Southwark News - June 29th 2023

millwall fixtures

lions head to teesside for opener Issue 1640

Established: 1987

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June 29th 2023

southwarknews.co.uk

Page 30

india is a published author aged just nine See page 3

'tagging toffs' 'posh out of town' graffiti writers are causing havoc in peckham - see page 16

See page 5

'my daughter disappeared off the face of the earth 25 years ago - help me'

Our new Charter, Your next chapter

We are delighted to announce that Compass School Southwark is joining the Charter Schools Educational Trust.

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2 NEWS Contents NEWS NEWS Pages 2-17 Pages 2-17 OPINION Pages 18-19 OPINION Pages 18-19 what's on Pages 20-21 Arts Family Page 21 Announcements

& Classified Page 22 Classified & Family recruitment announcements Page 23 Page 22 property Page 25 Public notices Pages 23-26 Public notices Pages 26-27 SPORT SPORT Pages Pages 27-32 29-32

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housing boss admits council hasn't got cash to meet 11,000 homes pledge

By Robert Firth

Michael Scorer, Southwark Council's strategic director for housing. (Screenshot from Parliament TV)

Local Democracy Reporter Southwark's housing boss has confessed the council doesn’t have the cash to start all the 11,000 council homes it promised to build.

Southwark Council housing director Michael Scorer admitted the Labour-run council only has the money to construct 3,200 of the 11,000 council homes it has pledged to begin by 2043.

Speaking to MPs on Monday, June 19, Mr Scorer said the commitment was one of the biggest financial challenges facing the council in terms of social housing.

He said: “We’ve got a commitment that’s unfunded to build 11,000 council homes.

We’ve got about 3,200 that we can fund at the moment, which is less than we would like to.”

Mr Scorer said that the council was already borrowing as much as it could safely do to fund projects and was “struggling for government help.”

Conditions attached to many grants prevented the council from being able to use them, Mr Scorer told the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities committee.

“Some of the money we could potentially use, we find the strings attached to the use of it means we can’t use it… We end up potentially chasing lots of pots of money and I think some co-ordination would be better,” he said.

Mr Scorer added that the council faced a bill of £30 million per year for the next three years for safety works on its properties and would have to fork out £800 million over the next 10 years on making homes more ecofriendly.

He said: “Our peculiarity is that we have 17,000 homes attached to district heating systems. A lot of those were built in the 60s and 70s. They need considerable investment. They haven’t been invested in, in a profound way, for many decades. That’s about £400 million.”

Soaring construction costs, Brexit, the war in Ukraine and Covid had also hit council finances hard, Mr Scorer added.

Emily Tester, Liberal Democrat councillor for North Bermondsey, said the council’s

admission that the 11,000 homes promise was unfunded exposed “Labour’s smoke and mirrors approach to social housing in Southwark.”

She said: “All of Southwark is now fully aware that their target of 11,000 new council homes was an unfunded fantasy. With the future of our council homes programme in jeopardy, all we’re left with is Labour’s record – 2,400 fewer council homes and over 17,000 on the housing waiting list.

“Residents are not getting the honesty they deserve from the council. It is more urgent than ever for the government to properly fund the new homes we desperately need.

Southwark Labour need to ditch the spin, and focus on fighting for the resources required to provide good quality housing.”

Kieron Williams, Labour leader of Southwark Council, said: “We are currently MILLWALL NEWS - Page 27

Issue 1639

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

Established: 1987

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June 22nd 2023

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FAMILY VALUES CONVINCED LENNY See page 11

CLAMPING DOWN

EXCLUSIVE

Council leader says enforcers 'will remove dumped e-bikes and charge the operators' See page 2

HAND-PICKED TEAM TO TAKE FORWARD BOXING LEGACY OF FISHER'S STEVE HISER See page 4

CALLS TO RE-OPEN PARK BBQ AREA CLOSED IN LOCKDOWN

Our new Charter, Your next chapter

We are delighted to announce that Compass School Southwark is joining the Charter Schools Educational Trust.

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the largest builder of new council homes in the country, with one third of those started nationally last year being in our borough, and over 3,200 built or under construction.

"We know that every one of these homes will transform lives for decades to come, but building them is getting harder and harder.

“We’ve seen a perfect storm of rocketing build costs and interest rates and increased need to invest in our existing homes. At the same time, government-set reductions in the rent we will receive mean we now have £1bn less to spend on our homes over the next thirty years.

“We are now looking at how we will fund our future phases of new council homes, using a mix of grant from the Mayor of London, private sales and wider income.

"We are determined to keep finding a way.

However if the government does not step

We’ve got a commitment that’s unfunded to build 11,000 council homes.

We’ve got about 3,200 that we can fund at the moment in to support there is a real risk the supply of desperately needed new council homes across our whole country will dry up, locking families across Britain out of having a decent home that they can afford.”

The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London Southwark News started life as the Bermondsey News in 1987, as an A-4 photocopied sheet of paper and rapidly grew to cover the entire borough and the surrounding area. As the borough grew, so did the newspaper.

It is owned and run by Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn.

Former reporters for Southwark News, they bought the title in 2002, after the founder Dave Clark died suddenly from cancer four years earlier.

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

Follow our social media to be updated on local news

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Southwark News is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry).

We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 0207 231 5258.

If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk

NEWS 3

By Isabel Ramirez a nine-Year-oLd walworth school girl wrote and published her first book last year and is now doing live storytelling for other children to inspire them to follow their dreams.

India Jones Ayreh, who lives in Walworth, has a passion for creative writing and started writing a book when she was just seven.

'India Won't Go To Sleep' is all about a young girl who is desperate to stay awake, but when she finally falls asleep she dreams of a magical world.

India told us she never thought at her age she would be able to get it published: "I thought that at eight-years-old it would just be my mini book that I have," she explained, "like a secret book and only my family would read it. I feel amazed and so excited to publish it."

"She always has a pen next to her and loves writing," a close family friend explained, "but when she started writing this we all read it and thought wow - this is really good.

"It's a tale of a girl with a wild imagination and has lovely bright illustrations - a perfect bedtime read."

She officially released it last year, when she was eight, after she and her family decided to self-publish the book on Amazon.

The family friend continued: "Coming from a lower socio-economic background, it's difficult to know where to start when it comes to the world of publishing. So her family and friends have helped her to get it published herself online.

"We want to show her that anything you put your mind to, you can achieve."

India says she hopes children get to read the book and enjoy it.

And so far, her wishes have come true, as the book has received rave reviews since coming out. One buyer said: "This story

nine-year-old is inspiring kids after becoming a published author is brilliant. What better way to get into a young child's mind, than using another young child's mind."

India has started doing live storytelling for other local children, where she reads the book and answers questions about it.

"We're so proud of her," the friend said,

"her confidence is growing and she is getting so good at public speaking which is an amazing skill to have at such a young age.

"Children's books haven't always been very representative of other races and cultures. You can't believe it unless you

see it. With her book, young black girls can now see an author and a character who looks like them which will hopefully inspire them." She added that Southwark Council had been 'amazing' in supporting India's achievement.

Last Saturday she held a storytelling

India Jones Ayreh

event at Dulwich Library, part of the Southwark Festival of Words. The interactive session was followed by the opportunity children to write your very own story.

Her book 'India Won't Go To Sleep' is available to buy on Amazon.

Rotherhithe's Darren Tassell is the Best Geezer as he lands the lead in a new Amazon Prime film

By Isabel Ramirez

a rothErhithE man, who quit his software job to be an actor seven years ago, is in a new film on one of the world's biggest streaming sites and says he's 'more successful than ever.'

Darren Tassell, 49, who grew up on the Redriff Estate in Rotherhithe, is the lead in a new Amazon Prime comedy - 'Best Geezer'.

Set to premiere on July 28, it follows a group of "hapless filmmakers" as they go on a mission to create a gangster film.

Darren told us filming it was the best five weeks of his life. "We laughed every day for five weeks," he said.

The dad-of-five quit his job seven years ago to pursue his dream and says since then he has never looked back. He may have started late for some, but with 35 credits to his name, Darren explained he is more successful than ever.

"I'm shooting back-to-back movies, enjoying the busiest part of my career," he said. "I want to show anyone that it's never too late to follow your passion. I'm finally doing what I sat dreaming about for thirty years."

Before now, he was making waves in Punjabi films in various roles, acted in War of the Worlds - The Attack on Sky, and more recently, he is appearing in a gritty drama that will be released later

Actor Darren Tassell

this year.

As well as thriving as an actor, three years ago he created something that he hopes will change the future for actors looking for work.

"I noticed how complicated it was having to send separate links from

different places to show my work to get roles," he explained. "I thought - if I'm finding it annoying, then maybe I can find a way to simplify it for other actors."

He created VShowcards, an online casting tool for actors to have all their work in one place. "Not only has it got me

opportunities, but it was responsible for casting the two most recent films I'm in," he said.

Set on helping other aspiring actors go for their goals, Darren is giving our readers one-year free memberships to his casting website with a code.

Film production staff looking for work can also be featured on the website.

Darren added that his family are "incredibly proud" of him, adding that his fourteen-year-old son is even following in his footsteps. "'He said to me - I want to be an actor like you, Dad,'" he continued, "so we started with YouTube and now he's been in his first film. He's definitely got talent.

"I'm such a positive person - so I just say go for it."

Any performers can get one year FREE on www.vshowcards.com using code: SNews1Year Look out for Darren in his upcoming films, 'Best Geezer' (July 28) and 'IC9', coming out later this year.

4 NEWS

St Mungo's staff on an indefinite strike over pay

By Isabel Ramirez

Southwark homeless charity workers have begun an 'indefinite' strike, following an ongoing dispute over pay.

Frontline staff from St Mungo's Homeless Charity have been on strike for the last four weeks, amid a pay dispute with their employer.

"We have excellent staff who love their jobs," Outreach Manager, Eammon Egerton, said. "But they can't survive on the pay they are currently receiving."

In 2021, they say they received a 1.75 per cent pay increase - below the rate of inflation. This year it was raised to 2.25 per cent, which was rejected by staff and Unite members.

In fact, Unite reported that since 2010, Mungo's staff pay has been cut 'in real terms' by 30 per cent.

The majority (93 per cent) of staff voted to strike - one of whom was Sofia Martino.

She says she doesn't want to be striking but is left with no choice.

"Rent is increasing - and it increases every year and yet our pay has decreased. We're adults, we've been sharing a living space for a long time.

It should be normal to have a property and live alone - but we can't afford to.

"I don't want to be striking, I want to be helping people."

St Mungo's is a leading homeless

charity, that provides ongoing support to rough sleepers, giving them somewhere to stay and referring them to services to help them in any way possible.

Although the strike is 'necessary,' long-time employee Eammon says this stands to greatly affect the vital services they provide in the area.

"Firstly, there's almost no outreach happening right now," said Eammon, who has been working there for nearly 20 years.

"This means no one is going out onto the streets of Southwark to engage and support rough sleepers. This is a problem."

"The temporary staff are working

hard but they don't know the clients or the projects. So they can't deliver the same standard of work that Mungo's is known for."

He said it is crucial for the homeless people they work with to have consistency - "we know many of them and they trust us - they don't want to keep telling their traumatic ."

"We have already started to lose staff. If this dispute is not resolved - then more will leave. And that will only affect our clients."

Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, said: “It was unexpected to hear that Unite has extended its period of strike action indefinitely.

“We are in the middle of discussions aimed at finding a solution and had a constructive meeting with Unite representatives on 12 June.

“Bringing an end to this unprecedented period of industrial action remains our key priority, so we can all focus on working together to support people at risk of, or recovering from, homelessness.”

The local council is supporting the action, commenting that they are concerned about what this will mean for rough sleepers in Southwark.

Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes & Sustainable Development, said: “St Mungo’s frontline workers do absolutely vital work in Southwark to help us in our efforts to end rough sleeping and we believe they should be paid a decent wage to reflect this and the rising cost of living. We are very concerned about the impact of indefinite strike action on the support available for those who are homeless in Southwark. We are urging St Mungo’s management to get back round the table and agree a fair deal as soon as possible.”

South London and Maudsley junior doctor is jailed for helping to run child sex abuse site

By Herbie Russellz

Kabir Garg

A junior doctor from Lewisham, who helped run a dark website where people shared images of child sexual abuse, has been jailed for six years.

Police cordon erected following Walworth shooting

Police believe man was shot then ‘drove himself’ away in Walworth

By Herbie Russellz A man was shot in broad daylight before being rushed to hospital in Walworth on Saturday (June, 24).

Armed officers were called at 4.55pm to reports of a firearm being discharged near Bradenham Close.

They, along with ambulance workers, discovered a 24-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds in nearby Merrow Street.

He was taken to hospital where his condition was assessed as serious but not life-threatening.

At this early stage in the investigation, officers believe the victim drove himself to Merrow Street – a five-minute drive away – following the shooting.

There have been no arrests and police enquiries continue.

