Southwark News - May 23rd 2024

page 32

Issue 1686

Established: 1987

50p

May 23 2024

southwarknews.co.uk

pages 22-23

Time is running out to vote for your Blue Plaque icon

Family saves woman’s home from fire as mum escapes with sons

‘cLub royaLty’ See page 12

brothers get life sentences for Peckham murder See page 13

eXcLusive See page 4

outrage at shop rent hikes in se5

heroic rescue See page 4

See page 3

blue market tribute to russell

2 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-16

Labour councillor to stand for MP in Tory stronghold 100 miles away

opinion

By Isabel Ramirez

Pages 18-19

The number of Southwark Council employees earning over £100,000 has risen by 76 per cent in a year, according to new data.

arts Pages 20-21 History Pages 22-23 Jobs /Classified Pages 24 Cllr Evelyn Akoto, who represents the Old Kent Road, has been selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate over 100 miles away in South West Wiltshire

Public notices Pages 25-27 SPORT Pages 29-32

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Council staff earning over £100k rises by 76 per cent

By Robert Firth

vision. I want to work with the communities to make the Labour vision a reality.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has asked Cllr Akoto whether she intends to stand down as a councillor in Southwark ahead of the general election, which must take place by January 28 next year.

Cllr Victor Chamberlain, leader of Southwark’s Liberal Democrat opposition, accused Cllr Akoto of putting her professional goals before local residents.

He said: “Yet another Labour councillor in Southwark putting their career ambitions ahead of the community. People in Southwark, and in Wiltshire, deserve a candidate who is connected to and cares about the community.

“Labour needs to stop treating Southwark as a training ground for potential MPs. It’s no surprise the issues facing residents don’t get solved when all their councillors seem so keen to leave.”

Cllr Akoto will face an uphill struggle in her effort to get elected 100 miles away in the West Country. At the last election in 2019, Conservative candidate Dr Andrew

Local Democracy Reporter A Southwark Labour councillor who failed in her attempt to become the area’s next local MP eighteen months ago is now standing for parliament over 100 miles away in South West England.

Evelyn Akoto, who represents the Old Kent Road, revealed she has been chosen as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for South West Wiltshire on Wednesday May 15 in a post on X. Cllr Akoto, Labour-led Southwark Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, lost out in her bid to become the party’s general election candidate for the safe seat of Peckham, which includes the Old Kent Road area, in November 2022.

Akoto made it down to the final four but was pipped to the post by Miatta Fahnbulleh, an economist and former civil servant.

Announcing her selection as Labour’s candidate for South West Wiltshire, Cllr Akoto wrote: “After 14 years of stagnation & declining living standards, we need a new

Sport

Issue 1685

Editor: Kevin Quinn Deputy Editor: Herbie Russell Reporter: 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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May 16 2024

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THREE MILLWALL CHIEFS LEAVE IN SHAKE-UP

See page 13

The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London

EXCLUSIVE

Russell Dryden 1959-2024

BLUE DAY FOR BERMONDSEY

Murrison won with over 60 per cent of the vote, compared to the Labour candidate’s 20.8 per cent.

In contrast, Harriet Harman, the current Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham, won the constituency with over 71 per cent of the vote in 2019.

Cllr Akoto, who grew up on the Aylesbury estate in Walworth, has been a Labour councillor in Southwark since 2014.

She is one of a number of Southwark councillors who have attempted to jump ship miles away in recent years. In 2022, Cllr Bethan Roberts, member for Rotherhithe, tried to be selected as Labour parliamentary candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan, over 170 miles from the borough.

Cllr Victoria Mills, Labour member for Peckham Rye, ran for selection 210 miles away in Selby last year. Former Labour councillor Alice Macdonald stood down as a cabinet member when selected as parliamentary candidate for Norwich North 120 miles away after the 2022 local elections. She then stood down as a councillor in June 2023, triggering the Newington by-election.

Southwark has the third-highest number of employees earning this across all local authorities in the UK. The Town Hall Rich List 2024, formed from data collected by the Tax Payers’ Alliance, revealed that from 2022-2023, 46 people at Southwark Council earned over £100,000.

The top three jobs paying the most were the Strategic Director of Housing and Modernisation (£199,413); the Strategic Director of Environment and Leisure (£199,320) and the Strategic Director of Finance (£199,320). It is up from 26 the year prior.

Some of this is expected due to inflation. A council spokesperson said: “The headline numbers in isolation are misleading. The rankings created by the TPA do not take the size of councils into account so some much smaller councils have higher percentages, and some councils have only submitted values for salaries over £150,000, so it does not compare like for like. Inflation and the local government pay award have recently pushed some salaries into this specific bracket. The overall budget for running the council exceeds £1bn and its staff are responsible for serving over 315,000 residents, managing 54,000 council houses, and helping to regenerate the borough for the good of all its residents.

“The council employs over 4,600 staff; 1% of which earn over £100,000.

According to the ONS, in 2023, 4% of UK workers earn over £100,000 per year.

There has not been a dramatic increase in those earning over £100,000. Salaries are independently reviewed and in line with the private sector.”

Some of this is expected due to inflation but the council refused to answer why the jump had been so marked.

For comparison, the top two boroughs were Westminster, which saw only a rise of 20 per cent, and Greenwich, which rose by 34 per cent.

See page 4

TRADERS SHAKEN

BY EVICTIONS

See page 6

FATHER AND SON’S PATTIES BACK IN ALDI

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.

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NEWS 3

event offering a ‘taste berMondsey fun day to go ahead in Free of Latin America’ in SE1 MeMory of the Late russeLL dryden

By Isabel Ramirez

By Herbie Russell

A frEE event offering a ‘taste of Latin America’ with dance classes, stand-up comedy and music is coming to bermondsey.

bErMondSEy wiLL honour the late russell dryden, the fish man of the blue, at a free fun day event this weekend that he planned.

Russell Dryden 1959-2024 community.

Artists Sarah Sparkes and Frog Morris will lead an interactive session where families can decorate their own biscuits and biscuit boxes to take home.

The special tribute to Russell will take place at 2pm.

There will be an opportunity to sign his book of condolences throughout the day and songs he liked will be played in his memory.

Known to many as the Blue fishmonger, his connection with the area went far deeper than that. His family ran Crazy

Prices shop that was a landmark on Southwark Park Road for many years.

He also championed local bands as part of Bermondsey Beat, showcasing them and eventually running the annual Bermondsey Carnival in Southwark Park.

A vocal champion for businesses, he founded the Blue Business Improvement District (Blue Bermondsey BID) in the hope of transforming the ailing fortunes of the traditional Bermondsey town centre.

The event will take place on Saturday 25 May from 12:30pm-4:30pm.

This Saturday (25 May), Carnaval del Pueblo is bringing a mini-festival to Magdalen Hall in SE1.

Known as Plaza Latina, the event will kick off with a Colombian drumming and dance session, followed by a meet and greet with Paddington Bear and his Guinea Pig friend from Peru.

All afternoon there will be dance classes, all free to take part in, from Cuban salsa to Brazilian samba.

There will be stand-up comedy in Spanish from an array of Latin American comedians. And music from Latin clubs will be the soundtrack of the day.

This fusion of colour, vibrancy and culture will take place against the backdrop of food cooking in outdoor stalls from Peru, El Salvador, Paraguay, Cuba, and Colombia.

Carnaval del Pueblo is a Peckhambased charity that has been running for 24 years - famous for a Latin American festival they host every summer in Burgess Park. After a 12-year break due to cuts in funding, the festival made its long-awaited return in 2022.

Director, Nuala Riddell-Morales said the popular festival will not be taking place this year, as they are busy

Plaza Latina

© Nick Sidle

Aged just 65 years old, this largerthan-life character, who ran a fish stall in the market square on Southwark Park Road for 36 years, is believed to have died from a suspected heart attack last Monday night (May 14) at his home in Rotherhithe.

Before his sudden passing, Russell had organised an event to mark National Biscuit Day in the Blue. The day holds special significance for South Bermondsey, owing to the area’s proud association as the former site of the Peek Frean Biscuit Factory.

Fellow members of the Blue Business Improvement District (Blue Bermondsey BID) decided to go ahead with the event this Saturday (25 May). They feel it is what Russell would have wanted and are encouraging people to use the day to mark his passing.

At the event, there will be live music, dancing, art activities, and of course, biscuits for all.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the Peek Freans Museum exhibition in the market, guided by historian Gary Magold, who will provide valuable insights into the history of the biscuit factory and its impact on the local

preparing for a big one to mark the 25th anniversary of the charity.

“Next year will be bigger than ever - so watch this space!” she told us, adding that Plaza Latina will be enough to tide people over for now. “It’s like a mini Carnaval del Pueblo!”

If you can’t make this one, two further events will be taking place on June 15 and then on July 27. when: Saturday 25 May, 12pm-10pm where: Magdalen Hall, Purbrook Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3DQ Admission: Free

4 NEWS Exclusive

By Herbie Russell Heroic families have prevented tragedy after a terrifying fire struck a Bermondsey council estate.

Nickola Chatham, 38, escaped with her three sons, suffering a painful burn while carrying her six-year-old through a flaming doorway.

The mum has thanked the fearless Fenlon family who frantically doused her home with pots of water before the blaze could spread.

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life as their investigation continues.

The peace and calm of a sunny Saturday afternoon (May 18) on the Longfield Estate was shattered when six-metre flames engulfed Nickola’s front door.

“I was inside cooking when my sixyear-old said ‘Mummy look what’s that shiny thing outside’,” she recounted.

When she opened the door, she saw a wall of “pure flames” spreading across her doorway.

The brave mum got her eldest sons, aged fifteen and thirteen, to run through a “tiny gap” in the fire, while she escaped with her six-year-old.

Three doors down, neighbour Nick Fenlon was preparing the family for an Auntie’s 70th when his son Ben, eleven, spotted a flaming canister on the walkway.

Springing into action, Nick, 50, removed the jerry can with a mop he grabbed from indoors.

Meanwhile, daughter Charley, fourteen, started filling bowls and tubs with water in the kitchen.

Mum Clare, 48, called the Brigade while Ben, eleven, cleared the doorway so Dad could ferry water to the fire.

Nick, a full-time carer, said: “It was a family effort! I was really shocked at how they came together like a little team. I’m so proud of them!

“I was running backwards and forwards like a nutter. Water was sloshing everywhere and the taps wouldn’t go fast enough!”

At the time, the Fenlons didn’t know Nickola and the kids had escaped their Dhonau House flat.

“It was just adrenaline. I knew my neighbour had three kids so all we were thinking about was them,” Nick said.

Daughter Charley said: “I was worried my dad was gonna go up in flames himself!”

The family extinguished the fire before

Brave mum carried her child through the flames

Nickola Chatham stood outside her burned Longfield Estate home the Brigade arrived, preventing it from destroying Nickola’s entire home.

But the flames have blackened her walls, ruined her door and windows, melted the guttering, and even damaged her bathroom.

Nickola, sporting a painful burn on her forehead, described the Fenlons as “amazing”, thanking the parents with a crate of beer.

The traumatised mum has suffered flashbacks and is struggling to sleep.

She said: “It’s scary. You’d never think to ever be in a situation like that. I wouldn’t

The Fenlon family with utensils used to extinguish the fire

The fire has ruined the front of Nickola’s flat

Flames rose several metres into the air singing the upstairs bedroom

Nickola has suffered a nasty burn to her forehead

wish it on anyone. It was traumatic.”

But Nickola says local support has been “really good” and is determined to stay on the estate.

She said: “At the beginning, I didn’t want to come back here. But why should I be the one to run? This is my home.”

Residents have urged Southwark Council to install security doors on the block to protect residents.

Lawrence Okulaja, 47, a neighbour helping Nickola, said: “We need to make this estate secure. We could have had four dead bodies in a flat.

“Only residents should have access…

You have drug addicts injecting themselves sometimes.”

The incident has shaken the tight-knit community. Nickola’s six-year-old is worried about coming back and can’t stop talking about the fire.

So residents want to club together to hold events that reassure the Longfield Estate community.

They plan to invite the Fire Brigade down to help little ones get over any trauma and maybe get a bouncy castle.

A Met Police spokesperson said:

“Officers were called to Dhonau House, off Dunton Road, SE1 at 14:33hrs on Saturday, 18 May, to a fire within the building.

“Officers attended in support of the London Fire Brigade. One female attended a local hospital with burn injuries which have been declared as not life changing or life threatening.

“A male has been arrested on suspicion of arson with the intention to endanger life. A crime scene is in place at Dhonau House and displaced residents are being supported.”

By Herbie Russell

a children’s home for three years and we are looking for a family who are positive, nurturing, playful and consistent. Adam thrives off routine and structure. He would also love a pet – particularly a cat or a dog!”

In Southwark, foster carer numbers are falling as a high number are retiring each year.

Meanwhile, recruiting new carers is difficult, with the council identifying several factors.

Unaffordable housing means children are living at home well into adulthood, meaning fewer families have spare rooms.

The council also said some families had moved out since the pandemic.

Two care leavers, Louie and Rukiya, have recited a poem dedicated to their foster carers in an online video.

They thank their families for ‘taking a chance’ on them, something they will ‘never forget’.

In the UK, there are 100,437 children in care, the highest figure on record.

Cllr Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Refugees, said: “In Southwark, we are committed to making sure no child misses out on being part of a loving family.

"Our foster carers tell us there is nothing more rewarding than helping give a child a loving home and a happy childhood. We would love to hear from you if you feel like fostering could be the right fit for you.”

If you think you could offer a loving home to Adam or one of the children waiting for a foster family in Southwark, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/fostering

© Southwark Council

Foster carers urged to step forward amid Southwark shortage Foster carers are needed to look after 25 children awaiting homes in Southwark.

Care leavers Louie and Rukiya have thanked their families for taking them in

The kids include Adam*, thirteen, who loves cycling, Lego and taking his Segway to the park.

Southwark Council’s call for carers comes during Foster Care Fortnight (May 13 to 26) and amid a 6,500 shortage of foster families nationally.

The council has successfully reduced its kids in care - falling from 457 in 2022 to 402 now.

But the Labour council is still actively looking for families for 6 per cent of children in care.

Adam’s social worker is keen to find a home for the special lad: “He has lived in

NEWS 5

LocaL businesses to take over running of berMondsey street festivaL

Traders at past Bermondsey Street festivals

By Eliza Frost London GLASSbLowinG and daniel Cobb Estate Agents are running the bermondsey Street festival for 2024 – promising yet another year of festivities

“This festival embodies the creative energy and resilient spirit of Bermondsey Street, and the surrounding areas, which we take great pride in. It deserves to be cherished and uplifted as an annual milestone we all eagerly anticipate,” says Gena Johns, gallery director at London Glassblowing.

Bermondsey Street Festival will return for another year after Gena and George Cobb, managing director of Daniel Cobb Estate Agents, stepped in to organise the event after they heard the original organiser, Bill Owen, was taking a step back from leading the event.

It will take place on Saturday 21 September 2024, from 11am to 6pm.

Having worked on the street for nearly eight years, Gena says the festival has been an integral part of the gallery’s events calendar.

She adds: “Along with all of the other boutique shops and independent restaurants on the street, I have witnessed first-hand how the festival fosters connection, community and economic vitality.

“The collectors who frequent our gallery flock to attend, absolutely loving the chance to hunt for discounted treasures, watch glassblowers at work in our studio, and get involved in the fun festival antics.”

George remembers how Bermondsey Street Festival began as a small local festival, with a charming village fete feel, but then, over the years, “it’s grown in

both size and scale, transforming into one of London’s most exciting street events”.

“It is the time of the year when Bermondsey Street comes to life, and you get to see it at its best. It’s a joyful, wonderfully vibrant, exciting place to be with visitors descending on the street during the day. Daniel Cobb has been part of and a sponsor for many years, and absolutely loved every second of it,” George says.

He explains how, when you’re moving to a new area, the first Introduction to the locality is normally through your estate agent, like Daniel Cobb, “so we felt it was really important we acted as a vehicle to help people properly immerse themselves in the local area” through community events, like Bermondsey Street Festival.

After receiving funding from Southwark Council, they are able to continue the legacy of this local fest.

Gena says: “Bermondsey Street Festival is an invaluable event for businesses, makers and entrepreneurs on the street and in the area to showcase their talents – not to mention the beautiful memories it creates simply strolling the stalls.

“The possibility of losing such an iconic Bermondsey tradition would have a huge impact on the community, and the festival means too much to our closeknit street of residents and independent businesses alike.”

George agrees that losing the festival was not an option. He says: “Community events like this are a wonderful vehicle to bring people together and celebrate everything that is so great about the local area.

“We often choose where we live because we’re attracted to something in

Box office 020 8463 0100 • blackheathhalls.com • & DANCE PART OF TRINITY LABAN CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC

Midsummer Music at Garrison Church, Woolwich Sat 15 Jun, 6pm

Fri 12 Jul, 8pm

If you wish to host a stall or get involved in the festivities, you can get in touch at: contact@ bermondseystreetfestival.org.uk www.bermondseystreetfestival.org.uk www.londonglassblowing.co.uk www.danielcobb.co.uk

What's On 2024 22 May 7.30pm

Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening Sat 5 Oct, 7.30pm

Black Umfolosi

that area, whether it’s the community, the people, the amenities, whatever it might be. And we certainly find with Bermondsey, a lot of it is about what the residents and local shops bring to the street that make it so vibrant, and that people love.

“And that’s what the day is, it’s a celebration of everything that’s great about Bermondsey Street.”

Both London Glassblowing and Daniel Cobb hope to further rally support and sponsors to ensure Bermondsey Street Festival continues delighting locals and those from further afield for years to come.

