 020 7358 9502 or elimhouseoutreachworker@gmail.com Or pop into 86-88 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15 4RQ Website: elimhousedaycentre.com

www.bedehouse.org Tel: 0207 237 3881 A local charity supporting our neighbours in Southwark since 1938 Registered charity number: 303199 Registered company number: 420386

City Living Made Accessible

Looking for a fully accessible unit?

Check out Marson Place in SE17! Our adaptable units are designed with your comfort in mind.

Meeting your accessibility needs This brand new development offers a range of spacious one bedroom apartments, all with outdoor balcony space and access to parks and new public realm spaces.

These units can be easily adapted to assist you with all of your accessibility needs. It compromises of an open plan kitchen / reception room, breath-taking views across London whilst still giving you room to move about with spacious corridors and large rooms.

Amenities The development will include a roof garden, a library, as well as a medical centre (tbc).

Transport Just a short bus ride from Elephant & Castle station, on the Northern and Bakerloo lines as well as Overground connections to City Thameslink, Farringdon, and Kings Cross.

WANTED RECORDS ROCK, POP, PUNK,

INDIE, REGGAE, SOUL...

LPS AND SINGLES - WHOLE COLLECTIONS WELCOME

Call: 07956 832314 / 020 8677 6907 Or Email: vinylwanted@aol.com ALSO INTERESTED IN NON CHART CD COLLECTIONS

Join award-winning artist Jacob V Joyce for Community Mural workshops at the Walworth Living Room on Friday 6th and 13th October 11am-1pm. This workshop series uses collage and poetry to explore collective ideas about health and the social model of healing. Throughout the sessions poems and collages made by participants will create a mural that will move throughout Walworth and be displayed at the Walworth Living Room.

Walworth Living Room Surrey Square London, SE17 2JU Contact 020 7703 3803 walworthlivingroom.org info@pembrokehouse.org.uk SCAN ME Scan the QR code or visit linktr.ee/pembrokehouse to discover our activities and register to hear about news from our work in the neighbourhood.

Making life better:

YOU MATTER TO US programme started Tuesday 9th May. 100 Day programme combating loneliness within our elders

We are accepting walk-ins

Our services include: Financial Support | Advocacy | Counselling | Sheltered Housing | Homelessness | Job Coaching | Social Events | Volunteering

DAILY SPECIALS | FRESH BARISTA COFFEE | HOME-COOKED SOUP AND CAKE

Southwark Pensioners’ Centre Supporting older people in Southwark for over 35 years.

Offering advice, support, activities, rooms for hire and a voice for older people.

Contact us on 020 7708 4556 or info@southwarkpensioners.org.uk Or pop into 305 -307 Camberwell rd, Camberwell Green, SE5 0HQ

VACANCY

HANDYPERSON CARETAKER £23,303 - £25,480 pro rata 35 HOURS per week HOLIDAYS: 28 days (pro rata) + BANK holidays + ADDITIONAL 3 days between Christmas and New Year 6 MONTHS with the possibility of extension Charity based in Walworth is looking for a skilled and versa�le individual with a knack for fixing things.

AVERAGE STARTING PRICE – ONE BEDS £1,875pcm www.foliolondon.co.uk

Do you know anyone who has:

- Strong problem-solving skills - Ability to work independently and efficiently - Proficiency in various handyman tasks

For full descrip�on visit: pembrokehouse.org.uk/jobs Or to find out more info@pembrokehouse.org.uk / 020 7703 3803

NEW 2024 Holiday Brochure

JOURNEYS IN STYLE

OUT NOW!

LUXURY FESTIVE BREAKS FROM YOUR DOOR Festive Sidmouth

Christmas at Belvoir Castle

18 Nov 2023

24 Nov 2023 3 Days £399

5 Days £550

Longleat Festival of Light & Bath 26 Nov 2023 4 Days £499

ENGLAND

✓

Door to Door Holidays

SCOTLAND

✓

Tour Managers

WALES

✓

Excellent hotels

IRELAND

✓

Included Excursions

FESTIVE DAYS OUT Pick ups in Bexleyheath, Dartford, Eltham, Sidcup, Swanley, Thamesmead, Welling, Woolwich.

Call 0208 300 7606 for a brochure.

NOVEMBER

Festive Chester with Cream Tea

Bruges Christmas Market

Lakeland Turkey and Tinsel

1 Dec 2023 3 Days £399

3 Dec 2023

11 Dec 2023

3 Days £399

5 Days £575

Value Christmas Break 23 Dec 2023 5 Days £675

8th

Mystery Lunch Drive (Adult £40 Conc £38)

18th

Ely Cathedral Christmas Fair (Adult £36 Conc £34)

24th

Winchester Cathedral Xmas Market (Adult £29 Conc £27)

26th

Bury St Edmunds at Christmas (Adult £31 Conc £29)

29th

Christmas at Blenheim Palace (Adult £57 Conc £55)

DECEMBER

Christmas in the Cotswolds

New Year in Cheltenham

23 Dec 2023

30 Dec 2023

5 Days £795

4 Days £639

1st

Polhill Garden Centre Christmas (Adult £20 Conc £20)

2nd

Rochester Dickensian Christmas (Adult £24 Conc £22)

6th

Oxford Christmas Market (Adult £29 Conc £27)

7th

Christmas Variety Show (Adult £60 Conc £58)

8th

Christmas Lunch at Hever Castle (Adult £61 Conc £59)

10th

World’s Biggest Primark (Adult £33 Conc £31)

17th

London Christmas Lights with Fish ‘n’ chip supper (Adult £41 Conc £39)

* Conc - concession (over 60)

Thursford Christmas Spectacular Nov 27th 2 days £259 (8 tickets left) Nov 28th 3 days £425 (3 tickets left) Dec 6th 3 days £425 (4 tickets left) Single supplemenst apply

To make a booking, a brochure or for further information please call

0208 300 7606 Or visit www.epsomexplore.co.uk

26 PUBLIC NOTICES LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (HEYGATE STREET)

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (MANOR PLACE)

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable a crane operation to be carried out, it intends to make an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable resurfacing works to be carried out, it intends to make an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in Heygate Street, beween Sayer Street and Rodney Place

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time between Chapter Road and Stopford Road.

