The Orpington 1st Magazine Summer 2024

• Lit fest return inspires and entertains

• Meet Warren Road Primary’s eco champions

• ODEON Orpington celebrates award-winning team

• All together now – it’s Priory Live 2024!

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by Orpington 1st BID Executive Director, Chris Travers

HELLO and a very warm welcome to The Orpington 1st Magazine Summer 2024.

In this edition we celebrate the accomplishments of a number of Orpingtonians, from the young eco-champions at Warren Road Primary School (page 7), to the incredible physical achievement of Mytime Active’s James Betteridge (page 12).

We tip our hat to local funeral director, Gary Valentine-Fuller (page 33), and acknowledge the award-winning team at ODEON Orpington (page 8). We also catch up with a global leader in his field, Mike Delaney, to discuss some of his latest work (page 28).

There’s a look at the private investment in Orpington’s office space (page 17) and the public investment in the town’s leisure facilities (page 19). The third Orpington Literary Festival took place in May, bringing a week of events to the heart of the town centre – read all about it from page 20 – and we preview the return of Priory Live Festival on page 38.

As I write this, Orpington is joining other towns across the borough by taking part in London

Festival of Architecture, a month-long celebration of architecture and city-making. Visit Orpington1st.co.uk for more information now – we’ll have an update in the next edition!

Have a great summer, enjoy your town, and celebrate the people and places around you.

Oilseed Rape fields at Derry Downs

• Inheritance Tax Planning (IHT) To

Orpington school eco-champions win prestigious global citizenship award

Pupils at Warren Road Primary School in Orpington have won a national award for their dedication to environmental and sustainability issues.

OVER 20,000 schools are involved with the ‘Eco Schools’ programme, which is run by Keep Britain Tidy. It gives out just ten awards each year - with Warren Road scooping the prize for ‘Global Citizenship’.

Judges were impressed with the eco work that takes place across the school, including the development of a whole-school curriculum which focused on the threats faced by wildlife. Each class took on the responsibility of sponsoring a different endangered animal, with pupils being encouraged to think about realworld environmental issues. Every pupil also took part in a reading project, centred on ‘Last: The Story of a White Rhino’ by Nicola Davies.

This exciting activity culminated in an Easter Earth Week, where pupils raised money for global environmental charities and learnt more about global citizenship.

Headteacher, James Ellis, said: “We are delighted to have won this national prize and are so proud of our pupils’ enthusiasm towards sustainability and environmental issues. While this work is led by our

amazing Key Stage 2 Eco Team, our whole school community is committed to this important global agenda. Every child, from Reception to Year 6 has taken part in eco-related activities throughout the year and it’s fantastic to see their efforts recognised in this way.

“As a school, we are committed to ensuring ‘Excellence for All’, which this Global Citizenship award very much demonstrates. We look forward to continuing our eco-journey and building on this success.”

CEO of London South East Academies Trust, Dr Sam Parrett, added, “Huge congratulations to everyone at Warren Road Primary School! Sustainability is a huge priority for all the schools within our Trust, so we are delighted that the hard work of pupils and teachers has been recognised with this national award.

“Teaching children about global

Here are what some of the pupils themselves have to say about the project:

“Looking after the planet is important because pollution can harm nature.” Freya, 8

“I am a junior travel ambassador, and I help teach my friends about active travel to and from school which is better for the environment.”

Ramiya, 10

“I liked making bug hotels and planting seeds for bees to pollinate the flower.s”. Verity, 9

“We should all save water and recycle to help save the planet. When we throw rubbish in the water it can hurt wildlife”.

Georgie, 11

“I like working with different people to help the environment. If people know how to help, they can save animals and the planet.” Alex, 11

citizenship, eco-issues and the world in which we live is more important than ever, so it’s great to see the pupils themselves leading the way on this agenda.”

As an Eco Schools award winner, Warren Road features in the organisation’s annual Impact Report; scan the QR code to read.

For more information about Warren Road Primary School, visit warrenroadprimary.co.uk

ODEON Orpington celebrates

Ahead of over 130 cinemas across the UK and Ireland, ODEON Orpington achieved the prestigious title of Guest Experience Cinema of the Year 2023.