Gena adds: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the words of support from all of the regular stallholders and many businesses that want to lend their expertise to help in any capacity they can to keep it going – this shows real community.”

Planning for the 2024 festival includes the same structure as previous years, “as organiser Bill did an incredible job running it so successfully over a number of years”, says Gena.

You can expect to see more food stalls in the park to create a culinary experience, more artisan and craft stalls, as well as the businesses on the street extending their offerings.

“I’m honoured to play a part in preserving this cherished legacy for our vibrant neighbourhood,” Gena concludes.

Sat 19 Oct, 8pm

Shaparak Khorsandi Scatterbrain Sun 27 Oct, 8pm

Sat 9 Nov 1pm & 4pm Sun 10 Nov 10am & 1pm

6 NEWS

Bermondsey residents accuse council of ‘blocking £1.3m refurbishment report for eleven months’ Exclusive

By Herbie Russell

Mould gathering above a window on the Kirby Estate

Bermondsey residents claim Southwark Council has spent eleven months blocking a report relating to their controversial £1.3 million window refurbishment.

Furious Kirby Estate residents claim one-size-fits-all windows, installed in 2020, were used for holes of varying sizes, causing black mould and damp in their flats.

Southwark Council promised to provide a Building Inspection Control report in June 2023.

But the council now claims no such report will be produced because it’s not legally required to.

Southwark Council has consistently maintained that the windows were approved by the FENSA regulatory body and are not the cause of damp and mould.

Instead, Southwark Council is carrying out inspection on individual homes. Councillor Sarah King, cabinet member for council homes, said: “Residents have told us about the problems with their windows for some time, and we know that we need to make sure we get this right so they can live comfortably in their homes.

“In response to this, inspections were carried out to find out what the problems are so that we can fix them – some of that work has already happened.”

However, residents say there is evidence that excessive add-ons used to fill the gaps between window frames and walls could be causing

Neil Coyle MP has queried how thoroughly the works have been inspected damp and mould.

In an internal email seen by this paper, an inspector appears to admit that the use of window add-ons was excessive - 50mm in some cases.

Moreover, a 2023 RISA report found that “the window surround” was among the least efficient thermal elements of the window. “Therefore any condensation present will form there first,” it found.

In 2022, an inspection by International Glass Associates found various problems with the windows, including locks not engaging, missing fixings and sashes not fitting frames.

But while it identified mould issues, the report blamed residents saying some rooms were “ extremely cluttered”.

Regardless, Kirby Estate residents argue that Southwark Council’s

refusal to commission a Building Control Inspection report prevents them from getting answers.

Neil Coyle, Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP, who has been advocating for the residents, recently met with Elkins and Calfordseaden, the contractors involved in the project.

In a letter to Kirby residents, he said Elkins’ representatives defended the product they installed and insisted

the school was now ‘more stable’, they said that positive changes made, such as to the curriculum, were ‘not fully embedded’.

The report continued: “Some staff use their expertise well to design suitable learning activities for pupils.

Nevertheless, the school does not always provide clear guidance. This means that teachers do not always ensure that learning activities are effective. In some subjects, pupils are not supported well to connect their prior learning to new subject content.

This affects how well they remember what has been taught.”

It added: “The school’s curricular thinking and implementation in some subjects is very effective. For example, pupils achieve highly in English, where the published outcomes were strong in 2023. However, the curriculum is not taught consistently well across all subjects. Sometimes teaching does not check if pupils have understood earlier content carefully enough. This hinders how well pupils, including those with SEND, achieve the aims of

the curriculum.”

Inspectors also noted that until recently reading hadn’t been prioritised enough at the school. While it said improvements had been made to support pupils who struggle, these advances were described as being in their ‘infancy’.

The report continued: “During

lessons, most pupils listen attentively to their teachers and follow instructions.

However, there is sometimes disruption to learning. This is because the school’s new behaviour systems are not fully implemented and embedded.”

Notre Dame Catholic Girls’ School, which is part of The South East London Catholic Academy Trust, teaches 521

they “met the project specification”.

But the MP said he was “less convinced CalfordSeaden have added any value to the process”.

He queried how thoroughly CalfordSeaden had inspected the works or reported issues back to the council.

Southwark Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee is investigating the works, it is understood.

Despite pressure from the local MP, residents say Southwark Council, which refused to let them speak at March’s Council Assembly, is still not properly engaging.

The council wrote to residents on April 25 saying it wanted to hear from those who had complaints about their windows.

It gave them until Friday, May 3, to respond but some residents claim they only received the letters on April 30.

Southwark Council wrote: “If we do not hear from you by Friday 3rd May and, are unable to speak to you as part of the door-knocking exercise, we will assume that you are satisfied with the works”.

Councillor King added: “...we now have a dedicated, independent Friend for Kirby resident, who has been with the team to talk to residents about their homes and any issues with them.

“So far we’ve been able to speak to the majority of residents but we want to be able to resolve things for everyone so please let us know about any problems with your home when we visit.”

Calfordseaden and Elkins were approached for comment.

A former ‘outstanding’ girls’ school told it needs to improve by the teaching watchdog

By Robert Firth Local Democracy Reporter A former ‘outstanding’ girls’ school not inspected for over ten years has been told it needs to improve by the teaching watchdog.

Ofsted described the quality of education at Notre Dame Catholic Girls’ School in Elephant and Castle, as ‘not strong’ in a report published on Tuesday May 14.

Guidance for teachers isn’t always clear, while the curriculum isn’t taught ‘consistently well’ across subjects, inspectors said. Ofsted also said classes were sometimes disrupted due to bad behaviour. The inspection was the school’s first since it converted to an academy at the end of 2022.

Notre Dame Catholic Girls’ School had previously consistently been given the highest grade by Ofsted. A report produced following the latest inspection in March noted that the school had been through ‘a period of turbulence’ since January 2023, shortly after it converted to an academy. While inspectors noted

Notre Dame Catholic Girls’ School

girls aged between 11 and 16.

A school spokesperson said: “Notre Dame Catholic Girls’ School was last inspected by Ofsted over 12 years ago and much has changed since then both at the school and with the inspection regime. Whilst the school has been graded requires improvement overall, following the recent inspection on 19 and 20 March, Notre Dame has received good judgements in two key categories out of the four – behaviour and attitudes of students and their personal development – as well as positive comments from the inspection team.

“Ofsted inspectors acknowledged the prolonged period of upheaval due to significant changes at the school but acknowledged and praised recent improvements, particularly in terms of the curriculum, reading and student behaviour.

“The senior leadership team and South East London Catholic Academy Trust are confident that the priorities set by inspectors are achievable as significant progress has been made in key areas of school life.”

NEWS 7

berMondsey Man who has run 35 Marathons berMondsey Man who has run 35 Marathons says he’s ‘teMPted’ to said he’s ‘teMPted’ to do another do another...

df Kevin Kevin and hisand his Ross son,son, Ross

ExcluSivE

By Isabel Ramirez A MiLLwALL fan, who told us his 35th marathon would be his last, now says he’s tempted to do another.

Kevin Downey from Bermondsey has been running the marathon since the 1980s - and was ready to hang up his trainers for good.

When we spoke to Kevin a month after what was meant to be his final race, he admitted it had been his ‘hardest yet.’

The 65-year-old told us: “To tell you the truth it was the longest it ever took me.”

“I usually do it in about 5 and a half hours.”

“I was running with a good friend who had hurt her ankle. I didn’t want to leave her so we walked the rest of the race together.”

Despite the setback, they did eventually cross the finishing line - together with his son Ross too.

“Our time was 7 hours 40 minutes.”

When we interviewed Kevin this year ahead of his 35th race, he assured us it would be his last.

“My right knee can’t take it anymore,” he said.

Kevin with Harvey’s family

But a month later, that might have changed.

“I am tempted to do it again. If I feel healthy enough.

“My son’s doing it next year to beat his time.”

Kevin said he started running just after his daughter was born.

“She was born premature. That’s why I started doing the marathons - to raise money for the baby’s unit at St Thomas’ Hospital.”

From then on he had the bug, continuing for 35 years and raising nearly £160k for children’s charities.

This year he made £5.5k for the MPS Society, in honour of fellow Millwall superfan Harvey Brown. Now, 15, he suffers from the ultrarare Morquio syndrome, which affects skeletal growth.

The money raised by Kevin will go towards supporting children with rare syndromes like Harvey’s.

He added that Harvey’s parents are trying to get him nominated for a Pride of Britain award.

Asked what has spurred him on all these years, he simply replied: “Not wanting to let people down.”

F.A.A.

F A ALBIN & SONS

020 7237 3637

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NEWS 9

A FoUr-dAy festival for the uefa Champions league final will be “the start of an incredible sporting summer for London”, Sadiq khan has said.

The Mayor on Tuesday unveiled details for the “family-friendly” celebration in the run-up to Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley on Saturday, June 1, with events planned across five central London locations.

iNflaTablE fooTball iN Trafalgar SQuarE

Festivities will kick off on Thursday, May 30, in Trafalgar Square as the Champions League trophy is welcomed to London before the square is filled with inflatable football activities, a fiveaside mini pitch and food stalls.

‘kiNETic daNcEfloor’ iN hackNEy

This will be followed by a headline performance from Hackney’s Rudimental on Friday, May 31, with the show powered by the movement of dancing fans through a “kinetic dancefloor”. The night will culminate in a DJ set by Faithless.

rEgENT STrEET cloSEd off for pENalTy ShooTouTS

iNTEracTivE acTiviTiES oN SouTh baNk

At Potters Fields Park, by Tower Bridge, a giant inflatable Uefa Champions League trophy will greet visitors, with interactive installations and activities continuing along the South Bank.

By Herbie Russell

A BUrNed-oUT lodge in nunhead Cemetery has been awarded £3.7 million in restoration money.

Arsonists ruined the East Lodge in the 1970s. Nearly 50 years later, a landmark revitalisation is drawing closer.

The cash, donated by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will help convert the derelict shell into a cafe and community space.

The Grade-II listed lodge is a key feature of Nunhead Cemetery - the biggest of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’.

Consecrated in 1840, the 52-acre grounds contain over 44,000 memorials and 290,000 burials.

The East Lodge was built as the cemetery’s office and later converted into a house for the Cemetery Superintendent.

Since the fire, it has fallen into disrepair and been clad in scaffolding. In 1988, it was added to Historic England’s ‘at risk’ list.

Southwark Council and Friends of Nunhead Cemetery (FONC) are leading the regeneration.

Their project will reinstate the building as a “welcoming gateway to the cemetery” with a new café, community space, and base for FONC. The restored building will have insulation, air-source heat pumps, and traditional Victorian awnings.

Nunhead Cemetery is the resting place of notable Victorian figures including bus tycoon Thomas Tilling, writer William Brough and Sir Frederick Abel, the co-

It is hoped the festival, which ends on June 2, will attract many Londoners as well as the tens of thousands of travelling fans for the two teams.

Mr Khan said: “London is the sporting capital of the world and so it’s fitting that we are hosting the Uefa Champions League final.

“I am proud that Europe’s biggest match will take place in London and delighted that thousands of Londoners and visitors will be able to experience the thrill of this special competition through the Uefa Champions Festival.

“This is the start of an incredible sporting summer for London and a

key part of our work to build a better London for everyone.”

Transport for London has advised travellers that public transport is likely to be very busy on Saturday, June 1, particularly the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines. The Metropolitan Police have meanwhile said they will be working closely with Uefa, the FA, Wembley Stadium, local authorities and other emergency services, to ensure the safety of fans and festivalgoers.

Uefa’s general secretary, Theodore Theodoridis, said: “Festival-goers will enjoy a wide array of family-friendly

By Herbie Russell dEtECtivES hAvE released an E-fit image of a man they want to speak to after a serious sexual offence in Lambeth.

entertainment, creating memories that will last a lifetime ahead of what is sure to be another epic encounter at the iconic Wembley Stadium.”

Sports minister Stuart Andrew MP said the final would be “a special moment in the sporting calendar, and I am delighted Wembley is playing host to Europe’s premier club football teams”.

Other sporting events heading here this summer include Major League Baseball, Diamond League athletics, and NFL football, while London hopes to reap some of the benefits from the Olympics being staged in Paris.

Ruined Nunhead Cemetery lodge gets £3.7m restoration funding

The incident happened around July 2017 in the communal lift of a residential block.

The woman reported the incident to police in October 2023. She is being supported by specially trained officers as work continues to identify the man responsible.

Detective Constable Beth CuttellBladen, from the policing team that covers Lambeth, said: “Despite the time that has passed since the incident, the woman has been able to provide us with a detailed description of the man who attacked her in 2017.

“I would ask people to look at the E-FIT and see if they recognise this person – please contact us if you can help.

“No matter how long has elapsed since an incident like this, we will listen and support anyone who comes to us for help, and investigate where we can.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote ref: 3735/08MAY24 You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police have released an E-FIT image in a bid to identify the suspect

Royal Festival Hall Foyer gets swanky makeover

By Herbie Russell

Computer-generated image of Nunhead East Lodge design inventor of cordite.

There is also a memorial to the nine Walworth scouts who drowned off the coast of Sheppey while on an expedition in 1912.

The other six ‘Magnificent Cemeteries’

are Highgate Cemetery, Abney Park Cemetery, Brompton Cemetery, Tower Hamlets Cemetery, Kensal Green Cemetery and West Norwood Cemetery.

Jeremy Partington, Chair of Trustees at FONC, said: “This grant will enable

the realisation of FONC’s forty-year aspiration to see the East Lodge restored for community use and to further promote the heritage and ecological importance of this wonderful Victorian landscape for contemporary enjoyment.”

© Met Police

Regent Street will be pedestrianised between Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus for the last two days of May to enable penalty shootout challenges and other activities, while Champions League legends from around the globe will be at Somerset House showcasing their skills in a five-a-side tournament.

4-day festivaL for the uefa chaMPions League finaL

Man sought after sexual offence in Lambeth housing

@Southwark Council

By Noah Vickers

A SwAnky makeover of royal festival hall’s Level 2 foyer has been unveiled.

The Southbank Centre is revamping the hall with bronze furniture, fluted glass dividing walls and walnut aesthetics.

The Grade-I Listed arts centre has allowed the public to sit, eat and relax inside ever since the 1983 open foyer policy.

The organisation’s Chief Operating Officer said the renovation would secure its status as the “heart of the cultural and public life of the South Bank”.

Visitors can enjoy a host of changes and features, including a new Festival Bar & Kitchen overlooking the Riverside Terrace and the Thames.

10 NEWS

@ Noah Vickers

Green party accuses Sadiq Khan of being ‘cowardly’ by ruling out a ‘pay-per-mile’ user charging system

Caroline Russell, Green member of the London Assembly Left and London mayor Sadiq Khan Right

By Noah Vickers Local Democracy Reporter The Green Party has accused Sadiq Khan of allowing the Tories to “dictate” his transport policies, by “cowardly” ruling out a ‘pay-permile’ road user charging system.

The mayor had repeatedly said in recent years that he wanted to introduce such a system, telling the Evening Standard podcast in 2022 that people would “pay per mile depending on what time of day they drive, what their vehicle is, what the alternatives are to driving their car and so forth”. is year said he had ButThe Mrboatyard Khan last wherethose traders scrapped plans, claiming they were run their no longer necessary following his Londonwidebusinesses expansion of the Ultra low emission zone (Ulez) in August 2023.

His Conservative opponent, Susan Hall, said throughout the recent mayoral election that he was lying, and would bring in a per-per-mile system if re-elected. Mr Khan denied this, and included a line in his manifesto explicitly ruling it out.

In a Q&A session with journalists this

week, the London Assembly’s Green group said that by cancelling the plans, the Labour mayor was “tying one hand behind his back” at the same time as trying to meet ambitious climate and traffic reduction targets.

“That is removing one of the most powerful tools he has to reduce transport carbon, and he’s just ruling it out completely,” said Green group leader Caroline Russell. “He’s allowed the divisive, Daily Mail, war-on-the-motorist piece to shape his policy, and to limit him in terms of what he can do.”

In his 2022 interview with the Standard’s podcast, Mr Khan had said he was “quite clear” that “if we’re serious about net zero carbon, then it’s inevitable we’re going to have to move towards smart road user charging”.

Ms Russell argued that Mr Khan should already have introduced a form of pay-permile charging, saying that “small, tiny fees per mile” – based on several factors like the size of vehicle being driven – would have been “much fairer” than the “simple, big, chunky fee” of the Ulez.

“He’s actually just tying one hand behind

his back and making it much harder to deliver what he needs to deliver, for London to be playing its part in meeting climate targets,” she added.

Zack Polanski, the Greens’ national deputy leader, said the local elections across England had shown that politicians who met their net zero ambitions were rewarded at the ballot box.

“So it just seems like a cowardly decision,” he said. “Why let Susan Hall and the Conservatives dictate your policy, when he would have won anyway?”

The Greens vowed to continue pressuring the mayor to clamp down on private car use and instead encourage “shared mobility”.

Mr Khan has said he wants to achieve net zero carbon emissions in London by 2030, a full two decades ahead of the Government’s national 2050 target.

According to data collected by City Hall, London’s net emissions fell 25 per cent between 2015 and 2021. Government statistics suggest that emissions fell 14 per cent across the country in the same period.

Mr Khan’s 2018 transport strategy meanwhile set out his aim for 80 per cent

of all trips in London to be made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2041.

“This four years has got to be used really strategically, because actually, if we’re going to reduce the transport miles driven [on London’s streets per year], we’ve got to have some real changes,” Ms Russell said.

“The only way he can do it is with big, transformatory stuff. So business as usual, and the idea of it being just normal to use a car for short journeys in a city – I can’t see how he can meet his climate targets without challenging that assumption.”