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic is A201 New Kent Road, Elephant and Castle, Walworth Road.

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic will be as shown by the signed diversion.

4.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

4.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

5.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

5.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

6.

The works will be in operation at the following times and dates; 22:00 on the 10th of November to 05:00 on the 13th of November 2023 If works are unavoidably delayed the works will be carried out at the following times and dates: 22:00 on the 17th of November to 05:00 on the 20th of November 2023, or, 22:00 on the 24th of November to 05:00 on the 27th of November 2023

6.

The works will be in operation between the 13th and 17th of November 2023

7.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

7.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 26th October 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref: 6662

Dated this 26th October 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref: 6599

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (BUSHEY HILL ROAD)

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (GREAT SUFFOLK STREET) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable utility work to be carried out by Thames Water, it intends to make an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable crane operations to be carried out by Lift Assist Ltd, it intends to make an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in Bushey Hill Road, between Peckham Road and Lyndhurst Grove.

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time outside the Hilton Hotel between Southwark Street and Lavington Street.

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic is Lyndhurst Grove, Crofton Road, Peckham Road.

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic is Union Street, Great Guildford Street, Southwark Street.

4.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

4.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

5.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

5.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

6.

The works will be in operation between the 15th of November and the 17th of November 2023

6.

The works will be in operation on the 20th of November and the 23rd of November 2023.

Works will also take place on the 9th of January and 11th of January 2024.

7.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

7.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 26th October 2023 Dated this 26th October 2023

Ian Law Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref: 6719 Notice of Application to Vary a Premises Licence made under Section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003 Please take notice that I / we Rocketvan Ltd have made application to Southwark Council to vary the Premises Licence in respect of 92 Brandon Street, London, SE17 1AL The proposed variation is as follows: Extending sale of alcohol times and provision of regulated entertainment times Days Start time Finish time The retail sale of alcohol: Wednesday to Sunday The provision of regulated entertainment: Wednesday to Sunday Opening hours: Thursday & Friday Saturday Sunday

12:00 12:00 08:00 08:00 09:00

23:30 23:30 00:00 17:00 17:00

A register of all applications made within the Southwark area is maintained by: The Licensing Service, Hub 1, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH A record of this application may be inspected by visiting the office during normal office hours by appointment on 020 7525 2000; details are also available on our website at http://app.southwark.gov.uk/licensing/licenseregister.asp It is open to any interested party to make representations about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Service at the office address given above (or by email via licensing@southwark.gov.uk) and be received by the Service within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date shown below.

Note: It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Date of application: 4th October 2023

Ian Law Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref: 6680

Notice of Application for a New Premises Licence Under Section 17 of The Licensing Act 2003 Notice is hereby given that Mr Jinzhong Wang has applied to the London Borough of Richmond Council for a new premises licence for Mr Panda, 181 Ashburnham Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7NR to allow the provision of late night refreshment from 23.00 to 23.30 daily all week and to permit the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 11.00 to 23.30 daily all week. Any person who wishes to make representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 14th November 2023 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Richmond Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Richmond Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre London Road, Morden, Surry, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. Information on all new applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.richmond.gov.uk It is an offence, under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

GT Licensing Consultants Tel 07810 826778 Em: gtlicensinmgconsultants@gmail.com

To place a public notice, please email em@cm-media.co.uk

PUBLIC NOTICES 27

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended) PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS) ACT 1990 (as amended)

The planning applications listed below can be viewed on the planning register at https://planning.southwark.gov.uk/online-applications/ You can use facilities at your local library or 'My Southwark Service Points' to access the website.

How to comment on this application: You should submit your comments via the above link. Comments received will be made available for public viewing on the website. All personal information will be removed except your postal address. Online comments submitted without an email address will not be acknowledged and those marked 'confidential' will not be considered. Written comments can be submitted to; Southwark Council, Chief executive's department, Planning division, Development Management, PO Box 64529, London SE1 5LX. Reason for publicity. The applications are advertised for the reasons identified by the following codes: AFFECT - development affecting character or appearance of a nearby conservation area; OR development affecting setting of a nearby listed building(s); DEP - departure from the development plan; EIA - environmental impact assessment (these applications are accompanied by an environmental statement a copy of which may be obtained from the Council - there will be a charge for the copy); MAJ - major planning application; STDCA - development within a conservation area; STDLB - works to or within the site of a listed building; 789 - 799 OLD KENT ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 1NZ (Ref: 23/AP/2365) Demolition of the existing building and the construction of a self-storage facility (Use Class B8), food retail unit (Use Class E(a)) and light industrial units (Use Class E(g)(iii)), together with undercroft service yard and car parking area, landscaping and a public pedestrian/cycle way Reason(s) for publicity: MAJ (Contact: Ewan Lawless 020 7525 1264)

Camberwell New Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: AFFECT (Contact: Agneta Kabele 07548097486) 19 VILLAGE WAY LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7AN (Ref: 23/AP/2902) Listed building consent for construction of a 1.8m high wall to the southern end of the site along the boundary with Lyndenhurst House (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Eleanor Heagney 020 7525 5403)

68-72 PECKHAM HIGH STREET AND 1A RYE LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 5DP (Ref: 23/AP/2878) Change of Use of Basement, part of Ground Floor [Excluding Shop Units], First and Second Floors from a Social Club (Sui Generis Use) to a Mixed-use Nightclub, Live Music Venue and Drinking Establishment with Expanded Food Provision (Sui Generis Use) and Change Of Use of Third Floor From Retail (Use Class E) to a Mixed-Use Nightclub, Live Music Venue and Drinking Establishment with Expanded Food Provision (Sui Generis Use) and the Installation of HVAC Units. (Within: Rye Lane Peckham CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Glenn Ruane 020 7525 5447)

