Greenwich Visitor April 2014 by The Greenwich Visitor

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APRIL 2014 No 42

NELSON stands proudly in Greenwich – 18 months after disappearing.

The life-size bronze of Britain’s greatest Naval hero was removed for repairs after being damaged in a suspected scrap raid in November 2012...but then vanished. Owners Inc Group told The Greenwich Visitor they were waiting for new planning permission, but Greenwich Council said Inc told them it had been stolen “without trace.” In January Inc collapsed into administration with £15m debts and it was feared the statue may be lost for ever. But early on March 27 Nelson was put back in place, framed by scaffolding as the historic pub gets a clean-up. Passers-by were Turn to Page 4

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April 2014 Page 2

e were saddended to hear of the death of Geoff Garvey, a fine journalist who was as skilful covering major crime stories for the Evening Standard as collecting nuggets for the excellent Westcombe Park News community paper. Geoff (inset) was a modest, helpful, talented man – someone who could talk to anyone and everyone...usually without talking about himself. Farewell, Geoff. mbarrassment ensues at the IndigO2 – the intimate entertainment venue at the O2 – when spectators at a cage fighting night started...err... fighting. Violence at the dome is the last thing AEG bosses want.

About the GV THE Greenwich Visitor is published once a month – on the first day of the month – and is distributed every day. We print on average 40,000 copies every month. Of those around 30,000 are taken by RESIDENTS and 10,000 by VISITORS. Readers CHOOSE to read The Greenwich Visitor. And all our copies are taken locally, by people within easy reach of your business. Find your copy at: Waitrose, Greenwich: Dreadnought Wharf, Victoria Parade, 1 Thames St, SE10 9FR Sainsburys Greenwich: 55 Bugsby’S Way London SE10 0QJ. Co-Op Greenwich: 200 Trafalgar Road SE10 9ER Sainsburys Eltham: 1a Philipot Path SE9 5DL Sainsburys Lee Green: 14 Burnt Ash Road SE12 8PZ Asda Charlton: Bugsby Way, Charlton, SE7 7ST And at selected hotels, bars and restaurants. If you’d like to stock the Greenwich Visitor for your customers please call 07731 645828. And from our street distributors, Clive, Debbie, Liba & Papa. Publisher and Editor: Matt Clark Matt@TheGreenwichVisitor.com Advertsing Sam Backhouse Sam@TheGreenwichVisitor.com:

07731 645828 Browse past editions at:

TheGreenwichVisitor.com Thanks for reading!

The Greenwich Visitor’s admirable social diary, brought to you by the spirit of Horatio Nelson

The Proud2 venue there was closed on police advice after stabbings a couple of year ago. What a shame that people let themselves down again. e’re privileged to have the London Marathon here this month. The great-

est road race in the world is always inspirational - whether you’re running or watching from the streets. And the clear-up operation afterwards is the very model of efficiency (other race organisers take note.) If you want to donate some money why not consider helping our fitness expert Annette Perry’s

chosen charity the 999 Club in Deptford. Details are on Page 15. It’s a great local charity. ad news that the Good Hope Festival in memory of Jimmy Mizzen has been cancelled. It looked like being a great community event. Fingers crossed that On Blackheath will be as good

here’s what YOU ask US Where’s the best place to watch good start. Next visit the Tourist the London Marathon? Greenwich, Information Centre at Pepys House, of course! It all starts here, and to be 2 Cutty Sark Gardens (just next to honest the best photos are taken here the Cutty Sark). It’s officially t o o . S o r r y ? O h y o u m e a n I N London’s best TIC. And the Greenwich? Trafalgar Road is a long excellent staff there won the Gold stretch with lots of places to cheer Award in the 2013 Information them on. The elite runners usually Provider of the Year category of the pass early at about 10am. Then you Visit England excellence awards see the whole range of club runners, (after landing Silver last year). You fitness fans, fun runners, charity don’t HAVE to be a tourist to make entrants, Wombles and rhinos the most of their expertise either. collecting coins. Around the Cutty Get advice, buy tickets for boats, Sark is another good spot but will get tube, DLR, rail, bus and coach very busy (especially near the Foot journeys, book a tour, buy tickets Tunnel). To see the runners twice, for other London attractions (if you head to Greenwich Park entrance for must!). Discover Greenwich next the start, then walk through the Park door is great for kids. to the town centre. We watched the Olympics in We came to see the Market but I Greenwich. It looks a lot different heard it’s going. Not any more! now. There was a huge 20,000 Greenwich Hospital, which owns the seater stadium here in 2012. It was site, won permission to build a hotel very controversial, but most people but the recession has changed all agree the Games were amazing. that. We were first to report the plan The orchard in the Park is well had been delayed. Then the landlords worth a visit. announced it was OFF. They have applied for planning permission for a Why is Greenwich is a Royal Borough? We have 1,000 new roof and to put a years of Royal links. smaller market in a yard Henry VIII and next door. Historic Elizabeth I were buildings due to born here and demolished have christened at St been reprieved. WANT TO ADVERTISE? Alfege Church, There’s been a in the town HAVE A STORY? market here since centre.The the 1300s. Call Matt on 07731 645828 Queen granted Is anyone using Royal Status in the cable car yet? Matt@TheGreenwich February 2012. Cheeky! The Visitor.com I read that Emirates AirLine an Greenwich is a World amazing structure and Heritage Site? Yes, it was we’re pleased it’s here. Unfortunately it’s proved – as we awarded UN World Heritage Site predicted when we were the first status in the 1990s. It means our paying customers in June 2012 – to buildings and history are so be a tourist attraction rather than a amazing they’re UN-protected. transport link. Only FOUR regular Museums. Are they free? Yes – commuters were recorded recently. except the Fan Museum, which has We recommend you go off-peak, no public funding but a worldwhen it’s slower and better value! leading collection of fans. And the How’s the Foot Tunnel? Much Wernher Collection of art at better, thanks. Work should finally Ranger’s House, run by English end any day now – FIVE YEARS Heritage. You pay to stand on the after an £11.5million refurbishment Meridian Line now too. started. A Friends group has been There are a few empty shops established to try and protect the right now? What’s that all about? historic walkway under the Thames. Even glorious Greenwich isn’t Updates at www.greenwich.gov.uk/ immune from the recession. The Greenwich/Travel/foot-tunnels.htm Olympics didn’t bring the promised If you have a bad experience down boom. Some shops closed because there – or a good one – email us: o f b u i l d i n g w o r k t o u p d a t e Matt@TheGreenwich Visitor.com Greenwich Market. Others blame What should we do today? You’ve high rent and repair bills, and have picked up a Greenwich Visitor – decided not to renew leases.

USERS’ GVIDE

NELSON’S COLUMN

as expected...and that the organisers are as meticulous about marshalling the event and respecting the neighbours as they are about booking great bands. We wish them luck. Ne star who WON’T be on the bill is Kate Bush…the Elthamborn music superstar (left) has announced her first live dates in 35 years. One of them is on September 13 at the Hammersmith Apollo. The Wuthering Heights star practiced for her 1979 tour in rehearsal rooms at Wood Wharf in Greenwich. reat news that the figure who inspired this column – Horatio Nelson – has returned to his position looking out over the Thames, the great river that fed his – and our nation’s – Maritime greatness. And thank heavens the Trafalgar Tavern itself is having a wash and brushup to match our pristine naval hero.

GreenwichVisitor

CONNECTED: Michelle (back row, right) at Award Fund launch

Business in the Commmunity

With its great buildings of the past – and new ones springing up all around us, it can be surprising to realise that Greenwich has high levels of deprivation. Government figures show there are many issues that need to be tackled right here…and my job is to help businesses do just that. I’m a Business Connector, seconded for a year from my job at Lloyds Bank to work for a pioneering charity called Business in the Community, which has received £4.8million from the Big Lottery Fund to run the Business Connector programme and £600,000 from Lloyds Banking Group to train all of the Business Connectors. My role is to broker partnerships between businesses and charities and local communities here in the Royal Borough so they can tackle local issues in the area – like education, enterprise, employability and community cohesion. We try to encourage a mutual benefit through donations – not just of cash but more often of time, skills and capacity that businesses are able to offer. In turn, partnerships with community organisations can help staff develop their skills, or help the business promote its own services. It’s a way that the whole community can benefit and the changes are then sustainable. I live in Charlton, so I know the borough well and was keen to take this opportunity to bring about positive business-led change for my own community. I’ve already seen a great need for mentors to NEETS (young persons Not in Education, Employment or Training), volunteers for Charities, trustees as well as consultancy support needed in Legal, Marketing, HR, IT, Finance and other fields. There are opportunities to get involved with judging panels for youth social project bids; business support for apprenticeships or work taster days to get youths more exposed to the scope of careers aside from academia. I’m looking for businesses who can help raise awareness of the outreach work that can be done by hospices, and support the Thamesmead regeneration including the set-up of a Social Enterprise Hub. If you’re a business that would like to help or a community group that might benefit I’d love to hear from you. Have a look at www.bitc.org.uk/programmes/business-connectors Call me on 07557499750 or email Monica.Hossain@bitcconnect.org Together we can bring people closer and make a difference.

WHY WE’RE HERE

Monica Hossain

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GreenwichVisitor THE

April 2014 Page 3

rib-roaring trips! DULL: Green low energy bulb

‘Laser has to glow’ THE famous Meridian laser could be snuffed out by new European Union laws. Officials in Brussels say the Royal Observatory’s beam uses too much energy each night...and must be replaced by a low-energy household bulb! EU spokesman Olaf Prilo said: “For sure, the green light looks pretty but it’s important that people get the message that we must all play our part in conserving energy.” The new EU-Watt rules got the green light on April 1. Mr Prilo added: “Anyone who does not take this change seriously is a fool.” The five-watt Millennia VS Diode-pumped beam in the Observatory replaced the original laser in 1999, and can be seen up to 60.6miles away. The EU says the new light would still be visible at the Park Gates and would be “quite adequate.” Tell us what YOU think of the new rule: Email Matt@ TheGreenwichVisitor.com

BEFORE: Amazing laser show

AFTER: Low energy light bulb

SPOTTED those yellow and black RIB boats roaring along the Thames? Fancy a go? Now you can…Thames RIB Experience has brought the exhilarating 45mph rides to North Greenwich Pier, near the O2. Bosses say the 20-minute trip that will “blast away the winter blues.” Rides cost £23 for adults and £20 for children. The company is based in Thames Embankment and has also begun rides from Tower Millennium Pier, near Tower Bridge. Info: www.thamesrib experience.com

festival officially on Bands for Blackheath revealed this month IT’S finally ON! Organisers of the muchawaited OnBlackheath music festival will announce the line-up for the event this month.

The two-day festival has officially been confirmed for the weekend of September 13 and 14 The Greenwich Visitor understands it will be sponsored by John Lewis – giving it the credibility HAPPY BAND: Festival team of backing by a family-friendly brand. Pic: 853blog.com And legendary concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith is also rumoured to have joined the project. His past events include Live Aid in 1985 Tom Wates, Terry Felgate and Alex Wicks also have a track record in promoting big events – including and the Teenage Cancer Trust gigs. He knows Greenwich well – he is chairman of the Blur’s 2009 Hyde Park reunion gigs. Blur’s Damon Albarn has just released his first solo album. British Music Experience at the O2 and has In 2010 they told 853blog.com the kind of bands an honorary doctorate from Ravensbourne they wanted as Elbow, Noah and the Whale, digital university here. Mumford & Sons, Florence and the Machine and His presence will be an added Foals. The line-up and full details of the festival incentive for major rock acts to appear. are due to be announced this month. Stars he has worked with include Elton Organisers say the event won’t just be about John, The Rolling Stones, The Who, music. There will be a Food Stage, with Bruce Springsteen, The Eagles, chefs giving masterclasses and workshops, Sheryl Crow, Shania Twain and LEGEND: Harvey a Farmer’s Market, street food & drink, a Sting. OnBlackheath organisers

Kids’ Zone, al fresco dance stage and Sport on the Green. OnBlackheath was first mooted in 2011 but was delayed by a legal battles with the Blackheath Society and by the Olympics here in 2012. The event has been licenced by Lewisham Council with some conditions: Entertinment on both days must finish by 10pm, with no alcohol sales after 9.30pm; 15,000 people can attend on each day; acid grasslands south of Hare and Billet Road must be be fenced off to ensure it is not trampled; Rresidents must be able call a manned phone during the event if there are issues. A spokesperson for OnBlackheath told The Greenwich Visitor: “This is a real London festival. It is in an amazing location and has been five years in the making. It feels great to get this off the ground. South East London needs a premiere annual event and this is the first of its kind. We are so excited to be bringing OnBlackheath to the area.” Organisers would not reveal details of the event. To m Wa t e s t o l d u s s i m p l y : “ We ’ v e b e e n extraordinarily busy.” Info: www.onblackheath.com

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Miles Hedley’s pick of this month’s best events. Full listings begin on Page 20

BOY GEORGE Iconic singer and national treasure who grew up in Eltham and became a superstar with Culture Club returns to his home borough with a gig at Indig02 where he’ll doubtless belt out hits such as Do You Really Want To Hurt Me and Karma Chameleon. April 3

IONIAN SINGERS St Alfege’s parish church hosts this internationally acclaimed chamber choir whose programme ranges from classical works by Brahms and Rachmaninov to more challenging modern pieces by composers such as John Ireland and Herbert Howells. April 5

folk great kate’s date

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TURNER AND THE SEA The curtain comes down at the National Maritime Museum on one of the great art exhibitions which feature some of the most stupendous paintings of the sea ever created as well as Turner’s incomparable sketchbooks. See it before it closes. April 21

READING WITH BACH A treat for dance fans as Laban Theatre plays host to choreographer Lizzi Kew Ross and her company as they explore, through movement and music, how solitary reading can transport us almost miraculously into other worlds and other minds. April 23&24

AVENUE Q

10 TO DO

Greenwich Theatre and Sell A Door present the worldwide smash-hit satire about the trauma children undergo when they become adults and discover they are no longer “special”. The pioneering puppets have to be seen to be believed. April 23May 11

MARTIN CARTHY Welcome return of a legend to Global Fusion Music and Arts’ annual St George’s Day concert at Charlton House. His performance at this event 12 months ago was one of the best gigs anywhere in the borough last year. This one is going to be just as brilliant. April 25

HEIDI TALBOT Launching a season of folk at Blackheath Halls, the sensational Irish singer and her band will perform old favourites as well as a selection from her most recent album, the magnificent Angels Without Wings, which has been lauded by critics and admirers alike. April 25

THE CHAIRS Eugene Ionesco’s absurdist “tragic farce”, playing at The Albany, claims to tell us nothing less than the meaning of life, a revelation that prompts the protagonists to kill themselves after they are given the secret by an orator who is - of course invisible. April 29-May 2

CONGRATULATIONS to Blackheath Flower Club, whose members are celebrating its 55th birthday this year. The club meets every third Friday of the month (except April and December) from 1.45-4pm at Mycenae House. “ We h a v e a g u e s t demonstrator who arranges five or six designs, which can be won in a raffle,” says Sian Tr i b e . “ F r i d a y M a y 2 i s National Flower Arranging Day so look out for displays throughout the borough.”

