Southwark News - January 3rd 2025

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Issue 1718

Established: 1987

50p

January 2 2025

southwarknews.co.uk

creator of peaky Blinders pens neW tv draMa Based on Pages elephant & castle girl gang 14-15

Pupils are publicly ranked in order of performance eXclusive

‘strictest school in south london’ See page 4

See page 4

lions have their Man

outrage over ‘eXcessive’ douBle yelloW lines

eXclusive Page 12

‘new homes on leisure centre site’

eXclusive Page 10

2 NEWS Contents NEWS Pages 2-12 Arts Pages 14-15 History Pages 16-17 Public notices Pages 18-19 SPORT Pages 21-24

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By Noah Vickers

Sadiq Khan out on a police patrol. Credit: Greater London Authority

Local Democracy Reporter Sadiq Khan faced questions over his office’s decision to end funding for an online platform which alerted Londoners to crimes in their area and provided advice from police.

The closure of the Online Watch Link (OWL) platform was raised shortly after the Labour mayor was told by the Tories’ Susan Hall that “large numbers” of crimes have been “effectively decriminalised” in London.

Mr Khan in turn accused Ms Hall of “crocodile tears and mock anger”, saying she and her party colleagues had been “silent” while he lobbied the previous Conservative Government to reverse funding cuts to the police and youth clubs.

In a decision notice signed in March by Mr Khan’s then-policing deputy, Sophie Linden, it was revealed that the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) would cease funding for OWL at the end of October.

The system allowed the Metropolitan Police to share information and advice directly with Londoners, with crime alerts, prevention tips and good news stories sent via email.

In November, the London Assembly unanimously passed a motion calling on MOPAC to reverse the decision, arguing that the platform has proved a “trusted and effective source of local intelligence and reassurance for Londoners”.

Mr Khan was asked at Mayor’s Question Time by Reform UK assembly member Alex Wilson: “Why was MOPAC so keen to enforce the decision to close OWL before a suitable replacement has been developed and launched?”

Ms Linden’s decision notice had stated that the Met would seek to “procure and embed a new pan-London neighbourhood safety communication system” before closing OWL. Mr Khan suggested the decision was enforced, despite the apparent lack of a replacement, due to funding priorities, saying: “We considered all these issues of budgets in the round.

“When it comes to setting the budget for next year, we’re consulting on the budget.

I’d encourage him [Mr Wilson] to respond to the consultation that MOPAC has put out.”

Looking ahead to the new year, the mayor later added: “It’s open to him [Mr Wilson] to put down a budget amendment to try and find the resources to invest in Watch Link, or other similar processes [platforms].”

Issue 1717

Editor: Kevin Quinn Deputy Editor: Herbie Russell Reporter: Isabel Ramirez Sports Editor: John Kelly Sports reporter: Will Scott Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Digital Transformation Editor: Katherine Johnston Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising: Clarry Frewin Design: Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen Finance: Em Zeki - Tel: 0779 883 3758 em@cm-media.co.uk 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 Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500 www.iliffeprint.co.uk

Established: 1987

50p

December 27th 2024

Mayor criticised for ending funding for platform alerting Londoners to crimes

In a tweet afterwards, the Reform member said the closure of OWL meant “Christmas has come early for London’s burglars”.

Earlier in the meeting, Mr Khan was challenged on his record tackling crime by Tory assembly member Ms Hall, who he defeated in this year’s mayoral election.

She called his record “absolutely appalling”, adding: “There have been 64,000 burglaries across London in the last year, but just 3,700 have actually been solved – that’s not even six per cent.

“Given how few cases are being solved and how few criminals are actually being

southwarknews.co.uk

PECKHAM'S BIGGEST REDEVELOPMENT IN A GENERATION See4-5pages

WHO'S HARRIS' SUCCESSOR?

I’ve been lobbying for more resources from the Government, that side [the Assembly’s Conservative group] have been quiet. While I’ve been calling out the consequences of austerity, that side have been quiet.

“When I’ve been explaining that if you pull funding from youth clubs and youth centres and councils, don’t be surprised if young people get sucked into crime, that side have stayed silent.”

Mr Khan also insisted that London is a significantly safer place than many other global cities, and said he was “determined” to work with the Government “to reduce crime even further”.

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

See Sport See page 6

EXCLUSIVE See page 6

Bermondsey boy's pet shop dream

SOUP KITCHEN NEEDS HOMING

brought to justice, do you agree that we’ve effectively decriminalised large numbers of offences taking place in our city?”

The Met Police’s online dashboard puts the number of burglaries in London between November 2023 and November 2024 at 59,137, with “positive outcomes” for only 3,441 of those cases, or roughly 5.8 per cent.

Responding, the mayor pointed out that the total number of burglaries recorded in London in the last year was roughly 20 per cent lower than during the previous mayor Boris Johnson’s final year in office He said: “Over the last eight years, while

See page 4

Delays to the Rotherhithe Tunnel works

See page 7

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

© IWM

Winston Churchill’s life seen through political cartoons at War Museum

By Herbie Russell

By Isabel Ramirez

Imperial War Museums (IWM) is commemorating 150 years since Sir Winston Churchill’s birth with a captivating new exhibition exploring his life through political cartoons.

A romance film starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, which was set in Herne Hill, came out in UK cinemas on January 1.

Churchill in Cartoons: Satirising a Statesman explores how he was portrayed through satire

Roman sea god and a 1934 depicting him as an irate policeman, poking fun at his unpopular stance on Indian selfrule.

Wartime cartoons highlight Churchill’s leadership during the Blitz, while postwar depictions include a 1945 U.S. cartoon reflecting on his unexpected election defeat.

Kate Clements, Lead Curator of

Churchill in Cartoons: Satirising a Statesman, said: “Almost 150 years after his birth, Churchill remains one of the best-known public figures in history. His distinctive image was a gift to satirical cartoonists and throughout his career, particularly during the Second World War, cartoons played a significant part in shaping how people thought of him.

Peckham’s Ashley Walters to star with Stephen Graham in Netflix crime drama

“Through this exhibition, we offer visitors a new and different way of exploring Churchill’s complicated career and his enduring legacy.”

The exhibition, which runs until February 23,, is complemented by a series of events at IWM London and Churchill War Rooms, ensuring a multifaceted celebration of the statesman’s life.

We Live in Time follows Tobias (Andrew Garfield), a man on the brink of divorce, who is struggling to navigate life when he crosses paths with Almut (Florence Pugh), a chef fighting a cancer diagnosis.

Filmed in both Herne Hill and Surrey, director John Crowley said he wanted a London that is ‘simply itself’ and ‘allows the happiness and sadness that two people go through in life to take centre stage.’

Specific locations in Herne Hill include Brockwell Park and the station. According to locals, filming took place in April 2023.

Already out in the US, the film was released to UK cinemas on Wednesday 1 January 2025.

Reviewers call it a ‘radiant love story’ within a film ‘just about life’. They also referenced the ‘undeniable chemistry’ between the two characters.

Andrew and Florence have ‘undeniable chemistry’ in the new flick

Design and architecture studio McCloy + Muchemwa has won the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) competition to design a playable sculpture

From left: Ashley Walters with costar Stephen Graham

Kids encouraged to climb and play on sculpture in Dulwich

By Herbie Russell

© Netflix

Young visitors to the Dulwich Picture Gallery will be encouraged to climb and play on a new art installation.

By Isabel Ramirez Ashley Walters, who was born and raised in Peckham, stars alongside Stephen Graham in a gripping new Netflix crime drama launching this year

The actor, best known for his lead role in Top Boy, is set to play Detective Inspector Luke Bascombe in Adolescence.

The four-part limited series, co-created

by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, follows a family shattered by tragedy when 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) is accused of murdering a teenage classmate.

Filmed in unbroken, continuous oneshot sequences, the series dives deep into the emotional and psychological fallout of the crime, with Walters joining an impressive cast including Stephen Graham as the boy’s father, Erin Doherty

as a clinical psychologist, and Christine Tremarco.

It was directed by Philip Barantini, who was behind Boiling Point - a hugely popular production also filmed in onetake.

Adolescence promises raw, real-time storytelling as characters grapple with questions of guilt, accountability, and loss.

All episodes will premiere this year on Netflix.

A Gift of Flowers by design and architecture studio McCloy + Muchemwa was chosen as the winning sculpture in London Festival of Architecture’s competition.

The team will receive £80,000 to create the interactive piece in collaboration with HoLD Collective and Cake Industries.

The sculpture is inspired by Dutch artist Jan van Huysum’s Vase with Flowers, displayed inside the Dulwich Picture Gallery.

The Reimagining Play at Dulwich Picture Gallery competition invited concepts that would “inspire wonder and playfulness in audiences of all ages”.

The project is expected to complete in 2026 and have a ten-year lifespan. The other finalists were SoUP; Projects Office

with Dream Networks and Earth Tenders; Sett; TIP x CRAB; and Eleanor Dodman Architects with YAA Projects and 27 Beginnings.

Dulwich Picture Gallery, a John Soanedesigned Grade II*-listed venue, has further plans for an entire sculpture garden led by architects Carmody Groarke and Kim Wilkie.

Dulwich Picture Gallery deputy director Chantelle Culshaw said: “This unique collaboration brings to life Dulwich Picture Gallery and London Festival of Architecture’s vision for a fun, interactive and inclusive commission, which will reinvigorate a currently under-used part of our grounds.

“This iconic sculpture will encourage sensory-led, playful interactions from people of all ages. The team have placed access at the forefront of their design and have carefully considered sustainability using recycled materials, which will allow families to enjoy the sculpture for years to come.”

© A24

Churchill in Cartoons: Satirising a Statesman explores how the iconic wartime leader was portrayed, even after his death, through satire.

Running until February 23, the exhibition features 24 original artworks spanning nearly a century, from 1909 to 2003.

The works illustrate how cartoonists captured Churchill’s complex career, blending humor and criticism to shape public perception of one of history’s most influential figures.

Highlights include depictions of Churchill’s early days as a politician, his tenure as wartime Prime Minister, and his enduring legacy in global politics.

Visitors can expect a broad range of perspectives, with cartoons from British and international artists, including works from the U.S., Russia, Australia, and beyond.

Interactive displays will present sixteen cartoons from countries like India, Japan, and the Soviet Union, offering diverse takes on Churchill’s career.