She added: “We need to be thinking about shared mobility, about many more public transport options, and making it safer and more convenient for people to get around in wheelchairs, mobility scooters, on bicycles, on foot – actually making it easy for people to enjoy their life in our city, and enjoy getting around our city, without necessarily owning a car.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Khan said: “The mayor’s re-election shows he has the mandate for ambitious green policies and he is determined to achieve his mission to make London a net-zero carbon city by

2030, while strengthening alternatives to private car use to reduce congestion.

“His track record speaks for itself, with 48,000 fewer vehicles seen driving on an average since the London-wide ULEZ was implemented, and a reduction of 800,000 tonnes of CO2 over the past four years”.

She added that Mr Khan “is the greenest mayor ever”, pointing to his recent manifesto pledges of fully electrifying the capital’s bus fleet by 2030; putting air pollution filters, heat pumps and solar panels in schools; boosting bike parking spaces and electric vehicle charging points; and planting more trees, among other promises.

She also pointed to his recent freezing of TfL fares, his creation of the Superloop network of express bus services in outer London, and his quadrupling of the number of cycleways since 2016.

“The mayor only has powers to address less than half of London’s emissions,” she said. “This is why Sadiq has urgently called for more funding and powers for City Hall to help bolster our green plans as we build a greener, more prosperous London for everyone.”

By Herbie Russell

22mph speeds.

Kate and Izzy have been named as Team GB’s sole artistic swimmers after their impressive performances at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha.

Following their Olympic debut in Tokyo, where they placed 14th, they have gone on to become one of the leading international duos in the sport.

Mark England, Team GB Chef de Mission for Paris 2024, said; “Since

Izzy and Kate made their Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago, they have gone from strength to strength.

“We were delighted to see them qualify for the Paris Games earlier this year in style, through winning GB’s first ever global duet medal in artistic swimming, with their World silver medal. And to see them follow this up with gold at the recent test event is testament to the hard work and dedication they, and their team, have put in.”

Olympic swimmers train with turtles at South Bank SEA LIFE Aquarium Team GB swimmers have been training with a pair of Green Sea Turtles at the SEA LIFE Aquarium on the South Bank.

Olympians Kate Shortman (left) and Izzy Thorpe (right) took the plunge in preparation for this summer’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Olympians Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe took the plunge in preparation for this summer’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The silver medalists were happy to take tips from turtles Dougie and Boris - graceful swimmers capable of

By Robert Firth

NEWS 11 Josh and some of his team

Local Democracy Reporter A Green Party politician has backed so-called ‘floating bus stops’ days after a video was released showing a cyclist colliding with a pedestrian next to one in South London.

Caroline Russell, a London Assembly member, said some cyclists were ‘inconsiderate’ but the ‘overwhelming’ evidence showed that the design feature, where a bike lane is routed between a bus stop and the pavement, reduced the number of people killed and seriously injured, as it separates cyclists from buses at the point they need to pull in.

The National Federation of the Blind UK (NFBUK) posted a clip on May 5 showing a cyclist knocking over a person at a floating bus stop outside St Thomas’ Hospital on Westminster Bridge Road.

The charity believes the design feature, also known as bus stop bypasses, is unsafe and wants it banned. But Ms Russell, leader of the Greens at City Hall, said the number of people killed and seriously injured by cyclists was a ‘tiny fraction’ of those killed and injured by motorists.

Speaking at City Hall in Newham on Monday (May 13), she said: “Overwhelmingly, people get that all the evidence shows that floating bus stops reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured. That goes without question. But we do also need to hear when blind people are saying ‘I find this design really confusing. I find it really worrying. I find it stressful’.

“We also have to acknowledge that there are people riding bikes who are inconsiderate. There are also people driving cars who are incredibly inconsiderate and it’s the inconsiderate people in cars who overwhelmingly kill and injure, seriously injure, people walking and cycling in this city.”

Ms Russell said that measures like tactile (raised) paving, clear zebra crossings and different coloured tarmac at floating bus stops could make them safer, as well as announcements on buses reminding people when a bus stop bypass is approaching.

She added: “It’s all about avoiding getting into battle lines, looking at the evidence and making sure you’re listening to people and particularly the most vulnerable in that transport hierarchy, which [includes] a blind

Dean Richard Sewell running in Jerusalem.

© Steve Von Heartel

The lunar halo was spotted in Camberwell on Sunday, April 14.

‘floating’ bus stops backed despite crash The National Federation of the Blind posted a clip showing a cyclist knocking over a person at a floating bus stop outside St Thomas’ Hospital on Westminster Bridge Road person walking.”

Last week the Guardian revealed that transport secretary Mark Harper

was considering banning floating bus stops. Transport for London (TfL) has previously said that bus stop bypasses

are a UK-wide recognised way of reducing danger to cyclists, by preventing them having to go around buses and into

A video posted online by the National Federation of the Blind UK on May 5 2024 showed a cyclist colliding with a pedestrian outside St Thomas’ Hospital incoming traffic.

Among the locations where they have been most recently installed in London is Lower Road, Canada Water where road improvements have been made alongside the ongoing construction of tower blocks and retail units as part of the Canada Water Masterplan. A floating bus stop has been installed close to Seven Islands Leisure Centre.

Former Southwark priest, 61, runs ‘ultra-marathon’ in Jerusalem

By Isabel Ramirez A 61-year-old priest, who used to serve in Southwark, is doing an ultra-marathon to raise

By Herbie Russell money for vulnerable people around the world.

Stunned south Londoners reported seeingSewell a bizarre optical Dean Richard will take on the 70km challenge phenomenon in throughout the sky May on as part (April of a wider Sunday 14). fundraiser for

Christian Aid. were snapped by ‘Sun halos’ The charity encourages people gawping passers-by in Camberwell to the equivalent of an ultraandtravel Brixton. marathon, ‘in whatever they The rare event is causedway by light want’ and raise interacting withmoney. ice crystals contained is in solidarity with millions inIthigh-flying cirrus clouds. ofSteve people haveamazed to walkbylong Vonwho Heartel, the distances for clean water or to sell 2pm sighting on Camberwell Grove, their said: produce.

“It’s real. I stopped a woman in Since 2018, Very the street and the asked her Revd if sheCanon could

Richard Sewell has served as Dean of St George’s College in Jerusalem, Israel.

Before that Richard was a priest in the Diocese of looking Southwark, see what I was at. serving as Team Rector of Barnes Team “Oddly, at first she said no. IMinistry. showed Richard says and he then has looked supported her my photo up Christian Aidsee asit.”long as he can again. She did remember, commenting: “It advice goes The 61-year-old added: “My way to the agesky of we 20 miss whensoI is to back look up at the was out street collecting, as a way of much.” showing Christian responsibility to The phenomenon happens when people all over thesky world clouds in arecountries very high in the so where there is poverty, injustice or create ice crystals. suffering.”

Sunlight, or moonlight, hits them to The 61-year-old commented on his create a halo, the Met Office says. experience living a war zone. He If the sunlight hitsinthe ice crystals at said: “Everyangle, day is a rollercoaster a particular some light can be but you have to try“faint to keep a sense of refracted causing colouration” balance in yourself. and a noticeable rainbow.

“I try to tap into the spirit of Christ.

We have to find a way to be the light in the midst of it all by saying and doing the best things possible and not adding to the atmosphere of hatred A commenter on the social media and site hopelessness.

NextDoor said: “Great photos! I He the added thatbuthenoticed appreciated saw sun halo it was the support Aid gives to easier to seeChristian if you were wearing people suffering in the occupied sunglasses.”

Palestinian territory Israel. “This Another said: “Thatand is beautiful well is particularly important to me in done on capturing it.” running theOffice 70k this year.”

The Met says: ”Halos happen Christian Aidcloud Week offers when we have really high seven up in days and so many to make the atmosphere - it’sways ice crystals anda difference – to find on outthem,” more,said visita the sun is reflected www.christianaid.org.uk. spokesperson for the Met Office. The To support Dean Richard, please visit majority of ice crystals are hexagonal.” his fundraising page on fundraising. christianaid.org.uk - Running 70K in May.

12 NEWS

Outdoor bar serving free lunches to community groups

Brothers who murdered Kalabe legesse in Peckham Rye Park given life sentences Nah’shun (left) and Nyran Thomas (right) have been handed life sentences.

Members of community groups in Southwark can get a free lunch and drinks at two outdoor pop-up bars near Tower Bridge From June until August, events and festival company, Barserve will be serving the city outdoors, whilst giving back to local people It will coincide with the activities taking place as part of Summer By the River - so visitors can enjoy live entertainment whilst they dine This follows last year’s success, when they hosted over 100 lunches and refreshments served to local groups including Bubble Theatre, Saving Souls, Poppy Appeal Bermondsey and Rotherhithe, Cop Community, South London Cares, Outings in Art, and One Southwark The lunches will take place in their two new bars near Tower Bridge, Riverside Terrace - The Scoop Bar and Riverside Pavilion - The Pier Bar on Monday- Wednesday from June until August for 20 people per group. The offer includes a lunch and a drink.

If you would like to put your local community group forward for this opportunity, please get in touch with the details of your organisation.

Last summer First Dates star Fred Sirieix joined the team to mix cocktails at Riverside Terrace bar as part of G-vine gin promotions Look out for other celebrities who will be popping up this year.

Summer by the River festival will be returning with a host of entertainment all free of charge.

From regular outdoor screenings of sporting events like the Olympics and Wimbledon, to music from choirs, DJs and up-and-coming artists from BBC Music Introducing - there will be something for everyone.

@ Met Police

By Isabel Ramirez

By Herbie Russell Two Peckham brothers who murdered a man in Peckham Rye Park for his mobile phone have been jailed for a combined 45 years.

Nah’shun Thomas, 20, and Nyran Thomas, 17, were sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday, May 15.

Victim Kalabe Legesse, 29, was relaxing on a park bench when he was stabbed in the chest on December 30, 2022.

Nah’shun, the eldest, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 25 years and three months imprisonment.

Younger brother Nyran, who can only now be named after the judge lifted reporting restrictions, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of nineteen years and ten months.

Kalabe was outside the park cafe on

Strakers Road when the defendants approached him riding bikes at around 8pm.

The Thomas brothers had committed two robberies earlier and, armed with a knife, threatened to steal Kalabe’s phone.

Kalabe was stabbed once in the chest and died at the scene, despite the best efforts of paramedics and officers.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a haemorrhage from a stab wound to the heart.

Kalabe had been on the phone with a friend when the defendants approached him.

The friend would later tell police that he heard the suspects say: “Where are you from?’ and “What have you got on you?”.

The defendants fled the scene so officers trawled through hundreds of hours of CCTV to trace their

movements.

Officers identified their home addresses and both were arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday, January 19.

When officers searched Nyran’s home address, they found a hunting knife wrapped in a black puffer coat in his grandmother’s bedroom.

Forensic examination found traces of Kalabe’s blood inside the knife’s sheath.

The brothers were charged on January 21, 2023, and were found guilty of murder on January 5, 2024.

They have also been sentenced for two counts of robbery each. Na’shun was sentenced to 30 months for each while Nyran received twenty months for each. Those sentences will run concurrently.

A spokesperson for Kalabe’s family said: “Nothing can bring back our son

Kalabe. He was doing nothing wrong on the night that he was killed and we will never understand why he was murdered over a mobile phone.

The defendants have not shown any remorse for what they did to him. We have recently passed the anniversary of his death; Christmas and New Year for us will never be the same again.

“Kalabe was loved by everyone he met and had an exciting future ahead of him. He will never be able to have a family of his own, and our family will never have him back.

“We are grateful to the investigation team for their hard work for over a year to bring these people to justice.”

DI Guttridge said: “My thoughts today are with Kalabe Legesse’s family as they continue to come to terms with their loss. It is my sincere wish that they find some comfort in knowing that justice has been served.”

By Herbie Russell

used against officers” as “some of the worst I have ever seen”.

The Met has made 44 arrests relating to the protest and wants to identify five others.

Detectives believe the individuals, pictured, may have information that will assist the investigation.

Detective Superintendent Sian Thomas, who is leading the investigation, said: “The level of violence used against officers, who were there to keep the public safe and protect people in a theatre, is some of the worst I have seen.

“We have so far arrested 44 people

for a number of offences relating to this demonstration and continue to make progress, however, there are still outstanding a number of suspects that we need the public’s help to identify.”

Those who recognise any of these people are asked to email police or call 020 8246 9386 to talk with a detective.

People should quote the image reference number of the person they are identifying.

Alternatively people can report to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and quote Operation Wickies.

@ Met Police

Eritrean protest turned violent in Camberwell with individuals sought Police are tracing five people after an Eritrean protest turned violent in Camberwell.

Police want to identify these individuals as they may have information that assists their investigation

More than 100 people attacked the Lighthouse Theatre, some armed with sticks and missiles, on December 30, 2023.

Police attended the demonstration on Camberwell Road and several were struck by missiles.

Four officers sustained injuries including concussions and some needed hospital treatment.

A detective described the “violence

NEWS 13

rent increases are ‘threat’ to shoPs serving caMberweLL for over 100 years ExcluSivE

By Herbie Russell CAMbErwELL ShoPkEEPErS fear “exorbitant” rent hikes of up to 143 per cent could force them to close.

A Post Office and laundrette are among four shops along Crossthwaite Avenue that have served the community for a combined 100-years-plus.

But the business owners say they “can’t survive” if Southwark Council sticks to the sudden rent hike.

Nasrin Jahanshiri established Crystal Laundrette in 2012 with her late husband, transforming it from a vacant “dungeon” to a popular local business.

She said: “I’ve spent so much money on this business. If I leave, I’m going to lose everything including my home.”

Yet Southwark Council has demanded she pays £14,000 per annum, up from £5,750 currently, Nasrin said.

The council recently dropped the offer to £12,000 but Nasrin says it is still more than she can afford.

Anijh Supermarket, a convenience store for roughly fifteen years, claims to have been hit with a 120 per cent rent increase.

The shopkeeper, who asked not to be named, said: “We’re quite scared to be honest because it’s our livelihood on the line.

“It’s just way to way too much and it came out of nowhere.”

A pharmacist and postmaster, based next door, haven’t received the council’s rent offer yet - but they are braced for the worst.

Postmaster Bimal, whose Post Office has served customers since 1981, said a similar rent increase would be “unsustainable” for his business.

A pharmacy two doors down, now called Davis Chemist, has sold and delivered medication to locals for over 35 years.

Pharmacist Andrei Ciobanu said: “We’re not due for a rent increase yet… but head office said we could not cope with that amount.”

The businesses say they are already navigating a tricky economic client, with the laundrette’s energy costs quadrupling in recent years.

The Post Office told Southwark News revenue had halved since the pandemic.

The row of shops sits between several council estates - Bessemer, Denmark Hill,

Left to right: Pharmacist Andrei Ciobanu, Postmaster Bimal and laundresse Nasrin Jahanshiri fear their businesses are at risk Champion Hill, Cleve Hall and Sunray.

Local residents, already saddled with the cost-of-living crisis, say they would be gutted to lose the “affordable, essential services”.

Jenifer Milner, who lives nearby, said: “It’s totally unjustified and disproportionate.

It’s not as if these are high-street shops.

“They are providing essential services to the neighbourhood and that’s why during Covid they could all stay open! They’ve basically been given eviction notices in disguise!”

Her petition against the rent hikes has received over 500 signatures in just five days.

Ruth Cross, a laundrette customer, said the rent hike was “nonsense”. “These people need to survive,” she added.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by this paper found the average rent for a Southwark lock-up shop was £14,282pa in 2023.

But residents have urged Southwark Council to consider that the businesses as vital community services.

They claim a comparable unit on the Kingswood Estate, in Dulwich, recently received an offer of just £5,000pa.

Shop owners have approached

charities offered free office sPace

By Herbie Russell

ChAritiES ArE using free office space in bermondsey thanks to a company fighting the affordable workspace crisis.

PPL, a management consultancy, has established a ‘Hub’ on Mill Street 120sqm of open office space reserved for charities and not-for-profits.

Local charities, many of which have struggled to find affordable premises, have jumped at the chance.

Among them is Read Easy Southwark, an organisation teaching adults to read, which described the space as “perfect”.

Diabetes UK, Women’s Health Advocacy Network and the Fragile X Society have also taken up the offer.

Claire Kennedy, Joint Chief Executive at PPL, said: “This is an initiative to channel the power of in-person creativity and collaboration to get the best out of the important work being done by charities and not-for-profits across the UK.”

Southwark councillors, urging them to meet with shopkeepers and come to a compromise.

“Despite our repeated requests for meetings, no meaningful response has been received and no progress in negotiation has been made over the past six months,” they said.

Cllr Rachel Bentley, Deputy Leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrat opposition, said: “Small businesses are at the heart of our communities, and have been struggling since the pandemic.

Southwark Council should be making every effort to support them, and so to see a proposed 143 per cent rent increase is outrageous and wholly unacceptable.

“The council should withdraw that proposal immediately, and work with businesses to agree a realistic, affordable rent that will ensure their continued success.”

Cllr Martin Seaton, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills & Business, said: “Running any business in the current climate comes with a whole host of challenges,

which is why we paused rent reviews and lease renewals during the pandemic, particularly with supporting smaller local businesses in mind.

“This has meant businesses have benefitted from artificially reduced rents.

We understand that any rent increase will be an adjustment and negotiations are ongoing, including consideration of transitional arrangements.

“We very much hope to work with each business to find an agreement so these shops remain serving the local community.”

By Herbie Russell

to see such overwhelming support from our community in achieving this milestone. The success of our green investment scheme demonstrates the power of collective action to improve our environment.