Two races on Heath

A travel agency is mistakenly held up by a gunman demanding a ransom and matters quickly spiral dangerously out of control as a team of armed police rush to the scene in this deranged comedy being staged by the ever-original London Theatre. April 8-13

The Blackheath Morris Men resurrect the ancient English Easter Monday tradition of chair-lifting, raising the goddess of spring on to her throne of flowers and parading her around on their shoulders in this fun ceremony at the Old Royal Naval College. April 21

55 years of flower club

TALENTS: Kate Rusby & Cara Dillon (inset)

Stars at Blackheath folk series ASK most people how they perceive folk fiddler Cara Dillon, whose collaborations music and they’ll talk about smoky range from Mike Oldfield to dance DJ rooms, real ale and fingers in ears. Judge Jules. The reality is very different, as the folk Sunday is a four-parter, beginning at series that starts this month at Blackheath 3pm with The Magic Violin, a show for Halls will show, writes MILES HEDLEY. kids presented by Trinity Laban expert It kicks off on April 25 with Kildare Joe Townsend. singer Heidi Talbot, who made her There’s a folk fiddle workshop at name with Irish-American folk 4.30. Whatever your standard, band Cherish The Ladies bring your instrument and and is now an awardhave a bash. At 6pm a jam winning solo artist who session will be led by Blackheath Halls, has collaborated with Greenwich-based band th hea ack Lee Road,Bl artists as diverse as The Maccaferri Club. R a d i o h e a d ’s P h i l i p And the closing event Selway and indie rockers of the series begins at Idlewild. 8pm with a gig by Steffi April 25-May 18. But the main focus of D y k e s , Ta n d e m , J o e 0 010 020 8463 the series is a folk weekend To w n s e n d ( a g a i n ) a n d on May 16, 17 and 18. The f r i e n d s . S t e ff i p l a y s a n Friday night headliner is English amplified recorder, Tandem mix singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist and traditional folk with electronica and fiddle-player Kate Rusby, whose 12 Townsend fuses Celtic, gipsy and jazz. albums have won her an international For folkies, it should be an unrepeatable following. She is followed on Saturday treat. Info: www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/ evening by legendary Irish singer and blackheath-halls. See listings - P20-22

KIDS can take part in two great charity running events on the Heath this Marathon month. Blackheath schools John Ball and All Saint’s had teamed up for Heath For Health on Saturday April 27. There’s a 5km run for adults and families starting at 10.30am, followed by a one mile race for children at 11.30 am. Entry is £10 for adults. Children are free if they raise £5 sponsorship. Info www. heathforhealth@live.com Slightly earlier that day Greenwich & Bexleyheath C o t t a g e H o s p i c e ’s M i n i Marathon takes place at 10am – registration at 9.15am is £7.50 per child (parents can run with younger children). Info: www. communityhospice.org.uk

WHERE WHEN

kids’ easter fun Monsters, murder and family secrets youngsters to enjoy the delights of his are among the thrills on offer for interactive cafe. A scientist needs help to youngsters at the Greenwich Theatre find the missing animals in Old Macdonald Children’s Festival this month. Had A Farm on April 10. An adaptation of Michael Extraordinarily lifelike Ende’s fantasy novel Momo monsters are on display in uses songs, puppets and Dinosaur Zoo, a funny, stories to tell a tale about a exciting production direct girl without a past, a timefrom the West End, which Greenwich Theatre, thief and a clairvoyant Crooms Hill, Greenwich is on April 12 and 13. But tortoise, writes MILES they are not all terrifying HEDLEY. It’s from April giants – some are cute 1-5 with matinees on babies. April 1-13 Wednesday and Saturday. Later on Sunday the 020 8858 7755 Sell A Door bring the 13th enjoy the strange and Robert Louis Stevenson hilarious story of crocodilechildren’s classic Kidnapped to loving Pirate Gran, based on the Greenwich from April 7-9. wonderful character in the books by In between, kids can enjoy the magical Geraldine Durrant and Rose Forshall. stories of Mrs McMoon from April 8-13. Something for kids (and adults) of all On the same days, Signor Baffo invites ages... See listings - P20-22

WHERE WHEN

IN SITU: Nelson returns

Nelson back From Page 1 place, framed by scaffolding as the historic pub gets a clean-up. Passers-by were delighted to see the statue again. One told The Greenwich Visitor: “We thought it had been melted down for scrap.” Trafalgar Tavern owner Frank Dowling – being investigated over his Inc Group’s collapse – did not comment on the statue’s return. He is believed to have tried unsuccesfully to sell the Trafalgar – which Charles Dickens dined in and wrote about – to a large pub chain for around £7m.At its height, Inc Group was said to have a turnover of more than £20million a year with 24 venues and 400 employees. The statue was made by Lesley Pover in 2005 to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson’s body lay in state at the Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College before his funeral. Are you pleased Nelson is back? Tell us what you think. email Matt@TheGreenwichVisitor.com

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LOST ROYAL MOVIE FOUND IN VAULTS DOZENS of movies have been filmed here, from Pirates of the Caribbean to The Man From UNCLE. But one film about a great figure from our Royal past was lost...until recently. Greenwich-based director John Walsh tells the story of his lost movie: Monarch

HENRY VIII has been portrayed many times in films but in 1986 – as an ambitious young filmmaker – I wanted my first feature film to be closer to reality than any of the epic Hollywood retellings.

Dark Tales Thu 17 April, 19.00 – 20.00

Henry was born in Greenwich. So I hoped the big man himself would approve of a film shot here... Monarch is set in 1547, the last year of Henry’s life, when the King is injured on a hunting trip and takes refuge in an isolated manor house. It was quite a coup to get two fabulous actors like TP McKenna and Jean Marsh to be in the film. It simply came down to the script – it wasn’t like anything else they had played. I think it helped that I’d press-ganged my family into helping out – my mum was casting director and TP loved her soft Irish accent! Jean Marsh, who had starred in Upstairs Downstairs, liked the idea of the film being a “family business” with both my brother David and my late father Davie as producers/fixers But choosing a credible location was crucial. Charlton House was the ideal setting for the film that set my career on the right path after graduating from the London Film School. It is a Jacobean Manor house so, despite not being precisely from the period, we could dress it to resemble the time period of Henry VIII and his court. LOCATION...LOCATED: Film starring Jean Marsh There was another challenge – (right) was shot at Charlton House has been then, as now, Charlton House is a found and restored by John Walsh’s team busy community centre. We didn’t have the budget to close the entire house for the duration of the filming from October 7 to 25 1996. Nor could we film at night. Instead we filmed in the day with blacked out windows. We rented rooms one at a time to negotiate the various groups and classes. We worked with local business and employed lots Monarch is released on of local people in technical 7 2014 in association April roles. Catering was provided by the Bugle between Walsh Bros. and H o r n p u b n e x t d o o r. Freemantle Media Regulars had the surreal national. Info: www. took some finding. Eventually we found over 50 cans of Inter experience of actors in their hbros.co.uk wals 16th century costumes various footage. All of the original camera negative was arriving for their daily feed! there and in good shape for its age, but was cut on to A & The film office at Greenwich B rolls, which meant the film was not one cut of continuous Council had only just been set up so it was a new action, but we had what we need to put the film together. experience for them too. During extensive cleaning and restoration process at Another film was being shot in London at the same time, Premier Film Restoration, every frame was scanned in high by a slightly better known director – Stanley Kubrick. How definition and over 10,000 particles removed by hand. A did I know? We would receive daily 35mm camera new 5.1 sound mix was created from original elements.The negative (Kodak stock no: 5287) supplies from Kodak HQ film now looks and sounds clearer and sharper than ever. in Hemel Hempstead in a refrigerated van. One day we The film and TV industry is famously inept at preserving mistakenly received the invoice for the daily delivery to original material. Often negatives were lost, junked or – in Eyes Wide Shut, with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. one famous case, for the Oscar-winning Cabaret – burned! The invoice was more than the total cost of my shooting Either way the HD processing of my film will give budget! And his movie was shooting for 18 months. Now, audiences the chance to see the wonderful performance of nearly two decades later, Monarch has receive a full High Jean Marsh and the towering presence of TP McKenna – Definition restoration. It sounds simple, but isn’t! rightly regarded as one of the greats of his generation – in The original camera negative was in a film vault, which one of his most outstanding performances.

monarch restored

Spirits, burials and murderous intrigue discover over 500 years of hidden history on our regular evening tour of the ORNC. Tickets £15, includes a beer, glass of wine or soft drink. Venue: Meet at West Gate

Impossible Creatures Sat 5 April – Mon 21 April Explore the creatures decorating the ORNC on our Easter trail, draw a new animal for our competition or join us on Wed 16 April to create your own monster at Impossible Creature Crafts. £2 per trail, competition entry and family crafts free. Venue: Painted Hall

London to Brighton Jaguar Run Sun 27 April, 8.30 – 11.00 Approximately 300, mainly classic, Jaguars will be on display at the ORNC before they set off on a scenic drive to Brighton. Venue: ORNC grounds

SEE IT

Sign up to our e-newsletter at www.ornc.org to hear about our latest events T: 020 8269 4799 E: boxoffice@ornc.org www.ornc.org

/oldroyalnavalcollege /orncgreenwich /groups/ornc

Wren’s twin-domed riverside masterpiece

GreenwichVisitor April 2014 Page 6 OUR NEW MONTHLY COLUMN reviews THE

Copper bottom classic at Cutty

LIFE IN ELTHAM with GAYNOR WINGHAM

elthamarts@aol.com @ @ElthamArts

MAKE A MESS: Art session for kids at the Eltham Centre

ree or low cost family activities are a must in these difficult financial days. So it’s great to see what is being offered around Eltham. At the Eltham Centre, Coldharbour and New Eltham Libraries there are programmes of activities for under fives and older children. Under fives and carers can join in with Rhyme Time, Story Time and Song Time every week. Compared to the time spent clearing up your house afterwards, taking a two-year-old to Messy Time must be an attractive option! School holidays activities and after school Crafty Kids clubs are also organised to keep older kids occupied. Information at the libraries and also on the GLL website: www.better.org.uk he Vista Children’s Centre in Eltham also has a programme of family activities, some with a small charge. They recently had a display of the work they created on the theme of A Journey. Information is on the Royal Greenwich website: www. royalgreenwich.gov.uk f you are a bit older and would like a free activity, Eltham Entertains sessions at the Eltham Centre are on the second Wednesday of each month. On April 9 – from 7 to 9pm – the theme is World War One Poets. Come and meet and listen to John Wingham (yes, he’s my husband!) with two young actors from the Bob Hope Theatre. Certain to be thought-provoking in this centenary year of the First World War. You can get refreshments at the popular OJs cafe. on’t forget Tales of Eltham, too. All entries are now in from children and adults and are being judged. Come along to the Eltham Centre, 2 Archery Rd, on April 23 from 6pm to celebrate our short story writers, see the prize awarded, enjoy short story reading and a display of entries. Everyone is welcome! e have many talents in Eltham. Deansfield Primary school choir is performing at the International Eisteddfod of Wales. They are fundraising for the trip to Llangollen which will cost £5000. If you can help in any way contact Jane Pickard on 020 8850 1218 or email office@deansfield.greenwich.sch.uk his column is your chance to share your passion for the arts in Eltham. Call me on 07976 355398 or email elthamarts@aol.co.uk

T I

WHERE better to hear the world premiere of a choral composition entitled Drowning Songs than underneath the gleaming copper-bottom hull of the Cutty Sark? The wonderful Sammy Ofer Gallery played host to an evening of sea-related works performed by the Trinity Laban Chamber Choir. And of all the marvels the choir gave us, Drowning Songs was the jewel in the crown. Created by Caitlin Rowley – who is currently doing a masters degree at Trinity – it is a moving, magical tribute to every sailor who has ever drowned. The unaccompanied choir created an atmosphere of spine-tingling emotion with chilling echoes, wordless surges, a brief phrase from De Profundis, a lovely solo by soprano Angela Hicks and – most haunting of all – the whispered names of scores of dead seamen. It was the highlight of an altogether brilliant concert whose first half consisted of songs and shanties arranged by Percy Grainger and featuring baritones Tom McDavid and James Newby, tenor Tom Drew and mezzo-soprano Georgia Bishop. The second half opened with Drowning Songs before the choir – supported by the terrific Trinity Laban Brass Ensemble – performed Judith Bingham’s magnificent Salt In The Blood. Both Rowley and Bingham were in the rapturous audience and were rightly called up by conductor Stephen Jackson to take a bow. The programme was completed by Richard Rodney Bennett’s arrangement of Full Fathom Five from The Tempest. It was a memorable concert – given added poignancy by the overarching presence of the great tea-clipper. MILES HEDLEY

THE START: Ready to leave London

SUNSET: Sophie in Rio de Janeiro

amasing journey Greenwich students jet Around The World In 14 Days to share their music HOME STRETCH: Before flight home

Women artists Fusion festival A MARATHON concert at Charlton House to mark International Women’s Day had a brilliant all-female line-up. And appropriately for an event staged by charity Global Fusion Music and Arts the list of performers had a truly international flavour, with representatives from across Africa and Asia as well as closer to home in Europe. The packed audience at the five-hour gig were treated to a programme of fantastic variety, including music, poetry, song and dance. The poetry – and some mean blues harmonica – was provided by GFMA organiser Louisa Le Marchant. Flautist Helen Vidovich and her Trinity Laban colleague and pianist Fei Ren showed off their virtuosity with classical pieces composed by women. The roster of singers included Global Fusion regular Apelles Ogaga from Kenya and Uganda’s Milly Namukasa. And a group of enthusiastic kids took to the stage to dance accompaniment to drummer and singer Nadia al Faghil Hassan. For me the highlight of the event – run in association with Woolwich-based women’s support charity HER – was an all-too-brief performance by Cheng Yu. She coaxed an extraordinary array of wondrous sounds from a sort of Chinese lute called a pipa, her fingers becoming a blur as they flashed across the strings and frets. Quite amazing. Global Fusion’s next event is a barn dance at Charlton House on April 18 – Good Friday – starting at 7.30pm. MILES HEDLEY

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CHILLY: Max & Sophie in snowy Central Park

WE’D set ourselves quite a challenge – to see whether the power of music, the internet and human kindness could take three music students from Greenwich Around The World in 14 Days.