Among the featured pieces are a 1914 Punch cartoon showing Churchill as a

Film with Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield set in Herne Hill

4 NEWS

A ‘less woke’ approach: Is this the strictest school in South London?

From left: Two pupils at the school said the ranking system ‘motivates them’

EXCLUSIVE

By Kieran Galpin Strict uniform codes to public rankings of student performance have led a Nunhead school to be called the strictest in South London.

St Thomas the Apostle College (STAC), an all-boys Catholic school and co-educational college in Nunhead, prides itself on its no-nonsense ethos that has earned both admiration and criticism.

Central to the school’s approach is its ranking system. Pupils are assessed, and their rankings are posted on noticeboards for all to see—a practice that has sparked debate.

Its executive headteacher, Serge Cefai, describes the philosophy simply: “If you care enough about a kid, you will do whatever is necessary to try and make sure they go down the right route.”

Mr Cefai is unapologetic about the school’s rigorous policies, which he says reflect a “less woke approach” to education.

Walking through the school’s corridors, there is an undeniable sense of order. Pupils are polite, classrooms buzz with engagement, and the atmosphere is one of purposeful learning.

Even in the days leading up to the Christmas break, STAC pupils focus on their studies while other schools might relax with films or games.

While some argue the school’s ranking system may be too harsh for children, Mr Cefai insists it is vital: “Keeping them in the dark is ridiculous, but that’s what they’re doing in a lot of state schools. Everything says ‘they’re doing alright’, which can mean different things to different people.”

This transparency forms part of STAC’s “three Ts”: transparency, truth,

Mr Serge Cefai, Executive Headteacher of STAC

and trust. Mr Cefai explains, “We won’t shy away from telling children and their parents the truth.”

For underperforming students, the truth can be a wake-up call. However, the school also provides support, with its library open before and after school to offer a quiet space for those from challenging home environments.

Assessments are scrutinised to identify pastoral issues, ensuring students struggling due to personal circumstances receive help rather than punishment.

Despite concerns that such a system might leave some pupils behind, many students praise the approach. “We’re kind of motivated… to do better,” said one pupil. “Knowing your rank, [you are able] to push it up to where you’re meant to be.”

The impact of STAC’s policies is evident in its achievements. Ofsted’s latest report called the school “inspiring, exciting, highly successful,” noting that its outcomes are “among the best for all schools in the country.”

In 2024, STAC was ranked 10th nationally for the “Progress 8” metric, which measures progress between key stages 2 and 4. With a score of +1.45, the school’s pupils achieve - on average - a grade and a half higher at GCSE than their SATs scores predict.

STAC’s demanding academic environment has also bolstered Southwark’s standing as a borough, which significantly outperforms neighbouring areas in GCSE results.

“In Peckham, which has its own reputation, these results are fantastic,” said Serge Cefai.

In addition to high academic expectations, the school implements a points system that punishes poor behaviour.

“We don’t mince our words: we don’t do what our justice system does, which is look for excuses for their

The noticeboards where pupils academic performance is ranked

bad behaviour and the kids then get confused and understand perhaps that maybe what they did wasn’t that bad, perhaps it was someone else’s fault, which means that maybe they’ll want to do it again,” he added.

Collect sufficient points, and you are investigated by a form tutor or head of year to check for pastoral issues. Minor infringements lead to a 10-minute detention after school, bigger infringements lead to detentions on a Friday night or even a Saturday morning.

Samuel Parratt, assistant headteacher at STAC, said the school’s policies only work because the clear structure was not imposed without pupil “buy-in”: as the pupils are told that the strict rules were all imposed

with their success in mind.

When asked about the school’s behaviour policies, one pupil said, “They’re just trying to get you ready for the future.”

“You might wonder why it’s strict,” another pupil said, “but at the end of the day it’s very useful.”

The most extreme option to deal with a child’s poor behaviour is a child’s permanent exclusion. Serge Cefai said, “I’m fed up with hearing: ‘What about excluded kids?’ We would not hesitate to exclude kids if it meant the school community would continue to thrive.”

Mr Cefai said that his experience moving to the UK as an immigrant from North Africa, with parents who could not speak English, enables him to empathise with children from

challenging backgrounds.

He said a ranking system would have been understood by his parents even though they did not speak English, enabling them to be engaged with his school performance.

Concerns about the people who are at the bottom were dismissed: “Ultimately there’s no excuse for any difficulties there might be at home”, he said, “I don’t want anybody patronising our kids anymore.”

STAC has 1100 pupils between the ages of 11 and 18 in Nunhead.

“We’re all about making sure that we produce pupils that can contribute positively to the society that they live in”, Mr Cefai added, “We can tell our staff every year that they are changing children’s lives.”

NEWS 5

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NEWS 7

What iMpact Will high court ruling on loW traffic neighBourhoods have for Boroughs?

By Noah Vickers

to be spelled out in the LIP”, adding, perhaps crucially: “I do not accept that it is open-ended.”

It is this line which could potentially be seized upon by councils looking to remove LTNs previously agreed with TfL. Most London councils which have already implemented such schemes – particularly those in inner London – remain supportive of them. But a change of political leadership in any of them, as happened in Tower Hamlets in 2022, could change that equation.

A TfL spokeswoman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Walking and cycling infrastructure, including Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, plays an

important role in making our streets safer and enabling more active travel across London.

“Decisions on schemes such as these are a matter for local councils, but we are carefully considering any implications for TfL-funded borough schemes.”

Jane Harris, a member of the Save our Safer Streets campaign – which had been legal challenging the Tower Hamlets LTNs’ removal – said: “It’s really worrying, because if this [set of LTNs] does get taken out, it will be the first time that a low traffic neighbourhood has been taken out against the wishes of residents, against the wishes of businesses, against the wishes of the police, local hospitals and GPs.” She pointed out that it can take a while for communities to become used to LTNs. “The research shows that it takes about three years for people to get used to these kinds of schemes,” Ms Harris said. “This seems a really strange time to take it out, when we’re literally at that three year mark.”

She added: “I think it’s really important that people can get across London in an integrated way… I don’t think anybody wants to think that they need to have a different plan for their transport when they cross into a different borough of London – that doesn’t make any sense. I know it’s not a legal issue – but it is an issue for people in their everyday lives.”

Mayor Rahman issued a statement following the High Court’s ruling, stating that he had “a responsibility to fulfil the democratic mandate from voters in the May 2022 election to reopen these three roads”. He claimed that the schemes had contributed to “gridlock traffic” on main roads, increasing air pollution for some residents and in fact “undermining efforts to boost public transport use”.

you’re concerned about anything, please contact a member of staff or the British Transport Police.”

GTR reports a year-on-year increase

in train station accidents during winter months and says Christmas parties and festive events are a growing concern when it comes to safety. Last winter, there were 150 incidents logged across GTR relating to slips, trips and falls, with a link to intoxication as a contributing factor.

Samantha Facey, ‘Elf, Safety and Security Director’ at Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “We of course want our customers to go out and have fun, but with a year-on-year increase in slips, trips and falls on our network during winter, coupled with higher levels of intoxication, we want people to be careful when travelling and not to do anything that puts themselves, or anyone else, in danger.”

In the run up to Christmas , GTR handed out free Christmas Party ‘survival kits’ to commuters travelling through London Victoria, Brighton and London Blackfriars. Those travelling over the festive period can follow the rail network’s ’12 Steps to Safety’ guide.

Local Democracy Reporter thE hiGh court last month ruled that tower hamlets mayor Lutfur rahman was acting lawfully when he decided in 2023 to remove three low traffic neighbourhoods (LtNs) from the streets of Bethnal Green.

But what could the ruling mean for similar low traffic schemes in other parts of London?

LTNs have become a ‘hot button’ topic in the capital over recent years, with Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall promising in her unsuccessful City Hall campaign earlier this year to help communities get rid of “unwanted” LTNs and to axe 20mph zones “where safe to do so”.

Transport across the city is ultimately overseen by mayor Sadiq Khan, who is responsible for drawing up an official transport strategy for all 33 of London’s local authorities to follow. The latest edition of the strategy was published in 2018.

Within the first few pages of that 163page document, the mayor argues that motorised traffic is “overwhelmingly responsible for the greatest environmental challenges we face as a city”, and he stresses that fatalities and injuries on London’s road network remain “unacceptably high”.

For these reasons, the strategy’s main target is for 80 per cent of all trips in London to be made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2041. To pursue that goal, Mr Khan promises to work with boroughs on “trafficreduction strategies” in their area.

Transport for London (TfL) provides funding to support those strategies, by agreeing a ‘local implementation plan’ (LIP) with each council.

The Save Our Safer Streets group took to the High Court on as part of a legal challenge against Tower Hamlets Council The LTNs in Tower Hamlets were agreed as part of the borough’s LIP – and this is where the High Court’s ruling could potentially set a new precedent for councils looking to get rid of similar schemes elsewhere in London.

TfL had been arguing throughout the case that “boroughs cannot unilaterally decide to revise LIPs, nor can they unilaterally decide not to implement them”.

But the judge, Mr Justice Fordham, questioned whether the requirement on councils to implement the schemes was “open-ended”, or whether, once put in place, they can be taken down again.

To put it another way, the case hinged

on how the word “implementation” should be understood. Does it mean ‘create an LTN and keep it there, unless the council is given permission by TfL to remove it’? Or does it mean ‘create the LTN, but feel free to remove it later, provided all of the necessary local processes are followed’?

TfL’s barrister claimed that councils had an ongoing requirement to keep any agreed schemes in place until a new agreement had been struck with TfL, or a new transport strategy had been drawn up by the Mayor of London.

Mr Justice Fordham concluded however that, in order for that to be the case, a clearer timetable “would need

Shocking CCTV footage of ‘near-miss’ at Blackfriars station prompts calls for increased passenger safety

By Isabel Ramirez

a raiL group urged passengers to be safe after CCtv footage shows a shocking ‘near-miss’ for one man on the platform at Blackfriars station.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the UK’s largest rail network, released a video which appears to show the man on the platform trying to open the door of a moving train.

The rail operator is hoping that by sharing the footage, it would remind commuters to take safety instructions seriously. It released the footage in the run up to Christmas.

Greg Blenkin is a Station Assistant for Govia Thameslink Railway. He said that people tend to be more relaxed about safety rules during the festive period.

He explained: “We find that people are more interactive with staff over the festive period, but they can also be a bit too giddy. For example, going beyond the yellow safety line, and going too close to trains that are pulling in and out of the

station.