Cordons and crime scenes were established at numerous locations but have since been lifted.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at approximately 16:55hrs on Saturday, 24 June to reports of a firearm discharge in the vicinity of Bradenham Close, SE17.

“Officers, including armed officers, and London Ambulance Service attended. At Merrow Street, a 24-yearold man was found suffering gunshot wounds; he was taken to hospital where his condition, although serious, was not life threatening.

“At this early stage officers believe that the victim had driven himself to Merrow Road immediately following the shooting.

“There have been no arrests; enquiries into the circumstances continue.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD5938/24June. Alternatively, people can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Dr Kabir Garg, 33, of Station Road, worked as a psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Trust - which has hospitals across south east London - between May 2021 and November last year.

Garg pleaded guilty to eight charges, including facilitating the sexual exploitation of children, three counts each of making and distributing indecent images of children, and possession of prohibited images.

A National Crime Agency (NCA) spokesperson said his crimes were “appalling” and that, as a psychiatrist, “he knew full well the devastating impact and trauma that abuse causes children”.

As a moderator for a site called ‘The Annex’, Garg helped run the 90,000-member-strong online community “like a company”.

In an online statement, the NCA said: “Investigations showed that Garg was initially a member, but dedicated time and effort to becoming sufficiently trusted to be invited to be a moderator.

“He was responsible for enforcing the rules of the site and removing members who did not comply.

“He also provided advice on how to evade law enforcement, shared and encouraged other users to share links to child abuse material.”

The Annex, which is no longer active, was run like a company with roughly 30 administrators working around-the-clock

shifts.

People accessed the site through Tor browser, a platform used to browse the dark web - a part of the internet hidden from commonly-used search engines.

Officers swooped on Garg's flat in November 2022 and discovered the site open on his laptop, with Garg logged into his moderator account.

Police recovered over 7,000 child abuse images and videos, plus messages showing him applying for, and being promoted to a site moderator rank.

According to the NCA, his online communications “clearly demonstrated his sexual interest in children and his role as a moderator”.

Medical journals found on his laptop also showed knew about the devastating impact these crimes have on children.

They had titles such as ‘Puberty and Adolescent Sexuality’, ‘A Study on Child

Abuse India’, and ‘Effects and Aftermath of Rape’.

Adam Priestley, from the National Crime Agency, said: “Garg was involved in facilitating child sexual abuse on a significant scale.

“He used the dark web to access a global community of paedophiles sharing and discussing horrific crimes against children.”

“As a doctor of psychiatry, he knew full well the devastating impact and trauma that abuse causes children, but this clearly did not deter him,” he added.

The FBI has also arrested and convicted five men in the US for their involvement in running the site, with one sentenced to 28 years in prison.

Garg was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court last Friday, June 23.

He will be subject to a Serious Harm Prevention Order and is on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

NEWS 5

By Isabel Ramirez A £10,000 reward has been issued to close the case of a girl from the North Peckham Estate 'who disappeared off the face of the earth' 25 years ago.

Carmel Fenech, also known as Carmel Pendry, was last seen at Camberwell Magistrates’ Court on May 21, 1998, with an unidentified man.

The sixteen-year-old moved with her family to Crawley in West Sussex, but was back in the area when last seen in the company of the man.

Her family moved to the town from the North Peckham Estate, the previous year.

Police fear she was murdered, although not one piece of evidence was ever found in relation to what happened to her.

Crimestoppers re-offering the £10,000 reward as her family continue to plead for answers.

"I'm not even looking for incrimination or punishment - all I want is answers," said Carmel's mum, Deidre Fenech.

She admitted that with so much time passed and the lack of witnesses the case was complicated. "Most of the girls who Carmel associated with back then are dead - lots of them overdosed. So they can't be asked," Deidre said.

But she said that one person who may know what happened is the man she was last seen at the court with. "I'm angry that the police never questioned him properly," Deidre told the paper. "He said he hardly knew my Carmel and just 'felt sorry' for her, but she was often found at his house so I think there's more to it.

"I think he may have left the country," she said when asked where this man was now.

Before her disappearance, she spent most of her time in the Brixton and Stockwell areas, which led detectives to

'My daughter disappeared off the face of the earth 25 years ago - please help me' focus their investigation on south London.

The fact she lived and was known to go to different areas hindered the case, Deidre said. "When someone goes missing in one place but lives elsewhere, the case gets passed around and it slows it down."

She added that flaws in the system could lead to certain kids slipping through the net. "Parents are trying to do the best for their kids but they come to a certain age and help is nowhere to be found. Between 16 and 18 when the kids are most vulnerable, there's a gap and no one wants to deal with them."

With four other children and now grandchildren, Deirdre said it was her family that had kept her going. "I would have given up a long time ago if it wasn't

for them. It's been tough for my other kids too. Not only did they lose their sister - but I didn't let them out of my sight when they were growing up. It changed the way I parented."

For 25 years, the family haven't been able to close the chapter, and as a result, Deirdre said there's been no closure. "She just disappeared off the face of the earth.

That doesn't just happen. Somebody out there knows. All I'm asking now is please look inside yourselves, you may have your own kids - if you know what happened, if you think you saw her, please. I need peace for Carmel."

If anyone has information they are encouraged to get in touch or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Still desperately looking for answers - mum Deidre Fenech

Photos of Carmel released after she went missing

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6 NEWS

A man in his twenties was stabbed in Nunhead Green on Sunday night and police are eager for people in the area to come forward

By Kevin Quinn

a murder investigation is underway following a stabbing in nunhead at the weekend.

Police were called at 9:20pm on Sunday, 25 June, to reports of a stabbing in Nunhead Green, near to the junction with Gordon Road.

It was reported a man in his 20s had suffered stab wounds and had been taken to hospital by a member of the public.

Despite the efforts of medical staff, the man died in hospital the following morning at 09:30am on Monday, 26 June.

Police said his next of kin had been informed and were being supported by specially trained officers.

Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing and there have been no

arrests.

Detective Chief Inspector Laurence Smith from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “We are in the very early stages of this investigation and my team are working diligently to piece together the events that led to this man losing his life.

“I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Nunhead Green at around 21:20hrs on Sunday night and who saw any of this incident to get in contact.

"You may have information that could prove vital to this investigation.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, responsible for policing in Southwark and Lambeth, said: “I understand the concern that this incident will cause among the local community; another young man has lost his life to knife crime on our streets.

"You will see an increased police presence in the Peckham area over the coming days. This will include local community engagement officers who are there to listen and act on any concerns from our communities.”

Any witnesses are asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 7706/25Jun. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The little-known story of the Victorian Old Kent Road train station

By Herbie Russell

CGI of planned tower block from Cottage Green. From Southwark Council planning documents

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter a nine-StoreY tower block will be built behind an 85-year-old former theatre as part of a church’s expansion plans.

Plans to construct 43 flats and offices in a building on the House of Praise’s car park in Camberwell were approved by Southwark councillors at a meeting last Tuesday, June 13.

The tower block will also include a new hall for the pentecostal church which has a congregation of 1,600, mostly living in Southwark.

Under the plans, the number of car parking spaces at the church would be slashed from 50 to 22, with worshippers provided with minibuses instead.

The remaining parking spaces on the site would be reserved for pastors and visiting preachers, as well as minibuses and wheelchair users.

Despite this, councillors said they were disappointed the church hadn’t tried to get rid of more parking spaces given the

area’s good transport links.

Jane Salmon, Liberal Democrat councillor for Surrey Docks, said: “[I’m] not so keen on the car parking spaces. I think more can be done. I absolutely agree with the minibuses but I think more could be done to encourage people on Camberwell Road, one of the busiest roads, to come by public transport or bikes.”

Cllr Salmon went on to vote in favour of the planned building, saying it didn’t have enough problems to justify turning it down.

Andrew Adeleke, senior pastor at the House of Praise, said the new building would allow the church to provide more activities for local people. He told councillors: “We had in our mind to improve the facility and render more

services to the community.

“That’s why we’re here tonight. We need this planning permission to finance the community facilities that we are running and what we intend to run.”

Of the 43 flats to be built, 16 would be classed as affordable, split between 10 at the cheapest social rents and six available as shared ownership – where an individual buys part of a property and pays rent on the remainder of it.

Hexagon Housing Association has expressed interest in taking on the affordable flats.

A Southwark Council planning committee made up of five Labour councillors and two Liberal Democrats approved the proposals unanimously on June 13 One witness to the whole story does however survive in the form of a Victorian post box next to the old station site.

It’s fairly grubby, and the model is clearly the ‘Victorian Type A Letter Box’, which was rolled out in 1879.

So Victorian passengers hopping off at the Old Kent Road Railway Station would have undoubtedly posted letters through its slot.

aS PLanS for the Bakerloo line extension gather steam, many will be excited about the prospect of an old kent road station which would be built where Lidl currently is.

A Railway Junction Diagram featuring the Old Kent Road railway station by the Railway Clearing House

© Google

But did you know that, 100 years ago, just an eight-minute walk down from Lidl, there was another Old Kent Road railway station?

Opened on August 3, 1866, the Old Kent Road Railway station sat at the road's southern end - where it becomes New Cross Road.

It was on top of a viaduct and bridge crossing the street, with lines running to London Bridge Station and what became Surrey Quays Station on the East London Line.

Southwards, there was a line running towards Queen's Road Peckham Station.

In 1870, it was renamed the Old Kent Road and Hatcham. North of the station site is Hatcham Road and south is a small park called Hatcham Gardens.

In 1917, with fuel scarcities gripping Britain - then three years into World War I - the station closed on New Year's Day, as a money-saving measure. Sadly, it never reopened.

Four years later, according to an April

tower block to be built behind ex-theatre in camberwell

1921 Western Gazette article, a woman gave birth to twins outside the station.

In December 2012, a track at the rail junction was reopened, meaning trains were running across the station's tracks

for the first time in almost a century.

Sadly, there are doesn’t appear to be any surviving photos of the station and details about the role it played in daily life are also sparse.

© Google Street View

murder investigation underway following stabbing in nunhead

The tower block will be built on a carpark behind The House of Praise church.

Art Weekend. Grand Unveiling of Triptych Bankside in association with Jo Peel

To launch its first London development Triptych Bankside, JTRE London is pleased to announce an exciting collaboration with London-based, international artist Jo Peel, whose work aptly focuses on cities and urban regeneration.

Jo is a painter, print maker, animator and film maker, best known for her distinctive line drawings documenting ever changing city landscapes.

Find out more at triptychbankside.com/shape

Visit Shape Bankside and enjoy music, performances, talks, creative workshops and street food, all taking place within a wildly imaginative immersive environment.

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Southwark News Shape_v3.indd 1

27/06/2023 15:02

8 NEWS

Local police officer convicted of assault after pepper-spraying suspect clinging to drainpipe at Elephant and Castle tower

By Kevin Quinn A local police officer has been convicted of assault after pepperspraying a suspect as he clung to the drainpipe of a 15-storey building in Elephant and Castle last year.

PC Luke Wenham, 31, who is attached to the Central South Basic Command Unit, which covers Southwark and Lambeth boroughs, was trying to apprehend the suspect last August at Albert Barnes House, in Meadow Road.

The man was seeking to avoid being arrested by police, who were looking for him in connection with a series of robberies.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard how PC Wenham twice discharged his pepper spray while the suspect was clinging onto a drainpipe several storeys up.

After a stand-off that lasted several hours, the man is said to have climbed down of his own accord. The police said he was arrested and later convicted of 11 counts of robbery and two counts of racially aggravated public order.

At the time police said that to evade officers the male climbed out of a window, onto a sixth floor balcony, and refused to get down for over six hours.

PC Wenham was found guilty following a one-day trial last Wednesday of two counts of common assault and is due to be sentenced on Wednesday, July 26. He also faces a misconduct hearing.

His conviction follows an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Borough Commander of Southwark and Lambeth, Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, said after the hearing: “Officers know that their actions will be held to account and where any use of force is deployed, must always consider whether it was necessary and proportionate to the circumstances.

“It is clear in this case that not only was PC Wenham’s response completely disproportionate to the situation he faced but also, by doing what he did, he put a member of public at risk of harm.

“PC Wenham has let down not only himself but many hardworking police colleagues who strive to improve trust and confidence with our communities.

“I am pleased that this matter was put before a jury to make a decision following a careful consideration of all the facts."

On Wednesday, August 17 last year, PC Wenham was one of a team of officers who attended an address in Albert Barnes House.

Police said they forced entry into the man’s flat, but he climbed out of a window and began to scale down a drainpipe which ran the length of the block of flats. As he did so, PC Wenham leant out of an open window and discharged PAVA spray at the man – who continued to climb down the pipe.

Together with other officers, PC Wenham attempted to locate the man, finding him on the balcony of another flat. When officers found him, the man continued his attempts to

escape, climbing down the outside of the building as before. Again, the court heard, PC Wenham deployed PAVA on him.

Met policy dictates that any time an officer uses PAVA spray the circumstances will be subject to review. In this case, following a review of PC Wenham’s actions the matter was referred to the IOPC who carried out an independent investigation.