“This is just the beginning of our journey, we’ll be working with people across our borough and beyond, so together we can make Southwark greener and healthier.”

Cllr Esme Hicks said the scheme was launched, in part, because of central government underinvestment.

Shortly before the scheme was launched, Southwark Council revealed it had to plug a £6.7 million shortfall in its finances.

Councillors found the cash but only after making cuts to adult social care and children’s services.

Southwark Council aims to raise £6 million by 2030 and regularly hold fundraising rounds.

Council’s radical green investment scheme raises £1M in 3 months invEStorS hAvE backed Southwark Council’s green scheme with £1 million, just three months after its launch.

Inside the PPL Hub on Mill Street, Bermondsey

In April, Community Southwark warned that 46 per cent of surveyed Southwark Charities were based in unaffordable premises amid ‘skyrocketing’ land values.

The organisation has established a ‘matchmaking service’ to connect charities with landlords.

To �ind out more and book The PPL Hub, visit ppl.org.uk or contact Hub@ppl.org.uk

Local resident Jenifer Milner has launched a petition against the rent hikes

The cash-strapped council started the fund to bankroll its environmental projects - offering investors a 4.6 per cent return.

Money raised will fund ventures including LED lighting, cycle hangars and green school upgrades.

The fund raised £50,000 within hours and has now struck the £1 million mark well ahead of schedule.

Of 659 investors, 111 were residents and businesses from Southwark, who contributed £305,930.

Investors are being warned, however, that their capital is at risk and they could lose the money they put in.

Councillor Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “We are thrilled

Come and hear about our updated proposals for 22 and 24 Southwark Bridge Road Following consultation with residents, Southwark Council and indepedent review panels, we’re excited to present our latest proposals for 22 and 24 Southwark Bridge Road.

We would like to invite you to join us to view our plans, meet the team and have your say on our refined proposals.

Our upcoming events will outline our refined vision for the site and the broader Bankside area in further depth, allowing you to review the proposals and discuss them with the project team.

In-person drop in event

Online Webinar

Tuesday 4 June 2024 (12pm – 2pm)

Thursday 6 June 2024 (7pm – 8pm)

The Forge, 105 Sumner St, London SE1 9HZ

CGI of our proposals for 22-24 Southwark Bridge Road

Scan to register for our webinar

If you are unable to scan the QR code(s), or have any questions regarding the proposals, you can get in touch with the team using the details below, as well as view the proposals online via our Commonplace website.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Email: hello@southwarkbridgeroad.co.uk Phone: 020 3633 6482 Commonplace: southwarkbridgeroad.commonplace.is Scan for our Commonplace website

NEWS 15

briXton kiLLer who sLashed woMan with Makeshift weaPon convicted of Murder Johanita Dogbey was killed by Nur in broad daylight

By Herbie Russell

A MAn who killed a woman using a makeshift weapon as she walked through brixton has been convicted of murder.

Mohammed Nur, 34, unleashed a series of unprovoked on strangers last year, culminating in the tragic death of Johanita Dogbey, 31.

Johanita, 31, had been walking alone on Stockwell Park Walk in broad daylight after spending the day shopping with her mother.

Nur, who had already admitted to Johanita’s murder, was found guilty of three counts of unlawful wounding following a trial at the Old Bailey, on Monday, May 13.

The killer, from Vauxhall, first launched a spate of attacks in and around the Acre Lane area of Brixton on Saturday, April 29.

The incidents, which took place between 11.25pm and 11.29pm, saw Nur slashed victims’ cheeks with a sharp implement before walking off.

Two days later, on May 1, he used a similar homemade weapon to attack and kill Johanita.

Police launched a manhunt after Nur’s initial rampage. He was arrested just hours after Johanita’s death.

Officers caught him following a stop and search in Brixton Hill in the early

hours of Tuesday, May 2.

He was interviewed by police about all four offences but refused to answer any questions put to him.

Detectives had already recovered the weapon used to kill Johanita after it had been discarded as Nur fled the scene.

Forensic examination revealed traces of Johanita’s blood on it, alongside Nur’s DNA on a piece of fabric used to hold the weapon together.

When Nur was arrested, he was wearing distinctive clothing matching the suspect who’d carried out the attacks.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander for Lambeth, said: “Mohammed Nur’s heinous actions which culminated in Johanita Dogbey’s murder left the local community across Lambeth understandably shocked and in fear.

Although Nur was arrested just hours after the fatal attack, the impact of his random violence continues to resonate to this day.

“While Nur has been convicted for his crimes, I know it will do little to ease the pain that Johanita’s family and friends continue to suffer – my thoughts remain with them, and the three other victims Nur attacked on 29 April.”

Nur has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey for all the offences on Thursday, May 23.

Fire at Elephant block

By Herbie Russell

firEfiGhtErS hAvE confirmed an incident in Elephant and Castle was a housing block fire.

@ Google

London Fire Brigade rushed to the Elephant Central housing complex at 7.53pm on May 10.

An automatic alarm had sounded at a block of flats, believed to be Mawes House.

A flat on the tenth floor was damaged by the fire. Firefighters had extinguished the blaze by 8.30pm.

Two residents left the flats before the Brigade arrived and one person was treated at the scene by paramedics.

Crews from Lambeth, Dowgate,

Dockhead and surrounding fire stations attended.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Firefighters responded to an automatic fire alarm at a block of flats on Castle Square in Elephant and Castle.

“Part of a four roomed flat on the tenth floor was damaged by the fire. Two residents of the flat left the building before the Brigade arrived. One person was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service.

“The Brigade was called at 1953 and the incident was over for firefighters at 2030.

Crews from Lambeth, Dowgate, Dockhead and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.”

Elephant and Castle residential blocks as seen from New Kent Road

Inset; Convicted: Mohammed Nur

‘Bullying’ father-son builders charged victim £18,000 for ‘nonsense’ roofing

James Robert Hearne Junior alongside rubbish and materials left at the site

By Herbie Russell A FATHer-SoN duo who tried scamming a dulwich resident out of £18,000 for ‘abysmal and worthless’ roof works have been convicted.

James Robert Hearne Junior, 25, and dad James Robert Hearne Senior, 45, were found guilty of fraud and unfair trading offences.

The court heard how the pair used “heavy-handed, bullying, gas lighting and coercive control” tactics to scam their victim. What began as guttering work spiralled out of control, with Hearne Junior recommending the whole roof be replaced.

At one point, Junior added £2,000 to the bill claiming it was because “the beams

need to be stabilised with noggins”.

An independent surveyor’s report confirmed this was “complete nonsense” and that the roof was fine.

Southwark Council became suspicious after staff at the victim’s bank blocked a £4,000 payment to the roofer’s account.

A council investigation found that Hearne Senior’s firm, T&H Roofcare Limited, was originally contracted to carry out guttering work at the Dulwich property.

But the job was swiftly passed to the son’s firm, Drytech Roofing Contractors Limited, which advised that a new roof was needed.

Junior’s team started stripping tiles off the roof without the homeowner’s consent, demanding £16,000 for the work.

No information about cancelling rights

was given, as required by law.

With a large section of roof tiles now missing, the homeowner was pressured to pay a £4,000 deposit.

When the transfer was declined, Herne Junior increased the quote to £14,000 for the front of the house only.

Following a period of intimidation, the police were called and Southwark’s Trading Standards intervened.

A surveyor’s report has found it will cost some £6,000 to repair the roof.

Hearne Senior was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment (suspended for 2 years), 150 hours of unpaid work, 10 hours rehabilitation, £3000 compensation, and £1000 costs. Plus a victim surcharge of £100.

Hearne Junior was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment (suspended for 2 years), 200 hours of unpaid work, 20 hours of rehabilitation, £3000 compensation to the victim, and £1,000 costs. Plus a victim surcharge of £100.

Councillor Natasha Ennin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety at Southwark Council, said: “It’s important to exercise caution when getting home improvement works done. Unfortunately, we’ve seen an increase in rogue traders operating locally so we all need to remain vigilant and do the necessary homework to avoid falling foul of unscrupulous criminals.

16 NEWS

Midwife celebrates seven years at the hospital where she was born and had her own children

RideLondon 2024:

Here are all the bridges in Southwark due to close

By Herbie Russell

By Isabel Ramirez

Victoria left and Professor Nicolaides centre

Victoria Larlham, 45, was born at King’s College Hospital in 1980 and gave birth to her own four children at the same hospital.

Inspired by the ‘amazing’ care her family’s three generations received in Denmark Hill, she qualified as a midwife in 2017.

Victoria, who lives in Tulse Hill, said: “I was cared for by some amazing King’s midwives when I had my children.

“I will never forget Miriam McCarthy, a student midwife at the time and now a Matron at King’s, who helped deliver my first baby, Olivia, 20 years ago on 5 May, which is actually International Day of the Midwife!”

Victoria has always been aware of the incredible work done at King’s particularly after her mother’s difficult pregnancy.

As due date approached, she had unexpected bleeding and was put on bed rest to be monitored regularly.

Baby Victoria and her mum were cared for by newly qualified doctor Kypros Nicolaides.

“My mum has never forgotten how he helped make sure I was born safely and often refers to me as one of Kypros

Here are the bridges that will be closed.

Ford RideLondon, known as the world’s greatest festival of cycling, returns on Sunday 26 May. Around 25,000 riders will take part in three mass participation events of varying distances on the same route.

Drivers are asked to use alternative crossing points such as Blackfriars Bridge, London Bridge or the Rotherhithe Tunnel (vehicle restrictions apply) or use the London Underground, London Overground or rail services.

The following bridges will be closed to traffic: Southwark Bridge Closed between 4am - 7:30pm Tower Bridge Closed between 4am - 7:30pm Westminster Bridge Closed between 4am - 7:30pm Waterloo Bridge Closed between 8am - 7:30pm

There will be road closures in central and east London, as well as Essex.

@ KCH

A midwife has celebrated her seven years working at the hospital that cared for her as a baby.

An annual bike ride that sees thousands of people cycle from Westminster to Essex is happening this weekend.

Nicolaides’ babies,” Victoria said.

The professor said: “How amazing that Victoria has decided to devote her life to helping pregnant women and unborn babies. She is an inspiration and I am delighted we are now both

part of Team King’s.”

Victoria now works in the Trust’s Lotus Team, supporting vulnerable women and parents through pregnancy and beyond.

“I absolutely love my job, my fantastic

colleagues, and the families and parents-to-be I see every day,” she said.

“It can be really challenging, but it is such a privilege to help support women through their pregnancy. I cannot imagine doing anything else.”

Dulwich school’s proposal to move just 200 metres will worsen ‘unbearable’ traffic, residents fear Exclusive

By Herbie Russell

James Allen’s Girls School (JAGS) has proposed relocating its Pre-Preparatory cohort, aged four to seven, to the main school site on East Dulwich Grove.

The private school says the Pre-Prep’s current home, a Victorian building at 2 Dulwich Village, has become too small.

A school spokesperson said the relocation would make minimal difference to congestion, adding that the development would “breathe new life” into unoccupied land.

Despite being a short walk away from the current site, some local residents insist the relocation will make all the difference to local traffic.

They say East Dulwich Grove, a boundary road since the council installed a Low Traffic Neighbourhood in 2020, is already clogged with cars and pollution.

Maggie Brown, Chair of the East Dulwich Grove Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (TRA), said: “The result will be unbearable congestion, pollution and angry horn blowing. JAGS should stay where it is, secure behind a group of mature trees with a 20-acre playing field behind and free parking for parent dropoffs on Village Way.” Local resident Bridget Furst was also

@ Submitted Planning Documents

Dulwich residents fear moving 120 pupils to two new school buildings just 200 metres down the road will push traffic to ‘unbearable’ levels.

The current JAGS PrePrepratory site (3) circled alongside the proposed new site (5) adamant the 200-metre move would clog up the street: “Parents will not want to park on Village Way and walk with their children in the rain to East Dulwich Grove.”

Roughly 30 objectors have raised concerns about the plans, with many citing congestion and pollution as key concerns.

But according to planning documents submitted by the school, the Victorian

school building at 2 Dulwich Village is no longer suitable.

“It has become apparent in recent years that the building is too small and constrained for pupils and staff, and will not meet the future needs and aspirations of the school,” the school wrote.

The East Dulwich Grove TRA has however insisted that “busy commuter traffic” is already being “funnelled in at the same time as children arrive at

school”.

Southwark Council traffic data for East Dulwich Grove, recorded last summer, showed traffic was up by 29 per cent compared to pre-Covid levels.

The East Dulwich Grove TRA wants extensive traffic impact assessments to be carried out before the application is considered by Southwark Council.

If approved by Southwark Council, the two new school buildings would mean

demolishing two detached, unoccupied post-war dwellings.

The new development would comprise a three-storey main teaching block, and a separate double-height hall.

A public consultation period ran from October 26 to November 22 2023 which included two public consultation events at the school.

Representatives from the school, architects, landscape architects, transport and air quality consultants all attended.

A separate planning application has been submitted for the current Pre-Prep school site.

The building would be converted into four residential apartments, while retaining the hall and garden classroom for educational uses.

Founded in 1741, JAGS teaches 1,100 students aged 4 to 18. Its alumni include novelist Anita Brookner, actor Lucy Boynton and MP Claire Coutinho.

A JAGS spokesperson said: “The proposed redevelopment will breathe new life into currently unoccupied buildings and provide an exciting opportunity to deliver a new PrePrep site which better aligns with our educational vision for the future and improves connectivity and shared facilities with our main school site.

“We were delighted to welcome members of the local community to JAGS for the public consultation and look forward to working closely with Southwark Council as the planning application moves forward.”

18 OPINION

Comment

‘Celebrating Southwark’s big green milestones’ w

hAt do you like about living in Southwark? Ask that question to people across our borough and one of the answers on most people’s list is our parks and green spaces.

It’s been wonderful to see so many people enjoying them during the glorious sunny days we’ve had recently.

With 30 Green Flag parks and hundreds more council managed green spaces across our borough, there is a host of options to enjoy.

From Southwark, Burgess and Peckham Rye parks, which are all visited by tens of thousands of people each year, to our growing network of wildlife and community gardens – there really is something for everyone.

As a Labour run council we have made investing in these green spaces a priority because we know how important they are to local people and to our wildlife too.

This has included everything from new nature areas and veg plots to playgrounds and sports centres.

Looking after them all is a huge job that our council teams work very hard to do but also one we could not do alone. I want to say a huge thank you too all of the friends of parks, community and conservation groups who work day in day out with us to make our parks and nature areas

‘The success of our Southwark Parks, Green Investment Fund and tree planting programmes all demonstrates the power of collective action’ the wonderful places they are.

This work is just one of many ways we are making Southwark greener together. Another very different example is our Southwark Green Investment Fund.

This month we had the brilliant news that we smash through our £1m target for the fund – money that we will now invest in upgrading our schools, leisure centres and streetlights to cut their carbon emissions and make them better for the people who rely on them every day.

It’s another great example of the way local residents, businesses and the council are working together – this time to clean up our air, replace old infrastructure and cut energy bills.

All the while giving a little back to those who choose to invest. Overall, 111 local residents and businesses invested from as little as £5 in the scheme – a record level of local investment for similar communitybased initiatives in the UK. This is the first of several phases, as we aim to raise £6 million by 2030.

So, if this is something you’d like to

get involved with, do keep a look out for the next round of fundraising.

We are also fast approaching another big green milestone. This month we will be celebrating the planting of our 100,000th tree.

Since I’ve been Leader of the council we have planted over 30,000 trees across our borough, working with local schools and community groups.

As you travel around Southwark you will see them on council land everywhere - on our streets, in our parks and on our estates.

It’s been a quiet revolution that will continue to transform our borough for the better for many years to come as they grow and mature. One that will bring a host of benefits. Trees help to clean our air, removing harmful pollution.

They slow water running into drains during heavy rainfall, helping to reduce flooding. They provide shade on hot days and evaporation from their leaves helps to cool the borough during heatwaves. They provide a home to wildlife and of course, they are wonderful to look at too.

London’s progress as a green city has been a core part of our conversations with residents on the doorstep of late, campaigning for the re-election of the Mayor of London.

I was proud that Londoners firmly rejected the Trumpian attitude to the climate – and many other things – voiced by the Tory candidate, which would have put a halt to many of the amazing achievements we have seen in the city in recent years. Our two boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth had the biggest majority vote for Labour over the Conservative party in the whole of London, and I want to thank everyone who once again put their faith in Labour to take our city forward. We will be working very hard to deliver for you.

Sadiq’s historic third term gives us the chance to build upon our successes to date, cleaning up London’s toxic air, keeping TfL fares low, maintain our funding of free healthy school meals not just for all primary school children, but to many more secondary school children whose families are on low incomes too, and continuing

‘Yet another unwanted accolade Southwark now the empty council home capital of England’

S

outhwArk hAS retained it’s place as London’s worst landlord. we have record numbers of housing complaints, failed housing refurbishment plans and a growing housing waiting list.

But Southwark has now been shamefully crowned England’s capital of empty council homes.

1,512 council homes sit empty across Southwark. That’s more than the entire North West England.

With 17,700 households stuck on a static housing waiting list, people should be rightfully shocked and angry that there are so many vacant council homes.

On average, Southwark is taking nearly half a year to bring these vital council homes back into use.

That’s too long and we need much

KIERON WILLIAMS

Southwark Council leader

VICTOR CHAMBERLAIN Leader of the Southwark Lib Dems

‘There are 1,512 council homes sitting empty across Southwark. That’s more than the entire North West England... people should be rightfully shocked and angry’ faster turnaround to make sure these precious homes are able to support those who desperately need them.

Hundreds of these empty homes are in buildings due for demolition.