WITH February 2024 marking eight years since the cinema first opened its doors, the ODEON Orpington team have gone on to welcome around a million guests, with 160,000 visiting in the last year alone.

Priding themselves on treating every guest as though they are friends or family, the 24-strong team aim to make everyone feel welcome, at home, and relaxed from the moment they arrive – an ethos which has set them apart and earned them this remarkable recognition.

L-R: ODEON Orpington team members Connor, Bea, Maddie, Hayley, Ben, Lucas

ODEON Orpington offers 7 screens of film magic showing in stunning RealD 3D and eye-popping immersive iSense. Guests can also treat themselves to superior comfort with Premier Seats and enjoy Ben and Jerrys Ice Cream, Costa Coffee and Gourmet Pizza at their Croma Pizza Point offer.

Cinema Manager, Hayley Franklin, said, “This incredible achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our amazing team of leaders and cinema hosts. Each and every one of them has played a vital role in ensuring that every guest who walks through our doors enjoys the best possible experience.”

ODEON Orpington is also one of the few cinemas that continue to hold Silver Screenings on Tuesday afternoons - special screenings for over 60s, showing a selection of new talk-of-the-town releases and timeless classics.

Hayley says these screenings are just one of the many ways her team strive to foster a sense of community and provide a welcoming space for all.

“I am honoured to lead such an outstanding cinema and team with a commitment to exceptional service and genuine hospitality. Together, we have created a

award-winning team

safe, clean, friendly, and inviting atmosphere for our guests to enjoy every day. Thank you to our wonderful team and our valued guests for making ODEON Orpington a truly special place.”

A few films due for release in 2024 which the team are excited about...

• Another big family film, Despicable Me 4 is due to release in cinemas on 12 July.

• The highly anticipated Deadpool & Wolverine will be in cinemas from the 25 July which we’re all looking forward to! Lookout for midnight screenings on the evening of the 24 July and be the first to see it!

• Lady Gaga is starring as Harley Quinn in Joker 2 Folie a Deux, set for release on 4 October.

• Rounding off the year nicely, Mufasa: The Lion King will be in a cinema near you 20 December.

N e w E c o n o m i c R e p o r t s h o w c a s e s

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c o m p a n i e s e m p l o y i n g m o r e t h a n 1 , 7 0 0 p e o p l e – t h a t ’ s i n c r e a s e d 8 0 % s i n c e 2 0 1 2 , w h e n 9 8 0 p e o p l e w e r e e m p l o y e d o n - s i t e

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h a s a p o s i t i v e i m p a c t o n e c o n o m i c c h a n g e , i n v e s t m e n t a n d e m p l o y m e n t . F o r e x a m p l e , b u s i n e s s e s a t t h e a i r p o r t s p e n t £ 2 8 . 5 m i l l i o n i n B r o m l e y i n 2 0 2 2 / 2 3 .

I f f u t u r e p l a n s a r e s u p p o r t e d , L o n d o n B i g g i n H i l l A i r p o r t h a s t h e p o t e n t i a l t o s u p p o r t u p t o 5 , 7 9 6 j o b s a t B r o m l e y l e v e l , g e n e r a t i n g u p t o £ 4 9 2 . 6 m i l l i o n G V A l o c a l l y .

S c a n t h e Q R c o d e w i t h y o u r p h o n e t o d i s c o v e r m o r e

a n d e x p l o r e t h e r e p o r t o n o u r d e d i c a t e d w e b p a g e :

b i g g i n h i l l a i r p o r t . c o m / o u r - i m p a c t

Y o u c a n a l s o f o l l o w u s o n s o c i a l m e d i a :

Orpington man conquers 250km Marathon des Sables in Moroccan Sahara fundraising for Cure Parkinson’s

In April this year, Orpington man, James Betteridge (57) completed the gruelling Marathon des Sables, a seven day, 250km self-sufficient race in the Moroccan Sahara Desert, considered one of the toughest foot races on Earth.

JAMES, who works at local at charitable leisure trust Mytime Active, which manages the golf, wellbeing and leisure hubs in the London Borough of Bromley, has so far raised almost £3000 for Cure Parkinson’s, a charity very close to his heart, as friends and close family have been diagnosed with this disease.

