June 2014

SEnine Eltham SE9

www.senine.co.uk

JUNE 2014

Meet Clyde

Totally independent, serving the community for over 7 years

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Eltham Station

Minimum fare £5.00 for the first 2 miles West End Heathrow Stansted Gatwick City Airport

£35.00 £55.00 £57.00 £48.00 £25.00

Return journeys add £5.00 for parking, up to 45 min waiting time is free

Charing Cross £30.00 Saloons, Estates, Euston £33.00 5, 6, 7 & 8 seater St Pancras £33.00 cars available Paddington £38.00 Add £7.00 for estate cars and fare and a half for 5-8 seater

Wheel chair access cars available with 24 hours notice

020 8859 7666

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Quality Legal Services @ affordable prices

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2

It is your community, you have the right to a say in what happens

SEnine ISSUE NUMBER 91

Tough Month It has been a big month. Some may recall that in the editorial last month I mentioned that I seemed to have caught a ‘bug’ in my travels too and from Australia.

That was not to be the case.

The underlying problem was my heart and in the very early hours of May 4th I suffered the first major symptoms of heart failure. Later that morning I was admitted to A&E at Queen Elizabeth Hospital where I remained for 12 days to be discharged on Thursday May 15th.

JUNE 2014 as for the benefit and wellbeing of those in their charge. I am especially grateful to those very special people who took the time to sit and listen to my fears and worries, without judgement. Thank you.

as well as personally delivering over 500 magazines to businesses, shops and offices across Eltham.

Finally to all the well wishers and those that sent cards, a big thankyou. It is very comforting to know so many people care enough to make that effort.

So, I plan to outsource the delivery process, which will lift a task from my shoulders and to that end will approach a few suitable people that might wish take the role.

Matters Afoot.

I have decided (well Joanne had a lot to say about it too) that I am going to get some help.

I still have a way to go before it would be considered that I am approaching my ‘normal’ self, and the damage to my heart is currently unable to be repaired.

However I am assured that with proper care, attention and medication most likely I will live on for a bit longer yet. I am planning on making that a long, long time.

Already John Webb looks after most of the editorial and story content, and that is a huge job and major role within the magazine.

My days in the critical care units (Wards 2 & 4) of the hospital were peppered with worry, boredom, frustration and humour.

One day I might sit down and write about those experiences, especially those that were on the lighter side and brought a smile to my face.

I undertake front office roles of sales and marketing, PR and promotions and the general public face of the magazine.

But before that time I do want to thank those dedicated ward staff who looked after me and the many others admitted over that time. These people have attained a level of patience, care and understanding that seems boundless and not once did I hear or see an angry word or action, a lack of care, attention or compassion or any word or deed that could not be construed

OPINION, FROM MY DESK

In addition to some writing I also look after all back office roles such as corporate compliance, vat and tax, mail, banking and finance and general office functions.

On the production front I plan each issue.

I do site visits and write a few stories. I also arrange for stories to be laid out, and proof read, and corrected.

I do all the graphic art for the magazine, design all the in house adverts, layout all stories and adverts, and liaise with the printers for each issue.

And finally I take delivery of 1500 kg of magazines, arrange and oversee all distribution, mail outs, courier deliveries

Totally Independent Main Office:

Mark Wall

mark@senine.co.uk

Editor:

John Webb

editor@senine.co.uk

Advertising:

Mark Wall

mark@senine.co.uk

Phone: Web: Publisher:

020 8333 7493 (For all matters) www.senine.co.uk SEnine Ltd: PO Box 24290, Eltham, SE9 6ZP

Closing Dates. Please visit our web site to get exact dates. Submissions: Contributions and Stories are always welcome from the residents of Eltham, they are subject to our overall editorial policy. Advertisers: SEnine Magazine does not recommend or endorse any advertiser. You should make you own enquiries as to the suitability of the service or product.

We only use the very best industry standard vegetable oil based inks. We use environmentally friendly papers, from a sustainable source, with a chain of custody from well managed forests through the supply chain to our printer.

In addition, I plan to get some office help for a few hours each week (See page 28).

This will be a role that can grow as the need develops. I see it starting at 4 hours per week while we find our feet, growing quickly to 8 hours per week and perhaps beyond.

This Edition We are very lucky that John Webb has produced extra magic in this edition, that has made my role a lot easier. John had all the stories ready to go, including pictures and other add ins that were required. This left me with the role of putting togther the patch work to produce the magazine.

We were very late getting it to proof stage, and in turn late getting it to the printer. But at the time of writing (Monday the 26th) everything look good. I can only hope there were not 'print line' break downs that delayed it any further.

I hope you enjoy this issue. We enjoyed putting it together for you.

Enjoy life: Enjoy Eltham.

Cover: Shepherdleas Woods Cover photo by: Debbie Eldergill, taken April 26th 2014 Cameo: Clyde is the lastest edition to the New Lodge

Riding Centre. To learn more turn to page 18.

Friends Membership.

Support for the magazine is always appreciated. You can help the magazine with an annual Friends Membership The standard membership is £24.00 per year (in the delivery area) Royal Mail membership is £36.00 per year (Outside the current delivery area and delivered by messenger or post)

Send your name, address and contact details along with payment to 'SEnine Friends' PO Box 24290 Eltham SE9 6ZP Or visit our web site www.senine.co.uk to pay on line.

We look forward to hearing from you.

This publication is subject to copyright - if you want to use something, ask we will usually grant permission

3

NEWS

DLR Report Suppressed A May 2012 report has been kept secret from

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the public for two years until a leak brought it to light.

I

t will come as little surprise to the many that believed the council's pursuit of an extension of the DLR to Eltham was no more than political posturing to keep residents South of Shooters, an area that has for years been deprived of any sort of real council development funding, quiet.

An extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Eltham has now been ruled out.

The news is a heavy blow to residents hopeful of improved public transport links from the south of the borough.

This conclusion had been kept secret from the public for two years until a leak brought it to light.

A copy, seen by SEnine, shows that the report, finalised in May 2012, concludes that a link from the DLR to the expanding Kidbrooke New Town might be viable, bringing DLR trains alongside the railway station there.

But even this is unlikely to gain favour with transport planners at Transport for London, whose Transport Planning Manager Tony Wilson told the consultants :...... “..not to say that I can’t see any merits in it, but they appear to be fairly minor given the available capacity on the existing DLR options via Lewisham and Greenwich, while it would carry a very high price tag, and would be competing for funding against a great many other capital projects which have established cases grounded in an established transport or economic challenge…”

Commuters from Eltham are thought to be sufficiently well served by the connections to Docklands and north London already available via the DLR at

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Lewisham and the London Overground link at New Cross to Stratford.

The expenditure needed to accommodate a track alongside the A2, creating new overpasses and platforms at Eltham could not be justified by the extra ticket revenue and economic regeneration which would result.

Also, Transport for London has a number of competing claims on investment funds for the foreseeable future, all of which are considered a higher priority in terms of relieving chronic congestion to cope with the city’s increasing population.

These findings come in a technical document ordered by Greenwich Council from transport experts Hyder Consulting.

The company was asked to do this follow-up work following publication of the technical report in December 2011 which was compiled after the idea of a DLR extension had been promoted by the council and Eltham MP Clive Efford.

It found that the link would be technically feasible although with a number of design challenges. It would run alongside the A2 for long stretches, rather than above it on stilts, as originally conceived.

But the council acknowledged that it would have to ‘sell’ the idea to TfL on the grounds of economic necessity in order for it to progress into the future investment programme.

The reaction of TfL in records of meetings and emails with the consultants show them to rule it out. Number crunching of costs and benefits done by Hyder bear this out. The consultants costed a range of possibilities.

The council’s fear is that residents from the south of the borough will find it difficult to access jobs in the expanding economies of Greenwich Peninsula and former Docklands without better transport links.

Other options – high speed bus services and tram – are ruled out because of their cost or the problem of combining them with the existing congested road network.

The report concludes that a link from Canning Town to Kidbrooke would be better value as construction and running costs would be comparatively cheaper; the Eltham and Falconwood section involves expensive viaducts at Westhorne Avenue and Well Hall Road.

Passenger demand would also be less.

For either link to make sense, a new DLR tunnel under the Thames would need to be dug at the same time as the new Silvertown road tunnel, designed to relieve pressure on Blackwall Tunnel.

But again TfL are negative. Reengineering the tunnels to include a DLR bore would set back the project two years, they say.

The report suggests that the North Greenwich to Kidbrooke link would cost around £247m (£54,000 per metre), the Kidbrooke to Eltham stretch £168m (£95,000 per metre) and Eltham to Falconwood £134m (£67,000 per metre) with revenues comparatively less at the eastern end.

Don't be a litter lout, find a bin

SEnine

1914 - 2014 We are celebrating 100 years in Eltham.

Free live entertainment, outside the shop 2.00pm to 3.00pm Saturday June 7th Pete Rowe & John Higgs 'Tribute to the Shadows' Saturday June 14th - ImagineJack Saturday 21st June Steve Mac and his pupils Saturday 28th June - The Folk Mob

Sunday 22nd June in the Bob Hope Theatre Clint's Jazz Band. An evening of Summer Jazz to celebrate the centenary of Normans Music.

Tickets £12.50 (£11 concessions). All proceeds to the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice.

Saturday 12th July, Normans are sponsoring a performance of Elgar's "Sea Pictures" as part of the Eltham Choral Society Summer Concert.

www.normansmusic.co.uk 32 Well Hall Road Eltham SE9 6SF

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NEWS

SEnine

Vandals ? No ..... just the Council One of Eltham’s oldest landscapes has been destroyed by the latest cycling initiative from Greenwich Council.

The link across the park is intended as a quiet ‘by-pass’ for cyclists a w a y from the danger of main r o a d s which, in any case, a w a i t cyclists at each end.

A

two metre-wide sand and gravel swathe has been cut through the ancient pathway and mature trees from Butterfly Lane to Avery Hill Park.

The work was carried out despite opposition from local amenity groups and the Greenwich Cycling Campaign itself, which was also concerned about the loss of a valued landscape.

It is all part of the Mayor’s ambition that people should be encouraged to take to their cycles to make journeys too and from work and for shopping trips.

Creation of the new track, which involved gouging out the old surfacing and straightening the sides of the winding path, was also to assist access to the park. But recently approved plans to modernise the Charlton Athletic training facility

98 Riefield Road Eltham London SE9 T: 020 8333 0452 E: scott@londonandkent.co.uk

6

next door will entail a new approach road from Footscray Road, rendering the new cycle path surface unnecessary.

Hedgerows in the fields between Avery Hill and Footscray Road are one of the area’s oldest features, with experts calculating that they probably date back until the Middle Ages, to mark out tracks and as a stock-proof boundary.

On the stretch despoiled by the new cycle path, there are more than 50 oak trees, many of which date back at least 100 years.

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SEnine

E L T H A M

C O L LEGE

LARGE ENOUGH TO EXCEL SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE

LARGE ENOUGH TO EXCEL SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE

All That Jazz performed by a sporting trio.

At Eltham College everyone is someone else.

A Sixth Form Mathematician organises art workshops for visiting primary school children, the Captain of the 3rd XV is the lead actor in West Side Story and the General Secretary of the Model United Nations helps out at the local nursing home. In a challenging yet caring environment, we nurture each student’s skills and talents. All of them.

Senior School Open Morning

We develop well-rounded individuals.

