South London Weekly - January 17th 2025

SouthLondonWeekly.

Community matters

forest hiLL gardeners

Issue 85 ∙ 50p ∙ January 17th 2025 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk

‘kids gather in ChiCken shoPs but need youth CLubs’

'wooLwiCh in shoCk' See page 13

See page 9

See sport

esse Progess

tories on grooming gangs See page 2

dentures at The aftermath of teenage stabbings free guy’s & tommy’s See pages 18-19

See page 7

2 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-19 arts Pages 20-21 HISTORY Page 22 Classified Page 24 Public notices Pages 25-27 SPORT Pages 29-32

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By Noah Vickers

‘The most recent independent inquiry into child sexual abuse – the Jay report – only examined six towns.

None were in London’

Local Democracy Reporter Sir Sadiq Khan is facing demands from City Hall Conservatives to organise a London-level inquiry into the issue of historic child sexual exploitation.

In a letter to the mayor from his former election rival Lord Shaun Bailey, the London Assembly member claimed there is “a strong possibility” that grooming gangs have operated in the capital, and that a City Hall-led inquiry would have “significant resources available to draw conclusions from across all thirty-two of London’s boroughs”.

Sir Sadiq’s office said in response that “supporting victims of rape and sexual assault remains a top priority for the mayor and Met Police” and ministers are already taking action following the “woeful failure of the last Government to implement the recommendations of Alexis Jay’s national inquiry into child sexual abuse”.

Lord Bailey wrote to the mayor: “Given that there are more than fifty areas that have been identified as locations in which the systemic rape of young children by grooming gangs took place, there is a strong possibility that this criminality also occurred in London.

“The most recent independent inquiry into child sexual abuse – the Jay report – only examined six towns. None were in London. Similarly, no local inquiries have taken place across any part of London, leaving a significant number of unanswered questions around the scale of this scandal in the capital.”

The assembly member’s reference to “more than fifty areas” appears to be in relation to a GB News article, in which one of the broadcaster’s journalists said they had identified more than 50 towns and cities which had “endured abuse gangs”. GB News reporter Charlie Peters is said by his employer to have drawn up the list after “sifting through court records, local media reports, and gathering first-hand accounts from several victims”.

Approached for comment, a spokesman for Sir Sadiq said: “The mayor’s thoughts are with the young victims who have suffered horrendous treatment at the hands of these abhorrent gangs.

“For too long victims of rape and sexual assault haven’t received the support and justice they deserve. This includes the woeful failure of the last Government to implement the recommendations of Alexis Jay’s national inquiry into child sexual abuse.

“In London, supporting victims of rape

SouthLondonWeekly.

Community matters

Editor: Kevin Quinn Reporters: Herbie Russell; Isabel Ramirez Sports Editor: John Kelly Sports reporter: Will Scott Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Digital Transformation Editor: Katherine Johnston Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising: Clarry Frewin 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

- Lord Bailey wrote

Conservatives demand a London-level grooming gang inquiry Sir Sadiq office said in response ministers are already taking action following the “woeful faiure of last Government to implement the recomendations of Alexis Jay’s national inquiry

and sexual assault remains a top priority for the mayor and Met Police, and the capital has led the way with Operation Soteria – a national programme to improve how the police and criminal justice system

SouthLondonWeekly.

Community matters

See sport

Issue 84 ∙ 50p ∙ January 10th 2025 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk

BLUES TARGET EAGLES SKIPPER

The final days at 111-year-old Pie and Mash shop in Deptford See page 6

SILVERTOWN TUNNEL WILL OPEN IN APRIL See page 7

THE PIE-NAL COUNTDOWN

TOOTING’S MORLEY TO SHUT FOR NEW FLATS See page 14

CROYDON YOUTH ON COUNCIL PLANS See page 9

deals with serious sexual offending.

“The mayor welcomes the action being taken by the new Government to rectify years of delay and inaction, including bringing new legislation to Parliament

this week to keep children safe across the country. He is committed to working handin-hand with ministers to ensure women and girls are safe and victims get the justice they 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.

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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.

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NEWS 3

By Isabel Ramirez former duLWiCH Hamlet footballer ronnie Vint made a return to the villa as the hit reality series launched its 2025 edition of Love island: all Stars this week.

The show kicked off on Monday bringing back some of its most memorable contestants for another chance at romance.

Hosted by Maya Jama, the series once again takes place in South Africa, promising drama, excitement, and unexpected twists.

Ronnie Vint, who originally appeared in series 11, left the villa last year with partner Harriet, and the pair initially seemed happy together. However, Vint, who is originally from Greenwich, revealed that their relationship ultimately didn’t last.

Speaking to ITV, he reflected on his previous experience and what he’s hoping for this time around. “I learnt so much from my experience last time. I left with Harriett and from the time we left, I thought it was going well, but obviously, it ended. In the villa, I was always in ‘triangles’ and whatnot, but I feel like I’ve grown up a lot since then.”

He added, “So, not in a bad way to Harriett, but I’m in a good position to find someone now and move on.

I thought it was going to be a once-

in-a-lifetime experience but now it’s happening again!”

Before finding fame on reality TV, Vint made a name for himself on the football pitch. From 2020 to 2022, he played as a defender for Dulwich Hamlet FC during a three-season loan spell. Before that, he spent a decade with Dartford and, in 2023, moved to Lewes FC as a centreback.

Looking ahead to his second stint in the villa, Vint hinted at a more focused approach to relationships this time around. When asked what he’d be doing differently, he quipped, “Hopefully less triangles…” and said he’s hoping to meet someone who has his “best interests at heart.”

The show airs every evening on ITV2 and ITVX.

Who ELSE IS oN ThE LINE-Up foR LoVE ISLAND: ALL STARS 2025?

Luca Bish, 25 (Series 8) india reynolds, 34 (Series 5) marcel Somerville, 39 (Series 3) elma pazar, 32 (Series 5) Catherine agbaje, 24 (Series 10) olivia Hawkins, 29 (Series 9) Scott thomas, 36 (Series 2) gabby allen, 32 (Series 3) Curtis pritchard, 28 (Series 5) Kaz Crossley, 28 (Series 4) nas majeed, 28 (Series 6)

© ITV

ronnie vint Joins Love isLand aLL stars 2025 Line-uP

Will Ronnie find love the second time around?

4 NEWS

Patients say they are waiting four days as hospital reaches 96.4% bed capacity

By Kieran Galpin

Local Democracy Reporter King’s College Hospital has the second lowest number of available beds of any hospital in London, as hospitals around the country struggle with high rates of winter illnesses.

© Chris Wharton

As of January 9th, 96.4% of beds were full at King’s College Hospital. That number meant it was in the bottom 20 hospitals in the country for available beds.

This statistic was for hospitals with 24hour emergency critical care known as a type 1 A&E department. Guy’s and St Thomas’, in Waterloo and London Bridge, had a bed occupancy rate of 88.2% over the month of December.

“As with hospitals across the country, we are experiencing extremely high demand for our services,” the King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said.

As high demand hits an already stretched NHS, the Labour goverment says they are trying to improve English healthcare. However, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said on Tuesday that patients’ experiences of the NHS this winter made him feel “ashamed” and were “very distressing”.

One patient said he had waited 9 hours

for treatment at A&E on Tuesday, January 7th. “It’s incredibly busy. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. He needed a bed in the specialist mental health unit, for which he had been told he had to wait

four days.

“I can’t leave, or I’ll be kicked out of the queue,” he said, “I’ve been sleeping on a chair in the waiting room.”

“People are having to wait in the

corridors.”

Another man, who had a long-term health condition and was referred to A&E because of a high temperature, was visibly upset when asked about his wait-

time. “It’s distressing,” he said. He had already slept for two nights in waiting rooms, and had another two days to wait for a bed.

“It’s not the NHS I grew up in,” he said, “but I need the care”.

The NHS around the country is struggling to manage with particularly high cases of flu, alongside high cases of RSV and norovirus. There are also cases of Covid-19. Even before demand for hospitals rose over the winter, only 72% of patients were seen within four hours at A&Es across the country - significantly below their 95% target.

King’s College Hospital are also “limiting the number of visitors to help reduce the spread of infection, and “have reintroduced mask-wearing” in the Emergency Departments and some other areas.

The hospital asks people to stay away unless it is an emergency.

“To help us manage the number of patients who need our help, we urge people who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or diarrhoea and vomiting, to not visit our hospitals.

“Contact NHS 111 or visit your local pharmacy. Only attend the Emergency Department in an emergency,” said King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

King’s were not asked about the four day waiting claim.

Walworth Town Hall opens to the public for first time after being devastated by fire

By Isabel Ramirez Walworth Town Hall has reopened its doors to the public for the first time in over a decade, following extensive fire damage in 2013 - and the renovation is magnificent.

Located in the heart of Walworth Road, the historic 1894 building, once facing demolition, has been carefully restored and reinvented as a dynamic space for local businesses, community groups, and the public.

The Grade II listed landmark faced a bleak future after the fire, which left much of the building in ruins. It was even listed at ‘at risk’

by Historic England.

However, thanks to the efforts of General Projects and Southwark Council, the town hall has been given a new life.

It officially opened last Wednesday, 8 January, offering coworking spaces, flexible offices, a community centre, as well as a healthy pan-Asian café from Jusu

Brothers.

Having been fenced in by hoardings for years, there is now a new grand entrance leading to Walworth Square.

Last year, General Projects, estimated it would be worth £25 million on the open market once complete.

The full site comprises 50,000 sq ft and includes the former Newington Library and Cuming Museum.

Peckham-based architects Feix and Merlin carefully restored the building’s historic features while adding eco-friendly materials like cross-laminated timber (CLT). The fire-damaged council chamber has been rebuilt with a new ceiling.

Joanna Lee, Managing Director at General People, who will manage the building’s spaces, said, “A lot of younger locals won’t have seen the building without its hoarding, let alone stepped inside. We’re looking forward to working closely with the community board and seeing the spaces brought to life by a new generation.”

Cllr Helen Dennis, Southwark’s Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, added, “I’m so proud to see this treasure of Southwark’s history restored and brought back to life.

It’s a wonderful resource for the people of Walworth and beyond.”

6 NEWS

Hundreds of potentially life-saving bleed kits risk sitting unused, campaigners fear EXCLUSIVE

By Herbie Russell Hundreds of potentially lifesaving bleed control cabinets across London risk going unused, campaigners fear.

Councils, the Mayor’s Office and businesses are thought to have spent hundreds of thousands on publiclyplaced medical boxes designed to treat victims in incidents like stabbings and road traffic collisions.

In theory, when someone dials 999, an ambulance service call handler can give them the location and unlock code for the nearest emergency cabinet.

The emergency medical kits contain items including chest seals, tourniquets and gauze.

But campaigners say it is “unclear” whether London Ambulance Service and the Mayor’s Office (LAS) are truly committed to the scheme after they said equipment should not be kept in locked cabinets. LAS and the Mayor’s Office also said the kits require “specific training”.

LAS has since told us it would direct the public to the cabinets where clinically appropriate, but campaigners remain sceptical.

When asked the ambulance service could not provide any examples of directing 999 callers to the boxes in a medical emergency, claiming it would take too long to go back through its emergency call history.

First aid equipment company Turtle Engineering claims to have installed between 300 and 400 code-locked cabinets across London, mainly bought

Campaigner Lisa Pearson (middle left) next to a bleed control cabinet in Peckham by local authorities.

Each cabinet can cost up to £385 and up to an extra £200 for installation, meaning up to £234,000 could have been spent on them across the capital.

Lynn Baird MBE, founder of the Daniel Baird Foundation, which has distributed over 1,200 cabinets across the UK, began her national bleed kit campaign after her son was fatally stabbed in 2017.

“It is unclear how committed London Ambulance Service is to our campaign,” Ms Baird said. She continued: “Bleed control kits have already been successfully used in real-world emergencies to save lives, demonstrating their importance.”

Lisa Pearson, founder of the Peckham youth charity Let the Youth Live, said she was “shocked” and “disgusted” by LAS’ and the Mayor’s position, especially given the latter had helped fund some cabinets.

Ms Pearson has previously secured funding to install three bleed cabinets and over 100 bleed control kits in her borough, with £10,000 provided by Southwark Council and the Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit.

Campaigners have now urged LAS to reconsider its scepticism and called on the Home Office to standardise UK ambulance services’ collaboration with their campaign.

Lynn Baird said: “The Foundation has fed back to the Home Office, urging them to mandate a standardised approach across UK ambulance services.

“We believe this would ensure a consistent strategy for making bleed kits as commonplace and effective as defibrillators.

“Defibrillators were once unfamiliar and uncommon in public spaces but through education and partnership, they

are now recognised as indispensable lifesaving tools.”

She added: “We understand LAS’ concerns about training and access to locked cabinets, but we believe these challenges can be addressed through collaboration, public education, and practical solutions.”

A small minority of people can sometimes access the cabinets via the GoodSAM mobile application.

When an emergency incident is lifethreatening, LAS will share the details with GoodSAM. Volunteers with the GoodSAM app downloaded will then be notified and given access to the cabinets.

But only volunteers with LAS-standard training can register with the app roughly 5 per cent of the population, according to the British Red Cross.

Dr Fenella Wrigley, Chief Medical Officer at London Ambulance Service, said:

“Everyone at London Ambulance Service is working to save lives and care for Londoners. We have some of the fastest times in the country for responding to patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses.

“But in these emergencies every second counts before an ambulance arrives, and bystanders can make the difference.

“The London Major Trauma System advises the most effective way to help someone who is bleeding is to apply continuous direct pressure to the wound using materials readily to hand.

“When you call 999, the call taker will give instructions on how to do this, either with or without specific equipment.”

Clinicians at London Ambulance Service have worked with the world’s leading clinical experts in knife injuries and bleeding to develop the London Trauma System statement on bleed control with its partners.

London Ambulance Service says it is committed to educating people in how to save a life and launched the London Lifesavers campaign which aims to make London a city of lifesavers.

This year the programme has delivered training to more than 10,000 school children and this training includes bleeding control advice.

Fewer than one in 10 people currently survive a cardiac arrest but bystander CPR and the use of a defibrillator is proven to more than double someone’s chances of survival.

If people install a bleed kit in their community, London Ambulance Service encourages them to register it on the GoodSAM platform, which provides our call handlers with its location.

Locked out? The debate over London’s bleed control cabinets Contrasting National Commitment

By Herbie Russell

As London confronts a rising wave of violent crime, and a constant fear over traffic collisions, hundreds of bleed control cabinets, designed to save lives, are at the heart of a heated debate over accessibility, efficacy, and commitment.

These code-locked cabinets, containing life-saving equipment such as chest seals, tourniquets, and gauze, have been championed by campaigners as a vital resource for treating victims of stabbings and road traffic collisions in the critical minutes before emergency responders arrive. Yet, a lack of clear commitment from the London Ambulance Service (LAS) stoked fears that these potentially lifesaving tools are going unused.

A Disjointed Approach

First aid equipment company Turtle Engineering estimates it has installed between 300 and 400 cabinets across the capital, many funded by local councils and businesses.

However, the LAS stance on locked cabinets has created friction. The News first started investigating this issue in March last year. After initially saying it was “not responsible” for bleed control cabinets, the ambulance service said it would participate in the programme.

But in August 2024, LAS and the Mayor’s Office reiterated their scepticism in a public statement, stating: “Dedicated bleed

A Turtle Engineering staff member installing a cabinet in Peckham control kits are not essential for effective bleeding control. Where bleed kits are made available, specific training should be given for those who may use them.”

This position has left campaigners like Lynn Baird MBE, founder of the Daniel Baird Foundation, and Lisa Pearson, founder of the Peckham youth charity Let the Youth Live, frustrated. Both have worked tirelessly to expand access to bleed kits across the UK and empower communities to act swiftly in emergencies.

“Bleed control kits have already been successfully used in real-world emergencies to save lives, demonstrating their importance,” said Ms Baird.

She added: “We have enormous respect for all of our emergency services, including the London Ambulance Service (LAS), and the exceptional work they do under immense pressure to save lives every day.”

Ms Pearson, whose charity has installed

three cabinets and distributed over 100 kits with the help of local funding, expressed her dismay: “I’m just absolutely shocked. The West and East Midlands ambulance services are committed, so it doesn’t make any sense. Why wouldn’t they want communities to be empowered by using the right equipment?”