James says: “When I signed up for this challenge, I genuinely thought it was unachievable. I’m a keen runner and have completed many running and sporting challenges, such as Iron Man, but the Marathon des Sables is in a different league. The daily distances are incredibly challenging, but what adds to the difficulty is the requirement to carry all personal food and gear for the seven days. My backpack weighed in at 10kg, and we slept in a basic tent that the organisers put up each night in the desert. Early mornings were crucial; we’d start at 6am to tackle most of the running before the scorching 44-degree heat set in. One particularly intense day saw us covering a staggering 85km.

“The only way I managed the race was to think about the distances between each water check point, rather than focusing on the full day of running ahead. I was ecstatic and relieved when I finished, and was really pleased that I still completed the final half marathon on the last day in two and half hours.

“It’s taken a few weeks to recover from the race, as I suffered with blisters, swelling of my hands and feet, shin splints, extreme tiredness and an insatiable appetite, but I’m pleased to be back at work and back to my ‘normal’ activities, including swimming, running with my dogs and cycling.

“The Marathon des Sables is one hell of a personal challenge, and I was grateful to be additionally motivated by fundraising for Cure Parkinson’s, which works tirelessly to find a cure for this cruel disease that effects around 153,000 people in the UK.

I ran this event for me. However, what kept me going, encouraged me to do well and not

fail, was the knowledge of what Parkinson’s does to people. The disease effects people differently, but one common characteristic is that it greatly reduces people’s ability to be active, whether that’s seeing a show in town, having a meal out, going to the pub or running a marathon; Parkinson’s is unrelenting in its impact on life.

“I’m already looking for another sporting event for next year. However, more important to me is the day-to-day difference that exercise, be that running, cycling, swimming or walking, makes to my long-term wellbeing, both physically and emotionally.”

Jason Stanton, CEO, Mytime Active says: “We are all so proud of James and his massive personal achievement, demonstrating his grit, determination and sheer willpower. This endurance run isn’t just about physical strength, it’s about mental toughness and pushing limits. We are also blown away by his fundraising efforts and people’s generous donations.”

There’s still time to donate to James’ fundraiser:

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Location: Valiant House, 12 Knoll Rise, Orpington, Kent, BR6 0PG.

“ BBQ Safety

Major incident response exercise

Our Firefighters from Orpington and across Bromley took part in a multi-agency exercise at The Glades shopping centre earlier this year.

This provided an opportunity for the London Fire Brigade to practice and develop our response to a major incident and how we work alongside other emergency services and organisations.

This was a large-scale exercise with around 500 people taking part on the live play side, along with others within all agency control rooms. This is part of the roll out of new training and equipment for firefighters to ensure we are fully prepared to provide the best possible response, should we ever need to.

London Fire Brigade in Bromley: Fire safety outdoors

As we enter the summer months and hotter periods of weather, the ground can be extremely dry. Grassland and parks will burn quickly when exposed to even the smallest of sparks. Here are some of our firefighters’ top tips to keep you safe:

• Don’t have barbecues in parks and public spaces

• Be aware that children, animals, balls or anything else may knock over barbecues, increasing the risk of grass fires, especially when in busy parks or public spaces

• If you’re barbecuing near dry grass, have a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergency use

• Position your barbecue on level ground and keep it well away from anything that may catch fire (sheds, fences, trees, tents etc.)

• Never leave camp fires or barbecues unattended and extinguish them properly after you have finished using them

• Do not barbecue on balconies, the wind may carry smouldering ash towards nearby grassland

Remember: Don’t Drop Cigarettes, or Glass!

Cigarettes dropped on dry grass that have not been properly extinguished are very likely to cause a grass fire.

Even cigarettes thrown from a car window can start a fire. Many roads are banked by or near to grassland, and these can be easily set on fire by a cigarette when dried out.

It might sound strange, but glass left in the parks can start fires too. Left on or near dry grass, glass can magnify the sun and start a fire. Please pick them up and place in the bin.

Orpington office upgrade

Bought by leading UK Real Estate Investor, Praxis, at the start of 2022 for £13.35m, Central Court has recently completed a Grade A refurbishment.