“We have to step in a bit more as you can see other customers getting concerned, but a lot of the time people

are willing to listen. For those heading home after the annual office party, please carry a bottle of water with you and avoid running on the platforms. If

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10 NEWS

peckham primary may close after filling just a third of its reception EXCLUSIVE

By Herbie Russell a pecKham primary school could close next year due to falling pupil numbers.

St Mary Magdalene CE Primary School welcomed just ten new Reception pupils in September despite having capacity for 30.

Parents are invited to discuss the closure from next month ahead of a possible August 2025 closure.

The Rye Lane school briefly expanded in 2015 when it took on an extra Reception class.

But St Mary Magdalene has had fewer than twenty Reception admissions in each

Leisure centre among sites earmarked for 1,000 new homes, council report reveals EXCLUSIVE

By Herbie Russell SouthWarK counciL has revealed the fourteen sites earmarked for roughly 1,000 new homes over the coming years.

A soon-to-be-demolished Rotherhithe leisure centre, a defunct Rotherhithe youth club and numerous council estates are among them, according to a council document.

The Labour-run authority hopes to kickstart its flagging pipeline after it began building just 51 affordable homes in 2023/24.

Southwark Council, which has over 18,600 people on the housing waiting list, will start looking for development

of the last five years.

Schools receive funding on a per-pupil basis, so St Mary Magdalene’s finances have been hit hard, facing a £72,000 budget deficit.

A council report said there was “little hope that the rolls at St Mary Magdalene CE Primary will recover numerically in the near future”.

The lack of pupils has also placed “organisational stress on the school” and “prevented the delivery of a balanced curriculum,” the report said.

In 2024, an Ofsted report said the school ‘requires improvement’. While behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management were all assessed as ‘good’, the quality of education was found to be lacking. partners - private companies that help fund housing projects - from February 2025.

One of the most significant sites identified for housing in the cabinet report is the Seven Islands Leisure Centre, earmarked for 90 new homes.

The centre, which has a gym and a 33-metre pool, will be replaced by the new Canada Water Leisure Centre in 2025 – part of British Land’s redevelopment of the area.

The Red Lion Boys’ Club, which closed in 2018, could accommodate 110 new homes.

Southwark Council has included sites like Sceaux Gardens (80 homes), Lindley (45) and Bells Gardens (85) on the list.

Redevelopment projects on these plots were paused in 2023 due to rising construction costs.

Sites like the Wickway Community Centre, Peckham, and Beormund School, Bermondsey, have long been earmarked for redevelopment.

1–36 Priter Road (30) already has planning permission. Further sites include Wyndham and Redcar Estate, Camberwell, Ann Moss Way, Bermondsey, Angel Oak Academy, Peckham, and the Pelican Estate, Peckham.

The Abbeyfield Estate (number of flats to be confirmed), the site of the failed Maydew House refurbishment, and its housing office (15) are also included in the

St Mary Magdalene Primary School, Peckham.

Image: Google

27 per cent of pupils at St Mary Magdalene have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

While this is among the highest in the area percentage-wise, Southwark Council notes the 27 SEND pupils are numerically fewer than most schools.

Southwark Council claims to have explored options other than closure in the lead-up to its latest decision.

The local authority says it paused talks around closure or amalgamation in 2024 to see if admissions would increase but they did not.

Peckham, like much of Inner London, has seen declining birth rates in recent years.

In Rye Lane and Nunhead & Queen’s Road wards, where the school is situated, report.

Southwark Council aims to make 50 per cent of all new flats council homes and says the number of homes suggested for each site is a “conservative” estimate.

The council is set to approve the report’s recommendations in January 2025.

The report represents the council’s efforts to kickstart new housing projects in the new year after a difficult year for housebuilding locally and nationally.

Southwark Council, which aims to start or finish 11,000 homes by 2043, completed 500 new council homes in 2024.

However, data obtained by the opposition Liberal Democrats showed it started building just 51 council homes in 2023/24.

In London overall, there was a 91 per cent fall in affordable home starts last year, described as “catastrophic and unprecedented” by Orwell Prize-winning journalist Peter Apps.

Southwark Council has identified numerous causes of stalling housebuilding, including inflation, high interest rates, Brexit and the war in Ukraine.

A 7 per cent rent increase cap on social and affordable rents also reduced its rental income by £10 million in 2023/24.

Southwark Council will search for development partners for fourteen new starts from 2025 onwards. Image: Southwark Council planning documents

births fell by 22 per cent between 2016 and 2023. In Southwark, births fell by 33 per cent between 2012 and 2023.

In 2023, a London Councils report found local authorities were “dealing with a significant and sustained period of reduction in demand for reception places, which has implications for school budgets and standards”.

Southwark Council’s ‘Keeping Education Strong’ strategy aims to contend with this reality by closing and amalgamating schools with low admissions.

Numerous Southwark primary schools have fallen victim to closures and amalgamations in recent years.

Comber Grove Primary School, in Walworth, closed in August 2024.

Townsend Primary School, also in

Walworth, closed its doors at the end of the 2023/24 academic year.

Cobourg Primary School amalgamated with Camelot Primary School in August 2023.

Harris Free also amalgamated with Harris Primary Academy East Dulwich in 2023.

St Francesca Cabrini Primary School, in Nunhead, shut at the end of the 2022 school year.

Even nurseries have struggled to remain open, with Ann Bernadt Nursery, in Peckham, closing in March 2024.

2023 began with the closure of two nurseries in Borough – Banana Moon and Bright Horizons – both due to rising operational costs that meant staying open would be ‘unsustainable.’

The Seven Islands Leisure Centre in Rotherhithe. Image: Google

NEWS 11

once struggling bermondsey Tenants’ association reinvented as successful ‘not-for-profit’ business

By Isabel Ramirez

A Bermondsey Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (TRA) that nearly closed its doors last year has not only survived but is now thriving as a successful not-for-profit, with a community bar and more.

Magdalen Hall, located on Purbrook Street, was on the brink of closure in early 2023, with only one TRA member remaining after the rest of the committee stepped down. But thanks to the determination of Kyle Simmons, the last standing member, and support from both the Bermondsey Scouts and Zoey Sergeant (now chair), the hall was saved.

“We started flyering around the estate, and the support was incredible,” Kyle said. The campaign was bolstered by local coverage, and a new committee was formed, growing from just one member to fourteen.

Fast forward to December 2024, the hall is now incorporated as a Community Interest Company (CIC)—the only one of its kind in Southwark. CICs are limited companies that operate to benefit the community rather than generate private profit, enabling Magdalen Hall to reinvest in the local area.

The hall has seen significant improvements, with £45,000 invested into renovations, including upgrades to the

The community bar has made a nice addition

garden, lighting, and technical equipment.

Last week, the newly refurbished Community Bar was officially opened during a Christmas event attended by 120 people and the Deputy Mayor of Southwark.

“We’ve come a long way since May 2023,” said Kyle. “The transformation has been

Household item borrowing service to expand to Dulwich and Elephant & Castle

By Herbie Russell

The Library of Things, in Canada Water, has been a roaring success with 1,200 items borrowed since opening in June 2023.

Residents needing everyday items like drills, sewing machines and lawnmowers - but not wanting to buy brand new - have saved a combined £243,243, according to a Southwark Council report.

Items on offer include a full PA system for £11 a day, a wallpaper stripper for £5.50 a day and a heavy-duty pressure washer for £17.50 a day.

The Labour-run authority, which says the service helps towards its climate goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, has set aside £83,170 for the rollout of two extra centres.

Southwark’s first Library of Things opened in Canada Water in the summer of 2023

also now a Living Wage Employer.

In addition to its social initiatives, the TRA has played a key role in securing security doors for the St. Saviour’s Estate, funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Kyle and the team’s hard work has turned the hall into a vital resource for the 760 homes it serves, providing a space

for residents to meet, share concerns, and build community connections.

“It’s amazing to see what can be achieved when people come together,” Kyle said.

“We’re creating a legacy for Bermondsey.”

For hall enquiries, please contact Kyle Simmons via email: kyle.simmons@ magdalenhall.community

Hundreds more shared living apartments could be squeezed into Bermondsey skyscrapers © Southwark Council Planning Documents

A handy borrowing service allowing Southwark residents to rent household items will expand to Dulwich and Elephant and Castle.

The new locations chosen are the Dulwich Leisure Centre and Castle Leisure Centre.

They have a combined footfall of 10,500 per week and will provide coverage to residents in Peckham, Camberwell, East Dulwich, Walworth, Bankside and London Bridge.

Southwark Council will pay a monthly service charge to Library of Things, a social enterprise managing nineteen centres across London.

This service charge will be calculated based on the number of borrows the site has had in a given month. This will initially be charged at £2000 per month per site.

Based on the number of borrows from the established site at Canada Water, the net cost of operating both new sites is estimated at a total of £23,213 over two years.

At the end of year one there will then be a readjustment based on the actual borrows.

incredible. The mood across the estates has lifted, people are more engaged, and we’re ensuring the hall’s viability for years to come.”

Magdalen Hall has become a true community hub, hosting regular events like coffee mornings for over-55s, Halloween parties, and weekly Scout meetings. It is

Computer generated image of the buildings proposed for the Ilderton Road site.

By Herbie Russell Hundreds more shared living apartments could be squeezed into new skyscrapers next to South Bermondsey station.

Developer Whittington Investments secured permission to build 605 shared living apartments and 120 affordable homes in November 2023.

Tide Construction, the Ilderon Road site’s new developer, now wants to build an extra 260 shared living apartments, taking the total to 865.

This would increase the heights of two towers by a total of seven storeys.

One tower would go from 26 to 28 storeys and another from seventeen to 22 storeys.

However, Tide has also proposed increasing the number of affordable units from 120 to 186.

This would mean raising the height of one of the two affordable housing towers by a single storey, from fourteen to fifteen.

A second nine-storey affordable housing tower would remain the same height.

The previous planning permission for 71 - 161 Ilderton Road had the affordable units split between social rent, shared ownership and ‘affordable’ (80 per cent of market rates).

The developer is hoping to make numerous changes to the existing planning In contrast, all the new plans would change the tenure of affordable housing to 100 per cent social rent.

Tide said it would use Vision Volumetric, which builds components off-site for assembly on-site, for construction.

The developer claims this could reduce construction costs by 50 per cent and reduce embodied carbon by 41 to 45 per cent.