THALIA COURT 137 RYE LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 23/AP/2897) Replacement of existing combustible materials contained within external walls and balcony surfaces with non-combustible materials to match the existing in appearance. (Within: Rye Lane Peckham CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Louise Dinsdale 07513137967)

1-53 OXFORD DRIVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2FB (Ref: 23/AP/2887) Installation of Fibre Optic Cables (Within: Tooley Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki ) 557 LORDSHIP LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8LB (Ref: 23/AP/2899) Replacement of existing timber single glazed windows with double glazed UPVC windows and doors to the front, rear and rear flank elevations. The front fenestration will match the existing. The rear sliding sashes will be replaced with new casements.

Reason(s) for publicity: AFFECT (Contact: William Tucker 07925 637 210) RAILWAY ARCHES 344-349 CAMBERWELL STATION ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 9JN (Ref: 23/AP/2880) Change of use of 6no. railway arches to flexible uses within Use Class B2, B8, E (a-d) and/or (g). (Within:

REAR OF 19 VILLAGE WAY LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7AN (Ref: 23/AP/2901) Construction of a 1.8m high wall to the southern end of the site along the boundary with Lyndenhurst House (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Eleanor Heagney 020 7525 5403) TOWER BRIDGE TOWER BRIDGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2UP (Ref: 23/AP/2944) Works are to overlay the existing roof coverings within a liquid applied waterproofing system, install new line safe system and remove the existing ladder hoops and install new PivotLoc ladders to the control cabins (Within: Tower Bridge CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Eleanor Heagney 020 7525 5403) SOUTH DOCK MARINA ROPE STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 23/AP/2853) Erection of a single storey electricity substation and LV room Reason(s) for publicity: AFFECT (Contact: Zoe Brown 07849 702 088) ARCHES 164 - 166 SOUTHWARK BRIDGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 0DG (Ref: 23/AP/2850) Change of use of 1no. railway arch to flexible uses

within Use Class E (a-d, g(ii) and/or (iii)). (Within: King's Bench CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anna Poulose ) 173 COURT LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7EE (Ref: 23/AP/2933) Construction for a first-floor side extension above garage storeroom, shower room and rear study. The extension is set back from the front of the existing by 1.5 Metres and does not exceed the rear building line of the existing property. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anna Poulose )

The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG, or via the licensing authority’s website, at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application.

Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 14/11/2023.

It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with a licensing application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for that offence shall not exceed level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000).

LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE Sabrosa Ltd trading as The Deli Society has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a premises licence, in respect of the following premises: Unit 6, Bessemer Park, 250 Milkwood Road, London SE24 0HG which would authorise the following licensable activities: The supply of alcohol sold online from 00:00 - 23:59 and to be consumed off premises.

The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd floor Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG, or via the licensingauthority’s website, at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application. Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 14.11.23 It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with a licensing application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for that offence shall not exceed level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000).

Dated: 24 Oct 2023 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date.

STEPHEN PLATTS - Director of Planning and Growth

235 QUEENS ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 2NG (Ref: 23/AP/2809) Listed Building Consent for installation of draughtproofing, associated repairs and overhauling to sliding sash windows, casements and rear door. Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Sandy Ng ) HAIG HOUSE 199 BOROUGH HIGH STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 23/AP/2934) Enlargement of two shop windows on front elevation and replacement of a window with a door on both the eastern and southern elevations. (Within: Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: William Tucker 07925 637 210) OPEN PUBLIC AREAS AT MORE LONDON RIVERSIDE ESTATE LONDON BRIDGE CITY, QUEENS WALK AND COTTONS CENTRE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 (Ref: 23/AP/2779) The temporary erection and installation of circa 65 wooden cabins across the London Bridge City estate for the Christmas market event from 14 November 2022 - 1 January 2023. There will be 6 Zones of cabins across the London Bridge City estate and along Queen's Walk including; Zone 1 - Riverside/The Scoop, Zone 2 - Riverside/Tavolino Steps, Zone 3 Riverside/HMS Belfast, Zone 4 - Riverside/Upper Deck bar (by HMS Belfast), Zone 5 Riverside/Southwark Crown Court and Zone 6 - Hay's Galleria. The cabins will measure 10x8ft, 10x6ft, 10x5ft, 10x4ft and 20x10ft, respectively. There will be a range of items on offer including hot and cold beverages/food, arts & crafts and general goods. The LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE [Name(s) of applicant(s)] H. Krupa Wholesale Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Shurgard self storage, Unit - 4031, 381 Kennington Road, London, Lambeth, SE11 4PT which would authorise the following licensable activities: Monday to Sunday 00:00 to 23:59 online sale of Alcohol retail operation , no Public Access at any time.

event will also see two pop-up bars, one at the top of The Scoop on the riverside and one at London Bridge City Pier at the back of Cottons Centre. (Within: Tooley Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Glenn Ruane 020 7525 5447)

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (BOMBAY STREET) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable utility work to be carried out by Thames Water, it intends to make an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in Bombay Street, between Southwark Park Road and number 20.

3.

An alternative route for affected traffic is not available, access will be maintained where possible.

4.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

5.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

6.

The works will be in operation between the 13th of November and the 21st of November 2023

7.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 26th October 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref: 6739

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (HEATON ROAD, GOODRICH ROAD)

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (BLACKWATER STREET)

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable resurfacing works to be carried out, it intends to make an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named roads.

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable utility work to be carried out by Thames Water, it intends to make an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in: (a) Heaton Road, between Consort Road and Copeland Road. (b) Goodrich Road, between its junctions with Hillcourt Road and Upland Road

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in Blackwater Street, outside number 5.