THE town centre’s largest office accommodation, Central Court comprises 67,000 square ft of office space neatly arranged over four floors in a ‘U’ shape configuration around an attractive garden for exclusive use of tenants.

Located at the foot of Knoll Rise, hundreds of employees work from the building which is home to a

range of national and international companies – including Vita Health, Faithorn Farrel & Timms, Bromley Healthcare and S&B Herba Foods.

The common parts have recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment which includes a beautifully remodelled reception area with new communal workspaces and breakout areas.

The available office floors offer

flexible open plan space with excellent natural light and suites available in a variety of sizes ranging from 1,059 to 23,023 sq ft.

Mike Lewis of Michael Rogers said, “Joint agents Michael Rogers LLP and Hanover Green LLP are delighted to be offering this magnificent Grade A refurbished building on behalf of Praxis. The quality of the space is second to none and is available on flexible terms in a range of sizes and configurations which will appeal to today’s modern and discerning office occupiers. With excellent shopping facilities within less than a few minutes’ walk away and a fast and efficient railway service from nearby Orpington Station, Central Court ticks all the right boxes.”

For more information, scan the QR code.

Leisure centre refurb gets go ahead

Bromley Council has approved works to improve facilities at Orpington’s Walnuts Leisure Centre, set to commence early next year.

FOLLOWING the identification of structural issues which required the West Wickham centre to close, the programme has been reorganised and works at the Walnuts Leisure Centre are planned to begin in 2025, taking place in two phases to avoid the entirety of the centre being closed at the same time. Works on the dry side facilities will start in spring next year with the pool remaining open for use, during which time residents will need to arrive ready to swim. In late summer 2025 the pool will close, reopening by March 2026. Alongside a new heating system – costly work, but vital to ensure the long-term future of the centre - upgrades include improvements to the café and reception area, a new unisex ‘changing village’ providing all private cubicles, a new

studio providing power assisted equipment to support those with mobility issues or those seeking rehabilitation, and the installation of a ‘Changing Places’ facility. The existing main pool will be separated to create a larger learner pool and a 25m competition length pool.

The council says it will actively work with the operator, Mytime Active, to seek out other funding sources both during and after this project, which could lead to further enhancements, such as to the softplay area.

Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, said: “We are delivering this substantial investment in the borough’s leisure provision to ensure residents can enjoy enhanced facilities at these sites over the long term, with all the important benefits this brings to

health and wellbeing. These works have been prioritised at a time of incredible pressure on council finances. It is thanks to careful management over a number of years that we are able to make this commitment now”.

Jason Stanton, CEO at Mytime Active, said: “This is fantastic news, not only for securing the future of leisure provision at these important sites, but in delivering targeted improvements to help ensure all residents have access to high-quality health and wellness facilities and support. We are always looking at what more we can provide to improve health and wellbeing across Bromley and are delighted to be partners on these works to help shape provision at the centres.”

For more info visit bromley.gov. uk/LeisureCentresRefurbishment

These images provide an idea of how the changing village could look, with the interior strategy to be further developed during the next stage of design.

From the playful to the poignant –

Back for its third year, Orpington’s celebration of the written and spoken word took place in May with a week of town centre events aimed at a variety of audiences. Topping the bill: Simon Weston CBE in conversation with Dr Tessa Dunlop.

ORGANISED by Orpington 1st Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Bromley Libraries, Orpington Literary Festival 2024 showcased a total of sixteen authors with sessions targeting all age groups and tastes. With support from Rotary Orpington District E-club, the festival launched on Monday 13th May in Orpington Library with an appearance and book signing from New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author of over fifty-five novels, James Swallow. A BAFTA-nominated

Dr Tessa Dunlop and Simon Weston CBE

(l-r) Nicky Forbes, Alf Martin, and Khalid Siddiqui

Lit Fest return entertains and inspires

scriptwriter with millions of books in print worldwide, James discussed his wide-ranging career to date – which includes credits on many computer gameswith compere extraordinaire, Paul Evers, and previewed his upcoming involvement in the 60th anniversary celebrations of Gerry Anderson’s Stingray.