The long, rectangular 0.58-hectare site - less than a football pitch - is just south of the station.

Having once hosted RS Joyner & Son, which dealt in second-hand lorries and vans, it is currently vacant with no existing buildings or structures erected.

12 NEWS

‘eXcessive’ douBle yelloW lines ‘deliBerate ploy’ to Bring in More controlled parking Zones, residents Warn

Clive Rates, Conservative constituency officer for Dulwich and West Norwood, has questioned the Labour council’s intentions

EXCLUSIVE

By Herbie Russell SouthWarK counciL is painting an “excessive” string of double yellow lines across the borough in a bid to force through more paid-for parking schemes, locals have claimed.

The Labour administration, set to launch three new controlled parking zones (CPZs) in the coming months, is waging a “war of attrition” against drivers, according to local campaigner Corin Burr.

Mr Burr, Chair of Oppose the CPZ, said the new yellow lines are cynically designed to “create parking pressure” meaning reduce available parking space.

“Without a doubt, they are painting these lines to create parking pressure in areas where there is none and use this to justify more controlled parking zones in the future,” he said.

Local residents have variously described the double yellow lines as “excessive”, a threat to local business, and likely to cause parking chaos.

Southwark Council previously has said it wants to impose a CPZ across the entire South London borough.

The council says the restrictions, which see people pay up to £320 to park their cars, encourage environmentally friendly travel and improve road safety by discouraging reliance on motor vehicles.

But the Labour administration was forced to row back on plans for a borough-wide CPZ in autumn 2023 after residents, 3,500 of whom signed an anti-CPZ petition, threatened legal

action.

The u-turn saw Southwark Council scrap proposed CPZs for Dulwich Hill and Dulwich Wood.

However, Southwark Council pressed ahead with CPZs in Dulwich Village, Nunhead and Queen’s Road - albeit smaller versions of what was first suggested.

Among the reasons for backtracking was a lack of parking pressure in some areas. In other words, there were plenty of parking spaces available so no need for a residents’ permit scheme.

But residents who thought they had escaped the clutches of CPZs now fear a string of double yellow lines painted outside their homes has paved the way for their future imposition.

Many believe that by reducing available parking space, the council aims to increase parking pressure, using it as justification for rolling out CPZs in these areas at a later date.

Clive Rates, Conservative constituency officer for Dulwich and West Norwood, said: “By rolling out double-yellow lines on streets which rejected their Dulwich Village CPZ, Southwark Labour are increasing parking pressure for residents on those roads and damaging local businesses who rely on customers being able to park.”

The former local Tory candidate continued: “There isn’t evidence they are needed for safety on these streets, and it’s hard not to conclude that Southwark’s aim is simply to pressure residents into accepting a future CPZ. “Speaking as a local resident, this

is yet another instance of Southwark Labour ignoring local people and wrecking our high street - they should now listen and drop these plans.”

In Nunhead, 82 per cent of residents voted against a CPZ, successfully persuading the council to opt for a reduced zone encompassing a handful of streets; Sturdy Road, Ellery Street, Old James Street, Whorlton Road and partially into Scylla Road But residents have spotted newly painted double yellow lines on Reynolds Road, Cheltenham Road, Stuart Road, Borland Road and Ivydale Road - outside the CPZ. In Dulwich, Southwark Council admitted that the majority of survey respondents felt “parking pressure was minimal and were against any form of controls”. Once again, the council opted for a reduced CPZ in the area.

But now Southwark Council has announced it will paint roughly 280 metres of new double yellow lines on Beauval Road, Dekker Road, Desenfans Road, Dovercourt Road, Druce Road and Woodwarde Road.

Southwark Council claims the additional lines, which are to take up hundreds of metres, will improve road safety by freeing up space and sight lines.

But Mr Burr notes that many of the yellow lines are appearing in “weird places” where there are no obvious safety concerns.

“The Cheltenham and Reynolds Road double yellow lines go way beyond the need of where it needs to go,” he said.

Various residents have raised the alarm over “excessive” double

Corin Burr of ‘Oppose the CPZ’ spoke at Council Assembly in November 2023 Roads around Dulwich and Nunhead are set to get a string of double yellow lines yellows. A post to the popular East Dulwich Forum website speculated that there was a “deliberate ploy

by Southwark to cause parking and traffic chaos” to force an acceptance of CPZs. Another local resident objected online, saying: “It looks like the plan is to add 280m of extra DYLs in Woodwarde and its 5 side streets, which is excessive and will unnecessarily contribute to parking shortage for residents in this area.”

Bridgett Furst, a Dulwich resident, said: “When the CPZs come into affect in the New Year, passing trade for the butcher, the grocery shop and indeed the restaurants will be affected.

“Actually there are so many yellow

lines on the corners of each of the side roads it will be very difficult to find a place near the businesses.”

The Dulwich Village CPZ is currently being implemented with a go-live planned for January 6.

Nunhead’s CPZ is due to be implemented in this year, with a golive planned for the end of February.

In response to the News’ enquiry, Cllr James McAsh, cabinet member for streets, said: “Double yellow lines are introduced to improve safety and access on the public highway for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. Yellow lines are being installed to improve sight lines and are the standard lengths as recommended in the Highway Code.”’

NEWS 13 CLASSIFIED

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14 ARTS

what’s on

in Southwark

Ghost of soldier returns home to Rotherhithe Rotherhithe artist Ed Gray has just completed a monumental work that depicts the poignant service at the war memorial in West Lane on Remembrance Sunday, writes Michael Holland...

It commemorates the brave people who have died in wars. It is called, simply, Remembrance, West Lane, Rotherhithe.

It is a painting that has been about ten years in the making but early thoughts began when Gray would go along to the service and remember his grandfathers who served in WW1, and his late parents who grew up between the wars. ‘I looked at the faces of people in the crowd, people that returned year after year, and some of an earlier generation who’d fought in WW2.’

When his children were old enough he would take them too.

‘We’d have conversations about the wars, the nature of warfare, and European politics. They were interested to know more as they have friends in their schools who come from war-torn countries in the Middle East and closer to home in Ukraine…’

His words fade away. Then, ‘I thought about all the separated families, about military service and conscription, all of these scenes being replayed on TV and discussions in the media.

I thought about how I’d feel if our own son joined the army; I’d have mixed feelings,’ he says softly. ‘The conversations I was having with them were difficult, given their innocence.

They were conversations I imagined my family having over and over in the last century.’

At some point Gray began noticing more and more stickers and graffiti in the street about Putin and war criminals. ‘That made me think that

I’d put off making this painting for too long,’ he says. ‘These thoughts needed to find their way to canvas.’

But transferring thoughts, and the sketches he made, in to an artwork came with its own problems: ‘Making a painting about a crowd standing still was much more difficult than I’d appreciated. Only one person is moving, the old soldier leaving the wreath; normally my paintings are full of movement,’ he exclaims, the distress this caused with the painting revisiting his face. ‘I also realised I couldn’t see the memorial through the crowd I was painting, which meant that there was no centre to the painting.’

But solutions were found: ‘I began to think of the people being like poppies in a wreath. Imaging them as an object allowed me to shift the perspective up and down. I kept reworking canvases - I worked on five versions over five months. The last version two months ago and it seemed to work. In the final version the wreath in the soldier’s hand is almost like a crown for the young fellow, as if it’s a coronation.’

Ed Gray’s art always has stories hidden away. What stories does this painting hold? ‘A friend told me about ‘A Street Near You’, a very poignant website created by the War Graves Commission that allows you to look up soldiers who died in the Great War and where they lived, the artist begins. ‘That’s when I found out about Corporal George Mitchell whose family lived at 21 West Lane. He was fighting in France when his father was taken ill. George was granted compassionate leave but overstayed when his father died.’

Ed showed me an old postcard George had sent to his parents talking about the trouble he would be in. Holding it

in my hands brought a rush of every evil that war brings.

When Corporal George Mitchell, Bermondsey Boy, returned to France he was demoted to the rank of Private as punishment. Tragically, he was killed just one month before the war ended.

‘Who’s to know if the demotion contributed to the higher chance of his being killed,’ Ed suggested, evoking images of young men ordered to go “over the top”. ‘But discovering George's story meant that my painting became an actual story of Remembrance because I painted him in the crowd, he is the only person looking us in the eye…’ What seemed like a minute’s silence befell the studio.

‘You have a certain style,’ I asked, changing the subject. ‘Where does it come from?

‘Hard to answer that really,’ stalls the artist. ‘I love early Renaissance painting, the art of the Harlem Renaissance and LS Lowry; I like the sense of wonder in William Blake’s work… I always want to make art that moves people, emotionally but also physically, so your eyes have to work, you have to walk around the painting, like you would if you were looking for someone in a crowd.’

I looked for George Mitchell and found him quite quickly, glaring at me.

A cold flush ran up my back. I shivered.

‘You’ve seen George,’ Ed said knowingly. But I was locked in this strange stare-off with the painting and couldn’t answer for a while.

What now this painting is finished?

‘It will go into my next exhibition,’ he replies. ‘Ideally, though, I’d like it to go to a museum collection.’

When prints go on sale of this artwork Ed reveals he will be raising money for War Child from the sales.

Ed Gray Last words? ‘I’m working on a painting about Peace, a sister painting to this one inspired by recent protest

An animated take on Social Realism Theatre group 1927 presents a funny yet thoughtprovoking analysis of class, British institutions, and familial structures in Please Right Back, writes Melina Block...

For the first half an hour, at least, you would be forgiven for thinking that Please Right Back - despite its unsettling opening - is going to be a fun, whimsical show.

Although the play opens with a surreal, unsettling atmosphere, with glazed-over cast members hesitantly wandering along the stalls, the mood quickly switches, and it almost feels like the start was just a strange fever dream. Eddie, or Mr. E, details in vivid letters to his children the exciting travels his unexpected business trip has taken him on, whisking the audience away on an all-singing, alldancing adventure.

We first meet Eddie as he embarks on a top-secret mission to deliver

a mysterious briefcase to the even more mysterious ‘big man’. Initial reservations surrounding the dubious nature of such a task are quickly soothed when, despite the briefcase getting stolen, Eddie appears to be having a grand old time locating its whereabouts and reporting his escapades to his kids.

One anthropomorphic lion, lime green cocktail in the Bermuda triangle, and journey down a whale’s gullet later, and the truth is revealed.

