Southwark News - April 18th 2024

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Issue 1681

Established: 1987

50p

April 18 2024

southwarknews.co.uk

is The New cycleway woRkiNg? See page 14

eXclusiVe

eXclusiVe

Bradshaw staying at the den

News investigation To Do oN reveals shocking whaT sT geoRge’s pages waiting times for Day See10-13 disabled people

TRappeD

See pages 15-16

See page 8

maRaThoN special

2 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-20

arts Page 21 History Page 22 Jobs /Classified Pages 23 property Page 24 Public notices Pages 25-28 SPORT Pages 29-32

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By Herbie Russell

A row has erupted over Southwark Council’s decision to restrict emergency vehicle access through the Dulwich Village Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) junction.

Local campaigners have accused the council of “playing with people’s lives” saying the redesign is “bound to delay” emergency responders.

But a Southwark Council report says the redesign will protect “vulnerable children and cyclists” by stopping civilian motorists abusing the emergency access.

While police, ambulances and fire engines will still have access via Court Lane and Dulwich Village, bollards will block access via Calton Avenue’s southbound arm.

Social media users also raised concerns that Southwark Council had failed to consult the London Fire Brigade (LFB). The Brigade has now confirmed it was consulted.

A spokesperson for anti-LTN campaign group One Dulwich said: “Southwark’s decision to block emergency vehicle access through Calton Avenue, the key east-west arm of the Dulwich Village junction, without undertaking any risk assessment into the impact this will have on the community, is playing with people’s lives.

“This is bound to cause delays and seconds count when ambulances, fire engines and police are racing to respond to 999 calls.”

But Southwark Council insists the changes are needed, highlighting 522 incidents where civilian motorists incorrectly used the emergency access between July and December 2023.

Moreover, the changes will only lengthen emergency vehicles’ journey distances by roughly 150 metres as they can still use Court Lane.

However, One Dulwich has said “seconds counts” in critical incidents and that “narrow” side streets off Court Lane are a poor route for emergency vehicles and susceptible to congestion.

Online campaign account Clean Air For All Dulwich also raised concerns that Southwark Council had failed to consult LFB on the changes after a freedom of information response suggested as such.

A computergenerated image of the redesigned junction.

But this paper has since received confirmation that LFB was consulted by Southwark Council.

An LFB spokesperson said: “Regarding the FOI, the local authority did consult the Brigade. However, they didn’t initially contact the specific Southwark team, who responded on the FOI saying they hadn’t been contacted.”

London Ambulance Service (LAS) also appears to have been consulted at a meeting with Southwark Council on February 1.

According to a screenshot of a response from LAS, posted to X by Clean Air For All Dulwich, LAS ‘raised concerns’ about the changes but ‘recognised the need to balance this with protection other vulnerable road users’.

Since introducing Southwark’s most controversial LTN in June 2020, the council has flip-flopped on whether to allow emergency access.

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Issue 1680

Editor: Kevin Quinn Reporters: Herbie Russell; Isabel Ramirez Sports Editor: John Kelly Sports reporter: Kiro Evans Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Digital Transformation Editor: Katherine Johnston Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising: Clarry Frewin 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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April 11th 2024

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TURNING PALESTINE’S PARA-CYCLING TEAM INTO EMERGENCY AID WORKERS See page 15

Help us find the brave pilots who flew top secret missions over Nazi Germany

OUT FOXED

Stunning win over league leaders See sport

emergency vehicle access but relented after pleas from LAS and allowed access through a two-way cycle lane.

But the latest redesign, approved last month, represents another u-turn in approach.

One Dulwich has long argued that noncompliance by civilian motorists is caused by a lack of signage and not the allowance of emergency access.

Inadequate signage has sometimes forced ambulances to perform three-point-turns as they don’t realise they can pass through, the group claims.

Responses to the consultation on the redesign, which closed in January, shows the depth of division over Dulwich Village traffic measures generally.

According to a council report, 48 per cent of responses commented on the wider traffic issues in the Dulwich area and not the junction redesign.

Plans to introduce a Controlled Parking Zone

See page 4

MONEY IN THE KITTY

in Dulwich Village is considered controversial by many residents who say it is unnecessary.

A council spokesperson, said: “Our primary priority for the area is road safety, especially for elderly pedestrians and local school children who frequently use the junction on their way to and from school.

“The continuous traffic violations in the area poses a threat to road vulnerable users, prompting us to propose installing a bollard on one arm of the junction to prevent accidents or worse.

“This option was presented to emergency service colleagues, who acknowledge the importance of balancing emergency access with protecting road users. The Court Lane arm is still open to emergency services and is already well used by them.

“We will closely monitor the situation with representatives from the three main emergency services to address any issues, such as delayed response times, promptly.”

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.

FORGOTTEN WW2 HEROES Follow our social media to be updated on local news See page 3

© Southwark Council Planning Documents

opinion Page 19

Dulwich Village LTN: Row erupts as emergency vehicle access restricted

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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

Elephant & Castle gym owner ‘cut his salary in half’ when he swapped banking for boxing back in 2018

By Isabel Ramirez

The owner of an Elephant and Castle gym, who went from banking to boxing, said he took a ‘50 per cent pay cut’ but is not looking back.

Mani Johal runs Fight City Gym on New Kent Road, which he said has ‘its own community’ despite only being open for 18 months.

Before running gyms, Mani was working as a financial analyst in the city - but ‘always loved’ combat sports.

“I’ve always loved them - I was doing Muay Thai at the time,” he told us.

But the dad-of-two said he struggled to find any gyms that had everything in one place.

“Most of them had great coaches, but the facilities were in a bit of disrepair, leaky roofs, mould, you wouldn’t go in the changing rooms.

“They didn’t have the gym equipment. So you had a separate membership at a gym which ends up being expensive.

“And all of them focused on one main discipline which was usually the owner’s background - so I just thought it could be brought into one.”

With his two partners, personal trainer Ross and professional Muay Thai boxer Leon, the first Fight City Gym was built in Moorgate.

Mani said although it thrived - he was still at his job during the day. “It was more of a

Mani Johal. passion project at first.”

He said even though the money was good, his job wasn’t really fulfilling him at the time.

“I couldn’t see my kids much and we were working long hours.

“So in 2018, I fully quit my city job when we decided to open the second gym in Balham.”

Asked if his salary took a hit when he switched from his job in banking, he said: “I took a 50 per cent pay cut. And since then, that’s never gone up.”

So if it isn’t money driving him to open these gyms - what is it?

“The impact we’re making,” he said. “I believe in this idea.

“One of the kids’ parents emailed us a few months ago to thank all the coaches.

“She said her son was being bullied at school and the classes have made him more confident.”

Not only that, Mani said the boy was pushed at school ‘by a bully’ but because of what he’d learned in jiu-jitsu he didn’t get hurt.

“He landed and broke his fall. That’s one of the first things we teach them - how to fall properly.”

“Feedback like that is why we do this job.

The feedback I get from our members is that we’ve created a community and each gym has its own.

“We have parties for all our members in the summer and at Christmas.”

At the New Kent Road gym, Mani said their clients are young professionals who have moved to the area and live around Elephant Park.

“Some people come here and they don’t know anyone so it’s a good way to come and meet people.”

Southwark is known for grassroots boxing clubs - but many of the volunteerled gyms are struggling in recent times.

We covered the story about the Lynn AC club last year, which had closed after falling into disrepair and then had to be saved by Eddie Hearn’s company, Matchroom.

Mani commented on this: “At these clubs, people are paying five pounds per session and I know lots of people wouldn’t be able to afford to come to this gym.

“But to be sustainable we have to charge a bit more - whilst offering more facilities and different sports.”

They currently teach classes in Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai and Boxing.

Members can take part in any of the classes.

He added that it was ‘very important’ they kept it at a price point where enough people could still afford it - so as many could attend as possible. “We have off-peak memberships which are a lot cheaper than regular ones.”

In a bid to get more of the community active, they are holding free ‘Mums of Steel’ classes for parents whose kids attend the gym.

“We have a lot of parents who bring their kids and some of them have requested it,” he said.

“But I know at the moment people are struggling so the classes will be free for three months.”

The Mums of Steel classes will start next week. Register your interest by contacting the gym at fightcitygym.co.uk/contact The gym is at Fight City, Elephant Park, 62 New Kent Road, SE1 6TJ

4 NEWS

Teenage boys injured in suspected Elephant & Castle bottling incident

By Herbie Russell Two teenage boys have been seriously injured after reports of a ‘fight’ in Elephant and Castle last Friday, April 12.

teenager stabbed ‘multiple times is in stable condition’

By Isabel Ramirez A 17-year-old boy who was stabbed ‘multiple times’ in Bermondsey is in a stable, ‘nonlife threatening’ condition, police confirm.

© Animal.boi

Officers were called to St James’s Road at about 11:22 pm on Wednesday, 10

April and found the male with ‘multiple stab wounds.’

He was rushed to hospital where he remains stable, according to police.

No arrests have been made and there are no further updates at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 8162/10APR.

Two other men were arrested after the incident around the New Kent Road and Falmouth Road area at around 5.15pm.

The injured young males, aged fifteen and sixteen, were taken to hospital with injuries police believe were caused by a glass bottle. Their conditions are being assessed.

Witnesses or anyone with information or mobile phone footage is asked to call 101 quoting reference 5645/12apr.

To remain anonymous, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers.

Two other men were arrested after the incident around the New Kent Road and Falmouth Road area at around 5.15pm

Marks and Spencer in Walworth will definitely close, say company bosses

Neil Coyle and Southwark Pensioners Action Group protested against the closure on Friday, April 12 Local roofer Darren Long installing a box on an East Dulwich home

Swift hotspot

By Herbie Russell

East Dulwich bird enthusiasts have put nest boxes outside their homes to protect the UK’s declining swift population.

The Dulwich Society’s Wildlife Committee co-ordinated the project, installing 21 boxes on Saturday, April 6.

UK swifts have declined by more than 60% between 1995-2021, largely due to the loss of nest sites.

Fortunately, East Dulwich is a swift hotspot and committee members want this to continue.

Steven Robinson who co-ordinated the project said, “Swifts are such wonderful birds and we want to make sure they have lots of places to nest when they migrate here from Africa.

“Swifts are my favourite birds. Their return is a sign of summer, so I was very pleased to be involved in this project”.

Swifts aren’t guaranteed to use the boxes, so the RSPB encourages people to play taped Swift calls via loudspeaker during the May to July mating season.

The RSPB adds: “If you do manage to attract them, remember Swifts are sensitive to disturbance and protected by law, so watch the nest box from the ground or install a camera inside before the breeding season starts.”

Commenting on the East Dulwich Forum website, one person said: “There are lots of swifts around Dovedale Road - beautiful birds and very much the sight and sound of summer for me.”

Another person wrote: “What a great idea. Sadly, never see swifts where I am.

I’ve seen them around junction of where Goodrich Rd meets Lordship Lane.”

Darren Long from DLong Roofing installed them all, kindly donating his labour free of charge.

According to the British Trust for Ornithology, swift numbers are wavering due to poor summer weather, a decline in their insect food and continued loss of suitable nesting sites.

They are medium-sized aerial birds capable of reaching 69mph speeds, recognisable by their sooty brown feathers and white throat.

By Herbie Russell Marks and Spencer has said the shop on Walworth Road will definitely close this summer, company bosses confirmed this week,

The 111-year-old store has seen a consistent decline in sales in recent years, an M&S spokesperson told the News.

Company bosses had already said a closure was likely but a letter written to MP Neil Coyle and The Walworth Society has confirmed it.

The letter from M&S’s Corporate

The M&S store on Walworth Road

Communications department said: ‘We are now in a position to confirm that the closure will go ahead and we have updated our colleagues this morning with a provisional closure date of 8th June.”

It also said closing a store was ‘never and easy decision… particularly one where we’ve had a long history’.

Local shoppers, some of whom remembered visiting the store as children in the ‘60s, were gutted when Southwark News revealed Edwardian-era store was set to close.

They said Walworth Road already had a lack of high-quality retail and that friendly

staff knew their customers on a firstname basis.

Petitions calling for it to stay open have garnered around 3,500 signatures.

The nearest M&S stores are in King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, and Brixton, but only the latter has a clothing department.

On Friday, April 10, Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Neil Coyle visited the store to receive the petition from the Walworth Society.

Gordon Scott, M&S Regional Manager, said: “We would like to thank all of our customers who have shopped in the store over the years, who we will keep serving up until closure and beyond that, from our other stores nearby and across London.

“After consulting with our colleagues, we have informed them of the closure and our priority now is continuing individual discussions about what this decision means for them.

“Wherever possible, we will offer them alternative roles with M&S. We’re rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores with the right space to offer customers a brilliant shopping experience and we are keen to explore suitable alternative sites in the local area.

“London is a hugely important area for us at M&S and in the past two years, we have invested over £23 million in our stores across the capital.”

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NEWS 7

why Does This peckham sTaTue haVe a swoRDfish oN iTs heaD? Swordfish Masquerade outside Hanover Park

by Sokari Douglas Camp

By Herbie Russell

PECKhAM iS one of south London’s most vibrant and chaotic areas - so standing out takes some doing.

But one reliable way to grab people’s attention is to erect a massive statue of a mystical figure with a swordfish for a head.

Swordfish Masquerade, a sculpture created by local artist Sokari Douglas Camp, was erected outside the Hanover Park residential block in 2000.

Sokari, who has a studio in Walworth, said the piece was inspired by Kalabari ritual celebrations seen in her birthplace of Nigeria.

She explained: “My country of birth is Nigeria and I come from a particular tribe called the Kalabari and their men dress up with wooden carvings on their head and if you look at the top of this sculpture there’s a swordfish.”

Although she grew up in Devon, she often visited Nigeria during holidays where she’d witness and film these spiritual ceremonies.

She added: “Peckham is quite West African so it seems to suit Masquerade.”

But Peckham is only Swordfish Masquerade’s latest stop on what has turned out to be a cross-channel tour.

Sokari was originally commissioned to create the piece by the Mayor of Paris to bring in the millennium.

That year, it was displayed on the Champs-Élysées before moving to Westminster Bridge Road outside Morley College.

Eventually, the developer behind Hanover Park decided to buy the unique sculpture and it’s been outside there ever since.

Sokari’s work has graced some of the UK’s most prestigious establishments, including the British Museum and the V&A. With permission from Southwark Council, she now hopes to get six bronze figures installed by Burgess Park.

Named All the World is Now Richer, and having previously been displayed in the House of Commons, the pieces are set to land on a patch of land on the Camberwell side of Burgess Park.

‘All the world is now richer’ by Sokari Douglas Camp in the Houses of Parliament

An illustration of what it would be like on site

By Herbie Russell sIX gIaNT bronze figures could soon greet Camberwell residents on their way to Burgess park.

Next month, Southwark Council will decide whether to allow renowned local artist Sokari Douglas-Camp to erect her striking sculptures on a patch of land on Bowyer Place.

The artwork, called ‘All The World Is Now Richer’, commemorates the abolition of slavery and was once displayed in the House of Commons.

Celebrities and local residents are among those backing the figures, which are between 6ft 2 and 7ft 1.

In online comments, people have described them as a ‘handsome’ and a ‘really exciting’ use of ugly, vacant land.

Former BBC presenter and Labour peer Joan Bakewell said it was a “piece worthy of London”.

Dr Marion Wallace, a renowned historian of Africa, said Burgess Park would be ‘very lucky’ to have the pieces on its doorstep.