A toxic mix of chronic underfunding from years of shambolic Conservative governments along with local mismanagement and incompetence from the Labour run council is what has got us into this desperate situation. When Liberal Democrat’s ran Southwark we shrank the number of empty of council homes from 1600 to 600 (still far too many). Since

Labour have got back in, empty council homes have steadily risen back to claim the shoddy title of England’s empty council home capital.

144 homes have sat empty at Maydew House next to Southwark Park for over 7 years. The decision to refurbish the building was made over a decade ago. Southwark Labour’s appalling dither and delay left costs spiraling to a point at which a chronically underfunded council like Southwark couldn’t possibly afford. Last year it was finally confirmed it would be demolished. That demolition was

to build more new council homes.

I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Mayor and his team over the coming years.

With all the ills of the world right now, I do think it is important to look to the positives, whilst not ignoring the difficult times we face.

The Prime Minister recently set out an incredibly negative outlook for the next five years. It doesn’t have to be that way. What we are achieving collectively in Southwark is testament to the idea that we can achieve a lot when we work together.

The success of our Southwark Parks, Green Investment Fund and tree planting programmes all demonstrates the power of collective action to improve our environment and make our borough a better place for everyone at the same time.

What I see every day is Southwark residents, businesses, volunteer groups and all sorts of other organisations striving for a brighter future across a whole range of issues – not bunkering down and hiding from the challenges we face.

supposed to start last month, but the debacle has been delayed further as work now won’t begin until Autumn.

However, we cannot let the Tories use these stats to pass blame for our lack of social housing solely on councils.

Regeneration and refurbishment of social housing is absolutely vital.

The Aylesbury Estate, currently undergoing staged demolition, has rampant pest infestations and is barely habitable. No one should have to live in those conditions and councils need to be funded properly to ensure that houses are safe.

Locally, Labour need to start taking this issue seriously. The grindingly slow pace of progress that has led to thousands of council homes sitting empty comes from Labour not admitting that Southwark has become ground zero for the housing crisis.

For a start, Southwark’s needs to declare a housing emergency and follow Lib Dem-run Richmond’s lead in implementing a social housing improvement plan that enshrines the high standard of council homes people deserve.

Nationally, the end of this disastrous Conservative government can’t come soon enough.

Whoever takes over must implement sustainable, long term funding settlements for local government giving councils the freedom to start really tackling the housing crisis.

OPINION 19

w

Community bonds can withstand the heat

hen fire unexpectedly struck a flat on the longfield estate last weekend, neighbours immediately leapt to the woman’s aid. now the ash has settled, Southwark Council must listen to long-held worries about safety on its council estates.

Nickola Chatham’s life almost took a very dark turn on Saturday (May 18) when the front of her flat caught fire. Police have arrested a man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

Thankfully Nickola acted fast, evacuating her children from the flat. Once she was out, the neighbouring Fenlon family worked together to extinguish the fire using pots and tubs filled with water hurriedly filled at the kitchen sink. Downstairs, neighbour Lawrence is looking after Nickola while her flat is repaired.

Residents are now planning to hold events to reassure families, and especially kids, that the Longfield is a safe, happy space. This could easily have been a tragedy. But thanks to neighbours’ bravery and quick thinking, it’s a reminder that council estates are still places of genuine community.

A public event on the estate would be a great way of reinforcing this tight-knit community after a traumatic event. But there are also practical steps Southwark Council could take. Residents told Southwark News they want to see security doors installed on the blocks. As it stands, anyone can access the walkways around the estate.

Longfield residents aren’t alone in this. Last December, south Bermondsey resident Grace Power was chased into her estate by an assailant. The terrifying ordeal was made worse by the fact that she was chased right to her front door because there was no external security door.

It led the Southwark Liberal Democrats to call for an urgent review of security doors on council estates across the borough. Councillors also highlighted numerous cases of estates that had security doors that had stopped working. Residents on the Longfield are now urging the council not to dither, and get their blocks secured as a matter of urgency.

We often hear about the disintegration of traditional community bonds. We hear about a loneliness crisis where neighbours live shoulder-to-shoulder but don’t know each other’s names.

Flyer_A5.pdf 1 12/10/2021 22:35 Clearly, the Longfield is a surviving example of that traditional, community-minded, south London estate. So it’s vital residents get the investment they need to keep that going.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Clues Across 4 Beetle emerges from broken down sailor’s car (6) 8 Work needed for a church entrance there’s rot in it all over the place (7) 10 This will provide a pardon for many set at variance (7) 11 Stripe worn by a man of rank (5) 12 Pale yellow only in fish? (5) 13 Stomach ailment vigour is set back in bad days (9) 16 Sugar is the reverse of what’s needed after a spring vegetable! (9) 19 The result of an item at the sports day? (5) 20 A light to get smaller and smaller (5) 22 Having a seat, I had a meal to enjoy to the full (7) 23 Here’s quite the opposite of a large book one on the feelings of the Heart (7) 24 Hit out and stop work (6)

Clues Down 1 A wife will get part of the garden furrowed (6) 2 A leading entertainer serving up rubbish (4) 3 Robbing the till in retaliation? (13) 5 Study the standard, allowable amount you receive in a large outbreak of fire (13) 6 Continuing to meditate upside down in a circle! (8) 7 A kind of rum with a mixed gin will get you howling! (6) 9 Weeds of some weight? (5) 14 He will choose the French in a section of the front line (8) 15 Stops putting last of wine in crates (6) 17 This soup is entirely Eastern (5) 18 A saint with a halo and something to tie it on with? (6) 21 Father at home, suffering (4)

QUICK PUZZLE Clues Across

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4 Burning (6) 8 Fond (7) 10 Clear glass (7) 11 Bury (5) 12 Calls (5) 13 House (9) 16 General expenses (9) 19 Corn (5) 20 Jury (5) 22 Accumulated savings (4,3) 23 Shouting (7) 24 Property (6)

Clues Down

1 District (6) 2 Struggle (4) 3 Answering (13) 5 Unacceptable (6,3,4) 6 Robots (8) 7 Sign on (6) 9 Ladder (5) 14 Treacle (8) 15 List of business (6) 17 Funeral song (5) 18 Fodder (6) 21 Claw (4)

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Across 1 Cerise 7 Release 8 Mammoth 9 Seine 10 Latitudes 12 Eve 13 Golf 15 Arbiter 17 Noon 19 Lit 21 Balladist 22 Erica 23 Notable 24 Brigand 25 Acorns Down: 1 Complain 2 Remote 3 Scooter 4 Gloss 5 Casino 6 Mere 7 Rhode Island 11 Ivan 13 Grid 14 Fastness 16 Elastic 18 Origin 20 Timber 21 Banal 22 Elba Quick Crossword Across: 1 System 7 Leeward 8 Inertia 9 Least 10 Partially 12 Yen 13 Sent 15 Session 17 Spot 19 Mad 21 Centipede 22 Nicer 23 Stowage 24 Ruinous 25 Aspect Down: 1 Slippers 2 Sherry 3 Entwine 4 Belly 5 Vacate 6 Edit 7 Lawlessness 11 Test 13 Snap 14 Tenement 16 Ominous 18 Orchid 20 Debase 21 Crook 22 Norm

20 ARTS

what’s on

in Southwark

A Celebration of Pauline Boty

You don’t have to be an expert in art to have heard of Pop-Art artists Andy Warhol, Peter Blake and David Hockney. Some people could even pick out pieces of their work, but very few - even those who think they know a thing or two about that world - have ever heard of Pauline Boty, writes Michael Holland.

Camberwell entrepreneur Mark Baxter has and he is part of a team that is making a film about her eventful but sadly short life.

I asked how the film came about: ‘I heard a play on Resonance Radio called ‘The Last Days of Pauline Boty’, written by Vincent Rawding, and I was intrigued by her story.

The quality of the writing was one of the best things I had ever heard and I still think that. I had worked previously with Vinny, so I knew the stamp of the man and that he was a grafter, so I contacted, asked him to write a script for a documentary and we set to work.’

Setting to work meant getting the right people together to produce this film.

Bermondsey-based Natalie Gibson MBE (Nat the Cat) was one of Boty’s best friends, so she was in. Lee Cogswell, who Mark has worked with many times before will be filming and directing; then Jim Reid and Alan Marke, whose Channel X company make the award-winning The Detectorists, came aboard.

Now the hard work of researching their subject began. There are just a few books on the artist. Mark says, ‘Finding information was difficult at the start but once you start, worlds open up and people begin to contact you with stories, ideas and photos…Vinny(Rawding) had done a lot of research for his radio show, so we had the basis of the story.’

Mark Boty me in front of ‘The Only Blonde In The World’ from 1963 The first interview was Nat the Cat. ‘Natalie has a very enviable contact book of the elder statesmen and women of the UK arts and culture scene, so once she made a few contacts on our behalf, people felt safe and comfortable about talking to us.’

Who did you get in the film? ‘Celia Birtwell, wife of designer Ossie Clarke, comedienne Jenni Eclair, Jim Moir (Vic Reeves), artist Derek Boshier, Kate Bryan, the art correspondent for Sky Arts, and Bridget Boty, sister in law to Pauline who is now in her 80s and head of the family and estate.’

Have you got enough for a film? ‘With the resources and people we managed to unearth, I don’t think there is anything we don’t know about her.’

You have been making your film for some time now, how has your opinion of her changed since you began the project?

Open Stage is Open to All

Out of the Open Book Project at Goldsmiths University came Open Stage, a vehicle for the project’s creative members to write, direct and produce their own theatre productions, writes Michael Holland.

Open Book was started in 2004 by Joe Baden (now OBE due to his services to Education) to break down barriers to higher education and open it up to all. Open Stage operates from the same foundation.

Susan Hallissey, the artistic director, took a break from rehearsals and explained: ‘Open Stage CIC grew from a desire by people who wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to appear on stage to take theatre into their own hands and do so. Many of us came to Open Stage via Goldsmiths Open Book following the ethos of education for all. We also believe the same of theatre and the arts.’

How does it work?

‘We perform and create theatre that relates to us, and people like us. I’m not saying that we haven’t all been performing in one way or another throughout our lives, but for some it’s an easy transition!’

Who is involved?

‘The actors are not professionally trained but have shown themselves to have natural skills for acting… It is a mix of people who often had a go at one Open Stage production and have kept coming back again and again.’

What plays do you perform?

‘Open Stage CIC devises its own scripts over several sessions of improvising, discussing issues and seeing how we can create a piece of theatre. Everyone gets a chance to contribute. I then take the ideas and write up which parts we agree work. At the end of this we have the semblance of a play.’

‘Interesting question. When I first started I had her down as a bit of a “good time girl” who was undoubtedly very talented, but who certainly enjoyed herself in the Swinging Sixties. Gradually, however, she has been revealed as a very bright, intelligent young woman, who led the way for women in art in that decade, and whose life was cruelly cut short by cancer in 1966, aged just 28. Her work then disappeared from view in general for 30-odd years before the bulk of it was discovered at Bridget Boty’s farm. A recent sale of her painting, ‘With Love to Jean Paul Belmondo’, saw it reach over a million pounds. Pauline is now most definitely a sought after artist and the hunt is on for her ‘lost’ work. Her legacy is still being written.’

Why was she not more recognised while she was alive? Was she held back by being a woman? ‘Definitely. Despite being a very

talented artist, she wasn’t allowed into the painting school at the Royal College of Art in 1958 when she applied and instead had to begin studying and designing stained glass. Her talent and personality finally gained her access. I think resistance to Pauline was a futile gesture.’

How did she break through those inequality barriers? ‘By sheer force of her nature and talent, I’d say. She knew what she wanted to do and achieve and she went for it. She wasn’t shy in using her good looks to further her career, but always under her own terms. She took control of that very early on and was savvy enough to eventually make that work for her.’

Having interviewed the Sky Arts art correspondent, does that mean you’ve got an in to a TV broadcasting of the film? ‘I am constantly baffled by the lack

What’s the next production?

‘It will be “A little bit Grimm”, which I directed and is an evening of two parts. The first act is a film called ‘Tower Block Choir’ made during lockdown. It’s a comedy drama, created on phones and Zoom during the pandemic. It has been edited

by Solomon Popoola, and deserves a wider audience. The second act is a look at three fairy tales in a contemporary light.’

Will that still be original work?

‘Of course! All ideas and writing are original and this is far removed from the originals. It’s actually been an interesting process seeing where we’ve landed with them! Sadly, the issues portrayed are based on real events. However, there is a light touch running throughout this work – we try to balance the hard hitting with some humour. We have had a lot of laughter in rehearsals at the expense of one of our ‘thespians’! I can’t give anything away

but it’s worth it just to see him!’

Who will be playing the roles?

‘In this production we have some of our regular actors: Ed Hay, Sharon Johnson and Keith ‘The Gravitas’ Pigott, who are core members of the group. Then we have three new actors: Rebekah Loughnane, Adam Shatwell and Katie Strickland, and we are wishing them well with this first production.’

How do you find people to fill the roles?

‘The cast generally arrive by word of mouth or through Goldsmiths Open Book.

No experience is necessary, in fact, it is absolutely welcomed!’

Really?

‘Yes, we want to see people surprise themselves and, trust me, one of our cast has really surprised us all this time! And it doesn’t have to be acting; it could be help with set design, sourcing props, flyers, promoting ,etc.’

With so many years of Open Stage CIC behind you, the core players must be pretty good now.

of support from our main broadcasters for cultural figures here in the UK’ begins Mark, not looking happy. ‘We tried to get a commission for the film three times and failed each time. We also failed to get funding from the BFI. Obviously it is their prerogative to say no, but it appears to go deeper than that. It seems to there is no budget available to fund one-off documentaries. Instead they are looking to make series pieces often with a celeb face involved. So, consequently, many names from across the board here in the UK, who have a fascinating back story are left out in the cold. At the very best we are told “show us it when you have finished it and we may acquire it”… Of course, I already know that if they take the film, they will pay far less than what it cost us to make.’

I was lost for words at hearing this, but Mr Baxter was not.

‘So why bother? I hear you ask, and in some ways I agree, but fundamentally I come from the viewpoint that once the story is told and out there it will be well received’ Why? ‘Why? Because we know we are ahead of the curve with this Boty film. She is already being rediscovered and that will continue at a pace for a few more years yet.

In some ways, we are waiting for others to catch up.’

I had used up all my questions but I knew that would never be a problem for Mark Baxter: ‘Due to a lack of support with our film on Pauline Boty from the UK TV companies, we have had to self finance this film and that has slowed down the process of getting it made.’

The lack of support meant the film took a while to complete but the team got there in the end and a world premiere has finally been confirmed: 14:00 on Thursday 13 June in the Nevill Holt Theatre. This will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Dr Sue Tate, Natalie Gibson, Chila Kumari Singh Burman, Louisa Buck, Vinny Rawding and Lee Cogswell.”

Booking and details: nevillholtfestival.com/ whats-on/ paulineboty.org/news/

‘They’re not too bad, to be honest,’ laughs the director ensuring the actors returning to rehearse are out of earshot.

‘Some of them, though, are really getting rather luvvie, if you ask me!’

Anything you’d like to add?

‘If you are interested in theatre and have not had the opportunity or confidence to join a drama group, try us. We are relaxed and informal; all we ask is that you are open to having a go!’

If you are interested in getting involved with Open Stage contact: s.hallissey@gold.ac.uk ‘A Little Bit Grimm’ will be on at: Goldsmiths Student Union, 10 Dixon Road, New Cross, SE14 6NW 18th to 21st June 2024 at 7.30pm Tickets £11.00 Concessions £7.00.

Available at https://goldsmithssu. native.fm/ If you would like more information about Open Book please contact: Openbook@gold.ac.uk

ARTS 21

Photo by Danford Showan

Heading south - our pick of upcoming Summer events

The Comedy of Errors Pedalling from venue to venue with their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards are a four-strong troupe of actors spending the summer bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK – and in June, they’re coming to Severndroog Castle.

Join the troupe for a bicyclepowered production of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors “like you’ve never seen before”.

When two sets of estranged twins are brought together on the same island, this classic comedy takes hold, with mistaken identity, music and manic costume changes a plenty.

Thursday 6 June 2024, 7pm to 9pm Tickets: £5 to £19.50, under 5s free Severndroog Castle, Castle Wood, SE18 3RT www.handlebards.com/show/ the-comedy-of-errors-severndroogcastle

A piece of KISSTORY Changemaker Festival Immerse yourself in creativity and originality by watching the annual BAMPI Changemaker Festival at Blackheath Halls.

The festival will feature students from all three years of the BAMPI Course, including graduating students performing their recitals.

Tuesday 28 May to Sunday 2 June 2024 Tickets: Free, booking required Blackheath Halls, 23 Lee Road, Blackheath, SE3 9RQ www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/

The line-up has just been announced for KISSTORY, returning to Blackheath on Saturday 27 July – and it’s a good one.

Promising to bring you all of the biggest old-school tunes and anthems, you better get ready for a huge party, hosted by KISS Breakfast’s Jordan and Perri and bringing you a whole host of KISSTORY DJs, huge performances and very special guests across multiple stages, including…

Wayne Wonder, Fuse ODG, Kyla, General Levy, Artful Dodger, Ramz, Alison Limerick, Elisabeth Troy, Lisa Maffia & Mc Romeo, Baby D, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Phats & Small (Ft. Rick Live), Special MC, Matt Jam Lamont, Oxide and Neutrino, Kele Le Roc, SL2, Slipmatt, DJ Ace, Rat Pack, Wideboys, Big Brovaz & Booty Luv, and many more.

Festival season is just around the corner, so be sure to secure your tickets and get ahead of the game.