On February 9 this year PC Wenham was charged with two counts of common assault. The Met said he has been on restricted duties since the investigation started and now that criminal matters have concluded misconduct proceedings will commence.

Albert Barnes House.

The area in Elephant taped off in August last year.

Elephant and Castle model becomes the fastest Brit to run across the USA

By Isabel Ramirez A model from Elephant and Castle is now the fastestever Briton to run across the United States, after beating the previous record by nine days.

William Goodge, 29, completed his coast-to-coast run across America in just 55 days and raised thousands for cancer support in the UK and USA along the way.

The 29-year-old model, who lives in Elephant and Castle, started extreme running to help him process the grief of losing his mum to cancer in 2018.

Crossing the finish line in New York on Saturday, May 27, he became the fastest Britain to run the breadth of the United States, averaging 55 miles a day, as he ran from LA to NYC, covering over 3,100 miles in total and visiting 13 US

states en route.

So far, William has raised over £100,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the American Cancer Society.

William said of his achievement: “It was very emotional, my dad and brother were there, and we embraced after I crossed the finish line.

Explaining how he managed to take on such an extraordinary challenge: "Pain can really serve as your superpower. That’s why I’ve done any of the things I’ve done – it’s come from a source of loss and a source of pain, but I’ve owned that and used it for something good.

"When it gets tough out there, to me, there’s a sense of ignorance to my own suffering, because I know, seeing someone fight cancer, just how much worse that is," he added.

His run began on Sunday, April 2 in Huntington Beach, California, completing his continent-crossing challenge in 55 days, 23 hours, and 51 minutes.

The previous holder of the record was Bruce Tulloh, who completed his run in 1969, taking 64 days.

Andrew Gould, Macmillan Relationship Fundraising Manager, said: "Becoming the fastest-ever Briton to run from LA to New York is simply phenomenal. Since the moment we met Will he has continued to amaze and inspire us all with his sheer determination, motivation, and mission to do whatever it takes to support people living with cancer and we are all so proud.

“With the money raised, Macmillan can continue to be there for those who need us, when they need it the most."

William Goodge is now the fastest Briton to run across America

By Isabel Ramirez the artiStic director and ceo of theatre Peckham has been awarded an mBE by the king, for her services to marginalised young people in the arts.

Suzann McLean, was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday 2023 Honours List.

Speaking to Suzann following the news, she told us it felt "lovely to be recognised for the work she was born to do. I just do the work because I love it," she said. "So to be noticed in this way is so uplifting."

Long before joining Theatre Peckham in 2018, she was an actress and then founded her own company, in east London 'Young and Talented,' a successful programme that nurtures and develops young people for stage, screen and life.

Having faced obstacles herself when trying to break into the industry, she is keen to be an example for young people - especially those from difficult backgrounds.

"I wanted to be an actor and go to drama school, but not everyone was supportive. Especially at my school they didn't think it was realistic."

Despite some people's doubts, Suzann pushed through and made it to the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

But when she got there, she says she felt inclined to prove herself even more because of her background.

"I didn't come from an affluent background. And there was an obvious difference between who could afford to go to shows to network and learn, and who couldn't.The cost is a huge barrier.

But I was also the only black girl in my

F.A.A.

Theatre Peckham's Artistic Director awarded an MBE

king hails suZann's work in peckham class.

"When I would go up for certain roles, Juliet [Romeo and Juliet] for example, people would say to me - do you really think you can play that role? I was always having to prove people wrong."

She says it is this understanding of the barriers many people face that is the

Theatre Peckham CEO, Suzann McLean has been awarded an MBE

driving force behind the work she does.

"This award is dedicated to all the young people I work with - there are about 400 across the programmes at Theatre Peckham alone. I will continue to create opportunities for them to shine.”

Suzann explained that although many

F A ALBIN & SONS

Photo by John Yabrifa

NEWS 9

actors got these awards, she was proud that hers was for this reason instead: "It feels super special."

Theatre Peckham is an innovative, creative arts hub, and like all communitybased organisations, it has a civic role as an agent of cohesion and change.

Along with her work in Peckham,

she has a new project at Canada Water Theatre, which recently came under their leadership.

Suzann said she hoped both sites could continue to be accessible spaces for people to come and develop their ideas.

"Watching people grow is the best part of the job," she added.

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10 NEWS

park cafe owner joins calls from age uk and local councillors for more public toilets

By Isabel Ramirez

Bermondsey cafe owner, Bell Zeki, joins calls for more public toilets in Southwark

a bermondSeY park cafe owner is echoing recent calls for more public toilets after claiming she is losing business not having one.

of these toilets also can be limited by not being open into the late afternoon and evening. The Lib Dems claim this means people with continence issues feel less able to enjoy their evenings after work.

They have written an open letter to the council, asking to improve signage,

Local parents join international line-up of storytellers for free festival in Southwark Park

By Isabel Ramirez two LocaL parents are joining an international line-up of storytellers at a free family event that is coming to Southwark Park next month.

Peckham-based storytelling company, London Dreamtime, is putting on a day of free storytelling led by artists from as far as Sierra Leone and Pakistan.

Southwark Park's Family Storytelling Day will take place on Saturday, July 8, giving the chance for families to experience different stories and cultures played out in front of them.

The line-up includes griot and story artist Usifu Jalloh (Sierra Leone) Rez Kabir (Pakistan), Diana Olutunmogun (UK) and Lonan Jenkins (Ireland).

They will be joined by two parents from the local area - Deqa Abdi Mohammed, who lives in Borough, and Ivana Lindgren, who lives in Bermondsey. Both were inspired to take part after attending previous events.

Deqa, from Somalia, is a poet and has published “Stories of Silk” a book of Somali Folk Tales.

Ivana, from Croatia, is also a puppeteer

and regularly tells stories at St James School in Bermondsey.

The storytelling will take place in a magical tent next to the Moreton Terrace entrance of Southwark Park, close to the playground and cafe. You can come for an hour or stay for the day. A BSL sign language interpreter will be available, the event is wheelchair accessible.

A spokesperson from London Dreamtime said: "This event is welcoming, inclusive and kind. We thank Southwark Council for funding it."

The event will run from 11 am - 4 pm in Southwark Park, Rotherhithe, Gomm Road, SE16 2TX. Entry is free.

Party in the park

of the borough at all times is a matter of fundamental dignity. I am troubled by the number of elderly residents who tell me they often feel isolated from the world outside of their homes, simply out of anxiety about where the next toilet will be.

"Access to more public toilets benefits

extend operating hours, and build more public toilets.

Health and Wellbeing Spokesperson Cllr Maria Linforth-Hall said: “If you aren’t affected by continence issues, someone you know will be.

"Having these basic facilities available in order to access the whole

everyone, as well as the local economy.

But for people with continence issues, it can be a life-changing matter. With 1 in 5 people saying they leave the house less due to concerns about toilet access, world continence week is the perfect chance to stand up for the dignity and wellbeing of everyone.”

Rye Lane bags eight nominations at the National Film Academy Awards

By Isabel Ramirez a FiLm based in Peckham is up for 'Best British Film' and seven other titles at the national Film academy awards.

The National Film Academy will host their 9th annual awards next week - and 'Rye Lane' is up for multiple wins.

The rom-com film, set in Peckham and Brixton, has received nominations across various categories, including Best Comedy, Best British Film, and Best Drama.

It marked Raine Allen-Miller's directorial debut.

The two leads - Vivian Oparah (Yas) and David Johnsson (Dom), are also both up for Best Newcomer, and Simon Manyonda (Nathan) and Poppy Allen-Quarmby (Cass) for Best Supporting Actor/Actress.

Writers, Nathan Byron and Tom Melia are nominated for Best Screenplay.

The ceremony will take place on Monday, July 3, with the winners announced shortly after.

© Searchlight Pictures

Bell Zeki, who set up Bell's Cafe four years ago in Bermondsey Spa Gardens, has become well-known for creating a community vibe in the small park between Spa Road and Grange Road.

She says although everyone loves it, lots of people don't come because there is no toilet.

"They say to me, 'Bell I want to come to the cafe but I can't' - because they need a toilet nearby.

"Especially the older people, so it means they have to stay home."

In fact, Age UK did a survey that found that nine in ten Londoners have considered toilet provision before making a journey to a particular place and over half (58 per cent) felt there were not enough in parks.

Bell explained that she had asked the council to install a public toilet in the park, but they refused.

We went to the council for comment but they did not respond at the time of going to press.

Continence issues affect many people, including older people, the recently pregnant, people with prostate issues and many more.

As well as breaking the taboo about this issue, campaigners are also asking councils to undo years of cuts to public toilets.

Southwark Liberal Democrats are urging the council to improve public toilets. Southwark Council currently has around 30 toilets - but the Lib Dems say the visibility of these is poor, often with little evidence that they exist.

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NEWS 13

dulwich school unveils purple plaQue for inspiring female inventor

By Isabel Ramirez a duLwich school has revealed a plaque to honour a female inventor after it was revealed that only fourteen per cent of blue plaques in the uk celebrate women.

After seeing her father suffer from Parkinson's disease, Lise Pape, 41, (pictured) created two devices to make life easier for people with mobility issues.

Path Finder is a laser device, which attaches to the shoe, and provides visual cues for people with Parkinson’s disease to keep moving.

Her other invention, Path Feel, is a connected insole system with an app and dashboard, with the aim of improving gait and balance and reducing the risk of ulcers on the feet, which can cause amputations.

To recognise the difference she has made in people's lives, Alleyn's School in Dulwich has partnered with Innovate UK to unveil a purple plaque in her honour on the school site.

This comes as it was found that just 14% of blue plaques in the UK celebrate women.

Following this discovery, Innovate UK created the purple plaque scheme to address the under-representation of female role models for children and young people.

Purple plaques are being displayed at schools across the country to recognise the achievements of some of the women innovators who have won its Women in Innovation Award. The award also sees recipients receive a cash injection of £50,000 and bespoke mentoring to scale up and market their business ideas.

Lise is one of over 150 Women in

Innovation Award winners who are developing pioneering innovations to tackle pressing societal, environmental, and economic challenges.

Lise Pape said she was "thrilled" to be recognised in this way.

'Smog-eating' paint used on Tower Bridge hoardings

By Herbie Russell ‘Smog-eating’ Paint has been slapped all over the hoardings of a tower Bridge building to “reduce pollution” and “improve air quality” for local residents.

FORE Partnership is behind TBC. London, a 1990s office block being transformed into a net-zero workspace a £50 million project.

The developer will paint the building’s interior with the special paint but, in the meantime, has applied it to the building’s hoardings and construction site.

According to FORE, Airlite paint “acts as a natural air purifier, using semiconductor technology to generate electrical charges on the surface of any wall”.

These charges then combine with the water vapour and oxygen in the air to generate negative ions that neutralise airborne pollutants coming into contact with the wall.

FORE Partnership's Managing Partner,

The hoardings of TBC.London have been decorated using paint that removes pollutants from the air

Basil Demeroutis said, "We are thrilled to be using Airlite paint at TBC.London, as this not only supports our commitment to driving innovation in our supply chain and wider industry, but also demonstrates our dedication to creating a healthy and thriving community.

“We are excited to see the positive impact that this product will have on the building and the people who work and visit here.”

The refurbishment, which is four months into an eighteen-month construction schedule will make the building 100 per cent electric powered.

Pollution-busting paint is the latest in a series of stunts the developer has pulled off in a bid to highlight its community credentials.

In February, it unveiled a mural that depicted local children as superheroes.

And in March, construction workers on the site started hanging up their old coats and scarves so local homeless people cold stay warm.

“I am a big believer in sharing stories and am very happy that I have the opportunity to share my story today with students at the school," she said.

"The purple plaque enables the story to carry on to future pupils too, which I

hope can become a value for the school and society.”

Frank Keenan, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Alleyn's School said: “Lise's work is making a real difference in people's

lives.

"At Alleyn's, we are passionate about innovation and enterprise and her inspirational work to date is an example of how these values can make a real difference in the world."

South London Hospice raises over £500k in just 36 hours

By Isabel Ramirez a South London hospice, that went on a fundraising mission to raise £500,000 in just 36 hours, has beaten its target.

St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham took on the mammoth challenge to continue supporting people amid soaring costs - and they raised a total of £585,287.

On smashing their target, a spokesperson from the hospice said: "We did so well.

"It's been incredible to see how the community came out for us.

Fundraising is a massive part of how we keep going."

The hospice is currently responding to an increase in demand for its services, which comes at a time when income has fallen due to the cost of living crisis.

To support the fundraising drive, the hospice launched a moving new film which illustrates their work and features the stories of patients and staff, from the in-patient unit to bereavement.

Jez Robinson’s sister, Charlotte Smith, was supported by the hospice. She died the day after her 37th birthday in 2017.

“I’m always so grateful for the support they gave Charlotte," he said.

"Everyone was so kind, so understanding and I think those days after Charlotte passed we just got

St Christopher's hospice took on a £500,000 fundraising challenge to help those struggling from the cost-of-living crisis great comfort from being here [at St Christopher’s].