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic is Lordship Lane, Bassano St. or Lordship Lane, Melbourne Grove.

4.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

5.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

6.

The works will be in operation between the 20th and 24th of November 2023.

7.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic: (2a) Copeland Road, Rye Lane, Peckham Rye, Nunhead Lane and Consort Road (2b) Underhill Road and Upland Road

4.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

5.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

6.

The works will be in operation at the following times and dates; (2a) 8th and 9th of November 2023 (2b) 13th and 14th of November 2023

7.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 26th October 2023 Ian Law, Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street , PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref; (2a) 54892324 (2b) 07568367

Dated this 26th October 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager, ondon Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref: 6728 LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (STORKS ROAD)

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (MELBOURNE GROVE, TELL GROVE) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF PARKING) 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable utility works to be carried out by BT, it intends to make an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit parking on a section of the above named road.

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings and cones are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to stop, park, wait, load or unload at any time in Melbourne Grove and Tell Grove at the following locations: a) Melbourne Grove, between the junction of Tell Grove and the car club bay near the junction of East Dulwich Grove. b) Melbourne Grove, in front of No. 63a to No. 67 c) Melbourne Grove, outside No. 52 to the side of 59 East Dulwich Grove d) Tell Grove, both sides of the carriageway, for a distance of 20 metres from the junction of Melbourne Grove.

3.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

4.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

6.

The works will be in operation between the 13th and 14th of November 2023.

7.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 26th October 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref: Mel1311 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE. Notice is hereby given that MARGIN GIN LIMITED has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at UNIT A05, 55 LOMBARD ROAD, LONDON SW11 3RX for storage and distribution of alcohol between the hours of 08:30 – 17:30, Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:00 on Saturdays, and 10:00 – 16:00 on Sundays.

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by Tuesday 14 November 2023 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

To place a public notice, please email em@cm-media.co.uk

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable utility work to be carried out by Thames Water, it intends to make an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in Storks Road, from the junction of Collett Road to the junction of Webster Road.

28 PUBLIC NOTICES

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic is Clements Road, Webster Road, Drummond Road, St James's Road.

4.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

5.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

6.

The works will be in operation between the 16th of November and the 9th of February 2024.

7.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 26th October 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager, London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street, PO Box 64529, London, SE1 5LX Ref: 6733 Licensing Act 2003 Notice of Application NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT an application has been made to Lewisham Council (the Licensing Authority) for a premises licence by Sabrosa Ltd trading as The Deli Society in respect of The Deli Society, Arch 3, Deptford Market Yard, Deptford, SE8 4BX The details of the application are as follows: The supply of alcohol for both on and off premises consumption from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 11pm. The Deli Society is a deli by day and wine bar by night.

Details of the application may be inspected by appointment only at Licensing Authority, Holbeach Office, 9 Holbeach Road, SE6 4TW. Any interested party or responsible authority may make representations in respect of the application, which must be submitted, in writing, to the above address within 28 days of the date below.

This notice remains in force from and including the day after the giving of this notice to the licensing authority, namely 25th of October 2023 for 28 consecutive days.

It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum fine on summary conviction is £5,000.

- Premises Licence - Variation to the Premises Licence - Club Premises Certificate - Variation to the Club Premises Certificate

SPORT 29

bermondsey judo coach claims prestigious title

By Sports Reporter

attracting a big attendance.

Avelov was competing in the under81kg category and was supported by his partner, Gail, and colleagues from Tokei who skipped Saturday training to attend.

It was a straight knock-out competition and in the final Avelov faced an opponent he had defeated in a different competition last May. This contest was a very different challenge as the fight went the full distance before, despite multiple attacks from both competitors, the scores ended level.

a Bermondsey judo coach has won a gold medal at the British masters which was held in Docklands recently.

Elephant & Castle-based Neno Avelov, head coach of Tokei Judo Club and who represented Bulgaria in the discipline in the 1990s, fought through three rounds before winning the final on a ‘golden score’.

The competition decides who gets into the national squads and is the highlight of the UK judo masters calendar, always

That meant a ‘golden score’ phase when, without any limit of time, the next score or penalty wins.

At this point, the tension rose in the arena, and spectators drifted over from the other competition areas to watch.

The ‘golden score’ phase was a very cagey affair with both competitors ensuring they avoided a penalty but not wanting to risk too much and be thrown. Fatigue set in on both sides, and it was showing.

But Avelov’s stamina endured and skill persisted. He caught his opponent

slightly off balance throwing him to the ground for a minor score. It was scrappy but more than enough to secure victory and kick off the celebrations in the Tokei crowd.

Tokei Judo Club train in a purposebuilt dojo off Tooley Street on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with Brazilian Ju Jitsu (BJJ) training on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. They are a club with a sizeable proportion of more mature male and female players returning to the sport. New players are always very welcome.

Neno Avelov atop the podium

hak happy with progress

Michael Chambers, left, was on target at Whitehawk

But boss wants to see big improvement in defence

By John Kelly

Photo by : Mike Urban

duLwiCh hamLet conceded a late goal at whitehawk last weekend but manager hakan hayrettin is pleased with the progress of his side after a difficult start to the season.

Hakan Hayrettin acknowledges the away end

Hayrettin’s visitors took the lead with just twelve minutes left through Michael Chambers.

But Imran Kayani levelled for the hosts in the 89th minute before the Hamlet’s Ademola Shokunbi was given a straight red card in added-time.

Dulwich stayed in sixteenth place in the Isthmian League Premier Division table after just failing to win in the league on the road since their 4-2 National League South victory at Welling United last January.

“It’s a cliche, isn’t it, you win your home games and draw your away games and you’re going to have a chance. It’s progression, it’s two games we haven’t lost,” Hayrettin said.