Saturday 27 July 2024, 12pm to 10:30pm Tickets: £47.60 to £100.80 Dartmouth Field, SE3 0UA planetradio.co.uk/kiss/entertainment/music-events/london-kisstory

Bonkers in BR1 For the first time, Bromley Little Theatre presents comedy night Bonkers in BR1. Showcasing comedians handpicked from the London open mic scene, you’ll see a selection of stars who have honed their craft in the comedy clubs of the capital, bringing their best to Bromley.

You’ll see eight comedians bringing a diverse range of humour, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Wet Locker The Loudspeaker Orchestra is hosting its next concert under the glass roof of Greenwich Market.

Welcome WEL-KER (pronounced Wet Locker) to the stage for an immersive audio-visual experience.

A collaborative project from Messrs Guillaume Dujat and Joe Beedles, rubberised recordings meet aerated physical modellings, AI chants and spectral synthesis, morphed by the putty-like WELKER formula.

Head down to enjoy an event never seen before at the market.

Wednesday 29 May 2024, 7pm to 10pm Tickets: £5 Greenwich Market, SE10 9HZ www.greenwichmarket.london/ events/

Sunday 9 June 2024, 7:45pm Tickets: £10 North Street, Bromley, BR1 1SB bromleylittletheatre.org/mevents

Outdoor cinema Nobody puts baby in the corner… Watch some classic films under the stars at Charlton House this June.

You can catch family favourites Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future and Grease: the singalong on a huge open-air screen, with a backdrop of the night’s sky.

Pack a blanket or a camping chair and set up shop

to watch unmissable movies in this unique outdoor cinema experience.

7 to 9 June 2024, gates open 8:15pm, films start after sunset at around 9:45pm Tickets: Regular £15.50, premium £22.50 Charlton House, Charlton Road, SE7 8RE www.greenwichheritage.org/events

22 HISTORY

History

southwark Blue Plaques 2024: William Pullum © Stefan Brending

With voting about to close, time is nearly up to vote for your favourite to win a Southwark Blue Plaque - here is a reminder of all the nominees.

© Nicky Hughes

By Isabel Ramirez

For over twenty years, the News has been proud to have been one of the founders of the Blue Plaque scheme here in Southwark.

Last year’s winner was ‘exceptional’ Walworth tailor, George Dyer who impressed locals and celebrities with his craftsmanship and became renowned across the UK for his custom-made suits and kindness to all.

His plaque is currently being prepared and there will be more information regarding the unveiling soon.

The nominees for 2024 are:

1. John Davis – Missionary for American Civil War veterans

A sailor who ran a missionary in Bermondsey where he helped the less fortunate and got pensions for American Civil War veterans has been nominated for a blue plaque.

Ensign John Davis lived many lives in his lifetime, going from a drunken sailor to putting his life on the line in battle, to spending his ‘retirement’ advocating for others.

In 1877 he joined the London City Mission – which ran a Ragged School in Bermondsey – and began working in the slums and dockyards, whilst living at 14 Blue Anchor Lane.

He attracted congregations of thousands to his missionary church at Gedling Place under the railway arch where Davis also founded the London branch of the American Civil War Veterans.

One of the lucky servicemen, Davis received a decent pension from the Navy and wanted to help others who had served but not been recognised.

Altogether 137 men joined and Davis helped many of them and their widows get pensions from the US government.

To vote for John Davis for a Southwark Blue Plaque, please email isabel@ southwarknews.co.uk.

2. Francis Rossi OBE – lead singer of British rock band Status Quo

The lead singer of one of Britain’s most successful rock bands ever, Status Quo, has been nominated for a blue plaque.

Francis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE was born in Forest Hill in 1949 and since then has never moved away from South London.

Whilst at school in Lewisham, he formed a band called The Scorpions with some classmates. They performed their first gig in Dulwich.

During its early stages, The Scorpions went through various rebrands – first The Spectres, having found drummer John Coghlan, then Traffic, Traffic Jam and finally in 1967 the group became Status Quo. To date, the band has sold over 128 million albums worldwide and toured the globe.

Over the years they raised more than £3

Francis Rossi OBE (credit: Stefan Brending)

James Henderson (provided by Neil Henderson, his greatgrandson)

Stock Aitken Watermen in their heyday

million for causes Nordoff Robbins, the Prince’s Trust and the Heart Foundation, as well as opening at Live Aid. To vote for Francis Rossi OBE for a Southwark Blue Plaque, please email isabel@southwarknews.co.uk.

3. Apsley Pellatt & Co – pioneering glass-works

A Blackfriars-based company that famously made lots of pioneering developments in glass-making has been nominated for a blue plaque.

Born in 1791, Apsley Pellatt was the son of a well-known glass manufacturer, based at the Falcon Glass Works on Holland Street – which no longer exists.

After his father died, Pellatt inherited the Southwark glass factory, renaming it Apsley Pellatt & Co.

Most notably he developed an innovative process for embedding ceramic figurines into the sides of paperweights, jugs, and decanters – known as cameo incrustations.

Over thirty of these works, made between 1815 and 1891, are displayed in the V&A Museum in Kensington.

Apsley Pellatt & Co. became the most famous and successful producer of such things in the country until the mid-century, its only rival being Baccarat in France.

To vote for Apsley Pellatt & Co. for a Southwark Blue Plaque, please email isabel@southwarknews.co.uk.

4. Stock Aitken Waterman – legendary songwriting trio

One of the most successful songwriting trios in the world,

who launched Kylie Minogue and Rick Astley into stardom, has been nominated for a blue plaque.

Between 1984 and 1993, British pop producers Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman were responsible for over 200 million records sold worldwide.

All their songs reportedly began at a little backstreet studio in Southwark – The Vineyard in Sanctuary Street.

It was there, known as ‘The Hit Factory’, that they famously launched the careers of Kylie Minogue, with ‘I Should Be So Lucky,’ and Rick Astley with ‘Never Gonna Give You Up.’ They also made chart successes for Bananarama, Donna Summer, Cliff Richard, Paul McCartney and many more.

Lesser celebrated feats are their

charitable ventures, including the three records that raised millions for various causes.

To vote for Stock Aitken & Waterman for a Southwark Blue Plaque, please email isabel@southwarknews.co.uk.

5. Zdenka Pokorná – powerhouse anti-Nazi campaigner

A Dulwich-based woman, who stood up against tyrannical regimes that dominated her homeland, has been nominated for a blue plaque.

Originally from Czechoslovakia, Zdenka Pokorná was born in Moravia in 1905 and lived until she was 101.

After the Nazi invasion of Czech lands in 1939, she bravely guided Czech men across the border to exile abroad. Some went on to fight Nazism as part of the

HISTORY 23

History

© David Tolley

© Peter Collins

A round-up of all the nominees Ensign John Davis

Largely in a lane of his own, in 2006 he entered the mainstream when he was asked to create a memorial to the Site of Execution at the Tower of London.

It still stands today as a popular attraction for visitors.

Some of Brian’s other notable works and performances included: Cyclops at South London Gallery (1996), Quill Two at Matt’s Gallery, Dilston Grove (2011), Vanished! A Video Seance made with screenwriter Tony Grisoni (1999), and Antixat Matt’s Gallery (2006.)

An award-winning poet and author, he wrote around 23 novels in total, including the well-known fantasy trilogy, The Vorhh.

In many of his books, just like in his art, he appeared to laugh in the face of picking a genre and would often cross boundaries.

To vote for Brian Catling a Southwark Blue Plaque please email isabel@ southwarknews.co.uk.

8. William Pullum – Olympic weightlifting trainer and champ

Czech contingent of the RAF. This led to her being arrested by the Gestapo – secret Nazi police – and imprisoned in Poland. Ms Pokorná was sent to a death march and survived.

In 1948 she was exiled from her country and moved to England to work as an NHS nurse.

Although she lived over half of her life in Dulwich, on Desenfans Road, Ms Pokorná never forgot her roots and continued her campaigning from afar.

She was hailed on her 90th birthday as the ‘living conscience of the century’ by the Czech government.

To find out more there is a excellent book written by Karel Werrner called ‘The Three Lives of a Czech Yogi ... and Beyond’ with a chapter dedicated to her available in all good bookshops.

To vote for Zdenka Pokorná for a

©T he Three Lives of a Czech Yogi… and Beyond by Karel Werner)

Vase With Sulphide Of Napoleon I, Falcon Glassworks of Apsley Pellatt & Co., 1820-1830

Zdenka Pokorná (right) with friend Marian Werner

Southwark Blue Plaque, please email isabel@southwarknews.co.uk.

6. James Henderson – trailblazing newspaper founder

A Dulwich-based newspaper owner, who founded the South London Press over 150 years ago, has been nominated for a blue plaque.

James Henderson (1823-1906) started working for his local paper and became a key figure in developing the popular press and comics in Britain.

Most famous for founding the weekly paper South London Press in 1865, he also launched the UK’s first daily penny newspaper and London’s first-ever halfpenny evening paper.

Despite being from Scotland, half of his life was spent in East Dulwich, where he

Brian Catling, Portrait of Brian Catling as Candleye

lived from 1864 until shortly before he died.

After arriving in England he was appointed manager of the Leeds Express, followed by the Manchester Guardian, and in 1861, he set up The Weekly Budget.

This paper was the first to combine stories with daily news.

It was so popular that he transferred his offices from Manchester to Fleet Street in London, and by 1865 the Budgetclaimed to have the largest provincial circulation of any newspaper in the UK. As if he didn’t have enough strings to his bow already, Henderson was also a noted horticulturist (his gardens were open to the public), property developer and even stood as Liberal MP for Dulwich, though he lost to the Tory candidate, John Blundell Maple.

To vote for James Henderson for a

Southwark Blue Plaque please email isabel@southwarknews.co.uk.

7. Brian Catling – groundbreaking multitalented artist and sculptor

An esteemed artist and sculptor, who famously created a memorial for the Tower of London, has been nominated for a blue plaque.

Brian Catling RA, a ‘lover of the strange,’ seemed to excel at any art he tried his hand at.

Born in 1948, he was abandoned and then adopted by a working-class family and raised on the Old Kent Road in tenements – affordable housing for low-income families.

Brian exhibited his work internationally since 1975 and became known for his unconventional style.

A Camberwell man, who is said to have ‘revolutionised the world of weightlifting’, has been nominated for a blue plaque.

William Albert Pullum was born in Camberwell on April 8, 1887.

After observing weightlifters, Mr Pullum noticed that many traditional strongmen did not have a proper technique.

It was this that drove him to devise a set of rules that would become the ones the sport still abides by to this day.

By nineteen years old, Mr Pullum had set up a school of physical culture in Camberwell named the Lothian Club.

In 1907, this world-famous gym was relocated to number 5 Church Street, Camberwell (now a Cheeky Burger.)

It became a hub for aspiring weight trainers from around the country – including the world’s richest man John Paul Getty who was once trained by him.

Not only did he work behind the scenes – going on to help set up the British Amateur Weightlifters’ Association in 1910 – he was also a famous athlete in his own right.

Between the years 1911 and 1915, he won 192 British and world weightlifting records, 15 British championships and 53 gold medals.

He would later coach the 1948 British Olympic Team, long after having retired from competing himself – proving how integral he was to the sport.

To vote for William Pullum for a Southwark Blue Plaque please email isabel@southwarknews.co.uk To vote for any of the nominees for a Southwark Blue Plaque, please email isabel@southwarknews.co.uk or admin@southwark.org.uk with the name of the person you want to nominate. Voting closes on Thursday 1st June.

24 CLASSIFIED

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LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (COLOMBO STREET, WINDSOR WALK, LIMESFORD ROAD, JANEWAY PLACE, MILL STREET,PARK STREET, SURREY ROW, SYLVAN GROVE)

HYNDMAN STREET 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)Colombo Street, between Meymott Street and Paris Gardens (b) Windsor Walk, between No’s 18 – 20 (Denmark Hill Station) (c) Limesford Road, between No’s 1 and No’s 47 (d) Janeway Place, between Wilson Grove and No’s 8 (e) Mill Street, between Jacob Street and Bermondsey Wall West (f) Park Street, between Emerson Street and Bear Gardens (g) Surrey Row, at it’s junction with Blackfriars Road (h) Sylvan Grove, at it’s junction with Old Kent Road and No’s 3 – 17

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic for will be as indicated by the signs displayed

4.

The existing ‘one-way’ working in Mill Street will be made ‘two-way’ for access and egress purposes for (2e)

5.

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

6.

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

7.

8.

PUBLIC NOTICES 25

The works will be in operation for (2a) 1st – 2nd and 8th – 9th June (2b) 2nd June (2c) 1st June 2024 – 5th March 2025 (2d) 3rd June – 16th July (2e) 3rd – 7th June (2f) 3rd – 7th June (2g) 4th – 6th June (2h) 5th – 7th June Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 23rd May 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) LBSCR13482 (2b) LBSCR13463-1 (2c) 98219880 (2d) BER2-WIHO47-01 (2e) SEC50/MILLSTREET (2f) SLS00081191498-0410 (2g) 19JHG1173A (2h) SLD00081342875-0020 LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK STURDY ROAD AREA IMPROVEMENTS The London Borough of Southwark (Prescribed routes) (Sturdy Road area) Traffic Order 2024 The London Borough of Southwark (Waiting and Loading restrictions) (Sturdy Road area) Order 2024 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 23 May 2024 it has made 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 effects of the (Prescribed routes) Order are 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 effects of the (Waiting and Loading restrictions) Order are:(a) in 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. Copies of the Orders, which will come into force on 28 May 2024, and of all other relevant documents are available for inspection at Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH, by appointment only. E-mail traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or call 077 3132 4742 for booking details.

5. Any person desiring to question the validity of the Order/s or of any provision contained therein on the grounds that it is not within the relevant powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 or that any of the relevant requirements thereof or of any relevant regulations made thereunder has not been complied with in relation to the Order/s may, within six weeks of the date on which the Order was made, make application for the purpose to the High Court.

Dated 23 May 2024 Steven Grayer Interim Head of Service - Highways, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth

The London Borough of Southwark (Loading places and Waiting restrictions) (Hyndman Street improvements) Order 2024 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 23 May 2024 it has made the above order under sections 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The effects of Order are 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. Copies of the Order, which will come into force on 28 May 2024, and of all other relevant documents are available for inspection at Highways, Southwark Council, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH, by appointment only. E-mail traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or call 077 3132 4742 for booking details.

4. Any person desiring to question the validity of the Order or of any provision contained therein on the grounds that it is not within the relevant powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 or that any of the relevant requirements thereof or of any relevant regulations made thereunder has not been complied with in relation to the Order may, within six weeks of the date on which the Order was made, make application for the purpose to the High Court.

Dated 23 May 2024 Steven Grayer Interim Head of Service - Highways, Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK QUEEN’S ROAD AREA CONTROLLED PARKING ZONE 'QR' The London Borough of Southwark (Charged-for parking places) (CPZ 'QR') Order 202* The London Borough of Southwark (Free Parking Places, Loading Places and Waiting, Loading and Stopping Restrictions) (CPZ 'QR' and surrounding area) Order 202* 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that it proposes to make the above orders under sections 6, 45, 46, 49 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The general effect of the orders, as part of the provision of the new controlled parking zone ‘QR’ in the Queen’s Road area would be:(a) to provide permit holders' parking places, in which vehicles in respect of which have been granted either a valid residents' permit, a valid business permit or a valid visitors' permit may be left between the hours of 1 pm and 3 pm on Monday to Friday inclusive, in:- BURCHELL ROAD, CARLTON GROVE, KING'S GROVE, MONTPELIER ROAD, and WOOD'S ROAD; (b) to provide 'shared-use' parking places in which either:- (i) vehicles which have paid the parking charge of £5.10 per hour/£8.30 per hour for diesel vehicles (using 'Pay by Phone') may be left for up to 1 hour (provided no vehicle may return to a parking place on that same day), or (ii) vehicles in respect of which have been granted either a valid residents' permit, a valid business permit or a valid visitors' permit may be left without time limit, between the hours of 1 pm and 3 pm on Monday to Friday inclusive, in:- BURCHELL ROAD, CARLTON GROVE, KING'S GROVE, MONTPELIER ROAD, and WOOD'S ROAD; (c) to introduce ‘timed’ waiting restrictions (single yellow lines ‘SYLs’) operating between the hours of 1 pm and 3 pm on Monday to Friday inclusive in WOOD’S ROAD covering the full length at each location of existing School Keep Clear markings in the vicinity of John Donne Primary School (a total of 121 metres); (d) to introduce 'at any time' waiting restrictions (double yellow lines ‘DYLs’) at road junctions, footway and vehicle crossovers, and between kerbside designated as parking places in the above-mentioned streets (in so much as is public highway), apart from where there are existing School Keep Clear markings. Loading or unloading to or from attended vehicles would be permitted for a maximum of 40 minutes at any single location on DYLs; (e) the Council will take the opportunity to increase existing DYLs in the roads outside the new CPZ ‘QR’ in the surrounding area in: (i) ASYLUM ROAD east side add 1.5 metres north-west of its junction with Staveley Close and 2.5 metres north of its junction with Station Passage, (ii) HOLLYDALE ROAD north-east side add 13.5 metres o/s Nos. 2 and 4 Hollydale Road and south-west side add 4 metres south of its junction with Lugard Road, and (iii) LUGARD ROAD south-east side add 2.5 metres o/s No. 11 Lugard Road; and (f) the Council will take the opportunity, to more closely reflect what is in the street by formally amending the Traffic Management Orders to match what is in the street, to: (i) remove an existing ‘doctor only’ parking place in WOOD’S ROAD which is no longer needed, (ii) add an existing disabled persons’ parking place 6.6 metres in length in WOOD’S ROAD south-west side o/s No. 24 Wood’s Road, (iii) relocate an existing cycle hangar in KING’S GROVE from the carriageway east side opposite No. 99 King’s Grove to a location on the footway opposite No. 101 King’s Grove, and (iv) add 6.5 metres existing DYLs in KING’S GROVE o/s No. 97 King’s Grove.