Saturday 14 June

Eltham College, Grove Park Road, Mottingham, London, SE9 4QF Telephone 020 8857 1455 www.eltham-college.org.uk

10.00am – 12.30 pm Boys 11-18, Girls 16-18

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7

JANE’S JOTTINGS

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21 Century, Late Arrival st

The one’s nearest and dearest aren’t always the most tolerant teachers.

I

My friends were emailing each other and I was missing out.

My favourite programmes were apparently to be found on something called iPlayer but were beyond my reach. And no online Sudoko.

t first started in some small Pacific islands more than 14 years ago and spread quickly around the world but has only just reached me.

Yes folks, it’s the 21st century! As they say about almost everything these days, it has been a ‘journey’.

Progress hasn’t been quick; some setbacks along the way but many helping hands.

First, I joined a course at Eltham Library. The very patient tutor, Mohammed, was landed with half a dozen computer novices.

It gave me a first awesome vista of the land of Google and its bounties, although by the end the 12 weeks, I still wasn’t ready to head there on my own.

However, all was not lost. A helpful fellow called Bob from New Eltham came regularly to my home to teach me such skills as word processing and saving documents.

It was all painfully slow. There were distractions along the way.

I became more au fait with the benefits of the mobile phone, texting and even a rather good digital camera.

What about Mr Jottings and Junior, couldn’t they help? But like driving lessons, one’s nearest and dearest aren’t always the most tolerant teachers.

All the time, despite my fumbling towards computer literacy, cyberspace kept disappearing fast around the next corner.

That was until a few months ago.

It came in the shape of piece of a slate, unromantically named a ‘tablet’ but one of plastic rather than stone. No huge boxes, giant monitors, unwieldy keyboards or tangled mouses. A little sliver of technology made for my fingers and transportable from table to bed to armchair.

It’s an iPad and it’s great. Payback time for all those baby steps towards the modern world. Now, I too can play virtual Patience, call it ‘solitaire’ without having a single playing card in sight. That’s progress 21st century style!

Jane Webb has lived in Eltham since '85 with her husband and daughter. She has taught at several local primary schools

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CULTURE

SEnine

FREE 1hr TASTER sessions of our Adult Education (19+) short courses... come have a try!

On SATURDAY 21st JUNE & in conjunction with the Royal Borough of Greenwich - Adult Learners Week - we are providing FREE taster sessions of the following: Intro to Film Making This is an informal workshop for Adults (19 years of age or older) who are interested in learning the EDVLF SUDFWLFDO UHTXLUHPHQWV WR PDNH D VKRUW ÀOP LQFOXGLQJ ,QWUR WR HTXLSPHQW FRXUVH VWUXFWXUH VKRZFDVH RI SDVW ÀOPV HWF Introduction To Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator 7KLV LV D RQH KRXU WULDO VHVVLRQ WKDW ZLOO RXWOLQH WKH EDVLFV RI WKH FRXUVH ([SORUH EDVLF ,OOXVWUDWLRQ design and home publishing techniques in the full 20-hour course.

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Build Your Own Website With WordPress This is a one-hour trial session that will outline the basics of the course. This full course will provide you with the skills necessary to successfully create and run your own website or blog.

Portfolio Advice Workshops (Informal) This is an informal workshop/surgery for Adults (19 years of age or older) seeking support to build a portfolio or work for interviews to courses at Ravensbourne. ,QIRUPDO WR VHVVLRQV DYDLODEOH EHWZHHQ DP SP Saturday 21st June, informal 1 Hour sessions running: 10.00am, 11.00am, 1.00pm, 2.00pm & 3.00pm 'URS LQ RQ WKH GD\ RU SUHIHUDEO\ UHJLVWHU +(5( www.tinyurl.com/lf5gkvm

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like us on facebook or you can sign up to our e-mailing list here: www.tinyurl.com/l8l6w9y )HHV 1$ IRU WH[WLOHV FRXUVH DUH EDVHG RQ \RXU œVWDWXV¡ DQG FDOFXODWHG E\ WKH KRXU 5DWHV SHU KRXU (A) *UHHQZLFK UHVLGHQWV RQ PHDQV WHVWHG EHQHÀWV )UHH $ $V $ EXW VWXG\LQJ PRUH WKDQ FRXUVH … SHU KU % *UHHQZLFK UHVLGHQW RYHU \HDUV RI DJH … SHU KRXU & *UHHQZLFK &DUG KROGHUV … SHU KRXU '

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Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how.

9

NEWS IN BRIEF

News in Brief Time Traveller returns Artefact Saved by Local Historian, To Re-appear in Eltham Last month we reported that the old 'A. Lait clock', until recently hanging outside Francis Chappell, had been removed.

John Kennett tracked down the clock and saved it perhaps from being dumped and lost. The clock was taken to the Greenwich Heritage centre and from there on to Crossness Pumping Station where a volunteer at the station was to repair it.

The clock was then to be used as Crossness desired.

SEnine

Games Club

Open Gardens

A new social group for lovers of board games has started at St Mary’s Community Centre, Eltham High Street.

Six gardens in Eltham are throwing open their gates to raise funds for Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice.

A treasure chest of traditional games will be available including scrabble, dominoes, chess, draughts, cards and battleships.

Over the weekend of June 14 and 15, the gardens and their proud owners will be on display between 2 and 5pm with refreshments available at each.

It is meeting every Wednesday from 12noon - 2pm with teas, coffees and biscuits on hand.

Janet Forster, who started the group, said it was aimed at the over 50s who were looking for a relaxed and social outing with amusing games. A fee of £2 will be charged to cover cost of hall hire.

She said: “Everybody’s welcome to come and join in and meet some new people.”

Further details from Janet on 020 8850 1182 or from St Mary’s on 020 8850 2040.

Local PC Retires Stuart Wood, 54, joined the Met in June 1984 as a police constable and served 20 years of his 30 years in Greenwich.

He said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Met, but specifically my time in Greenwich. I was born in Lewisham but was brought up in Eltham and attended primary school in Eltham too. This is the area close to my heart that I have enjoyed policing for the best part of my career."

However after reading the story in SEnine Magazine in the May issue, Trustee Roger Taylor wrote to SEnine Magazine suggesting that if a suitable place could be found for the clock, their preference was to return it via the Eltham Society.

SEnine has made contact with the secretary of the Eltham Society Mr Laurie Baker who will arrange to raise the matter with the society.

Borough Commander Helen Millichap attended Eltham police station on Thursday 15 May to take part in Stuart's last patrol, joined by PC Hayes and PS Catmull, on the streets of Eltham.

She said: "It is a pleasure to have been a 'bobby on the beat' with Stuart for his last patrol. He has dedicated his entire career to protecting the people of Greenwich. I hope he will enjoy his retirement. We all wish him the very best for the future".

Visitors can either buy a £3 ticket for each garden or a pass for all gardens, costing £10.

It’s the first time that Eltham has joined the event and it takes its place alongside Greenwich, Charlton and Blackheath, where a further 14 gardens will be open for inspection.

The addresses in SE9 are 17 Greenholm Road (Gaynor and John Wingham), 18 Beechhill Road (Mary and Nick Gregory), 33 Glenhouse Road (Kay and Alan Dory), 51 Gourock Road (Phyllis and Tony Duignan), 19 Eltham Park Gardens (Peter Sowden) and 1 Glenhouse Road (Tica and Jim Clark).

More details from www.communityhospice.org.uk

Fundraiser An evening of karaoke and cabaret has raised more than £1,600 for Demelza children’s hospice.

Held at the Woodcroft Club, the evening was the initiative of club member Terry Ascott, who handed over a cheque to representatives of Demelza with fellow members.

“It was a great evening, we all had fun and raised some money for a very good cause”, said Terry.”

Early suggestions were that the clock could form part of any redevelopment of Passy Place.

Have you some news that others might like to hear? Write and tell us.

PC Andy Hayes - PS Marianne Catmull - PC Stuart Wood - DCS Millichap

10

Join in a Community Activity

SEnine

Hardy Flooring Carpets Laminate Vinyls Wood

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Carndean Amtico

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9 1 ÂŁ Don't be a Litter tosser, put it in a bin

Open Monday to Saturday 9.00am - 5.00pm 11

WHAT'S ON Saturdays until to 7 June ‘UndertheGreenwood’:PicturingBritishTrees Art Exhibition by 32 artists.

Gerald Moore Gallery, Eltham College Entry free. 12 – 4pm

Saturday 31 May Proposals for Avery Hill Winter Garden Open Day: A chance to see and comment on the University’s plans for refurbishment Avery Hill Mansion Site. Entry free. 1pm – 4pm

Sunday 1 June Family Fun Day Weekend after the Bank Holiday Well Hall Pleasaunce - Live music, entertainment, attractions - Stallholders welcome - 0845 459 2351 10am – 5pm

Wednesday 4 June Quiz night at the White Hart On behalf of local charities Includes carvery meal £10 per ticket from 8850 1562 Doors open 6pm, quiz starts 8pm

Sunday July 6th Songs of Praise Eltham United Reformed Church All denominations are invited to join our congregation for an evening of joyful hymn singing on the theme of Volunteering.

Normans 100 Years

Wednesday 18 June

Saturday 7 June

On behalf of local charities Includes carvery meal £10 per ticket from 8850 1562 Doors open 6pm, quiz starts 8pm

Pete Rowe & John Higgs 'Tribute to the Shadows"

Saturday 14 June ImagineJack

Saturday 21 June Steve Mac and his pupils

Quiz night at the White Hart

Wednesday – Saturday 18-21 June 13’

The Folk Mob Pavement outside Normans Music 2.00pm - 3.00pm Free

Modern play by Mike Bartlett & directed by Jennifer Sims.

‘A vision of London familiar and strange’ Bob Hope Theatre, Wythfield Road Tickets £9 and £8 - 7.45pm www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk or 020 8850 3702

Sunday 22 June

Saturday 21 June

Clint's Jazz Band.

Early Summer Flower Show

An evening of Summer Jazz to celebrate the centenary of Normans Music. Bob Hope Theatre Tickets £12.50 (£11 concessions). All proceeds to the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice.