The situation is made more difficult by the fact that LAS does not have a system for recording when , if ever, call handlers direct emergency callers to these bleed cabinets, and give them a code. Lisa Pearson’s bleed cabinet was found unlocked in Rye Lane last year, with the equipment missing. But she has no idea whether this was used on LAS’ direction, or if it was merely an act of vandalism. Without such data, it is very difficult to know how effective these cabinets are, and could be, as a life-saving solution.

In contrast to LAS, ambulance services in the West and East Midlands have embraced bleed control kits, facilitating seamless communication and support for their rollout. Mike Dowson, managing director at Turtle Engineering, noted: “The way it works with East and West Midlands Ambulance Service is you email them, and nine times out of ten you’ll get an email back to clarify stuff. In London, it’s just a bit of a black hole. We never hear anything back and it’s not much reassurance.”

Professor Anthony Marsh of West Midlands Ambulance Service has previously been a vocal supporter of publicly accessible bleed kits. Four years ago, he called their rollout “absolutely the right thing to do,” emphasising the importance of equipping bystanders and first-aiders with the tools to act in those critical first moments.

Lynn Baird believes that LAS might be put off by the messaging around the cabinets. She launched her campaign after her son Daniel Baird was fatally stabbed in the early hours of 8th July 2017, aged 26.

It was outside The Forge Tavern, Digbeth in Birmingham following a night out with friends. There was no first aid or bleeding control kit available. Dan died shortly after arriving at hospital due to catastrophic bleeding.

This, she explained, may have led to a perception that these kits are only useful in the event of stabbings, which could give them a negative perception, especially

when there is an emphasis on tackling the root causes of knife crime.

Challenges of Locked Cabinets

The locked nature of many cabinets remains a worry for LAS. The capital’s ambulance service, alongside the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, has expressed concerns that such barriers may hinder timely access. “It’s vital that any first aid and lifesaving equipment are easily accessible and are not kept in locked cabinets,” their statement reads.

It has also stated that such equipment often requires specialist equipment. A statement from LAS and the Mayor’s Office said: “Dedicated bleed control kits are not essential for effective bleeding control.

Where bleed kits are made available, specific training should be given for those who may use them. Bleed control kits should contain only standard gauze for pressure and an easily applied tourniquet.”

Despite this, campaigners argue that the issue can be mitigated with proper public education and collaboration. Ms Baird stated: “We understand LAS’ concerns about training and access to locked cabinets, but we believe these challenges can be addressed through collaboration, public education, and practical solutions.”

When an emergency incident is lifethreatening, LAS will share the details with the GoodSAM mobile application.

Volunteers with the GoodSAM app downloaded will then be notified and given access to the cabinets. But only

NEWS 7

volunteers with LAS-standard training can register with the app - roughly 5 per cent of the population, according to the British Red Cross.

fUNDING AND ACCoUNTABILITY

Freedom of information requests reveal that London councils have collectively spent approximately £25,000 on 16 locked cabinets and 47 kits from Turtle Engineering. Yet this is just a fraction of the estimated total across the capital, suggesting many installations lack central oversight. The Mayor of London, while indirectly funding cabinets through the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), has criticized their locked design, leading to questions about consistent support for the initiative. The Mayor’s Office confirmed it had funded their roll-out for the Met Police service but failed to say how many and how much it had spent.

By Herbie Russell

undergraduate dentaL students are offering Londoners free sets of dentures at guy’s and St thomas’ Hospital.

CAmpAIGNERS CALL foR STANDARDISATIoN

Complete dentures usually cost £319.10 on the NHS and even more privately.

But throughout January, King’s College London undergraduates will be making new sets for those who are edentulous meaning they have no teeth.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ wrote on X: ‘This month, we are offering a new set of complete dentures made by our undergraduate dental students @KingsCollegeLon, supervised by qualified dentists, for people who are edentulous (have no teeth).’

In July last year, the Mayor’s Office said there had been a decline in the number of people in London and England accessing NHS dentistry.

London was one of the worstperforming regions in the country for accessing NHS dentistry, the data showed.

In 2022-23, the North East and Yorkshire had the highest percentage of patients

Thefracturedapproachacrossambulance services has spurred campaigners to demand a unified strategy. They’ve called on the Home Office to standardise UK ambulance services’ collaboration with the bleed kit campaign. Ms Baird’s message to LAS is clear: “Bleed control kits save lives.

The evidence is there. It’s time for LAS to reconsider their stance and work with us to empower communities.”

For now, Londoners face an unsettling reality: life-saving equipment is in place, but systemic barriers and mixed messages could be preventing it from fulfilling its potential. As violent incidents continue to dominate headlines, the question remains—could more lives be saved if these cabinets were fully embraced?

© GSTT

students are offering PeoPLe free dentures - but you Can onLy aPPLy if you need a fuLL set...

...Continued from page 6

Guy’s Hospital.

Credit: GSTT

seen (46.3 per cent) and London the third lowest (37.4 per cent) just behind the South East (36 per cent) and South West

Box office 020 8463 0100 • blackheathhalls.com •

(37.1 per cent). For children, the North West had the highest rate of children seen (59.4 per cent), while London had the

lowest (47 per cent).

Apply for free dentures, go to www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/XT0V7G/

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NEWS 9

‘kids are hanging out in ChiCken shoPs beCause of the LaCk of youth CLubs’ Henrietta Onyema by the food donation boxes outside her home

From left: Ida Turner, Ben Rhymer, Gina Douglas, Nickie Bell and Lola Oloyede outside the empty One O\’clock Club building in Larkhall Park, Stockwell.

By Robert Firth & Francesca Rapisarda Local Democracy Reporters StoCKWeLL KidS are hanging out in chicken shops because of the lack of youth clubs while a nearby community centre remains locked up, a local campaigner has claimed.

Nickie Bell, 54, is calling on Lambeth Council to open up the building in Stockwell’s Larkhall Park to volunteers so they can run activities for the hundreds of children who live in the local area.

Almost one in three children in Stockwell West and Larkhall ward, where the park is located, are from low-income households. Many families live on one of the six large estates that surround the park and don’t have access to their own outdoor space.ty”.

But the community centre in Larkhall

Stockwell is home to many estates, including the Mursell estate.

Park has been lying empty since Summer last year, when a charity that was running events from the building packed up.

Nickie and other residents want the Labour-run local council to hand over the building, known as the One O’clock Club, to them at peppercorn rent so they can begin offering activities for local kids But so far Nickie and other volunteers claim their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

They recently discovered the council intends to demand commercial rent for the building, which they can’t afford.

Nickie, who is Secretary of the Friends of Larkhall Park said: “There’s nowhere for kids to go. They go to the chicken shop because the chicken shops have become the de facto youth clubs. There are so many youth workers here who are committed. If they [Lambeth] gave us the property at peppercorn rent, we could do so much with it.

“But we have been told it’s going to

be a commercial rent. We don’t know how much but the café in the park has a commercial rent and that’s £40,000 per year. Plus VAT [and other costs], we are talking about in excess of £60,000. We haven’t got that money.”

Nickie added that the council had previously given similar buildings in parks across the borough to operators for free, such as Our Green Hut at Brixton Windmill and The Spinney in Clapham Common.

Under the Friends of Larkhall Park’s plans, at least three play sessions for under 5s would be held each day at the premises, as well as a range of other activities such as coffee mornings, book clubs and sports groups for teenagers Ben Rhymer, 45, who is Chair of the Friends of Larkhall Park, said: “Around this park there’s five big estates and there’s a lot of need. There’s about 35,000 people within a mile of the park

and it [the building] was very well used before.

“It’s a huge missed opportunity but it could be a great thing for all the people here. We have about 500 dog walkers.

People come and they would stay here if the club was open. We have the footfall to

support activities in the building.”

Ida Turner, 67, a local resident who has previously bid to run the centre, said the area was in desperate need of a community hub —adding that a local free kids’ tennis club currently had to store equipment in a bin store when it rained due to the lack of appropriate facilities in the park.

Lola Oloyede, who runs Oasisplay, a group that runs play and educational activities for Lambeth residents aged 0-25, said that demand in the area was so high she was having to turn kids away from organised events ‘on a daily basis’.

Ms Oloyede, 33, added that Oasisplay had already had to shrink its offering due to funding challenges and was currently trying to raise £10,000 to continue running events beyond April.

Lambeth Council was contacted for comment but had not replied at the time of publication.

and identifies objects on the rails while ignoring the movement of trains”, according to the DLR’s operator, Keolis Amey Docklands.

The detected objects could include people jumping onto the tracks either on purpose or by accident. The system alerts control centre staff if they may need to intervene.

TfL is now exploring other potential locations across the TfL network for similar trials, which it hopes to have in place during the second half of this year.

At Willesden Green, a wide-ranging AI trial was used in 2022 and 2023 to detect not only potential fare dodging, but also whether weapons were being brought into the station, and whether

people were standing too close to the edge of the platform.

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, on Monday unveiled an AI Opportunities Action Plan, vowing to make Britain “one of the great AI superpowers”.

But the news that further AI trials are planned on TfL’s network did not emerge as part of that announcement, and in fact came after London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan was asked – in a written question shortly before Christmas – about an accident suffered by former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett.

The Labour lord, who is blind, in November called for an urgent review into what he described as “death trap” Tube platforms, after he was injured

falling into a gap as he boarded a District Line train at Westminster station.

Asked about the incident by Reform UK’s London Assembly member, Alex Wilson, Sir Sadiq has said: “TfL and I are very sorry that Lord Blunkett was injured while travelling on the Tube.

TfL has written to and subsequently met with Lord Blunkett to hear what happened in more detail and to share its plans to improve safety.

“These discussions will support TfL’s work to further improve safety on the Tube. Safety is always TfL’s priority, and it continues to monitor safety performance regularly, reviewing incidents and trends across the Tube network.

“I know that while millions of people travel safely on the Tube every day, and while the Tube’s platform-train safety record compares favourably to the national rail network, each injury is one too many.

“TfL’s plan to address platform-train incidents sets out specific and targeted actions to keep customers safe, quickly alert staff when incidents do happen, and respond promptly to minimise their impact.

“As part of this plan, TfL will trial new technology in 2025, including artificial intelligence systems, which will improve customers safety at the interface between the train and the platform edge. TfL is prioritising this work over the coming year.”

‘AI could help save lives’ - TfL prioritises trials of new tech

By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter tranSport for London (tfL) is “prioritising work” on new artificial intelligence (AI) technology aimed at keeping passengers safe on station platforms.

The technology is already being trialled on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) platforms at Custom House station, and comes after similar systems were recently tested at Willesden Green Underground station.

At Custom House, the experimental technology uses security camera footage which is analysed by a “visual recognition system that rapidly detects

10 NEWS

New independent bookshop in Elephant and Castle to serve beer and open late to attract young professionals Owners Kasia and Tom Wrobel outside the new store

Free fair in Bankside offering dance classes and bike repairs

By Issy Clarke A community fair is coming to Bankside with free bike repair classes and dance workshops for locals,.

The Timber Square Fair is will be held in Arch 66, in the former car park off of Great Suffolk Street.

As well as the activities on offer, people will also be able to view the plans for the second phase of the redevelopment of Timber Square, which would create new offices, public spaces as well as revive the historic archways.

The design aims to evoke Southwark’s industrial past, while balconies and pergolas add greenery and outdoor space. The first phase of the development was approved

by Southwark Council in 2021 and is

currently under construction.

Kate Honey, Community Advocacy Lead for Landsec said: “Over the past six months, we’ve been told that people want more places where they can learn new things in different social environments.

“In our final engagement event, we want to capture the spirit of local enterprise so we can bring this into the next phase of the Timber Square development as a snapshot of what we would like to achieve in the longerterm, and we would love your feedback on how else we can bring the site to life for the whole community to enjoy.”

Where: Arch 66, Former Great Suffolk Street Car Park, SE1 0UE When: Thursday 16 January, 12pm2pm or 4pm-8pm and Saturday 18 January, 11am

Lambeth heroes stepping up for 2025 Civic Awards

© Lambeth Council

By Herbie Russell Lambeth Council is taking nominations for the 2025 Civic Awards.

By Kieran Galpin A newly opened independent bookshop in Elephant and Castle will open late and serve beer to attract the area’s young professionals.

The Book Elephant arrives amid plummeting sales in the British book market but co-owner Kasia Wrobel believes her business could provide a plot twist.

Kasia, who runs a second bookshop in North London with her husband Tom, said: “It’s a different demographic [in South London] to the one we have up north, where there are more conservative, older people, whereas here there are young professionals.

“The community’s response has been incredible. People are blown away [that] there is something like this in the community.”

The new outlet is on Elephant Park, a swanky new housing complex attracting thousands of professionals to its 3,000 apartments.

Clothes swap event in Walworth a golden opportunity for thrifty fashionistas

The Book Elephant plans to stay open as late as 9pm, sell alcoholic beverages, brew fresh coffee and host a book club.

Kasia hopes the shop’s unique place in the “book desert” of Elephant and Castle will help it succeed in a challenging market.

According to the British Retail Consortium, UK footfall in shops across the country was down 2.2% in 2024, compared to 2023.

Meryl Halls, Managing Director of The Booksellers Association, said: “The continued footfall decline on our high streets is a potential harbinger of harsher winds to come for British bookshops – who already face a myriad of challenges in 2025.”

‘BookTok’, a phenomenon where books are recommended by influencers on platforms such as TikTok, has driven young people to buy books, helping drive UK publishing industry revenues to £7.1bn in 2023.

A 2022 study by the Publishers Association found that almost two-

By Herbie Russell

Thrifty shoppers are invited to a clothes swap at Walworth’s Una Marson Library later this month.

People can bring up to five items of clothing and accessories to the Love Not Landfill x LOANHOOD Clothes Swap on Saturday, January 25.

thirds of 16 to 25 year olds say “BookTok” had helped them discover a passion for reading.

Almost half said they had gone to a physical bookshop to buy a recommended book.

“People are going back to physical books instead of digital,” Kasia Wrobel said. “Holding a book is different than reading it on the screen.”

Several businesses have recently opened in Elephant Park. In December, a queer comedy club, a gym and a hairdresser opened, with a dessert parlour set to open soon, all within walking distance of The Book Elephant.

Kaisa Wrobel said she was excited by the prospect of being in a neighbourhood with lots of other businesses, and the Elephant Park lawn nearby for people to read on in the summer. “It is a nice place to just hang out,” she said.

The Book Elephant is found at 15b Sayer St, London SE17 1FY. It is currently open from 10am until 7pm.

In exchange, they will receive a number of tokens depending on the value and condition of their items.

Visitors then use their tokens to purchase clothes donated by others.

The event accepts items of all shapes and sizes, including kids’ clothes.

All items must be cleaned and ready to be hung on racks.

Locals are invited to put local heroes forward for nine different categories before the deadline on January 26.

People can nominate a resident, individual, organisation or business that lives, works, or operates in Lambeth.

Cllr Claire Holland, Council Leader, said: “It’s no secret that it’s Lambeth’s people who make our borough the special place it is. With last year’s Civic Awards we created a new opportunity to say thank you to some of our Lambeth’s incredible people and to celebrate their achievements.

“Nominations are open now for 2025’s Civic Awards? We all know a person, group or organisation working in our vibrant business community or our committed voluntary sector who makes a real difference through their time, work, or passion for helping others. Nominate them for an award so we can show our appreciation! ”Make sure to get your nominations in by 26 January 2025 so people get the recognition they deserve. I cannot wait to see the nominations and celebrate people’s amazing work at the Civic People will receive one token for items worth less than £50 and two tokens for items worth more.

The event will take place at the Una Marson Library, 62 Thurlow Street, Walworth, SE17 2GN from 11.30am to 4pm on Saturday, January 25.

To find out more here: ww.southwark. gov.uk/southwark-presents/love-notlandfill-x-loanhood-clothes-swap

Lambeth Mayor John-Paul Ennis helped announced the upcoming awards

Awards ceremony in April.”

The nine awards categories are:

∙ Mayor’s Award for Young Citizen of the Year ∙ Volunteer of the Year ∙ Climate and Green Spaces Award ∙ Safer Lambeth Award ∙ Thriving Communities Award ∙ Arts and Cultural Heritage Award ∙ Social Enterprise Award ∙ Health & Wellbeing Award ∙ Empowering Young People Award An awards ceremony will be held in the Assembly Hall, Brixton in April 2025 to celebrate the winners.??