We asked people to help us in any way they could so we could cross the planet, sharing music and singing our song Sing With Me while filming the result, writes MAX DE LUCIA. Disgustingly early in the morning Sophie English, Elliot Lyte and I caught the first of our flights in a 32,000 mile epic journey. We were excited and nervous. This was all very surreal. LISBON: We had one very wet day and one torrentially wet night in Lisbon and woke up the following morning eager to get on our flight to Rio. It was our first long haul and I’m afraid to say we took the opportunity to wind each other up throughout the journey... RIO: Brazil has an infectious energy and we knew something special was going to happen here as we stepped out of the airport

into blistering sunshine. We jumped straight in a cab to Rio’s Lagoa district where our host Claudio has an apartment with stunning views below the Christ the Redeemer statue. Our time in Rio was dominated by musicmaking, the Copacabana, street food, Caipirinhas, samba bars and astounding views. We watched sunsets from Sugar Loaf Mountain and the Corcovado on consecutive nights. NEW YORK, via PANAMA CITY: We arrived in the USA to sub-zero temperatures after a terrible flight – turbulence so bad I thought it was the end, and food poisoning that left Elliot needing 24 hours in bed. Soph and I left Elliot to recover as we took long walks to play music all over the city – getting people joining in Sing With Me wherever and whenever we could. We had an amazing day at the Brooklyn Tabernacle Gospel Church, skating in Central Park, and seing the Statue of Liberty. Our rooms at Bowery House Hotel were fabulous. SYDNEY, via LOS ANGELES: 23-hours later,

COLOURFUL: In Times Square, New Yowk

after a stop in LA, we are in Australia – a special moment as we realise we have actually made it across the world. Our hosts PJ and Laura live in Bondi Junction – a great base. STA Travel had laid on a packed schedule including an afternoon climbing the masts of a tall ship in Sydney Harbour, tours of the Kings Cross and a day wine tasting with nuns in the Hunter Valley! Finally we played a live TV performance on the Wake Up show from Manly Beach. LONDON, via KUALA LUMPUR: After a stop over we arrive home after an amazing twoweek musical trip of a lifetime –full of incredible experiences better than we ever imagined. We are so grateful to the tens of thousands of people worldwide that checked out our website, and to the masses who made our amazing trip happen. I’ll never be able to articulate how incredible this trip was...but we’re thinking bigger and better next time! See our film at:

www.aroundtheworldin14days.co.uk

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READ THE START OF JAMES BENMORE’S DICKENS SEQUEL, LAST month author James Benmore told us why he loves Greenwich, and why he’d partly set his novel Dodger here. This month, enjoy the first chapter of the sequel to Charles Dickens’ classic, and find out what happened next to the Artful Dodger...

Chapter One

The Silver Sneeze Box Wherein the reader learns of how my carefree childhood was cruelly snatched away by a cold-hearted magistrate with no regard for my youthful promise.

‘Any minute now the gents either side of Horrie will feel their pockets is lighter and grab him as the culprit. Charley was most amused’

e was a gang of six and we was swooping through the London crowds like low-flying jackdaws, fast, thieving and beautiful to behold. It was the first day of May and the people of the city was all dressed in their Sunday finery, not least of all us, the happy students of the Saffron Hill School of Finders Keepers. We was scudding through the dusty lanes towards Covent Garden where we hoped to find the choicest trinkets that London could offer and we was all very much feeling that spring buzz. I was leading the thing, as was natural, and close behind me was my best pal Charley Bates. After him was Jem White, Georgie Bluchers and Mouse Flynn and that, I now reflect, should have been all. Five has always been more than enough to work a spring crowd, in truth the ideal number of boys to go finding with was three. One to distract, the other to dip and pass, and the last to make the dash. But what with the day being so merry and fresh we was all feeling companionable and so was stuck together like toffees in sun. All of these boys was gifted in the art and had it just been us then it would have remained a very pleasant and productive morning. But we also had Horrie Belltower dragging along behind us and this stupid oaf proved to be my undoing. orrie was not one of us. I had never taken him to Saffron Hill because I knew the Jew would not be interested. He was too old and too lumbering. He looked and smelt as if he’d been dredging through the riverbank all night so shabby was his clothes. We was all dressed up flashy and colourful in proper gentleman’s attire, with studs, rings, gold-chains and such, so we didn’t much care for the look of him in his dirty coat and faded neckerchief. On top of this he was too feebleminded and fat-fingered to make a living in our chosen profession. As a thief, all he was good for was the kinchin lay, jumping out in front of young children what are running errands for with no James Benmore left school their mothers in the genteel districts, his family’s in d rke wo and ns atio lific qua and taking their sixpences by force. rs ago he left bed shop in Welling. Fiveofyeawriting. He got No one respected the kinchin lay, an am dre his to try to fulfil , where an idiot could do it. What he couldn’t on a course at Oxford Univerfirssityt chapter of do was turn himself invisible like we agent heard him read thehim a deal! could, he couldn’t put himself just Dodger and offered Twitter: @jhenrybenmore outside a cove’s sight and stay there no matter which way their heads may turn. But worse than all this, he was slow. And “He’s got nothing on we all hated slow. him‚“ said one. We slid by the corner of Jarrett Street where “He won’t say nothing,” said a big crowd was distracted by the puppet show. another. Mr Punch was busy battering his wife with a “And even if he does, so what?” asked a stick and he squawked a friendly That’s the way third,”he ain’t even met the jew.” to do it! as we brushed past tail-coats and “I know Horrie ain’t much,” I said.”But gowns, finding ourselves all the richer for it. We friends is friends. And if any of you lad’s was in was well pleased with our earnings and was a tight spot then I would just as soon come to itching for more when Mouse asked me where your aid.” This remark made an impression the Belltower boy was. We looked back toward upon Charley and the two younger boys and the puppet booth and saw Horrie still stood they nodded at me with due admiration. Jem among the crowd and watching the story. though, was having none of it. “Good riddance,” said Jem. He had been “Tell that to the workhouse boy,” he said, vexed with me all day for letting Horrie tag referring to a recent incident what had led to all along but until now had not shown the steel to sorts of trouble for the Jew. “If this Horrie say it. “I thought we’d never shake him.” wasn’t a relation of yourn, then you would just Charley was most amused at the thought that, as happily stroll off.” any minute now, the gentlemen either side of I ignored this slur against my good character Horrie will feel that their pockets was lighter and spoke to the others. “You lot go to the and grab him as the culprit. The younger boys courtyard off Crick Lane to compare findings. laughed too and only Jem was sharp enough to I’m going back for Horrie and, while I’m there, see there was nothing droll about that. He I may feel like collecting some more valuables turned to me. for my trouble. We’ll meet at the broken pump “We ain’t going back for him, Dodger. Least in ten minutes.” I emptied my pockets of my I ain’t.” The other boys stopped laughing and morning’s work and handed them to Charley for looked at me in wonder at the very idea. safe-keeping. These was some handkerchiefs of

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the finest silk, two ladies’ purses containing eighteen sovereigns between them and, what was most impressive, a gold watch and chain what I had liberated from an old gentleman’s vest pocket. The boys oohed and aahed, as well they might, as these findings was worth more than all of theirs put together. I dangled the ticker from its chain so they could all see its value and I tossed it to Charley. I was the only one among us what dared to do vest-pockets. With that I shot Jem a hard look to remind him who was top-sawyer around here. Then I put my hands in my pockets, so as to strike an idle pose, and went sauntering back to the scene of my freshest crime whistling carefree tune. Those boys may well have wondered, as they watched me stroll back, as to why a clever thief of distinction, such as myself, would be risking the grab for one such as Horrie, a boy that we had long since nick-named the Fartful Podger. The answer to this lay in my regrettable dealings with a woman who I was once unfortunate enough to live with. A wicked, conniving old hag called Kat who I often had cause to wish that I never had the misfortune to meet. But, I am sorry to say, you can’t pick your own mother.

he last time I had seen this Kat Dawkins was two nights prior in the taproom of the Three Cripples public house. This was a safe establishment in Saffron Hill that I would often frequent after a hard days work to drink and converse with like-minded individuals. On this particular evening I was in the back room playing cards and enjoying a nice pot of beer with Len Pugg, Precious Tom and some chinamen. Normally these gentlemen would not have gambled with someone of my tender years, considering as they did that such behaviour was an unnatural corruption of childhood innocence. However, earlier that day, I had pinched some high quality cigars from a Mayfair tobacconist and so they agreed to overlook my youth if I shared them all out. The little room grew smoky, the conversation ribald and I soon won a tidy sum using skill, bluff and nerve, as well as a second pack of cards I had hidden just below the table. Just as I was about to clean them all out with my royal flush of diamonds, the door of the taproom blew open and in burst my mother like an unfortunate queen of spades. I had not laid eyes on the woman in eighteen months but here she was, just as I’d remembered her, wild-haired, starey

GreenwichVisitor THE

SET HERE IN GREENWICH...

.ck .. N O D A E R Dodger is out in paperba

(Heron Press, £7.99), available. from Waterstones Greenwich Look out for sequel Dodger of the Dials, out in hardback this June.

eyed and shrieking like a banshee. “Here you is!” she screeched, and made Precious Tom, who is of a nervous disposition at the best of times, spit up his whiskey and drop his playing-cards onto the table where we could all see them. “Here, among thieves and low characters, just as your father ever was! Shame on you, gennelmen, for corrupting him so!” I was sat at the furthest end of the round table, facing the door, but my fellow players had their backs to her so they was good and startled. She circled the table, slapping them all on the back of the heads and laying curses upon them, and the poor confused chinamen reacted as though she was an officer of the law and made for the exit. As they left they pushed past Barney, the landlord of the Cripples. “You have given me nothing but agonies since you was first placed inside me, you ungrateful wretch!” She grabbed my ear and began her striking of me.”I have borne countless miseries for you, young wastrel, I’ve sacrificed my own comfort for yourn, and never once have you heard me repine!” ad these charges been made against me in a more delicate manner I could have answered back. But at the time I was

unable to make these arguments, bent over as I was and covering my face from her sharp whackings. Then, Len Pugg decided that he had stood this interruption for long enough and he rose from his seat to knock some sense into her. Len was a hero in that vicinity due to his prowess in the boxing line. But here he faced a challenger of a different sort and no sooner had he risen to his feet then Kat reached inside her petticoat and produced a flash of metal that caused him to stop cold. “Sit Pugg!” she spat, pointing the knife towards him in a way that created a strong impression that she had used it before, and not just for skinning rabbits. Precious Tom cried out like a woman, Barney begged her to take it outside and Len sunk back down. “I’s come here to talk to my Jacky,” she said. “And my Jacky alone. If you gennelmen would be so kind as to piss off out of my face, then we shall both bid you goodnight.” She hoisted me from my seat and tugged me out of the room. “It’s long past his bedtime, the poor lamb.” Then she pulled me through the front-bar, which was full of drunken associates of mine. They was all singing along to a bawdy tune being played out on the piano and none of them saw fit to come to the aid of a young boy being led out into the night by a woman with a knife pressed to his ear. Outside she near pulled my arm clean off as she dragged me through a maze of back-alleys and crooked lanes until reaching one, all dark and dripping, where only the rats could hear us talk. “Well,” she said,”ain’t you going to give your dear old Mum a kiss?” “What you after?” I demanded. “That’s pleasant,” she replied, all innocence. “I travel all the way from Seven Dials just to visit my angel and this is the greeting. I’m after nothing, Jacky, other than what is due me.” My belly turned with the beer and cigars. “All I wants from you is returns,” she said,”and not for me, you unnerstand. But for your older brother Horrie, bless his simple heart.” “Half-brother,” I said. “We ain’t got the same Dad”. “Half is still half,” she winked, wiping the dust away, “even if it ain’t the good half”. he began telling me that she felt that I had done her a wrong turn as a son. I had benefitted, she felt, from all that she had taught me at an early age, such as how to pinch my own supper from the markets, and by what means a lady’s clothing may be penetrated by small, searching hands. And all she had ever prayed for, she said, was that one day I would be able to use these skills to provide for my mother in her dotage and for my slow-witted brother who was not born as gifted as I. But instead, she lowered her voice to stress the depth of the treachery, I had applied my talents for the good of some Jew to whom I owed nothing, whilst my family was starving to death. As she said this last thing I thought I spied a tear glisten in her blue eye and thought, not for the first time, that she could have made a success of herself on the stage if life had turned out differently. “I saw Horrie two days gone,” I answered back. “He’s good and fat for someone starving to death.” Her hand was like a claw around my neck. “Clever lad, ain’t you?” she hissed.”But you won’t feel so clever when someone starts whispering about your Hebrew friend and his little school up there.” She banged my head against the wall. “Horrie needs to learn the ways and means with which to make his living. He eats too much, he drinks too much and he’s about as much use around the house as a hole in a piss pot. You come by with your little friends on Sunday and take him out to work the crowds.” She released me from her grip and stepped away.”And mind he don’t get pinched,” she added before taking her leave, “else it’ll turn ugly for all.” dropped onto the muddy ground and, sure enough, my guts started emptying. By the time I raised my head to wipe away the spew, my mother had gone.

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The Point is... we’re home YOUNG people’s support group The Point has come back home to Woolwich. Over 120 16 to 19-year-olds attended an open day with workshops and exhibitions last month. The Point aims to give young people free, confidential advice on everything from finding work, training or an apprenticeship, to housing advice, volunteering information, personal development and sexual health, drugs and alcohol. The Point is open Mondays to Fridays (9-5) at 47 Woolwich New Road, Woolwich SE18 6EW. Drop in or call 020 8921 8224 to make an appointment.

Charlotte gets a makeover DEPTFORD’S “Village Green” Charlotte Turner Gardens is being improved so families “can relax, unwind, play, have adventures and enjoy the outdoors” There will be plantings, a sculpture, an orchard, toddler play area, dog-free area, table tennis and revamped play equipment, including a viking ship’s prow! The £110,000 project in McMillan Street is led by the Twinkle Park Trust. Funding is from the Trust and The Veolia Environmental Trust. The trust’s Carol Kenna, said: “We are so glad that the wait for this much-needed work is now over.”

ROCK on! reader Natalie Lazzam took her favourite paper to Gibraltar and sent us this great pic to prove it! Natalie said: “I went to celebrate the 50th birthday of a friend Jennie Dodds. “Myself and my friend Sue Manning took the Greenwich Visitor up the Rock and and took a few pics. Hope you can print one!” We can, Natalie. And thanks for sending it in. We love to see where you’re reading your Greenwich Visitor. Especially when you’re taking a little piece of Greenwich to the globe. We’ve been everywhere from the Himalayas to New Yo r k ; G a m b i a t o Iceland. Can you do better? Email Matt@The Greenwich Visitor.com.

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SEND US YOUR PICS OF A PERFECT DAY email your photo to: matt@TheGreenwichVisitor.com

In association with

old oak is elizabeth’s QUEEN Elizabeth’s Oak IS Queen was executed by her father King Henry around around 1300. Tests also showed a VIII. But doubts had surfaced – some said perfect sequence of 233 rings which match Elizabeth’s Oak!

Info:www.twinklepark.org.uk

OAK AGED: Elizabeth tree

Expert Dr Jane Siddell has ended the debate over whether the famous tree in Greenwich Park was actually there when the Tudor monarch was a child. Legend had it that Elizabeth, born on September 7 1533, played in the tree as a child. And that she was was comforted by being there after her mother Anne Boleyn

the tree was actually a Sweet Chestnut. And that it could therefore not have been old enough. But Dr Siddell – English Heritage’s Inspector of Ancient Monuments – told the Friends of Greenwich Park’s annual meeting that dendochronolgy tests showed that the tree IS an oak. And that it almost certainly germinated

dendro data to the years 1569-1801. The huge tree died between 1827 and 1842 but was held up for another 150 years only by thick ivy, before finally falling over during a heavy rainstorm on July 2 1991. Dr Siddle said: “It means that the Oak was already a major feature of Greenwich Park by the time of her birth.”

GreenwichVisitor THE

tunnel survey

Ionian have airs for you THE unique Ionian Singers bring their sound to Greenwich this month. It’s a chamber choir devoted to performing music from a “less familiar repertoire”. And you can hear them with conductor Timothy Salter at historic St Alfege Church on April 5. The Ionian Singers perform regularly in the UK and overseas and have broadcast regularly in the USA. Their recordings of music form the last 400 years are a v a i l a b l e . Info: www.