Existing disabled persons’ parking places in the above streets and the trial ‘e-scooter & cycle hire’ bay located in Burchell Road would not be affected by the proposals. Note that all measurements listed are in metres and are approximate.

3. Residents’ permits, business permits and visitors’ permits would be available to residents and businesses located at qualifying addresses located within the parking zone boundary, which are not subject to a planning agreement restricting the grant of permits.

4. For more information contact the Council's Highways team 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 ‘TMO2425-007 Queen’s Rd CPZ’ by 14 June 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 23 May 2024 Steven Grayer Interim 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 Wednesday

26 PUBLIC NOTICES 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; 310-330 ST JAMESS ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 5JX (Ref: 21/AP/1667) Retention of existing Live/work unit and redevelopment of the site comprising demolition of existing buildings and erection of three buildings to provide new residential development and the provision of flexible Class E floorspace with public realm improvements, amenity space, cycle parking spaces, disabled car parking spaces and refuse/recycling stores and other associated works. For information the development consists of; - Erection of three buildings at 6, 9 and 21 storeys - Maximum AOD height of 69.02m - 161 residential units - 1779 sqm of employment floorspace (Class E(g)(i) and E(g)(iii)) - 164.5 sqm of Sui Generis floorspace (retained Live / work) - 33 sqm of ancillary community floorspace Reason(s) for publicity: MAJ DEP MAJ (Contact: Ewan Lawless 020 7525 1264)

internally illuminated GDK lettering only and fascia sign (Within: Walworth Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Agneta Kabele 07548097486)

Installation of "Pulse Smart Hub" with integrated digital screens (Within: Rye Lane Peckham CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki )

2 OLD KENT ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 4AZ (Ref: 24/AP/1269) Part Single/ Part Two and a half- story extension, set back from the back of the neighboring properties. (Within: Yates Estate And Victory CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Wing Lau 020 7525 5729)

15 WOODWARDE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8UN (Ref: 24/AP/1309) Erection of a single storey rear extension.

(Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Samuel Hepworth 020 7525 5465)

224 - 226 TOWER BRIDGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2UP (Ref: 24/AP/1373) Variation of condition 1 (Approved Plans) and removal of condition 16 (EV Charging Point) and condition 19 (Disabled Parking Bay) pursuant to planning application ref. no. 19/AP/1975: Refurbishment of existing office building including new facades, the addition of a part 1, part 3 storey rooftop extension plus rooftop plant. The proposal comprises office uses at all floor levels with complementary, active and flexible uses (A1/A2/A3/B1a/D1/D2 excluding Education; Places of Worship; Public Hall; Law Courts; Music and Concert Venues; Dance and Sports Hall; Swimming Baths; Skating Rink; and Bingo Hall) at first floor, ground and lower ground floor, with associated access, landscaping, roof terraces and cycle parking.

The variation seeks to retain the loading bay resulting in the removal of the EV charging point and accessible parking space. (Within: Tower Bridge CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Lara Davison )

TOWER BRIDGE TOWER BRIDGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 24/AP/1337) Listed building consent for proposed investigative works related to installation of renewed fire suppression system (Within: Tower Bridge CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Tracy Chapman 020 7525 1948)

14 - 16 STONEY STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 9AD (Ref: 24/AP/1363) Display of a new signage to the Clink Yard elevation (unit 010), new signage to the Stoney Street elevation (unit 010), new signage along the Dirty Lane elevation (unit 197) and new signage under the railway elevation (unit 197) (Within: Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Becky Lambert ) 258 - 260 WALWORTH ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 24/AP/1400)

TOWER BRIDGE TOWER BRIDGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 24/AP/1336) Listed building consent for proposed investigative works related to installation of renewed fire suppression system (Within: Tower Bridge CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Tracy Chapman 020 7525 1948)

PAVEMENT OUTSIDE 18B AND 20 RYE LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 5BU (Ref: 24/AP/1398) Provision of 2x (back-to-back) digital LED displays. (Within: Rye Lane Peckham Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki ) FLATS ABOVE 74 PECKHAM HIGH STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 5ED (Ref: 24/AP/1325) Construction of a third and fourth floor extension to provide 4x one bedroom flats and conversion of the existing second floor two bedroom flat into a one bedroom flat to facilitate third floor extension (Within: Rye Lane Peckham CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Zoe Brown 07849 702 088) PAVEMENT OUTSIDE 18B AND 20 RYE LANE LONDON SE15 5BU (Ref: 24/AP/1438) Display of "Pulse Smart Hub" with integrated digital screens (Within: Rye Lane Peckham CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki ) PAVEMENT OUTSIDE 18B AND 20 RYE LANE LONDON SE15 5BU (Ref: 24/AP/1397)

3 BOURNEMOUTH ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 4UN(Ref: 24/AP/1266) Replacement of the existing 15 steel windows with Velfac aluminum casement windows to match the rest of the building. (Within: Rye Lane Peckham CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ibrahim Azam 020 7525 2876) 230 TURNEY ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7JL (Ref: 24/AP/1185) Erection of a single storey rear extension following the demolition of the existing conservatory. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Samuel Hepworth 020 7525 5465)

LANTERN HOUSE 102 BERMONDSEY STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 3UB (Ref: 24/AP/1036) Display of 2no. new branded awnings, fascia sign and projecting sign (Within: Bermondsey Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ibrahim Azam 020 7525 2876) 27 THE GARDENS LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 9QE (Ref: 24/AP/1343) External alterations including replacement windows and doors, roof coverings, rainwater goods, lighting and masonry repairs. (Within: The Gardens CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: William Tucker 07925 637 210) Dated: 21 May 2024 comments to be received within 21 days of this date.

STEPHEN PLATTS Director of Planning and Growth

282 WALWORTH ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE17 2TE (Ref: 24/AP/1379) Main elevation to be made safe and watertight.

Dismantling and rebuilding of the existing brick parapet at high level. Replacement of the existing contemporary shop front with a new traditional timber shop front with glazed tiled stall riser, fascia, sash windows to match existing, pilasters and corbels. Repair and conservation of the front building elevation, including brickwork, window cills and removal of existing paint.

Replacement of existing rain water pipe and hopper with new cast iron. Replacement of two windows at first floor and two windows at second floor, with new slimline double glazed timber sash windows, three-over-three, to match existing. Existing roof covering to be replaced with plain red tiles. (Within: Walworth Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anna Poulose ) 25 THE GARDENS LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 9QE (Ref: 24/AP/1341) External alterations including replacement windows and doors, roof coverings, rainwater goods, lighting and masonry repairs. (Within: The Gardens CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: William Tucker 07925 637 210)

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

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PUBLIC NOTICES 27

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (UNION STREET, GREAT SUFFOLK STREET, GILKES PLACE, CULMORE ROAD (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) Union Street, cycle lane between Southwark Bridge Road and No’s 74 (b) Great Suffolk Street at it’s junction with Union Street (c) Gilkes Place, between Gilkes Crescent to the side of No’s 25 Dulwich Village (d) Culmore Road, between Blanch Close to it’s blocked end

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic for will be 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) 7th – 27th June (2b) 10th – 23rd June (2c) 10th June – 5th July (2d) 10th June – 27th September

7.

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

Public Notice Southwark Council Member Allowances Scheme: 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025 In accordance with the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, Southwark Council is publishing details of the allowances to be paid to members for the financial year of 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025.

The 2024-25 member allowances scheme was agreed at council assembly on 20 March 2024. The scheme was agreed having taken into account the London Councils Independent Remuneration Panel Report 2023. The scheme makes provision for a basic allowance to be paid to all members, and for special responsibility allowances (SRAs) to be paid to members who take on significant additional responsibilities. Member allowances are adjusted in line with the national local government officer pay settlement and allowances for officers.

The allowances are grouped into bands, and the amounts for each band are set out in Table 1 below. The amounts listed are gross figures and are subject to deductions for national insurance contributions and income tax.

No member may receive more than one SRA. Members of the licensing subcommittee receive an allowance in recognition of the heavy workload of the sub-committee.

Table 1 – Member Allowances 2024 – 2025

Dated this 23rd May 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) UKP12223-1 (2b) MCW-00001979 (2c) 3001755 (2d) 65003896

SRAs are paid to the following: • • • •

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (PARK STREET) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF VEHICLES, TEMPORARY DIRECTIONAL CLOSURE) 1.

2.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that to enable utility and resurfacing works to be carried out by Kier Construction Ltd or it’s appointed contractor, the Council of the London Borough of Southwark intends to make an order the effect of which would be to temporarily restrict vehicles from entering a section of Park Street.

This order will (a) Prohibit vehicles from entering, proceeding, stopping, waiting and loading in a section of carriageway on Park Street between New Globe Walk and Bear Gardens. (b) Ban vehicles from making a right turn out of Bear Gardens and Rose Alley on to Park Street (c) Close the westbound carriageway lane on Park Street between Rose Alley and Emerson Street.

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic will be (a,b&c) Redcross Way, Southwark Street, Thrale Street, Southwark Bridge Road, Sumner Street, Emerson Street.

4.

Access to and from New Globe Walk and from Emerson Street onto Park Street will be maintained.

5.

The Order will be in force on (a) 11th of June to the 14th of June 2024 (b&c) 14th of June to the 21st of June 2024.

6.

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

7.

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

Dated this 23rd of May 2024 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Traded Services Environment and Leisure 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: 6920

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

Deadline is 3pm on Wednesdays

• • •

Band 1a allowance – payable to the vice-chair of the overview & scrutiny committee; the vice-chair of the planning committees (major applications); the deputy leader of the majority opposition; the leader of the minority opposition; and the majority opposition whip.

Band 1b allowance – payable to community champions; the Deputy Mayor; and the chair of the audit, governance and standards committee.

Band 1c allowance – payable to scrutiny commission chairs; the chair of planning committee (smaller applications); and deputy cabinet members.

Band 2a allowance – payable to the chief whip; and the leader of the majority opposition.

Band 2b allowance – payable to the Mayor; the chair of the overview & scrutiny committee; the chair of the planning committees (major applications); and the chair of licensing committee.

Band 3 Allowance – payable to the deputy leader; and cabinet members.

Band 4 Allowance – payable to the leader of the council.

Band 3 and 4 allowances are dependent on the number of hours per week the member is employed elsewhere, as set out below: - less than 11 hours elsewhere, full SRA - 11 to 24 hours elsewhere, two thirds SRA - more than 24 hours elsewhere, one third SRA. Where cabinet members are appointed in a job share, the average number of hours employed elsewhere are doubled.

The scheme allows members to claim travelling and subsistence allowances when on council business outside the borough, and childcare and carers’ allowance against any costs they incur in arranging care to look after dependants who cannot be left by themselves by reason of age or special needs. These allowances may only be claimed in respect of approved duties.

At present a pension scheme for members is not in operation.

The full member allowances scheme is contained in the Council Constitution available on the council’s website www.southwark.gov.uk London Borough of Southwark 160 Tooley Street London SE1

DATED: 23 May 2024

Borough Yards Gallery/Museum Opportunity Available UNIT 221 In the heart of Borough Yards, we are seeking a suitable operator to take a shell & core unit for the use of a public gallery with 'for sale' artwork and/or use as a museum (within Use Class D1 of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987).

The unit is set within a refurbished railway arch, which creates a very unique space, however does lack natural light.

LOCATION Located within the Borough Yards development in London Bridge between Borough Market and the River Thames. The unit has an entrance on Clink Street. NB The unit is currently trading as 'Delight'.

Nearby occupiers include Flat Iron, Bancone, Akara, Burger & Beyond, Long Boys and Hagen.

ACCOMMODATION The unit provides the following Net Internal Area (NIA): Ground floor - 3,389 SQF / 314.9 SQM Mezzanine - 564 SQF / 52.4 SQM Total - 3,953 SQF / 367.3 SQM TENURE The premises are available by way of a new lease, for a term to be agreed between parties.

RENT We are seeking a rent in excess of £150,000 per annum exclusive.

COSTS Each party is to be responsible for their own legal and all other professional costs incurred in the transaction.

For more information please contact: BRUCE GILLINGHAM POLLARD

Evie North evie@brucegillinghampollard.com Bruce Gillingham Pollard on their behalf and for the Vendors or Lessors of this property whose Agents they are, give notice that: 1. These particulars are set out as a general outline only for guidance to intending Purchasers or Lessees, and do not constitute any part of an offer or contract. 2. Details are given without any responsibility and any intending Purchasers, Lessees or Third Parties should not rely on them as statements or representations of fact, but must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of each of them. 3. No person in the employment of Bruce Gillingham Pollard (nor any joint agents) has any authority to make any representation or warranty whatsoever in relation to this property 4.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices and rents are quoted exclusive of VAT. February 2024. Bruce Gillingham Pollard is registered in England with registered number 760004

SPORT 29

SurrEy’S QuESt for a hat-trick of vitality County Championship titles gained further momentum with a 281-run demolition of worcestershire inside three days at the kia oval last weekend.

Dan Worrall added 4-35 to his first innings’ 6-22 and late hitting from Ben Gibbon and Nathan Smith merely delayed the inevitable as Worcestershire, set a nominal 513 to win, were bowled out for 231 in their second innings.

Worcestershire, a sickly 102 for eight at one stage, were boosted by Gibbon’s spirited 63-ball 75, his career-best, and Smith’s 60, while Kemar Roach picked up 2-29 and Dan Lawrence 2-53. Sean Abbott and Gus Atkinson took a wicket apiece, leaving only Jordan Clark wicketless.

It is Surrey’s fourth successive victory but their lead at the top was cut from 21 points to eighteen after Somerset’s victory over Kent.

Surrey’s second innings 427 left Worcestershire, 85 runs in arrears on first innings, with not just a mountain to climb but an impossible task even to save the game against the 2023 and 2022 champions’ formidable five-pronged pace attack.

And, despite a well-grassed surface playing far easier than when Surrey – put in – had slipped initially to 15-4 at the start of the match, Worcestershire’s top order were still no match for Worrall and company.

Gareth Roderick (1) was the first to go, before lunch, nibbling a legside catch to keeper Ben Foakes off Worrall, and in the fifth over after the interval Kashif Ali (12) glanced Roach to leg slip, where Lawrence took a smart low catch.

Soon Worcestershire were an ugly 34-4, with Worrall producing classic outswingers to have both Jake Libby (13) and Adam Hose (1) caught at the wicket.

Atkinson’s introduction, for the 20th over, brought an almost immediate reward as the centrally-contracted England fast bowler bowled Brett D’Oliveira with his sixth ball for thirteen.

Matthew Waite was the next to depart, at 69-6, when he swished at Abbott’s fastmedium and edged through for Foakes to claim the fourth of his five catches in the innings.

Worrall, recalled for a second spell at the Vauxhall End after Atkinson’s initial 6-1-14-1, struck with his eighth ball back to have Rob Jones leg-before for fourteen and Roach also returned to have Joe Leach caught behind for six.

But Smith, the New Zealand international, then offered defiance with some lovely strokes against the Surrey quicks, and in No.10 Gibbon he also found

surrey steP on the gas

© Mark Sandom

By Mark Baldwin

kia oval side thump worcestershire inside three days

Surrey’s Dan Lawrence a willing partner in a ninth wicket stand of 71 that took the game beyond tea.

But after he reached 60, with two sixes in the first over following the interval from Lawrence which cost eighteen, Smith hit the off spinner high to long-on where Roach took a comfortable catch.

Gibbon continued to attack, taking three sixes from Lawrence’s third over, that cost 25, and in the process completing his maiden first-class fifty before also hooking Abbott over the deep mid wicket ropes for another maximum.

Last man Yadvinder Singh joined in the fun, as Lawrence was replaced nursing the extraordinary figures of 3-0-49-1.

Singh’s unbeaten 14 helped Gibbon to post another 58 for the tenth wicket, a

Worcestershire record against Surrey, before Gibbon greeted Lawrence’s return to the attack by mis-hitting a reverseswipe to deep mid-wicket. Gibbon’s 75 had included four sixes and seven fours.

Surrey had earlier spent 75 minutes adding 85 more runs to their overnight 342-5, with both Lawrence and Clark – resuming on 86 and 69, respectively – failing to complete their hundreds after adding 117 together in 22 overs for the sixth wicket.

Clark got closest, agonisingly falling for 98 from 116 balls when one from Waite kept a little low and pinned him in front.

Lawrence went in the morning’s second over, having added just a single to reach 87 before swivel-pulling Gibbon straight

to deep square leg, but Abbott helped Clark to add a quickfire 42, pummeling two legside sixes in the process.

Bustling medium-pacer Waite then produced a fine ball to send back Atkinson for four, leg-before in front of his stumps, and Abbott’s merry 31-ball 38 was ended when he swung once too often at Singh and was bowled.

Paceman Singh ended up with four for 103, on his first-class debut, when he also bowled Worrall for two, while Waite and the left-arm Gibbon – who toiled through 27 overs – both deserved their own figures of three for 69 and three for 102, respectively.

Surrey’s Clark said: “I wasn’t too disappointed to get out on 98, to be

honest. It was a good ball, that also kept a little bit low, and I think it would have got me 90 times out of 100.

“Most importantly, we have got another win under our belts and an extra day off ahead of what is a very big game away at Hampshire at the end of this coming week.”