Despite insisting to his children, Kim and Davey, that he is trying to make it back home in time for tea, the bleak reality of Eddie’s situation is made clear.

Humour is sensitively balanced with moments of pathos, as Kim, Davey, and their mother Dee all try to navigate life at home without Eddie. The notso-friendly ‘friend’ who repeatedly checks in on the family, clearly looking down on their working-class lifestyle,

Photo by Andrew Perry

provides many laughs with her judgemental ignorance. Her character is most powerfully used, however, as a caricaturistic criticism of the harsh, snobbish attitudes which demonise

and other those who have not been born with a silver spoon.

The meticulously timed, animated screen provides an energetic backdrop for the entire piece. Even calling it a

marches in London.’

Website: www.edgrayart.com

backdrop feels like a disservice, when the entire cast directly interacts with the animation, never missing a beat, driving forwards the story and blurring the line between real and fake.

A play about the flaws in the UK’s institutions - primarily prisons and schools - could easily come off as preachy and heavy-handed.

But, despite a few slightly on-thenose monologues, the performance manages to get its message across without beating the audience over the head with it.

Theatre has long been used as a vehicle to explore themes of growing up, complex familial relationships, and to hold a mirror up to society, but Please Right Back succeeds in exploring these ideas in a fresh, stylish, exciting manner. Whether your perspective is shifted or not, you will find it hard to not be entertained.

Southbank Centre until January 5th.

Details and Booking: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/1927-please-right-back/

Speak to your local pharmacist, practice nurse, or find out more at www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/

16 HISTORY

History

By Herbie Russell the Victorian-era gangs— whether fraudsters, racketeers or robbers—were dominated by men. But for seventy years, a highly organised, all-woman mafia terrorised London.

Targeting society’s wealthiest, The Forty Elephants were not only the ‘aristocrats of crime’ but arguably a middle finger to stuffy notions of ladylike modesty.

Founded in the slums of Elephant and Castle, and led by their ‘Queen’ Alice Diamond, the gang’s violent and cunning membership numbered roughly 70 at its height. Their exploits—ransacking affluent homes, stealing from West End shops, and manipulating stray gentlemen—will be immortalised in the Disney+ TV series A Thousand Blows next year.

This is the latest drama by acclaimed writer Steven Knight, famed for hit BBC crime show Peaky Blinders.

The Forty Elephants were in existence from at least 1873 to the 1950s, although some historians believe their history stretches back to the late 18th century.

Originally, they are believed to have been the female companions, wives and girlfriends of the notorious male-led Elephant & Castle Gang. But by the 1890s, the women were a distinct group, with their own burgeoning reputation. In the new series, due for release next year, the gang’s first leader Mary Carr, is played by Erin Doherty, star of the Netflix drama The Crown, the drama Chloe, and the psychological thriller Reawakening.

She was succeeded as leader by Alice Diamond, played by up-and-coming actor Darci Shaw. Born in a workhouse and raised in Walworth, she was a tall and formidable woman whose numerous bejewelled rings handily doubled up as knuckle-dusters.

Under her stewardship, the gang carried out industrial-scale thefts from warehouses and devised crafty shoplifting scams. The working-class women would pose as genteel ladies. Dressed in elegant finery, they would visit West End shops and hide their loot in coats, cummerbunds, muffs, skirts, bloomers, and hats. Gang members would carefully observe their target clothes and jewellery shops, striking when staff went on breaks and when inexperienced attendants were on duty.

Newspapers on both sides of the Atlantic developed a fascination with the Forty Elephants, especially as their exploits spread to seaside towns and smaller cities.

Police asked editors to limit reporting on the gang for fear that sensationalist articles were stoking the crime wave.

However, at least one outlet—a Sunday paper called Reynold’s News—planned a series of articles devoted to the dastardly dames. Its journalist, Dan Johnson, followed the gang closely, his notes revealing the intricacies of their operations.

He described them as “aristocrats of crime” and used the terms “battlefield tactics” and “military operation” to describe the level of preparation and organisation behind the gang’s activities.

By the 1920s, Alice Diamond was being described in newspaper cuttings as the “Giant Queen of the Terrors”. One account claimed it once took six policemen to hold her down. Her deputy, Maggie Hughes, known as “Babyface” for her sweet looks and striking red hair, was famed for her love of drink. She once stabbed a policeman in the eye with a hatpin, blinding him. When she was sentenced, she shouted back to the judge: “It won’t cure me! It will only make me a worse villain!”

Top row left to right, Alice Diamond “Queen of Thieves”; Maggie Hughes, deputy; Laura Partridge; bottom row, left to right Bertha Tappenden; Madeline Partridge, Gertrude Scully The lawless troupe successfully operated for decades, to the endless frustration of the police and West End store detectives. The gang still existed after World War II, as new family members replaced old hands.

The A Thousand Blows series will tell the story of The Forty Elephants from an intriguing new perspective—that of Victorian London’s underground boxing scene. Hezekiah Moscow, a real-life Victorian-era boxer, is played by BAFTA award-winning actor Malachi Kirby. A Jamaican migrant thrust into the chaotic melting pot of post-industrial London, he meets Mary Carr, leader of The Forty Elephants, paving the way for his descent into the capital’s criminal underbelly.

As he struggles to carve out a place for himself in this brutal environment, he develops a rivalry with Sugar Goodson—a renowned one-eyed fighter from the

Victorian era—played by the captivating Stephen Graham of Boiling Point, Boardwalk Empire, and This is England.

Hezekiah Moscow was a genuine boxer from the time, although only scraps of his intriguing story are known. According to amateur boxing history site Grappling with History, Moscow probably fought under the name Ching Hook—possibly a racist epithet derived from the word “g**k”.

Records suggest that, as well as being a boxer, Moscow worked as a lion tamer and performer with the East London Aquarium, otherwise known as the Shoreditch Aquarium, Bishopsgate.

According to the site, while employed, he was charged by the RSPCA with “cruelly illtreating” four bears in his care. The story made headlines across the UK, but Moscow denied cruelly whipping the animals and keeping them in poor conditions.

He claimed he did not use excessive force, nor did he strike them with a “crushing blow” with the “butt end” of his whip. A lawyer, Mr Blackwell, defending Moscow, argued that no marks were left on the bears. The case drew the headline ‘IS A BEAR A DOMESTIC ANIMAL?’ in the Tavistock Gazette when the judge ruled in Moscow’s favour.

Henry ‘Sugar’ Goodson represents an equally intriguing figure. He had only one functioning eye, although it is not known how he lost it. In 1881, Goodson was admitted to a smallpox hospital, which might explain the loss of vision. Despite his relatively short stature (5 ft 5¾ in), Goodson occasionally competed in heavyweight bouts, fighting notable opponents like Jem Smith and Jack Wannop.

On 27 March 1882, Goodson fought the veteran Jack Hicks in a highly anticipated

bout under Queensberry Rules. The venue was a deconsecrated chapel near Tavistock Square, chosen to evade police detection.

The fight, which lasted just over eight minutes, ended abruptly when police raided the venue. Goodson and several others were arrested, causing a sensation in the press due to the event’s secretive and bold location. The trial following the raid received widespread media coverage.

Goodson died in 1917 in Chingford, during World War I. His obituary highlighted the 1882 prize fight, underscoring how it defined his career. The Evening Dispatch and The Sportsman praised him as a “good boxer” and “rough diamond,” noting his eye defect but emphasising his toughness and character.

A Thousand Blows Series 1 coming to Disney+ in the UK and Ireland, Hulu in the US, and select other countries in 2025.

HISTORY 17

History

writer of Peaky blinders pens new disney tV show for 2025 based around a fearless girl gang from elephant & Castle

Elephant and Castle circa 1900

© Disney +

A second series (6x60’) has completed production. The series is produced by The Story Collective in a co-production with Matriarch Productions and Water & Power Productions.

The first series is created, written and executive produced by Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight. Starring and executive produced by Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters for Matriarch Productions, Damian Keogh and Kate Lewis for The Story Collective, and Tom Miller and Sam Myer for Water & Power Productions.

Award-winning broadcaster and historian Professor David Olusoga also acts as executive producer on the series, with Tom Miller as series producer and Barrington Robinson and Jo Johnson as producers. The original series is executive produced for Disney+ by Lee Mason, director of scripted content.

A Victorian newspaper cutting about The Forty Elephants

Gang leader Alice Diamond

Stephen Graham will play Sugar Goodson

Malachi Kirby plays Hezekiah Moscow

18 PUBLIC NOTICES

Friday, January 3rd 2025

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (STONEY STREET, GROVE VALE, ARCHANGEL STREET)

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (HEBER ROAD, ST GEORGES WAY) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC/BUS LANE SUSPENSION) 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 road.

1.

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:

2.

(2a) Stoney Street, between Winchester Walk and Clink Street (2b) Grove Vale, northbound bus lane suspension between Ondine Road and East Dulwich Road (2c) Archangel Street, between Timber Pond Road and it’s blocked end (by Brass Talley Alley)

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.

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: (2a) Heber Road, between Lordship Lane and Landcroft Road (2b) St Georges Way, adjacent to No’s 84, located between Chandler Way and Comfort Street

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic for (2a) as indicated by the signs displayed (2b)

3.

The alternative routes for affected traffic will be (2a) as indicated by the signs displayed (2b) not applicable (2c) Timber Pond Road, Fishermans Drive

4.

‘at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced as required for No.(2a) Heber Road

4.

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

5.

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 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 closure will be operational on the following dates: (2a) 13th – 16th January 2025 (2b) 10th – 20th January 2025 (2c) 10th - 20th January 2025

7.

The closure will be operational on the following dates: (2a) 17th January – 11th February and the works will be carried out in phases (2b) 21st – 23rd January

7.

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

8.

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

Dated this 2nd January 2025

Dated this 2nd January 2025

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) LBSCR13850 (2b) 2641611-01169 (2c) 87856872

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) 5515-03thames (2b) 32132742-S81-thames/sqs

To place a public notice, please email em@cm‐media.co.uk or call 020 7232 1639 Deadline is 3pm on Wednesdays

PUBLIC NOTICES 19

Friday, January 3rd 2025

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; 42 PECKHAM ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8PX (Ref: 24/AP/3599) Installation of air conditioning unit on flat roof to rear of property (Within: Sceaux Gardens CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Glenn Ruane 020 7525 5840) BRIDGE HOUSE 4 BOROUGH HIGH STREET SOUTHWARK LONDON SE1 9QQ (Ref: 24/AP/3681) Listed Building Consent for new internally illuminated projection sign on the Borough High Street level elevation and replacement of the existing menu and take away sign with new in same position. Existing projection sign and nonilluminated tenant/plaque signs to remain in situ.