Midweek, a packed Pato Lounge hosted a special literary themed quiz including questions on music, film, and poetry, as well as literary classics, whilst a trip down memory lane awaited visitors to the first of two events to be held at BR6 Bakehouse. In a conversation masterfully facilitated by Orpington Library’s very own Khalid Siddiqui, Nicky Forbes (drummer for the Revillos) and Alf Martin (Melody Maker, Sounds) discussed their music

industry memoirs ‘The Rhythm Method’ and ‘What’s It All About Alfie’ and delighted the audience with some jaw dropping rock n roll tales featuring some world-famous stars.

Several Orpington schools were involved in events at Orpington Library over the course of the week, which included a visit from children’s author Nathanael Lessore. Nathanael talked with

Above: Nathanael Lessore Left: Paul Evers and James Swallow Top & Bottom Right: Nicky Forbes and Alf Martin

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local year 7 & 8 pupils about being an author, and his book, Steady For This. Hilarious and heartwarming, his debut novel is a huge hit with young people and has earned him a place on the prestigious Yoto Carnegie Medal shortlist.

Local author Jerry Dowlen has pulled together some extraordinary homegrown stories and published them in his latest book Curiosities of Orpington

Assisted by his friend and fellow writer Richard Bowdery, Jerry shared a few of them with a capacity crowd at Orpington Library’s Business Lounge.

Headlining this year’s festival, at a special event held at London South East College’s BR6 Bakehouse - Simon Weston CBE discussed his life with historian, writer, and broadcaster Dr Tessa Dunlop.

Above: Nathanael signing a copy for a pupil

Left: Nathanel listening to Children’s Librarian Jenny Hawke reading an extract from his book

When the RFA Sir Galahad was destroyed in the Bluff Cove Air Attack during the Falklands War, in 1982, Welsh Guardsman Simon Weston was severely injured, sustaining serious burns to 46%

of his body. He has become well-known across the United Kingdom and abroad for his struggle to overcome his injuries and redefine his role in life, and his message is one of achievement,

of triumph in the face of adversity, and of seizing the moment and succeeding.

Tessa Dunlop, a Sunday Times bestselling author with a particular interest in war and royalty, has earned a reputation for speaking truth to power – not least through her regular television appearances, and is currently writing her next book on war memorials.

Their conversation, led expertly by Tessa, was illuminating, funny, moving, and inspiring. An engaging and natural storyteller, Simon shared anecdotes with warmth and humour, including recounting how he met the

Argentinian fighter pilot who led the life-changing attack on him and his comrades. An opportunity for audience questions followed. You can watch the conversation back at Orpington1st.co.uk Orpington 1st Executive Director, Chris Travers, said, “We’re big believers in the positive role that arts and culture play in shaping places, and we’re delighted to work in partnership with Bromley Libraries to bring these events to the town centre. Thank you to their team, to all the authors and speakers who took part in the festival, and to everyone who came to enjoy the events.”

Khalid Siddiqui from Orpington Library, said “it’s been fantastic to work with Orpington 1st on Orpington Literary Festival 2024. The library has been buzzing all week and it’s been a great opportunity to highlight the value of literature and the vital role which libraries play in our community. We’ve had a diverse run of events reaching all parts of the community, a fantastic turnout of both adults and children, and the post-event images on social media have attracted lots of interest, which really bodes well for the future of the festival!”

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Clean & Green

AS part of Orpington businesses’ work to make the town centre a more attractive and welcoming place, Orpington 1st has installed twenty-eight fourfoot technicolour flower cubes across the high street.

The cubes consist of rose, orange, yellow and white Calibrachoa, Lobelia blue start, and pink Diascia, delivering a vivid burst of colour.

Following positive feedback, the parklet at the entrance to the Walnuts has been reinstalled. Delineated by planters and benches, with an attractive flower

arch entrance and a picnic bench in the middle, the parklet provides a pleasant rest stop for visitors and an extra opportunity for planting.

This year, the town centre business community has also funded chewing gum removal across the high street. Operatives use specialised machines which apply heat with an environmentally responsible gum detergent utilising raw materials from renewable resources. The solution is biodegradable, phosphate free, non-corrosive and has a neutral pH.