Help walkways work HELP shape the future of our Foot Tunnels this month.

ioniansingers.co.uk www. timothysalter.com

Take elderly to tea party LIKE a tea party? You could help older people in Greenwich by taking them to a tea party once a month. Contact The Elderly gives old and lonely people regular and a vital friendship link one Sunday each month. Guests are collected and taken home by volunteer drivers. But a shortage of drivers threatens the scheme. Organiser Katy Szita said: “Anyone who can spare a couple of hours one Sunday a month, has a driving licence, a car, and a capacity for drinking tea, is eligible! “ Call Katy on 020 8530 0494 or email katy.szita@contact-theelderly.org.uk

pop videooH! IT’S not just movies that are filmed in Greenwich – plenty of pop videos have been made right here, writes Matt Jarvis. From Oasis to Blur; Olly Murs to Take That; Bon Jovi to Billie. In fact we told you all about them in a feature back in October 2011 (Read it and all our past editions at www.TheGreenwichVisitor.com) But here’s one we missed: Daphne & Celeste filmed the dancetastic promo for Ooh Stick You! along the Thames Path in

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April 2014 Page 11

Greenwich near the power station back in 1999. The cheeky twosome sang and danced with a variety of characters. You can see the coal jetty above. And they captured on film the old riverside building finally demolished to make way for the new Anchor Iron Wharf gardens. The song charted at No8 when it was released here the following year. Want to see it? Look us up on Facebook where we have a link.

Friends group Fogwoft has launched an opinion poll to find out how people use the historic footways at Greenwich and Woolwich. And how they think it should work in the future. The 101-year-old tunnels should soon be working properly after five years of botched repairs which cost £11.5million. Three-thousand people a day use the pedestrian-only tunnel – half walkers; half cyclists – but on weekdays UNDERWAY: Foot Tunnel 80 per cent of cyclists are believed to flout rules and managed.” Results will be ride instead. put to Greenwich Council, Fogwoft is particularly which manages the tunnels. keen to know how people Fogwoft’s poll is open b e l i e v e c y c l i s t s , till Friday April 25 at pedestrians, skateboarders fogwoft.com/survey and rollerskaters should You can also email your share the narrow tunnels. opinion at fogwoft3@ Fogwoft’s Dr Francis gmail.com. Sedgemore said: Greenwich Council – “Whichever options are c r i t i c i s e d f o r i t s preferred by those who management of the project respond to ou survey, the in an official report – is tunnels must be properly suing three contractors.

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April 2014 Page 14 CROSS PURPOSES: New John Roan SChool

OUR spread on the historic Greenwich Rail Line – and the threat to travel posed by changes at London Bridge station – caused a stir... I READ your paper for the first time after visiting the Turner exhibition (having had to climb the emergency stairs at the DLR exit!) and was staggered at what is proposed for the line to central London. I had been seriously considering moving from the Isle of Dogs to Greenwich in order to have a shorter trip to Charing Cross when I need it. This now seems to have been a vain hope. One also wonders what the effect will be on DLR stations like Mudchute, and your local tourist industry? In the meantime, is the Greenwich DLR partial closure likely to be lengthy? My legs wouldn’t be able to stand a reprise of that ascent, thank you very much, Stefan Bremner-Morris AS a Greenwich–born (1930) railway enthusiast, I enjoyed the article and pictures about the Greenwich Railway. It raised some questions. Although it was the first passenger railway in what is now London, it was then, in Kent and Surrey. There was a much earlier railway in a part of Surrey which is now London, the Surrey Iron Railway (goods, minerals, non-passenger, horse-hauled) which roughly followed the River Wandle towards Croydon from the Thames and was later extended to Merstham. The Rocket was a Stephenson product which won the Rainhill Trials on the Liverpool and Manchester. It was Locomotion No.1 which was the first steam engine on a passenger line, the Stockton and Darlington. There were other interesting railways in the Greenwich area. The Greenwich Park lin, from Nunhead to near the National Maritime Museum was one of the first within inner suburban London to be axed. It was little used and was closed between the wars. Some of its remains can still be traced. Until well into the 1960s one of its bridges still crossed a road near the bottom of Blackheath Hill, long after the rest of the line had gone. I think the Angerstein line – a private branch from the Blackheath/Charlton spur to a wharf on the Eastern shoulder of the Greenwich Peninsula – is still present, though probably not in use. It crosses or crossed the Lower Road just to the East of the Blackwall Tunnel approach road. Keith Ferris, Coxheath, Kent AXING the train service from Waterloo and Charing Cross stations permanently will no doubt have a knock on effect on business and education, but this will include the thousands of volunteers who work in hospitals, clinics and schools. Some people may have to stop volunteering all together. Patients and staff at hospitals like Guy’s and St Thomas’s will suffer greatly by withdrawing this service. Members of the public use trains to get to work on time, the pressure on the buses will be greater. It will increase stress levels,

YOUR LETTERS

We love to know what you think – about this amazing part of south east London. And we love feedback about our paper. email

matt@TheGreenwichVisitor.com or tweet us

@GreenwichVisitr which are already high when travelling, especially at peak times. This could prove catastrophic for all for unless we are provided with a shuttle service. Janice Cordery IN January we showed a picture of the new £29million John Roan School in Westcombe Park which has crosses on the walls (see above). Shouldn’t they be ticks, we mused? The school’s headteacher gave us a bit of a ticking off... THE technical term for the pattern you see is not crosses, which have vertical and horizontal lines, but a saltire. We prefer to think of them as the Roman numeral for 10, and here’s why pupils will be reminded of 10 great reasons why they are coming to John Roan. 1 In 2013 we achieved our best exam results ever at GCSE. 2 This put us in the top 30 most improved schools in the country. 3 Ofsted have just given us their Good rating at all key stages, and we are now on our way to Outstanding 4 We are over-subscribed both in Year 7 and the sixth form 5 Over 180 Year 11s have applied to our 6th form who did not attend John Roan in Years 7-11. 6 In September we will be moving into state-of-the-art premises with facilities which are matchless in the area. 7 The buildings will contain £1.5m worth of up to date ICT equipment. 8 Our pupils’ attendance is above the national average. Our pupils love coming to our school. 9 The new buildings in total will be over 12,000 square metres of amazing learning environments. 10 Our facilities will be open to the local community in the evenings and at weekends. The staff, parents, governors and pupils all think the new building looks amazing and is an improvement on what was there before. Des Malone Headteacher, John Roan School Thanks Mr Malone - we’re not sure the subtle difference between crosses and saltires or Roman numerals will be obvious to non-Scots or Romans, and we’re sorry our light-hearted piece upset you. But we know how hard you’ve worked to improve the school and we wish you and your pupils well.

Did you know my dad Brian? CAN you help a family mystery? Angela Price is trying to find people who knew her dad back in the 80s. Angela contacted us on Twitter with her request for information about Brian Allen Green, who she believes was killed in a road accident in Woolwich in 1984. She told us: “My dad was 35 when he was killed cycling to work in the early hours of the morning – I was only two. “My mum only told me bits and pieces about him and I have now lost touch with her. I’ve heard different stories about him, but I’m at a point in my life where I need to find the truth and get some kind of closure. “I’m told he worked in a factory in Woolwich at the time, but not which one. I’d like to find out what sort of person he was and I’d like to trace my dad’s side of the family if possible. My dad’s date of birth was July 17 1948 and I think his mum’s maiden name may have been Hickett.” If you knew Brian or know anything about his tragic death please Email Matt@ TheGreenwichVisitor.com and we’ll pass on your information.

Advertisers appear onMUSEUM THE FAN our GIANT SUPERSee CenMtreAPPages

Wayne becomes dance Professor WORLD class dance leader Wayne McGregor has been appointed Professor of Choreography at Trinity Laban. Wayne joined the staff of the Conservatoire of Music and Dance in September 2013 as a development of the partnership with his Random Dance company. He is known for his physically testing choreography and collaborations about the science of dance creativity. Trinity Laban Principal, Professor Anthony Bowne, said: “The appointment of Wayne McGregor significantly enhances our research activity. We are delighted.”

Kids face-paint to fight cancer FACE-painting for kids at Wilko in Woolwich raised £126 for Cancer Research UK. It’s the first of many fundraisers for the charity planed by staff at the homeware store on Woolwich New Road. Modupe Owodunni, assistant store manager, said: “The facepainting was great fun for all the children.” C a n c e r R e s e a r c h U K ’s Sharon Baldwin said: “We’re so grateful for the support..” Info: www.cancerresearchuk.org

KING OF WRAP

GEORGE II is wrapped up against the cold in this picture by reader Philip Rainbird. The statue – facing the Thames at the Old Royal Naval College – shows Britain’s last foreign-born King as a Roman emperor with laurel headgear. It is carved from a single block of marble captured from a French ship, Thanks for your photo, Philip. You win a selection of wines from Spirited Wines email your photo to: of Blackheath.

SEND US YOUR PICS OF A PERFECT DAY

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Running Marathon for Tom

April 2014 Page 15

LAST month our Greenwich Visitor fitness expert Annette Perry told why she decided to run the London Marathon again after a ten-year gap for a great local charity. With the race looming, here’s how she and her running partners are progressing...

WALK for Tom becomes Run For Tom this year – Zoe Ayling is running the London Marathon to raise HERE TRIO GO: (L to R) Annette, Louisa and Val are running for Deptford charity the 999 Club money for Charlton Park Riding for the Disabled. Zoe – part of the TEN years ago I said I’d never Olympic Torch relay in run the London Marathon 2012 – is running in again...now I’m starting to memory of Tom remember why! Warren, who never let Although I’m thrilled to be cerebral palsy get in the way of his life and taking part in the biggest road race loved riding his in the world right here on my favourite horse doorstep in Greenwich, it’s been a Honey. roller coaster ride. Carol Kendall, of Before Christmas training was Charlton Park RDA almost too much fun! I ran because said: “We are¬†the last I loved it. The distances seemed Riding for the Disabled achievable; race day on April 13 group in London who seemed a long way off. But then offer free lessons to the the festivities got in the way. Those extra 2-3 kilos gained actually running in the race. You wouldn’t believe the children. made us feel more moose than gazelle! pressure and responsibility felt in trying to reach our target The only But I’ve also shared two flu-like colds with my of £3,000 to help The 999 Club offer friendship, help and reason London Marathon starts running partner (“What’s mine is yours,” I flippantly advice to the most vulnerable in the community. It is staffed we can told her) who then developed a sinus infection, entirely by local people, who know the misery caused by at Greenwich Park achieve causing a blip in our preparations. homelessness, poverty and drug and alcohol abuse. It’s a this is Like me, my running mates Val and Louisa deserving charity where your money can make a huge thanks – we’re raising money for the 999 Club in difference – so please help by visiting: to Sunday April 13. amazing Deptford – have experienced minor injuries www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/999club Various starts from 9.20am people, like and niggles of the hip, pelvis, back, foot, Our physical training is tapering down now but we feel Zoe and the calf and knee. What a spritely lot we make! more emotionally charged than ever. I want the race to be Walk for Tom But now we are all now consumed with over now and yet I know that once that day has passed, team.” the big day on April 13. there will be a massive void in my life. Donate at www. We eat, sleep and breathe thoughts about the Annette Perry just giving.com/RunLondon Marathon – but we’re worrying as much We’ll let you now how Annette, Val and Louisa get on in on For-Tom-2014 about finding more innovative ways to raise money as Twitter and Facebook and in next month’s paper.

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April 2014 Page 16

1635: AND THE DREADED PLAGUE HITS GREENWICH AGAIN THE first recorded instance of the plague in Greenwich was in 1530 although it is highly likely that – in common with the rest of the country – there had been numerous earlier outbreaks. At that time the plague victims were simply evicted from the town to try to prevent the infection from spreading. Plague probably visited Greenwich again in 1563, 1593/94 and 1603 when there were outbreaks in neighbouring parishes.

Pest House

IT’S an urban myth that Blackheath got its name because victims of The Plague were buried under the Heath..but few people know that just a few hundred yards away a burial ground DID exist. Historian David Whittaker tells the story

In 1625/26, 154 people in Greenwich died of the epidemic, and in 1630 at least 75. By this time a more humane approach was being taken, with the victims forcibly confined to their homes until Parish officials were sure any danger of infection had passed. By this

point some or all of the occupants of the house could have perished. The Parish was responsible for providing victims with food, fuel and medicine during the period of incarceration. An outbreak in 1635 was considered to warrant the construction of a Pest House – a type of isolation hospital for those with the plague, and other contagious diseases. It was partly paid for by a grant of £40 from King Charles I, although it is not clear why he did this. No pictures exist, but from Parish accounts we know it was built of brick and

timber and plastered, with inner and secure outer doors, and was heated with coal. Access was probably by a trackway from Blackheath Hill, which was the first part of the modern road to be constructed. The site of the Pest House was roughly where Dutton Street is today. A relatively small number – about 20 – died in the 1635/36 outbreak. Only six or seven victims would have been accommodated in the Pest House at a time – the preferred means of quarantine was still to secure people in their own homes. The Parish employed three types of officials to assist with treatment of victims: Searchers examined the living and dead for symptoms of the disease, and would remove possessions and clothing that may be a source of infection and burn it on the edge of Blackheath. Vi c t i m s o r r e l a t i v e s w e r e compensated for anything destroyed this way, the items having been valued beforehand. Searchers were not allowed to live in their own homes – some would stay with victims and others at the Pest House. Warders combined the roles of watchmen and odd job men – they cleared people from the streets before a burial and carried the searchers from place to place. Visitors would be allocated one or more victims’ homes to look after. The Pest House’s Rules and Orders required children to be taught to read, for care of the sick, for church attendance and religious education, for the cleanliness of the premises and the inmates, and the prevention of drunkenness, immoral and indecent behaviour. Close by the Pest House, to the west, was The Burying Ground, though it is only shown on two maps, including one from 1739. How many were buried there is not known. The Great Plague of 1665 London also affected Greenwich badly. 840 people died in the Parish; local records for this period are not as extensive as those for earlier outbreaks. Samuel Pepys documented his stay in Greenwich that year – his diary notes an unburied body lying in the streets. The Pest House had fallen into disuse by 1766 and was demolished to make way for the new Greenwich Workhouse. Whether those buried there were exhumed and reinterred, I do not know. However, my advice to those living in Dutton Street is not to dig too deeply in the back garden...