On Worrall, whose outstanding match figures of 10-57 gives him 26 wickets at just 13.57 runs apiece from the four games he has so far played in the championship campaign, Clark added: “He has been absolutely fantastic for us again this season.

“His accuracy, his skill and his precision with the ball makes him a truly brilliant bowler to have in our team.”

his second and third overs to reduce Walton to 24-2 after five overs.

James Madoc-Jones joined opener Sam Gorvin and the pair took the score to 53 in the fifteenth over when Kaif Ramzan bowled Gorvin, who had made most of the early running, for 34 off 49 balls. Ahmed Khan took the fourth wicket with the score on 63, but Hersh Khatri joined Madoc-Jones in a stand of 59 for the fifth wicket before falling to Ramzan for nineteen.

Madoc-Jones was left to play a lone hand as wickets fell steadily at the other end. Felix Watson-Smyth took the sixth wicket and Khan got the

seventh. Booth returned to take the eighth, fellow opener Jacob Emler took the ninth, and the last man was run out going for an ambitious second run off the last ball of the innings. Walton were all out for 178, with MadocJones remaining undefeated on 78, off 131 balls. Dulwich had used just five bowlers, comprising two pacemen and three spinners. They were all rotated deftly throughout the innings, and each bowled their maximum ten over allotment. The wickets were shared around, with Booth taking 3-40, Emler 1-39, Watson-Smyth 1-36, Ramzan 2-32, and Khan 2-22. Keeper Michael

Harms held four catches.

Khan fell in the fifth over of the reply, but James Schofield and Apoorv Wankhade took the score to 47 in the tenth over before Wankhade was bowled by a rare straight ball from Nicky Wilson for 14. Skipper Ollie Steele joined Schofield, but the opener fell eight runs later having made 31 off 42 balls. Steele and newcomer Karim Marcelle then added 49 in eleven overs for the fourth wicket before Marcelle fell for nineteen, off 37 balls, with the score on 104. Steele and former skipper Chris Purshouse now saw off the threat of the Walton

spinners to add 72 in 20 overs for the fifth wicket and put the result beyond doubt. Steele fell only three runs short of victory, having held one end secure while making 41 off 116 balls. Booth finished the match off with a six, leaving Purshouse undefeated on 39, off 56 balls. The target was reached with 3.1 overs to spare.

Dulwich are one of four teams to have won both their opening matches.

This weekend, they make the difficult journey to Normandy, who were relegated from the Premier last season but have also started the new campaign with two wins.

Dulwich fly out of traps as they make it two from two walton on Thames 178 (50) lost to Dulwich 183-5 (46.5) by five wickets

By John Lewis duLwiCh rECordEd their second successive victory in division 1 of the AJ Sports Surrey Championship as they defeated Walton on Thames by five wickets last weekend.

Dulwich won the toss and invited their opponents to bat. After receiving some unaccustomed stick in his first over, Harvey Booth struck in both

30 SPORT

Lynn claim unanimous wins

By John Kelly Lynn AbC have two new national Alliance AbA champions as frankie hanratty and Cyrus donaldson triumphed at hayes working Men’s Club in Middlesex last weekend.

Left to right: Terry Pearson, Frankie Hanratty, Cyrus Donaldson and Jimmy Moore

Dulwich Hamlet Women won their last fifteen league games

hamlet emphatically win league title and promotion

By John Kelly

Photo by Liam Asman

Hanratty was fighting at under57kg where he faced Dylan Thandi from Tree Estate ABC. Carrying on from the previous week’s semi-final, Hanratty put in a superb boxing display and cruised his way to a unanimous points’ victory.

Coach Terry Pearson said: “I’m so pleased for Frankie after all the hard work he has been putting in this season. He has an international bout under his belt and now he is a national champion.

“Frankie will now go on to compete in the International Belt Challenge in June where hopefully he can finish his season on a major high.”

Donaldson was in the under-60kg category against Jack Rolls from Eltham and District ABC and also claimed a unanimous points’ win.

“In contrast to Frankie’s bout, this contest was an all out war,” Pearson said. “We knew Rolls would be a very tough opponent and Cyrus would have to be on his A game to beat him - and he certainly did not disappoint.

“Both boxers gave it their all through all three rounds but Cyrus’s work-rate was what took him on to victory.

“Cyrus will also now join Frankie in the International Belt Challenge, where hopefully both boxers can put in similar performances and again come away as belt holders.”

skiPPer sayLs into the sunset as chaMPion

DULWICH HAMLET FC

Mark Dempsey’s side won their fifteenth consecutive game and will take that run into the FA Women’s National League Division 1 South East next season.

Angel Reid scored a brace, and Shakira Kafero Roberts and substitute Anna Jowle were also on the mark for the L&SERWFL Premier Division champions, who finished on 58 points from 22 games, three points ahead of Dartford in second.

Saylor announced before the end of the season it would be her last before she retired.

Meanwhile, men’s boss Hakan Hayrettin has added Jordan Wynter to his squad from National League South Dartford.

Wynter, who has also played for Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham Town in the EFL, is a versatile midfielder who can play in defence. ”Jordan is a great player, from the moment I sat down with him I knew we had to bring him to this football club,” Hayrettin said. “He understands this club and our ethos already and I’m sure will be key to any success we experience in the next few seasons.”

Hayrettin is busy rebuilding his squad after agreeing a deal for another season

in charge at Champion Hill.

He said: “I’m overly privileged and proud to be at the helm of this great football club again. I said at the end of the season that it’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.

“The status is of course important, but it’s a great feeling for me to be given this opportunity to represent this football club again.

“To be given a new deal here alongside my assistant Terry Harris, I’m very pleased.”

Hayrettin added: “In any football club, when you go in, changes are made for the best of the football club. I decided that it was best to restructure and start again.

“I was given a clean slate to build something. The biggest thing for me is

to make the difference in a tight contest.

Amanda-Jane Wellington had earlier played a starring role, claiming 3-22 from four overs and weighing in with a catch and a run out to help restrict Stars to 132-9.

Aylish Cranstone top-scored with 31 for the visitors, who only partially recovered from a collapse which saw them lose five wickets in 25 balls during the middle overs.

Storm opener Emma Corney announced her return to the side with a 37-ball 40 to provide the reply with solid foundations, Niamh

Holland contributed 32 from 36 deliveries, but Alex Griffiths and Sophie Luff were both dismissed in the final over as the chase went down to the wire.

Luff drove Ryana MacDonald-Gay for four in the penultimate over, but Griffiths missed a straight delivery and was bowled for nineteen. Luff was run out for fourteen next ball in pursuit of a second run and Farrant kept cool under pressure to restrict Storm to two runs from the final two balls and see Stars over the line.

“It was a case of using our experience and keeping our nerve at

the death,” Stars all-rounder Tarrant said. “I knew I would have to bowl that last over, but I felt comfortable doing it and the team fielded superbly well to see us over the line. Our bowlers performed really well and it was a disciplined display from them. We knew when to push for the dot balls and it was all credit to our bowlers that we managed to push the rate up to nine at one stage.

We prevented them from having that one really big over that would have taken the pressure off and our fielding in the ring, stopping them from scoring boundaries, won us

CAPtAin brittAny Saylor scored in her last-ever game as dulwich Hamlet Women finished their promotion-winning season by thrashing Saltdean united 5-1 in newhaven last weekend.

the connection between the players, me and the supporters. We have nearly 3,500 supporters who come here every week to cheer the team on, it was important that we got that connection back.”

Dulwich fell just short of reaching the Isthmian League Premier Division playoffs.

Hayrettin said: “Frustrating? Yes. We started the season trying to implement our ideas with a fresh and new group. For periods of the season, we did that.

“I pushed them so hard at the end and we had so many injuries. We nearly got there, but we didn’t. It’s been a very strange season for me. I’m not used to this. It’s given us more of an eye-opener and driven us to do more right things for the club.”

Farr-tastic Tash holds nerve on final over as Stars beat Storm

By Andy Stockhausen tASh fArrAnt held her nerve in a dramatic final over as South East Stars opened their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign with a narrow fourrun victory over western Storm at the Seat unique Stadium in bristol last weekend.

Chasing a target of 133 to win, Storm required ten runs off the final six deliveries, only to be undone by the former England all-rounder, who claimed 1-23 from three overs and contributed a superb run out

the game in the end. Amanda-Jade Wellington bowled really well on a used wicket and we needed that late innings from Aylish Cranstone to get ourselves up to a competitive score.

It could have been worse - we were eight down with only about 80 on the board - so we were fairly pleased to have made 132 on that track and fancied our chances of defending it.

A close game, but we’ve come out on the right side of it and that’s all that matters.”

Stars host Lancashire Thunder this Friday (May 24). The start time in Beckenham is 2.30pm.

SPORT 31

best is yet to coMe

James Berylson replaced his late father John as chairman last July

Lee Gregory made 238 appearances for the Lions

By Kiro Evans LEE GrEGory is heading back to Mansfield Town for a second spell after leaving Sheffield wednesday.

berylson optimistic following major millwall changes

By Kiro Evans A buLLiSh James berylson has insisted Millwall are heading in the right direction following a busy few weeks for the club.

The chairman oversaw the departures of CEO Steve Kavanagh, Head of Recruitment and Football Operations Alex Aldridge and Chief Operating Officer Billy Taylor earlier this month.

Steve Gallen has since been recruited as the Director of Football while Mark Fairbrother has been appointed as the managing director of non-football operations.

Before the departure of Kavanagh, the club also clinched a 999-year lease for The Den after plenty of haggling with Lewisham Council.

While he did not directly refer to the boardroom exits, Berylson reflected

on the changes at the club and paid tribute to fans in a statement.

He said: “I want to begin by thanking all our fans for their unwavering support for both this football club and my family throughout this difficult season.

“I will never forget the reception my family received at home against Bristol City, the atmosphere at The Den against Norwich City and hearing the relentless noise from the away end at St Mary’s, as we secured a huge win in Neil Harris’ first game back as head coach.

“Early in 2024, we found ourselves close to the relegation zone and we could not allow that fate to befall us.

“We needed help and found it in a familiar face – Neil Harris, and our decision to reappoint Neil proved to be pivotal in recovering our form and

Gregory’s Stag Do

season. He led with his characteristic grit and determination and what followed was a series of stunning victories, finding ourselves clear of relegation with two games to spare.

“This achievement was witnessed by the largest crowds at The Den since the 1950’s – a testament to our fans who we will never take for granted.”

On the staff changes, Berylson said: “The academy is very important to me and is a key element in the greater success I want to bring to Millwall. I have made some changes at senior management level including the appointment of Steve Gallen as Director of Football, who, as well as providing support to Neil, will focus on youth development and recruitment, in which he has extensive experience and an excellent track record.

“Mark Fairbrother, who recently

rejoined Millwall as Managing Director with responsibility for non-football operations, will have his work cut out and I am confident that we have found the right person for this critical role.”

On the stadium lease news, Berylson said: “With the recent decision by Lewisham Council to offer Millwall new 999-year leases on our stadium and the adjoining land – with permitted development – we can bring forward our plans for the further expansion of the Club and its facilities.”

Berylson ended on a note of optimism after what has been a difficult year for the club.

He said: “Put all of this together and we have the ingredients for growth, success, and achievement in the coming years – our fans are vital to making this vision a success. The best times are yet to come, so let ‘em come!”

The former Millwall striker struggled for football in his final year at Hillsborough during a season that saw the Owls make an incredible escape from relegation.

The 35-year-old has now rejoined Mansfield on a one-year deal after leaving the club in 2011.

The Stags have been promoted out of League Two alongside Wrexham, Stockport County and play-off final winners Crawley Town and will be looking to kick on in the third-tier next season.

League One is a division that Gregory knows well having scored 61 goals across 152 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall.

He helped the Lions to two playoff finals in 2016 and 2017, with the latter seeing them promoted after beating Bradford City 1-0 at Wembley.

The forward was at The Den between 2014 and 2019 and hit 76 goals during his 238 appearances for the Lions. He won the player of the season award for his performances in the 2018-19 season.

After the deal was announced, Gregory told Mansfield’s website: “It’s a club on the up. It’s a perfect fit for me, with location factored in too, as well as hearing about the manager and how well he treats his players.”

nugent rues Missed chances Kevin Nugent was left disappointed after Friday night’s defeat at The Den

By Kiro Evans kEvin nuGEnt was left disappointed at his Millwall side failing to convert their chances against birmingham City – but still credited his side for their league winning campaign.

Kevin Nugent was left disappointed after Friday night’s defeat at The Den

The young Lions won the Professional Development League title last month for a second year running and were looking to come out on top in the end-of-season play-offs to secure the double.

But unlike last year, Millwall under21s fell short and crashed out of the competition with a 2-1 semi-final loss after extra-time.

They took the lead against Birmingham City’s under-21s courtesy of a curling finish by Abdul Abdulmalik in the first half.

But two goals by Junior Dixon, including the winner in extra-time, gave the visitors passage through to the final. The Lions missed several chances throughout the evening.

The match came the day before Millwall revealed which players they’re retaining with Abdulmalik, George Walker, Finley Cotton, Zane Myers and Kyron McKay all playing against Birmingham knowing they would be released.

Speaking after the game, Nugent told our paper: “I didn’t think we started it

that well but we had a lot of chances in the game, probably the better chances.

It wasn’t one of our best performances but I still thought we were a little bit unfortunate. If we had been a little bit more ruthless and took our chances…

But it wasn’t to be.

“It was a difficult week for some players who would’ve known this would have been their last game for us. So you have to take that into consideration as well.

“The lads have had a really good season. They’ve won the league but we were just a little bit short tonight. I’m really pleased to work with them and now it’s time to take a break. Good luck to Birmingham in the final.”

INSIDE

Sport Southwark

SURREY STEP ON THE GAS

‘cLub royaLty’

Lions pay tribute as Hutchinson’s departure is confirmed

by Kiro Evans ShAun hutChinSon has been hailed as “club royalty” after his Millwall departure was confirmed.

The captain is out of contract next month and will leave after eight years at The Den. The 33-year-old was Millwall’s longest-serving player and made 257 appearances and scored fourteen goals for the club.

While he continued to be an influential figure in the dressing room, Hutchinson had struggled with injury in his final campaign with the Lions and appeared just fourteen times during the season.

Following confirmation of his departure, chairman James Berylson led the tributes to the defender’s Millwall career.

He said: “As far as I am concerned, Shaun is club royalty. My father and I loved him.

We all wish him the very best and I hope

to see Shaun back with us in the future.”

Speaking to our paper in recent weeks before the decision was confirmed, Hutchinson’s team-mates have also provided a compelling picture of a player who was a major presence in the dressing room.

Midfielder George Honeyman said: “I would say Hutchy is the epitome of this club. I know I’ve only been here two years but it’s hard for me to imagine this club without him as he is everything the club stands for, he has such a great rapport with the fans.

“In my time here, the club always seems to have positive results with him on the pitch. I would be extremely, extremely sad if he were to leave and I think there would be a long list of us that would feel that way as well.

“He’s been a class act for the dressing room. He keeps everyone humble and working hard. It’s been a really tough year for everyone at the club with the

Shaun Hutchinson will leave Millwall after eight years amount going on. And the fact that we’ve pulled it through in the end is because of characters like him in the dressing room.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Leonard told our paper at the beginning of the month: “We’ve got a group of seven or eight lads that have been at the football club for five or six years, which is unheard of in football nowadays. And Hutchy has been, in my opinion, one of the best centrebacks in this league for a five or six-year spell.

“He’s a brilliant guy and he’s someone that we love in the changing room. At the moment I’m not sure what his future holds but if he does stay, he’ll be a massive part of the football club.

“As a person and as a captain, I can’t speak highly enough about him.”

On his style of leadership, and whether he prefers big speeches or smaller interactions with his team-mates, Leonard said: “He’ll do a bit of both, to be honest. He probably started off as a bit

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of a quieter captain when he was getting used to the role but now he’s someone that speaks a lot in the changing room and on the pitch.

“Even recently he’s not been playing as many games but he’s probably the most vocal in the changing room before games, at half-time and after the games. He’s always encouraging players, telling what they can do better and what they can improve on. Especially with the young lads - he’s brilliant with the young lads.

He tries to get the best out of them.”

Hutchinson arrived at The Den in 2016 from Fulham and was involved in several memorable moments in Millwall’s recent history.

His most famous was the late winner at Bristol Rovers in 2017 to secure a 4-3 win for Millwall that gave them a League One play-off place on the final day of the season. They would go on to be promoted at Wembley after beating Bradford City 1-0 in the play-off final.

Page 29

millwall youth stars released

by Kiro Evans MiLLwALL hAvE confirmed the departure of a number of under-21 and under-18 players at the conclusion of the season.

Abdul Abdulmalik, George Walker, Finley Cotton, Zane Myers and Kyron McKay - who were all involved in Millwall Under 21s’ Professional Development League semi-final play-off loss last week are among the youth players who will leave The Den. Seb Drozd, Frankie Hvid, Nana Boateng and Arezki Hamouchene will also be leaving the Lions.

Rising stars Kamarl Grant, Chin Okoli, Tom Leahy, Kyle Smith and Sha’mar Lawson have all been offered new contracts while George Evans, Oliver Evans, Ra’ees Bangura-Williams and Henry Hearn have had options on their contracts triggered.

From the under-18s, academy player of the year Josh Stephenson, along with Alfie Massey, Frankie Baker, Jack Howland and Kavalli Heywood, have been offered new deals.

Albert Penney, Christopher Ojemen, Frankie Maciocia and Adedapo Olugbodi have all been released.

Abdul Abdulmalik is among the youth players released THE RECYCLED PAPER CONTENT OF UK NEWSPAPERS IN 2014 WAS 83.5%