Mottingham Horticultural Society Maryfield Hall, Mottingham from 2.30 – 5pm

Saturday 28 June

Sunday 22 June ‘Steaming Day’ at Crossness Pumping Station

Sunday Afternoons Live music at the Tudor Barn June 8: Huw Price; soul, swing & samba guitar vocals June 15: Francesca Payne; talented jazz vocalist June 22: Gordon Mark Webber, acoustic guitar & vocal June 29: Brothers In Swing, pop and rock classics July 6: Easy Company Jazz Entry free 2-4pm Details at www.tudorbarneltham.co.uk

Wednesday 11 June Followed by refreshments and exhibition of photos taken at the Olympics by Games volunteer Rev. Robert Draycott Eltham United Reformed Church, Court Road, SE9 All Welcome! 6pm

SEnine

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‘Home Is Where the Heart Is’

Working beam engine in Grade1 Victorian building Model engineering and international museums weekend Dress: flat shoes and trousers. Light refreshments, shop, large car park. Belvedere Road, SE2 9AQ More details www.crossness.org.uk Adults £6, Under 5s free, 5 – 16 years £2 10.30am – 4pm

Wednesday 25 June Tudor Barn Wine Club A range of six wines from regional France plus three course meal, cost £40 in advance only 0845 459 2351 starts 8pm

Illustrated talk by Pam Hildrew. 7-9pm Eltham’s history in architectural styles Organised by Eltham Arts - Eltham Centre

Saturday 28 June

Saturday 7 June

Saturday 14 June

Summer plant sale

Annual fundraising BBQ

Best of swing music with special guests Bob Hope Theatre - Tickets £13.50 and £11.50 from 020 8850 3702 - Starts 7.30pm

Mottingham Horticultural Society Mottingham Methodist Church 9.30am – 12noon

St Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive Footscray Road, Eltham Bar, bbq, Pimms, tea, cakes, ‘beat the goalie’, tombola, raffles, signed footballs, name the bear, entertainment and much more. £1 adults, children free. 3.30 – 6pm

Saturday 7 June Creative Arts Festival Greenwich Community College Displays of work, craft sales, course details Greenwich Park Centre, King George St Entry free 10am – 4pm

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15

The Shane Hampsheir Show

Friday 4 July Charity Gala Night Buffet, live band and raffle - White Hart, Eltham Hill On behalf of ‘Checkemlads’ for testicular cancer awareness Tickets £10 More details from 020 8850 1562 Starts 7.30pm

Open Gardens 2pm - 5pm See story page 10 or advert page 25 for details

Friday and Saturday 11 & 12 July ‘Heard It on the Streets’

Tuesday June 17 Four flowers in art A talk by Russell Bowes who looks at the rose, sunflower, lily and tulip. Organised by Eltham Nature Club St Mary's Community Centre, Eltham High Street £1.50 for members, £3 non-members www.elthamnatureclub.co.uk - 7.30pm

New Stagers annual musical production Realistic look at life in the concrete jungle Bob Hope Theatre 020 8850 3702 7.30 (plus 2.30pm Sat) - £6.00

Saturday July 12 Eltham Choral Society Performance ‘Sea Pictures’ by Elgar, Rutter’s Gloria, Whitbourn and Palestrina. Holy Trinity Church, Southend Crescent. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets from Normans Music (sponsors) £12 (£10conc)

12

o r something e W h a tfor ' severyone On ElthamMhas Pa g e 2 8

PREVIEW by Beattie Slavin

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13 T

his contemporary epic, 13, is Jennifer Sims’ fourth production at the Bob Hope Theatre.

Her previous productions have been ‘Blood Wedding’, ‘Brassed Off ’ and ‘Calendar Girls’. She chose ‘13’ by Mike Bartlett having seen it at the National Theatre. She thought it was very exciting theatre, with a big cast that she likes to work with, and with challenging dramatic scenes but also comedy moments. It will be visually exciting, thought provoking and entertaining.

The cast of 23 have been rehearsing since mid-March, concentrating on the small moments involving small groups of characters, and then bringing them together with the big collective moments later. There are many Bob Hope regulars in this cast including Ann Ashenden, Susan Owens, David Fewkes, Nicole Tribe and Rachel De Silva. And if you saw Alice in

Wonderland, Alex Mayers who débuted at Bob Hope as the Cheshire Cat is in the cast too.

Across London twelve people awake from the same terrifying dream.

The dream is about hidden monsters, explosions and darkness. Symbolic of the uneasiness about the direction our country is going, maybe a fear of nuclear threat? At the same moment, a young man named John (Kyle Young) returns home after six years away to find economic gloom, futile protest, and a Prime Minister about to start a war. But John has a vision for the future and a way to make it happen.

What starts as a protest movement about being nice to each other, evolves into an anti-war movement.

This is a very modern play, first performed and mainly set in 2011, and has a very filmlike staging. The stage will be quite stark, using lighting and projections of motion graphics onto three screens to provide focus. Many scenes will overlap on the

stage, with different locations and characters drawing your attention in quick succession.

The pace will keep you engaged as we wait to see what is coming.

This play is suitable for 14 years up, and contains a serious message about the values by which we live while postulating some kind of spiritual revolution.

The characters beliefs give them strength but can also be dangerous. There are two sides to most stories. The critic Michael Billington wrote in a review of ‘13’ in the Guardian “Bartlett is saying that we live in a Britain where the old tribal loyalties are increasingly irrelevant. The real divide is between a popular protest movement, fed on Facebook and Twitter, that hungers for a change of direction, and an entrenched governmental system that clings precariously to the status quo."

Saturday night has already sold out, so if you don’t want to be unlucky 13, get your tickets for the other nights quickly.

COMIN G AT T R AC T IO N S B O B

H O P E T H E A T R E Be a good neighbour

13

ART & CULTURE

SEnine

Tall Tales and Eltham They’ve been judged Eltham’s best short stories. Here, SEnine presents some of the winning entries to the ‘Tales of Eltham’ competition. Amy Duffin reports.

M

ore than 200 people gathered at Eltham Library to celebrate ‘Tales of Eltham’, a short story competition organised by Eltham Arts, designed to showcase the talent of local residents in 300 words.

It was the culmination of an initiative to bring together creative people from the local area. A whopping 160 entries were received from Elthamites of all ages, which varied in subject and style.

“Reading these short stories, I’ve learned so much about Eltham lives and loves, and it’s been a great privilege to be involved in the competition,” said Andrew Lambirth, Professor of Education in the School of Education at the University of Greenwich.

Prof Lambirth was chair of the judging panel and said he was highly impressed with the high-level of entries.

“Short story writing is said to be the most difficult of all prose forms of fiction,” he said.

“The best short story writers need to apply master craftsmanship, combined with a love of form and an eye for drama,

all of which needs to be balanced with an instinct for simplicity, expressed in a style that’s scrupulous, lucid and concise."

Dear Pete

“All of the winners were able to accomplish these traits in their stories.”

That was over fifty-odd years ago, when I was fourteen and you fifteen. We were too young to be in love but it felt real and, for me, that feeing has never changed throughout the years. We promised we would write and that’s what we did; for a while.

He was especially complimentar y of the children’s entries, which came from far and wide, including many local schools.

A LETTER TO PETE

by Sue Head

I found an old shoe-box of your letters written so many years ago. How long ago was it that I stood alone and forlorn on the platform at Eltham Park watching and waving your train goodbye? I remember it pulling away, the horn sounding and a plume of white steam being muffled as it disappeared under the Westmount Road arch. The train was carrying you and your folks on a mammoth journey to a new life in Australia.

Eltham was never the same without you Pete. The park didn’t look as green; the open air lido seemed empty and the water colder. Stopping to buy an ice cream cone at the swimming pool café was fun no more.

I can still see you waiting outside the fishmongers in Westmount Road on your bike; waiting for John. I remember us meeting at the cinema. The Palace was called the flea-pit for some reason so we used to go to the Gaumont which was grander. Do you remember the youth club dances where we jived and danced? It was such an innocent and romantic time.

But you left for a new life and I stayed. We lost touch and memories fade. I’m not even sure you’re still in Australia and I only have a long-ago address but when I found your letters today I wanted to write and to tell you that Eltham was never same without you.

Love from long ago - Sue “The children’s work was fascinating, and made judging this competition a delightful job to undertake. They encompassed humour, wit, drama and adventure. We’ve got some really gifted storytellers here and we really

h must encourage them to write more because we need good story tellers for the future,” he added.

The Tales of Eltham judging panel consisted of staff from the Faculty of Education and Health at the University of Greenwich along with various local authors. All entries were judged anonymously, on a completely individual basis.

Winner Sue Head: ‘Letter to Pete’.

Prof Lambirth said: “All the judges were deeply touched by this beautiful story crafted as a letter; heartfelt remembrance of love from long ago.

It gave a wonderful sense of place, an outstanding entry.”

Second: Miriam Story: ‘Cold Hands’.

Prof Lambirth said: “This work contained lots of poetic qualities. There were some

14

Help keep Eltham tidy! Put your litter in bins.

ART & CULTURE

SEnine real jewels of language used.” Heaven Osmani, Isabella Fuller, Katie Georgiou, Koren Joint Third: Ann Tolladay Ozmus, Maisie Hook and ‘Remember’.

William Quilter.

Prof Lambirth said: “This was a heartbreaking story Overall winner Sue Head was of life, love and death; it a former pupil of the Gordon ends in tragedy but in an School which she left when extraordinary way.” she was 14, and then worked for many years as a secretary Joint Third: Ernest Jupp: in the NHS. Apart from a 'Last Ride on the Eltham spell as an ‘agony aunt’ for Flyer’.

Woman’s Own, her forays Prof Lambirth said: “This is into the world of creative a well-crafted tale full of writing have been limited. humour, based around a true event, told through “My story was based on dialogue.” something which did happen to me; I had a friend Highly commended: Anna who went to Australia but Cookson, David Culver, we didn’t keep in touch”, she Margaret Lewis. said.

Commended: Chris Almond, Sheila Bishop, Jill Carr, Reeva Charles, Paul Cookson, Liam Fitzpatrick, Mark Wall, Sue Williamson.

CHILDREN: The first three prizes taken by the Robinson siblings, Beatrix, Marianne and Hugo.

“I’m delighted to have won”, she said. “It was really hard to keep the story to just 300 words. At first I thought it was 500, but then I had to take out 200! But I think it made it better.

COLD HANDS

by Miriam Storey Cold Hands.

What was it his mother use to say about cold hands?

He watches the snow dance its way down, settling quietly on the benches outside the library.

The high street is eerily quiet but for the occasional cautious crunch of a determined commuter or slushy rattle of a vehicle inching along the road. He glances up at the library, what if it doesn’t open, what then? A walk, a slow snowy trudge, the Palace will look pretty, or the Tudor Barn. Like living in a Christmas card his wife would have said.

Cold hands.

He stretches his fingers in his gloves.

She had loved this town, the history, the people, the shops. He smiles. He had suggested once, maybe a move, somewhere further out, a bigger house? But she had laughed gently and said ‘ I have everything I want right here, why go anywhere else?’

He looks up again at the library, the red brick, the stone pillars. The unassuming grandeur, familiar and ever present entity, like love, she said and she had loved this place most of all. He puts his hand on the wooden front door, it looks warm. The sudden scrape of the key in the lock takes him by surprise, as if it were his touch alone causing the mechanisms to retract.

Cold hands.

It comes to him then, what his mother use to say.

Cold hands.

As the light within spills out of the opening door, a smile.

Cold hands, warm heart.

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If you have not been out in Eltham in a while, visit the White Hart. You will be glad you visited 'The Hart of Eltham'.

2 Eltham High Street Eltham London SE9 1DA

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15

HISTORY

SEnine

Eltham's Oldest Primary School Continuing from Part 1 -1813 to 1913 published in November 2013, Margaret Taylor tells the story of the second hundred years, 1914 to 2014, of the schools 200 years history.

1914 Eltham had become a suburban town with two commuter railway lines and three large London County Council schools (Gordon, Deansfield and what is now Wyborne, then Pope Street). Eltham Church of England school was still taking children up to 14 years of age.

Popular and respected headmaster R.R.C.Gregory noted the old boys who enlisted in the Army or Navy. There were at least 140. Some of the younger male teachers went too, including one of his own sons.

As the Progress Estate was built, it was estimated that 650 school-aged children would arrive shortly. Were there enough places in Eltham’s schools? Of course not! So there was overcrowding and no money for enlargement. The Infant School playground was dangerous but the War Office would not release any tar to mend it.

1918 With huge sadness, Mr Gregory noted that 28 young men, past pupils and one young teacher, did not return from the War. This list included Robert Sloper (picture below) who had been the bricklayer of the school’s new entrance arches in 1911.