You can nominate and learn more about the Civic Awards at www.lambeth.gov.uk/ awards

The Love Not Landfill x LOANHOOD Clothes Swap

NEWS 11

ADVERTORIAL

q There’s a Bear on My Chair Photo: Ross Collins

Family fun this half-term Imagine Festival is back at the Southbank Centre this half-term from Tuesday 18 – Sunday 23 February, full of world-class theatre, comedy, music, dance, talks and activities for children aged 0 – 11 and their grown-ups!

 Southbank Centre's Imagine Festival. Photo: Belinda Lawley

Ross Collins’s beloved story There’s a Bear on My Chair comes to life for the first time in a brand new stage adaptation with loveable puppets from Toby Olié (Spirited Away, War Horse). Also on stage, enjoy pop-punk juggling in Rollercoaster, join a riproaring, prehistoric science pop gig in The Colour of Dinosaurs, and see lots of CBeebies friends and animals celebrate the natural world in music and song at the spectacular CBeebies Wildlife Jamboree.

Be wowed by amazing authors and writers, including the return of award-winning festival favourite Rob Biddulph for an afternoon family session fizzing with laughs, creativity and one of the famous ‘Draw with Rob’ draw-alongs. Jodie Lancet-Grant also brings a rip-roaring event of interactive storytelling and Wild West-themed games at The Wild West Twins, Dr Ronx teaches fun practical skills and useful facts at How to Save a Life, and Athena Kugblenu debunks fact from fiction from throughout history at History’s Most Epic Fibs. On top of that, celebrate the joy of dance with Yasmine Naghdi & Chitra Soundar at Ballet Besties, discover how to grow mighty ingredients to make plant-powered feasts with Darryl Gadzekpo & Ella Phillips at Plant to Plate, and enjoy Lunchtime Comedy with The Lollies, jam-packed with jokes, laughout-loud live drawing and fabulously funny stories.

Every day there's plenty of free things to do for a full day out, including songs with Singing All Over the World, comedy with Big Laughs for Little Bellies and storytelling with When Stories Come Alive! Come and dance the day away with Afro Dance With HomeBros, ZooNation's Hip-Hop Half-Term and Prancer the Dancer's DanceDanceDiscoParty FunShow. Plus, art fans can scribble, doodle, draw and create to their heart’s content at

AGES 0 – 11

 Draw with Rob’ draw-alongs Photo: Courtesy of the Artist

Tue 18 – Sun 23 Feb

Imagine Festival Fun, arts and creativity for every family

Imagine's Giant Chalkboard.

The very popular REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground is also back this year, perfect for little ones and their grown-ups to enter an endless world of play and invention.

Imagine Festival is a Relaxed festival, meaning that all performances have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space.

Discover more at https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine

BOOK NOW  CBeebies Wildlife Jamboree Photo: CBeebies Wildlife Jamboree

12 NEWS

i’m not surPrised’: Commuters reaCt to this station being named ‘most dangerous’

By Callum Smyth

SoutH BermondSey station has been named as the ‘most dangerous in Southwark’, despite only nine crimes having been reported there in the last year.

According to data from the British Transport Police, in 2023/24 Elephant and Castle and Peckham actually had the highest number of crimes reported, but South Bermondsey topped the list per commuter (2.38).

On a trip down there one afternoon, commuters referenced the ‘bad lighting’ and the fact the station ‘wasn’t manned’ as possible reasons for why it was so dangerous.

One local business owner said he ‘wasn’t surprised’, commenting: “I make sure my staff leave work early during winter months.”

Two women we asked said that they hadn’t experienced any trouble there, despite being regular users of the station.

One young commuter disagreed with it being ‘number one’ saying: “I feel as if it would have to be over 50 [crimes] to be most dangerous”.

She added: “It’s daytime so I feel pretty safe.”

One local business owner said he wasn’t surprised by the findings, pointing out

5 moST DANGERoUS STATIoNS IN SoUThWARk 2023-2024 South Bermondsey station Number of crimes reported: 9 Total commuters: 378,549 2.38 per 100,000

elephant and Castle railway station Number of crimes reported: 59 Total commuters: 11,647,728 0.51 per 100,000 nunhead railway station Number of crimes reported: 8 Total commuters: 598,074 1.34 per 100,000

north dulwich railway station Number of crimes reported: 7 Total commuters: 399,543 1.75 crimes per 100,000 that the area’s poverty contributes to the unsafe atmosphere.

Meanwhile, a pensioner shared his thoughts, noting that while he hasn’t had any bad experiences during his

commutes, he was a Yorkshire man from Sheffield and pointed at the nearby Millwall football stadiums saying rival fans arriving might play a part in it.

According to the data, Southwark

Underground Station and Sydenham Hill were deemed as the area’s ‘safest’.

See the data: www.crimemaps.btp. police.uk/data/7213149/station/allcrime

peckham rye railway station Number of crimes reported: 52 Total commuters: 3,760,160 1.38 crimes per 100,000

MUSIC Jan-Apr

Friday 31 January

Saturday 15 February

www.woolwich.works @woolwichworks

The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 Street, Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6HD

FROM THE ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH, FOR EVRYONE

Supported by:

Thursday 3 April

NEWS 13 EXCLUSIVE

By Isabel Ramirez HundredS of worshippers from the old Kent road mosque face uncertainty as an ambitious £9m redevelopment project grinds to a halt due to a lack of funds.

The project, first announced in 2018, aims to replace the mosque’s current site, which they own. The plans include a striking six-storey building featuring a modern prayer hall, a community centre, and commercial spaces.

“It’s going to be fancy and one-ofa-kind,” said Abdul-Jelil O. Oladejo, president of the Muslim Association of Nigeria (UK) and OId Kent Road Mosque.

But inflation has pushed the estimated cost from £6.5m to £9m, leaving the community in limbo. “We don’t have the funds to continue at the moment,” Abdul explained.

He said they are now looking for a large enough space to rent, that would be affordable to allow them to carry on serving the community whilst continuing with their completely selffunded building project.

The mosque, a fixture on Old Kent Road since 1993, has been temporarily operating from a rented site opposite Burgess Park for the past five years.

However, with rent exceeding £5,000 a month, the community - which is completely self-funded - had to give it up on December 31.

“We are currently homeless,” Abdul said, adding: “I’m very worried and sad about it.”

He explained that they were unable to justify paying such a high rent alongside funding their ongoing renovation project.

We asked the council whether there were any sites in the area they could rent in the meantime. Cllr John Batteson, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business: “We know times are tough for all our local faith communities, groups and businesses that are seeking a premises in the borough, and we do our very best to support them to stay

oLd kent road mosque-goers need new home whiLst £9m renovation at a standstiLL

How the mosque could look on the Old Kent Road (Al Mahdeen Visualisations)

The project is currently at a standstill in the local area.

“The council does not currently have any suitable and available temporary premises for the Mosque.”

With Ramadan approaching in March and 300 regular worshippers affected, the urgency to find a temporary base is mounting. Abdul emphasised the importance of a

shared space for prayer and breaking fasts. “It benefits your mind and soul to be around others. We support each other,” he said.

All their regular activities have had to stop, whilst they wait for what’s next.

The mosque also provided vital community services, including youth

The volunteers at Forest Hill community garden

activities, elder support groups, and counselling, which have all been paused due to the lack of a facility.

Despite the challenges, Abdul is determined to see the redevelopment through. The new building is designed to benefit both worshippers and the wider community, with a gym, commercial spaces, and event areas

open to all. “The long-time benefit is worth the wait,” he said, ruling out scaling back the plans.

For now, the mosque is appealing to the public for help in finding an affordable temporary location in Southwark.

If you know of a suitable space, please email: secretariat@manuk.org

Charity with shops across South London calls for volunteers A Sue Ryder charity shop

By Isabel Ramirez A MUCH-LOVED community garden in forest Hill has been saved from closure after local residents raised over £8,000 to secure its future.

The garden, located behind Forest Hill Library, faced closure in October 2024 due to a lack of funding.

Over the past few years, volunteers transformed the once-polluted site into a tranquil haven for locals, providing a vital space for relaxation, social connection, and biodiversity.

More than 100 people donated to

the campaign, surpassing the initial £1,000 target in just 72 hours.

The funds will cover insurance costs for two years, with the remainder used for plants, tools, and paying Leigh, the project’s dedicated leader, for 50 weekly sessions. Leigh had been working unpaid since June 2023 after her funding expired.

One regular volunteer said, “Some, like myself, with mental health challenges have found the opportunity to meet with others in our community, combined with my love of nature and gardening, invaluable for my well-being and

much more.

“For some this garden is a rare opportunity to meet with others and reduce feelings of isolation.”

The garden comprises two sections: a cultivated space with flowers and shrubs, and a wilder area supporting birds, butterflies, and insects. Weekly volunteer sessions have been a staple for the local community, attracting a diverse group of people year-round.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, including one £250 contribution, the garden will remain open, continuing to serve as a sanctuary for the community and wildlife alike.

Photo by - Sue Ryder

Forest Hill community garden saved after locals raise over £8,000

By Herbie Russell a CHarity with shops across South London has urged volunteers to step forward this month,

Sue Ryder, which fundraises for palliative care and bereavement support, said volunteers are its “lifeline”.

The charity’s South London shops include Bermondsey, Forest Hill, Catford, Sydenham, Bromley and Pimlico.

Lucy Swann, Volunteer Manager, said: “We would absolutely love if any budding volunteers out there would consider making it their New Year’s resolution to come and join us.

“Our team of retail volunteers are an invaluable part of our charity and play a critical part in helping us raise enough money so Sue Ryder can keep caring for people in hospices and providing nationwide bereavement support, ensuring no one has to face dying or grief alone.

“We rely on the support of our dedicated volunteers, who are a lifeline to our shops, and we simply could not operate without them.”

To make a difference as a Sue Ryder volunteer, visit www.sueryder.org/ support-us/volunteer/quick-apply to register your interest.

NEWS 15

Developers’ plan for a 31-storey student building

by Elephant and Castle station sees locals upset © Southwark Council planning documents

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter Developers have been accused of ‘taking the biscuit’ after unveiling plans for a 31-storey student building by Elephant and Castle station.

The proposals, submitted to Southwark Council, would see four linked blocks between 21 and 31 floors tower over the Underground hub’s Bakerloo line entrance.

The two tallest buildings, at 31 storeys and 30 storeys respectively, would provide accommodation for 1,434 students. Two smaller residential towers, at 23 storeys and 21 storeys, would contain 243 affordable flats.

One unnamed resident, who moved into the area in 2020, said they feared the planned development would block sunlight and devalue their home.

Commenting on the plans on the Southwark Council website, they wrote: “I thought the previous proposals for this site were bad enough but this one takes the biscuit! Developer greed again.

“We strongly oppose the construction of the proposed 30+ floor building, as it would block sunlight to our apartment, obstruct our view, devalue our property, and severely impact our quality of life.

The proposed development, a towering student rental complex, is ill-suited for the neighbourhood and would bring noise, overcrowding, and strain on local infrastructure.”

Another commenter branded the building a ‘drab mass’, adding that it

Planned student flats and affordable homes development by Elephant and Castle Station

would ‘dominate’ an area that was otherwise being redeveloped ‘in a positive way’. They continued: “In 10 years what is proposed will look terrible as it will inevitably fall into disrepair due to an uneconomic land use i.e. social housing in a high cost maintenance building.

“This application should be refused as it has no reference to its setting as a gateway into Central London. More student accommodation will add to

already high antisocial behaviour.”

Skipton House, an office block opened in 1993, would be demolished under the plans for the site brought forward by property investment firm, London and Regional Properties. The building has been empty since August 2022.

Of the 243 affordable flats planned, 171 would be available at the cheapest social rents. The rest would be ‘intermediate’ according to planning documents, which can include shared

Plans submitted for 15-storey student accommodation tower above Southwark station

By Isabel Ramirez New plans have been unveiled to construct a 15-storey student accommodation tower above Southwark Underground station on Blackfriars Road.

to remain operational, therefore no major changes are involved.

Key partners involved in the project include Gardiner & Theobald, Rapleys, and Aecom, alongside Heyne Tillett Steel, Studio GB, Hoare Lea, Curtins, and Mace

Housing campaigners to march from Peckham on to Elephant and Castle

By Herbie Russell

Housing campaigners will lead a march from Peckham to Elephant and Castle in protest against ‘overdevelopment’ in Southwark.

Southwark Housing and Planning Emergency (SHAPE), a coalition of local campaign groups, will leave from Peckham Square on Saturday, March 1.

The start point is near the site of the controversial Aylesham Centre redevelopment - where Berkeley hopes to build 877 new homes spread across thirteen tower blocks, reaching heights up to twenty storeys.

The walk will conclude at Borough Triangle where Berkeley has submitted plans for four buildings of between

Housing campaigners outside Southwark Council’s Tooley Street offices

five and 44 storeys and containing 892 homes.

SHAPE has ten demands of Southwark Council. They include stopping excessively tall developments, enforcing 50 per cent council housing in developments on private land and 100 per cent council housing on council land.

The group also calls for an end to ‘fake consultations’, requisitioning empty homes, and stopping the demolition and sale of council homes.

Organisers wrote online: ‘Join our march to Borough Triangle to let Southwark Council know that harmful mega developments are not solutions to the housing crisis!’

Find out more here: www. ayleshamcommunityaction.co.uk/shape © Shape

The proposal, submitted by developer Helical in partnership with Places for London, Transport for London’s (TfL) property arm, forms part of a wider redevelopment initiative.

This joint venture, announced in 2023, also includes projects at Bank and Paddington stations.

Originally, the Southwark site had secured approval in July 2022 for a 17-storey office building designed by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM). However, the latest plans feature a redesigned, smaller tower with 429 student studio apartments, again led by AHMM. To meet affordable housing obligations, the developers have proposed a separate nine-storey building on Joan Street, which will

provide 44 affordable homes. The plan also includes a community space located on the southern section of the ground floor.

AHMM also said in the latest planning documents the new development would require Southwark tube station

ownership and London Living Rent, which is based on a third of local incomes.

Plans were previously approved in 2016 to demolish Skipton House and build a mixed-use development on the site in buildings up to 39 storeys high.

The proposals were later withdrawn due to disagreement between landowners.

Fresh plans were submitted in 2019 to add six storeys to Skipton House, which were approved but never built.

Documents submitted to the council as part of the new application read: “The proposed development will transform the currently vacant Skipton House and its congested and cluttered environs into a mixed and balanced community of student and affordable homes, centred around a generous new civic space and extensive public realm improvements.

“The creation of Skipton Circus will enhance the entrance to Elephant and Castle station, providing a welcome green retreat from the busy environ of London Road and a multi-purpose public square for the use of the community throughout the year.”

Southwark Council will make a decision on the proposals at a yet

16 NEWS

NEWS 13 ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL

Shape future children’s cancer services at Evelina London

EVELINA LONDON Children’s Hospital has been selected by NHS England as the future location for very specialist children’s cancer services for families in south London and much of the south east of England.

They are looking for families with experience of specialist children’s services at Evelina London or children’s cancer services to give feedback on their plans.

Current opportunities include: • joining an advisory group to provide insights that will help plan for the transfer of current services and develop future services • joining online sessions to help design the cancer care spaces, including what they look like and how to make them comfortable.

Find out more about opportunities to get involved and sign up for regular updates at: www.evelinalondon.nhs.uk/ ShapeCancerServices

Free health seminars GUY’S AND St Thomas’ provide free health seminars and meetings for its members.

The events are based on the latest research, innovations and new treatments, and are an opportunity to learn how the Trust provides high quality care for its patients.

‘Our new strategy and values and strategic priorities’ health seminar will be held online on Thursday 23 January from 5.30pm to 7pm.

To register, email: members@gstt.nhs.uk

London first for ‘revolutionary’ robotic surgery in children

The surgical team who operated on Rufus

A 7-YEAR-OLD boy has become the first child in London to successfully undergo an operation using the ‘revolutionary’ Versius surgical robotic system at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Rufus Quinn, from south London, underwent an operation to correct a blockage between his kidney and bladder. This type of blockage affects approximately 1 in 1,500 children and, if left untreated, can be painful and lead to deterioration of kidney function.

Rufus received his operation at Evelina London, which is part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. The surgical

team was led by consultant, Mr Pankaj Mishra.