Each statue represents a different character including a plantation man, a Caribbean domestic woman and a business man.

The statues would be placed on long bases made from terrazzo and stainless steel each with sentences written across them.

The phrases, inspired by the words of liberated ex-slave William Prescott, include ‘We survived’ and ‘We were bought sold and used’.

The bases would be anti-slip meaning the public could walk and

skate freely over them.

According to documents submitted by the artists, the sculptures are ‘smooth, ‘not easy to climb’ and ‘without sharp edges’.

One comment wrote: ‘What an incredible opportunity to have such a poignant sculpture, by an internationally renowned artist, placed on a piece of unused land in Camberwell.’

Another said: ‘This is a work of art that lifts and honours the local community. It gives meaning to the future and and defines the past.’

Of the 108 responses the proposals received, 82 were positive.

Southwark Council aims to make decision on whether to approve the statue on May 19.

The artwork’s proposed location off Bowyer Place

© Southwark Planning Documents

The six giant bronze statues set for camberwell

8 NEWS eXCluSive

By Herbie Russell IMagINe goINg years without showering in your own home, or months without stepping outside your front door.

ReVealeD: The shockiNg waiTiNg Times DisableD people face foR home aDapTaTioNs iN souTh loNDoN

Karen Jordan is among the Southwark residents desperately needing adaptations to her home

It’s a bleak existence and one faced by vulnerable people all over Southwark and south London.

That’s because hundreds of disabled and elderly people are enduring prolonged waits for home adaptations and occupational therapy assessments.

Data obtained by this paper has revealed the shocking waiting times people face while needing vital equipment - such as hoists, ramps and stair lifts - to be fitted with their homes.

Across Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich and Lambeth, over 2,000 people are on waiting lists for occupational therapy assessments or housing adaptations, our Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed.

The data showed that 146 people have been waiting over a year for adaptations although individual cases suggest some are forced to wait far longer.

We also found that Lewisham Council was not even tracking individual waiting times despite government rules stipulating nobody must wait longer than eighteen months.

Council figures and charities say local authorities have been hamstrung by a shortage of occupational therapists and pandemic-related backlogs.

hoW are PeoPle BeiNG aFFeCted?

disabled and vulnerable people face a long drawn-out process before they get the home adaptations they need.

First, they must book an assessment with their local council where an occupational therapist reviews their situation and decides whether to recommend adaptations.

Once the adaptations are recommended by the occupational therapist, eligible tenants can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) worth up to £30,000.

The DFG application process is supposed to take a maximum of 18 months – six months to approve and a year to complete the work.

But Jackie, who also lives in Bermondsey, claims she’s been waiting 22 months since an occupational therapist recommended a bathroom adaptation.

Suffering from arthritis and recovering from a knee replacement, she gets a lift to her sister’s home in Dulwich every time she needs a wash - a forty-minute drive away.

Jackie, who has had a knee replacement, claims an occupational therapist first visited in June 2022 but a mix-up meant the council lost her records.

It meant she had to reapply for an adaptation in June 2023 which she is still waiting for.

Inclusion London, a charity supporting deaf and disabled people, said those waiting on adaptations were often forced to rely on family members.

A spokesperson said: “Many disabled people are forced to be reliant on their family members or partners to assist them in the home meaning if they’re not there they can’t cook, wash themselves or sometimes even leave the house.

“This massively impacts people’s ability to live independent lives.”

Karen Jordan, from Bermondsey, uses a wheelchair. She’s only waited four months for a ramp so far but even this is severely impacting her life.

When she needs to leave the house, she either needs a neighbour’s help to lift her

wheelchair out, or drags it out herself using “pure willpower”.

Karen, 66, says: “All they see is a ramp.

They forget there’s a human being sitting here… I cry and I swear. It’s a nightmare.”

Largely unable to get her wheelchair outside, she has to rely on expensive taxi fares, meaning she rarely visits friends and family.

Bermondsey councillor Rachel Bentley said Karen and Jackie are not alone, and that her case work is dominated by people in similar situations.

She said a “severely disabled man” on Bermondsey’s Arnold Estate has been waiting over twelve months for an accessible bathroom.

“Delays in occupational therapy assessments have left too many families in a completely unacceptable place,” she said. “Every week I have messages from people in dreadful conditions stuck in their homes. Sometimes even the most desperate families are told by our council that their needs are ‘non-urgent’.”

the FiGureS

occupational therapy assessments

In Southwark, 155 people are waiting for an occupational therapy assessment with 62 waiting for between three and six months.

Figures show waiting times have been spiralling out of control in recent years.

In 2020, the average waiting time for an assessment was 75 days but this increased 144 per cent to 183 days in 2023, our FOI revealed.

The situation is similar in neighbouring

boroughs. In Lewisham, 51 people have been waiting over three months, and there are 99 in Greenwich.

However, Southwark Council says it’s working hard to reduce waiting times and has made a good start this year.

In February 2024, the average waiting time for an assessment reduced to 71 days, down from 129 days in February 2023.

Southwark Council credited its new occupational therapist recruitment and retention strategy as having a “very positive impact on its staffing levels”.

Council-employed occupational therapists have also been offering residents temporary equipment including ramps and grab rails - while they await permanent installations.

in Greenwich.

Worryingly, between one and five people have been waiting over five years in Greenwich. The borough council was not more specific in its FOI data reveal.

In Lewisham, 101 people are on the waiting list but the authority said it doesn’t track individual waiting times.

This is despite the fact the government insists councils deliver adaptations within eighteen months of DFG applications being submitted.

Councils are only obliged to record average waiting times. Experts fear this means vulnerable individuals are falling through the gaps.

Lewisham Council was approached for comment.

After people get their assessment, they need to apply for their dFg and then wait for a contractor to install their adaptations once it’s approved.

A national shortage of occupational therapists has been identified by both Southwark Council and Inclusion London as a key reason for waiting times.

In 2019, ‘occupational therapist’ was added to the UK’s skilled shortage list amid huge pressure on the 4,100-strong workforce.

A survey by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists found 78 per cent of the workforce agreed their team wasn’t large enough to meet the demand.

63 per cent felt they were too busy to provide the level of care they’d like, the survey found.

While the UK population is ageing, recruitment isn’t keeping up. According to

hoMe adaPtatioNS

In Southwark, there are 242 people on the waiting list. There are roughly 267 in Lambeth and 342 in Greenwich.

In Southwark, 50 people have been waiting for over one year according to FOI response data.

Southwark Council also claimed nobody had waited longer than the recommended eighteen months, although Jackie disputes this.

In Lambeth, 36 people have been waiting for over a year, a figure rising to 60

What’S CauSiNG WaitiNG tiMeS?

occupational therapist Shortages

Bursting with Potential, an occupational therapy provider, not enough universities are offering courses and prospective students aren’t often aware about the career path.

Since 2020, the Home Office has offered fast-track visa route for occupational therapists coming from abroad.

Covid-19

According to Southwark Council, Covid-19 created a backlog of cases that it’s still working through.

While demand for occupational therapy assessment declined during lockdown, it said the post-pandemic recovery period had seen a spike in demand.

However, industry experts have been warning about a shortage of occupational therapists, and unsustainable demand, since before the pandemic.

poorly-designed accessible homes

Some developers aren’t building accessible homes to the correct standard, according to Inclusion London.

The charity’s spokesperson said: “Another issue that we have heard from local authorities themselves, is that when developers agree to build accessible properties they don’t build it to the accessibility standard agreed upon and then councils themselves bear the cost of adapting it to make it fully wheelchair accessible.

“Disabled people move into properties after facing hefty waiting times which are supposed to be accessible and then aren’t.”

NEWS 9

‘i haVe beeN TRappeD behiND my DooRsTep waTchiNg easTeNDeRs RepeaTs foR Two yeaRs Now’ Colin Hutley says he’s stuck behind a foothigh step

By Herbie Russell

A whEElChAir user says he’s spent two years “staring at four walls” and “watching Eastenders repeats” because he’s trapped behind a foot-high step.

Colin Hutley, from Bermondsey, says Southwark Council denied him a ramp over his property’s troublesome doorstep over health and safety concerns.

The 65-year-old, whose leg is amputated, is now “desperate” for a move to a disabled-accessible flat that would give him “a bit of independence”.

Southwark Council said he’d been offered two wheelchair-accessible properties but Colin disputes this.

The council also said Colin was listed as a high priority for a move and that it had a severe lack of accessible housing.

Colin, who has been fighting for a move for two years, is now terrified he can’t escape his sixth-floor apartment if there’s a fire.

He said: “Picture sitting here looking at four walls all day. I can’t watch Eastenders anymore. That bores me to tears.

“I don’t even get the TV guide

anymore because I know what’s on! Southwark Council must think I should sprout wings and fly out!”

He added: “If there was a fire in this property I’d die. I couldn’t get out!”

The former forklift driver’s health problems began in 2015 when he started experiencing numbness and difficulty walking.

He thought he was having a mini stroke but a doctor’s visit revealed he had blood cancer.

Colin said the drugs he was prescribed caused his leg to develop infectious ulcers leading to its amputation in 2021.

He claims his surgeon urged Southwark Council to move him into a disabled-accessible flat but those pleas were ignored.

After the amputation, an occupational therapist visited his home to assess whether he should have his home adapted.

But Colin claims he was told a ramp would interfere with the walkway posing a risk to other residents and was too high for him to safely wheel over.

Southwark Council has confirmed that building regulations meant a ramp couldn’t be installed over his doorstep.

Since April 2022 Colin, who doesn’t have a computer, has been getting his sister to bid for accessible properties.

But Colin claims the two properties he’s been offered so far weren’t accessible.

He said one had a high doorstep

and the other’s doorways were too narrow to fit his wheelchair through.

Colin says getting an accessible flat and “getting a bit of fresh air” would “mean the world to him”.

The only time he gets to leave is when hospital transport takes him to his monthly appointment when staff

carry him over the step.

“They hate that step. Every time I open to door to them they say ‘oh it’s the man with the step,” he said.

“I’m not a big person but it’s still awkward for them.”

Southwark Council has been approached for comment.

New peckham community cafe inspired by founder’s ‘difficult’ food bank experience

By Herbie Russell

a New cafe, shop and community hub in peckham has been inspired by its founder’s ‘difficult’ food bank experience.

Communitea, launched at the Trinity College on April 11, is a one-stop shop for all the community’s needs, open every Thursday.

Visitors can buy essentials for knockdown prices, relax at the affordable cafe, and access cost-ofliving support services.

There are free hampers containing food and essentials for those who need them but founder Norissa Gayle says the centre’s focus on “empowerment” and “dignity” makes it different from food banks.

Remembering her own visit to a food bank during a difficult period, she said: “It wasn’t a very positive experience. No matter how kind they were trying to be, I didn’t feel dignified in it.”

She said the visit made her feel helpless - the food given to her wasn’t suitable for her kids and she wasn’t referred to other services.

“Somebody shouted: ‘Food bank this way love!’. There was this moment where you wanted the ground to swallow you whole. I realised there were a lot of people who had these

Founder Norissa Gayle said she wanted the ground to ‘swallow her whole’ on her visit to a food bank feelings about this,” she said.

So Norissa founded Share The Cost Global (STCG), a community interest company providing people with cheap essentials.

Importantly, STCG refers people to employment, healthcare and financial support services, giving them the legup they need during the cost-of-living crisis.

Norissa said: “It’s all about treating people with as much dignity as possible and making sure that everyone, whether they pay for things or not, gets a high level of service.

“We also realised there was a real need for access to services and even

Volunteers were in celebratory mood at the grand opening though Southwark has an abundance of services the community doesn’t know how to access them.”

STCG began as an advice service at The Green community centre in Nunhead. The number of people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis made Norissa realise there was “demand for a face-to-face, human-tohuman” support service.

Since being set up, STCG has

supported over 2,700 people and Norissa hopes their new permanent space will help them expand further.

Southwark Deputy Mayor Naima Ali, who cut the ribbon on the new centre, said: “These kinds of things bring the community together.

“Some people struggling with the cost of living have become Communitea will be open to the public every disconnected so this kind of centre Thursday at the Trinity College Centre from now on can give them a sense of power.”

10 NEWS

Things to do for

St George’s Day parties in Westminster, Borough and Bermondsey

By Isabel Ramirez

Here’s how to celebrate the national patron saint’s day, including an all-day festival in Trafalgar Square with Morris Dancing and sea shanties.

Saturday, 20 April St George the Martyr Church, Borough Head to this church for an early St George’s Day party - with a

bouncy castle, popcorn and portrait magnets.

A child’s ticket to this event includes all of the above, as well as face painting, crafts and much more. There will be food and drink available to buy - plus a raffle.

Where: St George the Martyr Church, Borough High St, SE1 1JA When: 10am - 1pm Admission: Adults - free; children - £3 Go to sgtm.churchsuite.com to buy a ticket.

St George’s Day Festival Trafalgar Square.

The Blue Market, Bermondsey Take part in some early festivities to celebrate St George’s influence around the world.

St George isn’t just the patron saint for England. He also holds this position for Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Greece, Germany, Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice.

To celebrate this, The Blue is having an afternoon of activities this weekend with belly dancing displays, music and arts and crafts.

110 years of Pie and Mash in Walworth

see page 12

Where: The Blue Market, Bermondsey, SE16 3UQ Admission: Free Sunday 21 April

St George’s Day Festival, Trafalgar Square An all-day festival for St George’s Day is taking place on Sunday - if you’re not afraid of crowds.

Coinciding with the London Marathon, the event invites people to dress up in their best medieval wear and celebrate the feast of England’s patron saint.

If you saw the St Patrick’s Day Festival last month it will be similar, with live entertainment throughout the day.

Singer Harleymoon Kemp will be hosting the main stage, where acts throughout the afternoon include Folk Dance Remixed, The Snottledogs, West End Kids, She’s Got Brass and Britain’s Got Talent’s Twist and Pulse.

There will also be a Morris dancing lesson and the chance to write your own sea shanty.

For refreshments, there will be food tents and a beer, Pimm’s and gin tent for the grown-ups. The kids will stay busy with face painting and a carousel.

Don’t forget to grab a quick selfie with London’s famous Pearly Kings and Queens.

Where: Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS When: Sunday 21 April, 12pm - 6pm.

Admission: Free The Old Bank, Bermondsey To anyone walking down the Blue, they’d see the flags outside The Old Bank and think it was St George’s Day all year round.

But they’re hosting an early bash to nod to St George, with music from DJ Noel from 2pm -7pm.

Where: The Old Bank, 239 Southwark Park Rd., SE16 3TT Admission: Free Tuesday 23 April (St George’s Day) If you’re traditional and want to mark the day itself, then get yourself down to these local pubs.

The Victoria, Bermondsey For the last 30 years, The Vic has been celebrating St George’s in style - ‘before anywhere else in the area was’ said coowner Mike.

He and his brother Pat, who are both

Irish and English, have been running the pub for 40 years this year.

Their well-known St George’s Day party - which they said attracts crowds from all over the country will start in the afternoon and go on until late.

“There’ll be music all day - all the British classics. It’s always a good gas.”

There will also be a huge free buffet from 5 pm.

Where: The Victoria, 68-70 Page’s Walk, Bermondsey, SE1 4HL Admission: Free Blue Anchor, Bermondsey They’re hosting their annual ‘knees up’ and you’re encouraged to dress up with a singer at 5pm and bar food.

Where: Blue Anchor, 251 Southwark Park Rd., SE16 3TS Admission: Free

Prince of Wales, Elephant and Castle This boozer in SE1 will be serving up specials of British pie/sausage and mash, plus a selection of seafood.