The Pest House ISOLATED: Similar Pest House in Finsbury

COTTAGES: Dutton Street today

‘Victims of the Plague were burried just to the west of the brick and timber isolation building. Were their bodies ever moved? I don’t know. But if you live in Dutton Street don’t dig too deep in your back garden’ BIGGER: Greenwich Workhouse following expansion, 1800

tales of misery in new workhouse BUILDING and managing workhouses was the responsibility of the local Parish or Parishes – they were for people who had no other means of support, including the poor, the old, infirm and single woman with children born out of wedlock. Conditions varied from place to place, but were harsh to discourage people from adding to the drain on public money. The new Greenwich Workhouse was built on the north side of Maidenstone Hill, partly on the site of the Pest House, by that time in a “ruinous” condition, and adjacent land to the south, leased from The Crown in 1765 for one shilling (5p) a year, then purchased in 1799 for £53 17s 6d (£53 87.5p). The site

straddled what is now Dutton Street. In 1783 there were 306 men, women and children, with the Workhouse Mistress reporting four or five children were sharing a bed. By 1798, to ease the overcrowding, the building had been enlarged. It included a five-storey main with cellar and attic, a separate building for spinning and wool storage, four external “privy” blocks, and gardens and yards. Although the main block faced Maidenstone Hill, the rear part of the site abutted an embankment which overlooked gardens and, further away, the town itself. The perimeter walls were topped with “flint glass” and the gates with spikes in

order to try to prevent escapes. Able-bodied adult inmates had to work for the Parish and the Royal Navy. This included picking oakum – taking apart old ropes – to be reused in shipbuilding for the Navy, or mending roads for the Parish. The Workhouse also ran a mop-making and clothing business, which included spinning the yarn from wool on the site. At one point staff included a mistress: Salary £25 5s per annum; a superintendant of spinning yarn £8 8s; his assistant who also read prayers on £8 8s; and a beadle £25, with duties extended beyond the Workhouse. The regime could be harsh: In 1788, for escaping over the wall, a William Godfrey

was “tied to the whipping post in the yard, stripped naked from the middle upwards and whipped by the Beadle till his back bloody.” However, after his punishment, Godfrey applied to be released and was given a pair of shoes and a shirt on request. Workhouse Committee papers from 1827 record that a Mary Warren, aged 25, and her illegitimate son James, aged 4 months, were taken for a short time into the “house” before being discharged and given money to buy clothes. The building remained until at least 1841, when the Census noted only two remaining residents, a gardener and his wife; the site was sold off in the same year.

GreenwichVisitor THE

ParkLife

By Greenwich Park manager Graham Dear

ast year, top landscape gardener and TV presenter Chris Beardshaw won a Gold Medal and People’s Choice Best in Show award for his Arthritis Society garden at the world famous Chelsea Flower Show. This year, Chris has produced a new design – the herbaceous border in Greenwich Park. And this week we started planting it. t 200m the herbaceous border is one of the longest in the country, but its location must surely be best. Set in front of a Ha Ha wall the backdrop to the border is the enigmatic Queen’s House – itself described as the finest house in England. This is a very special place which demanded a top design when it came to replant the border. he border has always been popular with visitors ever since it was laid out in 1925. This is the year that the deer, which up to then had roamed freely in the Park, were enclosed into the deer park at the south of the Park. Freed from the attention of grazing deer, the Ha Ha ditch was filled in and planted as a new horticultural feature. erbaceous borders need constant work and renewal. Ours had got a little tired and was infested with bindweed. It had also not been planted to a particular colour scheme or season of flowering. Rather than try to tackle this a little bit at a time the decision was made to completely redesign the border. Some of the UK’s top designers were invited to tender for the design and Chris Beardshaw (inset) was chosen. s well as being long and narrow, there were constraints on the design. It had to complement the historic location and buildings. In front of the Queen’s House, the planting should use cool colours and keep below the level of the ha ha wall. Chris’s design solution is simple and elegant. The border has been divided up into sections with shaped Yew hedges that reflect the proportions of the buildings behind. Starting with cool blues and purples in the centre the ends tend to hot reds and yellows. There is symmetry and repeats with the curves inspired by the great gardener Gertrude Jekyll. ome lovely plants will form a kaleidoscope of colour and form in the border, including some of my old favourites – like Meilanthus Major – and a few I have never heard like Phlomis Cashmeriana. With over 3,000 individual herbaceous plants to plant, our expert gardeners, Michaela and Zoe needed a bit of help, so out of retirement have come former Park supervisor Tip and Len. With over 100 years of experience between them they should be up to the challenge. The herbaceous plants will take a couple of years to spread and fill the design but it should be stunning – a world class herbaceous border for a world class park. ollow the border’s progres for yourself by coming to the Park, or on Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time, where Chris is a regular panellist.

A T

wizards from oz

Floyd tribute band opens GMT festival THE opening act at this summer ’s Greenwich Music Time festival has been announced – The Australian Pink Floyd Show will kick off the shows at the Old Royal Naval College in August.

They will play songs form the legendary prog rock band’s albums The Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Division Bell. The tribute act has sold more than three million tickets for their shows in 35 countries and have just finished a sold-out tour including dates at the O2 in Greenwich. Other acts at the festival include

Goldfrapp, Russell Watson and local hero that it would not now have enough time to do Jools Holland (inset). But another big all the work necessary. summer music event will NOT now Festival Director Tommy Mizzen go ahead.The Festival of Good said: “By moving to 2015 we Hope, in memory of murdered believe we will have a greater Lee schoolboy Jimmy Mizen, opportunity to work with the local has been postponed for a year. community, festival partners, and The event was given a supporters to ensure that the DARK SIDE licence by Lewisham Council festival is everything we hope it OZ MOON: despite legal queries and some to be.” Floyd tribute residents’ fears of noise and Instead, a Good Hope Festival dispruption. Open Day will take place on the It was due to take place on the Heath on August 2 this year. weekend of August 2 and 3. But the Jimmy www.greenwichmusictime.co.uk Mizzen Foundation announced on March 27 www.Jimmymizen.org

Dating event held on Greenwich cable car High love you!

BIG DIG: Park gardener Zoe at work on the border

April 2014 Page 17

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LOVE is all around...especially in a cable car capsule suspended 295ft above the Thames with seven other singles. The dating event with a difference takes place this month in Greenwich. Tracey Hill, founder of Simplicity3, is holding a dating night on the Emirates AirLine. Eight singles – and a host – will see if there’s chemistry between them as they glide across river, with panoramic views Greenwich thrown in. Tracey says: “As an aviation enthusiast I wanted to incorporate a bit of my personality into the launch of Simplicity3. “What better way to do this than at 295ft above the Thames on London’s only cable car, where conversations will flow and the awkward first impression nerves will fade.” Included in the £20 cost is a round-trip on the cable car with a 20-minute dating experience, a party at Union Square in the O2, complimentary drink and goodie bag…and maybe the love of your life. Info: www.simplicity3.co.uk

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April 2014 Page 18

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he cheap and cheerful Taste of Lewisham in Lee High Road may not look much but it certainly delivers value for money. On a recent visit some interesting Indian and Sri Lankan dishes were discovered; not many places offer Nethli Fry (fried sprats with onions and spices), Egg Curry, Dal Spinach Kurma or Honey Banana Parotta. There is, in fact, a whole range of parottas (a flat bread from Kerala) on the menu, as well as Dosas, Sri Lankan Kothus dishes and Tiffin Meals (got to love the wonderfully-named Fried Idly and Uppuma). But for real value the eatall-you-like buffets (noon to 5pm) are £3.99 for vegetarian and £5.99 non-veg. eal Taste – the chicken, chips and kebab place next to the Co-op – has cut its offerings of curry. The venue used to offer a full range of spicy food including all the old-school favourites at decent prices under the banner of Real Spice. However, this has been trimmed back, although a small range of biryanis is still offered and makes a nice alternative to fried chicken and chips. t’s official: All I talk about is curry! A friend told me this while we were watching a match during the current T20 Cricket World Cup being held in Bangladesh. I was thrilled to see that the venue was Sylhet – the city where the majority of the people running and working in UK curry houses are from. The city is one of the richest in Bangladesh, thanks mainly to remittances from expats living here, and the shiny new stadium just showed what a good bit of curry cash can do. The cricket also got us thinking. Apart from a couple of countries such as New Zealand and Australia, which are not fully converted to the cause yet, most of the countries competing – India, Pakistan, England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa (in Durban at least) – are curry mad. Maybe it should be renamed the Curry World Cup? recent trip to Charlton’s Masala Mart reminded me just how much pickles and chutneys are markedup by restaurants. A two kilo tub of lime pickle or mango chutney costs less than a fiver in the spice warehouse, whereas restaurants sometimes charge up to a pound for a couple of spoonfuls. astecard, if you haven’t discovered it yet, can be used at a whole range of restaurants to get 50 per cent off (or 2-4-1) deals. There are a remarkable number of local curry places signed up and while there are a few restrictions on its use (such as it can’t be used on Saturday nights etc) it still offers a good deal for curry lovers. A quick check revealed the following all offering card deals: Coriander (Westcombe Park), Gurkha’s Inn (off Trafalgar Road), Blackheath’s Taste of Raj and Everest Inn, Panas Gurkha (Lee High Road), Himalaya (Lewisham High Street), and The Gaylord in Island Gardens.

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Tales of Eltham

Join us to congratulate our winning local short story writers! Wednesday 23rd April 2014 at 6pm The Eltham Centre, 2 Archery Rd, Eltham SE9 1HA Contact Gaynor Wingham: ElthamArts@aol.co.uk or 07076 355398 Sponsored by Conran Estates and Greenwich University

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GreenwichVisitor THE

BOWLING is a blast! For family fun indoors it’s hard to beat an hour at the alley, especially when you want to impress the kids.

gold $trike!

You try to show them how it’s done, sliding in with a Strike...but reduce them to tears of laughter when you let go at the wrong time and send a Barnes Wallace bouncing bowl down the alley and hope no-one else saw – especially the staff. If you live here you’ll probably have been to kids’ bowling parties at Hollywood Bowl in Surrey Quays, or 1st Bowl in Lewisham. So it’s surprising that a bowling alley has only just opened at the O2 – the giant dome at North Greenwich. Brooklyn Bowl sits underneath the British Music Experience. It offers a dining and gig experience alongside the bowling – just like its sister/ hipster venue in New York. We visited to celebrate our daughter’s birthday and had a great time…until the bill almost knocked us down like, err, tenpins! Yes, we loved the alleys – clean, well-run, easy to use. The staff were helpful and polite and didn’t make us feel uncomfortable for asking lots of questions like the newbies we are to Brooklyn Bowl. Here’s what happened: We had a drink in the restaurant then booked our lanes. Brooklyn Bowl charges by the hour – not by the game, as most others alleys do. Fair enough. We didn’t want to be rushed but weren’t too particular about the scores anyway (as long as I win). At which point came the first awkward moment. Bowling shoes are part of the deal, right? Wrong! Each pair of shoes costs £2.50. And it’s not a deposit. It’s a fee. So add another tenner to your game. Frankly I was little miffed. (I’ve checked with other alleys and can’t find any that charge for shoe hire.) Whatever…the bowling was fun. A few strikes, some spares, another drink, plenty of

Brooklyn Bowl’s a hit...at a price

April 2014 Page 19

here are a couple of great days out coming up for fabns of proper ales: Woolwich’s new Hop Stuff Brewery is holding two Open Days, on Friday April 4 and Saturday April 5 at its base in the Woolwich Arsenal. We’ve been following the progress of brewer James Yeomans’ (above) since before the launch last summer... and tasting his rather good beers since! month later there’s the first Kidbrooke Beer & Cider Festival – a three-day celebration at Charlton Park Rugby Club, hosted by South East London CAMRA on May 1, 2 and 3 at Charlton Park Rugby Club (1210.30). CAMRA promise more than 50 real ales and 15 ciders and perries at the event. Admission is just £1 to CAMRA members and £2 to non-members. There’s hot and cold food too. www.selcamra.org. uk/kidbrooke-beer-cider-festival/ nother month ticks by and... the Pavilion Tea Room in Greenwich Park remains closed. We were hoping that Creative Taste – which has taken over the contract for the Royal Park’s catering – would be better that its predecessor. We’ll keep you posted. nother month ticks by and... The Scullery still hasn’t opened in the old Gambardella’s cafe at Blackheath Standard. Fingers crossed. We really want to come along. offees & Kream has opened its doors in Woolwich. Kongratulations! (Sorry, kouldn’t resist). We’re informed they do everything from breakfasts to Sunday roasts. ad to see that the Cutty Sark has stopped selling Guinness. Instead Youngs’ Stout is on draft. It’s OK. But a pub without Guinness..? My Goodness!

gutter shots and many Bouncing Bombs later we were done. And fabulous fun it was too. We went a couple of minutes over the hour we had booked, but were assured those few minutes would be free, and they were. Next we ate. We all skipped starters and ordered food that definitely wasn’t the most expensive on the menu… A blue cheese bacon burger that was delicious at £15.50; a french bread pizza that was unusual and tasty at £11; vegetable K-bobs at £15; a fatty pizza that wasn’t at all and was another £15. The girls had shakes. The adults had a bottle of wine. We shared two puddings between us. It’d be nice to keep

REAL T A S HONEW REVIEr fooSd

the bill relatively sane, after We payrefoview all… Ouch… With a 12.5 per we cent service charge included our bill for around three hours of entertainment came in at a very hefty £233! Say wha!? We checked and it was all correct. Our verdict? Brooklyn Bowl is a great new offer for the O2. The price of actually bowling seems on a par with rivals who charge by the game…. But if they want us to become regular customers over the next few years – and have cash to spend elsewhere in the building – those prices will have to come down. And give us those shoes for free! SIMON CLARK

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GreenwichVisitor THE

Tuesday April 1

MUSIC Justin Timberlake O2 DANCE BA2 Show Laban 7.30 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood DRAMA Romeo And Juliet Lon Theatre 8

Wednesday 2

HELP Meet & Greet Planning events for the blind St Alfege 10am-noon MASTERCLASS Geoff Hunt Marine art 10-5 NMM DRAMA Romeo And Juliet Lon Theatre 2, 8 TOUR War Artists At Sea Queen’s House 3.30 MUSIC Justin Timberlake O2 DANCE BA2 Show Laban 7.30 TALK Admiral Parker Of 12 Crooms Hill Daphne & Andrew Joynes. Fan Museum 7.30 MUSIC Blackheath Does Broadway Blackheath Halls 7.30 WOOLLIES Knitting club Pelton JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

Thursday 3

TALK Dr Joshua Newton and Christine Riding Reframing The Slave Ship. 11am NMM MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 MUSIC Vanbrugh Ensemble 7.30 at All Saints, Blackheath £8 on door MUSIC Boy George IndigO2 FILM/THEATRE War Horse Link-up to National Theatre Greenwich Picturehouse 7.30 FUND-RAISER Father Ted Quiz Night Woolwich Grand 7 MUSIC Four Tops/Temptations O2 DRAMA Romeo And Juliet Lon Theatre 8 MUSIC Icarus Club Pelton JAZZ Antonio Fusco Oliver’s

WHAT’S ON

Organising an event you want thousands of residents AND visitors to know about in the biggest and best local listings guide there is? Please email all the essential details and a contact phone number to matt@ TheGreenwich Visitor.com

April 2014 Page 20

Friday 4

MUSIC Backstreet Boys O2 BEER Hop Stuff Brewery Open Day (6.30-10.30). 7 Gunnery Terrace, Woolwich Arsenal COMEDY Ross Noble Michael Edwards Theatre Cutty Sark 7.45 DRAMA Romeo And Juliet Lon Theatre 8 COMEDY Johnny Candon, Ryan Cull, Tez Ilyas, Rudi Lickwood Up The Creek MUSIC Bruise Pelton

Saturday 5

KIDS Impossible Creatures ORNC 10-5 BEER Hop Stuff Brewery Open Day (11-3). 7 Gunnery Terrace, Woolwich Arsenal FAMILY Storm Shakers Cutty Sark 11.30am, 2 DRAMA Romeo And Juliet Lon Theatre 2, 8 FOOTBALL Charlton Athletic v Reading. The Valley 3 RUGBY Blackheath RFC v Old Albanians. Rectory Field 3 DANCE Children’s Classes Mixed Bill Laban Theatre 3, 4.30 FILM/OPERA La Bohème Link-up to New York Met Greenwich Picturehouse 5.55 MUSIC Gary Barlow O2 DANCE Divercity Borough Hall 7 MUSIC The Ionian Singers St Alfege 7.30 COMEDY Johnny Candon, Rudi Lickwood, Elliot Steele Up The Creek MUSIC Secret Police Pelton MUSIC Coco & The Butterfields Oliver’s

Sunday 6

KIDS Impossible Creatures ORNC 10-5 FAMILY Lambing Day The Woodlands Farm Trust 11-4.30 FAMILY Storm Shakers Cutty Sark 11.30am, 2 KIDS Easter Egg Hunt East Greenwich Pleasaunce 3.30 DRAMA Romeo And Juliet Lon Theatre 5 MUSIC Gary Barlow O2 TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7

April

Greenwich Theatre 8 PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s

Tuesday 15

John Wingham on World War 1 Poets at the Eltham Centre, featuring actors from the Bob Hope Theatre, Weds April 9.