“I thought we defended well, Manny Parry and Michael Chambers were excellent. It was an open game but we kept the ball well in the first half and whatever they threw at us we dealt with.

“We ground them down until we got the goal

but we’ve got to stop that cross. Seventy-five per cent of goals come from the six-yard box, they scored from that and we went down to ten men. I don’t know if it was a sending-off, I’ll have to have a look at it.

“Over all, very pleased with the work-rate, very pleased with the point and we should have nicked it.

“It’s a difficult pitch, a slope at one end and a hill at the other. We did well, if we had hung on and got three points it would have been worthy.

“It wasn’t to be but it was a step in the right direction and everyone worked really, really hard. We’re heading in the right direction and we must continue on this journey.”

Hayrettin highlighted one obvious area where the side needs to improve.

“There’s no coincidence here, we’re probably the second or the third top-scorers in the league, we’ve scored nineteen or 20 now and we’ve let in a little bit more than that,” Hayrettin said.

“Obviously the defence has taken a lot of stick and you’re tinkering and toying with things to try to get it right. I thought he was excellent again, Michael Chambers, and Manny was good as well. They defended well, they held the line, they blocked it, they stepped in when they had to. Fair play to them, credit where credit is due.

“You’ve got to worker harder than the opposition to have a chance. We’re seeing that now.”

Hayrettin also paid tribute to the away support in the 633 attendance.

He said: “Two hundred of them, amazing supporters. They never stopped singing, all through the game, they made just as much noise as 2,000. Very, very pleased and I showed them the appreciation that they deserved and so did all the players.”

Dulwich were in action away to Wingate & Finchley in the league on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Dulwich Hamlet Women are through to the first round proper of the FA Cup after their 6-0 win at Headstone Manor last weekend.

Summer Roberts scored a thirteen-minute hat-trick in the second half after goals in the first half from Brittany Saylor, Shakira Kafero Roberts and Morgan Searle.

Dulwich will host London Bees in the next round on November 12. The side are back in L&SERWFL Premier Division action this Sunday when they travel to Enfield Town for a 2pm kick-off.

The men’s side are at home to Lewes in the first round proper of the FA Trophy this Saturday at 3pm.

Lionesses roar into first round Break rules out Surrey's Reece Topley Millwall Lionesses 13-0 Margate

By Jeff Burnige at St Paul’s the Lionesses continued their superb return to form under caretaker managers alex russell and adam rowland as they reached the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup with this blistering demolition of lower-tier margate at st paul’s last Sunday.

By John Kelly surrey Fast bowler reece topley is out of the world Cup after breaking his finger in the defeat to south africa last weekend.

Topley, 29, was injured when fielding and has flown home for his rehabilitation. Topley was England’s leading wicket-taker with eight in three matches.

Durham's Brydon Carse has been called up as Topley’s replacement.

"Scans in Mumbai on Saturday after the match at the Wankhede Stadium revealed the full extent of the injury. Topley will return to the UK in the next 24 hours," the ECB said.

"He will work closely with the England and Surrey medical teams in respect of his rehabilitation."

Defending champions England are bottom of the group stage with three defeats from four matches and

have five matches left to try to claim an unlikely semi-final place. They were in action against Sri Lanka on Thursday (October 26).

Meanwhile, five Surrey players have signed England central contracts.

Gus Atkinson, Sam Curran and Ollie Pope have signed two-yeardeals, and Topley and Ben Foakes one-year contracts.

South East Stars have signed Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, Priyanaz

Reece Topley

Photo by : Mark Sandom

This tie was never in doubt from the moment Millwall took the lead and they will face L&SERWFL Premier Division rivals Denham United away on Sunday, November 12.

Although now in tier five, Millwall are one of two previous winners of the competition represented in the first round, the other being Doncaster Belles.

Both are therefore desirable scalps for any of the teams left, particularly when drawn at home, so this is a challenging but very winnable draw.

“We were very happy with the performance,” Rowland said. “We

dominated throughout and ruthlessly took most of our chances. I am also happy with the draw, and we are aiming to go further in the FA Cup.” It took eleven minutes to open the scoring against seventh-tier Margate, before the hosts then scored six goals in nineteen minutes to sew up the tie.

Competition for places is now intense, and selection took account of performances in training, leading to starts for midfielder Shay Bennett and winger Grace Laverick.

The latter sustained a worrying knee injury on 57 minutes, and it took three substitutions for the Lionesses to resume their goal-scoring, Ellen Napper, Tamyah Lorraine and Maddie Bone coming on with something to prove.

The goals came via two hat-tricks, from this season’s top-scorer Emma Whitter and Liv McGregor. Shannan Drewe scored twice and registered five assists, and Ella Bailey and substitutes Napper and Laverick scored one apiece. There were also two own goals.

The Lionesses return to league action at home to AFC Crawley this Sunday. Kick-off in Rotherhithe is at 1.30pm.

Chatterji, and Charlotte Lambert on pay-as-you-play contracts Emma Calvert, Regional Director of Women’s Cricket, said: “It is incredible to see two of our academy players graduate into the senior setup. Both Maddie and Charlotte had an amazing season this summer and we are excited to give them the opportunity to step up into our senior squad.

“Another exciting addition to the squad is Priyanaz Chatterji. Priyanaz is a Scotland international who has shown her skills in the second XI this summer. It is incredible to be able to afford a more experienced player the opportunity to give professional cricket a go and [it] should show to everyone else out there that the door is never closed.

“No cricketing journey is the same and Priyanaz will hopefully provide inspiration to many other cricketers still looking to progress in the game.”

30 SPORT

© Action Plus

derby bLues Poch wants lessons learned after late collapse

By John Kelly mauriCio poChettino wants his players to learn from the concession of two late goals that denied Chelsea a London derby win over last season’s title challengers arsenal last weekend.