Replacement of internally illuminated menu sign and take away sign with new and replacement of 2 internally illuminated roundels on Montague Close elevation. (Within: Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Rosie Poser ) 21 DE CRESPIGNY PARK LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8AB (Ref: 24/AP/3661) Construction of conservatory to rear elevation (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Glenn Ruane 020 7525 5840) 75 TURNEY ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7JB (Ref: 24/AP/3663) Construction of a single storey extension and closing up of existing rear side elevation openings. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Michèle Sterry 020 7525 5453) 13 AND 14 BERMONDSEY SQUARE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 3UN (Ref: 24/AP/3674) Installation of external replacement plant equipment and new water filter, with associated works (Within: Bermondsey Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Michèle Sterry 020 7525 5453) BRIDGE HOUSE 4 BOROUGH HIGH STREET SOUTHWARK LONDON SE1 9QQ (Ref: 24/AP/3668) New internally illuminated projection sign on the Borough High Street level elevation and replacement of the existing menu and take away sign with new in same position. Existing projection sign and non-illuminated tenant/plaque signs to remain in situ.

Replacement of internally illuminated menu sign and take away sign with new and replacement of 2 internally illuminated roundels on Montague Close elevation. (Within: Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Rosie Poser ) 81 GROVE HILL ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8DF (Ref: 24/AP/3580) Single storey rear extension, alteration to existing side extension and associated work (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ibrahim Azam 020 7525 2876) 65 GROVE PARK LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8LF (Ref: 24/AP/3623) Single storey rear side extension and associated alterations to existing rear elevation and first floor roof terrace (Within: Camberwell Grove

Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ibrahim Azam 020 7525 2876) 27 ELM GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 5DB (Ref: 24/AP/3691) Loft conversion including construction of two turret dormers, complete with the insertion of conservation style roof lights (Within: Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Samuel Hepworth 020 7525 5465) 149 RYE LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 4ST (Ref: 24/AP/3706) Display of 2 no. illuminated fascia signage, 2 no. illuminated projecting signage and 2 no. illuminated ATM signage proposed. (Within: Rye Lane Peckham CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki 020 7525 0646) 55 BEAUVAL ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8UG (Ref: 24/AP/3699) Erection of a single storey side ground floor extension and a L shaped rear dormer extension with two rooflights at the front elevation (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ibrahim Azam 020 7525 2876) 20 DULWICH COMMON LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7EX (Ref: 24/AP/3694) Loft conversion with rear dormer (Within: Dulwich Wood CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: James Holmes 020 7525 0803) 38 GLENGALL ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 6NN (Ref: 24/AP/3514) Replacement of rotten timbers to structure main roof and outrigger, including lifting of roof tiles and replacement of any damaged tiles. (Within: Glengall Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Sandy Ng 020 7525 3244) DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY GALLERY ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7AD (Ref: 24/AP/3654) Temporary permission for installation of sculptures (2No.) within the gardens of Dulwich Picture Gallery from May 2025 to the end of October 2027. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Sean Gomes 020 7525 0666) 18 DEKKER ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7DL (Ref: 24/AP/3710) Single storey rearward extension (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Samuel Hepworth 020 7525 5465) 163 HAVIL STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 7SB(Ref: 24/AP/3716) Listed building consent to relocate the existing bathroom on the first floor to the front of the house by converting the small front bedroom Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Marco Chan 020 7525 3526) 21 STRADELLA ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE24 9HN (Ref: 24/AP/3548) Replacement of the existing rear extension; new partial side extension; works to the roof including new roof lights and replacement roof lights; renovation works to front and rear facade; installation of solar panels; installation of an air

source heat pump; reinstating the front mosaic path; reinstating the original fence/wall boundary treatment; new bike and bin storage; erection of a greenhouse in the rear garden. (Within: Stradella Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Susherrie Suki 020 7525 0646)

Erection of two four storey buildings, and an upwards extension to no. 57 Union Street to provide nine residential units, amenity space, refuse and bike stores, external plant, and external landscaping. (Within: Union Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Tracy Chapman 020 7525 1948)

3 COURT LANE GARDENS LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7DZ (Ref: 24/AP/3711) Demolition of existing single storey rear extension and construction of single storey ground floor rear extension (Within: Dulwich Village Dulwich Wood CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Alex Lambert 020 7525 1353)

174 LYNTON ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 5RB (Ref: 24/AP/3682) UPVC windows replacement for traditional sliding sash windows to first floor rear and side elevation. UPVC windows replacement for modern aluminium windows to ground floor rear garden elevation. Minor alteration to window opening size and position. (Within: Thorburn Square CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Agneta Kabele 020 7525 3148)

20-25 CAMBERWELL GREEN LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 7AA (Ref: 24/AP/3746) Display of one externally illuminated advertisement sign within temporary scaffolding shroud, incorporating a 1:1 facsimile of the building and its architectural features printed on it, for a temporary period between 01/04/25 and 13/01/26 (Within: Camberwell Green CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Louise Dinsdale 07513 137967)

Dated: 03 January 2025 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date (or 30 days for EIA development).

STEPHEN PLATTS - Director of Planning and Growth

36 COURT LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7DR (Ref: 24/AP/3757) Alterations to the existing dwelling, including the construction of a ground floor side-rear extension (replacing the existing), rear dormer extension to provide additional living accommodation and the installation of an air source heat pump to the rear of the property and a rooflight on the rear roof slope, and the construction of an annexe building with an indoor swimming pool and solar panels within the rear garden. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Louise Dinsdale 07513 137967) THE OLD COLLEGE 18 GALLERY ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7AE (Ref: 24/AP/3728) Listed building consent for removal of modern partition, creation of small lobby area, and fitting out of storage area as offices (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Richard Craig 020 7525 0436) 57 - 61 UNION STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 1SG (Ref: 24/AP/3719) Partial demolition of existing dilapidated structures within the curtilage of a listed building, installation of entrance gate between 57-59 Union Street, and associated facade repair work to the front and rear elevations of no. 59-61 Union Street. Erection of two four storey buildings, and an upwards extension to no. 57 Union Street to provide nine residential units, amenity space, refuse and bike stores, external plant, and external landscaping. (Within: Union Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Lara Davison 020 7525 7595) 57 - 61 UNION STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 1SG (Ref: 24/AP/3693) Listed building consent for the partial demolition of existing dilapidated structures within the curtilage of a listed building, installation of entrance gate between 57-59 Union Street, and associated facade repair work to the front and rear elevations of no. 59-61 Union Street.

To place a public notice, please email em‐media.co.uk or call 020 7232 1639.

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

WINTER MARKET PLACE

Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th December 10.30am - 4pm

Adult Learning Lewisham Brockley Rise Centre 2 Brockley Rise SE23 1PR

Lewisham School of Arts and Design brings

together a group of designers, artists and learners selling jewellery, pottery, artwork, prints, glass, upholstery, cushions, decorative textiles, seasonal cards, artisan bread and floral designs.

A fantastic opportunity to enjoy, browse, purchase and commission a bespoke piece and even join a class with Adult Learning Lewisham.

For more information visit: www.lewisham.gov.uk/adultlearning Adult Learning Lewisham ALL TOGETHER WE FLOURISH

ALL

SPORT 21 Photo by Lily Boorer

Modest Jones doWnplays lionesses iMpact

Ted Jones, right, with assistant Jack Wisson

By John Kelly haKan hayrettin blasted his Dulwich hamlet players after they contrived to lose 2-1 to a Whitehawk team who were 1-0 and a man down at half-time with a forward in goal.

Side had lost four successive games before managerial changes

By John Kelly ted JoneS outlined the high standards millwall Lionesses are holding themselves to as he reflected on his first four months in the job at St Paul’s.

Jones was appointed along with assistant Jack Wisson on September 17 after the Lionesses had lost their first four L&SERWFL Premier Division games of the season, conceding fifteen goals.

After losing their first match under the new coaching ticket 3-0 at home to Ebbsfleet Town in the FA Cup, the Lionesses went unbeaten in their next six, all in the league, including getting their first win of the season when they defeated Sutton United 2-1 away from home.

They pushed Tottenham Hotspur Academy all the way in the Capital Women’s Cup Senior Section before being edged out 2-1 at St Paul’s, their first defeat in seven.

Millwall had a 1-0 setback at Dorking

Wanderers in the Premier Division before bouncing back to win 4-2 at Bognor Regis to reach the last eight of the League Cup. The Lionesses rounded off the year in style by winning 3-0 at Sport London E Benfica in their last game before the Christmas break and sit seventh in the table with seventeen points from twelve games.

Jones was modest about the impact he and Wisson have made.

“Over all, we’re really happy with how things have gone since joining the club,” Jones said. “If I’m completely honest, we don’t feel like we’ve made massive changes in what we’ve been doing. We’ve introduced how we want to play, made sure we’re working hard in training and implementing our game plans and credit to the squad, they’ve been brilliant.

“From the start, Jack and I had full belief in the squad to start turning results around and getting some points on the board which the players have responded excellently and it shows in our recent

form.

“We’ve had some superb performances and results along the way but if we’re ultra-critical, we feel we could have picked up some more points along the way.

“A couple of lapses in concentration have cost us points but that’s the standards which we’re holding ourselves accountable to. We feel we can beat anyone in the league and the girls are always pushing each other for more.”

Jones explained how they are using this break.

“I think the break has come at a good time for us as a group,” Jones said. “Preseason was a tumultuous time and we’ve been playing catch-up in the recent months since Jack and I joined. We’re using this time as an opportunity to reset and use it as a mini pre-season before beginning the second half of the season.

“We’ll be treating this as a small season where we feel we’re in a much better place to assess where we are against the other teams in the league.

Ultimately, we want to finish as high up the table as we can and close the gap to the teams above us, which we’re fully confident in doing.”

The Lionesses are back from their break this Sunday when they take on Herne Bay in their League Cup quarter-final tie.

Jones added: “We’re really looking forward to the game, they’ll be a good side who have put on some great performances against sides in a tier or two above, even knocking Sutton out of the FA Cup. “We know it won’t be an easy game but we go into it full of confidence. We’re setting our sights on winning the cup, as I’ve said before, we feel that we can beat anyone in our league so we feel that this is the perfect opportunity to do so.