During the surgery, Mr Mishra sat in the same room as Rufus and controlled Versius’ robotic arms through an open console with a screen. Any movements made by Mr Mishra on his console were translated into smaller, more precise movements in the robot’s arms.

Rufus’ mother, Jenny Quinn, said: “The doctors at Evelina London have been brilliant and we cannot sing their praises enough. The surgery went smoothly and Rufus has been able to recover really quickly.”

Versius is a cutting-edge technology that uses flexible

Alison Wilcox

Jamie Heywood

robotic arms to carry out operations.

These robotic arms are designed to mimic human joints and can allow surgeons to carry out operations with more precision. This can make operations less invasive, allowing patients to potentially recover quicker following their surgery.

As well as speeding up recovery times, Versius can also make complex operations easier for surgeons to carry out. This has the potential to reduce strain on surgical teams, allowing for more surgeries to be carried out each day.

Mr Pankaj Mishra, said: “This robotic system has the potential to revolutionise the way we carry out complex surgeries in children. This type of system is much less tiring

for the surgeon involved, which means that difficult surgeries can become a lot easier.”

Although Versius has previously been used for adult surgeries, Rufus’ operation was part of a new clinical trial to test using this robotic system on children.

Dr Lance Tooke, Clinical Director for Children’s Surgery, Theatres and Anaesthesia at Evelina London said: “Guy’s and St Thomas’ is the largest robotic programme in the UK and we, at Evelina London, are proud to be part of this programme.

We are delighted to participate in this initial trial and hope this will open up new possibilities for using robotic systems in paediatric surgery.”

New non-executive directors TWO NEW non-executive directors have been appointed to join the Board at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Alison Wilcox and Jamie Heywood have been appointed with effect from 6 January 2025.

Alison began her career in the NHS before moving on to a range of roles spanning management consultancy, HR business partnering, strategy and leadership roles with international businesses Hay Group, Vodafone and BT plc.

Most recently, she was Group HR Director for BT plc, stepping down in 2022 to focus on her

non-executive director portfolio.

Alison is currently a Trustee Board member and Chair of the Nominations Committee at Health Data Research UK and a non-executive director at Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water).

Jamie is Chief Executive Officer of zolar, which provides software and services to small solar installers across Europe to help accelerate the energy transition.

He has over 30 years’ experience leading growing technology companies across Europe and Asia.

He has worked in leadership roles at companies including Uber, Amazon and Virgin Mobile.

Jamie has previously held nonexecutive roles at Autocab, where he was Chair, and at Alon Cellular.

These appointments were approved by the Council of Governors at their meeting on Tuesday 10 December and are for an initial 4 year term.

Charles Alexander, Chairman of Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: The appointments of Alison and Jamie gives us the balance of skills, knowledge and experience we need across our non-executive directors. Alison’s expertise in workforce and Jamie’s in digital transformation, perfectly match the Trust’s priorities and the challenges the NHS is facing.”

18 NEWS

By Joe Coughlan Local Democracy Reporter WooLWiCH LoCaLS have called for a greater police presence following two teenagers being stabbed in the area in less than 24 hours.

The demands come after 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa was stabbed to death on a bus on Woolwich Church Street on Tuesday, January 7. Three people have been arrested this week.

The tragedy occurred after a Year 12 pupil of Shooters Hill Sixth Form College in Woolwich was hospitalised following a stabbing on Prince Imperial Road on Monday, January 6.

The 18-year-old is said to be in a stable condition.

The two stabbings took place 1.2 miles apart from each other but police have confirmed that the incidents were unrelated.

Saqib Mushtaq, 27, is the manager of a cosmetics shop on Powis Street and said he often encounters crime in the town centre, such as theft.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The young guys come and try to steal the stuff.

That’s the main issue we have right now. Some students come, they try to steal, and then they run.”

Mr Mushtaq said he has seen less crime on Powis Street since the council began revitalising the area. The town centre is currently undergoing a £25 million revamp, including updated paving and seating on Beresford Square and Powis Street. Planning documents for the scheme said the new design aims to reduce crime in the area by reducing the opportunity for people to ‘hide weapons’.

The businessman said violence in the area has affected local businesses’ trade. He said neighbours can feel too uneasy to visit the town centre, and he would like to see a greater police presence to discourage crime.

The manager added: “If the customers also feel unsafe, they don’t want to come in… Victims are running on the street, everyone is scared. That’s a big issue, stabbings.”

Crime data from the Met Police showed that the average number of knife crime offences per month in Greenwich borough had increased from 48 to 64 between 2021 and 2024.

Roda Keela, 30, has lived in the borough her whole life and grew up visiting Woolwich town centre, having gone to school nearby.

The resident said she also feels that efforts by the council to improve the town centre have helped to encourage greater visibility and slightly reduce crime. However, she said she has noticed an increased level of violence in the area in the past year and she does not feel it is safe, especially for young people.

She said: “When I was younger, it’s not an area I would have come to while it was dark. After 5pm, I wouldn’t advise young people to be here because you’re easily targeted. You don’t even need to be involved for people to target you in Woolwich.”

Ms Keela said gang activity is prevalent in Woolwich, and it is upsetting to see violence among youths still occurring. She said she would like to see pupils being taught about the consequences of breaking the law in school, claiming those who are committing crimes do not understand the gravity of their actions.

The mum said: “Woolwich is now becoming a pinpoint for young people to come for easy access to joining

Woolwich Church Street was still closed on the morning of January 8.

wooLwiCh LoCaLs CaLL for greater PoLiCe PresenCe after teenage stabbings

The businessman said violence in the area has affected local businesses’ trade. He said neighbours can feel too uneasy to visit the town centre, and he would like to see a greater police presence to discourage crime.

Saqib Mushtaq, 27, said he would like to see a greater police presence in Woolwich town centre.

gangs… This is not what we want people to think or want people to see Woolwich as.”

She added: “I think we need to understand the law of the country we live in so you know what the consequences are when you face these actions. A lot of people go and do things and think it’s like getting in trouble in school. They don’t take it seriously.”

James Orpington, 25, has lived in

Woolwich for two years. The local said he was saddened to learn of the two incidents, which he had not been made aware of until taling to us the following day.

He said: “I am shocked because they’re young and it’s sad, but I’m also not surprised because it’s just the way of the world right now.”

Mr Orpington said he would like to see a greater number of activities available

for young people in Woolwich by way of more football pitches and cheaper gym memberships. He said boredom is likely a reason young people commit crimes, though he generally feels safe walking around the town centre.

He said: “For me personally, safety hasn’t been a concern. The only reason is because I mind my business and I know where I’m going… I’m a bit oblivious to the outside, it’s probably

for the best.”

A Greenwich Council spokesperson said: “It is a tragedy that another young life has been lost to knife crime, and we send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim. The council will be working closely with the police to provide any assistance they need during their investigation.”

Superintendent Louise Sargent from the Met’s South East Command Unit said that officers from the local policing team regularly patrol Woolwich, and such patrols would increase in the coming weeks. She urged residents and business owners with concerns to stop patrolling officers and speak to them.

She said: “I understand and share the shock that the local community is feeling following recent violent incidents in Woolwich, including the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old boy.

NEWS 19

deteCtives make three arrests in the keLyan bokassa murder inquiry

James Orpington, 25, said he was shocked when he heard of the stabbings.

tHree peopLe have been arrested in the Kelyan Bokassa murder case.

A team of experienced, specialist detectives continues to investigate the fatal stabbing and local officers will support them in any way possible to ensure whoever is responsible is identified and arrested.”

She added: “Local detectives investigating the stabbing of an 18-year-old man in Prince Imperial Road on Monday, January 6 are making progress and have made two arrests.

The injured man remains in hospital

in a stable condition. While it does not appear there is a link between these two incidents, this in no way lessens the impact on residents and the nervousness they may feel.”

The superintendent said the South East Command Unit regularly liaises with local schools and other Greenwich borough organisations to identify young people at risk of being criminally exploited. She said the individuals are then offered

diversions away from such a lifestyle.

The police have asked anyone with information about criminality to contact them by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency. They said any information received is factored into policing plans for the local area.

Those with information relating to the incident on January 7 can call 101 with reference 3795/07JAN25 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Mayor’s mentor provision hits milestone of supporting 100,000 young Londoners in bid to reduce violent crime

By Noah Vickers

Local Democracy Reporter Sir Sadiq Khan has hailed the impact of his £34m mentoring programme, as it was confirmed that the scheme had achieved the milestone of supporting more than 100,000 young Londoners by the end of last year.

The programme was launched as part of the mayor’s “ongoing commitment to provide positive opportunities for young people and tackle the underlying causes of crime”.

Sir Sadiq’s team said the scheme has “coincided with the number of teenage and under-25 murders in London being at their lowest level since 2012 and 2003 respectively”.

Overall, the number of ‘violence against the person’ offences in London hit 247,867 in the year to June 2024. The figure represented an increase of one per cent compared with the year to June 2023, despite violence offences across England and Wales falling overall by five per cent in the same period. Greater Manchester Police saw a nine per cent decrease, and West Midlands Police saw a 13 per cent drop.

City Hall said that, following the fatal stabbing of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa in Woolwich, the mayor is “more determined than ever to provide positive opportunities for young Londoners and tackle the causes of crime alongside record investment in

Sir Sadiq’s team said the scheme has “coincided with the number of teenage and under-25 murders in London being at their lowest level since 2012 and 2003 respectively”.

the police”.

Sir Sadiq said: “I know first-hand the difference a trusted mentor can make to a young person’s life which is why I’m delighted to announce that I have delivered on my manifesto commitment to provide access to a mentor for 100,000 young people in need of support in London.

“We could not have achieved this incredible milestone alone. I would like to thank the dedicated mentors and organisations we’ve worked with to achieve this target – it is their contributions that have and will continue to make such a difference to young Londoners.

“While I’m proud of our work so far, there is still a huge amount I want to do working with partners to ensure all young Londoners are supported and can grow up to fulfil their potential. Continuing to provide young Londoners with mentors will remain a vital part of ensuring we can build a safer and fairer London for everyone.”

The mentoring has been provided by more than 150 youth organisations across the capital making use of funding from City Hall and London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). The programme is said to have reached thousands of young Londoners aged

between 10 and 24.

Mentoring opportunities are offered either through one-to-one sessions, group classes in schools, youth clubs and hubs, or online. According to City Hall, the sessions are “tailored dependent on the needs and interests of young people and focus on subjects like music, sport, creative arts, education and careers”.

Lib Peck, director of London’s VRU and co-chair of the New Deal for Young People mission, said: “The mayor set up the New Deal for Young People mission during the pandemic to boost mentoring and to ensure every young Londoner in need of support had access to a trusted adult for support and guidance.

“We have seen the life-changing impact this relationship can have on a young person, sometimes at a time of crisis. That’s why I’m really proud that with the mayor’s investment and working in partnership with organisations across London, we’ve been able to deliver high-quality mentoring for 100,000 young people to help support them fulfil their potential.”

the 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death on a doubledecker bus in Woolwich.

Kelyan Bokassa was pronounced dead shortly after being attacked in Woolwich Church Street on 7 January. two boys aged 15 and 16 were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murder, and a 44-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. all three remain in custody, the met police said. det Ch insp Sarah Lee, who is leading the investigation, said the arrests marked a “significant step forward”.

“We continue to appeal for anyone with information about Keylan’s murder to come forward and speak to us,” she added.

Victim Kelyan Bokassa police were called at 2:28pm on 7 January to reports of a stabbing on a bus in Woolwich. the incident occurred on a route 472 bus. det Ch insp Lee said: “i would like to thank officers for working around the clock in order to locate our suspects and praise the Woolwich community for their on-going support and patience whilst we have carried out our investigation. “i know that this incident deeply affected you all.

“We are doing everything to tackle violent offenders across London.”

Mayor hoping to limit the cut to police officer numbers

By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter Sir Sadiq Khan has hinted that City Hall may be able to limit the number of metropolitan police officers which could be cut from the force as Scotland yard prepares its budget for the coming year.

The mayor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that “huge progress” had been made since Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley first set out the “consequences on the current trajectory” of funding in the weeks before Christmas.

Sir Mark told City Hall on December 10 that the force will need to cut a total of 2,300 officers and 400 staff next year because of a £450m funding shortfall.

On December 17, the Home Office confirmed that it would be awarding the Met some £255.2m in the National and International Capital City (NICC) grant, an extra £65m compared with the grant awarded last year.

At a London Assembly meeting last week however, the Met’s chief finance officer, Dan Worsley, revealed that the Met had already been assuming it would receive £50m of that additional £65m.

He stressed earlier in the meeting that the Met was facing “tough choices and efficiencies” as it strives to close the remaining budget gap.

Asked by Conservative assembly member Susan Hall about officer numbers, Mr Worsley said that by the end of the current financial year in March, the Met assumes it will have 32,752 officers, in ‘full-time equivalent’ terms.

Looking ahead to the 2025/26

financial year, he confirmed that on current budget assumptions, the Met was still looking at a cut of 2,300 officers, “subject to” final funding arrangements.

Speaking this week, Sir Sadiq told the LDRS: “We need to make sure we support the police. That’s why I was really pleased we’ve got additional money from the Government – an increase of more than 34 per cent.

“I’m still lobbying the Government for more money for next year, but the Met Police Service knows, as do Londoners, since I’ve been mayor, we’ve more than doubled funding to the police. I’m going to carry on supporting the police.”

The mayor did not directly respond when asked if he was hopeful that the officer cuts can be mitigated or reduced to some extent, but he emphasised that Sir Mark’s remarks last year were merely outlining “the consequences on the current trajectory” of funding He added: “The good news is there’s been huge progress made since then and over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be working closely with the Met Police Service, with my team at City Hall, with the Home Office, to make sure we can support the police as much as we can financially, but also work with the police to lobby the Government, in advance of the spending review this year.”

20 ARTS

what’s on

Returning to Mairead’s hometown for a family wedding, they each find themselves facing old temptations, and questions that are difficult to answer.

Heaven is a deeply funny, moving and poignant exploration of marriage and middle age, sharing a life when you haven’t shared all of yourself.

It is winner of The Irish Times New Play Award 2023, Best Actress - The Irish Times Theatre Awards (for

Janet Moran) and a prestigious Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023.

Heaven stars Andrew Bennett and Janet Moran. Eugene O’Brien was awarded the Rooney Prize for Literature for his debut play Eden.

The show is directed by Jim Culleton, who has been the artistic director of Fishamble: The New Play Company for over 35 years, where he has directed multiple award-winning productions, recognised by multiple Fringe Firsts, Olivier Awards and The Stage Awards, and has personally been awarded the Irish Times Best Director Award.

Poignant, beautiful writing provides a snapshot into the relationship between two adults who have shared a life, a child and all that comes

stePtoe & son - Live!

you WouLdn’t think it was possible for this ‘rag and boning’ duo to still be at it after all this time, but here they are! albert is still a dirty old man and Harold is as pretentious as ever!

Come and join Steptoe & Son for all the hilarious conflict that our four classic episodes have to offer! See your favourite moments from the smash hit BBC television series, being performed for you live on stage – just make sure you don’t step in a present from Hercules the horse on your way in…

Steptoe & Son was first seen on our screens in 1962, running for 8 series and 57 episodes, ending in 1974. It starred the wonderful Harry H. Corbett and Wilfred Brambell, as the warring father and son, trying to cope with their ailing business and having to put up with each other along the way!

Photo by rock.the.lens

Set in County offaly in the irish midlands, Heaven sees 20-year married couple, mairead and mal, find themselves at something of a crossroads, struggling to keep their relationship together and each with secrets they haven’t told the other.

Cattle Productions Ltd. brings you their adaptation of the original episodes in a brand-new production, from Director Dan Lewis. The show has many hugely funny moments and so far the reviews received have been fantastic, with people stating we are playing a very worthy homage to the original actors and programme!

Performances also support a local charity with every show we do and so far we’ve raised over £15,000 for many wonderful charities across the UK. Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, London, SE10 January 17th 2025 / 7:30pm - 9:30pm Supporting: Clowns In The Sky (supporting children with brain tumours) Age Rating: 12+ Tickets: www.steptoeandsontour.co.uk Price: £21 (£18.50 concessions)

Photo by Leo Byrne

heaven is in southwark Playhouse

in Southwark

with it - but haven’t yet shared all of themselves. Separated on stage, two intersecting monologues conjure a vivid picture of a weekend where everything comes to the surface.