Tuesday 8

FAMILY Mrs McMoon Greenwich Theatre 9.45am KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM KIDS Impossible Creatures ORNC 10-5 FAMILY Weather Mobiles Cutty Sark 11.30am, 2 KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM PLAY Kidnapped Greenwich Theatre 11am, 3 KIDS A-Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM FAMILY Signor Baffo Greenwich Theatre 1.15 MUSIC Johnny Matthis O2 FOOTBALL Charlton Athletic v Yeovil. The Valley 7.45 FOOTBALL Welling United v Hereford 7.45 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood DRAMA Package Deals (Gunshots Included) Lon Theatre 8

Wednesday 9

FAMILY Mrs McMoon Greenwich Theatre 9.45am KIDS Impossible Creatures ORNC 10-5 KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM KIDS Make A Willow Snail Woodlands Farm Trust 11am, 2 FAMILY Weather Mobiles Cutty Sark 11.30am, 2 KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM PLAY Kidnapped Greenwich Theatre 11am, 3 KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM FAMILY Signor Baffo Greenwich Theatre 1.15 TALK First World War Poets John Wingham. Eltham Centre 7 WOOLLIES Knitting club Pelton DRAMA Package Deals (Gunshots Included) Lon Theatre 8 JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

Thursday 10

FAMILY Mrs McMoon Greenwich Theatre 10am KIDS Impossible Creatures ORNC 10-5 KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM FAMILY Guided Tour Woodlands Farm Trust 11am, 2 FAMILY Storm Shakers Cutty Sark 11.30am, 2 KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 KIDS Old Macdonald Had A Farm Greenwich Theatre 2.30 FAMILY Signor Baffo Greenwich Theatre 4.30 MUSIC Icarus Club Pelton DRAMA Package Deals (Gunshots Included) Lon Theatre 8 JAZZ Stefan Malovski Oliver’s

Friday 11

KIDS Easter Egg Hunt Woodlands Farm Trust 10-2 FAMILY Mrs McMoon Greenwich Theatre 10am, 2 KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM KIDS Impossible Creatures ORNC 10-5 FAMILY Around The World In 60 Seconds 11am, 1, 3 NMM DANCE Crossing The Creek Family dance adventure Monday 7 Laban Theatre 11am KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM KIDS Impossible Creatures KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM ORNC 10-5 FAMILY Neptune King Of The FAMILY Around The World In 60 Seas Noon, 1, 2, 3 NMM Seconds 11am, 1, 3 NMM FAMILY Signor Baffo KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM Greenwich Theatre 3.15 KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM COMEDY Miranda Hart O2 FAMILY Neptune King Of The MUSIC Boyce Avenue IndigO2 Seas Noon, 1, 2, 3 NMM TALK Firefighting In Tall PLAY Kidnapped Buildings Blackheath Scientific Greenwich Theatre 7 Society hears from Adam Carter. MUSIC Blackheath Does Broadway Mycenae House 7.45 Blackheath Halls 7.30 COMEDY Ross Noble Michael PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 Edwards Theatre Cutty Sark 7.45 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s DRAMA Package Deals (Gunshots

Included) Lon Theatre 8 COMEDY Pete Firman, Evelyn Mok, Mo Gilligan, Barry Castagnolla Up The Creek JAZZ Andrea Vicary Oliver’s

Saturday 12

KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM KIDS Impossible Creatures ORNC 10-5 KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM FAMILY Whirlwinds Cutty Sark 11.30am, 2 KIDS A-Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM FAMILY Picnic In The Park East Greenwich Pleasaunce TEA DANCE Blackheath Halls 2 DRAMA The Wardrobe Greenwich Theatre 6 TALK Julian Kingson: Build The Lennox Greenwich Industrial History Society lecture. Old Bakehouse 7.30 DRAMA Pronoun Greenwich Theatre 8 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood

Wednesday 16

KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM KIDS Impossible Creatures ORNC 10-5 FAMILY Whirlwinds Cutty Sark 11.30am, 2 KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM KIDS Impossible Creatures Crafts ORNC 1-4 MUSIC Elbow O2 WOOLLIES Knitting club Pelton DRAMA Pronoun Greenwich Theatre 6 MUSIC Bach’s Mass in B Minor ORNC chapel 7.30 JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

FAMILY Mrs McMoon Greenwich Theatre 9.45, noon FUND-RAISER Book sale For Age Exchange & Blackheath Village Library. Old Bakehouse 10-4 friends-of-age-exchange.org.uk KIDS Impossible Creatures ORNC 10-5 KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM DANCE Crossing The Creek Thursday 17 Family dance adventure KIDS Impossible Creatures Laban Theatre 11am ORNC 10-5 KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM KIDS Dinosaur Zoo Greenwich NMM Theatre 11am, 2, 4.30 FAMILY Storm Shakers KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM Cutty Sark 11.30am, 2 SALE Going For A Song KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM Amersham Arms, from noon KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 FAMILY Meet Joe Brown NMM ORNC 12, 1, 2, 3 MUSIC Trinity Laban ADVERTS MUSIC Kristiana HERE COST FROM JUST recital Smilovska Piano St Alfege 1.05 recital. St TALK Sam Willis Alfege 1.05 Historian on The MUSIC The Fighting Temeraire. Little Sweep 6 NMM Children’s PLAY Cell Opera Greenwich Theatre Blackheath 8 AND ARE READ EVERY DAY. MUSIC Halls 2, 6 CALL SAM BACKHOUSE ON Pelton Icarus Club FAMILY Signor Baffo 07731 645828 Friday 18 Greenwich KIDS Easter Egg Hunt Theatre 3.15 Cutty Sark 10-5 BITCOIN Launch Party KIDS Impossible Creatures Bird’s Nest, 32 Deptford Church ORNC 10-5 St, SE8 4RZ from 7.30 KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM COMEDY Miranda Hart O2 FAMILY Around The World In 60 DRAMA Package Deals (Gunshots Seconds 11am, 1, 3 NMM Included) Lon Theatre 8 KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM MUSIC Frank The Cat Pelton KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM COMEDY Pete Firman, Barry FAMILY Neptune King Of The Castagnolla, Carly Smallman Seas Noon, 1, 2, 3 NMM Up The Creek PLAY Cell MUSIC Chuckie Building Six. 9 Greenwich Theatre 6.30, 9 JAZZ Maurizio Minardi Oliver’s BARN DANCE Global Fusion Sunday 13 event. Charlton House 7 RUN London Marathon COMEDY Ross Noble Michael Greenwich Park Edwards Theatre Cutty Sark 7.45 KIDS Impossible Creatures CHOIR Blossom Close Edward ORNC 10-5 Alderton Theatre, Brampton Rd, KIDS Dinosaur Zoo Greenwich Bexleyheath 7.30 Theatre 10.30am MUSIC Toot N Skamen Pelton FAMILY Lambing Day COMEDY Ian Moore, Josh Ross, Woodlands Farm Tust 11-4.4.30 Tim Renkow, Foil Arm & Hogg FAMILY Mrs McMoon Up The Creek Greenwich Theatre. Noon JAZZ Dexterritory Oliver’s MUSIC The Little Sweep Children’s Saturday 19 Opera Blackheath Halls 2, 6 KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM FAMILY Signor Baffo KIDS Easter Egg Hunt Greenwich Theatre 2.30 Cutty Sark 10-5 KIDS Pirate Gran Greenwich KIDS Impossible Creatures Theatre 4 ORNC 10-5 DRAMA Package Deals (Gunshots KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 Included) Lon Theatre 5 NMM MUSIC Steve Morrison Pelton 6 KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM TALENT Something for Sunday FAMILY Meet Grace O’Malley The Vanbrugh 7 ORNC 12, 1, 2, 3 JAZZ The Mouse Pack Oliver’s FOOTBALL Welling United Monday 14 v Luton Town 7.45 FAMILY Easter Eggstravaganza KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM Charlton House 2-5 KIDS Impossible Creatures FOOTBALL Charlton Athletic ORNC 10-5 v Bolton. The Valley 3 FAMILY Around The World In 60 MUSIC Wahala IndigO2 Seconds 11am, 1, 3 NMM CHOIR Blossom Close Edward KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM Alderton Theatre, Brampton Rd, KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 Bexleyheath 7.30 NMM FAMILY Neptune King Of COMEDY Ian Moore, Foil Arm & The Seas Noon, 1, 2, 3 Hogg, Ash Frith Up The Creek NMM MUSIC Matthew Schellhorn PLAY Cell Piano. Backheath Halls 1.10 Greenwich Theatre 8 DRAMA Pronoun MUSIC Men With Ven Pelton Greenwich Theatre 6 JAZZ Vlad Miller Oliver’s DRAMA Westcombe Shakespeare Sunday 20 Readers All the plays. Mycenae House. Details: 07950 707272 FAMILY Birdwatching Walk MUSIC Blackheath Does Woodlands Farm Trust 9.15 Broadway Blackheath Halls 7.30 KIDS Impossible Creatures DRAMA A Shop Selling Speech ORNC 10-5

£33

KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM KIDS Easter Egg Hunt Cutty Sark 10-5 KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM FILM/CONCERT Sir Simon Rattle & Berlin Philharmonic Greenwich Picturehouse 5 MUSIC Mississippi McDonald & Cotton Mouth Kings Pelton TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7 MUSIC Emanuele Fizzotti Oliver’s

Monday 21

KIDS Great Map Games 10-5 NMM KIDS Easter Egg Hunt Cutty Sark 10-5 KIDS Impossible Creatures ORNC 10-5 FAMILY Around The World In 60 Seconds 11am, 1, 3 NMM KIDS 3D Maps 11.30, 2 NMM KIDS A To Z Map fun 11.30, 2 NMM MORRISMEN Chair Lifting ORNC 12.45 FAMILY Neptune King Of The Seas Noon, 1, 2, 3 NMM PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s

Tuesday 22

MUSIC Blackheath Does Broadway Blackheath Halls 7.30 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood

Wednesday 23

DANCE Reading With Bach Laban Theatre 7 WOOLLIES Knitting club Pelton MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 7.30 JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

Thursday 24

MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 FAMILY Curator’s Tour Cutty Sark 3.30 MUSIC McBusted O2 DANCE Reading With Bach Laban Theatre 7 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 7.30 COMEDY Welcome To Burkeshire Lon Theatre 8 MUSIC Icarus Club Pelton JAZZ Stefan Melovski Oliver’s

Friday 25

VOLUNTEER Nature Trail Dig-In Greenwich Pk Wildlife Centre 9.30 MUSIC Bach To Baby St Alfege 10.30am MUSIC McBusted O2 MUSIC BITES: Remix Albany 7.30 DANCE Hakeem Onibudo Borough Hall 7.30 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 7.30 MUSIC St Paul’s Sinfonia St Alfege 7.30 MUSIC Heidi Talbot Blackheath Halls 7.30 MUSIC Martin Carthy Global Fusion St George’s Day event Charlton House 7.30 COMEDY Ross Noble Michael Edwards Theatre Cutty Sark 7.45 MUSIC Christopher Hollands Pelton COMEDY Paul Myerhaug, Lee Kern, Andrew Maxwell Up The Creek JAZZ Lilli Unwin Oliver’s

Saturday 26

VOLUNTEER Drop-In Greenwich Pk Wildlife Centre 1-3 SALE Children’s Nearly New Christ Church Shooters Hill 2 £1 TEA DANCE Borough Hall 2 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 2.30, 7.30 KIDS Alice & The White Rabbit Blackheath Halls 3 FOOTBALL Charlton Athletic v Blackburn. The Valley 3 RUGBY Blackheath RFC v Doncaster. Rectory Field 3 FOOTBALL Welling United v Southport 5.30 FILM/OPERA Così Fan Tutte Link-up to New York Met Greenwich Picturehouse 5.55 MUSIC McBusted O2 CHARITY Friends Of Age Exchange Quiz 7.30 at Kingswood Halls, Kingswood Pl SE13 5BU BARN DANCE Borough Hall 8 MUSIC Wott The Hoople Pelton COMEDY Paul Myerhaug, Andrew Maxwell, Nick Dixon Up The Creek JAZZ Maurizio Minardi Oliver’s

Sunday 27

FAMILY Dawn Chorus Birdwatching Walk Woodlands Farm Trust 5.15am MOTORS London-Brighton Jaguar Run ORNC 8.30-11am FUN RUNS Heath For Health Charity and school fund-raiser for all ages. From 10.30am. Info:

GreenwichVisitor THE

May

MUSIC Kate Rusby Blackheath Halls 8

Saturday 17

War Artists at Sea at the Queen’s House at the National Maritime Museum until Feb 2015. Tour Weds May 7.