Cole Palmer’s fifteenth-minute penalty after William Saliba’s handball and Mykhailo Mudryk’s goal three minutes into the second half appeared to set the Blues on their way to victory.

But Mikel Arteta’s side pulled a goal back through Declan Rice’s brilliant finish after a poor clearance from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez with thirteen minutes left.

And the Gunners grabbed the equaliser and a share of the spoils when

Mauricio Pochettino and goal-scorer Cole Palmer

Leandro Trossard crept in at the far post to finish Bukayo Saka’s cross past David Raya.

“We were facing a team that last season was really close to winning the Premier League,” Pochettino said.

“Then they invested and added players to make their squad stronger. They are a very good team.

“We are maybe at the beginning of our project and that is why we have to take positive things. I think we competed really well and after 77 minutes of the game we had been better and hadn’t conceded too many chances. That is credit to the team and we need to only go forward in a positive way.

“One thing for us is to maybe read the situation better. At 2-0 in the 77th minute, maybe take a better decision in this situation to not concede in the way

we did. That damaged the momentum a little bit and gave the belief to the opponent to say, ‘go on, it’s possible, it’s only one goal.’

“That is the situation but we will improve all together, to work together, to live together. For sure, the team has the talent to improve in this side of football that you sometimes need to show in this type of game to win.”

Mudryk, meanwhile, said there was nothing flukey about his goal. Mudryk’s cross from the left went over Raya with Raheem Sterling lurking at the far post.

“It was something in the middle, between a cross and a shot,” Mudryk said. “Before the game, our goalkeeper coach told me to look at their keeper because sometimes he is trying to read things and he can just lose the goal, so I can chip him.

“So it was something I knew and I kept it in my head. I went for something between the cross and the shot and it was a good decision.”

It was Mudryk’s first Chelsea goal at Stamford Bridge.

Mudryk said: “It was amazing to share this moment with our fans, and against Arsenal especially. It was a special moment, I really appreciate their support a lot.

“It means a lot to me to score at Stamford Bridge, especially because I can share this moment with them. It’s special. I liked this moment and I want to have these moments more and more.”

Mudryk took the positives from the game despite the feeling of deflation after being in such a good position.

“There is so much disappointment, the whole team is really upset now.

I think we have to win this match but maybe we lost our concentration for ten seconds, and in football things can happen quickly,” Mudryk said.

“When you lose concentration it can be really bad for you. We just lost concentration for ten seconds, but football is fast, that’s all it takes.

“But we are still feeling good. I think we are going the right way. We are really disappointed that this was only a draw, but we just have to keep moving forward, working in this way and looking for wins.

“I think now, at the moment, we have more confidence than we had before.

We just have to keep going in the right way and the results will come.”

Chelsea play another London derby this Saturday when they host Brentford at 12.30pm.

Hodgson said. “It was as good as we halfexpected it would be because they’re a very, very good team, but it doesn’t unfortunately help me in any way because I don’t think we came anywhere near the football we’re capable of playing, both defensively and offensively.

“To come here and lose is one thing, but it’s hard to accept coming and losing as comprehensively as we have done, and with a few players who are going to be looking tomorrow morning, assessing their performances and coming up probably with the same conclusion I’ve come up with: We just weren’t anywhere near good enough.

“To be fair, I suppose the two goals that came in the 45th and 47th minute didn’t help us because coming out for

the second-half at 0-3 against such a good team was always going to make life unbelievably uncomfortable.

“Had it been 0-1, we could have maybe made a slightly better fist of the game, but I can’t say they didn’t deserve to come in at 3-0 because Newcastle created a lot of chances and played very well.

“We made mistakes, of course.

Several of the goals and chances were uncharacteristic mistakes which the defenders and midfielders haven’t been making. That’s one thing, but you never know what it is in a game that causes you to collapse a little bit in terms of what we’ve been privileged to see from this team.

“In fact, at half-time, one of the coaches

rightly said that this is our first underpar performance in the first eight league games, and now we’ve got to do something about it in the second half.

“Maybe on Monday I’ll be able to have a similarly philosophical view about it, but at the moment, it’s difficult to take that a team we thought could come here and give Newcastle a very good game weren’t able to. I think we all know we can do better and we need to do better.”

Meanwhile, Hodgson paid tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton, the England World Cup winner and legendary Manchester United midfielder who passed away at the age of 86 last weekend.

“I was privileged to meet him on quite a few occasions. My thoughts tonight are with Norma and their children.

It’s a really sad day. I know they’ll be devastated,” Hodgson said.

“Sir Bobby Charlton doesn’t need any words from me other than to say, perhaps, we are talking about a true legend of the game and a true legend of English football and Manchester United.

“That 1966 team will always be an iconic team we look to and [Saturday] we unfortunately lost another great player and a really important member of that team.

“I was really sad to hear the news and I can only wish Norma and their children all the best and strength to come through the grieving process.”

Palace play Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on Friday night. Kick-off is 8pm.

boss hodgson ‘philosophical’ after heavy palace defeat

By John Kelly

roy hodgson said Crystal palace didn’t get “anywhere near” their standards but was “philosophical” as he spared his players heavy criticism after their 4-0 defeat by newcastle united at st james’ park last weekend.

Hodgson’s Eagles were 3-0 behind at the break after goals from Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon and Sean Longstaff, the latter two in three minutes just before half-time.

Callum Wilson rounded off the scoring in the 66th minute as Palace dropped to eleventh in the Premier League table.

“There’s nothing I’d want to say to take away from the Newcastle performance,”

SPORT 31

Match preview: Watford v Millwall

Vicarage Road, Sat 28 Oct 15.00

Away form faces test at Watford

By Kiro Evans

miLLwaLL travel to watford in the latest test of their strength away from home.

The Lions have lost just one of their last six games on the road and will fancy their chances against a Watford side that have failed to convince this season.