Southwark Playhouse Borough (The Little), 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD from 5th - 22nd February.

Time: 8pm (Monday - Saturday) /

3:30pm (Tuesdays and Saturdays).

Admission: £22 Standard / £17.50 Concessions / £16 Preview.

Booking: www.southwarkplayhouse. co.uk/productions/heaven

CritChLow unLoCks oLd masters

THE ONE-ROOM display of new commissions by British artist Somaya Critchlow will be the artist’s debut solo show in a uK public institution

Dulwich Picture Gallery presents The Chamber, London-based British artist Somaya Critchlow’s debut solo show in a UK public institution, made in response to the Gallery’s Collection of historic paintings.

Having known the Collection since childhood, in February 2025, Critchlow returns to exhibit a new body of work following a period of art historical and technical research, and in-depth observation of the Old Master paintings.

The one-room display features six new works commissioned by the Gallery, including three large figurative paintings. Sketches created by the artist throughout her research are also presented, alongside Old Master works.

Critchlow was struck by the narrative paintings in the Collection including those by Peter Paul Rubens, Peter Lely and Anthony van Dyck.

She is intrigued by the stories behind them, which are rooted in religion, literature, history, the imagination and mythology, including Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the ancient epic poem to which Critchlow herself was continually drawn to while creating her new works. She has often

contemplated how these stories can mask complex power structures.

Drawing from the classical poses and dynamic gestures of the Old Masters, Critchlow is fascinated by history painting and the nude. Her own figures hover on the threshold of allowing their stories to be known intimately, while at the same time holding their distance.

Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber (1979) – in which fairy stories are retold and power dynamics are upturned – has been a constant reference for Critchlow.

Critchlow’s paintings find synergies with iconic works such as Gerrit Dou’s Woman Playing a Clavichord (c.1665) where a woman, seated inside the chamber readied for a lover, ambiguously holds the viewer’s gaze. The Chamber – the display’s title – evokes a place where narratives unfold: from an intimate room or a public meeting place, to the chambers of the heart.

Dr Lucy West, Curator at Dulwich Picture Gallery, said: “When I look at Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s 18th-century Young Woman [included within the display] I see two things. An artist at the height of their powers, applying oil paint in thrilling ways. I also see a woman, who is real, fantastical and unknowable – all at the same time. In Somaya Critchlow’s new works for The Chamber I find this same feeling.

Through her masterful paintings, Critchlow permits us to place fresh eyes on historic art in the most exciting of ways – disentangling threads, and then entangling them all over again”.

The Chamber is part of Dulwich Picture Gallery’s ‘Unlocking Paintings’ series: thought-provoking displays that present new perspectives on the Gallery’s Collection.

Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, London, SE21 7AD from 4 February - 20 July 2025.

For more information and tickets: www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk.

EVENTS 21

The Mystery of the Albany Justin Moorhouse: The Greatest Performance of My Life Justin Moorhouse returns with “The Greatest Performance of My Life”, coming to Blackheath Halls this February. After a successful and extended tour of his 2022 show “Stretch and Think”, he’s back on the road with this new show. The story covers subjects ranging from pantomimes to dreams, how to behave in hospitals, small talk, realising his Mum is a northern version of Columbo, and how being a smart-mouthed kid saved him from a life of continually being beaten up.

Date: Sunday 2 Feb 2025. Tickets: £16. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath, SE3 9RQ www.blackheathhalls.com/whats-on/justin-moorhouse-the-greatest-performance-of-my-life

Calling all trainee detectives… Join The Albany for a brand new, board-game-style theatre show, The Mystery of the Albany, where your skills are needed to solve a thrilling murder mystery. From the creators of I Believe in Unicorns comes this new brain-teasing interactive adventure aimed at children aged 7-11. Team up with super sleuth Danyah Miller to navigate through secrets and surprises. You’ll examine evidence, inspect video footage and interrogate suspects, every clue bringing you closer to the truth. Can you crack the case together? Expect intrigue, mischief, spontaneity and a sprinkle of magic. Get involved and get it solved.

Date: Tuesday 18 February 2025 Tickets: £9.50. Douglas Way, SE8 4AG www.thealbany.org.uk/shows/the-mystery-of-the-albany

Buffy Revamped

February Producers Market

Seventy minutes. Seven seasons. One Spike. Bringing you the entire 144 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as told through the eyes of the one person who knows it inside out… Spike. Following its Edinburgh Fringe premiere in 2022, a Christmas season in Toronto in 2023 and several sold-out national tours, Buffy Revamped is touring the UK and coming to Churchill Theatre in February. Satirical and bursting with 90s pop-culture references, it’s the perfect parody for Buffy aficionados – or those who never enrolled at Sunnydale High. Created by comedian Brendan Murphy who also created the show FRIEND (The One with Gunther).

The first Sunday of February means it’s Producers Market Day at Severndroog Castle, where you can expect all your usual food and craft stalls to peruse at your leisure. The February Market will also see the re-opening day for the Castle Viewing Platform, you can go up to the roof to experience those clear winter views over London. No ticket is required to enjoy the market, you can simply turn up on the day. Tickets for the Viewing Platform will be available on the door.

Date: Monday 24 February 2025. Tickets: £23.60 to £29.50. High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA trafalgartickets.com/churchill-theatre-bromley/en-GB/event/play/buffy-revamped-tickets

Fierce Queens In celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month, Royal Museums Greenwich’s Queen’s House is throwing open its doors for a fashion show like no other. Join Fierce Queens and Kings to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month. Taking place every year in the heart of historic Greenwich, Fierce Queens brings together performers and historians for a night of queer liberation and LGBTQ+ representation.

Hosted by resident Drag King and Queen Adam All and Apple Derrieres, this soirée at the House of Delight invites everyone to celebrate, explore, disguise and un-masque their splendid identity(ies).

Date: Friday 28 February 2025 Tickets: £16 adults, £13 concessions, companions free Romney Road, SE10 9NF www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/queens-house/fierce-queensen-vogue

Date: Sunday 2 February 2025 Tickets: Free Severndroog Castle, Castlewood Drive, Shooters Hill, SE18 3RT www.severndroogcastle.org.uk/events/february-producers-market

Laugh on the Thames Hop on the River Bus for a unique comedy experience as Uber Boat by Thames Clippers presents evenings of stand-up comedy as you cruise past London’s iconic landmarks, including the Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

The line-ups will showcase a mix of comedians, TV personalities and talent from comedy scenes across the world. The January line-up sees Alistair Barrie, Sean Collins and Dana Alexander, the February event has Daliso Chaponda, Josh Howie and James Dowdeswell, and March invites Dave Fulton, Prince Abdi and Keith Farnan to the boat.

Dates: Thursday 23 January, Friday 21 February, Friday 28 March 2025 Tickets: £20 Victoria Embankment, WC2N 6NU www.thamesclippers.com/whats-on-and-offers/ river-bus-comedy-night

©© Ellie Kurttz

Heading south - our pick of upcoming winter events

22 HISTORY

History

© Bermondsey Boy

The Bermondsey firm that brought Piccalilli to England

© Debra Gosling

Factory workers at Crosse & Blackwells in Crimscott Street

By Debra Gosling Am I the only one who stands there bamboozled and somewhat shocked at the huge variety of ready-made sarnies on offer at the supermarkets?

It seems any combination of foodstuffs that you can possibly want is available between two slices of bread.

And yet, and yet...sometimes all I crave is a small cheese and pickle roll. Yes I know, it’s so retro. But so am I, being a rather extra-mature Bermondsian. It must be all those pickling vapours in my DNA makeup.

Pickles, sauces and vinegar featured largely on the Bermondsey dinner tables of yesteryear. No party was complete without dishes of pickled onions, pickled walnuts, piccalilli and pickled gherkins on the sideboard, (along with half a bitter and a warm shandy). There were even some ‘hardcore’ pickle lovers who liked the odd egg floating in vinegar too, like some eyeball in a mad scientist’s lab. Really ancient residents still like to tuck into a slice of luncheon meat

along with some mustard pickle – and anyone on a budget knows how handy a tin of beans can be for bulking out a meal. All of this nostalgic fare was lovingly made by Crosse & Blackwell in Crimscott Street.

When Edmund Crosse and Thomas Blackwell met in 1819, they were 15-year-old apprentices at the same firm, West and Wyatt. It had been producing pickles, sauces and condiments for wealthy and fashionable households from a small factory in Soho since 1706. Crosse became the expert on sourcing ingredients and Blackwell created the recipes. This dynamic duo bought the West & Wyatt business in 1829 and expanded it by making not just pickles but also canned goods such as soups, herrings, cod roe and good old luncheon meat; if it could be preserved in vinegar or canned C&B had a go at producing it.

It was a natural move to Bermondsey for the company, as so much of their produce needed tins, barrels of vinegar and good transport links, none of which was convenient for

the small streets of Soho. Crosse & Blackwell could use John Feaver or Brian Donkin for tins, Sarson’s for the pickling vinegar and the Thames boats for its distribution. The firm had a convenient workforce on its doorstep with hundreds of mums and daughters contributing to their success. Pity the poor lady who had to chop the onions for the pickles! Plus there were packing jobs and engineers keeping the machinery working as it should.

It was this firm that introduced wonderful Piccalilli to England – it originated in India, which explains why it contains Turmeric to give it that fabulous bright yellow colour. In 1919 C&B merged with another old pickle firm, Lazenby’s, who had worked out of Trinity Street in The Borough for many decades (the premises were demolished for housing). They more or less produced the same products as C&B and even after coming under their umbrella, retained their own identity. Lazenby’s exhibited their mixed pickle, crab, lobster and prawn products at the Earl’s Court fair in 1947. They were the owners of the

Peter returned to the estate to tell the story of the post-Blitz Kiddies Party (inset) of 1946 original recipe for Chef sauce and made solidified soup squares; both products that C&B adopted to great effect. Other magnificent products included Alphabetti Spaghetti, salad cream, fish and meat pastes, Christmas mincemeat, tins of fruit salad (hopefully with more than the one woeful cherry), Christmas puddings and jam. Of course, don’t forget the Branston! It was recommended for a Ploughman’s lunch. The firm had a marketing campaign showing a lady cosily eating soup with a snowy window scene behind her - “Keep

warm inside with Crosse & Blackwell soups”. We did-and still do.

Eventually the inevitable happened and Crosse & Blackwell were sold out to a much larger food producer in the 1970s but the C&B brand is still going strong with tins of attractively labelled soup. What of the factory in Crimscott Street? It is still standing and at the time of writing is receiving a makeover to become a multi-use site with housing. But back to my cheese and pickle roll - such a satisfying and comforting food experience. Pickled egg, anyone?

24 CLASSIFIED & FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS CLASSIFIED AND COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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LPS AND SINGLES - WHOLE COLLECTIONS WELCOME

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

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CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH

Visit www.scotscare.com or call 0800 652 2989

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

For our services, scan here Registered Charity No.207326.

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FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Make contact

Memorial

Birthday

Notice for

alex ogungbadebo to make contact through bob26dec@gmail.com regarding grave renovation @ Nunhead Thinking of wonderful Parents and Grandparents who we miss so much

JOHN (JACK) mCKenna

16 April 1925 - 20 January 2000

HANNAH (ANN) mCKenna

16 November 1927- 22 January 2015 All our Love Siobhan, Bill, Blaine, Pat & Trisha

To Shirley, 40 years of friendship, best mates and true friends, Our memories will last forever.

I will miss you, Until we meet again.

Big hugs & kisses.

Your true friend Jean xxx

To place a family announcement to appear within our newspaper please email Katie at katie@ cm-media.co.uk and she will price it up for you

Can’t believe it’s 30 years already it’s gone so quick

Happy Birthday Jody love from all of us xxx

Friday, January 17th 2025

PUBLIC NOTICES 25

Transport for London Public Notice

Transport for London Public Notice

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

THE A3220 GLA SIDE ROAD (HOWIE STREET, LONDON BOROUGH OF WANDSWORTH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF STOPPING) ORDER 2019 1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

THE GLA ROADS AND GLA SIDE ROADS (KINGSTON UPON THAMES) RED ROUTE CONSOLIDATION TRAFFIC ORDER 2007 A243 GLA ROAD (ACE PARADE) (ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING POINTS) VARIATION ORDER 2025 1. Transport for London, hereby gives notice that it intends to make the above named Order under section 6 of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984.

2. The purpose of the Order is to allow footway and kerb works to take place on Howie Street.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from: (1) Stopping in the parking bay on Howie Street on the side of No. 37 Battersea Bridge Road; (2) Stopping in the parking bay on Howie Street opposite the side of No. 37 Battersea Bridge Road.

The Order will be effective between 7:00 AM on 23rd January 2025 until 7:00 PM on 23rd July 2026 or until the works has been completed. The prohibitions will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes; (2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

Dated this 17th day of January 2025 Paul Matthews Co-ordination Manager Transport for London

Transport for London Public Notice ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE A205 GLA ROAD (BROWNHILL ROAD, LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND STOPPING) ORDER 2025 1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable water connection works to take place at A205 Brownhill Road.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from entering, proceeding or stopping on Brownhill Road between its junctions with Rushy Green and Plassey Road.

The Order will be effective between the 20th January 2025 and the 2nd February 2025 every night from 11.00 PM until 6.00 AM or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibition will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes; (2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

5. At such times as the prohibition is in force an alternative route will be indicated by trafc signs via Rushey Green, Lewisham High Street, Rennell Street, Lee High Road and Burnt Ash Road to normal route of travel.

Dated this 17th day of January 2025 Claire Wright Co-Ordination Manager, Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

2. The general nature and effect of the Order will be to: (1) reduce the length of the parking and disabled persons vehicles bay outside Nos 9-17 Ace Parade by 17 metres from its north-eastern end; (2) Introduce 2 electric vehicles charging bays each with a length of 6 metres outside Nos.9-10 Ace Parade and Nos.10-11 Ace Parade; (3) Install Double Red Lines No Stopping At Any Time with a length of 17 metres outside Nos.9-11 Ace Parade.

3. The road which would be affected by the Order is A243 Ace Parade.

4. A copy of the Order, a statement of Transport for London’s reasons for the proposals, a map indicating the location and effect of the Order and copies of any Order revoked, suspended or varied by the Order can be inspected by visiting our website at https://haveyoursay.t.gov.uk/tro and selecting the relevant borough and reference the Trafc Order relates to or by appointment during normal ofce hours at our ofce at the address below. To arrange an appointment please email trafcordersection@t.gov.uk. Copies of the documents may be requested via email at trafcordersection@t.gov.uk, or by post at the following address quoting reference NMR/REGULATION/STOT/RC/TRO, GLA/2025/0161 • Transport for London Streets Trafc Order Team (NMR/REGULATION/STOT) Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road London, SE1 8NJ 5. All objections and other representations to the proposed Order must be made in writing and must specify the grounds on which they are made. Objections and representations must be sent to Transport for London, Streets Trafc Order Team, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ or by emailing trafcordersection@t.gov.uk quoting reference NMR/REGULATION/STOT/RC/TRO, GLA/2025/0161, to arrive before 7th February 2025. Please note due to hybrid working access to post is restricted and requests for documents and conrmation of your objections or representations may be delayed. Objections and other representations may be communicated to other persons who may be affected.

Dated this 17th day of January 2025 Matt Standell Performance and Planning Manager Transport for London

Transport for London Public Notice ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE GLA ROADS AND GLA SIDE ROADS (WANDSWORTH) RED ROUTE CONSOLIDATION TRAFFIC ORDER 2007 A214 GLA SIDE ROAD (DALEBURY ROAD) VARIATION ORDER 2025 1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that on 6th January 2025 it made the above named Order, under section 6 of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984.

The Order will come into force on 20th January 2025.

2. The general nature and effect of the Order will be to amend the operating time of the Parking and Disabled Persons’ Vehicle Bay on Dalebury Road on the side of No. 139 Trinity Road from ‘Parking at any time’ to ‘Parking Mon – Sat 7am – 7pm 30 mins No return within 1 hour.