“It’s been a long time since the club has won any silverware so it’s certainly something which we’ve got our eyes set on.”

Kick-off this Sunday is 1.30pm at St Paul’s.

FiShEr romPED to a superb 3-0 SCEFL Premier Division win against Glebe at St Paul’s to see out the year in style.

After a goalless first half, Charles YiadomKonadu opened the scoring seven minutes after the break before Omotunmise Akanni

doubled the lead on 82 minutes and Jacob Katonia added the third two minutes into stoppage-time in front of an attendance of 254 in Rotherhithe.

Ajay Ashanike’s side finish 2024 in third place in the table, four points off leaders VCD Athletic.

The Fish host Larkfield & New Hythe this Saturday at 3pm.

Photo by Dave Anderson

Fish stay in title hunt

By John Kelly

Hak blast for dozy Dulwich

Fisher kept former Millwall striker Jamie Philpot at bay

Hawks goalkeeper Jasper Sheik was shown a straight red card in the 39th minute for a professional foul before Luke Wanadio beat forward Rob O’Toole from the penalty spot.

But O’Toole was rarely troubled after the break and the hosts equalised through Andrew Briggs’ 63rd-minute penalty and Luke Robinson scored what proved to be the winner six minutes later.

“We missed two great chances in the first half,” Hayrettin said.

“Then we got the penalty that we deserved and then it’s like the boys decided to do what they wanted to do in the second half [against] ten men and not listen to what we asked them to do.

That’s the crux of it.

“We didn’t turn them, we didn’t put balls into areas, we didn’t do anything really…in fact we did the opposite, we started going backwards.

“We’ve given them instructions, we’ve told them what to do, we told them how to do it at halftime. They’ve come out and done something completely different.

“Obviously I’m the manager, the buck stops with me, I just couldn’t believe what I was watching.

“You go 1-0 up [against] ten men, you’ve got to control the game, we never controlled it, they controlled it second half. They wanted it more than us. I think we’ve let everybody down.

“I just feel extremely disappointed. We let down the traveling supporters. We gave them something to cheer about at half-time and we told [the players] it’s 45 minutes, you’ve got to do it for 90 minutes. We didn’t do it, they did the complete opposite. They didn’t go forward, they passed sideways and backwards. We didn’t put them under pressure. We didn’t put the ball in the box, didn’t compete at all. That was the product of the second half.”

Dulwich are back in Isthmian League Premier Division action when Bognor Regis Town are the visitors to Champion Hill for a 3pm kick-off.

Surrey trio get bowling calls as new programme launched

By John Kelly SurrEY’S rYANA macDonald-Gay, emma Jones and alexa Stonehouse will be part of the new England Women pace bowling performance programme.

The aim of the programme is to develop players outside of those on England central contracts.

It is delivered by coach Chris Liddle through camps at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough.

MacDonald-Gay was called up to England’s senior Test squad for the recent tour of South Africa and took two wickets on her debut.

“It’s been a great to get the pace programme up and running this winter,” Liddle said.

“I feel we have selected an incredibly talented group of bowlers who are all at different stages of their development but more importantly have the potential to add variety to England’s pace attack in the future.

“We’ve put a really strong programme together to develop the players in every aspect of their game and supported by coaches who are all aligned to how we

want to progress these players over the winter.

“Having Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Grace Potts (Lancashire) both called up to the latest Test squad was really pleasing not only from a development point of view but also having players ready if called upon.

“I’m really pleased with the early progress of this year’s intake and the way

they have embraced the programme and changes asked of them.”

Meanwhile, MacDonald-Gay, Alice Capsey, Sophie Dunkley and Danni WyattHodge have been included in the ODI and IT20 squad for England’s series on Australia.

The three-match ODI series starts from Saturday, January 11 before a three-match IT20 series from Monday, January 20.

22 SPORT

stuBBorn MillWall frustrate coventry Lions earn valuable away point ahead of Alex Neil’s arrival

THE EFL CHAMPIONSHIP Coventry - 0 Millwall - 0 Date: Sunday 29 December 2024 Referee: Andrew Kitchen Man of the match: Ryan Leonard Attendance: 28,216 (1,022)

By Will Scott at Coventry Building Society Arena miLLWALL FruStrAtED Coventry City to nab a vital away point last weekend, in the Lions’ last fixture before alex neil took over as head coach.

Neil, 43, was in attendance at the Coventry Building Society Arena and will have seen plenty of encouraging signs, although familiar problems arose.

The Lions were compact, organised and only conceded one shot on target, while threatening from set-pieces and in transition. Millwall had nine efforts, two of which were on target, and looked like the likelier side to score for stretches of the game despite a raucous crowd urging the Sky Blues on.

However, it was far from a perfect performance. The Lions struggled to keep the ball, only having 25.1 per cent possession, and lacked attacking fluidity. They could not really sustain attacks, and lacked a bit of creativity and penetration, although Romain Esse had a few moments of magic.

Despite Millwall’s attacking inertia, which has become a worrying theme this season, it was an important result for the Lions and a positive end to the David Livermore era. After three consecutive losses, Livermore steadied the ship, leading Millwall to a win, a draw and a loss during his tenure, two of which were away from home.

It was especially important considering they had lost 1-0 to Lampard’s Sky Blues earlier this month at The Den, although Coventry’s form since then had been mixed, winning two home games but losing two on the road.

The two sides traded half-chances in the opening period. In the 16th minute, Esse played an exquisite angled long ball

through to Femi Azeez, who drove at the box before cutting back onto his right foot and firing his effort straight at Oliver Dovin in the Coventry net.

Three minutes later, the Sky Blues took a short corner, and the ball found its way to Ben Sheaf in acres of space near the edge of the box, but his curling effort was easily saved by Lukas Jensen.

The Lions ended the first half strongly, and came close to opening the scoring. In the 41st minute, Ryan Leonard quickly took a free kick near the half-way line and found Esse who put in a teasing cross towards the back post. Japhet Tanganga threw himself at it and his header bounced just past the post.

Millwall would have likely been

disappointed to have to head down the tunnel for half-time. They built up some real attacking momentum before the half and were successfully blunting Coventry’s forwards. The Sky Blues had 71.2 per cent possession but only two shots to the Lions’ seven.

Coventry flew out of the blocks in the second half and nearly took the lead in the 51st minute. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto found Josh Eccles who drove at the box before releasing Jack Rudoni. Rudoni took a touch then unleashed a fierce shot that bounced off the inside of the bar and onto the post. Most of the ground thought it went in but the assistant referee deemed it did not cross the line.

The Sky Blues continued to press high

and dominate possession, but Millwall’s defensive organisation frustrated their front four, who started to flag as the half went on.

After Rudoni’s near miss, Coventry did not have a shot until the 89th minute, while the Lions had a few efforts from set-pieces.

The game slowly but surely ground to a halt over the course of the second half. Coventry had bright spells here and there, but were stodgy in possession and rarely attempted anything ambitious, much to the vocal dismay of their supporters.

The Sky Blues came close right before the final whistle after Dovin punted the ball into Millwall’s box and it fell to

Livermore on caretaker spell: ‘It’s been stressful’

By Will Scott DAviD LivErmorE reflected on his time as millwall’s temporary head coach, calling it “stressful”.

David Livermore made over 300 appearances for Millwall as a player

Livermore took charge of the Lions when Neil Harris stepped down earlier this month, after serving as Harris’ assistant at Millwall, Cardiff City and Gillingham.

The 44-year-old led the Lions to a win, a draw and a loss during his tenure, and will now be part of new head coach Alex Neil’s backroom staff.

“It’s been stressful, I won’t lie,” Livermore told Millwall TV. “I’ve got so much more appreciation of the role now.

“It’s very difficult to turn your brain off.

The last thing you’re thinking about before you go to bed is football and what you’ve got to do the day after, and it’s the first thing you think about when you wake up.

“I found that tough but I’ve enjoyed it.

The players have been great and the staff

have been fantastic.”

Livermore’s last game in charge was a 0-0 draw away against Coventry City, a point he was pleased to come away with.

“It was a real tough game for us,” Livermore said. “I’m really, really pleased with the clean sheet and the point.

“We had a tough game away at Norwich on Boxing Day where we tried to get after the ball a little bit higher up the pitch and got hurt a couple of times. So I thought it was just important today that we made sure that we were a little bit more conservative with our press and I thought we nullified them pretty much, I thought we made them play passes we wanted them to play.

“I thought they had a really good chance in the second half and when they hit the crossbar. But other than that, I can’t remember too many real clear cut chances for them.

“We would like to have carried more of

an attacking threat than we did, but I think there’s always a tipping point in the game where you have to decide, do you stick with your point or do you go for it? I just felt today that it was important that we came away with something.”

Sheffi eld W DETAILS MATCH VS Millwall

Championship Saturday, January 3 (3pm)

Possible Millwall starting XI: 4-2-3-1: Jensen; Leonard, Wallace, Tanganga, Bryan; De Norre, Saville; Watmore, Esse, Azeez; Langstaff.