The Headmaster served on the committee to set up the Eltham War Memorial, at which many of us gather annually on Remembrance Sundays.

Estates of cottage houses were built in Eltham and, eventually, Haimo, Ealdham, Briset and Henwick schools were erected to serve the children growing up there.

But the houses were ready before the schools, so Eltham Church of England School repeated its cycle of excessive overcrowding followed by sudden drops in the number of pupils on roll.

1922 Eltham Church of England School managed to add one new classroom to the south west corner in 1922.

Meanwhile, leading local clergy suggested that worshippers at all Eltham’s CofE churches should send their sons and daughters to school in the Roper Street premises. This school, founded by the Church of England’s ‘National Society’ in 1813 would give preference to Anglican Christian families.

The founding aims in 1813 had been to educate the poorest children of Eltham, together with those who could pay a little towards their education. This support for the poorest came from sponsorship by wealthy benefactors. But Eltham no longer had rich landowners anxious to help poor children.

Overcrowded classrooms circa 1920 1933 After years of planning and fund-raising, a new Infant School was built and officially opened on September 11. It was designed for 144 children, in three classes of 48.

The little old building of 1852 and the freehold of its land had been sold to the Roman Catholic authorities who had established St Mary’s RC School nearby in 1928-29. The simple building remained a serviceable classroom until 1984.

Eltham continued to grow with 42,000 residents shown in the 1931 census. As before, the children from the developing housing came to Eltham until their own area had a school.

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Classrooms around the 1930's

1939-45 In the Spring of 1939, Eltham’s school was asked to register people wishing to be evacuated in the event of War. By August 1939, the premises were occupied by the L.C.C. for Air Raid precautions work. Large public air raid shelters were dug in the playground alongside Archery Road. From 11th September 1942, the Rescue Services had part of the school, on standby to dig out persons buried in collapsed buildings after bombing raids.

Enterance to air raid shelters under the playground.

Take a walk in the Tarn

HISTORY

SEnine The record of school work 1939-1945 is, understandably, confused. Miss A.M.Roberts, who had had charge of the Infants since 1923, led a mixed-age group of evacuees to Gorseinon, a village a few miles from Swansea, in Wales. They returned in September 1942. Many of Eltham’s pupils had never left home, despite the bomb and rocket attacks.

The Roper Street School was at work throughout the war.

built the homes before the schools again.

Eltham CofE took pupils who would transfer when their local schools were ready.

1960s Ex-pupils may recall seeing the demolition of ‘Jubilee Cottages’ (built 1833) on the western side of the playground; energetic Headmaster Mr R.A.Wearn’s sudden death from a heart attack and Eltham CofE’s first black teacher Mr Percy James, from the West Indies.

For pupils of 1962 – 1980, the Head was Mr Ernest Bonds. He was memorable for his Assemblies and for international projects supporting needy children in Hong Kong and south India. Enthused about history, the school celebrated 150 years in 1963 with a collection of antiques loaned from staff and pupils’ homes and families.

In November 1942, a bomb damaged the Roman Catholic school, south of Eltham High Street, and their priest borrowed two of the Roper Street classrooms to carry on.

On 29 August 1944, one of the last of the V1 rockets (doodlebugs) severely damaged Eltham Church (St John’s). The school then also served as a temporary church 1944-46 and 35 couples were married there.

Playground Chums 1964

Post-War After the War, the school became a ‘Junior Mixed School’ with a separate Infant School. Miss Roberts was Infant Headmistress 1923-53. After 1947, Eltham CofE no longer took pupils up to the age of 14 years. When Miss Roberts retired, the school was declared a ‘Junior Mixed and Infant School’, with no Infant Headteacher.

Mr Charles Hatt had taught at the school 1925-1936 and the managers invited him back as Headmaster in 1943. He served until 1956.

1950s Mr Hatt was in charge during the post-war ‘baby-boom’ of 1950-55. Again, classes were large and the school crowded but the teachers were mostly enthusiastic and capable. Ex-pupils of the era will recall Mrs Taylor and her models and plays in the Infants, Miss Sexton and her history and country dancing and Mr Brown with his nature study in the juniors.

Horn Park, Coldharbour and Alderwood Estates were built during the late 1940s and early 1950s. But the local authorities

Join a local community group

Mr Bonds encouraged Mr John Kennett to start ‘The Eltham Society’ in the school hall in 1965. This hall had been the Boys Schoolroom of 1868. The centenary of the 1868 move to Roper Street was commemorated with a costumed procession to and from the school’s original Pound Place site.

The Local Education Authority wanted to shrink the school roll to 280 children. The Diocese thought it viable only with 360 pupils. There were 379 youngsters present at the time. The Parents’ Association, formed with Mr Bond’s encouragement, tried to raise funds for a bigger school hall, one that all pupils could assemble in.

The school doesn’t have this facility.

1969 Three new classrooms were added, where the original Mistress’s House and garden had been. From 1906-1968, resident school keepers had lived there. In

that same development, indoor toilets were provided for pupils.

1970s and 80s Ex-pupils will remember Mrs Barbara John, for her musical leadership and Mrs Donoghue. From distant retirements both send their good wishes for the school’s bicentenary.

Mrs Masters became Eltham CofE’s first female Headteacher in 1981. Ex-pupils from the 1980s will recall the introduction of computers to the classrooms and the first residential school journeys. The grandfather clock, which had long stood in a corner of the hall, was sold for £2,900, and the money was spent on library books.

1990s to date Miss Monica Whitney was Headteacher from 1991-2009. Those years saw the former school-keeper’s house adapted for school groups to use, with its garden turned into an ‘outdoor classroom’. For the youngest children, another R e ce p t i o n classroom, with an outdoor shaded play area, was added.

Be All You Can Be Mrs Sian Roffe started to plan the bicentenary celebration, in 2011. The children already have a new school song and sing it with gusto. There’s a big new mosaic featuring a new motto suggested and voted for by pupils, ‘Be All You Can Be’. It is Mr Matthew Bulpitt, appointed Headteacher from Easter 2013, who has been leading the celebrations for Eltham Church of England Primary School this year. See back page for details of celebrations.

SEnine file photo 2012

17

NEWS

SEnine

Clyde Surprise A Mottingham riding stables is celebrating more than 30 years of serving the community. But it needs donations to re-sand its paddock. Amy Duffin reports.

F

or more than 30 years, New Lodge Riding Centre in Mottingham has been teaching learners and helping children with disabilities, enabling them to sample the therapeutic benefits of horse riding.

Being self-funded, it can sometimes be difficult to raise money for the centre, and the latest drive for £10,000 in funding comes from a need to replace the sand in the riding arena.

New Lodge Centre is owned by chairman Brian Green (of Brian Green and His New Orleans Stompers fame), who lives locally, and the organisation works across a spectrum of disabilities, age and social status.

Its goal is that each individual has the opportunity to achieve their personal aims, and has a chance to derive a direct therapeutic benefit from the activities provided.

The Centre is selfHilary with Mother Rupunzel and new born foal Clyde funded (but still governed by the rules and policies of the National Riding Disabled Association - Hoping to use what was left from the RDA), and owns 13 horses in total. equestrian events at the 2012 Olympics, it sadly wasn’t to be, so Hilary is set on These include now-retired ‘Peanuts’ the fundraising to make this a reality as soon veteran of the bunch at an impressive as possible. Previous initiatives have 34 years of age, with just one eye included charity functions at nearby following a recent accident.

Royal Blackheath Golf Club (which Crawford says is a huge supporter of the Each week, they see around 50-100 stables), but more is needed in order to people for lessons coming from achieve fundraising goals. boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark.

The centre also provides opportunities for its pupils to get more involved, and Although for the students, horse riding during my visit I met Isabella and Nieve, is generally a fair weather game, not for both 12, who volunteer on Saturday Hilary Crawford, who runs the stables mornings and help Crawford with the and classes six days a week, come rain classes. or shine.

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As well as predominantly providing classes for the RDA, New Lodge also offers some livery and mainstream lessons, too. Greenwich council also funds several sessions throughout the year for eligible parties (contact the centre to see if you are entitled to these lessons).

The newest recruit to the stables is Rapunzel, who was snapped up to replace Peanuts upon her retirement. After settling her in to Mottingham, it was discovered that Rapunzel was pregnant, meaning there will be more mouths to feed in the near future.

“I was assured she hadn’t been near a stallion”, said Hilary. But little Clyde was born a few months later.

“It might sound like two for the price of one, but Clyde can’t be ridden until he’s four and Rapunzel has to take a year off being a mum”, she said. “It means we’re one horse down for a while.”

Clyde, named after the recently departed ‘Bonnie’, was cantering around his stable just two hours after being born.

It’s an exciting time for the New Lodge Centre, and with the summer on its way, Mottingham Lane is sure to be a hive of activity.

Want to volunteer at New Lodge?

Contact Hilary Crawford on 020 8851 6447 or hilary.crawford@virgin.net. to get a copy of the terms and conditions to see if you are eligable.

To make a donation or for more information about New Lodge, visit www.newlodgerda.org.uk.

Be active in your community

SEnine

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HISTORIC ELTHAM

SEnine

The Co-Op at New Eltham John Kennett looks at the history of this popular store

T

he main food store at New Eltham is the Co-op with its distinctive light green fascia banding to the shop frontage, which is duplicated across the country where the retailer operates the largest number of convenience stores.

The Co-op movement has a long and distinguished history, somewhat sidetracked by recent financial difficulties, which can be traced back to the Rochdale Pioneers of the 1840s who promoted a profit-sharing scheme for ordinary workers in the establishment of basic food shops. The idea grew and in 1868 workers at Woolwich Arsenal established the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society (RACS).

The first secretary was Alexander McLeod whose statue can be seen above the former RACS premises at Powis Street, Woolwich, which is now a Travelodge; he is also remembered at Abbey Wood in Mcleod Road, and the Alexander McLeod School.

The RACS was rapidly spreading its commercial network with new shops attracting fresh ‘co-operators’ keen to receive their twice-yearly dividend on purchases. In 1898 Mr McLeod and other officials visited New Eltham to purchase a site for a branch near The Beehive

public house but nothing further transpired. At Eltham in 1906 the Well Hall store opened, opposite the future Well Hall Pleasaunce, and an existing grocery store was bought in 1920 at Eltham High Street, recently vacated by Co-op Travel Care. The reality of a store at New Eltham did not materialise until after the First World War. The chosen site for a modest store to accommodate grocery, provisions and butchery departments, stood at Footscray Road between the stationmaster’s house and a public footpath from Blanmerle Road. The official opening ceremony of the former army hut, on the afternoon of Wednesday 20 July 1921, was preceded by a decorated procession of vehicles representing the various departments of the society led by a Woolwich Military Band and paraded from the RACS store at Well Hall to New Eltham. RACS officials were in attendance and Mr JT Sheppard of the General Committee opened the new store. After the ceremony refreshments were served to delegates and friends at the Holy Trinity Church Hall at Southend Crescent and in the evening a concert was held at the Church Army Social Centre (site of Eltham MOT Test Centre) Avery Hill Road, of songs, monologues, comedy and sketches.

Official opening of the first store in 1921; station master’s house to the left (Co-op archives)

20

Official opening of the permanent store in 1932 (Co-o As New Eltham developed with speculative housing following construction of the Eltham By Pass in 1923, now the Sidcup Road, thoughts were turning to a larger RACS store to cope with increased demand. On the other side of the footpath stood two houses, 26 and 25 Pelham Terrace, the New Eltham Congregational Church with a schoolroom to the rear, the terrace houses of 24 to 18 Pelham Terrace, and then Blanmerle Road.