According to Keep Britain Tidy, around 87% of England’s streets

are stained with gum. Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for UK councils alone is around £7 million –money which could be better spent. Don’t drop litter, folks.

The Beautiful Game

Orpington born Mike Delaney sat down with us to talk about his work as a football choreographer on the hit Netflix film, and how his career developed.

ALTHOUGH it began in 2001, for most, this year’s Netflix sports drama The Beautiful Game will have been the first they have heard of the Homeless World Cup.

With a mission to use football to support and inspire people who are homeless to change their own lives; and to change perceptions and attitudes towards people who are experiencing homelessness, nearly seventy countries, 220 clubs, and more than 1.2 million people have participated in

the tournament over the past two decades. The spirit of the event, which sees national teams made up of players who have experienced homelessness, is very much reflected in the film - a true feel-good movie directed by Thea Sharrock and starring Bill Nye (Love Actually), and Micheal Ward (Top Boy).

The job of creating the many sequences of football for the film fell to world renowned football choreographer, Orpington born and raised Mike Delaney.

A pioneer in football freestyling, Mike’s choreography work stretches back to the 90s when he began working with Adidas and Nike on their commercials. Mike describes being mesmerised by Maradona around the time of 1986 world cup in Mexico. “That was when I really became excited by football. I’d watch him perform these amazing tricks and try to emulate him.”

“I had joined a sports modelling agency, and I didn’t know what to expect, but I was really into freestyle, so that gave me an edge in getting the jobs. Other lads, who may have been brilliant players, weren’t necessarily wowing in the auditions.

“Although the job title football choreographer didn’t exist, I then started getting called in to board meetings at Nike, being asked to figure out the moves for the likes of Toti, Carlos, Ronaldo (R9).”

A UEFA qualified coach, Mike founded Skills Academy in 1998, offering football and multi-sports camps to children. He has also played professionally abroad including a spell with Swiss club FC Schaffhausen. His career as a choreographer has seen him work with the very best players in the

world including David Beckham, Mo Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. “Ronaldo is really friendly and will often be enthusing about last night’s game.” Mike explained. “Messi is a little more reserved. He’s a complete oneoff. Occasionally I would have to demonstrate a move to him with my weaker left foot and I would wonder what he is thinking!”

Mike’s wealth of experience made him the obvious choice for the job on The Beautiful Game and he was delighted to take it on.

“As soon as I read the script, I had no hesitation. I loved the idea, loved the script,” said Mike. “I also had a personal connection to the theme as my own Dad Jim who died 8 years ago this month was a big football fan who inspired me, and he fell on hard times himself. I had a spell volunteering at the Bromley Homeless shelter, and they do some amazing work there to help people.”

Mike’s brother, actor Martin Delaney, also assisted with choreography on the film. Set, and mostly shot, in Rome, work began in North London in 2021.

“In June ’21, I met with some of the cast - a chance to see where they were with their football. It was clear that Micheal Ward could play, but his character, Vinny, is someone who nearly made it as a pro and could have had a glittering career. My instinct was to get a body double in, and I had the perfect guy in mind, Rick, who has an incredible level of skill which is great for the closeups.

“I don’t think Micheal was over the moon about this initially, he wanted to prove that he could do it, but over the course of the filming they developed a friendly competition and a great rapport. Micheal worked really hard physically to get ready for the shoot days which included lots of training in the heat, rehearsing so many scenes and also going for jogs through Rome on down days. He smashed every one of his football scenes.”

Regarding the challenge of creating so much game time, Mike said, “I find the best approach is to talk with the director regarding particular moments in the script and get those moments completely right. So then, from the sequences that have been worked on you can build the scene up - starting with striker and goalkeeper, then adding in the defenders - until it feels real. Then we’d use sections of authentic football around those moments.

“It’s different in commercials where every single motion needs to be just so, here we were trying to achieve the feel of a real match. All the players other than the England team were original

homeless world cup players – which made the job slightly easier.”

Mike’s film credits also include ‘The English Game’ and ‘Believe’ - a 2013 British sports drama film set in Manchester in 1984, starring Brian Cox as legendary Scottish football manager Sir Matt Busby. “There’s a couple more potential films coming up, but it’s very early days – both based on true stories.”