3. The road which would be affected by the Order is Dalebury Road in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

4. A copy of the Order, a map indicating the location and effect of the Order and copies of any Order revoked, suspended or varied by the Order can be inspected by visiting our website at https://haveyoursay.t.gov.uk/tro and selecting the relevant borough and reference the Trafc Order relates to or by appointment during normal ofce hours at our ofce at the address below. To arrange an appointment please email trafcordersection@t,gov.uk. Copies of the documents may be requested via email at trafcordersection@t,gov.uk, or by post at the following address quoting reference NMR/REGULATION/STOT/LL/TRO/GLA/2025/0182: • Transport for London Streets Trafc Order Team (NMR/REGULATION/STOT) Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road London, SE1 8NJ Please note due to hybrid working access to post is restricted and requests for documents may be delayed.

5. Any person wishing to question the validity of the Order or of any of its provisions on the grounds that they are not within the relevant powers conferred by the Act or that any requirement of the Act has not been complied with, that person may, within six weeks from the date on which the Order is made, make application for the purpose to the High Court.

Dated this 17th day of January 2025 Jennifer Melbourne Planning & Performance Manager (South) Transport for London

I, Michael Lloyd, hold a £122,500,000.00 lien on Chancellor Claire Holland, Lambeth Council, Lambeth Town Hall, 1 Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW. Contact: adexchangenetworks@gmail.com Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

Notice is hereby given that MOGAL TRADE EXPRESS LIMITED applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at SAFESTORE SELF STORAGE, UNIT 3663 19 LOMBARD ROAD LODON SW11 3RH for sale of alcohol, no public access, Mon-Sun, 00:0000:00 Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 11/02/2025 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.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE THE PADEL YARD LTD has applied to Wandsworth Council for a premises licence at: 2 ARMOURY WAY, WANDSWORTH, SW18 1SH to provide the following licensable activities: Exhibition of Film – Supply of Alcohol Recorded Music – Live Music Indoor Sporting Events Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing 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 to:licensing@merton.gov.uk By 05th February 2025 The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of The Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00am and 4.00pm. 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.

View all weekly and archive public notices at www.southlondon .co.uk/category/ public‐notices/

To place a public notice, please email em@cm-media.co.uk Deadline is 3pm Wednesday

26 PUBLIC NOTICES

Friday, January 17th 2025

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

Transport for London Public Notice ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE A202 GLA ROAD (PECKHAM HIGH STREET, LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF STOPPING AND SUSPENSION OF BUS LANE) ORDER 2025 1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable carriageway investigation works to take place at A202 Peckham High Street.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from stopping on Peckham High Street between its junctions with Wood’s Road and Clayton Road.

The Order will also permit all vehicles to use the western bus lane on Peckham High Street between its junctions with Wood’s Road and Clayton Road.

The Order will be effective between 22nd January 2025 and 28th January 2025 every night from 8.00 PM until 6.00 AM or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibition will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes; (2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

Dated this 17th day of January 2025 Claire Wright Co-Ordination Manager, Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

PROPOSED PERMANENT UPGRADE OF EXISTING TEMPORARY TRAFFIC FILTERS AND PROPOSED INTRODUCTION OF ROAD HUMPS (KNOWN AS “SPEED TABLES” OR “RAISED ENTRY TREATMENTS”) IN THE TULSE HILL LOW TRAFFIC NEIGHBOURHOOD [NOTE: This Notice is about proposals to permanently upgrade the existing temporary traffic filters that form part of the existing Tulse Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) and the proposed introduction of road humps at various locations. Objections or other comments may be made – see paragraph 5].

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth, with agreement of Transport for London proposes to make The Lambeth (Free Parking Places, Loading Places and Waiting, Loading and Stopping Restrictions) (Amendment No. **) Order 202* and The Lambeth (Charged-For Parking Places) (Amendment No. **) Order 202* under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended).

2. The general effect of the Orders would be in: (1) Appach Road, the east and west sides, convert single yellow lines to double yellow lines outside the flank wall of No. 25 and No.27 Josephine Avenue.

(2) Arodene Road, introduce double yellow lines from the north-east kerb-line to the south-west kerb-line (a) outside the common boundary of Nos. 6 and 8 Arodene Road; (b) extend the double yellow lines on the north-west side of Helix Gardens to outside No. 10 Arodene Road.

(3) Arodene Road, revoke parking places and replace with double yellow lines outside and opposite Nos. 4 and 6 Arodene Road.

(4) Beechdale Road, (a) both sides, revoke parking places and replace with double yellow lines outside and opposite Nos. 58 to 62 Beechdale Road. (b) introduce double yellow lines between the north-east and south-west and kerb-lines of Beechdale Road outside No. 60 Beechdale Road.

(5) Brading Road, revoke parking places outside and opposite Nos. 1 and 3 Brading Road and continue the double yellow lines into these locations.

(6) Claverdale Road, the north and south sides, revoke parking places and replace with double yellow lines outside and opposite the flank wall of No. 79 Upper Tulse Hill.

(7) Cotherstone Road, introduce double yellow lines between the east and west kerb-lines at a point 6 metres south-west of the south-western kerb-line of Holmwood Gardens.

(8) Craster Road, (a) the south side, extend double yellow lines across the junction of Elm Park. (b) revoke parking places outside and opposite Nos. 1 and 3 Craster Road and continue the double yellow lines into these locations.

(9) Elm Park, (a) the north and south sides, revoke parking places and replace with double yellow lines outside Nos. 63 to 67 Elm Park and outside Nos. 40 to 42 Elm Park. (b) both sides, revoke parking places and replace with double yellow lines outside and opposite the flank wall of No 56 Craster Road.

(10) Holmwood Gardens, (a) the north side, revoke parking places and replace with double yellow lines opposite the junction of Cotherstone Road.

Transport for London Public Notice ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 THE A20 GLA ROAD (SIDCUP BY-PASS AND SIDCUP ROAD, LONDON BOROUGHS OF BEXLEY AND BROMLEY AND ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND STOPPING) ORDER 2025 1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Trafc Order under section 14(1) of the Road Trafc Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specied in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2. The purpose of the Order is to enable carriageway maintenance works to take place on Sidcup By-pass and Sidcup Road.

3. The effect of the Order will be to prohibit any vehicle from: (1) entering, exiting or proceeding on Sidcup By-pass between the London of Bromley boundary with Kent County Council and its junction with Sidcup Road; (2) entering, exiting, proceeding or stopping on Sidcup Road between its junctions with Sidcup By-pass and Westhorne Avenue; (3) entering or proceeding on the unnamed on and off-slip roads between Frognal Corner Roundabout and Sidcup By-pass; (4) entering or proceeding on the unnamed on and off-slip roads between Crittall’s Corner Roundabout and Sidcup By-pass.

Works will be phased such that some restrictions will apply only at certain times.

Restrictions will only apply for certain dates to allow for cyclic routine maintenance of the highway.

The Order will be effective at certain times from 12:01 AM on the 19th January 2025 and 7:00 PM on the 16th July 2026 or when the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. The prohibitions will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall from time to time be indicated by trafc signs.

4. The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (1) any vehicle being used for the purposes of those works or for re brigade, ambulance or police purposes; (2) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by Transport for London.

5. At such times as the prohibitions are in force alternative routes will be indicated by trafc signs via M25, Dartford By-Pass, East Rochester Way, Rochester Way Relief Road and Westhorne Avenue or reverse a to normal route of travel. Vehicles at intermediate junctions along the road closure will be diverted to join the above diversion route or to use local diversions.

Dated this 17th day of January 2025 Gary Oliver Area Manager South – Assets Operations Transport for London, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

(b) the south side, extend double yellow lines across the junction of Cotherstone Road.

(11) Josephine Avenue, the south-east side, extend double yellow lines across the junction of Appach Road.

(12) Leander Road, (a) both sides, revoke parking places and replace with double yellow lines outside and opposite Nos. 160, 162 and 164 Leander Road. (b) the south-east side, convert single yellow lines to double yellow lines outside Nos. 161 to 163 Leander Road. (c) introduce double yellow lines between the north-west and south-east and kerb-lines of Leander Road as a continuation of the south-west kerb-line of Helix Road and at a point 7 metres south-west of the south-western kerb-line of Helix Road.

(13) Ostade Road, the north side, outside the flank wall of No. 1 Brading Road, (a) Revoke solo motorcycle parking place and extend double yellow lines in this location. (b) Convert 5 metres of permit parking place and replace with a solo motorcycle parking place.

(14) Roupell Road, both sides, convert single yellow lines to double yellow lines opposite No. 41 Roupell Road.

(15) Upper Tulse Hill, (a) the east side, revoke parking places and replace with double yellow lines outside Nos. 79 and 81 Upper Tulse Hill. (b) both sides, convert single yellow lines to double yellow lines outside and opposite Nos. 76 to 80 Upper Tulse Hill. (c) introduce double yellow lines between the east and west kerb-lines at a point opposite the common boundary of Nos. 80 and 82 Upper Tulse Hill. (d) Revoke parking places and replace with double yellow lines and proved 2 parklets outside Nos. 21, 23 and 25 Upper Tulse Hill.

3. The Orders are necessary to permanently upgrade the traffic filters in the Tulse Hill LTN. If you have any enquiries, please email: healthyroutes@lambeth.gov.uk.

4. A copy of each of the Orders and other documents giving detailed particulars about them are available for inspection online at: https://streets.appyway.com/lambeth or www.lambeth.gov.uk/traffic-management-orders and at the offices of Lambeth Council’s Parking and Enforcement Group (Parking, Network Management & Fleet), 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1EG, between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on Mondays to Fridays inclusive (except on bank/public holidays), until the Orders cease to have effect. To arrange an inspection please email: Trafficorders@lambeth.gov.uk.

5. All objections and other representations relating to the proposed Orders must be made in writing within 21 days of the date of this Notice and all objections must specify the grounds on which they are made (quoting reference Tulse Hill LTN), and can be made using our consultation portal at https://streets.appyway.com/lambeth or sent by post to Barbara Poulter, at Lambeth Council Parking and Enforcement Group (Parking, Network Management & Fleet), PO Box 80771, London SW2 9QQ. Any objection may be communicated to, or be seen by, other persons who may have an interest in this matter.

1. NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth proposes, under section 90A and 90C of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended) and the Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999 (as amended) proposes in: (1) Appach Road, introduce a raised speed table to form a continuous footway at the junction of Josephine Avenue.

(2) Arodene Road, introduce a raised speed table outside Nos. 8 and 10 Arodene Road.

(3) Claverdale Road, introduce a raised speed table at the junction of Upper Tulse Hill and outside Nos. 86, 88 and 90 Upper Tulse Hill.

(4) Cotherstone Road, introduce a raised speed table at the junction of Holmwood Gardens.

(5) Elm Park, the south arm, introduce a raised speed table at the junction of Craster Road.

(6) Leander Road, introduce a raised speed table outside No. 160 Leander Road.

(7) Tulse Hill Estate Passage (between Leander Road and the A204 Tulse Hill), introduce a 6-metre raised speed table on the north and on the south carriageway, outside the pedestrian gates between Birch House, Pinser House, Rudhall House and Lansell House.

NB - The speed table would be an elevated section of the carriageway, between 75 and 100 millimetres higher than the surrounding carriageway, extending across the full width of the carriageway so that the flat top of the speed table or raised entry treatment and the adjoining footways form a continuous surface.

2. The proposals are intended to improve safety by reducing traffic speeds and the potential for road accidents and provide better accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists who would benefit from the continuous surface and safer road crossing facilities.

3. If you have any enquiries about this matter, please telephone Lambeth Council’s Parking Design Team on 020 7926 6799 or email cpzconsultation@lambeth.gov.uk.

4. Maps showing the locations of the proposed speed tables are available for inspection online at: https://streets.appyway.com/lambeth or www.lambeth.gov.uk/traffic-management-orders and at the offices of Lambeth Council’s Parking and Enforcement Group (Parking, Network Management & Fleet), 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London SW2 1EG, between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on Mondays to Fridays inclusive (except on bank/public holidays). To arrange an inspection please email: Trafficorders@lambeth.gov.uk.

View all weekly and archive public notices at www.southlondon.co.uk/category/ public‐notices/

5. All objections and other representations relating to the proposed speed tables must be made in writing within 21 days from the date of this Notice and all objections must specify the grounds on which they are made and should be sent to Barbara Poulter, Parking and Enforcement Group (Parking, Network Management & Fleet), PO Box 80771, London SW2 9QQ. Any objection may be communicated to, or be seen by, other persons who may have an interest in this matter.

Dated 17 January 2025

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

To place a notice in this paper and online, please email em@ cm‐ media .co.uk or call 020 7232 1639

Deadline is 3pm on Wed each week

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

Notice Under The Town and Country Planning Acts

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE – LOWDEN ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Sustainable Drainage Buildout (SuDs) works to be carried out, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth have made an order the effect of which will be to temporarily ban vehicles from entering in that section of Lowden Road which lies between the property boundaries of no.s 112 and 114 Lowden Road and no.s 211 and 213 Lowden Road.

2. An alternative route for vehicles will be available via Milkwood Road and Heron Road and vice versa.

3. The restrictions will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

4. The order will come into force on 27th January 2025 and will continue for a maximum duration of 18 months (to allow for contingencies). In practice it is anticipated that the order will only have effect on 27th January 2025 but if the works cannot be carried out or completed during that time then the Order may have effect on subsequent days within the maximum duration of 18 months.

Dated 17th January 2025

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY PARKING, STOPPING, WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS AUCKLAND HILL

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable UKPN new connection works to be carried out, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth have made an order the effect of which will be to temporarily ban any vehicle from waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading and unloading a vehicle) at any time, in that length of Auckland Hill which lies between the property boundaries of No.s 7 and 8 and no.s 4 and 4a Auckland Hill.

2. An alternative route for vehicles will be available via St Louis Road, St Gothard Road and Gipsy Road and vice-versa.

3. The restrictions will only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

4. The order will come into force on 27th January 2025 and will continue for a maximum duration of 1 month (to allow for contingencies).

In practice it is anticipated that the order will only have effect between 27th January 2025 and 4th February 2025 but if the works cannot be carried out or completed between these dates then the Order may have effect on subsequent days within the maximum duration of 1 month.

Dated 17th January 2025

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS – NORMANHURST ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable gas main replacement works to be carried out, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intend to make an Order the effect of which would be to temporarily ban vehicles from entering or waiting (including waiting for the purpose of loading or unloading a vehicle):(a) in that length of Normanhurst Road:(i) which lies between its junction with Wavertree Road and its junction with Wyatt Park Road (alternative routes for affected vehicles would be via Wavertree Road and Downton Avenue and vice versa); (ii) which lies between its junction with Wyatt Park Road and Downton Avenue (alternative routes for affected vehicles would be via Wavertree Road, Daysbrook Road and Wyatt Park Road and vice versa); and; (b) in that length of Wyatt Park Road which lies between its junction with Normanhurst Road and a point opposite the common boundary of Nos. 77 and 79 Wyatt Park (alternative routes for affected vehicles would be via Wavertree Road, Daysbrook Road and Downton Avenue and vice versa); and (c) in that length of Nuthurst Avenue which lies between its junction with Normanhurst Road and a point 6 metres north-east of that junction.

Resident access to affected addresses would be maintained.

2. The bans would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

3. The Order would come into force on 31st January 2025 and it would continue for a maximum duration of 3 months or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice it is anticipated that the works would be carried out in two phases and that the bans referred to in paragraph 1(a) above would have effect between 31st January 2025 and 14th February 2025 and that the bans referred to in Paragraph 1(b) and (c) above would have effect between 10th February 2025 and 3rd March 2025 but if the works cannot be carried out or completed during those dates then the Order may have effect on subsequent days and dates up to the maximum period of 3 months.

Dated 17th January 2025

Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY PARKING, STOPPING, WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS ROSENDALE ROAD

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable gully surveying works to be carried out, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intend to make an order the effect of which would be to temporarily ban any vehicle from waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading and unloading a vehicle) at any time, in that length of Rosendale Road (both sides) which lies between No. 170 Rosendale Road and No. 28 Park Hall Road.

2. The ban on parking, stopping, waiting and loading would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

3. The Order would come into force on 27th January 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 3 months (to allow for contingencies) or until the works have been completed whichever is the earlier. In practice it is anticipated that the Order would have effect on 27th January 2025, but if the works cannot be completed or carried out during that time the Order would also have effect at subsequent dates and times within the maximum period of 3 months.