“It felt like a place where Charlotte was happy.”

Every donation made during the 36-hour fundraising campaign will be doubled by match funders, giving supporters a greater opportunity to make an impact on those people they support and their families and loved ones.

The fundraising campaign is named What Matters Most – a reference to a question St Christopher’s staff strive to ask each other their patients, carers, loved ones and supporters: 'What matters most to you?'

Jez Robinson says in the film: “In my head, I had what I thought a hospice

was, and I guess I was pretty scared because I knew Charlotte wasn’t well and I was kind of still hoping she was going to get better.”

He adds: “What Matters Most to me, ultimately, is to continue fulfilling what my sister wanted me to do. She told me to keep raising awareness and funds for St Christopher’s, and what matters most to me is that I can continue doing that, in any way that I can. So please join me in supporting St Christopher’s while they fight rising costs.”

Philippa Kelham, Director of Campaigns at St Christopher’s, said: “Our services are more in demand than ever before and we desperately need support from our community to continue our valuable work."

14 NEWS

Charming historic postcards that reveal how our 'most cherished parks' looked in Edwardian times Brockwell Park, Lambeth, London, circa 1900 – 1930

Myatt’s Fields Park, London General view of path in park Nigel Temple (Image date range 1900-1907)

Ruskin Park, Denmark Hill, Lambeth, circa 1900 – 1906

Peckham Rye Park, Southwark, London, circa 1900 – 1906.

By Herbie Russell Historic England has shared a collection of historic postcards depicting some of south London’s most cherished parks.

Among the collection are pictures of Peckham Rye, Brockwell, Myatt's Fields and Ruskin Park, plus many more.

They were collected by the late postcard hobbyist Nigel Temple and all date from the early to mid 1900s.

Historic England is inviting people to share their own photos of the parks as part of ‘The Missing Pieces Project’ to better understand how London’s bestloved landscapes have changed over the last century.

Here are the four postcards displaying parks in and around Southwark and you can find many more on the ‘The Missing Pieces Project’ webpage.

Peckham Rye Park Peckham Rye Common, the northern portion of the park, is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1087 and surviving 14th-century documents.

The park would cement itself in

the English consciousness when the trailblazing 18th-century poet William Blake claimed to have visions of angels in one of its trees.

From the mid 1800s to the the 1940s, a 15ft tall whalebone arch stood at the Homestall Road entrance.

It was said to bring good luck to all who walked beneath it - probably due to its resemblance to the ‘lucky’ wishbone of a chicken - and was popular with courting couples.

In 1864, there was a stir when the Wombells Wild Beast show came to the park - a Victorian animal circus featuring camels, bears and elephants.

Sick of the disruption, local people bought the park through the Camberwell Vestry for £1,000.

Ownership later transferred to the Metropolitan Board of Works.

150 years later, the park remains a contested space, with festivals like GALA popular with some, but considered a nuisance by others.

Ruskin Park In the eighteenth century, the area around Denmark Hill was little more than a rural backwater populated by

just eight large houses.

In the early 1900s, a developer began making plans to buy the land but local resident Frank Trier launched a campaign to turn the area into a public park.

With a groundswell of support, and the help of private donors, the Ruskin Park Committee bought the first 24 acres for £48,000 and it was opened in 1907.

It was named after John Ruskin, a writer and champion of green spaces who lived nearby and died in 1900.

Designed by the notable parks designer Lt-Col JJ Sexby, original features like the bandstand and oval duck pond still survive today.

During World War One, the 21st Battalion, London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles), trained in Ruskin Park while based at nearby Flodden Road, Camberwell.

In 1967, the rock band Pink Floyd used it for their first official photoshoot.

Myatt’s Fields Park Myatt’s Fields Park, sitting in Camberwell, near the border of Lambeth and Southwark, opened to

the public in 1899.

Prior to that, it had belonged to a succession of wealthy families, including the powerful Knatchbull clan, and later the Minets who were descended from French Huguenot refugees.

The park was named after Joseph Myatt, a tenant market gardener who grew strawberries and rhubarb on the grounds. It was designed by Britain's first professional woman landscape gardener Fanny Wilkinson.

This compact but picturesque space, with its carefully designed path network, roundhouse and gardens, is regarded a sparkling example of Victorian design.

In 2015, it was voted the 9th best park in the UK in a public vote organised by the Green Flag Award.

Brockwell Park In the 12th century, the land now occupied by Brockwell Park was part of the Manor of Lambeth, which belonged to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

It later became the possession of St Thomas’s Hospital, then a monastic establishment, before Henry VIII

seized their estates in 1537.

Grade-II listed Brockwell Hall was built on the grounds between 1811 and 1813 - the country seat of the glass merchant John Blades.

In 1892, former Prime Minister Lord Rosebery purchased the park and opened it to the public.

At the grand opening, he declared to the people of Lambeth and Southwark: “Whatever happens, this is preserved to you and your descendants forever as an open space.”

During World War II, parts of the park were set aside for wartime food production in the form of 'Pig Clubs’ Built from timber and bricks salvaged from bombed houses, these were small pig styes maintained by local families.

In 2007, Brockwell Park received a huge £6 million funding package, mostly from Heritage Lottery Fund’s and Big Lottery Parks for People's programme.

Get involved in The Missing Pieces Project by visiting www.historicengland. org.uk/whats-new/features/parksand-gardens-anniversary/#MissingPie cesProjectPostcards

NEWS 15

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16 NEWS

'Posh out of town' graffiti writers are causing havoc in Peckham

By Robert Firth

Local Democracy Reporter Posh out of town graffiti writers are causing havoc in Peckham by using its walls as a canvas for their spray painted tags, locals have claimed.

© Rachel Bentley

The streets around Peckham’s two railway stations are covered in graffiti with barely a shop shutter or wall not decorated with street art or smeared with writing.

In the high street branch of Costa Coffee, customers look out through window panes daubed with white spray paint spelling out a recurring illegible tag.

While chains like Costa usually manage to clean up the graffiti eventually, independent businesses in the area appear to have given up trying as barely 24 hours go by before the tags return.

Peckham resident Jennifer Chelley said the graffiti writers had no fear of punishment. She said: “I’ve confronted them before and they’re well spoken. They take the train to the station and they say that people come from all over because it’s the only place [they] can do it and [they] don’t get stopped.

“They say ‘we come here to add our imprint.’ One of them had his cans of spray paint in a Selfridges tote bag. It’s not local people who are doing it.

“I live in Peckham and I don’t want Peckham to look like a ghetto and I said a while ago that the town centre is like the Hunger Games now. We need to give them a year’s prison sentence or name and

Graffiti near Peckham Rye Station. shame them.”

Ms Chelley added the council appeared to have given up trying to clean-up the paint, but she acknowledged that central government budget cuts meant it lacked the money and resources to easily tackle the problem.

Abel Nwanokwai, owner of travel agents Unique Travel UK next to Peckham Rye Station, said he’d witnessed brazen writers tagging near his business in the middle of the day.

“It’s something we’re living with now," he said. "We haven’t got a choice. Sometimes we see them in the day. We have delivery vans that park outside and even they have got it [paint] on them now. We also get people coming and fly posting outside too.

“It got worse during Covid year and beyond. I don’t know if they had nothing better to do. But it’s not teenagers; it’s fully grown men from out of the area.

"They get up to the second floor and so high on the wall. We have delivery vans that park outside and even they have got it on them now.”

Litter piling on Southwark's streets.

Graffiti covering the window panes of Peckham's Costa Coffee.

But Joe Lo, 32, who lives in nearby Nunhead, said he thought the street art complimented the area, although he was less keen on the tags.

Mr Lo, an editor, said: “The street art is great. The big ‘Welcome to Peckham’ sign on the Prince of Peckham, that’s really cool. When it’s all done in an arty way, it’s cool. The tags are not as nice but they’ve never bothered me.”

He added: “I don’t think I would like someone doing any sort of graffiti on my home without my permission though. It’s disrespectful.”

Despite this, Mr Lo said he didn’t support the council spending money on

By Herbie Russell

Litterbugs are getting away scott free according to the Liberal Democrats - after it was revealed that Southwark Council failed to hit a single litterer with a fine last year.

Council failed to fine a single litterer last year, data reveals

Southwark Council has powers to hit people with £100 fixed penalty notices, rising to £150, for poor rubbish disposal.

But is one of the 21 per cent of councils that took no action against offenders

cleaning up graffiti when it had less cash to go around due to government budget cuts.

Councillor James McAsh, Southwark Council’s cabinet member for the climate emergency, clean air and streets, said: “We are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for our residents and visitors to the borough.

"Our responsive cleansing team ensures that reports of graffiti to council buildings and street furniture are dealt with within 24 hours, achieving a 98% success rate.

"Additionally, we proactively conduct inspections in Peckham at least three times a week. The annual expenditure for graffiti removal in Peckham alone between 2021 and 2022, according to campaign group Clean Up Britain.

Lashing out at the council, deputy Southwark Liberal Democrat Leader Rachel Bentley said: “Residents from across the borough have been telling us that they’re fed up of having their streets full of overflowing bins, discarded fridges, and litter everywhere.

“It’s time that our light touch council took action. The shocking revelation about litter fines only confirms that the council just doesn’t take this seriously.”

The latest revelations come amidst a flurry of statistics that have people questioning the council’s commitment to tackling dirty streets.

For example, it has been revealed that, last year, the council imposed fines over just 2 per cent of fly-tipping cases.

Simultaneously, research by the Liberal Democrat Group showed the council had spent £983,000 on fly-tip clean-ups last year.

Despite, the mounting piles of rubbish, the Lib Dems also claim the council’s street cleaning rota has shifted from

amounts to £49,000.

“While the council addresses graffiti on public property, it is important to note that businesses in Southwark have a responsibility to remove graffiti from their own buildings.

"We regularly engage with business leaders to reinforce this message and offer advice and support to help fulfil their obligations. As we continue to invest in this service area, we hope to boost support for businesses in the coming months.

"We fully support public art and selfexpression but this must be balanced against the need for a clean and welcoming environment.” every four to five weeks.

The Lib Dems have put forward a number of proposals that it hopes will stem the flow of rubbish pouring onto pavements.

These include scrapping the £35 charge for bulky waste disposal, reversing the rota change, setting up a ‘fly-tipping task force’ and using data to identify fly-tipping hotspots.

However, bulky waste collection charges are not unusual in London boroughs and can be an important source of revenue.

In the six years after introducing charges in 2015, Southwark Council brought in an extra £1.2m.

Moreover, Lara Daniel, Tenants’ and Residents' Association Chair at the Kingswood Estate in West Dulwich suggested the council’s actions of flytipping were working.

Asked about the extent of fly-tipping on the estate, she said: “Not much anymore! We had a CCTV camera installed near the hotspot where flytipping was rampant on the estate.”

'Scrap the rat tax' urge Lib Dems as Southwark highest for rodent control

By Herbie Russell

Southwark Liberal Democrats have urged the council to “end the rat tax” - after it was revealed that residents shell out on the most rodent control visitations of any other London borough.

This paper recently reported that pest controllers made 16,664 visits over rat

and mice problems in 2022 - the most in London and the second most in the UK. At the same time, Southwark Council is cranking up the cost to residents.

From 2021 to 2022, the inspection fee for rodent issues was raised by 130 per fent from £24.90 to £57.30. And now, the inspection fee is set at £75.72 with full treatments costing £226.98.

The Lib Dems have said Southwark Council should offer all residents a 50 per cent discount on rat and mice pest control and eventually aim to scrap the charges altogether.

Southwark Lib Dem Leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said: “Increasing the upfront cost has made these vital services prohibitively expensive for those who need them most.

“Labour must get rid of this harmful ‘rat tax’. Residents are rightfully sick of the unsanitary conditions in our borough and deserve a council that cares.”

In response, Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Clean Air & Streets, said: “Unlike other councils, we compete with the private sector to offer pest control to

all Southwark residents, so providing a high-quality service can mean more visits.

“Finally, we offer a 50 per cent discount to those on benefits and our council tenants receive most inspections and treatments for free. Given that we’re one of the biggest social landlords in the country, this too contributes to us having more visits.”

NEWS 17

Southwark Council completes takeover of its leisure centres

Contractors celebrate the building's topping out

Leisure Centre hits 'important milestone' A computer-generated image of what the leisure centre is expected to look like

A computer-generated image of what the leisure centre is expected to look like

By Herbie Russell

Southwark Council staff celebrate the takeover at the Castle Leisure Centre

By Herbie Russell Southwark Council has completed the takeover of its eight leisure centres - ending its sevenyear association with the private company Everyone Active.

Council leader Kieron Williams marked the occasion at the Castle Leisure Centre, in Elephant and Castle, along with the council chief executive Althea Loderick, on Wednesday, June 21.

Southwark Council has made the move after being forced to bail out Everyone Active during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Councillor Catherine Rose, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, leisure and parks, said: “This is a decisive and bold step towards enhancing the wellbeing

of our residents with full control of our leisure centres.”