The meeting comes with the two teams having switched faces in recent weeks. Millwall, for so long an example of stability and consistency, are without a manager while Watford, who have chopped and changed head coach so frequently over the last decade, gave Valerien Ismael a new contact earlier this month.

This is despite the fact that the Hornets' form has been shaky for much of the campaign.

Apart from a 4-0 win on the opening day against Queens Park Rangers, Watford have stumbled through their games and a talented squad has yet to really show the best of themselves.

Saturday's 1-0 victory over bottom side Sheffield Wednesday ended a run of five matches without a win.

Millwall will be eyeing the game as a chance to get their third win on the road this season following triumphs over Middlesbrough and Plymouth Argyle.

As the recent game at Preston North End demonstrated, the Lions are tending to find more space away from home. They also have less pressure on them to take the game to the opponent, which appears to suit the team's strengths.

Millwall comfortably beat Watford in both matches last season with Tom Bradshaw hitting a hat-trick in a 3-0 win at The Den before Andreas Voglsammer and Zian Flemming struck in a 2-0 Boxing Day triumph at Vicarage Road.

Club captain Shaun Hutchinson and Kevin Nisbet could be back fit for this game.

no home comfort Millwall fall to another home defeat despite Wes Harding's early goal against Blackburn

There was disappointment at full-time as Millwall came up short against Blackburn

THE EFL cHAMPiONSHiP Millwall - 1 Harding 3' Blackburn - 2 Rankin-Costello 22', Brittain 51' Date: Tuesday 24 October 2023 Attendance: 13,834 Man of the match: Brooke Norton-Cuffy Referee: Andy Davies

By Kiro Evans miLLwaLL struCK early but were undone by Blackburn rovers as they were beaten in front of home fans again.

In Adam Barrett's first game in charge at The Den since Gary Rowett departed, things had started so promisingly as Wes Harding scored his first goal for the club after just three minutes.

But, in a match which saw momentum swing several times, Blackburn were more effective going forward and hit two brilliant goals in either half, first from Joe RankinCostello and then from Callum Brittain.

It was a game overflowing with chances and one that almost summoned up as much drama as that infamous 4-3 clash in

May. The final 20 minutes particularly were captivating as Millwall gave everything to equalise.

This one would again end in Blackburn victory, with the Lancashire side now having lost only one of their last sixteen against Millwall.

The Lions, meanwhile, were left pondering another stat: this was their fifth home defeat from eight games in all competitions this season.

With form at The Den having been so unimpressive of late, the early goal was exactly what Millwall needed.

And, just like in Rowett's last home game against Hull City, it came from a Joe Bryan free-kick causing chaos in the opposition box.

His whipped cross was not dealt with properly, the towering figure of Jake Cooper kept it alive and then Harding sneaked it home past goalkeeper Leopold Wahlstedt.

Chances would pop up at both ends with last ditch defending from Bryan and Brooke Norton-Cuffy needed to deny Blackburn playing their way through while Aidomo Emakhu once again proved a threat on just his second start for the club.

By John Kelly marCo siLva has signed a new contract to take him up to the end of the 2025-26 season as Fulham manager.

Silva, 46, was appointed Cottagers boss in the summer of 2021 after spells in England in charge of Hull City, Watford and Everton and led the club to promotion back to the Premier League as champions at the first attempt.

That was followed by an impressive tenth-place finish in 2022-23 as well as a run to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Fulham are currently thirteenth after Monday night’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

Silva was linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League in the summer.

"I’m really pleased to sign a new contract as it was something we

‘More to look forward to’ as Cottagers boss inks new deal had been discussing for some time,” Silva said. “It’s always a good sign when both parties are happy and want to continue working

together.

“I feel that the business is not done yet, we’ve had two great seasons, and the goal is clearly there to

Blackburn's passing game eventually clicked halfway into the half. Brittain and Rankin-Costello combined for a stunning onetouch passing move that eventually allowed the latter to take aim from close range.

It was not a particularly fierce shot and Bartosz Bialkowski looked annoyed as he watched the ball squirm past his hand and into the net for 1-1.

The game continued to be an end-toend affair but Blackburn undoubtedly demonstrated more composure on the ball and quality in possession.

Their control in the game grew throughout the half and peaked in the early stages of the second 45 when they took the lead.

Rovers pounced on a counter-attack from a failed Millwall free-kick before Brittain whipped a wonderful effort into the far corner after cutting in on his left.

Joe Bryan pulled up injured during the counter and had to go off.

George Honeyman emerged off the bench, making his first appearance of the season, and along with fellow subs Romain Esse, George Saville and Murray Wallace, slowly helped to turn the game in

Millwall's favour.

Big chances followed with Tom Bradshaw's header forcing a save out of the keeper, Cooper flicking an effort just wide with his head, and Harding unable to double his goal tally when the ball fell to him at the back post.

And there would be big controversy after 83 minutes when Hayden Carter appeared to catch Bradshaw in the box but referee Andy Davies waved away the appeals.

Millwall could not find a way through and Blackburn became the latest opposition side to discover this season that trips to The Den are far more fruitful than they used to be.

sustain this club in the Premier League. This is key for the future of this club, and we are working hard to achieve it.

"It is important to feel the trust and have the support of our owners.

My relationship with them, and with Fulham Football Club as a whole, has been really important in this decision and the success of the last two seasons.

"The commitment and ambition that these players have demonstrated since day one has been the key to what we have achieved, and that will always continue to be the case, along with the unconditional support of our fans, who are fundamental. Let’s continue together on this long journey."

Cottagers chairman Shahid Khan added: “This is a wonderful day for Fulham Football Club. Specifically,

it’s a fantastic moment for Fulham supporters, who deserve our very best efforts to invest in the present and future of their club, both within and around the game.

“I’m happy to announce that we have a new contract with Marco Silva through 2025-26, and am confident this news will inspire our players and fans, both immediately and in the seasons ahead.