There’ll be music from 5 pm from DJ Pat. Where: Prince of Wales, 51 St George’s Rd, SE1 6ER Admission: Free The Good Intent, Walworth There will be a band on and food specials of pie/sausage and mash.

Where: The Good Intent, 24 East St, SE17 2DN Admission: Free St George’s Cathedral, Borough Not forgetting the true meaning behind the celebration - there’s a commemorative mass at the Cathedral at 6 pm on the day.

Where: St George’s Cathedral, Cathedral House, Westminster Bridge Rd, SE1 7HY Admission: Free Friday 26 April

Sea Shanty Party, Bermondsey Better late than never - this taproom in the Arches is putting on a lively evening of sea shanties.

A regular event with a St George’s twist - with a live sea shanty band covering the classics, along with mass singalongs.

Where: Hiver Taproom, 56 Stanworth St, SE1 3NY Admission: £6

N W O D R I Y HA A D R U ’s O E Y G T R LE EO G T S S ’ IT

Join us from 5pm on Tuesday, April 23, for drinks, the free buffet, music and laughs.

The Victoria Pages Walk, SE1 4HL

12 NEWS

Photo: Arments

Walworth Pie and Mash shop’s 110th birthday Owners Roy and Cheryl

by Photo of Emily Arment 1914 Arments

Arments Pie and Mash has been on the scene since 1914

By Herbie Russell A Walworth Pie and Mash shop celebrated its 110th birthday with a special visit from a Pearly Queen last Saturday, April 13.

The story of Arments Pie & Mash began in 1914, at the dawn of WWI, when William and Emily Arment bought their first pie shop.

The piemaker marked the special day with a lucky dip, raffle, and an oldfashioned sing song with Diane Gould, the Pearly Queen of St Pancras.

Visitors were also given freebies, Arments souvenirs and sweets.

Arments opened its first shop at 386 Walworth Road complete with traditional glazed tile walls, marble table tops and a sawdust-covered floor.

The no.386 branch closed in the mid-

1960s and a store at no.278 closed in 1974.

In 1979, a shop at 10-12 Westmoreland Road was closed and relocated to larger premises across the road at number 7-9 where it remains today.

Arments has regularly featured on TV including in the documentary Elephant Days and a Danny Dyer series In recognition of its place in the community, it received a Blue Plaque as part of this paper’s ongoing scheme in 2013.

The pie shop has also had a local building named after it – Arments Court – on the new Aylesbury Estate.

All money raised will be going to the Young Lives vs Cancer and Great Ormond Street Childrens’ Hospital charities.

Learn more about the big day on the Arments Pie & Mash website.

Customers enjoying the Arments 110th birthday celebrations

14 NEWS

‘i’Ve losT a Day’s woRk a week waiTiNg iN loweR RoaD TRaffic’ Mike Ranson

By Isabel Ramirez A FruStrAtED resident is pleading for change after saying he has ‘lost a day’s work a week’ waiting in traffic in rotherhithe.

Mike Ranson, a self-employed handyman and railway signal engineer, said he’s reached his limit with the congestion - admitting to having had a ‘breakdown’ one day when it just got too much.

The Lower Road traffic has caused an uproar among businesses and residents alike - ever since the lanes merged into one when the new cycle lane was constructed.

Construction of Cycleway 4 – an unbroken cycle route between London Bridge and Greenwich – began in July 2019.

Since then, the route has gradually been built in phases, with the final stretch along Lower Road officially unveiled by Southwark Council and Transport for London (TfL) in March.

“As soon as they put the first shovel in the ground,” Mike told us. “When they closed off the lane - that’s when this started.”

It is all part of City Hall’s drive to get Londoners on their bikes and out of their cars, a policy pioneered by former mayor Boris Johnson and taken up by Sadiq Khan

locals give their views on the new cycleway 4

Paul Pearce said he now avoids Surrey Quays Shopping Centre ‘like the plague’

Danny Reed said he’d been forced to ‘give away’ his car

- which has seen cycle lanes quadruple to 360km since 2016.

But like many others, Mike is not convinced it is a fair policy. “I have to drive for my job - my car is full of tools and machinery.”

When asked how many hours he believes he typically spends waiting in traffic every week, Mike replied: “I’ve lost about a day’s work a week just trying to get in and out of Rotherhithe.”

Having lived on the Rotherhithe Peninsula for the last twenty years, Mike and his wife said they are ‘trapped’ on weekends - having to wake up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday just to be able to do

By Herbie Russell & Joel Davis

thE DrAMAtiC redesign of rotherhithe’s lower road has proved one of Southwark’s most controversial transport issues in years.

Transport for London (TfL) and Southwark Council have partnered to build the 1.3km segregated cycle lane along the thoroughfare, unveiling the new-look road last month.

But removing a southbound traffic lane for Cycleway 4, and reconfiguring multiple traffic lights, have been criticised by local politicians and residents.

Many say it’s worsened congestion and is unsafe for cyclists and drivers, while others have hailed the new route as making London greener. So this paper visited Lower Road and asked locals what they thought of the new layout.

Paul: ‘SurreY QuaYS ShoPPiNG CeNtre iS a No-Go For ShoPPerS NoW!’

Susan Wainwright says ‘we’ve got to support cycling’

Ida Williams said she was ready to buy a bike thanks to the cycle lane

John said Surrey Quays Shopping Centre was ‘dead’ since the road changes

Veronica and Peter Davenport worry about people’s safety

Paul Pearce used to drive to Surrey Quays Shopping Centre from New Cross - but not anymore.

Since the road changes, the 57-year-old said he avoids the area “like the plague”.

“This really almost now is a no-go area for shoppers,” he said. “I avoid the area like the plague now really because it’s just a nightmare to get in and out.”

He doubts the cycleway is good for the environment: “I think what you’re looking at is an increase in pollution.

Because look at the traffic now! It’s completely backed up!”

daNNY: ‘i’ve GiveN MY Car aWaY!’

Susanna said: ‘I don’t even cycle but I’m pro-cycling’

Lee Johnson said Lower Road had been ‘ruined’ Dante says cyclists don’t need as much as space as cars

Kamran is concerned by the ‘hiccups’ the junction by Surrey Quays is causing

Danny Reed said changes to Lower Road had forced him to “give away” his car.

The 56-year-old said: “I don’t drive no more because of this. I gave my car away!”

“It’s crazy. It’s absolutely crazy. It’s gridlocked every night,” he added.

Asked what would solve the problem, he said: “If we got rid of Sadiq Khan! He’s the bloke that’s caused all this.”

SuSaN: ‘We’ve Got to SuPPort CYCliNG!’

Susan Wainwright, from Bermondsey, said the segregated cycle lane had made traffic worse but it’s worth it to support cycling.

a food shop.

“If we don’t make it out by 8 am, we are stuck. We can’t just have a leisurely weekend anymore.

“We’ve had to change our lives to suit the traffic jams.”

Mike is calling for TfL to ‘get it back to two lanes’: “Every junction is blocked because of a cycleway and the pavement is too wide for its use.

“This is a main artery with four major roads - there has to be two lanes.”

He added: “The other night I had a mental breakdown on the way home. I’m a strong person but it got too much for me.”

We asked TfL for comment on the issue, but they said they could not respond - citing the restriction in the ability to comment on anything deemed political during the run-up to elections.

However, when it opened, Helen Cansick, TfL’s Head of Healthy Streets Investment, said: “Our continued work in expanding the Cycleway network throughout the capital unlocks access to cycling for many more thousands of Londoners.

“The new section of Cycleway 4 is the final piece of the puzzle connecting London Bridge all the way to Greenwich.”

Southwark Council did not respond at the time of going to press.

The 72-year-old said: “We’ve got to support cycling. I mean I’m a driver and my cycling days are long over but I think we’ve got to back what they’re doing. Without these special cycle lanes it is unsafe!” She added: “As a driver, I’ve got to realise I’m not the only person the road’s for!”

it back to how it was,” Veronica says, “There, I’ve solved it for you!”

JohN: ‘What aBout MY KidS’ SWiMMiNG leSSoNS?’

John, from Rotherhithe, said the removal of a southbound car lane had been “very detrimental” to his family’s life.

Speaking outside Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, he said: “It’s made me totally rethink every car journey.”

He explained that it had affected his kids’ swimming lessons, “visiting friends” and getting to the east of England.

“It’s been absolutely awful,” he added.

He said the congestion was so bad that Surrey Quays Tesco, normally heaving, was “totally dead” on Saturday mornings.

ida: ‘i CaN FiNallY CYCle to WorK!’

Ida Williams, who works in London Bridge, said she would finally buy a bike thanks to the cycle lane.

She said the new layout had slowed local buses down but it was worth it to make the roads safer for cyclists.

The 50-year-old said: “I like the cycle lanes because I work in London Bridge and I’m planning on getting a bicycle because it’s easier to get around!”

veroNiCa aNd Peter: ‘i Feel SorrY For the KidS aNd the elderlY!’

Veronica and Peter Davenport regularly shop at Surrey Quays, meaning they see the “mayhem” daily Veronica, 66, said: “You see the kids crossing that road and a bike came up the other day and missed them by inches. People are not aware of it [the cycle lane]!

She added: “I feel sorry for the kids and the elderly people crossing that road that are not aware of the dangers.”

Peter, 72, agreed that the new layout had made Lower Road “a lot worse” and cyclists were “jumping the lights”.

The solution? “Take it all up and put

daNte: ‘Give CYCliStS leSS SPaCe!’

Dante, who works in Surrey Quays, says the same problems troubling Surrey Quays were being seen around his home in Wandsworth.

He said: “In Wandsworth, there’s the same issues! We’ve got a lot of cycle lanes that are too big - in Battersea as well. I think it’s a wider issue. It’s not just in Surrey Quays.”

He added: “I think the cyclists don’t need that much space… the cars need more space, the cars need more priority in my opinion.”

SuSaNNa: ‘i’M totallY For CYCliNG’

Susanna, who commutes to Surrey Quays from outside London, said: “I’m actually in favour of cycling. I’m totally for cycling.

She explained: “Because it’s much better for the environment, it’s much better for human health, for the planet’s health. In a place like London, you should be able to cycle!”

lee: ‘theY’ve CoMPletelY ruiNed the road!’

Lee Johnson said TfL and Southwark Council had “completely ruined the road” with the “ridiculous” layout.

The 60-year-old form Bermondsey said: “They’ve just ruined the road, completely ruined it. The way they’ve put cycle lanes in, somebody’s gonna get injured. It’s just chaos. Absolute chaos”.

He thinks TfL road planners should have taken the cycleway via backroads rather than along “a major route into Kent.I get that you can have cyclists but now you’ve got cyclists going against the traffic. It’s just ridiculous,” he said.

KaMraN: ‘the JuNCtioN iS CauSiNG hiCCuPS!’

Kamran Yalchi, from Rotherhithe, said the junction layout outside Surrey Quays station was causing “hiccups”.

The 21-year-old said: “It has caused a couple of points of congestion. It does add the bikes and everything like that which is nice but I’m not really a fan of it that much.”

NEWS 15

London Marathon 2024

teacher is running for kids at her old school

By Isabel Ramirez

The sets, made by the company Electric Pedals, teach kids about science whilst making music on the built-in instruments.

“They also give kids the chance to ride a bike - something lots of them have never done before.”

As well as the new equipment, the rest of the money raised will go towards kitting out their refurbished school library with new books.

To chip into the pot, 100 children from the school will run the minimarathon on Saturday 20 April.

Thinking back to her time as a pupil, Anna said it’s ‘not something’ she had the chance to do. “We never had a playground - it was all concrete. Running was never something we did.”

With a whole school behind her, Anna said she’s motivated by her students - “They’ll be tracking me during the race on the Marathon app and lots have said they’re going to come and meet me at various checkpoints too. The kids are relying on me.”

Donate to Anna’s cause at justgiving. com ‘Anna Townsend.’

A Dulwich teacher is running the London Marathon to raise funds for her old primary school - which she also works at.

Anna Townsend, the Music Lead at Goose Green Primary School, is lacing up her trainers ready for this Sunday.

The 42-year-old teacher, who went to Goose Green as a child, said she had planned to do the Marathon in 2021.

“I had trained for that one,” she told us, “But when it was cancelled that all went out the window.”

When they were able, Anna ran a virtual marathon with some friends from Bristol to Bath - although she admitted she ‘hates running.’

However, a special cause is just what she needed to be inspired to enter this year.

“I’m raising money for the music department,” she told us.

“There’s a company that makes human-powered music sets - but they’re expensive so I’m trying to fundraise for one at our school.”

Bermondsey air hostess, 19, has been training ‘all over the world’ for first London Marathon

By Isabel Ramirez A Bermondsey air hostess has been training all over the world to prepare for her first London Marathon, which she is running for her sister.

Tayler Heppell said she had never really run before - so she was surprised when she got into the race after more than 500,000 people applied.

The 19-year-old told us: “I wasn’t expecting to be accepted. I wasn’t a runner so I’ve been training hard.”

Tayler said she works on long-haul flights all over the globe, so she has been trying to fit in a run any chance she’s got - in some exciting places.

“I’ve been training all over the world - Central Park in New York, Florida, Jamaica, Mauritius. I go away around four to five times a month.

“Then on my days off I train locally around London and Tower Bridge.”

When asked about her inspiration for this year’s race - Tayler said: “My sister, Haylie.”

Haylie, 17, was born with a very rare condition called Trisomy18Q which means she experiences speech and language delays, Hypotonia and learning difficulties.

Tayler’s chosen charity Mencap, helps people like Haylie to become

independent - such as breaking down the barriers for them to find a job.

She has managed to raise over £1,500 so far, commenting: “Hopefully, it can go towards helping someone else in the future.”

On how her little sister feels about her racing, Tayler added: “She’s excited about me running - and will be there to cheer me on!”

You can donate to Tayler’s cause on the London Marathon website tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com by searching ‘Tayler Heppell’

Which roads in South London will be closed for the London Marathon?

By Isabel Ramirez

Here are all the road closures around Southwark for the London Marathon, this weekend.

The much-awaited race will take place this Sunday 21 April. To ease the disruption from the road closures, the London Underground, London Overground and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) all have extra services on Marathon Day. Tube services in central areas will be running as usual, but please be aware they may be extremely busy.

The Jubilee, Circle and District lines, and DLR, have stops close to the marathon route and are likely to be busier than usual.

Buses travelling on roads affected by the marathon will either be diverted or will not run the full length of their route until after the event.

The following roads will closed on Sunday 21 April from 8am-4pm (unless stated otherwise): • • •

Tayler (L) with sister Haylie (R)

• • • •

Romney Road, Greenwich (7am-3pm) King William Walk, Greenwich (7am-3pm) Creek Road, Greenwich (7am-3pm) Evelyn Street, Deptford Surrey Quays Road, Rotherhithe Lower Road, Rotherhithe (part closure - see map) Salter Road, Rotherhithe

• • •

Brunel Road, Rotherhithe Jamaica Road, Bermondsey *Tower Bridge will be closed from 8am-7pm.

For Rotherhithe Peninsula residents:

Anyone living on the Rotherhithe Peninsula will be able to exit the area while the event road closures are in place.

Bacon’s College on Timber Pond Lane will provide a free, secure, overnight parking facility on its premises for residents to use.

The car park will operate from 4pm on Saturday 20 April until 5pm on Sunday 21 April. Residents can leave their cars securely parked and

return on foot at any time during the road closure period to collect vehicles and exit the peninsula.