Dated 17th January 2025

Ben Stevens Highway Network Manager LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14

TEMPORARY TRAFFIC AND PARKING RESTRICTIONS FOR STREATHAM HILL EAST CONTROLLED PARKING ZONE EXTENSION– VARIOUS ROADS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable Streatham Hill East Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) extension works to be carried out, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth, intend to make an order the effect of which would be to temporarily ban vehicles from entering or waiting (including waiting for the purpose of loading or unloading a vehicle) in:(i) Adare Walk; (ii) Hitherfield Road; (iii) Keymer Road; (iv) Leigham Court Road, (between the junction of Streatham High Road and Knollys Road); (v) Leigham Vale; (vi) Mountearl Gardens; (vii) Mount Nod Road; (viii) Romeyn Road; (ix) Rosedene Avenue; (x) Stockfield Road and (xi) Streatham Close.

2. The restrictions would only apply at such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by the placing of the appropriate traffic signs.

3. The order would come into force on 27th January 2025 and would continue for a maximum duration of 4 months (to allow for contingencies) or until the works have been completed whichever is the earlier.

Dated 17th January 2025

PUBLIC NOTICES 27

Friday, January 17th 2025

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council is considering applications as set out below under the following categories; FUL – PLANNING PERMSSION LB - LISTED BUILDING VOC - VARIATION OF CONDITIONS ADV – ADVERTISEMENT CONSENT Written representations should be made within three weeks of the date of this advertisement to the Director of Planning, PO Box 734, Winchester SO23 5DG. Any comments made are open to inspection by the public and in the event of an appeal may be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Confidential comments cannot be taken into account in determining an application.

Application plans can be viewed online at www.lambeth.gov.uk/searchplanningapps – search using the reference number at the end of each application listing.

Land Rear 41 Stockwell Park Road London SW9 0DD Demolition of existing garages and erection of 2-bed dwelling. 24/03908/FUL 67 Union Road London SW4 6JF Conversion of existing dwelling into 3 self-contained residential units together with the provision of cycle and refuse storage. 25/00043/FUL 44 Ambleside Avenue London Lambeth SW16 1QP Erection of single storey ground floor rear extension. 24/03950/FUL 36-46 Albert Embankment London SE1 7TL Redevelopment of the site comprising demolition of all structures associated with the petrol filling station, and development of two linked towers, in addition to basement levels, consisting of student accommodation with associated amenity space (Use Class Sui Generis) together with cafe and flexible incubator (Use Class E) / cultural space (Use Class Sui Generis), with provision of associated cycle parking, access and other associated works; and the retention, refurbishment and vertical extension to Vintage House (Use Class E) and other associated works, on a phased basis. 24/04003/FUL 10 Pratt Walk London Lambeth SE11 6AR Conversion of single 3-bed dwelling into 2 flats involving the erection of internal partition walls, installation of internal doors and provision of bathroom and kitchen facilities (Retrospective). 24/03970/LB St Anselms Church Of England Church Kennington Road London SE11 5DU Alterations to the interior of the church including the construction of a 4 storey building within the liturgical east end of the church, with associated new fenestration to the south wall of the church and new rooflights. A new entrance on Sancroft Street between the north chapel and vestry, and the construction of a new kiosk.

Replacement of the south-west hipped roof with a new flat roof and screened plant enclosure for air source heat pumps. Alterations to the forecourt to incorporate disabled access and new seating. 24/03979/FUL 8 Mitcham Lane London Lambeth SW16 6NN Variation of condition 2(Approved Plans) of planning permission 18/01093/FUL (Redevelopment of site involving the demolition of existing buildings with part retention of annexe and the erection of a 4 storey building (plus basement) containing an Islamic Cultural Centre for religious, educational, community and leisure use, including an ancillary gym, nursery, conference facilities, retail and cafe unit and 2 no. parking spaces) granted on 16.12.2022. 24/03980/VOC 42 The Chase London Lambeth SW4 0NH Erection of a rear dormer window. 24/03649/FUL 48 Gipsy Hill London Lambeth SE19 1NL Erection of single storey lower ground floor front, rear and side extensions. Installation of corner windows to rear ground floor. Installation of lower ground side door. 24/03924/FUL Land Adjacent To 156 Stonhouse Street To The Rear Of 154-164 Clapham High Street London SW4 7UG Variation of conditions 20 (Noise from the relocated substation/ building services plant), 17 (Secured by Design Standards) and 15 (Delivery and Servicing Plan) of planning permission ref: 19/01554/FUL (Erection of a 3 storey building to provide 5 residentials units, together with the provision of communal amenity space and cycle store, the relocation of the substation, and alterations to existing flats A, B and C including blocking windows at 156 Stonhouse Street) granted on 02/03/2022.

Variation sought : Revised wording to condition 20 to read : Noise from the proposed relocated substation or building services plant, as measured in accordance with BS4142:201+A1:2019 shall not exceed the background noise level L90B(A) 15 minutes, when measured from 1m outside the window of the nearest noise sensitive or residential premises.

Revised wording to condition 17 to read : The development shall be constructed and operated thereafter to 'Secured by Design Standards' (as amended 1st March, 2024). Prior to any occupation of the residential units hereby permitted, and following a satisfactory Secured by Design inspection, a certificate of accreditation to Secured by Design Standards shall be submitted to the local planning authority for approval in writing prior to the occupation of the development.

Revised wording to condition 15 to read : The development hereby approved shall; be maintained strictly in accordance with the approved document 'Delivery and Servicing Plan', (as amended 08th August 2023). 24/04040/VOC Kings West 10 Kings Avenue London Lambeth SW4 8BG Variation of condition 2 (Approved plans) of planning permission ref: 23/02430/FUL (Refurbishment of the building, involving erection of 2 additional storey extension (4th and 5th floors) to provide 4 selfcontained flats and the erection of a single storey side outbuilding for the provision of cycle storage, plus the replacement of all windows, including alterations to elevations and landscaping granted 07/03/2024 Variation sought : Amendments to include additional 700mm in overall height, new smoke ventilation shaft, Automatic Opening Vent (A.O.V), alterations to fenestration and external pipework. 24/03885/VOC 154-166 Clapham High Street And 162 Stonhouse Street London SW4 Variation of condition 2 (Approved plans) of planning permission ref : 23/03098/VOC (Variation of Condition 2 (approved plans) of planning permission 21/00200/VOC (Variation of Condition 2 (approved plans) of planning permission 18/01832/FUL (Retention of ground floor commercial floorspace, part change of use from Use Class A1 (shops) to use Class C3 (residential) on upper floors and part of ground floor (rear part), and alterations including excavation to form a basement to Nos. 156-158 Clapham High Street, the demolition of existing 1-3 storey rear extensions and erection of replacement part 3 part 4 rear and side extensions to provide 28 residential units (Use Class C3) with shared amenity space, landscaping and associated works) granted 10.11.2021.

Variation application to amend consented drawings to reflect extension of lift and stair core, provide an open link walkway at 4th floor level across the roof of Block B and alterations to windows) granted on 12/06/2024.

Variation sought : The upper level of the duplex in Block B (Unit B-26) is to be reduced in size on the 4th floor to allow an access walkway behind in order to provide future access to a potential future roof extension, as a separate application; Also a new maintenance access to the roof from the stair core, and the amalgamation of the ground floor retail space to create one unit.

(REASON: REVISED PROPOSED DESCRIPTION AND DRAWINGS.) 24/02603/VOC St Mary's Nursing Home 3 Tooting Bec Gardens London Lambeth SW16 1QY Phased development to include the construction of a new 2-storey block to the rear of the existing wing (Phase 1) alongside demolition and construction of a new 3-storey block (Phase 2) with basement and lightwell, and demolition of the first-floor of the existing wing and construction of a new first and second-floor (Phase 3) in order to provide additional bedrooms, together with provision of storage area within the roof space and refuse storage. 24/03391/FUL 1A Fieldhouse Road London SW12 0HL Erection of a rear linked dormer roof extension and the installation of 2 rooflights to the front roof slope - Flat 1A. 24/04023/FUL 8 Thornton Avenue London SW2 4HQ Erection of a single storey ground floor rear side squaring off extension and insertion of a door to the ground floor rear elevation - Flat 2. 24/04024/FUL 4 The Spinney London Lambeth SW16 1LA Erection of single storey ground floor rear extension and installation of 1 ground floor window to existing side elevation. Replacement of garage roof with installation of 1 rooflight and installation of French doors to garage side elevation together with associated landscaping. 24/03804/FUL Alford House Aveline Street London Lambeth SE11 5DQ Installation of accessibility ramp with handrail to main entrance, replacement of steps up to 3 entrances and installation of 2 planters. 24/03793/FUL Streatham Green Streatham High Road London SW16 6HF Addition of new trees, low-level planting, incidental play-on-the-way and a new lighting strategy with relocation of Dyce Drinking Fountain to eastern perimeter of the central courtyard.

(Please note: The reference number for this Listed Building Consent application is 24/03858/LB but there is also an associated application for Full Planning Permission related to these works with reference number: 24/03857/FUL) 24/03858/LB 16 Lower Marsh London Lambeth SE1 7RJ Display of non-illuminated fascia sign to front elevation. 24/03557/ADV Lambeth Palace Lambeth Palace Road London Lambeth SE1 7JU Repairs and replacement of heating and domestic water services to Cranmer's Tower. 24/03911/LB Dated this Friday 17th January 2025

Rob Bristow Director - Planning, Transport & Sustainability Climate and Inclusive Growth Directorate

Local media reaches you in huge numbers.

Local news brands now reach 40 million people every single month, which is 73% of the total GB population.

SPORT 29 DULWICH HAMLET FC

Photo by Rob Avis

miLLs in Charge of ‘faLLen fortress’

Danny Mills has scored eight goals for the struggling side this season

By John Kelly CaroLine duBoiS retained her WBC lightweight world title but had to be satisfied with a technical draw after an accidental clash of heads with Canadian challenger Jessica Camara in Sheffield last weekend.

Striker, 33, given reins after board had ‘no alternative’ over sacking

By John Kelly danny miLLS is set to be in charge of dulwich Hamlet this weekend after being handed the temporary reins following the sacking on Hakan Hayrettin last week.

Mills’ first Isthmian League Premier Division game should have been against Folkestone Invicta last weekend but that was called off due to a frozen pitch at Champion Hill.

Hamlet chairman Ben Clasper explained the club had no other option than getting rid of Hayrettin after they started to ‘plummet’ down the table.

The final straw was the 4-3 home defeat to Bognor Regis Town when they were 3-1 up at half-time against opponents who had a man sent off after 20 minutes.

Dulwich, one of the favourites for promotion at the start of the season and with the highest average attendances in the seventh tier, are only five points

above the relegation zone.

“Targets play a part in every area of the club from how quickly we get people into the ground to how many schools and charities we can engage with in a season and when we miss them we make changes to fix that,” Clasper said.

“Football results are no different. We set a target and we missed it and for the second consecutive season we have done the hard work to get into touching distance of the goal only to plummet.

Not fall short - plummet.

“We find ourselves today in the same position we did at the end of the last season – nine or ten places short. The difference this season is that fall has happened when there are still plenty of games to go but our current form would see us in the battle below not bouncing back into the one above.

“Despite all the goodwill in the world towards Hak and his management team from the club, the staff and the fans who all wanted to see them succeed,

Super sub rescues point

By Jeff Burnige at St Paul’s SuBStitute ViCtoria Lussambo scored a 95th-minute equaliser to rescue a point for millwall Lionesses against second-place dorking Wanderers in the L&SerWfL premier division at St paul’s last weekend.

The Lionesses were determined to avenge the unlucky 1-0 defeat at Dorking back in November, and they had followed that setback with three successive wins. They started brightly in this game in front of a decent crowd of around 100 freezing fans, and both Billie Burgess and Alice Wood shot wide from Ciara Watling corners.

Just before half-time Lucy Jellett sprinted through but fired narrowly off target.

Dorking took the lead when Millwall centreback Sophie Chapman was drawn out wide and the cross from Rachel Manley found the gap and was converted by Olivia Watson.

Lionesses manager Ted Jones kept the same side that had thrashed Herne Bay 10-1

Dubois dominates but denied knockout

there was no credible alternative to the decision the board took [last] week.

“So, as traumatic as last Saturday [against Bognor] was, the nature of that result may have determined the timing of the decision but it wasn’t the only factor in determining the outcome. I can accept most individual results but we all have to be clear that the second half of that game was completely unacceptable and the response of everyone present was wholly justified. It would have been absurd to try to argue it was a ‘one-off’, as not only was it our second capitulation in a week from a winning position at half-time against a team forced to play the entire second half with ten men, but it was our third game in four conceding four goals at home.

The fortress has fallen and seemingly any winning position can still be lost.”

Clasper added: “Looking to the future both the short-term and the longterm plan are in motion. We should be humbled by the sheer volume

in the League Cup the previous weekend, before Jellett had to go off and was replaced by youngster Lussambo for the second half.

Lucy Squirrel was on the bench after more than two years struggling with injuries.

Dorking are strong in midfield, but Millwall used the whole width of the pitch through exciting wide players Mia Lockett and Elise Jennings, and they provided strong running outlets.

Substitutes Esme Johnson and Liv McGregor gave the side fresh legs as they pushed for a late leveller.

It was McGregor who, in stoppage-time, again beat the defender and crossed for Lussambo who got in front of her marker to score the equaliser amid great scenes of delight.

Millwall are seventh in the twelve-team table with eighteen points from thirteen games.

They face Sport London E Benfica in the league this Sunday at St Paul’s in Rotherhithe.

Kick-off is at 1.30pm.

and calibre of people expressing an interest but with many managers doing excellent jobs at their current clubs some of the right candidates you should consider are not available and you have to respect that. We have options who could start immediately that would see us through to the end of the season but it is important that the next manager is a fit for the broader strategy for the club and how football is run, and so while there are some incredible managers available now, to make availability the only criteria would be a mistake.

We have spoken with the players and their priority is being able to continue doing their jobs. That means continuing with training, match preparation and matches. We spoke about the need to fill the void quickly versus the need to make the best decision for them and the club so the prospect of one or more of the senior players stepping in is also there to afford us the time to get this right.”

Fisher hold leaders

By John Kelly FISHER TOP-scorer Kesna Clarke lifted an early shot over after Jake Lovell had charged down goalkeeper Jacob russell’s attempted clearance.

The hosts’ Tashi-Jay Kwayie headed over but the danger man was otherwise handled well by the Fish’s back three.

Ajay Ashanike’s visitors threatened again when Kyrique Garvey Williams and Clarke combined to play in ArmaniJordan Martin who was denied by Russell.

In an end-to-end game, former Fish Kieron Campbell tested Isaac Ogunseri from 25 yards and then Russell saved at his near post to

deny Jacob Katonia.

Ogunseri was excellent under the direct threat from the home side’s set-pieces and long throw-ins, helping to relieve the pressure on his defence.

In the second half, Ogunseri made his best save when he palmed away Tom Hasler’s strike that was heading for the top corner.

Lovell and Charles YiadomKonadu had late half-chances in front of an attendance of 611 but the sides had to settle for sharing the points.

Fisher are third, level on points with VCD Athletic and two points off Faversham, the latter who have four games in hand.

Ashanike’s side are at Kennington (TN261NJ) this Saturday for a 3pm kick-off.

Greenwich’s Dubois, 24, was making her first defence of the full belt and looked set to end the contest after she dropped Camara early on.

Dubois had her opponent in big trouble but before the third round the referee Kieran McCann called for the doctor. Camara couldn’t continue and it was ruled a cut had been caused by a clash of heads.

“I don’t think she wanted it. I hit her with a straight right and knocked her down in the first round,” Dubois said.

“I saw her right eye was swelling up and that was from a punch.

With the cut, the blood wasn’t coming in her face, it was coming round the side of her face. I’m punching her and maybe it’s splattering on her face.

“She didn’t want it, man. It was getting stopped by the doctor or I was stopping it.”

Dubois wants a fight with WBO holder with Terri Harper next.

“135lbs is my division. I want to be undisputed by the end of the year. That’s the goal, that’s the aim for me and we’re going to make it happen,” Dubois said.

“Unifications, challenging for undisputed, challenging for all the belts, challenging to make it happen. Anything that can make that happen as quickly as possible.

“We got the Royal Albert Hall show coming up [on March 7].

That’s in London. Terri’s from England, I’m from England. It’s a domestic showdown. It makes sense. I don’t see why not.

“Fight me, you’re going to get beat but you’re going to get a big show, you’re going to get good pay, it’s going to make it worthwhile.”