The Congregational Mission Chapel, was opened in 1875 and the school in 1882.

The facilities were renamed as the New Eltham Congregational Church in 1886 with Pastor D Lloyd Jones as the first appointed minister. Before the church closed in 1930 the members had been active in helping the unemployed of New Eltham and a soup kitchen was set up in the schoolroom. With the retirement of the pastor and no likely replacement it was decided to sell the site to the RACS (who also bought 24-26 Pelham Terrace) for £1,450, which went to needy church causes. Members of the displaced congregation joined with the Methodists whose temporary church building was opened on 2 July 1930 on the site of the present church in Footscray Road.

The new store, with a hall above, was built by the RACS’s own builders and

HISTORIC ELTHAM

SEnine opened on 9 December 1931.

Mrs MA Tucker of the General Committee who was presented with a gold key performed the official opening ceremony on Tuesday 8 March 1932 at 3.30pm; a commemorative plaque (now painted over) can be seen at the bottom of the stairs to the hall. At the rear of the site were buildings to cater for dairy and bakery home deliveries.

Before the c e re m o ny started music (Co-op archives) was played by the London County Council Tramways Silver Band in front of the decorated dais where a number of speakers were to praise the efforts of the RACS in the opening of this new store with its increased facilities for members in an up to date setting to include pharmacy, butchery, provisions and grocery departments. The officials were equally proud of the new hall where co-operative events, dances, concerts and whist drives could be held with seating for 250 in front of the stage with a curtain in the RACS colours of purple and gold; some 300 guests enjoyed afternoon tea in the new facilities described by one delegate as ‘the prettiest little branch the society owned.’ The former premises were used for sales of greengrocery which were later removed to a single storey addition to the main store made possible by the diversion of the footpath to alongside the station master’s house.

The New Eltham Co-op Dramatic Society used the hall for their productions. During WW2 the RACS Education Department ran weekend classes for Appreciation of Music, Dramatic Literature, and Elocution together with afternoon free film shows in conjunction with the Ministry of Food under the Food in Wartime scheme. The hall is now used by a dancing school but was once a popular location to learn

ballroom dancing as the (Doris) Bruce Barker Schools of Dancing.

Society. In November 1988 the butchery shop closed when the shop was again refitted but further change came in 1990 when the car park was extended onto a former allotment site alongside the existing path from Blanmerle Road. On 23 February 1991 the store closed for refurbishment and emerged on 14 March as an enlarged grocery store and off licence trading from Monday to Saturday, The store in 1970. From left, closed greengrocery unit, pharmacy, butchers, and 8am to 8pm, as a grocery. Note car parking to frontage and original signage.

‘Lateshop’.

Changes to the store saw the grocery department become self-service in 1957, closure of the greengrocery section followed by the pharmacy in 1973 which ten years later became Co-op Video Hire.

It is surprising to recall that pavement parking was allowed in front of this and other nearby stores; after much local protest this was prohibited but allowed behind the store from 1982. To enforce the parking ban bollards were erected in 1983, trees planted the next year and a parking bay created at the kerbside.

In 1997 the footpath from Blanmerle Road was again diverted – this time alongside the railway boundary to create a larger car park with landscaping and trees. The green Co-op corporate signage was first seen here in 2007 and in 2011 an intrusive double-sided advertisement panel was fitted to the pavement in front of the store near the ATM. For over ninety years the Co-op has been supplying the ‘basics’ for local residents as the district has moved from its ‘village days’ as Pope Street to the competitive times of today’s world.

Left The store in 1985 with video hire, butchers and grocers; new trees and bollards to pavement frontage Below 2007 convenience store frontage The tobacco kiosk was removed in March 1981 prior to an internal revamp that June. The RACS was experiencing trading losses and decided to merge in February 1985 with the Coo p e r a t i v e Wholesale Society to become the CWS South Retail Group

All pictures are from the John Kennett collection

21

SPORT

SEnine

Badgers Sports Club

Home of Cray Valley (pm) FC & Erith Town FC For Cray Valley: Contact Dave Wilson (Secretary) 07715 961886 wilson433@ntlworld.com or Frank May (Chairman) 07778 987579 frankmay.cvpmfc@hotmail.com

For Erith Town: Contact James Davie (Secretary) 077807 712149 jamesdavie@ntlworld.com or Ian Birrell (Chairman) 07956 291274 ibirrell@hotmail.co.uk

Coming Attractions at BADGERS

New Cray Valley manager Paul Gross in action last season.

Erith Town manager, centre, Simon Austin As I wrote in this column last month, both Cray Valley and Erith Town will start the new season with new managers in place after the Millers’ Steve Chapman and Erith Town’s Mark Tompkins both decided to step down at the end of April. Both of the clubs took differing options with their new managers with ourselves deciding to promote from within while the Dockers have appointed someone with rather more experience.

For us, player/coach Paul Gross will take over the reigns next season in his first managerial position and we are sure that Paul will do everything in his power to make us competitive next season, and as a tough tackling centre half, very difficult to beat. Paul has added some experience to his coaching staff though to help him out with Martin Barnard (Assistant Manager), Daniel Frost (1st Team Coach) and John Waurzewski (Goalkeeping Coach) all bringing a vast knowledge of non-league to the club.

Erith Town have named Simon Austin as their new manager for the new season. Simon was a player and Assistant Manager at Folkestone Invicta who reached the Ryman League South play offs last season and has also managed Canterbury City in the Southern Counties East Football League.

Set in the grounds of Cray Valley & Erith Town Football Clubs, Badgers Sports Club is the ideal venue for a variety of functions & events. Our professional catering & hospitality team

Friday 13 June Cray Valley Players Presentation Night Doors open at 7.30pm.

Friday 20 June A Ladies Only Night!

Tickets are priced at £15 and the show starts at 8.30pm.

Or for a quiet drink and big screen sport, just pop along any Saturday or Sunday.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CrayValleyPM Meanwhile on the pitch, the Southern Counties East League has seen the arrival of four new clubs to the league following a recent meeting of the FA Leagues Committee. Erith & Belvedere return to the League following their relegation from the Ryman League, while Croydon (Combined Counties League) and Crowborough Athletic and Lingfield (Sussex County League) have been switched to our League for the new season. We will now operate in a 20 team League which I am sure will make for an especially competitive and thoroughly entertaining league. We eagerly await the publication of our fixture lists!

Those fixtures should be available sometime in July but the draws for the early rounds of the FA Cup and FA Vase are due to be published in the next couple of weeks. Exciting times both on and off the pitch and we look forward to welcoming you to Badgers soon!

Frank May Chairman Cray Valley (PM) FC

can tailor a package that best suits your requirements. Our newly rebuilt & refurbished Clubhouse has lifted the whole venue, now with air conditioning, while the large glass domed roof fills the

New Members Always Welcome, call ahead or just pop in (ask for the manager) to enjoy our warm hospitality. hall with sunlight. As part of our package we can also recommend a range of services, from Wedding cars & flowers, to DJs & even live bands if you require.

Middle Park Avenue Eltham SE95HT

020 8355 4378 Info@badgerssportclub.co.uk www.badgersportsclub.co.uk

22

Join you local neighbourhood watch scheme

SEnine

Champions in the Making f England is ever to have a better squad to send to a World Cup finals, it might have pupils of Harris Academy Greenwich to thank.

I

An ever-present in the club’s successful under 18 team, he has notched up 18 goals from as many starts so far this season.

A c a d e m y ', Harris, will still play a part.

The school, formerly Eltham Green and now one of the most successful schools in London, has two players in England youth teams, both on the books of leading clubs.

His progress has been such that earlier this spring, he was selected to represent his country at under 17 level in a friendly tournament in Portugal, starting the game against the hosts and getting some time against Germany and Holland.

Fo l l o w i n g closely in his studmarks is Jahmal Ingram,(Right), a lean and h u n g r y forward who already tops 6’1”.

Karlan Ahearne-Grant, 16, and Jahmal Ingram, 14, are the names which could be on the lips of fans in the nottoo-distant future.

In addition, last year’s head boy Richard Bakary is now in Southampton’s highly rated Academy and has earned a place in their under 18 team.

For Harris Academy, it is another area in which it is striving for excellence, alongside its meteoric rise in the GCSE league tables..

As well as a formal link-up with Charlton Athletic’s youth set-up, the school is able to arrange a full education around the training and call-up demands of the stars of tomorrow attached to other clubs.

The approach has paid dividends this year, with the two students working their way up club and England junior teams, representing their country at international tournaments.

Karlan is in Charlton’s academy and one of a group from the club who both train with the club and are studying at Harris for their GCSEs.

Take an interest in local events

“I think I did quite well, I didn’t feel out of my depth”, he said.

The biggest challenge for Karlan, who lives not far from The Valley, has been learning to combine his academic studies with his progress in football.

He said: “It was hard at first and means staying late at school to keep up.”

Three half days a week he trains with Charlton at Sparrows Lane leading up to a Saturday morning game.

Karlan was first spotted aged 12 when his talent stood out in the community team games played at Sparrows Lane on Saturday mornings.

But the immediate season ahead is not football but exams. He admits that his GSCEs are now taking his focus, with eight subjects to be tackled.

Next year, he will start the first of two years in Charlton’s Academy which, in the past, been a gateway to the first team.

Jordan Cousins, Callum Harriott and Diego Poyet, are all engaged in the battle for the club’s Championship status. But further education at his 'other

SPORT

Jahmal, also a striker, is on the books of West Ham and has been featuring in the England under 16s this season, most recently in a squad of 18, playing four games in six days at a tournament in France.

He has trained at the FA’s Burton headquarters and recently took part in a tournament in Northern Ireland, representing his country against Spain, Belgium and Denmark.

His height and athleticism have led to comparisons with Arsenal’s legendary striker Thierry Henry.

Jahmal said: “I’ve always been football mad, I started by kicking rolled up socks around my bedroom!” He joined an under 8 team and was soon talent spotted, earning a place in West Ham’s youth set-up aged 12. His ambition is to turn professional, but only after earning his GCSEs. Head of Sport Andy Bowers said: “We’re able to offer our students a full academic curriculum and also make sure they develop as footballers. It means they have to catch up with their work after normal school hours, but we’re able to accommodate that.

“We are not only proud that they are representing their country but also Harris Academy”, he said.

23

ADVERTISING FEATURE

SEnine

Think You Can Get a Mortgage?

T Simon Hughes, the Managing Director of Conran Financial and h Conran Estates, gives a little insight in to what i is in store for house hunters. n k them, do they gamble, do they go on expensive holidays each year, what do they spend down the pub and much more. Obviously if one has a lavish lifestyle or spends fortunes on their kids then this will reduce one’s borrowing power in the future.

A g aS i n

ince the financial crisis mortgages became a lot tougher to get.

Late 2013 and early 2014 saw an easing, but that changed on on 26th April. Big changes introduced as the Mortgage Market Review (MMR) came into effect.

MMR ultimately will make getting a mortgage more of a challenge as lenders bring in various “stress tests”. These stress tests take into consideration the applicants financial position in far greater detail. For example, does the applicant have kids and if so what is the cost of

In the “old” days getting a mortgage was far easier for the consumer as some lenders offered four times income and some others went up to five times whereas others worked it out on a very basic affordability test.