From the college, the route out is via Timber Pond Road, Poolmans Street, Needleman Street, Surrey Quays Road and Lower Road.

Residents requiring access should use Hawkstone Road, Lower Road, Surrey Quays Road, Needleman Street, Poolmans Street and Timber Pond Road and may leave their cars at Bacon’s College until the roads reopen.

There are also 21 vehicle crossing points throughout the race, where you can cross the route.

Find the full list on tcslondonmarathon.com.

London Marathon road closures - Rotherhithe

16 NEWS

London Marathon 2024

moRe local people To cheeR oN aloNg The RouTe CaNdY haZeldeN, 40, BerMoNdSeY

She is raising money for Charities Mind UK and Parkinson’s UK – the latter for her nan who has Parkinson’s.

Candy said: “She is my world so for her I will run the marathon and knowing that I’m doing it for her I know that if my legs get tired I will run with my heart.

Search Candy Hazelden on justgiving.com to donate.

BeN SCaNlaN, 39, rotherhithe

He is raising money for the Twins Trust - a charity that has provided them with a community.

Ben said: “My wife had twins just before lockdown and we got a lot of emotional support from other parents of multiples. They also do amazing work supporting parents who lose kids or have early births.”

Search ‘Ben Scanlan’ on justgiving. com to donate.

Alexander

Sophie

Katie

Jen

Ben

Candy

aleXaNder laNGle, 35, rotherhithe

He is raising money for Get Kids Going! – a charity that inspires disabled youngsters to compete in sporting events.

Alexander said: “I now run a Marathon per year. I believe that running will give me extra time in future to have a healthy life to enjoy with my family, the ones that matter to me.”

Search ‘Alexander Langle’ on justgiving.com to donate.

JeN WiNterhalder, 43, eaSt dulWiCh

She is raising money for Save the Children.

Reason for running: “It’s such an amazing charity, currently raising awareness and funds for children in Gaza and Ukraine. And I’m trying to beat my personal best!”

Search ‘Jen Winterhalder’ on justgiving.com to donate.

PatriCK (PaddY) haWeS, 27, herNe hill

He is raising money for St. Christopher’s Hospice - in memory of his Mum and Dad.

Paddy said: “I will always be grateful for all they did for my Mum and Dad and I’d appreciate it if you could help me in raising money for them so they can continue to help others make the worst of circumstances more bearable.”

Search ‘Paddy Hawes’ on justgiving.

com to donate.

Katie thoMPSoN, 44, PeCKhaM

She is raising money for Myeloma UK – in memory of her mum who she lost in 2017 to the rare blood cancer.

“It’s my third marathon after running Paris and Berlin last year,

and it means a massive deal as it’s my hometown race!”

Search ‘Katie Thompson’ on justgiving. com to donate.

SoPhie ParrY, 28, PeCKhaM

She is raising money for Place2Be – a children’s mental health charity based at

the primary school where Sophie works.

Sophie said: “I have seen the fantastic work that they do to tackle the evergrowing mental health crisis and I am excited to raise money for such a worthy cause.”

Search ‘Sophie Parry’ on justgiving.com to donate.

Millwall fan Kevin insists that 35th London Marathon ‘will be the last’

By Isabel Ramirez A MillwAll fan, who is about to run the london Marathon for the 35th, insists this year’s will be his last.

Kevin with Harvey

The last few times Kevin Downey has run the race, he has dedicated it to Millwall superfan, Harvey Brown (pictured). Now, 15, he suffers from the ultra-rare Morquio syndrome,

which affects skeletal growth.

The money raised by Kevin, a lifelong Millwall fan himself, will go towards supporting children with rare syndromes like Harvey’s. He’s hoping to raise £2,500.

“It’ll be the third time I’m running for him,” the 65-year-old from Bermondsey, insisting this Marathon will be his last.

“My right knee can’t take it

anymore.”

Over the years, he has raised over £140,000 for children’s charities.

As it’s his last year, Kevin said his son, Ross, will be running alongside him.

“It’ll be an emotional day especially when we cross the finishing line together.”

Go to justgiving.com/page/kevindowney-35 to donate.

NEWS 17

©Steve Cornish

sToRm ‘hiT like a ToRNaDo’

Hunt for South London venue to cook 190 meals

Russia Dock Woodland, Rotherhithe

By Herbie Russell

By Isabel Ramirez

The hUNT is on for a south london venue with space to cook nearly 200 meals for the homeless.

a gIaNT willow tree in rotherhithe plummeted to the ground after a storm ‘hit like a tornado’ last Monday - just half an hour after school pick-up.

Resident Steve Cornish caught the aftermath on camera - showing the giant tree, located on the fringes of Russia Dock Woodland, spread across the pavement.

It was the doing of Storm Kathleen which has been sweeping across the UK causing endless amounts of damage to people’s cars, homes and streets.

Steve told us: “There was a calm before the storm hit like a tornado within seconds at around 4:45 yesterday afternoon.

He said ‘several more’ trees were destroyed in the area and explained that Southwark Council came out later

Somerford Way, Rotherhithe with chainsaws to open Somerford Way - which had been blocked by the fallen tree.

Steve mentioned that the road was a school-run route and just 30 minutes earlier would have been busy.

“Luckily no one was injured.”

The council confirmed there were another six trees across the borough that also fell yesterday, along with several incidents involving fallen branches.

A spokesperson added: “All of which were attended by our tree team to make it safe.”

The venue would need to host 50 to 80 guests and have enough space to prepare 190 meals in a single morning.

Team Tactics, which provides “alternative” corporate team-building activities, said Clapham is the ideal location although it would consider elsewhere.

Tina Benson, Managing Director at Team Tactics, said: “Cooking for the homeless is a great alternative to traditional team building exercises or corporate events and a great way to give back to the community.”

“We’re on the lookout for a spacious, flexible venue that we can hire to make this happen,” he added.

The dream location would be accessible

from 7am till 12pm - enough time for preparing, cooking and packaging.

The food would be delivered to the Clapham homelessness charity Ace of Clubs, covering their day’s meal service.

Rough sleeping in London was 34 per cent higher between October and December 2023 compared to last year, according to the Combined Homelessness and Information Network.

Charlie Glynn, senior support worker at Ace of Clubs, said: “We’re only able to offer our lunch service because of donations from the community, but if Team Tactics was able to find a suitable venue for its larger cooking event, the meals produced would likely cater for all our service users for a day – and possibly on more occasions moving forwards.”

For further information visit https:// www.teamtactics.co.uk/blog/cookingfor-the-homeless-team-building-event/ or contact Team Tactics to discuss suitability and hire rates.

18 NEWS © DPG

© Jodi Hinds

Bermondsey man is crowned the best young chef in UK

Works by Paolo Veronese at the Dulwich Picture Gallery

From left: Michel Roux Jr, Thomas Keller, Karol Ploch, Alain Roux

By Isabel Ramirez A man from Bermondsey has just been crowned the UK’s best young chef, winning £6,000 and the chance to cook at any restaurant in the world.

Karol Ploch, a sous chef from Kerridge’s Bar and Grill, has won The Roux Scholarship 2024.

The 28-year-old beat five other finalists in a challenging final cook-off held at the Alain Roux Culinary School at The Waterside Inn on Monday 8 April.

It was Karol’s first time entering the competition - renowned as one of the most prestigious in the industry.

After winning over the judges with his dish of poached rainbow trout with champagne and oyster sauce, Karol said: “It’s an amazing feeling, but overwhelming too.

“I’m just glad mine came out well.”

For this year’s final, the six chefs were asked to prepare their own dish centred around poached rainbow trout and Carlingford oysters, with a wide choice of other ingredients.

At the start of the competition, the chefs were shown a table displaying

dozens of ingredients that would allow them to interpret the brief as they chose.

The chefs were asked to ‘tell a bold story composed of minimal yet impactful elements.’ They had three hours to do it.

Karol said: “The cook-off was stressful at the beginning but I had cooked trout before so I had some techniques. I just kept it very simple.

“Our plates were taken to the other room so we didn’t see how the judges reacted to our food.”

The judging panel was led by threeMichelin star chef Thomas Keller, alongside joint chairmen Alain and Michel Jr, who were joined by TV Chef James Martin, Vice-Chairman Brian Turner CBE, Sat Bains (1999 scholar), André Garrett MCA (2002 Scholar), Clare Smyth MBE and Emily Roux.

Chef Keller congratulated Karol on his win, commenting: “Your expertise, patience and commitment to your craft are evident. You should be extremely proud of the work you displayed today.”

On Karol, Alain Roux said: “For someone that’s cooking in a bar or grill - it was a level on top.”

The winning chef receives £6,000,

with an additional £6,000 awarded if they stay with their current employer for 15 additional months.

They have the choice between two different star prizes: the invitation to cook and train under the supervision of a leading chef at a prestigious threestar Michelin restaurant anywhere in the world for up to two months; or a bespoke training programme tailored to the chef’s ambitions, skills gaps and interests.

Asked what he was going to choose, Karol told us he wanted to go and do a few stints at different restaurants around the world.

“There’s so many options - even a course on how to sharpen knives.

“The competition helped me make lots of new connections with people in the industry - and I got lots of good feedback from amazing chefs.”

His family is back home in Poland and Karol added that they were ‘very happy for him’ when he told them the news. “They know it’s a life-changing opportunity.”

Go to rouxscholarship.co.uk to find out more about the scholarship and how to enter for next year.

By Herbie Russell

A person has been rushed to hospital after a collision in Rotherhithe last week.

Emergency services rushed to the scene on Rotherhithe Old Road at 12.26pm on Tuesday, April 9.

Police, ambulance crews and a paramedic in a fast-response car were deployed.

London Ambulance Service treated one person at the scene who was taken to

hospital.

Their injuries are not considered lifethreatening or life-changing and there have been no arrests.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “On Tuesday, 9 April at 12:24hrs police were called to Rotherhithe New Road to reports of Road Traffic Collison involving a car and moped.

“Officers attended the scene and assisted the London Ambulance Service (LAS) who treated one person at the scene before taking them to hospital.

“Their injuries have been confirmed to be non-life threatening/changing.

“There have been no arrests.Enquiries are ongoing.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 12.26 this afternoon (April 9) to reports of a road traffic collision on the Rotherhihe Old Road. We dispatched resources to the scene including ambulance crews, and a paramedic in a fast response car. We also sent a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance.”

By Herbie Russell

Amateur artists could see their work displayed alongside Rembrandt and Guido Reni pieces at the prestigious Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Participants can submit 2D works using oil, acrylic, watercolour, original prints, drawings, pastels, or photography.

The winning entry will be hung in the gallery alongside pieces by celebrated artists like Rembrandt, Thomas Gainsborough and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.

Four runners-up will have their work reproduced as greeting cards and sold in the Gallery shop, receiving commission on sales.

Rotherhithe Old Road

Twenty submissions that make the final shortlist will have their work displayed on the website.

Entrants must be members of the Dulwich Picture Gallery which costs £44 and allows access to all its exhibitions and collection.

The winners will be selected by judges including Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery Sara Shamma, Artist Katy Wickremesinghe, Arts advisor and Trustee of Dulwich Picture Gallery and Bryony Haffner, Retail Manager Dulwich Picture Gallery Submissions, due by August 2, cost £15 and an extra £5 for each additional entry. The results will be announced at the gallery’s Friends Tea Party on the first week of September and winning artists will be emailed. © Google Maps

Person hospitalised in Rotherhithe collision

Amateur art to hang alongside Rembrandt in Dulwich Picture Gallery competition

OPINION 19

The walls have closed in on disabled residents

‘T

here’s no place like home’ or so the saying goes. Tragically, for some disabled people across southwark, there seems to be no place like an accessible home.

Investigations in this week’s paper have once again highlighted the impossible situation many of our borough’s most vulnerable residents are facing.

Hundreds of people are stuck in homes that just aren’t suitable for their needs. It means that people already battling with gruelling health conditions are being denied the basic necessities.

Having a shower in your own house, or going out to visit friends, are not luxuries. But for those without the wet rooms, hoists and ramps they need, they may as well be.

What’s causing this? Firstly, there is a severe lack of housing across London and this extends to accessible housing.

As has been well documented, local authorities across London are hamstrung by a chronic lack of funding. In Southwark, the council’s capital budgets are increasingly being spent on maintaining and upgrading antiquated housing stock, leaving little in the pot for new housing projects.

This forces local authorities to rely heavily on the private sector where developers, motivated by profit, often want to limit the amount of affordable and accessible housing they provide. Even then, rising construction costs and building regulations mean private developers are struggling to fund major housing projects even when they want to.

So essentially, not enough accessible homes are being built. But on top of that, existing homes aren’t being adapted fast enough. There are deep-lying structural reasons for this.

For a start, the UK isn’t training enough occupational therapists. Like much public sector healthcare work, wages have stagnated as workloads have increased meaning young people see it as a less viable career. Some providers have warned of an occupational therapist brain drain as qualified practitioners travel to places like Australia in search of better salaries.

Meanwhile, Disabled Facilities Grants - the money disabled people can claim to get adaptations have been capped at £30,000 since 2007. In February, the Local Government Association warned that this was “now insufficient for most major building work costs”.

Underlying all of this is the fact we have an ageing population. Consequently, creaking government structures, processes and funding models are no longer fit for purpose. Clearly, there needs to be wholesale change if we are to give disabled people the homes they deserve.

The crisis is so acute it’s become impossible for the government to ignore. This year, The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the availability of accessible and adaptable housing in England.

Sadly, for people who have been stuck in unsuitable homes for years already, it’s too little too late. The problem spiralled out of control long ago. Now people are paying the price for decades of inaction.

LOOKING FOR PATIENTS TO TAKE PART IN A TREATMENT STUDY

DO YOU LIVE WITH

DIABETES

Clues Across 1 Such stories lead to a better understanding of man (7) 5 Italian housebreaker? (5) 8 I’d have the French unemployed (4) 9 Appropriate in remedies for seizures (8) 10 Captain to get control of 6 down (6,7) 13 Sandy has such pluckiness (4) 14 Bring back the right one or else! Says Leo (4) 17 Sal speechifying such sauce! (5,8) 19 Implication that Frank is single (8) 20 Check sound of waterfall (4) 21 Dallied amorously? Child’s play, Edward (5) 22 Considered boss got round the German (7)

QUICK PUZZLE Clues Across

AND EXPERIENCE

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Get involved in a clinical trial.

Opportunity for 5 free treatments 4 months duration Are you looking for

RELIEF FOR DIABETIC NEUROPATHY?

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

We reimburse costs & pay for your time.