ART SALE Second Floor Studios Harrington Way SE18. 11-5 www.secondfloor.co.uk KIDS Little Red Robin Hood Blackheath Halls 3 DANCE Family Cabaret Borough Hall 3 MUSIC Belinda Carlisle IndigO2 MUSIC London Concert Choir St Alfege 7.30 DRAMA The Last Five Years Greenwich Theatre 8 MUSIC Cara Dillon Blackheath Halls 8

Sunday 18

healthforhealth@live.com MUSIC Gonzalo Acosta Violin recital. Backheath Halls 11am TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7 FILM/BALLET The Winter’s Tale Link-up to Covent Garden Greenwich Picturehouse 6.45 DANCE U.Dance 2014 Laban Theatre 7 MUSIC Dennis Greaves Blues Jam Pelton

MUSIC Miley Cyrus O2 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 7.30 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood

MUSIC Blackheath Does Broadway Blackheath Halls 7.30 PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s

Thursday 8

Monday 28

Tuesday 29

LEARN Wine-Making The Duke 7 www.lettherebewine.co.uk MUSIC Blackheath Does Broadway Blackheath Halls 7.30 DRAMA The Chairs Albany 7.30 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 7.30 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood

Wednesday 30

MUSIC Trinity Laban recital Donations to Age Exchange & Blackheath Village Library. Old Bakehouse 1-2 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 2.30, 7.30 TALK Sandra Dunster Sights And Sounds Of The Medway Towns c1790-1830. Greenwich Heritage Centre 6.30 MUSIC Blackheath Does Broadway Blackheath Halls 7.30 DRAMA The Chairs Albany 7.30 JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

Thursday May 1

BEER 1st Kidbrooke Beer and Cider Festival Charlton Park Rugby Club, 60A Broad Walk, SE3 8NB (12-10.30). MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 FILM/PLAY King Lear Link to National Theatre Greenwich Picturehouse 7 MUSIC Roberta Flack IndigO2 DRAMA The Chairs Albany 7.30 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 7.30 DANCE BA2 Choreography Show Laban Theatre 7.30

Friday 2

BEER 1st Kidbrooke Beer and Cider Festival Charlton Park Rugby Club, 60A Broad Walk, SE3 8NB (12-10.30). MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 7.30 DRAMA The Chairs Albany 7.30 DANCE BA2 Choreography Show Laban Theatre 7.30 MUSIC Big Orange Head Pelton

Saturday 3

KIDS I Spy Cutty Sark 11.30, 2 BEER 1st Kidbrooke Beer and Cider Festival Charlton Park Rugby Club, 60A Broad Walk, SE3 8NB (12-10.30). MUSIC Andrea Kmecova Piano recital. St Alfege 1.05 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 2.30, 7.30 MUSIC Kisstory IndigO2

Sunday 4

KIDS I Spy Cutty Sark 11.30, 2 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 6 TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7

Monday 5

KIDS Pirate Party Cutty Sark 11 MUSIC John Witherspoon IndigO2 PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s

Tuesday 6

Wednesday 7

MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 2.30, 7.30 TOUR War Artists At Sea Queen’s House 3.30 WOOLLIES Knitting club Pelton MUSIC The Sixteen ORNC chapel 7.30 JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 7.30 MUSIC Icarus Club Pelton

Friday 9

MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 7.30 MUSIC Ida Stenmark Lon Theatre 8

Saturday 10

FUND-RAISER Book sale For Age Exchange & Blackheath Village Library. Old Bakehouse 10-4 friends-of-age-exchange.org.uk VINTAGE Art Deco Fair Eltham Palace 10-5. SALE Going For A Song Amersham Arms, from noon MUSIC Victoria Edge Mezzo- soprano recital. St Alfege 1.05 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 2.30, 7.30

Sunday 11

VINTAGE Art Deco Fair Eltham Palace 10-5. MUSIC Piers Adams, David Wright Blackheath Halls 11am TEA DANCE Blackheath Halls 2 MUSICAL Avenue Q Greenwich Theatre 6 MUSIC Deepak Chopra IndigO2 TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7

Monday 12

DRAMA Heritage Greenwich Theatre 6 DRAMA A Letter To Lacey Greenwich Theatre 8 PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s

Tuesday 13

DRAMA The Wardrobe Greenwich Theatre 6 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood DRAMA Horizon Greenwich Theatre 8

Wednesday 14

DRAMA Tomorrow Greenwich Theatre 6 WOOLLIES Knitting club Pelton FILM/PLAY Henry IV Pt I Link to RSC at Stratford-upon-Avon Greenwich Picturehouse 7 TALK History Of Stained Glass With artist Janette Smith Eltham Centre 7 JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s CULTURE Poetry South East Blackheath Halls 8 DRAMA Angels Greenwich Theatre 8 MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

Thursday 15

MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 FAMILY Curator’s Tour Cutty Sark 3.30 DRAMA The Last Five Years Greenwich Theatre 8 MUSIC Icarus Club Pelton

Friday 16

BLOOMS Blackheath Flower Club Mycenae House 1.45-4 ART SALE Second Floor Studios Harrington Way SE18. 6 www.secondfloor.co.uk DRAMA The Last Five Years Greenwich Theatre 8 DANCE A Darker Side Of Fado Borough Hall 8

FAMILY Treasures Of Thames Bring boots! ORNC 10.30 ART SALE Second Floor Studios Harrington Way SE18. 11-5 www. secondfloor.co.uk MUSIC Rie Kosaka Piano recital St Alfege 1.05 KIDS The Magic Violin Backheath Halls 3 MUSIC Folk Fiddle Workshop Blackheath Halls 4.30 MUSIC Folk Jam Blackheath Halls 6 TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7 MUSIC Steffi Dykes, Tandem, Joe Townend & Friends Blackheath Halls 8

Monday 19

WRESTLING WWE Live O2 PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s

Tuesday 20

BLACKHEATH HALLS HEIDI TALBOT

FRI 25 APR 20.00h TICKETS: £17 | £15 Heidi Talbot’s Angels Without Wings is an album of new, original songs taking their inspiration from the world of traditional folk music, with guest contributions from artists as diverse as Mark Knopfler, Jerry Douglas, King Creosote, Julie Fowlis and Tim O’Brien.

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10, 12, 2, 4. The O2 FAMILY Alice In Wonderland Greenwich Theatre 11am, 6 KIDS Ready For Adventure 11.30am, 2 NMM KIDS Adventurous Voyages Cutty Sark 11.30, 2 KIDS Bunty, Shipboard Stewardess Noon, 1, 2 NMM MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 FILM First Men In The Moon Royal Observatory 7 MUSIC Icarus Club Pelton DRAMA Sizwe Banzi Is Dead Albany 7.45

CHILDREN’S EVENTS

ALICE AND THE WHITE RABBIT SAT 26 APR 15.00h TICKETS: £7

Wednesday 21

WOOLLIES Knitting club Pelton DRAMA Medea Lon Theatre 8 JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

Thursday 22

MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 ARROWS Premier League Darts O2 FILM/PLAY The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time Link to National Theatre Greenwich Picturehouse 7 DRAMA Medea Lon Theatre 8 MUSIC Icarus Club Pelton

LITTLE RED ROBIN HOOD SAT 17 MAY 15.00h BOOK TICKETS: £7 ALL 3 AND

GET A 10% DISCOUNT

Friday 23

MUSIC Nine Inch Nails O2 DRAMA Medea Lon Theatre 8

Saturday 24

KIDS Meet Joe Brown ORNC 12,1,2,3 FAMILY Alice In Wonderland Greenwich Theatre 1, 6 FAMILY Rubbish Albany 1, 4 MUSIC Breakin Science IndigO2 DRAMA Medea Lon Theatre 8

THE MAGIC HARP SAT 7 JUN 15.00h TICKETS: £7

Sunday 25

FAMILY Alice In Wonderland Greenwich Theatre 11am, 2 FAMILY Rubbish Albany 1, 4 MUSIC Little Mix O2 DRAMA Medea Lon Theatre 5 TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7 MUSIC Dennis Greaves’ Blues Jam Pelton

Monday 26

FAMILY Digital Adventure 11am, 1, 3 NMM KIDS Fantastic Figureheads Cutty Sark 11.30, 2 KIDS Ready For Adventure 11.30am, 2 NMM KIDS Pearl Morris: Coming To Britain Noon, 1, 2 NMM FAMILY Alice In Wonderland Greenwich Theatre 2, 6 MUSIC Barry Manilow O2 MUSIC Bovi IndigO2 PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s

Tuesday 27

KIDS Theatrical 30s Eltham Palace 10-5 KIDS Comic Life: Young Creatives ORNC 10.30am FAMILY Alice In Wonderland Greenwich Theatre 11am, 6 KIDS Ready For Adventure 11.30am, 2 NMM KIDS Fantastic Figureheads Cutty Sark 11.30, 2 KIDS Bunty, Shipboard Stewardess Noon, 1, 2 NMM MUSIC Katy Perry O2 DRAMA Sizwe Banzi Is Dead Albany 7.45 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood

Wednesday 28

FAMILY Digital Adventure 11,1,3 KIDS Ready For Adventure 11.30am, 2 NMM KIDS Adventurous Voyages Cutty Sark 11.30, 2 FAMILY Titanic Stories Noon, 2

NMM MUSIC Trinity Laban recital Donations to Age Exchange & Blackheath Village Library. Old Bakehouse 1-2 KIDS Animate This! ORNC 1-4 FAMILY Alice In Wonderland Greenwich Theatre 2, 6 WOOLLIES Knitting club Pelton TALK Dr Gavin Rand Military Expeditions & the Performance of Power on the Imperial Frontier. Greenwich Heritage Centre 6.30 MUSIC Katy Perry O2 DRAMA Sizwe Banzi Is Dead Albany 7.45 JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

Thursday 29

**** The Guardian **** Q Magazine

WRESTLING WWE Live O2 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood DRAMA Medea Lon Theatre 8

April 2014 Page 21

Friday 30

VOLUNTEER Nature Trail Dig-In Greenwich Pk Wildlife Centre 9.30 KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10, 12, 2, 4. The O2 FAMILY Digital Adventure 11am, 1, 3 FAMILY Alice In Wonderland Greenwich Theatre 11am, 6 KIDS Ready For Adventure 11.30am, 2 NMM KIDS Adventurous Voyages Cutty Sark 11.30, 2 KIDS Pearl Morris: Coming To Britain Noon, 1, 2 NMM MUSIC Katy Perry O2 DRAMA Sizwe Banzi Is Dead Albany 7.45

Saturday 31

FAMILY Meet Grace O’Malley ORNC 12, 1, 2, 3 VOLUNTEER Drop-In Greenwich Pk Wildlife Centre 1-3 FAMILY Alice In Wonderland Greenwich Theatre 2, 6 KIDS In The Night Garden Live 2, 4. O2 DRAMA Sizwe Banzi Is Dead Albany 2.30, 7.45 MUSIC Leroy Hutson & The Valentine Brothers IndigO2 MUSIC Katy Perry O2

Sunday June 1

FOLK FESTIVAL KATE RUSBY

CARA DILLON

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 MUSIC Leslie Howard Piano recital. Backheath Halls 11am FAMILY Alice In Wonderland Greenwich Theatre 1 TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7

Monday 2

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s

Tuesday 3

FRI 16 MAY 20.OOh TICKETS: £22 | £15 u16s

SAT 17 MAY 20.00h TICKETS: £21 | £19

Folk Funday for all the Family SUN 18 MAY The Magic Violin, 15.00h £7 Folk Music Fiddle Workshop,

16.30h £8 | £5 Folk Jam, 18.00h ADMISSION FREE

Steffi Dykes with Tandem and Joe Townsend and Friends,

DAY PASS

£25 | £17.50

VALID SUN 18 MAY ONLY

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 8 PLAY Rhinoceros Greenwich Theatre MUSIC English folk Lord Hood

Wednesday 4

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 TOUR War Artists At Sea Queen’s House 3.30 WOOLLIES Knitting club Pelton CIRCUS Dralion O2 7 DRAMA I Wish I Was Lonely Albany 7, 8.45 DANCE Transitions Co: Mixed Bill Laban Theatre 7.30 PLAY Rhinoceros Greenwich Theatre JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 8 MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

20.00h £16 | £10

23 LEE ROAD 020 8463 0100 BLACKHEATHHALLS.COM SE3 9RQ

Continued on Page 22

GreenwichVisitor THE

April 2014 Page 22

Long-term

MARKETS Greenwich Market: 10-5.30. Sat and Sun: Arts & crafts, food, fresh produce. Tues, Wed: Food, fresh produce, homewares. Thurs: food, antiques & collectables, crafts. Fri: Food, arts & crafts, antiques & collectibles Clocktower Market: 166 Greenwich High Rd. Sat, Sun 10-4. 50 quirky stalls specialising in vintage, retro and antiques. 07940 914204 Blackheath Farmers’ Market: Blackheath Station, 10-2 every Sun. lfm.org EXHIBITIONS/CRAFTS/COMMUNITY British Music Experience: O2 bubble 11-7.30 daily. 020 8463 2000 Royal Observatory: Free. Meridian Line £10 (£7.50 cons/Greewich Card) The Fan Museum: Hatch, Match, Despatch. Fans showing birth, marriage, death. Till June 1. 12 Crooms Hill. 020 8305 1441 fan-museum.org.uk Age Exchange: Carers’ group Mon, knitters Thurs, preschool rhyme-time Fri. Old Bakehouse, Bennett Pk SE3 9LA. age-exchange.org.uk. St Alfege’s: Drawings of etched glass screen celebrating life of St Alfege by Sonia McNally. On display daily till April 20 National Maritime Museum: Turner & The Sea. Daily till Apr 21. Queen’s House: 10-5. Free Greenwich Gallery & The Cave: John Probart Photographs Apr 22-May 6. Linear House, Peyton Place SE10 8RS Paul McPherson Gallery: Aleksandar Basic Till Apr 12, Beka Smith Apr 28-May 5, Marcus Davies May 12-24, David Jane May27-Jun 14, Joyce Lowman, Suchin E and Clare Jun 16-28. 77 Lassell St SE10 9PJ. paulmcphersongallery.com Ben Oakley Gallery: 9 Turnpin La SE10 9JA. The Forum: Disabled drop-ins, mums’ groups, kids’ classes, advice. Trafalgar Rd SE10 9EQ. 020 8853 5212 Jazz Open Mic Nights: Mondays (exc Bank Hols) Mycenae House SE3, 8.30 Greenwich Heritage Centre: Artillery Square SE18 4DX. 020 8854 2452 WALKS Greenwich Guided Walks: Local experts. Walks daily at 12.15 and 2.15 from the Greenwich Tourist Information Centre. £8, £7 cons. Greenwich Tour Guides Association 07575772298 guides@greenwichtours.co.uk Rich Sylvester: Guide, historian, storyteller. 07833 538143. richs@onetel. com Dotmaker: Alternative guided walks. dotmakertours.co.uk FAMILY ACTIVITIES National Maritime Museum: Explore Saturdays. Free. Performance and storytelling for over-5s from noon. Discover Sundays. Free. Activities for families from 11.30am. Play Tuesdays. Free. For under-5s from 10.30