These traditional ways are firmly in David Jones’s locker and unlikely to be seen again!!

Another big change is that any lender offering mortgage products direct to the consumer must have professionally qualified staff from 26th April. Historically, lenders large and small employed staff who purely offered products from that lender.

They were generally not qualified and as such not allowed to give advice.

Therefore lenders have either had to train these staff at considerable cost to achieve professional qualifications (if they wanted to offer mortgages direct to the consumer) or make many redundancies and out source their products through professionally qualified advisers.

The consensus is that the majority of lenders are going to only offer their products through advisers as it makes far greater commercial sense for them. As such the consumer could potentially pay a fee for this service especially if they wanted an Independent Adviser who offers the whole of market.

Conran Financial, is an Independent Mortgage Adviser, who offers whole of market advice and anyone who wants to use the services will not pay an advice fee. Email mortgages@ conranestates.co.uk or call on 0208 312 8317 to arrange an appointment.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT

Eltham Park Dental Practice Eltham Park Dental Practice provides a friendly and modern dental service in the heart of Eltham Park, South London.

5 Westmount Road, Eltham Park, SE9 1JB

020 8850 8515 www.elthamparkdental.co.uk

24

The practice was established in 1974 with a philosophy of providing the highest standards of dentistry to our local community. We provide a full range of dental techniques in a friendly yet efficient environment.

New patients are always welcome.

Normal Hours 9 am to 6 pm Mon to Thurs 9 am to 5 pm Friday.

Closed for lunch between 1 pm and 2 pm.

Local Business - use it or lose it

SEnine

JOHN GINTY & ASSOCIATES DENTAL SURGEONS www.johngintyandassociates.co.uk The practice provides a full range of NHS and private dental treatments and a private hygienist service, including; •Crowns, Bridges and Dentures •Cosmetic dentistry such as veneers, invisalign and whitening

0844 375 6990 info@johngintyandassociates.co.uk Appointments available Monday to Saturday 19 Glenshiel Road Eltham

SE9 1AQ

•Treatment of gum disease •Sedation Dentistry •CAD/CAM technology for colour matched (non mercury) fillings •Replacement of missing teeth with implants •Denplan; a monthly payment plan

Open Gardens

Full range of beauty treatments.

Dermalogica® stockists.

Gift vouchers.

Graham Webb salon 202-204 Eltham High Street Eltham SE9 1BH Telephone 020 8850 6311

Open addresses in SE9 are 17 Greenholm Road 18 Beechhill Road 33 Glenhouse Road 51 Gourock Road 19 Eltham Park Gardens 1 Glenhouse Road Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th of June 2.00pm to 5.00pm Weekend ticket £10 or £3 per garden.

Gardens can be visited in any order.

All gardens visited at your own risk.

www.beautywithineltham.co.uk

When in doubt, do the right thing

25

PERSONAL ELTHAM

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Dedicated Fashion Follower If you’ve seen an A List celebrity in a magazine photoshoot looking sharper than a razor blade, they might have been styled by one of Eltham's most jet setting sons. Adam Gillham reports.

M

ark McMahon 35, was interested in fashion from an early age, always looking to slightly alter his school uniform to rebel against conformity.

Corden, Pharrell Williams, Juliette Binoche, Mo Farah and tennis star Roger Federer.

He also went on to become a consultant for top mainstream and cult fashion brands such as Gieves & Hawkes, Billionaires Boys Club, Topman, Levis & Unconditional.

Now he styles pop stars, film icons and other celebrities for advertising campaigns, videos and magazine shoots around the world.

Mark has also worked with the band JLS overseeing the styling for four videos, two tours and a plethora of promotional work.

Mark was born in Northern Ireland but his family settled in Eltham when he was a small boy.

And despite the fast moving industry which can take him to New York and other glamorous locations at a moment's notice, he loves nothing more than getting back to the relative peace and quiet of his family home in Eltham.

After attending St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School in Eltham, Mark went to a boarding school, Stonyhurst College in Lancashire.

Mark said: "It was very tough but it helped me adapt to different communities. Comprehensive schools in the 1980s weren't great and my dad was very aspirational. They gave up a lot to be able to send me to Stonyhurst.

"I was always interested in fashion even at a young age and looking to change, like adding a waistecoat to my school uniform to make it different or growing my hair long.

After Stonyhurst, Mark went to St Olave’s Sixth Form College in Bromley and then got a job at a vintage clothes shop, The Observatory in Greenwich.

He said: "We learn a lot in the fashion industry from history and looking back."

26

He then went to London College of Printing for a HND in Business Finance before getting in to Central St Martin's College of Art and Design for a fashion degree.

Mark's course was based around fashion journalism and he went to work for a series of magazines as an assistant on internships mainly working for free and having to supplement his income with a second jobs such as bar work and cleaning.

He said: "It was made clear that you were expected to work for free if you wanted to try and get on. I had three jobs at one stage. It was a lot of sacrifice to make it work."

Mark wanted to assist a big name stylist and his break came when he got a job assisting Simon Foxton working on shoots for influential magazines such as ID Magazine, Arena and The Face.

But now Mark has made it in his own right. Specialising in menswear, he has forged a celebrity client list including Christian Slater, Calvin Harris, James

This has seen him also widen his experience to styling artists for TV appearances on shows such as X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, Alan Carr Chatty Man and a host of award ceremonies, most notably the Brits.

But Mark has also found himself in front of the camera featuring on ITV2's Olly Murs Revealed and MTV's Behind the Scenes of JLS's Summer Tour.

A working day can start at 6am with a celebrity or a model. He has just been working with Michael Buble in New York to dress him for a Rolex advertisement campaign and then on to work with Avatar Director James Cameron in Santa Barbara.

He said: "You have to be mindful of egos and also diplomatic. There are times when they might turn round and say "I wouldn't be seen dead in that”. But then I will try my hardest to change their minds. But it doesn't always pan out and we have to find a compromise."

A lifelong Arsenal fan, Mark is delighted that he has been able to work with his idols in the team for a photoshoot for Arsenal's new kit supplier Puma. "It was great to work with all my heroes," he said.

Help keep Eltham tidy! Put your litter in bins.

SEnine Hair & Beauty

190-194 Eltham High Street

020 8859 5228 or 020 8850 2931

Special Offers Foil Highlights From £49.95 (short hair) Including cut and blow dry Tint extra

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Situated within the picturesque surroundings of the award winning well hall pleasaunce

From £55.00 Ring for your appointment today Appointments not always necessary

Mon - Thur 9 - 6  Friday 9 - 7 Saturday 9 - 6

www.tudorbarneltham.co.uk @tudorbarneltham tudor barn eltham, well hall pleasaunce, well hall Road, Eltham, SE9 6sz - call 0845 459 2351

ST MARY’S COMMUNITY COMPLEX New affiliated group 'Board Games and Much More...' starting 30th April on Wednesday's 12 noon to 2 pm. All welcome contact the office for details.

Eltham Stitchers is still looking for members. Contact the office for details.

.......

W

e host 80 community groups in our 5 community buildings.

A full list of activities and Affiliated Groups who offer a wide selection of activities and available from our web site www.stmarys-eltham.co.uk or from our high street office. Do you have any ideas for new groups or activities?

TTaabl abblle clclootthhss, ddeeccoorraatition tioonns annd ch chairs airs ai rs hi hireed se sepa para arate rraate telyy

rin u s s a . re

g

en r e ff i ly d

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i c e p s r u o y r fo

io t c n u al f

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Celebrate in one of our Halls Available for hire for your special day

For more information on Halls and Rooms for Hire at affordable prices contact the main office on 020 8850 2040

Anstridge Hall Lionel Road Hall Anstridge Road SE9 2LL Westhorne Avenue SE9 6DH Flintmill Hall Progress Hall Flintmill Crescent SE3 8LU Admiral Seymour Rd SE9 1SL St Mary's Community Complex 180 High Street Eltham

Supported by The Royal Borough of Greenwich

020 8850 2040 Main Office 180 Eltham High St Don't find fault, find a remedy

27

SITUATIONS VACANT

SEnine

Gordon School Grangehill Road, currently has

vacancies for Midday Meals Supervisors.

The posts are for 5 or 6¼ hours per week, from 12.15pm to 1.15pm or 1.30pm, on Scale 1 at £9.02 per hour.

At Gordon School we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and expect all staff to share this commitment. The post is subject to satisfactory preemployment checks.

Please email sao@gordon.greenwich.sch.uk to request an application pack or go to our website: www.gordonprimary.co.uk Closing date for applications: Midday Thursday 12th June 2014. Interviews: Week beginning Monday 16th June 2014.

Gordon Primary School, Grangehill Road, Eltham, SE9 1QG Tel: 0208 850 5486

Evening Receptionist (job-share) required for Bereavement Support Charity  Located in Eltham  This is planned to be a job-share for two people  Requires a reliable mature person with initiative, outstanding people skills, a reassuring manner, and capable of great team-work  Basic computer knowledge would be an advantage 14 e 20  5pm to 9pm Mon/Tues/Weds/Thurs to be a job-share Jun h t 13  £8.80 ph – (8 hours per week) ate: ng d i

Clos

Apply for job description and application form to: greenwichcruse@btconnect.com The Manager, Greenwich Area, Cruse Bereavement Care, St Lukes Hall, Westmount Road, London SE9 1XQ. 020 8850 9429

S Enine

SEnine is seeking a special & motivated person to join our committed, community focused team on a part time basis.

Main duties will include general office functions of mailing, filing and customer follow up. However you will be confident and competent in aspects of social media.

The role will include supervising and developing SEnine’s face book page and twitter feed as well as new and emerging social media applications. Included in the social media duties will be management of the web sites SEnine and Elthamse9 and its chat page.

Initially 2 hours per day for two days a week (4 hours a week), at £9.00 per hour.

The role will be expanded to include other duties in the near future as the magazine develops (upwards of 8 hours per week). The pay scale will also increase as skill sets are developed. To apply please contact SEnine from the web site www.senine.co.uk

What's On - Continued 2-6 Sherard Road, Eltham SE9 6EX Monday 9th June: 11.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.

As part of Carers Week: Food & Mood: Nutrition Talk & Cooking Demonstration aimed at those caring for older people. A chance to meet other carers, pick up cooking tips and sample tasty, nutritious foods.

Contact: Wendy Smith Tuesday (Every) French Group 2pm – 4pm Join other Francophiles and brush up your French.

Beginners and improvers welcome.

Contact: Community Volunteers Time Bank Tuesday (Every) Zumba Gold 2pm-3pm Friendly community based Zumba Gold Class, that lets you move to the beat of the music at your own speed! Contact: Yvonne Conway Tuesday 10th Nutritional Advice 10am – 1.00 pm 1 to 1 tailored advice from our nutritionist.

For more information contact: Wendy Smith Wednesday 25th History Group 10am – 12pm For more information please contact The Community Volunteers Time Bank

28

Thursday 5th & 19th Craft Group 10am – 12pm Bring along your own craft project or try something new with fellow enthusiasts!