Find more inside the newspaper or at www.uco.ac.uk/NeuOst

1 Receive with pleasure 5 Loosened (5) 8 Italian coin (4) 9 Charm (8) 10 Russian dancing company (7,6) 13 Reflection of sound (4) 14 Rent (4) 17 Dance (8,5) 19 Scholarly (8) 20 Fruit (4) 21 Door (5) 22 Vegetable (7)

Clues Down 2 Lobe, to express love? (6) 3 Does he make the candidate cross? (7) 4 Codeserter indeed awarded a medal (9) 5 It goes round and round and up and down (5) 6 Silas takes me in the crafty fellow (7) 7 On retiring good man takes drink for cure (7) 11 Contract as a result of germ eaten (9) 12 Enjoy oneself with Pluto over the wine? (7) 13 Picture display leads to unusual allergy (7) 15 Neddy, rather rude and overbold (7) 16 Batsmen not out? (6) 18 Arranged to meet at the oasis? (5)

Clues Down 2 Newspaperman (6) 3 Work of acknowledged excellence (7) 4 Musical timekeeper (9) 5 Heather (5) 6 Alike (7) 7 Indicates (7) 11 Wild flower (9) 12 Turn aside (7) 13 Modish and well groomed (7) 15 Desert (7) 16 At rest (6) 18 Wanting (5)

SOLUTIONS TO LAST WEEK’S CROSSWORD CRYPTIC

Across 4 Ashore 8 Concert 10 Ailment 11 Outer 12 Annal 13 Toned down 16 Name parts 19 Twang 20 Purse 22 Adipose 23 Diehard 24 Amends Down: 1 Accost 2 Unit 3 Red RidingHood 5 Salt and pepper 6 Oleander 7 Extols 9 Tango 14 Negative 15 Strata 17 Mined 18 Steady 21 Real

QUICK CROSSWORD

Across: Chafes 8 Arcades 10 Lariats 11 Rumba 12 Elite 13 Lethargic 16 Leasehold 19 Laura 20 Thing 22 Cramped 23 Educate 24 Sadden Down: 1 Barrel 2 Scum 3 Edgar Allan Poe 5 Horse chestnut 6 Flamingo 7 Sister 9 Sling

20 NEWS www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 13

ADVERTORIAL

Couple take on London Marathon for hospital that saved their niece’s life AN AUNT and uncle are running their first ever marathon for Evelina London Children’s Charity so that other families can benefit from lifechanging care.

Sarah and Danny Singh were inspired to put on their running shoes for their niece Sophia Singh-Chauhan. Now seven, Sophia had life-saving brain surgery at Evelina London Children’s Hospital when she was four-years-old.

At 18-months-old, Sophia was diagnosed with GNA01, a neurological development disorder that causes seizures and continuous involuntary movements (dystonic-choreoathetosis). At its most severe, the rare genetic condition caused Sophia to experience life-threatening movements, known as movement ‘storms’ (status dystonicus), that require treatment in intensive care.

Sophia had deep brain stimulation surgery in August 2021, which involves fine electrodes being implanted deep into the brain to target areas that control coordination of body movements and posture, acting as a ‘pace maker’ for the brain. The surgery was performed by a specialist multidisciplinary team including paediatric neurosurgeons from King’s College Hospital.

Two years after her life-changing surgery, Sophia is able to enjoy being a seven-year-old – she loves swimming, reading, cooking, and cheering on her football team, Leicester City. Although she continues to have much milder involuntary movements, these are less frequent, and she no longer needs continuous sedation medication.

Danny, an IT infrastructure engineer, said: “Sophia is an amazing little girl – she

Sarah (left) and Danny (right) with their niece Sophia

has the most wonderful smile, is always happy to see people, and laughs at things that we find funny but she can’t tell us.

She has a heart of gold and lights up any room.”

Sarah and Danny, 44 and 40, are taking on the 2024 TCS London Marathon to raise awareness of Sophia’s condition, whilst raising money which will enable children, like their niece, to get the incredibly specialist care and support they need. The whole family, including Sophia

and her four-year-old sister Savannah, are travelling from Leicester to London on 21 April to cheer on the couple.

Dr Jean-Pierre Lin, consultant paediatric neurologist, said: “It is wonderful to see Sophia so happy and enjoying life. At Evelina London we are always looking at new ways to collaborate and spearhead research so that we can improve care and the quality of life for children with GNA01, like Sophia, and many other rare genetic disorders.”

EvelinaLondonChildren’sCharityhelps support the compassionate, trailblazing care of Evelina London, which includes training for play specialists that help ease anxiety by bringing joy to the bedside, and helping push boundaries with ground-breaking equipment to improve treatment.

To support Danny and Sarah’s fundraising, visit www.justgiving.com and search for Sarah Singh or Danny Singh to make a donation.

E-cargo bikes could help staff get to patients faster

A clinical nurse practitioner from Guy’s and St Thomas’ with an e-cargo bike

GUY’S AND St Thomas’ trialled an e-cargo bike to test whether it will help staff beat London traffic to get to patients faster – while reducing carbon emissions from travel.

The pilot scheme saw nine members of the @home service at Elmcourt health centre in West Norwood use the e-cargo bike instead of pool cars, public transport or personal bikes to visit patients in their homes.

The Trust worked with EAV, an e-cargo bike supplier, which provided the bike for the trial. Staff were given on-road cycle training sessions with an instructor from Bikeworks ahead of the trial.

The @home service includes nurses, therapists, doctors, pharmacists and social workers who support patients to get home sooner or avoid hospital altogether, freeing up hospital beds at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Harriet Slade, deputy service lead for the @home service at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “It’s great to have taken part in this trial as it could mean our staff are able to reach patients homes faster and provide the vital treatment they need, while using alternative, sustainable modes of travel that improve our carbon footprint.”

Tim Le Rougetel, sustainable travel officer at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “E-cargo bikes can travel through areas restricted to general motor traffic including low traffic neighbourhoods, parks and open spaces. There are no parking restrictions or permits required.

It also has up to 150kg storage capacity – more than enough to fit the @home service equipment including bulky items like commodes.”

Find out more about Guy’s and St Thomas’ green travel plan at www. guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/about-us/ sustainability

Join patient and carer panel GUY’S & St Thomas’ Charity is recruiting people who are passionate about improving healthcare to its Patient and Carer Panel.

The charity, which supports the staff and care provided at Guy’s and St Thomas’, wants to make sure that the projects it funds reflect the needs of patients, families, and carers.

The charity is looking for a diverse range of people to join its panel. Participants will receive training and support, as well as expenses and recognition for their time and commitment.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 15 May 2024.To find out more visit gsttcharity. org.uk/panel.

If you have any questions please email sara.ronzi@gstt. nhs.uk or call 020 7188 6808.

Get vaccinated as measles cases rise

EVELINA LONDON is urging families and carers to get vaccinated as cases of measles increase across London.

The hospital said that anyone who is concerned that their child may have measles should contact their GP or ring 111 before attending appointments.

Measles can spread easily and may cause serious problems for some people including young children and people with weakened immunity.

Vaccination is the best way to protect children against measles and other life-changing diseases.

Families and carers will be contacted by their GP practice when a child is due for routine immunisation. If a child has missed any vaccination, then they should speak directly to their GP. For more information visit: www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/ measles

ARTS 21

what’s on

in Southwark

Melancholy, Madness and Mark McGowan Mark McGowan first made bleeps on my radar when I wrote about the performance art pieces he was putting on in the borough. Almost every tabloid in the land portrayed them as stunts and invariably posed the question, ‘Is this art?’.

Really did they actually include the artistic reasons for the performances.

Growing up in Peckham and supporting Millwall formed his early life until the 80s arrived and Ibiza beckoned: ‘I went out there in 1982 and came back in 1994,’ he says. But years of drug taking had not prepared him for life back in SE London and he was soon in the Royal Bethlem Hospital detoxing from addiction.

While there he attended art therapy classes and created numerous drawings and paintings. ‘You’re really good,’ the therapists judged. His ceramic of a man holding his head in his hand was put in an exhibition and more plaudits came.

At the end of his stay, aged 37, he went straight to Camberwell College of Art. ‘It was all kids there; they thought I was a teacher,’ he laughs. But it was there that ‘Mark the mad smackhead from Peckham’ was informed that art was not just drawing and painting. ‘They told me that I could do “whatever I want” - Anything!’

It was at this point that Mark began ‘creating interventions into the media, pushing peanuts to Downing Street with my nose, rolling across London… framing them as art projects. Now I could express myself through these extraordinary things and not get my collar felt!’

Mark used the media’s headlines to preview his art. ‘The narrative begins with the media creating public outrage, then the event, then after the event,’ he says, still surprised at how the papers fell for it every time. ‘I’d put out a press release saying I was going to eat a corgi and the papers would be all over it!’ His performances have, however, brought attention to war and knife crime and are often politically charged.

Photo by M. Holland

I made my way to the Bethlem Gallery and Museum of the Mind where I was meeting Mark McGowan to discuss the exhibition he has curated - Bethlem Live Lounge. As I entered he was telling the office staff how he ate a corgi: ‘It was minced and made into meatballs,’ writes Michael Holland...

Bethlem Mark McGowan between the Melancholy and Madness statues

Yes, some saw his work as a waste of money and time, but if you listen to his explanation of what he is doing it all makes sense. Yes, his attitude might appear as if he is mocking the art world, but McGowan is a very serious artist who uses his talent to broadcast his feelings to all who want to hear it. ‘My work has touched on loneliness, a lot of it is shamebased.’

The downside to this is that his family never knew what to expect next with all the media attention.

Another disadvantage was that not enough people realised the seriousness of his art or knew what the message behind his pieces was. ‘When I catapulted the 71 year old woman outside the college it was to try to get old and young people respecting each other…When I crawled From Goldsmiths College to 10 Downing Street, that was about tuition fees that had just been brought in by New Labour…

Now, since Covid, you don’t get the teaching hours or the facilities, students pay nine grand a year for a library card!’ he exclaims. ‘It’s a business now, they’ve bought up all the property round the colleges and rent the places back to

From Millwall to Milan Ever wished that you were somewhere else? Ever wished that you were somebody else?

Then Body 115 is for you.

Escaping the rain, a journey on the London Underground becomes a descent into the underworld in this award-winning show.

Summoning a spirit guide in the form of ‘Body 115’, we follow our poet-hero down and out through the sewers and tubes of Kings Cross Station to the heart of Italy.

Part invocation, part rain dance, this poetic odyssey is delivered with a contemporary kick. From the terraces at Millwall to fashionable Milan expect

shadowy encounters, iPhone selfies, dodgy connections and chance meetings with a host of poet ghosts.

Body 115, written and performed by Jan Noble, was the winner of the London Pub Theatre Awards for ‘Best Innovative Play’ 2023, and received an Offie Commendation, 2023.

Jan Noble is an award-winning poet making work in theatre, film and audio formats. His poetry has been recorded by producer Craig Leon at Abbey Road studios and featured on the album ‘Cesarians 1’ (2009). His ongoing collaboration with composer Donna McKevitt includes ‘This Is What I Wanted To Give You’ (2016). He

the students! Universities are property magnates!’

After graduating, the artist spent many years teaching at various art colleges while also driving a taxi, a move that became the catalyst for his online Artist Taxi Driver persona for the last 14 years.

Behind sunglasses he rants about the day’s news and the state of the nation. But this move to social media has not stopped him from facilitating workshops at Bethlem, teaching and continually creating art: ‘The Artist Taxi Driver is performance art,’ he admits. For years he has berated this government for their austerity measures and the current cost of living crisis via his alter ego. ‘The Taxi Driver reflects all that stuff, I don’t imagine it.’

Some time ago Mark heard a radio ad for bowel cancer testing and after going along he unluckily found he had bowel cancer.

Luckily it had been caught early and was cured. He now strongly advices everyone to get tested and promotes mandatory tests. Having gone through that trauma he says that ‘it makes you think about how much time you’ve got left and makes you want to make more art - and quicker!’

Since the cure, he advocates everyday has performed at the ICA in London, The Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York and Teatrino Di Palazzo Grassi in Venice. In 2023 he was awarded the ‘Silver Wyvern’ at Poetry on the Lake with Carol Ann Duffy.

The Creative Team: Directed by Justin Butcher; Lighting: Tom Turner; Sound Design: Jack Arnold.

Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London, SE4 2DH from Tuesday 7 – Saturday 11 May 2024 at 7.30pm.

Box office: www.brockleyjack.co.uk or 0333 666 3366 (£1.80 fee for phone bookings only) Tickets: £17, £15 concessions (14+) Sixty minutes with no interval www.jannoble.co.uk

being the ‘best day of your life’ and to perform the most mundane of chores in the best way you can.

He pondered the age of his father’s death, Elvis’s and more recently Joe Kinnear at 77 - ‘F**king hell, I ain’t got long left…’ He recently gave a 10-hour performance of a poem he’d written about his mother called: ‘What’s going to happen to all my stuff when I die?’ It was something she had said to him.

He talks about a Bethlem Community, people who have all come through the hospital - ‘We are artists first and even though we’ve all had mental health issues we come here and support each other as well as get support for anyone who wants to make art.’

It is also the venue for Live Lounge, a 3-month collaborative exhibition that puts the visitor front and centre by providing a safe space where they can come and sing, dance, recite poetry and do whatever they want - and be recorded doing it. Mark has already recorded twenty-two voices of the Bethlem community. ‘I’m working with a guy called Gowan Hewitt who, with all his machines, has made a soundscape from them.’ This will be on an album that is just

about to go to press. Pointing at the two statues behind him that once crowned the gates of the original Bethlem, he says, ‘One side of the album is called Melancholy and the other is Madness.

The opening of Live Lounge will be various performers doing their thing, and over the opening weekend Martin Ware of Heaven 17 will be giving a lecture/workshop of his ‘Top 30 Tips for making a Hit Record’ and Jools Cunningham, a Sadler’s Wells’ dancer, will run a workshop for ‘people who can’t dance’. A‘mini-Glastonbury’ will close the exhibition in June. But in between it will mainly be open-mic days for anyone to come and use the equipment.

“We’ve got wall-hangings, rugs, sofas, two synthesisers from Martin Ware, a double bass from the Everly Pregnant Brothers, loads of instruments and recording equipment.’ His excitement was real. ‘We don’t wanna create an exhibition as such, but a space for people to come and make music, and dance and sing - It’s gonna be amazing. It’s ephemeral, it’s an event that happens and then it’s gone, not like a sculpture or a painting that will stay on the wall for years, it will be the stories people tell before, during and after the event.’

Mark had a lot to say about the numbers of autistic people in jail, Brain worms, art as therapy and music being great for mental wellbeing. But with the art of The Masters still hanging in galleries around the world after many centuries, he is constantly trying to make something extraordinary to surpass them.

It could be easy to mistake Mark McGowan as a chancer who has blagged his way to where he is now. As The Artist Taxi Driver , in between deriding politicians and war, he shows articles written about his projects and laughs and comes across as someone who doesn’t take art seriously. He does. It’s himself he doesn’t take seriously and being constantly surprised at his standing in the art world manifests itself as laughing at the art world he lives in.

Bethlem Live Lounge, Bethlem Gallery, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monk’s Orchard Road, BR3 3BX from May 8th - June 13th.

Admission: Free. twitter.com/chunkymark www.instagram.com/the_artist_taxidriver

22 HISTORY

History © Google Maps

The Surrey View Tavern in the past and today

The pubs of Southwark’s Grand Surrey Canal

The approximate site of the Watermans Arms on Willowbrook Road before it was demolished

The Globe Tavern has now been converted into flats The Grand Surrey Canal was a four-mile waterway that supplied Southwark with all manner of goods from 1800 until around the 1960s, writes The Peckham Society...

As a lively artery of commerce, it’s unsurprising that pubs sprung up along its banks, providing canal workers with much-needed grub and drink.

But they were more than just watering holes. These taverns also played a vital role in civil society, hosting inquests and, in some cases, becoming mortuaries for people who drowned in the water.

While the Grand Surrey Canal was vital to the economic health of

Southwark, it always held a sinister reputation for claiming the lives of people who fell in.

When it was drained in the 1970s, a journalist wrote that the ‘stinking water… has to be dredged every time a child goes missing’.

Wary of London’s drowning problem, Physician William Hawes founded the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned in 1774, today named the Royal Humane Society.