“The opportunity to develop a fully integrated service with our parks, sports pitches and all facilities will allow us to respond to the priorities and needs of local people,” she added.

The takeover has been two years in the making and follows a 2021 council report that outlined the scale of problems facing Southwark’s leisure centre.

The council had awarded Everyone Active a seven-year contract in June 2016, hoping it would transfer financial risk away from itself.

But “unexpected financial risks” such as the pandemic and subsequent bailouts “reduced the financial benefits normally seen through outsourcing”.

The rise of “low cost budget gyms” and the council’s own free swim programme had also hit leisure centres’ revenues.

The council has acknowledged “the risks” of the takeover but believes it will “enable services to be fully responsive to council priorities”.

Southwark Council plans to upgrade gym equipment and bolster class offerings following “the initial settling-in” period.

Existing leisure centre members, staff and stakeholders are being transferred to the in-house service.

Reacting to the decision in September 2021, Mark Basker, Everyone Active’s Regional Contract Manager, said the decision was “disappointing” and it had been “a pleasure” working with the council.

Newington residents head to the polls

By Herbie Russell

Residents will vote for a Newington ward councillor today after previous Labour representative Alice Macdonald resigned to focus on her bid to become MP for Norwich North.

Labour candidate Youcef Hassaine is expected to win the safe seat but faces competition from the Liberal Democrat, Green and Conservative parties.

Votes will be taken between 7am and 10pm at several polling stations around Newington ward in Kennington.

Labour candidates took 65 per cent of the vote in the 2022 Local Elections.

It has held the seat since 2010 when it took control back from the Lib Dems.

The candidates jostling for supremacy this time are Ruben Buendia for the Greens, Vikas Aggarwal for the Lib Dems and Lewis Jones for the Conservatives.

Aged just nineteen, Ruben is the youngest candidate on the ballot. He moved to Peckham in 2018 from the Canary Islands in 2018 before settling in Bermondsey and then Elephant and Castle.

He has pledged to fight for more social housing and against what he has reportedly said are unaffordable regeneration schemes.

Referring to the Elephant and Castle regeneration, the Green candidate reportedly said: “It’s tragic, the shopping centre and the people who made the Elephant what it is are being displaced.”

Conservative candidate Lewis Jones has pledged to “work tirelessly to ensure that housing issues are resolved swiftly”.

In an online statement he said “unlike others, I won't have to follow a party line” and that tackling crime was a key priority.

Lib Dem candidate Vikkas Aggarwal used to be a UK diplomat but left after Brexit. “I felt I could no longer work for this Government which was so intent on damaging the UK and its reputation,” he said.

The local resident and magistrate said: “I recognise the need for strong liberal leadership to promote good opportunities for local people to thrive, to protect the environment for future generations, and to bring positive and sustainable investment into the community.”

• • • • •

The polling stations are as follows:

Newington Estate TA Hall, 77 Canterbury Place, Newington Estate, SE17 3AD Keyworth Primary School, Faunce Street, SE17 3TR Surrey Gardens Memorial Hall, Penrose Street, SE17 3DW Brandon 3 Senior Citizen Hall, Grimsell Path, SE5 0TB Brandon Library, 17 Maddock Way, SE17 3NH

A new leisure centre in Canada Water has reached its full height marking an ‘important milestone’.

The centre on Deal Porters Way is being built as part of British Land’s £3.3bn, 3,000 home Canada Water Masterplan development.

Once completed, it will feature an eightlane, 25-metre swimming pool, a gym with over 150 stations, a four-court sports hall and two dance studios. It will replace Seven Islands leisure centre, and its popular 33-metre pool. The building will also provide over 180,000 sq ft of workspace known as the Dock Shed.

Ged Simmonds from Mace, the contractors behind the construction, said: “The topping out of Plot A2 is an exciting

and important milestone for the Canada Water project.

“This building will be home to a new leisure centre, offices and retail spaces which will be enjoyed by locals and visitors to the area alike.”

Mace hired eight previously unemployed people from Southwark as part of the development and this is expected to increase by the end of the year.

Cllr Catherine Rose, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, leisure and parks at Southwark Council, said: “It’s so exciting to be one step closer to residents enjoying the new state-of-theart leisure centre at Canada Water. We’re delighted to celebrate this progress in the same month as we are taking back management of all our leisure centres to allow us to continue supporting more people to live healthier lives.”

Police report double stabbing in Surrey Quays over weekend

By Kevin Quinn Two males were stabbed in Rotherhithe on Saturday evening, June 24, with an air ambulance racing to the scene and landing in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre car park.

Police were called at around 5.35pm to reports of a male stabbed in Lower Road, when they got there they said: "A second male was located nearby also suffering stab injuries. Both males have been taken to hospital for treatment."

They did not give an age for the two, but have confirmed that 'neither male has life threatening injuries."

There are no reports of any arrests.

Road closures were in place and a section 60 has been put in place covering the SE16 postcode area; which expired at 03:57hrs on Sunday morning, June, 25.

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD6321/24Jun. You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Air ambulance at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre

18 OPINION

Comment 'Why I chose to spend twelve months looking into whether Boris Johnson misled the House'

m

uch oF what an mP does is very much out and about in the public and usually involved in things that are very much about people’s immediate concerns, like the cost of living crisis or the shortage of housing.

But sometimes as an MP you get called upon to do something which takes place behind the scenes but is nonetheless very important for our democracy. And that’s why a year ago I agreed to take up the chair of Parliament’s Committee of Privileges to conduct the inquiry into whether Boris Johnson misled the House of Commons when he said that all Covid-19 rules were complied with in No.10.

Misleading the House is not a technicality but a matter of great importance.

Our democracy is based on people electing us to scrutinise the Government, and, on behalf of the

people we represent, we have to hold the Government to account. We cannot do that if Ministers are not truthful.

Ministers must be truthful; if they are not, we cannot do our job. It is as simple and as fundamental as that.

Over the course of the last twelve months the Committee of Privileges conducted an inquiry, looking at thousands of pages of Government emails, diary entries and photographs.

The members of the Privileges Committee are four Conservatives, Sir Bernard Jenkin MP, Alberto Costa MP, Andy Carter MP and Sir Charles Walker MP, one Scottish National Party, Allan Dorans MP, and myself and Yvonne Fovargue MP from the Labour Party.

On 15th June we published our report which found that Johnson: 1. Deliberately misled the House of Commons 2. Deliberately misled the committee

Breached the committee’s confidence 4. Impugned the committee and thereby undermined the democratic process of the House of Commons 5. Was complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee We sent the draft report to Johnson for his comments and he immediately resigned from Parliament rather than face the penalty we proposed, which was that he be suspended from the House of Commons for 90

just a year to stay home with children.

Additionally, childcare providers themselves are also struggling.

Due to underfunding by the Government, there has been an eighty seven per cent increase in nursery closures in 2022 compared to the previous year. In real terms, this is almost four thousand childcare providers lost across the country, and the sector continues to struggle. The recent childcare offer from the Government is a hollow gift as it does not give any help to providers to increase spaces.

This situation is untenable, with families struggling and the economy suffering as parents withdraw from the workforce. Families deserve access to high quality, affordable childcare,

and we must see action from the Government to support Londoners.

Londoners are facing even more challenges, with the Bank of England raising inflation to five per cent, with predictions suggesting we could reach 5.5% before Christmas. This shows that Londoners are still feeling the aftereffects of last year’s disastrous minibudget. This is particularly apparent with mortgages, as fixed rate deals expire, payments are rising massively, and some homeowners are being forced to consider selling. A real mortgage crisis is looming, and the Government must act now to prevent disaster.

Finally, some good news on the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace, which I know many residents in Southwark use.

HARRIET HARMAN

MP for Camberwell & Peckham 3.

days which would have triggered a by-election in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

The Committee also recommended that he not be allowed the pass which allows former members to come into the House of Commons.

During the course of the inquiry Johnson’s supporters mounted a campaign of vilification and harassment against members of the Committee and were particularly threatening to the Conservative members.

So we are producing a further

‘It is now estimated that the cost of a full time nursery place for a child under two, is around £13,000'

i

know that the cost of childcare is an ever growing concern for parents in Southwark and across London

The cost of nursery places has risen hugely, over a short space of time, and families are feeling the pinch.

It is now estimated that the cost of a full time nursery place for a child under two, is around £13,000, having grown by 60 per cent in cash terms between 2010 and 2021.

These completely unfeasible costs are having a severe knock on impact on families and on the sector as a whole.

One in four parents have been forced to quit work or exit education due to eyewatering childcare costs, and 32,000 women left the workforce in

report condemning what was a concerted attempt to undermine and halt the work of the Committee.

On 19th June the House of Commons backed our report into Johnson with 354 MPs voting for and only 7 against.

It’s taken a year of work but I think it’s more than justified to have spent the time and effort it required to carry out the inquiry.

It is about protecting our democracy.

Because even if you are the Prime Minister—especially if you are the Prime Minister—you must tell the truth to Parliament..

MariNa ahMaD

GLA Member for Southwark & Lambeth The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has pledged millions of pounds towards a revamp of the centre, with a new athletics hub. Although this work may take some

years, the Mayor has also committed to a number of short-term improvements which will really make a difference to all those who use this centre.

OPINION 19

We’re all responsible for keeping our streets clean

“S

treets full of overflowing bins”, “window panes daubed with white spray” and an endemic rat problem - it piles up to create a pretty stinky picture of Southwark.

Clearly, there is an acute problem with public sanitation, ugly graffiti and rubbish in our borough that needs to be addressed.

Many people blame the perpetrators and are calling for harsher punishments for those caught in the act.

For example, the Liberal Democrats have criticised the council for not fining litterers regularly enough.

And when it comes to cleaning up Peckham’s graffiti problem, one resident has even urged to hit taggers with one-year prison sentences.

But during a cost-of-living crisis, when people are struggling to pay for the basics, locking people up and taking their money away for dropping a cigarette butt seems a bit draconian.

It comes down to a question of personal responsibility versus social responsibility. Are we as individuals responsible for keeping our streets clean, or should the buck be passed to local authorities and governments?

The answer, as boring as it is, is probably a bit of both. So while the council should undoubtedly explore all the tools at its disposal to tackle our dirty streets, we all have a role to play.

It’s easy to point the finger elsewhere - whether it be the council or “tagging toffs”. But as the old adage goes: “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

Currently, Southwark has 30 public toilets - but Bermondsey's Spa Gardens for example has none, despite it being the site of a very popular cafe and a well-used park.

Many people suffer from continence issues, and according to a survey done by Age UK, whether there is a nearby toilet often affects people's choices about whether to go out at all.

The survey also revealed that Londoners are deliberately dehydrating themselves due to the lack of loos.

But it's not just older people. With summer upon us, more and more people will be frequenting parks and find themselves caught short if something is not done.

After all, if there are no toilets, people are often forced to go to the nearest bush/tree they can find - not exactly dignified.

If the council can't build more public toilets, then perhaps they could look to our European neighbours for inspiration.

In Germany, for example, city governments pay local businesses to open their toilets for free to the public.

This ultimately falls on taxes, but isn't it better than polluting the parks, or awkwardly scrambling to buy anything at a nearby restaurant just to pee for free?

cryptic Puzzle Clues Across 4 Investigated professional plot (6) 8 Time's up for charges (7) 10 Painful experiences of gold transactions? (7) 11 A right young man for the crime 12 Bringing down the bird (5) 13 Feeling they put me in mixed tennis with team leader (9) 16 Fruit stolen from barrel? (9) 19 It's forbidden thanks to jeering sound (5) 20 Postponement of French song (5) 22 Shows how Father attacks, we hear (7) 23 See it's a short distance after the crop to the barn (3,4) 24 Men of the trees? (6)

Clues Down 1 Rails about five who are competitors (6) 2 Chooses to stop out (4) 3 Not 'Gentlemen, be seated' (8,5) 5 Important occasions for Moscow landlady? (3-6,4) 6 Food for Bunny is seen to flourish (8) 7 Wish to end hostilities in dire circumstances (6) 9 Loves to unravel mysteries (5) 14 Figured the Editor was less feeling? (8) 15 Plain but sounds elevating (6) 17 A blow to astound (5) 18 Go to the streets for these meetings (6) 21 The circle will see to the work (4)

Quick Puzzle Clues Across 4 Rascals (6) 8 Angles (7) 10 Swooped (7) 11 Dances (5) 12 Concise (5) 13 Act of flirting (9) 16 Truce (9) 19 Melody (5) 20 Catch hold of (5) 22 Deep ravines (7) 23 Voter (7) 24 Enjoyment of cruelty (6)

Clues Down 1 Afraid (6) 2 Right (4) 3 Discerning (13) 5 Confirmed (13) 6 Wheat paste (8) 7 Unexpected (6) 9 European country (5) 14 Decreased (8) 15 Loose shirts (6) 17 A rodent (5) 18 Specialist (6) 21 Opposed to (4)

Solutions to last week’s crossword Cryptic Across: 1 Rebels 7 Isolate 8 Contain 9 Nadir 10 Relenting 12 Ewe 13 Edam 15 Edified 17 Rear 19 Did 21 Partition 22 Moose 27 Noisome 24 Tangent 25 Anonym Down: Recorder 2 Bangle 3 Learned 4. Going 5 Landed 6 Peer 7 Indifferent 11 Ewer 13 Edit 14 Moonbeam 16 Edition 18 Abound 20 Disown 21 Pekes 22 Mite Quick PUZZLE Across: 1 Fringe 7 Amateur 8 Unclasp 9 Ratio 10 Slenderly 12 Sue 13 Sees 15 Despoil 17 Else 19 Met 21 Triumphal 22 Juror 23 Tonnage 24 Pinnace 25 Zealot Down: Foursome 2 Inches 3 Grandee 4 Harry 5 Mettle 6 Trio 7 Appropriate 11 Nude 13 Slap 14 Smallest 16 Immense 18 Strong 20 Thrall 21 Trial 22 Jape

20 ARTS

what’s on

Where Are We Now The title of Rod Kitson’s exhibition of almost 400 portraits of people from London and beyond refers to where his progression as an artist is four years on from when the project began in 2019, writes Michael Holland...