Contact: Community Volunteers Time Bank

Monday to Saturday, Men in Sheds 10am - 4pm For men 55+ who enjoy sheds, workshops, gardening or just chatting over a cup of tea. Contact Steve Paxman

Thursday (Every) Forget-me-not Singing 2pm – 3.30pm. For older people, people with disabilities, those with Alzheimer's, dementia and their carers. Contact: Rose Waghorn

Contact information Thursday (Every) Acrylic Painting 1.30 – 3.30pm The course is suitable for beginners and is based on painting landscapes. So come along and be inspired by the world of acrylics and the friendly company of your fellow artists! Contact: Louise Donovan Friday (Every) Technology Club 10am – 11.30am Help and support on a range of subjects to help you Keep in Touch with Technology from mobile phones, tablets, cameras to laptops. Contact: Louise Donovan Saturday 21st Men in Sheds Creative Workshop 1am – 3pm Eltham’s Men In Sheds will be demonstrating small 'how to' projects that cost little and are benificial.

Booking is essential by 19th June. Contact Steve Paxman

Yvonne Conway on 020 8315 1850 yconway@ageukbandg.org.uk Community Volunteers Time Bank 020 8315 1883 communityvolunteerstb@ageukbandg.org.uk Wendy Smith on 020 8294 3013 wsmith@ageukbandg.org.uk Rose Waghorn 0781 118 7490 info@forgetmenot-services.co.uk Louise Donovan on 020 8315 1850 ldonovan@ageukbandg.org.uk Steve Paxman on 020 8294 3011 spaxman@ageukbandg.org.uk

Smile , it feels good

YOUNG ELTHAM

SEnine

Young Leaders

Three young men from the Boys’ Brigade have gained the organisation’s highest award having passed through its ranks.

John Baker, William Shelley and James Smith of the 28th West Kent company, all 18 years old, have won the Queen’s Badge, after undertaking a series of challenges.

John, William and James have all been in the Boys’ Brigade since they joined as Anchor Boys aged five.

Their company is thriving, with numbers topping more than 100, and these latest three Queen’s Badge winners makes five from the 28th West Kent who have won the award in the last two years.

Steve Mann, group contact, said: “These are great days for our company which is flourishing. We’re proud of these three award winners who have all been in the brigade since they were five.

For the ‘skill’ requirement of the Badge, William has turned his hand to writing a pantomime script; for his physical task, he takes part in the Park Run at Avery Hill each Saturday morning.

“They’ve had to work hard to win them and have contributed towards the activities of the younger members”, he said.

He said: “It has been part of my life on Friday evenings and I’ve loved every minute of it.”

The award is given to applicants who have proved their abilities in a variety of disciplines both in helping others and in developing their skills.

James said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time in the Boys’ Brigade; you learn new skills and make friends.”

He is captain of the company’s football team and for his Badge, he has volunteered at the Food Bank in Eltham, passed his grade 7 classical guitar and helped out in the brigade’s junior section.

John did a two day expedition to the North Downs for the Badge, is on the school council at Bexley Grammar and has helped out in the Anchor Boys for the last five years.

“It has helped me learn things I wouldn’t have known about otherwise; also will be a good talking point for interviews when I start a career”, he said.

The three received their awards during morning service at the Baptist Church.

The company is in three sections; Anchor Boys from the age of five; the junior section from eight to eleven and the senior section up to 18.

Steve Mann can be contacted 020 8859 4027/07780 667325 or email elthambb@hotmail.co.uk

Fi Fitness Classes St. Luke’s Church, St Westmount W Road,

Come & meet our friendly team in our 97th Anniversary year

W Wednesday 7-8 pm TThursday 7-8 pm 5 plus Ladies 50 Classes (all levels) C EEltham Park M Methodist Church W Westmount Road, Monday 10.30am - 11.30am Wednesday 2.00pm - 3pm

OAP special offers - Tue or Wed Trims £10.00 - Perms from £36.00 all inclusive Contact Sally for details

We do Men's Hairdressing

0751 009 4170

OAPs Tue & Wed £7.00 Cuts Tue to Sat from £9.00

or sessez@aol.com

Put your money where your house is - shop locally

020 8850 2772 140 Well Hall Road SE9 6SN Near Eltham Station

29

NATURAL ELTHAM

SEnine

Winter Sleepers W

hat have the following species in common; Bat, dormouse and hedgehog?

All vertebrates. But also, the UK’s only species which hibernate.

All three have reduced in number in recent years. Although bats are still reasonably common around Eltham, for example in Avery Hill Park, Sutcliffe Park, Oxleas Woods and Well Hall Pleasaunce, they are heavily protected by law.

Dormice have not lived in SE9 since the area ceased to be predominantly agricultural.

But hedgehogs seem to be just hanging on. Most of the few reports of them in Eltham seem to revolve around the Royal Blackheath Golf Club. In the way of things, it’s as roadkill, either in North Park, Court Road or Green Lane.

If you see one, let the British Hedgehog Preservation Society know as it is compiling a national survey.

Although the population is considered to be relatively stable and common throughout its range across western Europe, in the UK it has suffered a huge decline in numbers.

It’s estimated that between 2001 and 2011 the hedgehog declined nationally by 25 per cent, while in London it has disappeared from the majority of the big parks, and is found in 45 per cent fewer locations than in the 1980s.

It’s not too fussy on its habitat, surviving through the country, from Cornwall up to the north of Scotland, with boggy areas, mountains and pine forests being the only no-go areas.

Hedgehogs are well established in our urban habitat and can, surprisingly, survive very well in cities, making extremely good use of cemeteries, railway land, wasteland and both public and private gardens.

The problems come through the actions of humans and their daily lives. Wide

and busy roads are an obvious hazard.

Other problems can be garden ponds with no escape route, slug pellets, open drains, netting and rubbish.

Hedgehogs are inquisitive and will try to eat almost anything, not just their normal fodder of worms, snails, caterpillars and frogs. This is a trait that can lead to their undoing. Having been attracted by the remaining contents, hedgehogs have been found with their heads stuck in tins, yoghurt pots and plastic cups.

Quiz question: how many spines has a hedgehog?

Flowers in Art A

n illustrated talk about the use of flowers in art will be given in Eltham by local garden historian Russ Bowes.

Russ, whose popular and entertaining lectures are appreciated by audiences across the south east and beyond, will be concentrating on four flowers which are often used in art; the rose, sunflower, lily and tulip.

The talk, hosted by Eltham Nature Club, is at St Mary’s Community Centre, Eltham High Street on Tuesday June 17 at 7.30pm.

All welcome. Entry: £1.50 members, £3 non-members. More details from www. elthamnatureclub.co.uk.

it s i V 30

Take a walk in the Pleasaunce

SPORT

SEnine

Top Award for an "Inspiration" Veteran community organiser Lin Corbell has been honoured for more than 30 years’ work at Middle Park Community Centre.

L

in has received a top award from Rotary International, becoming a ‘Paul Harris Fellow’, the charity’s top honour.

The Rotary’s Woolwich branch has supported the Centre in recent years, helping to pay for holiday breaks for children from the estate.

Lin is the centre’s manager and responsible for a team of 16 staff which make it the hub of the community from dawn till dusk throughout the year.

“I love this job”, said Lin, “it has been a big part of my life for more than 30 years.”

Lin was born in Peckham and moved to Eltham after starting a family, living

Your Community is what you make it

initially on the Ferrier and then Page Estates. Her children attended Middle Park Primary and it was in the playground she first heard of a vacancy for at the newly-opened community centre.

That was 32 years ago. The centre has expanded its remit over the years and now hosts a breakfast club for up to 70 children from 7am each morning and then again after school until 6pm; also play schemes for young people.

In the day-time it hosts numerous community organisations and activities, including those for people with special

needs and senior citizens and runs two buildings in addition to the centre itself; the Joan Currie Hall for community events and a shop unit on Newmarket Green It is funded with grant aid and support from the council, also a range of charitable trusts, including the Rotary.

The award to Lin was made by the Rotary at a dinner held at the centre.

Giving a citation, executive principal of Harris Academy, Greenwich, in Middle Park Avenue, Dr Chris Tomlinson said: “Everyone knows her, everyone respects her. I have never met anyone who has so much respect and influence within the community. Without doubt or hesitation, she is the most inspirational person I have ever worked with.”

31

SEnine

020 8859 3033 Independent Estate Agents serving the SE9 area for over 50 years

www.bernardskinner.co.uk

SURVEYS Already found a property? Call our Chartered Surveyor for details and a free quote.

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Charming three bedroom semi-detached Victorian house, through lounge, 13' x 9'10 kit/break room, smallest bed 9' x 8'8, bathroom and shower room, loft room, 51' well tended garden, parking 2 cars, convenient for High Street & Birkbeck primary school. EPC - D

Guide price

£460,000 - £480,000

Plenty of space with this substantial, tastefully decorated 5 bedroom Bilton semi, backs onto Jack Woods, close to Deansfield school, Bathroom and shower room, conservatory, 68' well tended garden. EPC rating E

THINKING OF SELLING? Free valuations – phone for one of our experienced valuers to call.

Eltham Heights

£490,000

Offered with no onward chain, spacious three bedroom semi in sought after road, two receps, extended kitchen, conservatory, ground floor shower, bathroom, own driveway, well tended 90' westerly facing garden. EPC rating D

Eltham Park

£550,000

After a project? Then look no further, plenty of scope with this four bedroom Edwardian Corbett house to update to own taste, lots of features to work with, 3 receps, park end of Greenvale Road, no chain. EPC rating F

PROBATE SERVICE Phone for details of our comprehensive service designed to help you through gh thee process. proc 22 Well Hall Road, Eltham, SE9 6SF

32

OPEN 7 DA DAYS YS A WEEK

SEnine

Slow coaches…

After decades of waiting, 2014 was to be the year that 12 coach trains were to run from SE9 to London, relieving the rush hour over-crowding suffered by our local commuter folk. Last year, millions of pounds of investment were put in by Network Rail to extend platforms. Yes, ok, there were only going to be two services a day, one to London on the Sidcup line, one back from London on the Bexleyheath line, because nobody had thought of ordering the new coaches to form the longer trains. That’ll have to wait at least a further five years.

But it was something. Only when would they start? Naively, SPY did as he was told and turned up at New Eltham at 7.22am on Monday 6 January to ride the first one. But the train just had 10 coaches, a poor start to the New Year.

Guess what? Trials by drivers from Southeastern Trains have found that Network Rail have put the monitors in the wrong place, meaning they can’t properly see passengers getting on and off. Oh well, I suppose it was too much to ask.

Short cut…

Making the most of the area’s copious green spaces to promote wildlife, it has been the practice of the council’s parks department to leave some parts of their empire unmown throughout the summer, allowing a variety of native wildflowers to bloom. Nowhere had this been more successful than on Oxleas Meadow, where a substantial swath of land was occupied by clovers of all colours, birds foot trefoil, lady’s bedstraw, knapweed, enough to keep the local bees buzzing happily. Imagine SPY’s surprise to see most of the area had been given the shortest of No1 cuts. Oops, a new mowerman was at the controls and nobody told him just where to stick his blades. Loads of unhappy wildlife without a home for some months.

Cutting the green from Greenwich…

All this brings into sharp relief the lack of any proper programme for biodiversity enhancement, beyond the usual windy and pointless statements trotted out in

Have your say, your opinion counts

strategy documents. No targets for extra hedgerows, native tree planting, more wildflowers, enhancement of ancient woodland and habitat creation, a neglect by the council of such a valued public asset. Too busy lobbing millions about for hard landscaping initiatives.

Council Disgrace - the LLW Disappointment for local carer folk who were hoping to step into the brave new world of the London Living Wage (LLW) this year. Apparently not. As we should know by now, when Royal Greenwich makes a commitment, it’s mainly for publication in its doomed Pravda rather than with a view to making a difference.