As well as offering cash payments to those who attempted to save people from drowning, the society would pay pubs one guinea - roughly £140 today if they allowed a body to be treated on the premises.

Pubs and taverns were also long established as local meeting places.

In addition to auctions, political and Vestry meetings they hosted inquests.

A committee was appointed in 1892 to investigate more suitable venues for coroners’ courts. As a result, the practice of holding inquests in public houses in London had ceased by 1901.

Taverns of the Canal Watermans Arms

The Watermans Arms at 41 Willowbrook Road, the junction of Willowbrook Road and Colegrove Road, closed in the 1920s and was later demolished. It hired out rowing boats.

A dark narrow lane led down to the canal. In 1876, a reward [from the Royal Humane Society] was given to Robert Henchley, landlord of the Waterman’s Arms, Hill-street, Peckham.

He had received Ellen Taylor to his house, successfully “restoring [her] to animation”. She had attempted suicide by jumping into the Surrey Canal and was dragged out by Henchley on November 18.

Surrey View Tavern

This tavern originally stood at 137 Commercial Way. In the 1930s the terrace of houses was rebuilt and the pub incorporated into no 135.

As the canal was so close, almost ‘in view’ to customers, there were many newspaper reports of incidents. It was the scene of Richard Farris’ attempted rescue of Eliza Arlott in 1878. The couple both drowned.

It was trading to at least the mid1980s and hosted the Surrey View Dance and Social Club in the 1940s, later becoming a café, and is now a

mini-supermarket.

The Globe Tavern

The Globe at 58 Peckham Hill Street was in business before 1818 when back garden backed onto the canal.

It closed in January 2003 and was converted to flats by 2005, but the façade and signage has been retained.

Kentish Drovers

This pub formerly stood on at no. 74 on the south side of Peckham High Street on the east side of Jones & Higgins. It was the centre of the annual August Peckham Fair, last held in 1826.

The final licensee, George Morgan, died in 1951 aged 84 after 20 years service.

The pub was sold in 1952 and converted to a shop, showroom and two flats the following year.

However, the name continued when Wetherspoons opened another Kentish Drovers opposite on 24 May 2000.

This article first appeared in The Peckham Society, Issue 174, Autumn 2023.

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26 PUBLIC NOTICES LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (BORLAND ROAD. INVERTON ROAD, LIMESFORD ROAD, FRIERN ROAD,COMMERCIAL WAY, RUBY STREET, DEKKER ROAD, ROUEL ROAD, GREEN HUNDRED ROAD, CHAPTER ROAD, HYNDMAN STREET, SYLVAN GROVE)

STURDY ROAD AREA IMPROVEMENTS

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 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) Borland Road, between Sartor Road and Inverton Road (b) Inverton Road, at it’s junction with Borland Road and Inverton Road (c) Limesford Road, between Inverton Road and Ivydale Road (d) Friern Road, between Etherow Street and Lordship Lane (e) Commercial Way, between Elcot Avenue and Naylor Road (f) Ruby Street, between Old Kent Road and Murdock Street (g) Dekker Road, between Court Lane and Woodwarde Road (h) Rouel Road, between Enid Street and Spa Road (i) Green Hundred Road, between Ethnard Road and Windspoint Road ‘at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced on both sides of the carriageway (north and south side) (j) Chapter Road, cycle lane and road closure, between No’s 22 Chapter Road and Lorrimore Square (k) Hyndman Street, between Old Kent Road and Ruby Street (l) Sylvan Grove, between Old Kent Road and it’s blocked end

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic for 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.

6.

The works will be in operation for (2a) (2b) (2c) 22nd April – 9 May (2d) 22nd – 24th April (2e) 20th – 21st April with back up dates of the 27th – 28th April (2f) 22nd – 27th April (2g) 24th April – 5th June (2h) 25th April – 11th May (2i) 29th April – 10th May (2j) 29th April – 28th June (2k) 29th April – 10th May (2l) 1st – 3rd May

7.

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

Dated this 18th April 2024 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) SLM00081332939-0050 (2b) SLM081332939-0050 (2c) SLM0081332939-0050 (2d) SLS00081163019-0135 (2e) LBSCR13403 (2f) 65003815 (2g) W119974175-00736 (2h) BER4ROR46-01 (2i) 30761-WAL-WK15 (2j) 90814349 (2k) 65003814 (2l) SLD00081342875-0020

The London Borough of Southwark (Prescribed routes) (Sturdy Road area) Traffic Order 202* The London Borough of Southwark (Waiting and Loading restrictions) (Sturdy Road area) Order 202* 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that it proposes to make the above orders under sections 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The effect of the (Prescribed routes) Order would be to introduce a ‘no motor vehicles’ restriction (which would operate at all times, every day of the week) in that part of Sturdy Road which lies north-east of a point 26 metres south-west of the south-western kerb-line of Gordon Road, there would no longer be access to Sturdy Road from Gordon Road.

There would be no exemptions to the above restriction for emergency services vehicles, due to the road closure becoming a planted area for pedestrians which would link Dr Harold Moody Park and Consort Park.

3. The effect of the (Waiting and Loading restrictions) Order would be:(a) GORDON ROAD on south-west side, extend the existing ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions (double yellow lines henceforth referred to as ‘DYLs’) across the former junction with Sturdy Road (a total of 17 metres) to accommodate the closure of this junction; and (b) in STURDY ROAD (i) south-east side opposite Nos. 15 to 17 Sturdy Road add 13.5 metres new DYLs, and (ii) add new DYLs with contiguous ‘at any time’ loading restrictions (double yellow kerb blips) 10 metres on south-east side opposite Nos. 13 and 14 Sturdy Road, and 24 metres throughout the turning head on all sides of Sturdy Road opposite Nos. 18 to 20 Sturdy Road and outside No. 20 Sturdy Road to accommodate the part road closure.

NOTE: All measurements are in metres and are approximate.

4. For more information about these proposals please contact Michael Bury of the Council's Policy & Programmes team via: Highways@southwark.gov.uk.

5. Copies of the supporting documents (this Notice, the proposed Orders, and a statement of the Council's reasons for making the Orders) may be found online at www.southwark.gov.uk/trafficorders; paper or digital copies of plans showing the location and effect of the Orders and the supporting documents may be requested by emailing traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk, or inspected by appointment only at: Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH - from the date of this Notice until the end of a period of six weeks from the date on which the Orders are made. Email traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk (or call 077 3132 4742) for booking details.

6. Anyone wishing to make any representations either for or to object to the proposals, may use our consultation portal at https://consultation.appyway.com/southwark; or send a statement in writing to: Traffic Order Consultations, Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, P.O. Box 64529, London SE1P 5LX or traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk quoting reference ‘TMO2425002 Sturdy Road area’ by 10 May 2024. Please note that if you wish to object to this proposal you must state the grounds on which your objection is made.

7.Under requirements of current access to information legislation, any letter, form or e-mail sent to the Council in response to this Notice may be subject to publication or disclosure, or both, including communication to other persons affected.

Dated 18 April 2024 teven Grayer - Head of Service - Highways, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK HYNDMAN STREET IMPROVEMENTS The London Borough of Southwark (Loading places and Waiting restrictions) (Hyndman Street improvements) Order 202* 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that it proposes to make the above Order under sections 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

Proposed closure of Comber Grove Primary School Southwark Council publishes these proposals under DfE guidance “Opening and closing maintained schools - Statutory guidance for proposers and decision makers, January 2023” and with due regard to section 15(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. Southwark Council is publishing these proposals to close Comber Grove Primary School site with effect from 31st August 2024 - this is stage two of the Statutory Process. Stage one involved the previous consultation, earlier in the academic year.

Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal (15th April 2024) – stage 2 of the statutory process - any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by emailing them to questions.education@southwark.gov.uk. This period is stage three of the statutory process. After the end of the four week representation period, within two months, the Council’s Cabinet will meet in June 2024 to take the final decision on whether to close. This will be stage four in the process.

Should the decision to close Comber Grove Primary School site be taken, all children attending Comber Grove Primary School will be offered places at alternative primary schools for September 2024. The closure forms stage five in the statutory process A paper copy of the proposal can be requested via email to: questions.education@southwark.gov.uk Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal, any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by emailing them to questions.education@southwark.gov.uk All responses must be received no later than 5pm on the 13th May 2024 Alasdair Smith Director of Children’s Services 15th April 2024

2. The effects of Order would be in HYNDMAN STREET to install a new loading bay, 12 metres in length, which may be used for the purpose of loading only ‘at any time’ every day of the week (max stay 1 hour, and no return within 2 hours) south-east side north-east of its junction with Old Kent Road and remove 12 metres of existing ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions (double yellow lines) to accommodate the new loading bay.

NOTE: All measurements are in metres and are approximate.

3. Southwark Council hereby GIVES FURTHER NOTICE under sections 90A to 90I of the Highways Act 1980 and in accordance with the provisions of the Highways (Traffic calming) Regulations 1999, propose to construct a raised speed table of flat-top construction having a maximum height level with the surrounding kerb, and covering the entire width of the carriageway in HYNDMAN STREET from a point 59 metres north-east of the north-eastern kerb-line build-out of Old Kent Road extending northeastward for a distance of 9 metres (including ramps).

4. For more information contact Hernan Castano of the Council's Highway Development team Highways@southwark.gov.uk 5. Copies of the supporting documents (this Notice, the proposed Order, and a statement of the Council's reasons for making the Order) may be found online at www.southwark.gov.uk/trafficorders; paper or digital copies of plans showing the location and effect of the Order and the supporting documents may be requested by emailing traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk, or inspected by appointment only at: Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH - from the date of this Notice until the end of a period of six weeks from the date on which the Order is made. Email traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk (or call 077 3132 4742) for booking details.

6. Anyone wishing to make any representations either for or to object to the proposals, may use our consultation portal at https://consultation.appyway.com/southwark; or send a statement in writing to: Traffic Order Consultations, Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, P.O. Box 64529, London SE1P 5LX or traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk quoting reference ‘TMO2425003 Hyndman Street’ by 10 May 2024. Please note that if you wish to object to this proposal you must state the grounds on which your objection is made.

7. Under requirements of current access to information legislation, any letter, form or e-mail sent to the Council in response to this Notice may be subject to publication or disclosure, or both, including communication to other persons affected.

Dated 18 April 2024 Steven Grayer Head of Service - Highways, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth

To place a notice in this paper and online, please email em@cm-media.co.uk. Deadline is 3pm on Wednesdays

PUBLIC NOTICES 27

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

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

How to comment on this application: You should submit your comments via the above link. Comments received will be made available for public viewing on the website. All personal information will be removed except your postal address. Online comments submitted without an email address will not be acknowledged and those marked 'confidential' will not be considered. Written comments can be submitted to; Southwark Council, Chief executive's department, Planning division, Development Management, PO Box 64529, London SE1 5LX. Reason for publicity. The applications are advertised for the reasons identified by the following codes: AFFECT - development affecting character or appearance of a nearby conservation area; OR development affecting setting of a nearby listed building(s); DEP - departure from the development plan; EIA - environmental impact assessment (these applications are accompanied by an environmental statement a copy of which may be obtained from the Council - there will be a charge for the copy); MAJ - major planning application; STDCA - development within a conservation area; STDLB - works to or within the site of a listed building; 62 BEAUVAL ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8UQ (Ref: 24/AP/0902) Construction of a single storey side extension and installation of new doors to rear elevation of rear outrigger. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Louise Dinsdale 07513137967) 272 -274 MERROW STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE17 2PA (Ref: 24/AP/0988) Construction of full-width single storey rear extensions, replacement windows to front and rear, loft conversion and installation of roof lights and alterations to front railings associated with the provision of bin and bike storage at 272- 274 Merrow Street. (Within: Liverpool Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Chloe Rimell 0207 525 1397) LIVING ACCOMMODATION T BAR 39 CAMBERWELL ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 0EZ (Ref: 24/AP/0979) Proposed Loft Conversion To Include Rear Dormer To Form Communal Area (Within: Walworth Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Glenn Ruane 020 7525 5447) 9A BLENHEIM GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 4QS (Ref: 24/AP/0734) Minor amendment for planning application 22/AP/1422 and 23/AP/0166 dated 12/04/2023 for condition 1-Minor Amendment application for a new chimney flue to the proposed dwelling to be located to the rear of the first floor extension, penetrating the ground floor flat roof section and extending over the first floor flat roof extension (Within: Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Michèle Sterry 020 7525 5453) BELTWOOD 41 SYDENHAM HILL LONDON SOUTHWARK SE26 6TH (Ref: 24/AP/1012) Removal of condition 2 (Approved Plans) pursuant to planning application ref. no.

17/AP/3070 and 17/AP/3071: Alterations to enable a change of use of Beltwood House (a

Grade II listed building) from a Class C2 residential institution to provide 7 apartments with external works comprising demolition of the service wing outriggers and replacement with a new communal entrance. Demolition of curtilage outbuildings to the east of Beltwood House ('Stables and Worker's cottage') and replacement with 3 No. residential units. Creation of new Gate House and a detached house within the site curtilage. Alterations including underpinning of the existing Gate Lodge (curtilage listed building) and, ground floor extension. A comprehensive landscape strategy comprising communal and private spaces and gardens for use by residents.

Car parking for 17 cars for residents and visitors.

Provision of new refuse and cycle storage structures. Creation of new vehicular access on to Sydenham Hill from the south-east of the site to serve one new dwelling (new Gate House).

The variation seeks to add details of the first floor northern elevation window, details of the proposed parapet wall, details of the wild roof, solar panel details. (Within: Dulwich Wood CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Tracy Chapman 020 7525 1948) FIRST FLOOR FLAT 113 BUSHEY HILL ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8QQ (Ref: 24/AP/0952) Addition of 3 rooflights to the rear and side roof slopes. (Within: Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki ) RIVERSIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL JANEWAY STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE16 4PS (Ref: 24/AP/0798) Removal of Condition 7 (Biodiversity (green/brown) Roof) and 8 (BREEAM Report) pursuant to planning permission 21/AP/4729 for 'Demolition of existing teaching block, caretakers house, playground canopies and dividing walls; construction of a new single storey extension and part refurbishment of the existing main school building; construction of a new single storey classroom block and kitchen dining block; and

MARRIAGE/CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS APPROVAL NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT FOR NEW APPLICATION/RENEWAL* TO LICENCES Notice is given that Golden Hinde Limited Has applied to the London Borough of Southwark for approval/renewal of approval of premises for marriage/civil partnership ceremonies at Golden Hinde Sailing Ship, St. Marie Overie Dock, Cathedral St. London, SE1 9DE. Within the: Armoury and Hold 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 21 days starting the day after the date shown below.# Date of application: 17th April 2024

associated soft and hard landscaping improvement works'. (Within: Wilson Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Lara Davison ) 17 EAGLE WHARF COURT 59 LAFONE STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2LZ (Ref: 24/AP/1015) Listed Building Consent for the replacement of a sliding balcony door. (Within: Tower Bridge CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Anna Poulose )

Dated: 16 Apr 2024 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date.

STEPHEN PLATTS - Director of Planning and Growth

297 WALWORTH ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE17 2TG (Ref: 24/AP/0906) Display of shop fascia sign 3.6M x 1.2M and projecting sign 1.02M x 0.54M (Within: Walworth Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Alex Lambert 020 7525 1353) 24 CHADWICK ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 4RA (Ref: 24/AP/1020) Construction of a rear dormer extension with a Juliet balcony. (Within: Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Louise Dinsdale 07513137967) 208 BOROUGH HIGH STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 1JX (Ref: 24/AP/0932) Installation of a new internally illuminated fascia signage and projection sign on the shopfront.