There are currently 384 artworks and another 16 will be completed on-site during the run of the exhibition.

Hung in chronological order as you enter his Surrey Quays Shopping Centre studio you can see a change in his style and palette as you walk along the paintings (Many eyes following you all around the room). From quite flat works the most recent portraits have lashings of colour and paint; almost 3D, ‘almost structural’, says Kitson.

Initially, the subjects were friends and family and other artists but Rod opened his studio door up to walk-ins from the local community, some of who returned for second and third and even fourth portraits, each one showing another side of the person and another aspect of the artist. Several of those strangers coming in off the street to sit for the artist have become friends.

Rod Kitson, with his other people-led work here in the shopping centre, has

Jesus is in Brockley It is 1930, a church in a small village in Spain where a local artist has just completed his commission for the resident nuns - a painting of the Lord Jesus Christ. The commissioning nun (Louise Beresford), however, is horrified! She felt the fresco did not have the reverence needed for the man she has given her life to. Basically, the image was a halo short of holiness. The Mother Superior agreed and offered the artist, half of the promised payment.

Elías Martínez (Roger Parkins), a painter who lectured at the local college, was so angry he refused to take such a belittling sum for the hours of dedication he put into creating what he considered to be a reverential masterpiece.

Photo by Steve Gregson

A ‘Restoration’ comedy in the truest sense of the word. The real story of this event was a worldwide sensation so I came in hope that Behold! The Monkey Jesus, a play

by Joe Wiltshire Smith was just as sensational, writes Michael Holland...

The painting stayed on the wall and over time it began to fade and flake off. In 2012 the church cleaner, Cecilia Giménez (Mary Tillett), who had grown up with the image throughout her 81 years, and unschooled in art, thought

she would revive it with a touch of paint.

In fact, the voice of the Holy One actually told her to ‘give it a lick of paint’!

Someone, though, took a photo of the ‘restoration’ to post online and it soon went viral. Some art experts called it the

Monkey Jesus, which is the name that stuck.

Before long the world’s press were swarming the church and village to mock poor Cecilia. And then others came to see this amateurish renovation,

created a community in the community.

Rod talks meaningfully about what he has gained from this project, not just as an artist but intellectually. The memories of some of the conversations had in the couple of hours spent sometimes with complete strangers - have ‘brought deeper meaning to my life’.

On the opening night, sitters came along to find themselves on the wall, bringing friends and family to enjoy the exhibition, to take selfies with their image or to pose next to themselves their two-dimensional twin. The artist greeted them warmly, remembering all their names and the discussions they had. It was more like a family gathering than the opening of an art exhibition.

The pictures can be bought for £250 for those created in 2019-2022, with later works selling at £300. Rod also accepts commissions for portraits of the same size (one square foot) and style.

The Art of Isolation, Upper Floor, Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, SE16 7LL until July 20th.

Free entry. Tues - Wed 11am - 6pm; Thurs - Fri 12pm - 7pm.; Sat 11am 5pm; Sun - Mon Closed.

and they kept coming, and soon they were coming in their tens of thousands and before long the church began charging €3 to get in to look upon the fresco and that funded a gift shop where mugs and fridge magnets would be sold, and Cecilia thought she should have a share so called in lawyers to win her a portion of the merchandise profits.

But then the granddaughter of Señor Martínez came to take umbrage with Cecilia for ruining her grandfather’s work AND taking money for bringing such shame to the family name! Cecilia could only respond by saying the money she received went on funding her disabled son’s special needs, but her apologies went unaccepted.

The writer has, like Cecilia Giménez, taken artistic liberties with the actuality to create this comedy - Funnier if you know the story - but the ending was a bit botched and awkward, and could, perhaps, have ended when charges were brought for embezzlement.

But that was the only hitch in this very funny play.

Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London, SE4 2DH until 8th July.

Box office: www.brockleyjack.co.uk or 0333 666 3366 (£1.80 fee for phone bookings only) Time: 7.30pm.

Tickets: £17, £15 conc., 14+

ARTS 21

Arts History

Photo by Johan Persson

Lily Allen in The Pillowman

Dear England at the National Theatre is a Beautiful Game FirSt oF all, let me say that joseph Fiennes is absolutely brilliant as gareth Southgate in James graham’s dear england. to be honest, he gave a better performance than Southgate often puts in, writes Michael Holland...

I had come with high expectations of this new play about Southgate’s tenure in the England manager role. Would it be a bore-draw or will the team smash it out of the stadium? Would it go to a penalty shootout that left me either high or crying?

Es Devlin's stage was a giant circle with a flip-top lid which opened to reveal a young Southgate missing the crucial penalty against Germany that put us out of the ’96 Euros. Looking on was the Gareth Southgate of today. It is the penalty spot that the play is centred upon.

The set-up to the story begins with video projections of past players and managers before Big Sam Allardyce is sacked for skulduggery and Gareth Southgate is called in to become caretaker until they find someone better… His appointment is received nationally with much lack of excitement.

Having taught the under-21s, and been an England player, he knew that

the problem was not the football but the dressing room division of players mixing only with their club’s players.

Older, established players were moved on, and younger players introduced for Southgate to build a new team, a team that could win things. Plus, with a nation always thinking a trophy will be ‘Coming Home’ at the start of every tournament - with no real evidence to back that idea up - he called in psychologist Dr Pippa Grange (Gina McKee), whose book, Fear Less: How to Win at Life without Losing Yourself, had attracted Southgate enough to have her work with the squad. As you can imagine, this new philosophy did not go down well with either the players or the coaching team.

He sets them all a doable goal of six years - Qatar 2022.

Dear England is based around the penalty shootouts that have blighted our football for decades, so Grange analyses them from her professional perspective and gets the players to deal with them differently.

The first act ends with winning a penalty shootout!

The second half pretty much follows the same game plan with the audience feeling the highs and lows of the football on the pitch. It often felt like

James Graham must have been in those dressing rooms recording the team talks and diatribes that bounced around those sweaty walls between players and staff. This was real. The emotions were real. The penalty shootouts still hurt.

There is the right amount of comedy added to balance out the upsets, with Jordan Pickford playing a blinder on and off the pitch, and a homage to The Full Monty when the players whip off their tournament suits to reveal the England strip beneath.

Football is a team game and the whole squad pulled together to make this an absolute blinder under the guidance of Rupert Goold. I can see this squad winning things.

At the end, we left with hope for the future. Reading the Evening Standard on the train home there was a headline that captured exactly how everyone felt when leaving the National Theatre: ‘Striking proof Southgate boasts the most complete international attack’: England 7 - North Macedonia 0.

I believe it will be Coming Home.

Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 9PX until August 11th. Times: Mon - Sat 7.30pm; Wed & Sat matinees 2pm. Admission: £56 - £89.

Booking: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

once uPon a time in a far away totalitarian dictatorship, katurian (Lily allen) was blindfolded in a police station being tormented and threatened by tupolski (Steve Pemberton) and ariel (Paul kaye). with these three performing the Pillowman, a play by martin mcdonagh, i thought i was in for a good time. how wrong was i, writes Michael Holland...

Katurian is a writer of short stories and doesn’t understand why she is being interrogated. Nor do we, until Tupolski begins reading her stories back to her. Gruesome, horrific tales of child abuse and murder make us think there is some hidden antigovernment metaphor in there.

Is she mocking the system or the despot running the country? But, no, there is a spate of child killings that copy the murders in her stories.

Could Katurian be the serial killer?

As dark as it is, the even darker comedy within periodically stabs you in the front and jabs you into guilty laughter.

After a beating, Katurian gets banged up with her intellectuallychallenged brother Michal (Matthew Tennyson)who has grown up on her stories. For comfort, he asks her to tell him the one about the green pig and remind him of the one about the boy tortured by his parents, and the one about The Pillowman who helps children die happily. Michal, we find, has his own tale to tell.

This is a story about stories and each one we hear takes us deeper and deeper into Katurian’s private

hell.

Ariel finds himself enjoying some of Katurian’s, secretly admiring her while despising her enough to plug her into the mains for shock treatment. He himself, we discover, was abused as a child and his whole raison d’être has been to lock up, torture and execute child abusers.

The Pillowman shows that those abused and damaged as children very often go on to abuse others.

Research shows that just about every psychopath had a tormented upbringing.

The Pillowman is not an easy watch and the middle section, where Michal and Katurian are in a cell discussing their predicament, outstays its welcome. Almost grotesquely, it was nice to get back to the good cop/bad cop police violence scenes where at least there was the respite of black humour to relieve the horror.

It is a very clever piece of work. It has us guessing and then guessing again, but with each revelation, we realise we were wrong and find ourselves falling into another black hole.

But despite superb performances from the main protagonists, great dialogue and truly fantastic short stories from the writer, when put together, I’d rather not spend almost three hours being told life is not good.

Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4BG until September 2nd. Times: Mon-Sat 7.30pm, Wed & Sat matinees at 2.30pm. Admission: £20 - £140 Booking: 0333 009 6690 - www.

Pillowmanplay.com

22 CLASSIFIED

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

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

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

Elim House Day Centre

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

ScotsCare is here to help and support Scots and their families in Greater London Our services include: Financial Support | Advocacy | Counselling | Sheltered Housing | Homelessness | Job Coaching | Social Events | Volunteering To find out more, visit

www.scotscare.com or call

0800 652 2989 We are accepting walk-ins

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

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

Registered Charity No.207326

WANTED RECORDS ROCK, POP, PUNK, INDIE, REGGAE, SOUL...

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

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

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

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

07850 323 508 CLASSIC & UNSUAL CARS ALSO WANTED

Open Wednesday-Friday 9 am-3pm

Walworth Living Room Cafe DAILY SPECIALS | FRESH BARISTA COFFEE | HOME-COOKED SOUP AND CAKE

The Walworth Living Room is an open space for local people to meet their neighbours and enjoy good food and fun activities.

Walworth Living Room Surrey Square London, SE17 2JU Contact 020 7703 3803 walworthlivingroom.org info@pembrokehouse.org.uk SCAN ME

Call: 07956 832314 / 020 8677 6907 Or

Scan the QR code or visit linktr.ee/pembrokehouse to discover our activities and register to hear about news from our work in the neighbourhood.

Email: vinylwanted@aol.com

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

CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH

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CLASSIFIED AND COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Foot Messenger/CourierSuitable for Retired Person Location: London Description: We are a visa-based company based near London bridge and are currently looking for a reliable and responsible foot messenger to carry out submission of visa applications to various Embassies.

This does entail a lot of walking and travelling via public transport both over ground and underground, therefore fitness and knowledge of public transport is essential. Suitable for retired person and previous experience as a foot messenger would be ideal but not essential as full training will be given. A record of good conduct and the ability to work with multiple people at a time in a fast-paced environment is a requirement. Candidates should be neatly dressed and groomed as they will interact with many professional personnel’s’ throughout each business day.

References: Will be required Hours: Open time Rate: Paid on hourly basis. Start: Immediately EMAIL – info@actionvisas.co.uk Contact – Jennifer 07703 610416

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Local news media audience numbers from JICREG 2022. For more information visit www.jicregonline.co.uk and follow @localmediauk #jicreg #trustlocal on Twitter.

RECRUITMENT 23 All photos are of our classes

Adult Learning Lewisham

DAY, EVENING AND WEEKEND COURSES

Come to our Open Day Thursday 20 July 2023 1-7pm

Granville Park Adult Education Centre, London, SE13 7DU, just a few minutes from Lewisham station.

Visit the facilities, talk to subject specialists, take part in free drop-in activities and demonstrations, and enrol for courses starting in September.