“When I first met Marco in 2021, I knew then he represented everything we needed and more from our next head coach.

“I am grateful that Marco believed, as I did, in what is possible here at Fulham, and now here we are several years later reaffirming our commitment to achieving something special for our fans.

“Marco and I are aligned. We have work ahead, but even more to look forward to.”

millwall: 4-2-3-1: Bialkowski; NortonCuffy, Harding, Cooper (c), Bryan (Wallace 53'); Mitchell (Saville 67'), De Norre; Longman, Flemming, Emakhu (Honeyman 66'); Bradshaw.

Blackburn: 4-1-4-1: Wahlstedt; Hill, Carter, Hyam (c) (S Wharton 45'), Pickering; Tronstad; Brittain, RankinCostello (A Wharton 77'), Szmodics, Sigurdsson (Moran 45'); Dolan

Community matters

INSIDE

Sport S outhLondonWeekly.

Southwark

BREAK RULES OUT SURREY’S TOPLEY

page 29

Jackson keeps perspective after Wimbledon’s poor night

By Paul Green at Plough Lane

aFC wimBLedon manager johnnie jackson felt his side gave themselves too big a mountain to climb during a poor first-half display at home to accrington Stanley on Tuesday night.

Calvin Bassey attempts to hold off goal-scorer Son Heung-min

Jackson said: “We gave ourselves too much to do. Obviously we responded and came back into it but the first half has cost us.

“The first half was way below what standards we have set for ourselves and what we expect from ourselves.

“They were poor goals to concede and like I say, that has not been us at all.

“We had the second-best defensive record coming into the game, so we have been solid, we’ve looked solid and haven’t given up much.

“Tonight it was just one of those nights where everything seemed to go wrong.

“It is an anomaly because we haven’t seen that coming. There was no evidence to suggest that was about to happen.

“Obviously we’ll have to have a look at it but I would like to think that was a one-off and just a really poor half of football that has cost us.”

Wimbledon dropped down to tenth in League Two but Jackson believes the result has to be kept in context going into Saturday’s trip to Morecambe, a side they can overtake by bouncing back with a win.

The Dons boss added: “After fifteen games there is a big body of evidence

here that this hasn’t happened before to us.

“Even in defeat I feel we’ve been the better team, so tonight is the rarity, to be honest.

“Do you rip everything up and say we’ve got to start again? Or do you try and get better like you always do if you’ve won or lost.

“There are things that we can do in the coming days to make us perhaps be a little bit more solid.

“Away from home on Saturday we are going to need a plan and obviously we are going to have to defend better than we did tonight.”

caL wiLL come good

© Action Plus

The visitors raced 2-0 ahead inside nine minutes through Josh Pritchard’s opener and a stunning second from Tommy Leigh.

Wimbledon struggled to get going in the opening period so it came as no surprise when Jackson made a triple

substitution after the interval.

That didn’t stop Pritchard grabbing his second of the evening within 20 seconds of the restart to leave the Dons seemingly down and out.

But Omar Bugiel, one of the trio to come on at the start of the second half, had other ideas and struck twice to set up a Grandstand finish with 20 minutes still to play, However, those hopes were dashed as Brad Hills’ 83rd-minute header wrapped up a 4-2 victory for Stanley and the Plough Lane boss accepted afterwards the real damage was done in the opening period.

£20m defender gave ball away for both Spurs goals

By Paul Green at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tim ream believes his new central defensive partnership with Calvin Bassey will only get better after the duo were paired together in monday night’s 2-0 defeat at tottenham Hotspur.

Fulham were unfortunate not to take an early lead when Joao Palhinha’s header was only kept out by a superb one-handed stop from Guglielmo Vicario, while Carlos Vinicius also saw a header flash wide.

Both of the home side’s goals from Son Heung-min and James Maddison came after Bassey cleared the ball to Tottenham players.

Although those mistakes proved decisive on the night, Ream felt overall

he worked well alongside the 23-year-old summer signing from Ajax, who was in the team playing in his unfavoured side of central defence due to Issa Diop’s injury.

Ream said: “It wasn’t too challenging, to be honest – I think it is more for him than anything.

“Playing on his off-side is never easy. I know, I’ve done it and it is just a matter of talking him through the game and making sure his head is on straight.

“We’ve been working on it in training, it is not something new for us.

“It was new for this game obviously, but not new in terms of never working on it before.

“Overall, it was a pretty half-decent display, just a few things here and there.

“Obviously we will have a few more games together to iron out some of the

kinks and we will go from there.”

The result sent Tottenham back to the top of the Premier League table, but for Fulham it was a case of what might have been had they taken the early opportunities which fell their way.

Ream said: “I’m disappointed, obviously.

You never like to lose games. Two carbon copy goals and it is frustrating to say the least, but in a lot of moments we were competitive in and around their box having half-chances.

“Maybe on a different day we put one or two away and it is a different game.

“But at the end of the day, we come away with nothing points-wise but there a few things we can take from the game that were somewhat positive.”

He added: “There are positives but I think it is frustrating at the same time.

“I think the frustration is the more another tough one, away as well, but it is overriding feeling because again in one we have to look forward to as we do moments we did play with no fear, moved all the games.

“It is one we need to look at and try and the ball and created chances but not put in a good performance but also take taking those.

“On a different day you take them and some points away from home.

“Hopefully we will bring back three come away with something different, but I’d say it is definitely more frustration of points.” what could have been.

“We made a few mistakes for their goals. THE RECYCLED PAPER CONTENT OF UK “At this level against a team like that NEWSPAPERS IN 2014 WAS 83.5% who are at the top of the table now, they are going to punish you for them.”

Fulham are back on the road this Sunday on the south coast where they take on Brighton & Hove Albion and Ream is determined to bounce back quickly to the Tottenham setback He said: “It is straight back to recovery and preparation for that game. It will be