(Within: Liberty of the Mint CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Alex Lambert 020 7525 1353) 3 CHADWICK ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 4RA (Ref: 24/AP/1039) Conversion of existing pitched roof loft to a bedroom with the addition of a rear dormer extension, thermal improvements to the fabric of the building, replacement of sash windows, replacement of tiles with slates and the addition of a new roof light to the rear outrigger. (Within: Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Samuel Hepworth 020 7525 5465)

Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 Please take notice that I / we Thiyana Ltd have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of: Subway, 76-78 Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8RZ The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are Days

Start time

Finish time

The provision of late night refreshment:

Monday to Wednesday Thursday & Sunday Friday & Saturday

23:00 23:00 23:00

00:00 01:00 02:00

Opening hours:

Monday to Wednesday Thursday & Sunday Friday & Saturday

08:00 08:00 08:00

00:00 01:00 02:00

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

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

Date of application: 15th April 2024

Re Proposed Amalgamation of Charlotte Sharman Foundation Primary School and St Jude’s VA Primary School to become a 1FE VA Primary School on the CSPS site (September 2024).

Governors at both schools, in discussion with the SDBE have decided to proceed to Stage 2 of the Formal Statutory Process for amalgamating schools. This involves the issuing of a Statutory Notice and a 4-week Formal Consultation that will begin on 19/4/24 until 17/5/24.

A copy of the Full Proposal can be viewed on both schools’ websites at:St Jude’s – https://www.stjudessouthwark.co.uk CSPS – https://www.charlottesharman.co.uk A paper copy of the proposal can be requested by email to:- stagetwoconsultationjtomkins@outlook.com Views can be given using the QR code link found at the end of the Full Proposal document on the schools’ websites or in writing to either school, in a sealed envelope.

E-mail responses can be sent to the following address:- stagetwoconsultationjtomkins@outlook.com The Formal Consultation closes at midnight on 17/5/24.

28 PUBLIC NOTICES ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 16A

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

THE (RESTRICTION OF TRAFFIC) SPECIAL EVENTS ORDER 2024

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (ABBEY STREET, COBOURG ROAD,MELON ROAD, BARNHAM STREET, FENWICK ROAD, LIBRARY STREET, AVONMOUTH STREET, WARNER ROAD, GLENGARRY ROAD, THORNCOMBE ROAD, TROSSACHS ROAD, HILLSBORO ROAD, BOUNDARY LANE, FELLBRIGG ROAD)

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Traffic Order under section 16A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specified in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2.

The purpose of the Order is to facilitate the Elections, as indicated in the schedule to this notice.

3.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit any vehicle from:(a) entering or proceeding in the length of street specified in the schedule to this notice on the date and hours indicated. (b) waiting (including waiting for the purpose of delivering or collecting goods or loading or unloading a vehicle) in the length of street specified in the schedule to this notice. (c) stopping in the 7 disabled parking spaces in Barnham Street located between Tooley Street and Crucifix Lane. (d) stopping in the loading, unloading and disabled persons vehicle bay located outside No’s 160, A200 Tooley Street (e) The existing one way working in Shand Street, located between Tooley Street and Crucifix Lane, will be made two way for access and egress purposes (f) The entire stretch of permit holders bays, located on Shand Street will be suspended

4.

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 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) Abbey Street, between Enid street and Jamaica Road (b) Cobourg Road, between Neate Street and Loncroft Road (c) Melon Road, between Peckham High Street to it’s blocked end (d) Barnham Street, between at railway bridge, located between Crucifix Lane and Tooley Street (e) Fenwick Road, between East Dulwich Road and Strickland Court (f) Library Street, between Milcote Street and Borough Road (g) Avonmouth Street, between No’s 6 (h) Warner Road, between Crawford Road and No’s 63 (i) Glengarry Road, between No’s 6-8 to JW Thorncombe Rd (j) Thorncombe Road, between the side of 129 East Dulwich Grove and Glengarry Road (k) Trossachs Road, between Glengarry Road and Thorncombe Road (l) Hillsboro Road, between East Dulwich Road and Thorncombe Road, the LTN restriction will be lifted (m) Boundary Lane, side of 57-67 Camberwell Road (n) Fellbrigg Road, between No’s 13

The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (a) any vehicle being used for the purposes of that event or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes; (b) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by the Council of the London Borough of Southwark.

5.

The alternative route for affected traffic will be via: Crucifix Lane, Bermondsey Street, Tooley Street. Tooley Street, Tanner Street, Druid Street, Crucifix Lane or as indicated by the signs displayed.

For information regarding this order contact: Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 16th April 2024 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark, Network Management, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: TTOELECT/BARNHA2024/TTO/ELEC/SHAND2024

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic 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.

6.

The works will be in operation for (2a) 4th – 5th May (2b) 6th – 7th May (2c) 2nd – 17th May (2d) 6th – 10th May (2e) 7th – 8th May (2f) 7th May (2g) 6th – 13th May (2h) 9th – 11th May (2i) 7th May – 11th December (2j) 7th May – 11th December (2k) 7th May – 2nd July (2l) 7th May – 11th December (2m) 7th – 13th May (2n) 7th – 13th May

7.

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

Schedule Road

Extent

Date of event and Prohibited Hours

Barnham Street

Tooley Street – Crucifix Lane Thursday 2nd May 18:00hrs – Friday 3rd May 02:00hrs

Shand Street

Tooley Street – Crucifix Lane Thursday 2nd May 18:00hrs – Friday 3rd May 02:00hrs

Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

Notice is hereby given that Valentino Di Geronimo has applied to Wandsworth Council for a premises licence at Enoteca Chiaia, 17 Garratt Lane, London, SW18 4ED to provide the following licensable activities: Sale and consumption of alcohol Recorded and live music Take away

Dated this 18th April 2024 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) 68616268 (2b) 67940663 (2c) 77001021 (2d) LBSCR13445 (2e) LBSCR13487 (2f) LBSCR13444 (2g) W118399542-00120 (2h) 00338558-00000001 (2i) 9621-04 (2j) 9621-01 (2k) 962102 (2l) (2m) 61514469 (2n) 10402148

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 10th May 2024 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk

Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk

Sale of Alcohol Off the premises.

Sunday to Thursday 07:00 to 00:00 Friday & Saturday 07:00 to 02:00

It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

Notice is hereby given that OK13 Limited has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at OK 13, 16A Tooting Bec Road, London, SW17 8BD for

Notice is hereby given that Mrs Saima Shahzadi has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at UK Food & Wine, 184 Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 4ND for

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 13th May 2024 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk

Sale of Alcohol On and Off the premises.

Sunday to Saturday 11:00 to 00:00 Late Night Refreshment - On and Off the premises.

Sunday to Saturday 11:00 to 00:00

It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 13th May 2024 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk

Notice of application for a Premises Licence.

The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

Notice is hereby given that Chill N Grill Takeaway Ltd applied to Hammersmith & Fulham for the grant of a premises licence at Chill N Grill Takeaway Ltd 195 Uxbridge Road, London, W12 9RA for: The Provision of Late-Night Refreshment - Both Indoors and Outdoors Sundays to Thursdays 23:00 to 00:00.

Fridays and Saturdays between 23:00 to 02:00.

A register of licensing applications can be inspected at www.lbhf.gov.uk/licensing. Any person wishing to submit representations to our application must give notice in writing to the licensing authority at the web address above or licensing@lbhf.gov.uk, giving the grounds of objection by 10.05.2024.

It is an offence liable on conviction to a fine up to Level 5 on the standard scale under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with this application.

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

Photo by Mark Sandom

SPORT 29

suRRey fall shoRT iN ThRilliNg chase

Midnight Train makes nightmarish prediction ahead of world title tilt

Ryley Scott sacred the opener

defending champions miss out on first win of season

By Bruce Talbot sUrrey FeLL short in a fourth-day run chase against Somerset at the Kia oval as their Vitality County Championship match ended in a draw.

Chasing 209 in 19 overs, Dan Lawrence and Jamie Smith hit 32 off the seventh and eight overs to take their stand to 90 and set up the prospect of a first win of the season for the champions.

Smith twice hit Craig Overton back over his head into the pavilion and pulled a short ball from Migael Pretorius over mid-wicket for his third six, but trying to clear long on off the first ball of the ninth over he was well caught by Matt Renshaw running in from the boundary for 45 off 25 balls.

Ollie Pope slashed the second ball of the tenth from Kasey Aldridge over point for six but he was bowled later in the over attempting a repeat before three wickets in nine balls ended Surrey’s challenge.

Aldridge picked up two in the 12th over as Jamie Overton slogged one in the air and skipper Rory Burns was caught on the boundary for a four-ball duck. Lewis Gregory then held a steepler to remove Dom Sibley off his own bowling.

Lawrence was unbeaten on 53 from 34

balls when the players shook hands with five overs left.

Earlier, Gregory batted for 66 overs for 80 in Somerset’s second-innings 351 as his determination, the loss of 18 overs in the morning to rain and the effects of a slow pitch and a Kookaburra ball which offered little assistance blunted the Surrey attack.

Gregory had come in on day three with his side five wickets down and only nine runs in front, but he got good support from Aldridge (42) and Craig Overton (52 not out) in four-and-a-quarter hours at the crease.

Play didn’t start until 12.10pm and when Surrey took the new ball Somerset’s lead was only 100. Gregory did edge a delivery from Kemar Roach which dropped just short of second slip but otherwise both he and Aldridge were untroubled until Roach made the breakthrough in the second over after lunch to end a seventh-wicket stand of 94.

Roach went slightly wide of the crease and Aldridge edged a ball which straightened a touch as he pushed forward.

The lead was 113 and after 13 overs of seam with the new ball Surrey switched to an all-spin attack but neither Steel

Scotney unifies titles

By John Kelly eLLIe sCoTNey claimed the biggest win of her professional career as she scored a unanimous victory against her previously unbeaten French opponent segolene Lefebvre at the Manchester arena last weekend.

Scotney added the world superbantamweight WBO belt to her IBF title.

Catford’s Scotney, 26, was relentless over ten rounds and won 99-91, 9793, 96-94 on the judges’ scorecards.

Lefebvre, 30, was more experienced

in age and in the ring but Scotney handed her a first loss in nineteen professional fights.

Scotney has won all of her nine professional bouts.

Ellie Scotney with her belts

By John Kelly riChArD riAKPorhE has made a chilling prediction ahead of his potential next fight - as he has threatened his opponent will still be having nightmares about him in 20 years.

Jamie Smith (pictured) and Dan Lawrence HIT 32 off the seventh and eighth overs nor Lawrence could break through.

Overton survived an lbw appeal on 11 when he offered no shot to a ball from Lawrence which wouldn’t have missed leg stump by much. On 30 he pushed forward to Steel and the ball looped up off the top of his pad, but again umpire Richard Kettleborough turned down the appeal.

Back came the seamers and on 69 Gregory hooked Gus Atkinson’s short ball to deep square leg where Roach put down a difficult chance in the swirling wind. Surrey might have guessed then that their day was to end in frustration.

Gregory, whose 50 held Somerset’s first innings together after they collapsed, and Overton extended their stand to 89 and Gregory had just swatted a ball from Steel through midwicket to take the lead beyond 200 when his vigil ended somewhat tamely with a cut to point.

Pretorius’s ill-judged drive to extra cover and a quicker ball which pinned Shoaib Bashir gave Steel the final three wickets and match figures of 9 for 146.

Surrey took fourteen points, Surrey eleven.

Surrey’s Steel, who took nine wickets, said: “Lewis Gregory, Kasey Aldridge batted very well and Craig Overton

backed it up so it was a tough slog for us. All credit to them for the way they played on a good pitch.

“The pitch here tends to get flatter as the game goes on but I’ve got no issues with the pitch, that’s what we like to play on. We generally win games with the Duke’s ball by outbatting and outbowling teams over the four days but it’s harder taking wickets with the Kookaburra as it gets softer and softer.

“We would have chased whatever they set us but sadly we couldn’t get over the line although Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence batted really well.”

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr added: “Apart from about 40 minutes on day one we have been outstanding in this game. We showed a lot of resilience. We were close to shutting the game down but then we gave them a bit of a sniff. But Lewis Gregory and Kasey Aldridge bowled really well and I thought a draw was a fair result over four days.

“Kasey has been outstanding today with his bowling and batting today.

He showed a lot of maturity under immense pressure. He’s grown as a cricketer already this season.”

Surrey travel to Kent on Friday (April 19).

Hamlet’s promotion hopes over despite win

By John Kelly DulwiCh hAMlEt’S slim chance of finishing in the isthmian league Premier division play-off places is over despite their 2-0 win at Canvey Island last weekend.

Danny Mills and Ryley Scott scored the goals in stoppagetime at the end of both halves but Dulwich boss Hakan Hayrettin and his coaching staff can now

fully concentrate on plans for next season in the seventh tier.

Dulwich needed to win their last three games of the season and hope for an unlikely set of other results to go their way to finish in the top five.

With two games left, the highest the Champion Hill side can finish is seventh.

The Hamlet travel to Folkestone Invicta this Saturday for a 3pm kick-off.

Walworth’s Riakporhe and Chris Billam-Smith, from Bournemouth, are expected to meet in a cruiserweight showdown later this year.

Billam-Smith is the WBO belt holder after his victory over Lawrence Okolie last year.

But ‘Midnight Train’ Riakporhe handed ‘The Gentleman’ BillamSmith his only professional defeat, a split-decision in 2019.

Riakporhe is is unbeaten in seventeen professional fights, thirteen of the wins coming inside the distance.

“He’s got one loss on the record, on his impressive record,” Riakporhe said. “I’m just going to do it again, that’s the plan, I need to double that number, that’s the aim, that’s my goal.

“What makes it so much better and tantalising is that there’s a world title belt on the line. I have the confidence already because I beat him already. But because this world title’s on the line, I feel like I’m just ready to go to another place.

“I want to put on a performance that cannot be questioned.

People are going to know the difference between me and The Gentleman. There’s a big difference - I believe that I’m a level above.”

Riakporhe belies he will be like a nightmarish fictional character haunting Billam-Smith many years from now.

He said: “There are fights that I’ve been in where I didn’t come with the intention to win the rounds, I just want the knockout.

I actually want to knock out every single opponent I face.

“That’s my gift. I just know how to do it. Check my track record, my last five fights all KOs within the distance and that’s against decent opposition.

“I do believe that power is enough to deal with Chris BillamSmith. My power in particular is enough to deal with him. No matter whether he’s winning rounds or not. I just need to land the correct shot and he’s gone.

“I’m going for the KO, that’s all I want to do. Chris BillamSmith has made a big mistake.

He’s going to be looking back 20 years from now, regretting taking this fight and I’m going to still be visiting him in his dreams like Freddy Krueger.”

30 SPORT

Not there yet

Jake Cooper celebrates his first goal in fourteen months

eXCluSive

By Kiro Evans NeIL harrIs has warned his Millwall players to not lower their guard just yet.

Saturday’s win over Cardiff City lifted the Lions six points and six places clear of the relegation zone with just three games remaining.

Millwall’s survival chances are looking far more favourable after back-to-back victories but Harris does not want anyone to relax until safety is beyond the question.

The Lions boss told our paper: “I always have to look at the worst case scenario as that’s my job.