Venues

The Albany: Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG. 020 8692 4446 thealbany.org.uk Amersham Arms: 388 New Cross Rd SE14 6TY. 020 8469 1499 Blackheath Conservatoire: 19-21 Lee Rd SE3 9RQ. 020 8852 0234 conservatoire.org.uk Blackheath Halls: 23 Lee Road, SE3 9RQ 020 8463 0100. blackheathhalls.com The British Music Experience: The 02. 020 8463 2000. britishmusicexperience.com Charlton House: Charlton Rd SE7 8RP. 020 8856 3951 Clarendon Hotel: Montpelier Row SE3 0RW. 020 8318 4321. clarendonhotel.com The Duke: 125 Creek Rd SE8 3BU. 020 8469 8260 The Eltham Centre: 2 Archery Road SE9 1HA. 020 8921 4344 Eltham Palace: Court Yard SE9 5QE. 020 8294 2548. english-heritage.org.uk Firepower: Royal Arsenal SE18 6ST. firepower.org.uk 020 8855 7755 The Forum: Trafalgar Rd SE10 9EQ. 0208 853 5212. office@forumatgreenwich.org Greenwich Communications Centre: Hire for business meetings. 164 Trafalgar Rd SE10 9TZ. 020 8269 2103 Greenwich Dance: Borough Hall SE10 8RE. 020 8293 9741 greenwichdance.org.uk Greenwich Heritage Centre: Artillery Square, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich SE18 4DX Greenwich Theatre: Crooms Hill, SE10 8ES 020 8858 7755. greenwichtheatre.org.uk Greenwich Playhouse: Currently closed. www.galleontheatre.co.uk Laban: Creekside SE8 3DZ. 020 8463 0100 www.trinitylaban.ac.uk London Theatre: 443 New Cross Rd SE14 6TA. 020 8694 1888. thelondontheatre.com The Lord Hood: 300 Creek Rd, SE10 9SW. 020 8858 1836 Morden Arms: 1 Brand St, SE10 8SP. 020 8858 2189 Mycenae House: 90 Mycenae Rd SE3 7SE 020 8858 1749 mycenaehouse.co.uk National Maritime Museum: Romney Rd, SE10 9BJ 020 8858 0045 www.nmm.ac.uk New Haddo Community Centre: 29 Tarves Way, SE10 9JU. 0208 8584285 02, Indig02 & Building Six: 0844 8560202 www.theo2.co.uk The Old Bakehouse: Bennett Park, Blackheath SE3 9LA Old Royal Naval College: SE10 9LW. 020 8269 4799 www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org Oliver’s: 9 Nevada St SE10 9JL. 020 8853 5970 www.oliversjazzbar.co.uk O’Neill’s: 52 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath SE3 0BH. 020 8463 9230 Pelton Arms: 23-5 Pelton St, SE10 9PQ 020 8858 0572. peltonarms.com Peter de Wit’s Cafe: 21 Greenwich Church St, SE10 9BJ. 020 8305 0045 The Railway: Blackheath Village SE3 9LE. 020 8852 2390 therailwayblackheath.co.uk The Royal Oak: 54 Charlton Lane, SE7 8LA. 020 8858 4771 St Alfege: Greenwich Church St. 020 8853 0687. st-alfege.org Trinity College of Music: King Charles Ct SE10 9JF. 020 8305 4444. tcm.ac.uk Up The Creek: 302 Creek Rd SE10 9SW. 020 8858 4581 upthecreekmanagement.co.uk The Woodlands Farm Trust: 331 Shooters Hill Rd, Welling DA16 3RP 020 8319 8900 thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org.uk

June Thursday 5

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. O2 MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 CIRCUS Dralion O2 7 DANCE Transitions Co: Mixed Bill Laban Theatre 7.30 DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 8

Friday 6

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 CIRCUS Dralion O2 6.30 MUSIC Rakim IndigO2 DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 8 DANCE Luke Pell Borough Hall 8

Saturday 7

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 KIDS Ship Hats Cutty Sark 11.30, 2 MUSIC Jeremy Lowe Clarinet recital. St Alfege 1.05 CIRCUS Dralion O2 3, 7 KIDS The Magic Harp Blackheath Halls 3 DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 8

Sunday 8

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 KIDS Ship Hats Cutty Sark 11.30, 2CIRCUS Dralion O2 12, 4 DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 5 FILM/OPERA Der Rosenkavalier Link-up to Glyndebourne Greenwich Picturehouse 4.30 TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7

Monday 9

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 MUSIC John Mayer O2 PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s

Tuesday 10

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 8 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood

Wednesday 11

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 DANCE Constellations Laban Theatre 11am, 6 TALK Pam Hildrew Home Is Where The Heart Is. Eltham Centre 7 MUSIC Dionne Warwick IndigO2 DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 8 LITERATURE William Dalrymple: Return Of A King Blackheath Halls 8 MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

Thursday 12

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. O2 DANCE Constellations Laban Theatre 11am, 6 MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 FILM/PLAY Small Family Business Link-up to National Theatre Greenwich Picturehouse 7 MUSIC DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 8

Friday 13

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 8

Saturday 14

KIDS In The Night Garden Live 10am, noon, 2, 4. The O2 MUSIC Stefan Pilcez Recorder recital. St Alfege 1.05 DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 8

Sunday 15

DRAMA The Cherry Orchard Lon Theatre 5 TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7 DRAMA The Trials Of Oscar Wilde Greenwich Theatre 7.30

Monday 16

MUSIC The Eagles O2 DRAMA Killing Roger Greenwich Theatre 8 PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30

Tuesday 17

TALK Ian Bull Greenwich Ind History Society. Royal Arsenal’s Narrow Gauge Railways Old Bakehouse 7.30 DRAMA Killing Roger Greenwich Theatre 8 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood

Want the inside guide to what’s best in Greenwich and Blackheath? NIKKI SPENCER asks a local...

Wednesday 18

FILM/THEATRE Henry IV Part 2 Link-up to RSC at Stratford Greenwich Picturehouse 7 MUSIC The Eagles O2 JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

Thursday 19

MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 FAMILY Curator’s Tour Cutty Sark 3.30 DANCE Theo Clinkard: Of Land & Tongue Borough Hall 7, 9 DRAMA Joy Division (in Polish) Lon Theatre 8

Friday 20

BLOOMS Blackheath Flower Club Mycenae House 1.45-4 DRAMA Richard III Greenwich Theatre 7.30 MUSIC The Eagles O2 DANCE Free To Fall Borough Hall 7.30 DRAMA Joy Division (in Polish) Lon Theatre 8

Saturday 21

FAMILY Greenwich + Docklands International Festival ORNC, Cutty Sark HISTORY Grand Medieval Joust Eltham Palace 10-5 DRAMA Richard III Greenwich Theatre 7.30 MUSIC Donell Jones and Kelly Price IndigO2 MUSIC The Eagles O2 DRAMA Joy Division (in Polish) Lon Theatre 8 MUSIC Men With Ven The Duke

Sunday 22

FAMILY Greenwich + Docklands International Festival ORNC, Cutty Sark HISTORY Grand Medieval Joust Eltham Palace 10-5 MUSIC Jazz In The Park Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band Royal Observatory Gdns 1 DRAMA Richard III Greenwich Theatre 3 MUSIC Thomas Tallis Society St Alfege 6.30 TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7 MUSIC Dennis Greaves Pelton

Monday 23

PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30 JAZZ Corrie Dick Oliver’s

Tuesday 24

FILM/OPERA Manon Lescaut Link-up to Covent Garden Greenwich Picturehouse 6.45 DANCE BA1 Laban Theatre 7.30 DRAMA Joy Division Lon Theatre 8 MUSIC English folk Lord Hood

Wednesday 25

TALK Dr June Balshaw Working For Victory Greenwich Heritage Centre 6.30 DANCE BA1 Project Laban Theatre 7.30 WOOLLIES Knitting club Pelton DRAMA Joy Division Lon Theatre 8 JAZZ Jam session Oliver’s MUSIC Glenn Tilbrook DJs Pelton

Thursday 26

MyLife Andreia Fernandes

BUSINESSWOMAN & Dog walker

y first ever dog was a boxer puppy that was given to me by mum when I was little. I love all animals but dogs especially and we ended up with about seven when I was growing up. They are the most loyal creatures in the world and such pure souls. When you are met by wagging tales and happy faces it can’t help but put a smile on your face. was born in Lisbon but grew up in Cape Town in South Africa. It’s a very community-based place and Greenwich feel that way too. I moved here about six years ago and to be honest I don’t often leave – the furthest I probably go is Canary Wharf. I love the fact that I can walk out the door and always bump into someone I know. Dog walking does that to you! hen I was made redundant from my publishing job 3 years ago it was a wake up call. I decided to do what I like doing which is working with animals, came up with idea for pet-active.co.uk and I haven’t looked back. I have about 20 dogs on my books and walk about 12-15 a day and also look after lots of cats. I have also my own dog. A Miki called Okina Mimi. I have had her about a year now and she is adorable. work seven days a week and often do twelve hour days. I don’t have a van so I rely on buses and my feet. I walk a lot – probably about 10 miles a day, but I love it. hen you arrive to pick up a dog they are always so happy to see you. We go everywhere – Maryon Wilson Park in Charlton, East Greenwich Pleasaunce, although I don’t walk dogs anymore in Greenwich Park. You have to buy a licence now and wear an armband, which I would find awkward and very expensive. witter is great. I take pictures and tweet while I am out walking dogs so the owners can see what their dogs are doing while they are away or at work. It’s a lovely way to keep in touch and also find out what’s going on locally. t weekends my fiance Darrell joins me dog walking. When we go out we usually have at least one dog with us, and often up to four, but that’s not a problem in Greenwich as there are so many dogfriendly pubs. One of our favourites is The Gipsy Moth by the Cutty Sark. I love their fish and chips and they always have water for the dogs. n Sundays we like to walk up across the heath to Blackheath Farmers’ Market to get fresh veggies. We are so lucky to have so many parks and open spaces here. It really is a dog lover’s paradise.

W I W T A

MUSIC Trinity Laban recital St Alfege 1.05 FILM The Extraordinary Adventures Of Adele Blanc-Sec Royal Observatory 7 MUSIC Once In A Lifetime O2 DRAMA Joy Division Lon Theatre 8 MUSIC Icarus Club Pelton Friday 27 VOLUNTEER Nature Trail Dig-In Greenwich Pk Wildlife Centre 9.30 MUSIC Bach To Baby St Alfege 10.30am MUSIC Dolly Parton O2 DANCE Arthur Pita: Nobody’s Baby Borough Hall 7.30 DRAMA Joy Division Lon Theatre 8

Saturday 28

FAMILY Open Day Caird Library 114. NMM VOLUNTEER Drop-In Greenwich Park Wildlife Centre 1-3 MUSIC Clare Graydon James Soprano r ecital. St Alfege 1.05 DANCE Arthur Pita: Nobody’s Baby Borough Hall 2.30, 7.30 MUSIC Dolly Parton O2 MUSIC Englsih Baroque Choir St Alfege 7.30 DRAMA Joy Division Lon Theatre 8

Sunday 29

DRAMA Joy Division Lon Theatre 5 TALENT Something for Sunday The Vanbrugh 7

Monday 30

PUB QUIZ The Vanbrugh 8.30

Tell us your life stories and favourite local places. email Matt@TheGreenwichVisitor.com

GreenwichVisitor THE

April 2014 Page 23

family fun in the sun WHAT a difference a sunny day makes! Mike Purdy sent us this sunshine shot of families who flocked to Greenwich Park as the sun finally came out in March. Following the wettest winter in memory it was a reminder of what a fabulous asset the Park is. We love to see YOUR amazing pictures taken here too. Whether – like most of our readers – you live here or are visiting. Email Matt@TheGreenwich Visitor.com. We

In association with

Like it? Live it!

1 What is the national flower of Austria? 2 According to the old saying, what do April showers brinG? 3 What was the tortoise in the TV show The Flowerpot Men called? 4 In a standard pack of playing cards what do the Queens hold in their hands? 5 What colour of flowers signify death in Mexico and infidelity in France? 6 What is the traditional Christmas flower? 7 Which plant is the only one to have flowers, but no proper leaves? 8 What is the only vegetable that is also a flower? 9 Which flower does the spice Saffron come from? 10 What is the national flower of Wales? Answers: 1 Edelweiss. 2 May flowers. 3 Slowcoach. 4 Flowers. 5 Yellow. 6 Poinsettia. 7 Cactus. 8 Brocolli. 9 Crocus. 10 Daffodil.

The Pub Quiz

APRIL FLOWERS AND SHOWERS

COME on then cleverclogs. Think of a team name and test yourelf against our legendary quizmaster Deke. Still not authentic enough?

AHOY there! Here’s a home that helps you make the most of riverside living in Greenwich. A four-bedroom house – with terrace from the master and a

Get off the sofa and catch his legendary quizzes at The Vanbrugh Tavern every Monday night. 8.30.

balcony over the Thames – it’s in High Bridge Wharf, along the Thames Path and is for sale at £1,250,000. Call Conran Estates on 020 7768 2327.

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hope you enjoy this edition. Let us know what you think of it. Your feedback helps us make the paper better for you – whether you’re here for a day or for life. Email MattTheGreenwichVisitor.com If you have a business here, ask us about advertising. email Sam@ TheGreenwichVisitor.com. Every reader is RIGHT HERE – not miles away – and they CHOOSE to take and read a copy. We’re positive, unique, independent and interesting. And we reach readers every day for a month. See you in May!

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RECOGNISE our favourite sign in Greenwich? You could say the wheels have come off – or at least some of the letters. Email

MOD E AONO R H E R A S S I N T A T N I T Y E C R A KK B B C YO B MOWT P U L A TMC G

L H D N O B T R T H E R

Matt@TheGreenwichVisitor.com with your answer. Last month: River Gates at the Old Royal Naval College.

I Z A C R A E S U GW I G E O S U R L AR OOK R T A AME G T S E GO

B N O T R E B L A S E R

E T OM HO HM G E T A I G YN S A R I P A K A

H T A E H K C A L B N O

SCAN THESE CODES IN TO YOUR PHONE TO FIND US...

IF you read carefully this wordsearch ELIZABETH; OAK; OOH STICK s h o u l d b e e a s y. L o o k f o r : YOU; GIBRALTAR; GEORGE; TP ONBLACKHEATH; THAMES RIB; MCKENNA; MONARCH; PETS; LASER; KATE RUSBY; MCGREGOR; HOUSE; BROOKLYN; BOWL. Happy S I N G W I T H M E ; D O D G E R ; hunting – SCF;

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The Blog of Samuel Pepys onday. Mrs Pepys has of late been spending much time perusing he then revealed her nefarious plan: we were to remove our clothes sundry illustrated volumes, thereby allowing tonight’s dinner to burn Sand lie on the sand and let the Indies sun do to us what she had done M into the pan. When I did remonstrate with her that I preferred to finish a to the chops. I did not ask her how we would defend ourselves from an lamb chop with my teeth unbroken, she said that she was planning a holiday. I told her that the Shrimp and Tankard provides ample means for my relaxation but she held up a picture of a bay in the Tropics. hen I protested that the only way I would venture ashore in such a place was with a shipload of cooks, a brace of alehouse wenches, my tailor and a platoon of the King’s Infantry she said “You’ll have to pay for their rooms, then.” I asked her in amazement what we would do there apart from beat off the flies. She held up an evil-looking machine made of a mask and tubes and said “diving.” I told her it looked like a Dutch torture device. No, quoth she, it was a “snorkel” and fitted into one’s mouth, which proved my point. “We will go swimming!” she said. And so my wig would lose its curls. “Then remove it!” she cried. I complained that I may as well go naked. “At least you would get a tan,” she said.

attack by a French frigate, nor how she would present herself at court when her skin made her indistinguishable from th King’s brandy cabinet, but merely said that sailing there would take us beyond Christmas. “Not so,” she said, “we shall fly out.” I would not crawl inside a cannon for the Duchess of Richmond, let alone Mrs Pepys. y refusal became irrevocable when I considered that there are no ale houses in the Indies. Not so, she replied, there will be a bar there in the resort. I then told her that I would think over her suggestion and went to the tavern for some Greenwich ale. Three hours later I returned to sing her a song I had composed: “The milkmaid and the scuba diver”. This, I averred, will delight all the gallants in the Indies bar. riday. Strange. My wife seems to have completely forgotten her holiday plans...

M F

AS IMAGINED BY TONY KIRWOOD: @tkirwood tonykirwood@gmail.com

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April 2014 Page 24

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