Mike, who attends Holy Innocents’ Church in Orpington and has links with Churches Together, also makes a cameo appearance in the film which you can watch now on Netflix. The next Homeless World Cup takes place this September in Seoul.

Mike says his big break was being taken to Germany by former German international and Inter Milan player, Hansi Muller.

Hansi’s son, Leif, worked as Mike’s assistant choreographer on The Beautiful Game – pictured here with England team (front left) alongside Mike, with Micheal Ward in the no.7 shirt.

A striking moment as Vinny (Ward) hits a spectacular aerial volley

Fitting,

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If you do not have any accepted forms of identification, apply for an alternative now.

Find out more, including voter registration details and key deadlines at

VALENTINE & Turner opened on Orpington High Street in 2015, and quickly became embedded in the local community. Their team have gone on to serve hundreds of families across the Bromley borough and beyond, winning a string of awards in the process.

The London Association of Funeral Directors (LAFD) is an area association of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), the pre-eminent trade association in the UK for the funeral profession, representing over 80% of all funeral directors in the country.

As president, Gary will lead the executive committee which governs the historic association. The British Undertakers Association (BUA) was founded in 1905, with the capital’s undertakers initially represented by the London Division of the BUA. Many of the firms involved then are still members today. In December 1935, the BUA was renamed the National Association of Funeral Directors, with its London Division becoming the London Association of Funeral Directors.

With the exception of the two World Wars, the popular annual banquet and ball has been held since 1907. This photo shows guests in the ball room of the Park Lane Hotel, 1972.

Orpington funeral director gets top London role

At the London Association of Funeral Directors AGM in May, owner of Valentine & Turner Funeral Directors, Gary Valentine-Fuller, was confirmed as president.

From the outset, London Division was particularly active. One early initiative, to demonstrate a funeral could be obtained from any member at a fair and reasonable rate, was the publication of a maximum funeral cost. In 1923, the revised agreed rate for a full basic Elm coffin funeral with “machine coach or car and pair” was £8.0s.0d.

LAFD still remains a strong and active association devoted to the particular needs of the funeral profession as a whole in London and the Home Counties.

Locally, Gary’s voluntary roles include Orpington BID director, school governor, and secretary of Orpington Royal British Legion. He also founded local cancer charity The Mum Mum Foundation which was selected as one of past Mayor of Bromley Cllr. Mike Bottings’s chosen charities last year. His second funeral home, based in Tunbridge Wells, is set to open later this year.

Gary said, “I’m extremely honoured to take up the post of president of this historic association. It’s a significant moment for me - a professional milestone and testament to my personal journey. I know that together we’ll continue to elevate the standards of the profession, demonstrating empathy and compassion, and serving our communities with dignity and respect.”

Left: An open sided hearse about to depart for a funeral in West London, 1920s. Right: The first president of the LFFA was William Knox, an undertaker from the Old Kent Road area

Images courtesy of LAFD

Pictured right: Gary ValentineFuller (left) with Andrew Judd, CEO of The National Association of Funeral Directors

Holy Innocents’ Preschool

Mitchell Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 9JT

preschool@holyinnocents.bromley.sch.uk 01689 813040

Set in the beautiful grounds of Holy Innocents’ RC Primary School. WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL BE ALSO OFFERING PLACES FOR 2 YEAR OLD CHILDREN FROM SEPTEMBER 2024!

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION

• Extended childcare available

• Full and part-time vacancies

• Accepting 15 funded hours for 2 year olds and 15/30 funded hours for 3 & 4 year olds, for those eligible

• Hot school meals available

If you would like to book a place or arrange a viewing please call us on 01689 813040 or call in to the school for a prospectus and registration form. (These can also be found on www.holyinnocents.bromley.sch.uk)

Hello again. Your Orpington Safer Neighbourhood Team have been very busy over recent months, and I’m pleased to bring you an update on some of our work.

I think most of us enjoy the warmer weather, but it does usually bring an increase in antisocial behaviour (ASB). Cracking down on this is a priority for my team.