“I said to the players: ‘Well done for last week, excellent performance on Saturday to back up the vital win against Leicester, but we’re not mathematically there yet.’

“We always have to presume the worst and keep pushing. So one thought process is to go to Sunderland this week to win a game of football and then we’re in a really, really good position.”

Saturday’s game at the Stadium of Light gives Millwall the chance to end their three-game losing run away from home and Harris is keen to take the form seen in SE16 up north.

He said: “We have to get back to the habit of [how we performed against] Southampton and Blackburn where we were the best version of us that we could be. So the demand from me to the players is can we now be a Millwall team that puts in a Den performance on the road.”

Neil Harris is leading Millwall away from the bottom three

supeR coopeR defender breaks goal drought as lions sweep away Cardiff

the eFl ChaMPioNShiP Millwall - 3 Obafemi 9’, Cooper 45+4’, Watmore 90+3’ Cardiff - 1 Meite 24’

Michael Obafemi scored at The Den for the first time during an electric performance while Jake Cooper ended his fourteen month goal drought to put his side back ahead just before half-time after an equaliser by Yakou Meite.

Millwall kept their energy up and found a deserved third goal in secondhalf stoppage time as Duncan Watmore tucked home a good finish.

The belligerent display had The Den roaring as Neil Harris’ side made it backto-back wins and fully overcame their awful start to April.

It was a different win to the victory on Tuesday night over Leicester City but in many ways it was just as impressive.

Millwall were in control, smothered Cardiff and didn’t wobble when the

Welsh side clawed their way back in.

The win left the Lions six points clear of the relegation zone and edging towards safety amid a frantic fight at the bottom of the Championship.

The good energy from the win on Tuesday night was still hanging around in the stadium from kick-off as Millwall got off to a fast start. Fans cried “shoot” the first time Ryan Longman picked up the ball after his heroics against Leicester.

But it was actually Cardiff who had the early efforts as Karlan Grant’s longrange shot forced Matija Sarkic into action after five minutes before Perry Ng lifted a loose ball from a corner over the crossbar.

The Lions re-established their dominance quickly after. Obafemi saw an opening as he latched onto Zian Flemming’s bouncing ball and fired home a vicious effort in at Ethan Horvath’s near post. It was his first goal at The Den and his second for Millwall since he joined on loan from Burnley in January.

Cardiff unexpectedly pulled a sudden equaliser out of the bag after 24 minutes.

Rubin Colwill, who had been the Bluebirds’ most influential player up to that point, won a free-kick 25 yards out wide off George Saville. Colwill delivered a curling ball to the back post that was

squeezed home by the head of Meite.

The Lions had a big penalty appeal after half an hour when Flemming appeared to be pushed in the back while going up for an Romain Esse cross. The eighteen-year-old grew into the game as he made his first start under Harris.

Cardiff then briefly appeared to be growing in confidence and should have taken the lead just before half-time when defender Nathaniel Phillips latched onto a loose ball from a corner and swept an effort wide.

And they would rue the miss when Millwall went back ahead in first half stoppage time. Esse picked up the pieces after a corner and swung a cross in that was flicked on by Longman and volleyed home by Cooper. He led exuberant celebrations for his first goal since February 2023.

Esse was replaced at half-time by Watmore and he impressed as the Lions enjoyed a dominant second half. They could have wrapped up the game on the hour mark when Horvath tipped another fierce Obafemi effort wide.

The striker received a standing ovation when he came off for Tom Bradshaw after 71 minutes and the Welshman poked an effort just past the post a not long after his introduction.

Millwall would finally get a deserved third goal in stoppage time when Brooke

under former boss Joe Edwards and has now been excelling at left-back under Neil Harris.

The defender told our paper: “As a young lad, I’ve always played in different positions. I’ve played at centre-mid, rightback, left-back, so I’ve always been able to do it.

“But I hadn’t done it in the Championship yet. So to do it in the Championship has made me realise that I can play in different positions and, if need be, I’ll put in a performance.”

The mood around Millwall is more

relaxed this week after back-to-back home wins undid the damage that had been caused by consecutive away defeats at struggling Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town.

It’s four wins in five home games under Harris and McNamara is enjoying watching The Den become a fortress again.

He said: “I’ve been a Millwall fan all my life and I think a lot of Millwall fans can agree that we’re always good against the top teams and not so good against the bottom teams.

“Playing against Leicester and being the

underdogs suits us down to the ground and we caused a huge upset on that day and against Cardiff as well we turned up and turned them over.

“I think Chopper coming in has given us that belief and confidence to believe in ourselves at [The Den]. He’s got the fans back on track and the lads know we’ve got a manager on the sidelines who is backing us. We’re back to Millwall ways and putting in top, top, performances.”

There are just three games left of the season and this goes down as the most topsy-turvy campaign McNamara has been

date: Saturday 13 April 2024 attendance: 17,151 (1,390) Man of the match: Michael Obafemi referee: Will Finnie

By Kiro Evans a CoNFIdeNT and assured Millwall display saw the Lions beat Cardiff City and put one foot in the Championship next season.

BottoM oF ChaMPioNShiP taBle P

W d

l

Gd

Pts

15 Watford 43 12 16 15 1 52 16 Millwall 43 13 11 19 -13 50 17 Blackburn Rovers 43 13 10 20 -14 49 18 Plymouth Argyle 43 12 12 19 -8 48 19 QPR 43 12 11 20 -17 47 20 Stoke City 43 12 11 20 -19 47 21 Birmingham City 43 12 9 22 -16 45 22 Huddersfield T 23 Sheffield W 24 Rotherham U

43 9 17 17 -23 44 43 12 8 23 -31 44 43 4 11 28 -53 23

Norton-Cuffy, who had come on minutes earlier for Longman, drove down the right and sent a low ball across the area.

Watmore was there to apply the finish and send The Den into raptures. The normally level-headed 30-year-old looked ecstatic and tore his shirt off before being mobbed by his teammates.

The noise would not come down again until several minutes after the final whistle had gone and, suddenly, the mood around the club felt just as bright and positive as the spring weather.

Millwall: 4-4-1-1: Sarkic; Leonard, Tanganga, Cooper (c), McNamara; Esse (Watmore 46’), Mitchell, Saville, Longman (Norton-Cuffy 84’); Flemming (De Norre 90+5’); Obafemi (Bradshaw 71’).

Cardiff: 4-4-1-1: Horvath; Ng, Phillips, Goutas, Collins; Bowler (Ashford 69’), Ralls (c) (Turnball 74’), Siopis (Wintle 60’), Grant; Colwill (Tanner 74’); Meite (Diedhiou 60’).

switching it up Versatile McNamara embracing new positions for Lions eXCluSive

By Kiro Evans daNNy MCNaMara’s positional switches has helped him to realise how adaptable he has become.

The 25-year-old has been required to fill in across the back line since the turn of the year due to persistent injuries afflicting Millwall’s defence.

Having occupied the right-back berth for most of his Lions career, McNamara was briefly called upon to fill in at centre-back

involved with in since making his Lions debut in January 2021.

But the Irishman believes that the return of club legend Harris means that there could be brighter days ahead for the Lions next season.

He said: “I think this season has been a bit of an eye-opener. We’ve been a bit unfortunate.

“But next season we’ll go again and we’ll be stronger, fitter and better. We’ll have Chopper here and that’s going to stabilise everything for us here as well. We’re excited and we’re looking forward to next season.”

SPORT 31

leaDiNg by eXample

George Saville, Tom Bradshaw and Ryan Leonard will all be Millwall players under Neil Harris next season

harris pleased with hat-trick of contract extensions eXCluSive

By Kiro Evans NeIL harrIs said he is delighted to retain the services of “huge characters” george saville, ryan Leonard and Tom Bradshaw.

The trio were among the senior players whose deals were set to expire in June. But all three have seen their contracts extended after triggering a clause linked to the number of appearances made.

Between them they have 546 appearances for Millwall and are

among the most experienced squad members in the dressing room.

Harris credits them with “driving” the high standards he expects at the club.

Asked about Saville and Leonard, whose contract extensions emerged last week, Harris said: “They’re huge characters. Both are really, really good men and human beings. They care about people and are selfless in the way they train and prepare for matches. And by that I mean they put the club first.

“They understand that it’s about the

Match preview:

club’s philosophy and club-led. What’s best for this football club to retain Championship status? They’re two that are driving it.

“What they’ve done admirably is backed up that thought process with performances on the pitch. Training standards are very good and they lead with voice, presence and demand standards in the changing room. These are attributes that I demand as a manager so I’ve been really impressed and I’m delighted they’re here next year at the football club.

“The football club needs them

Sunderland vs. Millwall

moving forward. We need that Millwall experience and the identity at the football club to help younger players when they’re coming through and players that sign for the football club that need to be led and they’re two characters that can do that.”

On Bradshaw, the Lions boss added: “When I talk about selfless characters that put club before personal gain, then Bradders certainly fits into that category. He’s a player - like Lenny and Sav - that has developed and adapted his game as he’s matured in age.

“Bradders has the fortunate knack

as a centre-forward of scoring goals at vital times. His work ethic and his desire to lead from the front is phenomenal. It’s made him an excellent Championship centreforward for the last seven years.

“Not having Bradders for the fiveweek period [due to injury] betwen Southampton and Leicester was a huge loss for us. Not only did it isolate Michael Obafemi as the only recognised number nine in the squad, we also missed his character, his personality and his smile in the changing room.”

Stadium of Light, Saturday 20 April 15:00

Lions look to end away day gloom

by Kiro Evans MillwAll will be looking to take their excellent home form to the north-east when they take on Sunderland in their penultimate away game of the season.

The Lions have almost salvaged Championship safety after back-toback wins at The Den over Leicester City and Cardiff City delivered a crucial six points.

With four wins from five home games under Neil Harris and improving performances, the goal for Millwall is to now find that same level away from home where they

have lost three in a row.

The Black Cats have nothing left to play for and have just two wins from their last twelve games. A promising season unravelled after baffling and ill-fated decisions were taken at boardroom level.

Tony Mowbray was sacked days after Sunderland drew 1-1 at The Den in December when they were just three points off the play-offs.

Michael Beale was then dismissed just twelve games into his tenure after he proved unpopular with the fanbase and lost half of his matches in charge.

Mike Dodds has since been left in interim charge to oversee a

season that has been drifting to an inevitable mid-table finish for some time.

It’s far cry from the adventure Sunderland fans were taken on last season when they finished in the play-offs at Millwall’s expense but lost in the semi-finals to Premier League-bound Luton Town.

They will now be looking forward to the next campaign and will hope to hang onto their prized possessions like Jack Clarke, who has fifteen goals and four assists this season.

The Black Cats will also need to decide on the future of former Millwall star Callum Styles. Having

spent last season on loan at The Den, Styles is now on loan at Sunderland from Barnsley and has performed well in recent games against Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.

Millwall know a win would guarantee their Championship status but, with a six-point buffer to the relegation zone and plenty of sides below them, fans can be forgiven for feeling relaxed.

The Lions suffered their biggest defeat of last season at the Stadium of Light when they lost 3-0 in their first game back after the winter World Cup break.

Millwall have not beaten Sunderland in any of their last five

games and have not won at the north-east ground since 2003.

The two sides meet just over 20 years on from Millwall’s historic FA Cup semi-final victory at Old Trafford over the Black Cats.

MATCH DETAILS Possible Millwall starting XI: 4-4-1-1 Sarkic; Leonard, Tanganga, Cooper, McNamara; Longman, Mitchell, Saville, Watmore; Flemming; Obafemi Last meeting: Championship, Championship, December 2, 2023 - Millwall

‘feels like home’

INSIDE

Sport Southwark

SURREY FALL SHORT IN THRILLING CHASE Tom Bradshaw joined Millwall in 2018

by Kiro Evans toM BrADShAw said he’s “felt at home” at Millwall since “day one” after his contract was extended.

The striker, 31, has had an appearance-based clause in his deal triggered that means he will continue his career at The Den for at least another season. He follows George Saville and Ryan Leonard in having his contract extended.

Bradshaw has been at Millwall since 2018 after initially signing on loan from Barnsley. He then joined permanently in January 2019 for what was at the time a club record deal.

He has made 195 appearances for the club.

Speaking exclusively to our paper, Bradshaw said: “I’ve loved my time at Millwall. I think this is my sixth season now and it’s a club where I’ve felt at

home since day one and it’s quite rare in football to stay at a club for this amount of time.

“I’m over the moon that my contract has been extended and it’s great news for myself and my family.”

While this season has been disrupted by injuries, the Welshman enjoyed his best spell in a Lions shirt during the previous 2022-23 campaign where he hit sixteen goals as Millwall narrowly missed out on the playoffs.

Despite the struggles of this season, Bradshaw insists he still has promotio to n the Premier League on his mind.

He said: “The ultimate ambition for everyone at the club is promotion. It’s been a real up-and-down season and there’s been a lot of change which is difficult for any football club.

“But we showed with how close we got last year that we’re capable and I think everyone at the club is striving for that ambition of getting to the play-offs and potentially promotion.

honeyman’s race against time to be fit George Honeyman has made 29 appearances for Millwall this season

By Kiro Evans george hoNeyMaN faces a race against time to be fit for the clash against his former club sunderland.

Bradshaw staying at Millwall after contract extension

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“But at the moment we’re very focused on where we are and we’re trying to stay in the league with the view of hopefully kicking on next year.”

Bradshaw has made 31 league appearances and nineteen Championship starts during a season that has seen him deal with niggling injuries throughout. But he has come off the bench in the last two games against Cardiff City and Leicester City and is delighted to be back involved in the thick of the action.

He said: “It’s been frustrating. I haven’t necessarily had any big injuries but they’ve come at very frustrating times like off the back of scoring three goals [in December] I picked up a two or three weeker. And before that I had another two or three weeker. And the latest one I had a tear in my soleus that went into my Achilles.

“It was a slightly more worrying one and initially we thought my season might have been finished but

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luckily we had good results with the specialist which said it’s not what we first thought. Six weeks is still a very frustratingly long time to be sat on the sidelines but to be back involved in the back end of the season is something I’m really happy with and helping the lads get back over the line.”

Burnley loanee Michael Obafemi has been picking up form in recent games leaving Bradshaw with a battle on his hands to get back in the team. But the Welshman said he is more concerned with the team effort at the moment.

He said: “Mike’s done a really good job the last three or four games. Great finish on Saturday and when we’re in a position that we’re in, we all have to clump together. And whoever’s scoring the goals or making the last ditch tackles, we all need to do it as one.

Because ultimately the important thing is us staying up.

“I’m pushing to help the lads whether that’s starting or off the bench.”

The 29-year-old missed Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Cardiff City after having to come off days earlier against Leicester City with a shoulder injury.

It’s the same shoulder that was dislocated towards the end of last season.

Millwall boss Neil Harris is hopeful the midfielder can make the game but warned it will be a challenge for him.

He said: “George came off against Leicester with his shoulder in quite a bad way, it was the shoulder he had dislocated before.

“G would love to be at the Stadium at the Light on Saturday against his old team. If there’s any chance of him being available, it is through sheer determination, desire and pure hunger to want to be on the football pitch.

“Because I can’t imagine he’s going to be 100 per cent fit but we’ll give George every opportunity because he’s been a really important player and personality for me and in the group.

“If it’s not this Saturday, we’re hoping to have him back before the end of the season.”

Honeyman spent fifteen years at Sunderland as he moved from their academy into their first-team before he left for Hull City in 2019.

He made 97 senior appearances and scored fifteen goals for the Black Cats.

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