More information is available at: www.lewisham.gov.uk/adultlearning Adult Learning Lewisham ALL TOGETHER WE FLOURISH

Receptionist & Administration Assistant Responsible to: Start date: Salary: Status: Days and Hours: Deadline:

Administration Manager ASAP Grade 3 - £24,954 - £26,625 (FTE) pro rata Permanent 25 hours per week: Monday to Thursday (12:30 – 17:30) Friday (12:00 – 17:00 Term time (plus two weeks) 13th July 2022

Role summary:

We are seeking to appoint a part time Receptionist to support a busy administrative team and to act as the first point of contact for students, parents and visitors. The receptionist will be an enthusiastic ambassador for Compass School Southwark, participating fully in the life of the school community.

Part-time Lunchtime Supervisors/Exam Invigilator Responsible to: Start date: Salary: Days and Hours: Deadline:

Senior Leadership Team ASAP Salary range £24.771 - £24,954 (FTE) £12.70 per hour 1 hour per day, five days per week, 13:00 - 14:00 Term time only 21st July 2023.

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, motivated and committed individual with excellent communication skills to join our team working in a friendly, lively environment to ensure the security, safety and good conduct of our students at lunchtimes and where appropriate, during examinations*.

The successful candidates will be responsible for supervising students in an area of the school during the lunch break and will need to have a confident and positive approach when working with our young people. *There may be exam invigilation opportunities available for the right candidate during examination periods.

The Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the closing date.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview and to experience lunchtimes first hand.

For further information about the school and the Trust, please go to www.compass-schools.com.

The Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the closing date.

Please visit https://compass-schools.com/recruitment/vacancies/ to download the information pack and application form to apply.

If you have any questions, contact us at recruitment@compass-schools.com or 0203 542 6506.

Compass Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding children and all appointments will require an enhanced DBS check.

For further information about the school and the Trust, please go to www.compass-schools.com.

Please visit https://compass-schools.com/recruitment/vacancies/ to download the information pack and application form to apply.

If you have any questions, contact us at recruitment@compass-schools.com or 0203 542 6506.

Compass Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding children and all appointments will require an enhanced DBS check.

5 July - 29 October 2023 Free Exhibition South London Gallery Abdulrazaq Awofeso, Seyi Adelekun, Chiizii, Ndidi Dike, Victor Ehikhamenor, Onyeka Igwe, Lagos Studio Archives, Adeyemi Michael, Christopher Obuh, Emeka Ogboh, Temitayo Ogunbiyi, Temitayo Shonibare, Yinka Shonibare.

Exhibition co-curated by Folakunle Oshun and the SLG

26 PUBLIC NOTICES LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1)(TOWNLEY ROAD, EAST STREET, MEYMOTT STREET, BLACKFRIARS ROAD, MILLSTREAM ROAD, OMEARA STREET, STONEY STREET, VARCOE ROAD

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

TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND CYCLE LANE CLOSURE 1.

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

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in: (a) Townley Road, between Beauval Road and Lordship Lane, ‘at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be imposed on both sides of the carriageway (b) East Street, between Walworth Place and King & Queen Street (c) Meymott Street, at it’s junction with Blackfriars Road (d) Blackfriars Road, closure of north bound cycle lane between Meymott Street and Colombo Stree (e) Millstream Road, between Druid Street and Maltby Street (f) Omeara Street, between Southwark Street and Union Street (g) Stoney Street, at it’s junction with Winchester Walk for 15m south (h)Varcoe Road, From outside No’s 74 to it’s junction with Bramcote Grove

1.

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

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in: (a) Stoney Street, opposite the junction with Winchester Walk to opposite No’s 15 Stoney Street

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic will be (2a) as indicated by the signs displayed

4.

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

5.

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

The alternative route for affected traffic will be (2a) not applicable (2b) as indicated by the signs displayed (2c) Blackfriars Road, Blackfriars Road, The Cut, Hatfields, Stamford Street.

Blackfriars Road, Stamford Street, Paris Gardens (2e) (2f) (2g) (2h) as indicated by the signs displayed

6.

The works will be in operation for (2a) 16th July – 17th July

7.

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

4.

Meymott Street, will be made ‘two way’ for access and egress purposes for (2c)

Dated this 29th June 2023

5.

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

6.

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

7.

The works will be in operation for (2a) 3rd July – 30th August (2b) 10th July (2c) 8th – 9th July, with back up dates of the 15th – 16th July (2f) 6th – 7th July (2g) 9th July (2h) 13th July – 1st August

Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) LO00000500327362404

8.

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

3.

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (MELIOR STREET, WESTON STREET, MELIOR PLACE

Dated this 29th June 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX

(TEMPORARY WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS AND TEMPORARY PROHIBITION) 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that, because of development works, it intends, to make an order, the effect of which would be to introduce various waiting and loading restrictions in part of the above named roads.

2.

Whilst the restriction is in place, and whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to wait, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading at any time in:

Notice of Application for a Club Premises Certificate made under Section 71 of the Licensing Act 2003

(a) Melior Street - the existing ‘waiting restrictions’ (single yellow lines) will be converted to ‘at any time’ ‘waiting and loading’ restrictions (double yellow lines) located on the south west side from the junction with Fenning Street for a distance of 20m west

Please take notice that I / we Izaak T Bestebreur , director of PR Dutch Drinks hHave made application to Southwark Council for a new Club Premises Certificate in respect of 67-68 Enid Street, Southwark. SE16 3RA

Days

Start time

Finish time

The supply of alcohol by or Monday to Thursday on behalf of a club to, or to the order Friday of, a member of the club: Saturday Sunday

17:00 15:00 12:00 12:00

21:30 22:00 22:00 20:30

The provision of regulated entertainment:

Monday to Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

17:00 15:00 12:00 12:00

21:30 22:00 22:00 20:30

The provision of late night refreshment:

Monday to Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

21:30 22:00 22:00 20:30

22:00 22:30 22:30 21:00

Monday to Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

17:00 15:00 12:00 12:00

22:00 22:30 22:30 21:00

Opening hours:

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

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

Date of application: 24th June 2023

(b) Melior Street – the existing ‘waiting restrictions’ (single yellow lines) will be converted to a 12m loading/unloading bay located on the south west side near No’s 14 loading will be 40 minutes, with no return within 2 hours (c) Weston Street – the existing ‘waiting restrictions’ (single yellow lines) will be converted to ‘at any time’ ‘waiting and loading’ restrictions (double yellow lines) located on the south west side outside No’s 50 for a distance of 8m (d) Melior Street - the existing ‘waiting restrictions’ (single yellow lines) will be converted to ‘at any time’ ‘waiting and loading’ restrictions (double yellow lines) located on the south west side outside No’s 14 to the junction with Weston Street. (e) Weston Street – ‘disabled parking space’ 6m will be allocated from the end of the existing ‘paid by phone’ parking spaces located on the south east side between No’s 52/54 (f) Melior Place, ‘disabled parking space’ 6m will be allocated from the end of the existing ‘paid by phone’ parking spaces located on the north west side between No’s 1 and No’s 2 to 4 (g) Melior Street will be closed at it’s junction with Weston Street 3.

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

4.

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

5.

The restriction will come into force on the 13th July – 12th August 2024

6.

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

Dated this 29th June 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Traded Services Environment and Leisure 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX

To p l a c e a p u b l i c n o t i c e , p l e a s e e m a i l e m @ c m - m e d i a . c o. u k Our weekly deadline is 4pm on Tuesdays

PUBLIC NOTICES 27

To all our valued customers Just a quick note to express our genuine gratitude for your continued support and positive feedback you have shared with us over the past three months Your satisfaction and appreciation mean a lot to us and we are truly grateful for your custom We look forward to serving you and delivering the best Fish & Chips at Joseph’s for many more enjoyable dining experiences

Thank You

Tuesday - Sunday 12pm - 9pm Closed Monday

350 Lordship Lane Dulwich SE22 8LZ 020 3623 7315

SPORT 29

Lynn finish season with perfect three out of three

By John Kelly

LYnn abc came away with three wins from three in their last show of the season at Balham Boxing club last weekend.

Shaydon Thompson was competing in his first-ever amateur bout against Anan Butt from Southall ABC. Thompson showed great boxing skills and got stronger as the fight went on, eventually stopping his opponent in the third round.

Coach Terry Pearson said: “Shaydon is only eighteen years old and he is showing great dedication to our sport and he is a fantastic talent. I can't wait to see what he can achieve next season.”

By Bruce Talbot

an uneXPected last-wicket stand of 130 between Sean abbott and dan worrall and some aggressive bowling by their seamers helped to put first division leaders Surrey in a good position against Lancashire at the kia oval this week.

Hanratty boxed Charlie Brown from Tree Estate ABC over four two-minute rounds. This was undoubtedly the best bout of the night. Both boxers showed fantastic boxing skills which had the crowd on their feet.

It was a closely-fought contest and Hanratty came away with a majority points’ win.

Pearson said: “I couldn't be happier for Frankie. He has had to wait a while to make this last defence after previous pull-outs but for me he gave us his best performance to date.

“Frankie has improved with every bout this season and I am glad to get this last defence out of the way so we can concentrate on bigger things for next season.”

surrey in driving seat

Left to right: Jimmy Moore, Shaydon Thompson, Frankie Hanratty, Terrell Edwards and Terry Pearson Surrey’s Sean Abbott

Defending County Champions in action against Lancashire

While Abbott is a very handy lowerorder batter – this was the 15th fifty of his first-class career - Worrall had only scored one half-century in his previous 112 first-class innings. But the 33-year-old from Melbourne was rarely troubled as he

brought up his second career fifty from just 56 balls with five fours and a six.

Abbott hit the ball cleanly and at times a long way, clearing the ropes five times in his 87 from 69 before the stand ended rather tamely with Worrall run out by Josh

Photo by Mark Sandom

Abbott and no.11 Worrall both made entertaining half-centuries as Surrey scored 360 to establish a first-innings lead of 86.

Abbott and Worrall then struck in successive overs as Lancashire lost three wickets clearing their arrears. They reached stumps on 113 for four, a lead of 26.

The day and perhaps the outcome of the match may have been shaped in the 75 minutes or so after lunch when Abbott and Worrall came together with Surrey 230 for nine and proceeded to score at a run a ball for the next 21 overs and demoralise Lancashire.

Worrall pulled Daryl Mitchell for six to put Surrey in front during an over in which they took 24 off the New Zealand all-rounder.

The fifty partnership took just 35 balls before Abbott reached his half-century with a straight six off Jack Blatherwick.

Lancashire had their chances though.

Abbott was badly dropped by Tom Bailey at backward point off a reverse sweep on 55 and added another ten before Keaton Jennings shelled a more difficult chance in the covers.

Next up was Terrell Edwards who boxed Milen Milev from Honour & Glory ABC. This was a closelyfought contest with both boxers having success in rounds one and two. Edwards’ coach Jimmy Moore instructed Terrell that he needed to start letting his hands go more and stop being gun-shy, and that is exactly what he did as he went on to get a third-round stoppage-win.

“He just needs to believe in himself more and I am sure we will see more success next season,” was Pearson’s assessment.

Last up was Frankie Hanratty in the main event of the evening, making his last defence of his Balham challenge belt.

Bohannon after a mix-up for a career-best 51.

Surrey had started the second day 70 for four and lost their fifth wicket on 108 when Jamie Smith was superbly caught diving forward by Jack Morley running in

© Fisher ABC

Talented Fisher fighter honours Steve Hiser with Capital Cup win

By John Kelly

FiSher abc’S caleb awudi fulfilled his dream of honouring Steve hiser by winning the capital cup box championship earlier this month.

Caleb Awudi

In doing so, the eighteen-year-old became the latest star of the boxing club, and Hiser’s final champion ahead of the funeral of the late, great coach.

With just a handful of bouts behind him and experience very much not on his side, Awudi convinced the team to enter him into the competition because he saw winning it as a way to honour Hiser’s 50year legacy of producing Fisher boxing champions.

Caleb said: “The team told me how hard it would be, but Steve has done so much

for me and I wanted to make him proud.”

Awudi defeated Nathan Thomas in the semi-final. It was a blistering start from both fighters, both having a very even style. However, Awudi quickly dominated with his jab, putting Thomas on the back foot throughout the first round and scoring well.

Round two was more tactical from Awudi and Thomas, both fighters attempting to switch variations and throwing big rights to gain the advantage.

Knowing he had it all to play for, Awudi threw himself into round three, again with a relentless forward attack, clearly having the measure of his man by now and he romped home to a clear victory.

Awudi faced Joshua Oladipo in the final.

With Oladipo having a reputation for

being a great counter-puncher, Awudi knew he would have to dig deep into his bag of tricks and use his versatility to win by showing an even higher level of technical thinking.

Round one started slowly with both fighters feeling each other out in an attempt to find their range.

The next round developed into an intense chess match of skill with both fighters scoring sharp jabs and using quick head movements.

Round three saw Awudi throw caution to the wind and stamp his trademark relentless pace on the bout with a mix of skilled footwork and long-range shots, upsetting Oladipo’s game-plan and taking a one-sided round to become the Capital Cup Box champion.

from the mid-wicket boundary.