I am keen that we are a visible uniformed presence, on the ward deterring ASB and responding to crime, as often as possible. As I mentioned in my last update, our officers are still “abstracted” to fill response team places or to assist with events elsewhere, and as a result, we are not always as present as we would like to be. Whilst on patrol, concerns have been shared with me by residents

and businesses. The Metropolitan Police has stated its plan to have the strongest-ever neighbourhood policing, which of course I am fully behind, and I know this is an area we still need to improve on.

I also mentioned previously the success the team had seen through plain clothes operations around Orpington town centre. Supported by local street duties officers, this has continued to be a beneficial approach and has resulted in officers witnessing offences directly and acting swiftly, including the arrest of a man who was stopped, detained and processed for possession of counterfeit fragrances and electronics. We’ll continue to work with trading standards on this to secure strong evidence for convictions at court.

Talking of which, those secured by my team recently include a guilty conviction for a juvenile for possession of an offensive weapon (namely a catapultan adapted offensive weapon), common assault, and possession of a pointed and bladed article. We have also been targeting prolific shoplifters and sending these cases to court.

had positive results, uncovering two cannabis farms. These were residential addresses, one of which had converted every single room to grow cannabis plants.

The team will strive to support businesses and prosecute offenders, pushing for Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) where possible. This is just some of the good work from the team and there are more cases waiting to go through the court system which I hope to update you on in my next column.

The team have also been working with other local wards in executing multiple warrants. Two warrants executed simultaneously

Orpington SNT

) 020 8721 2729 @MPSOrpington * SNMailbox.OrpingtonSNT@ met.police.uk

You can also follow us on Nextdoor.co.uk

Nearest police station: Bromley Police Station, High Street, Bromley BR1 1ER @met.police.uk f Facebook.com/metpoliceuk

For crime prevention advice visit www.met.police.uk/ crimeprevention

To report a crime call 101 or visit www.met.police.uk.

In an emergency always dial 999.

Policing matters...

Multiple arrests were made at the addresses and large quantity of cannabis seized. These cannabis farms often illegally abstract electricity and can have dangerous setups which pose a real fire risk to the property as well as neighbouring addresses. If you have intelligence for an address you suspect could be linked to crime such as cultivation of cannabis, possession of drugs with intent to supply, or even concealing stolen property, then please report this either online at www.met.police.uk or through crime stoppers at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

I would like to say thank you to Orpington 1st who have assisted with information sharing amongst the business community, as well as

supporting signups for the Shop Safe radio scheme. This system connects local businesses, Bromley Council CCTV, Walnuts Security and the Met Police, and my team are seeing improvements from increased use, keeping us better informed and improving the evidence we obtain.

I have been impressed with the number of people attending Orpington Library for our drop-in surgeries. The dates for these are published on our social media pages and in the library.

Please do continue to report crime via the Met Police website, or call 999 in an emergency.

Thank you for your

ongoing support and I look forward to meeting more of you throughout the summer.

Members of the Orpington Ward Safer Neighbourhood Team, L-R: PCSO Matt Lane, PC Ryan Kressinger, PC Kayleigh O’Donoghue, Sergeant Luke Giles, PC Andrea Chittenden. a column by Sgt Luke Giles

All together now –it’s Priory Live 2024!

Showcasing an exciting array of emerging talent alongside established acts, Priory Live Festival is back at the glorious Priory Gardens this August, with tickets on sale now.

TOPPING the bill this year are Space, the indie band from Liverpool who went platinum with their debut album Spiders and the follow-up Tin Planet, and achieved 8 top 40 singles including Neighbourhood, Female of the Species, Me and You Vs. The World, Dark Clouds, and Avenging Angels.

Joining them are fellow scousers, The Farm, whose debut album Spartacus reached no 1 when it was released in March 1991, and spawned the hit singles Groovy Train and the anthemic All Together Now.

London indie rockers The Rifles make their festival debut, Flo Gallop makes a return to the Priory Live stage, and The

Scribes bring their brand of block rocking, soul crushing, freestyling Hip Hop from the South West to South East London.

With the Vinyl Village Dance Tent, Kids Zone, Wellbeing Area a selection of great food stalls, and of course the fully licenced bar, it promises to be a spectacular summer celebration. Scan the QR code over the page to get your tickets now.

Flo Gallop

Space The Farm