Dubois’ promoter Ben Shalom believes the fight could happen this year.

“I think that will get made this year. I think we’ll see that this year,” he said.

“I think they’re open to it. It’s going to be expensive because no one really wants to fight Caroline.

I think she’s the toughest fight in the division for everyone and it’s a money fight for anyone.

“She’s created a lot of hype around her. She’s a big name, a lot of people consider her the next face of women’s boxing and that means that the fighters want career high paydays to face Caroline Dubois.

“That’s what Terri Harper wants and I think that fight will be made this year.”

30 SPORT

ravens’ dream PinChed by howe's magPies

Antony Gordon scores from the penalty spot

Bromley take shock lead at Newcastle before bowing out ByJohn Kelly andy Woodman took a moment to appreciate how far his Bromley side had come before they took a shock lead but ultimately lost 3-1 to newcastle united at St James’ park in the fa Cup third round at the weekend.

fA CUp foURTh RoUND

© Action Plus

manchester united vs. Leicester City Leeds united vs. millwall Brighton & Hove albion vs. Chelsea preston north end vs.

Wycombe Wanderers exeter City vs. nottingham forest Coventry City vs. ipswich town Blackburn rovers vs.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Wigan athletic vs. fulham Birmingham City vs. newcastle united plymouth argyle vs. Liverpool everton vs. Bournemouth aston Villa vs. tottenham Hotspur Southampton vs. Burnley Leyton orient vs. manchester City doncaster rovers vs. Crystal palace Stoke City vs. Cardiff City Ties to be played weekend of February 8.

Former Magpies goalkeeper coach Woodman saw Cameron Congreve put the Ravens in front with a superb curled effort from outside the box in the eighth minute.

The lead only lasted another eight minutes as Lewis Miley fired home a fierce shot from 25 yards beyond Grant Smith.

Danny Imray had a chance to make it 2-0 when he shot just wide of the left post after running almost the length of the pitch down the right.

Substitute Anthony Gordon made it 2-1 from the penalty spot four minutes into the second half after Matt Targett had been fouled.

William Osula scored his first Newcastle goal in the 61st minute.

It was Bromley’s first-ever game against Premier League opponents in front of a 52,088 attendance on Tyneside.

Just over a year ago, Bromley drew 0-0 at Maidenhead in the National League in front of 1,548 at York Road Stadium on their way to their first-ever promotion to the Football League.

For a short time on Saturday, they could believe they were going to spring a shock against Eddie Howe’s side.

“It was lovely. We got the goal that gave us a little bit of hope,” Woodman said.

“That’s what the FA Cup is about – to give us hope we can do something today. It was nice to score a goal at Newcastle and a good goal.

“I’ve been saying to Cam he needs to be more positive in the final third and driving him mad to get that into his game. He picked the right stage to do it. I’m chuffed for him.

“Who knows if we’d have got that [second goal]?

“We conceded when we had a man off the pitch. I’ll be up late tonight thinking if we’d had eleven players on the pitch, who knows?

“The FA Cup allows you to dream big.

“They’re a class team, class staff and class club. We gave them a game. We had to be

patient and disciplined. To get beaten by the quality of goals, I’m proud of my team. The way we got beaten was the right way to get beaten.

“I had a little moment this morning. This time last year we were playing at Maidenhead and now we’re playing at St James’ Park. I had a little moment today and I’m really proud of the journey. I was chuffed for the players.”

Newcastle, who haven’t won a trophy for 70 years, drew big-spending League One Birmingham City away in the next round.

Woodman hopes Howe can deliver this season, with Newcastle also favourites to reach Wembley after their 2-0 win at Arsenal in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.

Woodman quipped: “I’m hoping I’ve played my part and they give me a pat on the back because I’ve let him go through to the next round. I always want him to get a bit of silverware.

“I really hope so because it has been a monkey on the club’s back for many years and nothing would give me greater pleasure, particularly Eddie and his staff and the team of players. They’re good human beings, you can tell that.

“I had a chat with Sean Longstaff, who I’ve known since he was a small boy and to see players you know and people you know at a football club – not just the players and the staff, but the people around the club – I really would, probably as much as any Geordie fan, be hoping they can lift a trophy this year, for sure.”

Howe sent on Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes at half-time, with Joelinton a planned change at the break.

Howe said: “We wanted to get through and win the game, and the players’ attitude has to be right. If the attitude is not right, you won’t get through.

“We always pride ourselves on that and I thought the lads responded really well. It wasn’t a perfect performance from us, we’re not deluded and we know we can do a lot better.

“But we showed the mental qualities needed and we had enough quality to get through.”

Bromley are back in League Two action on Saturday when they host Colchester United at Hayes Lane at 3pm.

Matt enjoys rare Turn and bags shutout in Palace win ByJohn Kelly matt turner enjoyed his “amazing” experience after keeping a clean sheet on his first appearance for Crystal palace at Selhurst park to help the eagles edge past Stockport County 1-0 in the fa Cup third round.

Eberechi Eze scored the only goal in the fourth minutes against the League One side.

Turner, 30, also kept a clean sheet on his last appearance at the ground, a 0-0 draw when he was in goals for Nottingham

Forest.

United States international Turner made a loan move to Palace last summer and has been back-up to Dean Henderson.

“It was amazing to be here, to see the crowd, feel the energy, feel so welcome as well," Turner said. "It's my second time at Selhurst.

“I played here last season, but I was on the away side. I much prefer being here and being on the home side.

“It's such a historic tournament, something that we follow closely back in

the States as well.

“I think that this next round, round four, would be my seventh-ever FA Cup game.

That's pretty good numbers having only been here [in the UK] for three years, so hopefully, hopefully many, many more [appearances].”

Turner produced a superb save to deny former Millwall striker Isaac Olaofe in the second half as Palace endured a nervous afternoon.

“I think that's the most important thing, that we're through to the next round,”

Turner said.

“That was the main objective, I'd say.

Obviously, coming out of the gate scoring early was a big, big moment for us and then we really controlled a lot of the game.

“I wish that we could have threatened their goal maybe a little bit more to get that second goal and really put the game away.

But we didn't, and we had to kill off another game at 1-0.”

“Learning to win is a habit. It's good for us to go through these these types of moments, these types of games and and

come out with a win.

“We understand that they play good football. They put a lot of balls in the box, they create tonnes of chances in League One. In the scouting report that was very, very clear.

“We had tremendous respect for them coming into the game and I think you saw that with how we approached the first half.

“For us, it's about winning. So anybody, whoever's on the pitch for us, and whoever we're playing against, the goal is to win, and hopefully keep a clean sheet in the process.”

SPORT 31

‘we are getting Loads of information’ Casper De Norre on Alex Neil’s training sessions, improving millwall’s goalscoring record, and getting a break after a busy festive period

Casper De Norre scores Millwall’s second goal during their 3-0 win against Dagenham & Redbridge

By Will Scott CaSper de norre said millwall boss alex neil had started to implement his tactical ideas after a hectic first week in charge.

Neil was appointed head coach on December 30, and took charge of the Lions 1-0 loss against Oxford United only two days later, before leading Millwall to a 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

The Lions had more than a week’s rest between their trip to Sheffield and their FA Cup Third Round tie with Dagenham & Redbridge on Monday, January 13, giving Neil time to impart instructions to his players.

“I’ve not really had the opportunity to chat with him much on a personal level, more about things on the pitch during

training sessions,” De Norre said after Millwall’s 3-0 win against the Daggers.

“We are getting loads of information now, especially this week.

“I think the first week was more about games and it was not really about his own ideas of how he wants to see us play.

“I think that started really this week and we worked a lot on the pitch. It was a lot of stop and go on the pitch, like trying to explain things, loads of information.

“But I think that’s good if we can pick up a few things now already. You will probably get things wrong, but we can probably see it afterwards on video or something and then we can work and build on that.”

One of Neil’s top priorities is getting Millwall scoring again. The Lions had

gone seventeen consecutive games without scoring more than one goal The Scotsman snapped that streak in his second match in charge after Millwall scored twice against the Owls and continued to pour in the goals against The Daggers, including a second-half volley by the Belgian to put the Lions up 2-0.

“Today was a great opportunity because you know you’re going to have to ball a little bit more and you’re probably going to score goals,” De Norre said “I think we did some bits well, there are obviously bits we can do better still, but it’s good for confidence to score three goals and now we just keep working in the training ground to get those attacking patterns in and try and create chances.”

When asked if there had been an emphasis on working on forward play in training, De Norre said: “Yes, also I think just in our approach to press higher, because if you recover it higher on the pitch, obviously you’re closer to the goal. If you’re 70 yards away, it’s obviously more difficult.

“So also to go up a little bit higher, a little bit more high pressing and get the ball on their half maybe and then you’re close to the goal and you can create more chances.”

When asked if Neil had tried to change how he played, De Norre said: “Not really. I think he tries to implement a little bit more ideas with the ball, so I think obviously I’m also a player who likes to give those passes in between and then switches play.

“He tries to work a little bit so

everyone understands his role and that we have clear patterns of what to do at which moment. So we worked on that, but nothing personal for me.”

As well as giving Neil time to implement his tactical ideas, the week preceding Millwall’s FA Cup tie gave the players time to rest after a hectic festive period.

The Lions played five games in two weeks, which took a toll.

“It was my first time doing it without a winter break in my career actually because last year I was injured during that period,” De Norre said.

“It was tough. It was definitely challenging but we had a few days rest afterwards. I could go home a little bit, spend some time with family and friends. That was really good to clear the mind and then go back to work.”

QPR target Dons youngster

Eagles boss wants Chalobah ‘clarity’

By John Kelly

By John Kelly

queenS parK rangers are targeting a move for aberdeen defender timothy akindileni.

oLiVer gLaSner has called for “clarity” as he admitted there is “uncertainty” over the immediate future of trevoh Chalobah.

Akindileni, 17, has yet to make his Dons debut but has been on the bench for the Scottish Premiership side.

QPR could get the centre-back on the cheap as he has yet to sign a professional contract.

Akindileni made one appearance in the Scottish League Challenge Cup for Aberdeen under-20s this season.

He has also played in the Uefa Youth League.

Centre-back Chalobah, 25, who is on a season-long loan from Chelsea, was left out of the Eagles’ 1-0 win over Stockport County in the third round of the FA Cup at the weekend because of a contractual issue.

The Blues have been linked with recalling Chalobah and potentially using him as part-exchange to tempt Palace into selling them Marc

Guehi.

"It's a little bit of a tricky situation,” Glasner admitted.

“Chelsea has the possibility to call him back from loan.

"There is a little bit of uncertainty at the moment over will they do it.

We need clarity, he needs clarity, so that's the situation and let's see.

"He wants to stay here but it's a decision Chelsea can take, they can decide to call him back. He is performing very well for us and has high standing in our locker room.

“He wants to stay, but we are not the pilots flying the plane."

Meanwhile, Justin Devenny has

signed a new contract with until the summer of 2027.

Devenny, 21, made his Eagles debut this season in the 2-0 defeat at home to Fulham in November.

He scored his first-ever Palace goal in his next game, the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Devenny also made his Northern Ireland debut in November.

“I'm absolutely delighted,” Devenny said.

“It’s just another step in my career and like every step there's an opportunity and I'm grateful to have it. It's a new step, so a new time to work hard, a new learning

experience and a new time to show everyone what I can do.”

"I think it's a very positive signal that Justin has signed,” Glasner said.

"A player from our academy is doing really well, getting many minutes - more and more minutes with us. And he deserved this new contract because he is working very hard. He is a very, very good talent.

"So I think it's a win-win situation for the club, signing him or extending the contract with the academy player - and for him it's a good chance to get more minutes in the Premier League."

Community matters

MILLS IN CHARGE OF ‘FALLEN FORTRESS’

INSIDE

Sport S outhLondonWeekly.

Southwark

PaLaCe make esse Progress

Romain Esse is Millwall’s joint top-scorer this season with five goals

Winger was left out of cup tie as youngster scores debut goal

By John Kelly

© Brian Tonks/Millwall FC

miLLWaLL Head coach alex neil revealed romain esse was left out of the match-day squad against dagenham & redbridge on monday night as his proposed move to Crystal palace was “progressing”.

The Lions defeated the Daggers 3-0 in the third round to book a tie against Leeds United at Elland Road.

Mihailo Ivanovic and Casper De Norre scored either side of the break against the National League side before Lions fans at The Den

were given another glimpse of the current success of their academy, which produced nineteen-year-old Esse.

Midfielder Ra'ees BanguraWilliams, 20, came on in the 75th minute and scored a superb debut goal ten minutes later. He tricked his way in from the left with a lovely piece of skill before going inside and then outside the defender and firing low into the bottom-right corner. Bangura-Williams signed a new deal last week.

Neil also introduced Sheldon Kendall for his first-ever senior appearance, days after the

seventeen-year-old winger signed his first professional contract.

Those debuts should ease the blow with Esse close to a move to Selhurst Park.

“There wasn’t an issue,” Neil said.

“Obviously Crystal Palace have shown a lot of interest in Romain and I didn’t make him available for the game.

“I think that that situation is progressing. So what I wouldn’t do is put that at risk at this stage.

Now if we get to next week and nothing’s changed, then Roman Esse will be back in the squad.”

The Lions have been linked with

32-year-old Eagles winger Jeffrey Schlupp in a separate deal.

Meanwhile, Lions striker Tom Bradshaw is set to link up with former Millwall boss Gary Rowett at Championship rivals Oxford United.

Bradshaw, 32, was Millwall’s record signing when he joined from Barnsley for £1million in 2018.

Bradshaw has scored 43 goals in 194 Championship appearances for the Lions.

Millwall were this week in talks to bring in forward Aaron Connolly, 24, from Sunderland this month.

Chelsea skipper James nets late leveller on return

By John Kelly reeCe JameS scored his first premier League goal since august 2022 to rescue a point for Chelsea in the 95th minute of their 2-2 draw against afC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on tuesday night.

The

25-year-old

Blues

club

captain hit a low free-kick beyond goalkeeper Mark Travers on his first league appearance since November.

Cole Palmer gave Chelsea the lead in the thirteenth minute before the Cherries shocked the hosts after the break when they levelled through Justin Kluivert’s penalty after Moises Caicedo fouled Antoine Semenyo, who then made it 2-1 with a left-

footed drive past Robert Sanchez.

Enzo Maresca’s Blues are tenth in the table, ten points behind leaders Liverpool.

“I saw that the free-kick was close to the goal and I thought I saw a gap.

I just tried to aim for that corner,” James said. “The goal meant a lot and we’d rather take one point than none, even though we might’ve got

three.

“It was disappointing to only take a point from the game. We were dominating most of the game and we should’ve walked away with three points. Collectively as a team we had chances in the first half and sometimes in games when you don’t take the chances, the game goes on and they managed to get two goals.”

Page 29

Jones: We’re Champ level

By John Kelly CHarLton atHLetiC suffered a 2-1 defeat to preston north end in their rearranged fa Cup third-round tie at deepdale on tuesday night.

Milutin Osmajic struck once in either half after Luke Berry’s 40thminute equaliser to book a home tie against Wycombe Wanderers.

Chuks Aneke was denied a later leveller when Freddie Woodman produced a brilliant save from his header.

Adddicks boss Nathan Jones felt his side’s performance augurs well for a potential promotion challenge in League One. They are seven points off the top six.

“We’re in really good form,” Jones said. “We were six unbeaten [in the league], and it’s taken a poor switch-off on two occasions for us to lose to a decent Championship side. We’ve got people coming back. We’ve got most of the full squad now. Our right side has been decimated, but they both come back on Thursday.

“We’re in a much, much better place in terms of numbers, in terms of quality, in terms of options. We’ve got a real tough 23 games left to try and achieve what we really wanted.

“We haven’t proved it the first half of the season, but I think we’ve got a Championship-level squad, I really do.

“You look at our midfield and you look at their midfield, there’s nothing in it. We’ve got three players in there. Connor Coventry’s a Championship player. Doc [Greg Docherty] has played most of his career [in the Championship and Scottish Premiership]. Luke Berry’s played in the Premier League last year. We’ve got a Championshiplevel squad.

“We add the youth and pace and power that we have in wide areas, we’ve got strikers, we’ve got a lot of quality in the squad. We know we can compete.

“And tonight we didn’t come here and sit back and try to nick a point.

We went after the Championship side - and there was no difference.”

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