He wasn’t the only batter guilty of a loose shot. Will Jacks and Sam Curran seemed to have seized the initiative in an entertaining stand of 103 off 97 balls for the sixth wicket when Surrey lost two in two in identical fashion as first Jacks (64) and then Jordan Clark tamely clipped deliveries from Mitchell to mid-wicket.

The morning session produced 145 runs with Curran scoring 52 off 51 until he departed in the second over after lunch to a mis-timed pull when Tom Bailey dropped short but well outside off stump. When Tom Lawes padded up to Will Williams, Lancashire had picked up four for 20 in 4.5 overs and appeared to be taking control, but not for the first time in the LV= County Championship this season Surrey wrested back the initiative.

Curran got the Kookaburra ball to swing nicely, making the breakthrough when he shaped one away to take Jennings’ edge and Tom Latham held on at second slip.

Luke Wells and Bohannon added 59 for the second wicket but, just when it appeared Lancashire were in calmer waters, they were rocked by the loss of both in six balls. Worrall returned to the attack and Bohannon mis-timed a hook, with Ben Foakes sprinting forward to take the catch after a full-length dive. Wells then cut hard at Abbott in the next over and Latham clung on instinctively in front of his face at gully and just before the close Dane Vilas was pinned in front by Clark.

Go to southwarknews.co.uk for the report.

Lionesses confirm new manager

By John Kelly

miLLwaLL LioneSSeS have confirmed keith boanas as their new manager.

Boanas, 64, has returned to the club he was in charge of in 2008-09 before he left to take over the Estonia Women’s national side.

Boanas guided Charlton Athletic to three successive FA Women's Cup finals, winning at the third attempt, 1-0 against Everton in 2005, after previous defeats to Fulham and Arsenal. Charlton reached the final again in 2007 but again lost to Arsenal.

Boanas joins the Lionesses in the London & South East Regional Women’s League Premier Division. He led Welling United to third place in Division 1 South last season.

30 SPORT

Millwall’s 2023-24 Championship fixtures

lions head to teesside for opener The campaign kicks off the first weekend of August

AUGUST

NOVEMBER

JANUARY bristol city a

saturday 2

watford h

saturday 13

middlesbrough h

tuesday 5

blackburn rovers a

coventry city h

saturday 20

Queens park rangers a

saturday 9

birmingham city h

ipswich town a

saturday 27

preston north end h

saturday 16

leeds united a

saturday 5

middlesbrough a

saturday 4

southampton h

saturday 12

bristol city h

saturday 11

sheffield wednesday a

saturday 19

norwich city a

saturday 25

saturday 26

stoke city h

wednesday 29

DECEMBER

SEPTEMBER

MARCH

monday 1

friday 29

FEBRUARY

saturday 2

birmingham city a

saturday 2

sunderland h

saturday 3

hull city a

saturday 16

leeds united h

saturday 9

cardiff city a

saturday 10

coventry city a

wednesday 13

leicester city a

wednesday 14

ipswich town h

wednesday 20

rotherham united h

saturday 23

west bromwich albion a

saturday 16

huddersfield town h

saturday 17

sheffield wednesday h

saturday 30

swansea city h

saturday 23

stoke city a

saturday 24

southampton a

tuesday 26

Queens park rangers h

friday 29

norwich city h

OCTOBER tuesday 3

plymouth argyle a

saturday 7

hull city h

saturday 21

preston north end a

tuesday 24

blackburn rovers h

saturday 28

watford a

AS EVER, ALL FIXTURES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE FOR TV SCHEDULING.

APRIL monday 1

rotherham united a

saturday 6

huddersfield town a

tuesday 9

leicester city h

saturday 13

cardiff city h

saturday 20

sunderland a

saturday 27

plymouth argyle h

By John Kelly

M AY

miLLwaLL haVe a long trip on the opening day of the 2023-24 season as they go to middlesbrough.

saturday 4

After that Teesside game on August 5, the Lions will play in the first round of the EFL Cup before their first league game at The Den, against Bristol City on August 12.

There is only one other team from London in the division, and that first derby against Queens Park Rangers will be on Boxing Day. The first game of 2024 will be a Championship trip to the Robins. The third round of the FA Cup is the following weekend.

The last home league game of the regular season is against Plymouth Argyle, followed by another long trip, to Swansea on the final day on May 4. *All fixtures are subject to change for TV schedules.

Gary Rowett

west bromwich albion h

swansea city a

© Action Plus

millwall's new forward explains fear over move

Kevin Nisbet knew he had to rediscover goal-scoring form to entice lions back in Kevin Nisbet

By John Kelly keVin niSbet always knew millwall would come back in for him if he returned from injury and scored goals – and though he did have some worries he backed himself to do enough to secure the move.

Nisbet, 26, was close to joining the Lions in January but the transfer was called off due to an issue discovered in the medical.

Scotland international Nisbet didn’t play a competitive game for ten months after suffering knee ligament damage playing for Hibernian against Celtic in February 2021. He made a return against Rangers last December and scored, the first of twelve goals in 20 appearances last season.

Millwall completed a seven-figure deal for Nisbet this summer.

“I do think the injury was a blessing in disguise for me. It gave me time to work on stuff that I needed to work on and I came out the other side a better player. It’s great to be back in

the Scotland squad,” Nisbet said.

“But now it’s about getting back to club level and joining a new team, and trying to hit the ground running.

I want to get back soon and meet up with the boys in a new dressingroom. I was delighted to get it done.

“After what happened in January, I think I knew it was a team and a manager I wanted to play for. Of course, you worry a bit [that the move wouldn’t resurface], but you back yourself to go and kick on and score goals. I knew if I did that they would always be there for me.

“It was better for me that the deal got done early in the window. I could come away with Scotland feeling relaxed. Now I can get down to London and settle in.”

There are similarities between the Scotland and Millwall squads in terms of levels of experience. That, along with being often tagged as underdogs, is something Nisbet has noted.

“If you look at our [Scotland] squad it’s a mix of Premier League,

Championship, and players playing abroad,” Nisbet said about Steve Clarke’s group. “We have a very strong team and a lot of people have underestimated us over the last couple of years. Our feet are firmly on the ground though.

“It’s been the perfect start [to the Euro 2024 qualification campaign] and we are going strong but we know there is still the second half to go.

We still have four big games to go and it’s about getting the job done now, trying to get as many points as possible.

“We spoke in the changing room and it’s just about taking it game at a time.

Churning out three points after three points. If we keep doing that we will qualify and it would be great for the nation.

“I think it would feel more special this time. You see it on the television, how good the atmosphere is and the build-up around it. Even flying out there and going into camp, it all adds to it.”

Nisbet outlined what he wants to achieve with Millwall. And his

thoughts on playing for Scotland again echo the ethos of his new club.

“My ambition is to go and start every game,” Nisbet said. “I want to go there and hit the ground running but I think I’m ready for the stepup. I think I’ve been ready since I came back from my injury. It’s about me getting as many goals as I can and then pushing for a start [with Scotland].

“I was borderline for the squad [for Euro 2020] but I think you could see we were on the rise. Since then we have just been improving and we need to keep performing and improving as a nation. “Twelve points is a fantastic return, especially in a very hard group and the team spirit is amazing. I don’t think you really see that in international football.

“Even the boys who didn’t play against Norway all felt as much a part of it as the stars like Robbo [Andy Robertson] and KT [Kieran Tierney].

I think that is what the gaffer has drilled into us. Our squad is our strength.”

SPORT 31

Millwall's Gary Rowett drops formation hint for next season

By John Kelly garY rowett has dropped a hint about what his formation could be in attack next season.

Millwall made forward Kevin Nisbet their first signing of the summer when he joined from Scottish Premiership Hibernian.

Scotland international Nisbet joins Tom Bradshaw in the squad.

Bradshaw scored seventeen league goals last season and will be confident of being a regular in the side.

Zian Flemming scored fifteen goals last season playing mostly just off Bradshaw.

Rowett wants more players with goal-scoring potential in his team.

“It’s an area of the pitch that we are always looking to add good quality options to,” Rowett said. “Kevin of course we know all about because we almost signed him in January.

He’s one that we think can give us a little bit something different in terms of his qualities.

“He’s a goal-scorer, he proved that after coming back from injury. He’s mobile, he’s got a good understanding of the game and he works really hard.

“His record having come back from a relatively long-term injury has been outstanding. It usually takes a little bit of a while to find your rhythm and that timing again, but he came back in and scored goals straightaway.

“We’re hoping he can replicate that with us. I think he’s a good fit character-wise, quality-wise. And as I’ve said he’s a really hard-working player.

“I think he’s a good fit for us and really pleased to have got him over the line.”

Rowett was asked where he sees Nisbet fitting into the side.

Rowett said: “Whatever player we sign we’re always looking for ways to change things a little bit to get more players of quality into the team.

“We can certainly play with two up top and one in behind. We can play with three narrow forwards.

“You’re always looking for more goals in the team. He’s certainly come in with a very good chance of starting games. But I think Tom, after scoring seventeen goals last season, you want to try to add to that, to build on that.”

Millwall go to their pre-season training camp in Spain in early July and Rowett commented on whether he expected to have more new signings on board before then.

Millwall have been linked with Blackburn Rovers midfielder Lewis Travis and left-back Joe Bryan, who is a free agent.

“We’re always hopeful,” Rowett said. “But it’s not easy, we say it every year, every manager would like all their players in before preseason. But it’s just not realistic, unfortunately.

“We’re working very hard, myself, Alex [Aldridge], Steve [Kavanagh], to try and get some deals done.”

INSIDE

Sport Southwark

young stars get chance to impress

SURREY IN THE DRIVING SEAT Top-scorer Abdul Abdulmalik has been highly rated for some time

By John Kelly SomE oF millwall’s promising young players will be involved in first-team pre-season training – but if they don’t make the step-up they will be sent out on loan.

The bulk of the Lions’ squad returned to Calmont Road on Wednesday (June 28) for medical and fitness testing.

Millwall’s under-21s won the Professional Development League national title last season when they defeated Sheffield United 2-1 at The Den. Senior manager Gary Rowett was at that game and praised the work of under-21 boss Kevin Nugent and his assistant Paul

Robinson.

A number of the squad are at the stage of their careers when the club believe they need to play regular senior football. Three of them have already made their debuts in Rowett’s side: Romain Esse, Nana Boateng and Aidomo Emakhu.

The captain, centre-back Chin Okoli, played three games on a short-term loan at National League Torquay United last season.

Abdul Abdulmalik, who was the topscorer last season with sixteen goals, has also been highly rated for some time.

Rowett was asked about loan plans, specifically in relation to the latter two.

“Those two you’ve mentioned have done really well and will probably be with the

squad in pre-season. Then we’ll see from there,” Rowett said.

“What you hope is that one or two of those players can come into our squad and do really well in pre-season and take their opportunity.

“If they don’t, I think you’re right, they need that next step. Obviously Chin’s had a little taste of that when he went on loan to Torquay.

“We’re always looking for that next step for them because they need game-time. It’s okay being involved with us and the feeling of that but there’s also nothing like playing week-in, week-out in men’s competitive football.

“That’s something we’ll assess with each individual.”

Visit www.newsatden.co.uk for all the latest Millwall news online

evo available for transfer EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly miLLwaLL’S george Evans is set to be available for transfer this summer.

Successful under21s involved in pre-season before decisions on loans

EXCLUSIVE

page 29

Rowett confirmed that there has been interest in some of the talented youngsters from other clubs.

“We’re always getting enquiries. People are seeing what good work Nuge and Robbo and their group of staff are doing at that age group,” Rowett said.

“That’s what we want. Having had the likes of Danny [McNamara] and Billy [Mitchell] come through, Tyler [Burey], Romain, Alex Mitchell out on loan, people are looking at our under-21s. Of course they had a brilliant season.

“You want to see those players in your first team. That’s exactly the scenario we were hoping for two or three years ago and we want to keep pushing down that direction.”

Evans, 28, has struggled to nail down a regular place in Gary’s Rowett’s side since joining from Derby County in the 2021 winter transfer window.

Former Manchester City academy product Evans has made 53 Championship appearances for the Lions, 31 of them starts.

Evans can play in central midfield or at the back, but is down the pecking order in both areas.

Evans made thirteen appearances in all competitions last season, the last of them as an 89th-minute substitute in the 3-2 defeat to Norwich City at The Den on March 4.

Rowett was asked by this paper about Evans’ future.

“George is one that I’ve had a few conversations with. He’s trained brilliantly, he’s been incredibly professional every single day,” Rowett said.

“And it’s not easy when you’re turning up and not getting regular game-time.

“He’s the sort of player who deserves to play more regularly. Of course we’ll look at that situation to see if we can help him play those games out somewhere.

“Whatever it looks like for him next season I think he needs to play, whether that’s with us or elsewhere.

“Like I said, he’s a great lad, he fits really well into the group.

We’ll always try to help someone like Evo if he gets an opportunity.”

George Evans THE RECYCLED PAPER CONTENT OF UK NEWSPAPERS IN 2014 WAS 83.5%