Last meeting: Championship (August 31, 2024): Millwall 3-0 Sheffield W (Coburn 58’, Watmore 71’, De Norre 88’) Match odds: Sheffield W 6/5 Draw 11/5 Millwall 12/5

Brandon Thomas-Asante, but he dragged his shot wide of the post.

millwall: 4-2-3-1 – Jensen; Bryan, Tanganga, Wallace, Leonard; Saville, De Norre; Esse, Honeyman, Azeez; Langstaff (Bradshaw 81) Subs not used: Trueman, Hutchinson, Mayor, Watmore, Ivanovic, BanguraWilliams, Massey Coventry City: 4-2-3-1 – Dovin; Bidwell, Latibeaduiere, Thomas, Van Ewijk; Sheaf, Eccles; Torp (Thomas-Asante 81), Rudoni, Sakamoto; Bassette (Simms 70) Subs not used: Allen, Binks, Borges Rodrigues, Collins, Dasilva, Kitching, Fabio Tavares,

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE GD

Pts

1 Leeds United 24 15 6 3 29 2 Sheffield United 24 15 6 3 19 3 Burnley 24 13 9 2 21 4 Sunderland 24 12 8 4 15 5 Blackburn Rovers 23 11 5 7 6 6 Middlesbrough 24 10 7 7 10 7 Watford 23 11 4 8 2 8 WBA 24 8 12 4 9 9 Swansea City 24 9 6 9 4 10 Bristol City 24 8 9 7 2 11 Sheffield W 24 9 6 9 -4 12 Norwich City 24 7 9 8 4 13 Millwall 23 7 8 8 2 14 Preston North End 24 6 11 7 -4 15 Coventry City 24 7 7 10 -2 16 Derby County 24 7 6 11 -1 17 QPR 24 5 11 8 -8 18 Stoke City 24 6 7 11 -8 19 Luton Town 24 7 4 13 -15 20 Oxford United 23 6 6 11 -13 21 Hull City 24 5 7 12 -10 22 Cardiff City 23 5 6 12 -15 23 Portsmouth 22 4 8 10 -14 24 Plymouth Argyle 23 4 6 13 -29

P

W D

L

51 49 48 44 38 37 37 36 33 33 33 30 29 29 28 27 26 25 25 24 22 21 20 18

*Table correct before Wednesday’s games

SPORT 23 © Action Plus

‘i don’t like to put any liMitations on aspiration’ Millwall’s new boss on similarities with past roles, his plans for the Lions and expectations for the season

Alex Neil in charge of Stoke City against Birmingham City at St Andrew’s in April 2023

By Will Scott aLeX neiL revealed he thinks millwall are capable of making a play-off push in his first interview as head coach.

Neil, 43, sat down with Millwall TV to discuss his plans for the Lions, and what his expectations are for the season.

The Scot has been out of coaching for just over a year since being dismissed by Stoke City in December 2023, and is eager to make his return.

“You do miss it,” Neil said. “It becomes a sort of bug that you can’t shake off. I’ve been involved in football since I was sixteen in a

professional environment. So I think from that perspective, I’m certainly raring to go.”

He is taking charge of a side that has struggled for form following a nine-game unbeaten streak earlier in the season that lifted the Lions as high as seventh in the table.

Millwall played six games in December, losing four, drawing once and winning once. The Lions only scored two goals in that stretch.

Despite Millwall’s poor form, Neil sees plenty of positives in the team’s current setup.

“I think it’s very much similar to when I

went in at Preston [North End],” Neil said.

“I think that when I took over at Preston, it was a similar sort of situation.

“Going into a good environment, it doesn’t mean there’s huge problems. The team wasn’t struggling, and I had to go in and develop a style of play, maybe bring in some of the younger players through. I see this as a very similar project to what I did there.”

There are other parallels with Neil’s previous roles. He has been appointed head coach midway through the season twice, and both times he led the team to promotion “I’ve joined two clubs mid-season, I went

into Sunderland mid-season, I went into Norwich mid-season and both ended up with promotion”, Neil said.

“I’m not suggesting that that’s where we’re going to end up, but the point I’m making is I think there’s some coaches that really needed a pre-season and to bed in and all that sort of stuff.

“I’m well versed in taking over at teams throughout the season. It’s certainly not gonna be easy. It’ll be a challenge, but I’m confident in the fact that the short term results that we need we’ll get and hopefully we can try and pick up a little bit of form between now and the end of the season.”

Adam Barrett departs Millwall to ‘pursue new career opportunities’

By Will Scott adam Barrett confirmed on Sunday, December 29that he was leaving millwall to pursue his “aspiration of becoming a head coach or manager”.

Barrett, 45, has been part of the Lions’ coaching set-up since 2017, helping them win the League One play-off final. He has been caretaker manager twice, in 2019 and in 2023.

Barrett was part of the team that supported temporary head coach David Livermore after Neil Harris stepped down as head coach earlier this month.

In a statement on the club’s website after Millwall’s 0-0 draw with Coventry City last Sunday, Barrett said: “It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work at this club for nearly eight years.

“When I reflect on my time at Millwall, I leave proud and full of gratitude. I have

been lucky enough to work with some fantastic players and staff across the entire club and can’t thank them enough, as well as the fans, for their support.

“We’ve experienced the joys of promotion from League One together to now being an established, competitive Championship side. I have learnt so much throughout, and now feel the time is right to pursue my aspiration of becoming a head coach or manager elsewhere.

“The club has been so supportive of my desire to step into management. It’s a role I have enjoyed twice in the interim at Millwall and that only fueled my hunger further to take the next step in my career.

“Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank James and the entire Beryslon family. Their support and care for the club is unwavering and I appreciate everything they have done for me personally.

“The club is in excellent hands under James. I have so many great memories here and want nothing but success for it in the future. Thank you, everyone.”

Millwall chairman, James Berylson, added: “I can’t thank Adam enough for everything he has done for the club over the past seven-and-a-half years.

“Adam has fulfilled a number of roles during that time and always conducted himself with the utmost professionalism.

“My time working with Adam has been relatively short in his long spell at the club, but in that period, it has been clear to see why my father, players, club staff and past managers have had so much respect for Adam – I share that feeling whole heartedly.

“Adam leaves in pursuit of becoming a head coach or manager and we all wish him the very best in this – I can’t wait to see how he does and I’m sure he’ll do a great job.”

Adam Barrett has been at Millwall for over seven years

Despite his experience and success in the Championship, Neil does not intend to make drastic changes in his first few weeks in charge.

“It is going to be a gradual process,” Neil said. “It’s certainly not going to be wholesale changes overnight.

“I think there’s a lot of good players here that have been here for a number of years.

I think we’ve got a good group of younger players starting to emerge as well.

“So just trying to get that balance right, because I’m a big believer in development of players, but also I think you do need good quality senior players around that to make it work. I think that’s going to be key.”

Once Neil has fully stamped his mark on the squad, he thinks they are more than capable of competing for a top-six spot.

“I don’t like to put any limitations on aspiration,” Neil said. “I think that you want to always try and set your bar as high as possible and if we can have a really good run, you never know.

“I’m not saying right now that our aim is to get promoted this season, I think there’s a lot to be done in that sense, but like I say, if we can have a good run then there’s no reason why we can’t be competing for the play-offs and things like that.”

Strong home performances would be crucial to maintaining any run of good form.

Millwall have won six out of their twelve games at The Den this season, claiming the scalps of top-six sides Blackburn Rovers, Leeds United and Burnley.

Neil believes that playing exciting football is key to engaging fans and making The Den even more intimidating “I always start with the fact that we need to do it on the pitch and the fans react off the back of that,” Neil said.

“You hear a lot about the fans needing to back the team, and I do believe that but I think that football’s an entertainment sport.

“As a fan you want to enjoy what you see and I think if you do that, I think you then get the full backing of them. I think that helps the players, the players then can perform better and it’s one of the ones that sort of one leads into another.”

When asked if he has a message for the fans, Neil said: “Just that I’m delighted to be here, I can’t wait to get started. Let’s hope that we can put some good performances on and get the full backing the team will need.”

lions have their Man

INSIDE

Sport Southwark

aLeX neiL was officially appointed millwall’s new head coach on monday, December 30.

Neil, 43, has signed a long-term contract and will be joined by Martin Canning, who has been named assistant head coach.

Neil has extensive experience in the Championship, having previously managed Norwich City, Preston North End, Sunderland, and Stoke City.

The Scot has achieved two promotions during his career, guiding Norwich to the Premier League in 2015 and steering Sunderland to victory in the 2022

League One play-off final.

In a statement on the club’s website on Monday, Millwall chairman James Berylson said: “We’re excited to welcome Alex to the club. Having met with him over the last couple of weeks, I have really enjoyed his passion and energy for the role.

“We have a clear vision and strategy at the club that Alex is aligned with, and he has some really exciting ideas of how we can progress with those objectives and ambitions together across the entire club.

“All our support is there for Alex, and I can’t wait to see what he can do for us. I, alongside everybody at Millwall, wish him the very best as

page 21

Emakhu out until March

By Will Scott DAviD LivErmorE revealed Aidomo Emakhu will likely be out until march with a groin injury.

Millwall appoint Alex Neil head coach and sign him to ‘long-term’ deal.

By Will Scott

MODEST JONES DOWNPLAYS LIONESSES IMPACT

Alex Neil at The Den

our new Head Coach.”

Millwall’s Director of Football, Steve Gallen, added: “This has been a thorough and efficient recruitment process, and we’re really pleased to welcome Alex Neil as Head Coach.

“A number of factors were analysed extensively during this process to ensure that we appoint that right person for the role.

“Ultimately, Alex has an excellent track record in The Championship for results and development of young talent, as well as many other attributes that we feel confident will drive us forward as a club.

“Alex’s hunger to take this football club to the next level was clear during the several conversations

we had. He has proven methods that have worked successfully in a hugely competitive League and has exciting ideas of how he sees this team developing.

“We’re delighted to welcome him to Millwall and I look forward to working closely with Alex.

“We’re grateful to David Livermore for taking charge of First-Team affairs in the interim, alongside his support staff of Adam Barrett, Andy Marshall and Kevin Nugent.

“David will remain at the club as part of Alex’s backroom staff whilst Kevin Nugent has returned to his position as Under 21s Elite Development Squad Manager.”

Emakhu, 21, came off injured thirteen minutes into the Lions’ clash with Norwich City on Boxing Day, and Livermore confirmed the bad news after Millwall’s 0-0 draw with Coventry City on Sunday, December 29.

“It’s not particularly good news unfortunately for Aidomo,” Livermore said. “It’s a grade three C [groin injury].

He still needs to see the specialist but I don’t think you will be seeing him before March time.”

It was especially unfortunate for Emakhu given the Irishman had finally started to find form after a tricky start to the season.

He had previously been limited to just nine substitute appearances in the league before Livermore put him in the starting eleven for his first game in charge against Blackburn Rovers on December 21.

He was then given the nod against Norwich five days later, where he was forced to withdraw early into his second league start of the season.

“He’s had a few cameos recently where he’s affected the game,” Livermore said after Millwall’s 1-0 win against Blackburn. “So I just thought it was right today that he’d earned that opportunity to start.

“I’m delighted for him. He’s a really good kid, he works really hard. He’s got a lot of really good qualities.

“He’s got a lot of areas to improve on as well and he knows that, and we’ll work with him to do that. But I was really, really pleased for him today, really delighted for him.”

Aidomo Emakhu joined the Lions in 2023 from Shamrock Rovers THE RECYCLED PAPER CONTENT OF UK NEWSPAPERS IN 2014 WAS 83.5%