Most of the people who provide care for our elderly and vulnerable are now employed by agencies, enabling the council to wash its hands of the wages and conditions of the staff involved. So rates paid often look something around the £6.20 - £6.50 level with no allowance made for travelling time between jobs.

The LLW is £8.80. The council signed up to the LLW last year and as part of this commitment, it agrees that where work is given to outside companies, contracts ‘will be renewed at the LLW’.

But wait. There’s a re-tendering exercise later this year. Will the council insist on LLW? A council spokesman says that ‘a question about intentions to pay the London Living Wage will be included in the tender documentation’.

Only a question? Not a requirement then. Difficult to see how local Labour politicians can spend any time boasting about keeping the community charge pegged when the people they employ to care for the most vulnerable people in our community are on zero hours contracts paying the equivalent of £13,000 a year for a 40 hour week, all hours.

MiHome'dont'care..

One of the biggest contractors is the national firm MiHomecare, formerly Keratome, formerly Inara. Their response to SEnine on LLW was ‘we do not wish to comment’. That’s from Erica Lockhart, Head of Corporate Affairs. Bet her pay’s on the right side of the London Living Wage. The reality is that MiHomecare has to pay the LLW in other boroughs,

Yalways newsy, sometimes inaccurate or irreverent, often controversial or gossip, but never the opinion of SEnine.

which have both made the commitment and are doing something about it. In the case of Southwark and Camden, contracting only to staff on proper contracts, not zero hours, another topic that Greenwich likes to bluster about.

Off your Marks, Spencer…

It seems that some people have taken to distributing misinformation to people’s homes in the area. For SPY to say such a thing might seem a bit rich.

But, as it’s a question of whether one of Eltham’s favourite stores, Marks and Spencer, intends to pack its bags and leave town, it surely needs correcting.

In the recent election campaign one of the parties, with a view to council bashing, suggested it was so. Now, while it’s true that the council’s handling of its Eltham Masterplan, in which it proposed to re-develop the M&S car park without actually asking the retailer first, provoked the store’s rightful annoyance, leaving town in a huff has never been on the cards.

Derailed…

SPY regulars will remember the idea of the DLR being extended to Eltham via Silvertown, the A2 and Kidbrooke.

Indeed, a technical report, was published and reported on in SEnine in 2011. The next stage was to be the compilation of a ‘business case’, which meant a further report from consultants, taking about three months. Throughout the summer and autumn of 2012, SPY asked to see the work, putting in numerous requests through the statutory Freedom of Information rules and even once travelling some miles to ask lead councillor Denise Hyland in person. All requests brushed off. SPY now learns the report was completed in May 2012. A leak of its contents appears elsewhere. Perhaps the secrecy revolves around the finding, which is that only a link to Kidbrooke would make any sense, not all the way to Eltham. Any chance of the new regime being more grown up?

33

MAILBOX ....... Have your say Feeding the Ducks

Foxy (Dog) foul

The Natural Eltham article in your May issue reminded me of my walk around the Capital Ring last year where I came across a sign (below) in Hackney (Clissold Park) that would be good to erect in places where people feed birds such as Well Hall Pleasaunce, The Tarn and at Long Pond in Eltham Park to name but three. It would give more information to people on why and what to give to birds and, hopefully, reduce the pollution caused by bread.

I would like to reply to the letter that was in your May issue, 'Garden to Go', regarding dog fouling.

The problem is most probably Fox fouling. They foul anywhere even in the middle of pavements.

There doesn't seem to be anything you can do about it. I would love to hear if anybody has got any ideas?

Yvonne Berry

SEnine Either go to the SEnine web site at

www.senine.co.uk

In December, I suggested this to Greenwich Council Parks officers, Parks Forum and my own Pleasaunce Friends group with zilch response.

Perhaps it is time to push this idea again.

Laurie Baker

Dolls Houses I regularly read the SE9 magazine and think it is a great asset to Eltham. All your efforts in amazing standard of the magazine are greatly appreciated.

The April edition of the magazine contained an article about a lady who made dolls houses, furnished them and sold them with the proceeds going to charity. I have a considerable amount of dolls house furniture and would like to donate it to the lady in your article. Could you possibly send me her details please?

or write to the Editor at:

SEnine, PO Box 24290 Eltham SE9 6ZP

Southwood Leak I wonder d if we could ld raise i th the iissue off a lleakk th thatt has first appeared about three whole months ago from the tarmac outside properties 112 114 on Southwood Road in New Eltham.

Water has been running abundantly down the road for all this time. I am told by staff of the nearby St. Olave's School that the leak was reported soon after it first appeared; I have also recently reported it myself both to Greenwich Council as well as to Thames Water, but have received no feed-back other than the usual automatic email thanking me for reporting the issue.

Many thanks for your help.

D Wells

Well Done from Gran

Feeding the Ducks How worrying? The article about feeding wild birds states"Bread holds little nutritional value."

Does this apply to humans as well,one wonders?

I think some firms baking bread might take objection to the statement! By the way,thank you for publishing my compliment as well as previous complaints!

My eight year old Granddaughter, who underwent three open heart surgeries, has, along with several of her schoolfriends, run the mini marathon in Greenwich Park on Sunday 27th April. Well done to them all and lots of money raised for Greenwich And Bexley Cottage Hospice.

Angela Smeeth

SS.Lambrughi.

SStop Press, 27/05; Contractors arrived last Friday. It may be that the issue is solved.

Thank You

Local News I sho should ld be gratef gratefull if you o would o ld eexpress press my m ssincere thanks to all nvolved in the production oof such an informative and well presented m magazine.

Mr.D Crafter.

Do you have an opinion?

Do you have a 'pet' groan?

Have you had a good experience?

Do you have a story to tell?

Would you help us asking for feed-back from the Council and Thames Water, at least to establish the cause, whose responsibilty it is to deal with this matter as well as when repairs will finally take place?

DDue to the lack of any other independent press, tthe SEnine is the only way now that we have of knowing what is going on within our area.

Jean Gibbins

SEnine continues to be a very good monthly magazine with its features and news and I think anyone that reads it will thank you for publishing it.

Maggie Haslam I have pleasure in enclosing my annual subscription towards the SEnine Magazine which continues to give me enormous pleasure J Harrison

Why not write and tell us?

34

SEnine does not necessarily agree with or support any letters published.

selling homes

redefining the art of

SEnine How to make an Offer Offer the maximum you are comfortable to pay, it’s easy to get carried away at this stage but you must stay within budget.

Put the offer in writing or by email and include details of your circumstances, anything to sell? Sold – chain details etc, we will of course check all this should your offer be successful but it’s useful information to differentiate purchasers offering similar figures.

What’s happening in the housing market!

Unprecedented demand combined with a general shortage of properties have led to ‘open day’ viewings that attract an average of between 30-40 viewers, this results in numerous offers that often exceed the advertised price by several thousand pounds.

This is good news for the Vendor’s or Landlords looking to ‘take the money and run’ or buying out of the area but the majority of people looking to move locally will then join the pack of purchasers desperately trying to secure a property What can I do to improve my chances of finding a property?

You need to be organised, speak to a financial advisor and check your financial options. If your circumstances have changed since you last applied for a mortgage you may find there are more hoops to jump through, this particularly applies to those who have become self-employed or are on short term contracts. Mortgages are available but it pays to obtain a ‘mortgage in principle’ certificate prior to finding the home of your dreams.

Booking a viewing Make sure we have your email address – it’s the fastest way we can get a full copy of the details to you. Many people rely on Web sites such as RightMove or Zoopla but don’t realise a new property coming onto the market will be typed up and emailed to existing applicants on our database and the property , as with all agents, will be uploaded onto the ‘portal’ web sites such as Rightmove during the night, those already registered will already have received the details and been booking a viewing.

Be on time Turn up early for your viewing, arrive late and you viewing time will be shortened or you may find the next viewer following you round the property.

Also include financial details, cash buyer? Is this cash in the bank or subject to a sale? Need a mortgage? How much deposit do you have, broker details and contact numbers etc.

You may or may not have solicitor details yet, if you do include these as well.

If my offer is accepted?

Well congratulations, maybe celebrate with a small glass of wine but don’t get carried away. Instruct your solicitor straight away, complete your mortgage forms and pay your survey fee – but what happens if the vendor of the property you want needs to find something?

We will advise you on the best course of action, you need to show commitment to the vendor but you don’t want to go spending lots of money at this stage. Perhaps instruct your solicitor but tell them not to progress things further until the chain is complete, Certainly fill out your mortgage forms but perhaps hold fire on survey again until there is a complete chain. We act for the vendor in all cases but will always give honest reliable advice to purchasers.

“If you would like to know more about buying, selling or renting – talk to us we’ve been serving the needs of local residents since 1985”

It goes without saying – but I’m going to say it anyway!

We need more properties for desperate purchasers and professional tenants within Eltham and the surrounding areas. Call for a free valuation today.

HARRISON INGRAM  ELTHAM   ESTATE AGENTS  RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS  PROPERTY MANAGEMENT  156 Well Hall Road, Eltham, London, SE9 6SN T: 020 8859 4419 F: 0208 859 8207 info@harrisoningrameltham.co.uk

You can make a difference in your community

www.harrisoningram.co.uk

35

SEnine

SOLD

Vandyke Cross

£280,000 - £300,000

Three Bedroom Semi Detached House Set On A Large Corner Plot Open - Plan Arrangement Ultra Modern Integrated Kitchen Double Glazing & Gas Central Heating Driveway To Front EPC rating D

Crossmead

Granby Road

£235,000

 Two Bedroom Top Floor Maisonette  Sole Use Of Own Rear Garden  Spacious Lounge  Modern Fitted Kitchen & Bathroom  Long Lease Of Over 900 Years  EPC rating C

£450,000

 Three Bedroom Semi Detached House  Situated In A Sought After Location  Two Reception Rooms  Newly Laid Blocked Paved Driveway Leading To Garage  Double Glazing & Gas Central Heating  New Combination Bolier  EPC rating F

Greening House

£110,000

 Two Bedroom Apartment  Purchased At 40% Shared Ownership  Spacious Front Through Lounge  Fitted Modern Kitchen  Modern Suite Bathroom  Rent £310.53 Per Month  EPC rating C

facebook.com/conranestates Painters & Decorators mobile friendly website Internal & External- Dulux Approved 40 years experience - Family run - Free estimates Paul 07835779167 OR Victor 07985547621

conranestates.co.uk 36

@conranestates Greenwich Borough Property Group

Pick up litter and bin it

SEnine

Paxton Court

£180,000

 Two Double Bedroom First Floor Retirement Flat  Only Available To Retirement Age Of 55 Years And Older  Recently Redecorated Throughout  Newly Fitted Bathroom Suite  Overlooks Communal Gardens  Communal Lift

Scott Terrace

£1200.00 pcm

 Three Bedroom Modern Apartment  Located Within Mottingham Village  Open-Plan Lounge Area Leading To A Modern Kitchen  Modern Suite Bathroom  En-suite Bathroom To Master Bedroom  Available To Families Only  EPC Rating C

Langbrook Road

£1,000 pcm

Two Bedroom Mid Terrace House Modern Kitchen & Bathroom Double Glazing & Gas Central Heating Good Size Rear Garden With Decking To Front Driveway To Front

Ramillies Road

£1200.00 pcm

Two Bedroom Mid Terrace House Rear Views Overlooking Penhill Park Sports Fields Through Lounge Modern Fitted Kitchen & Bathroom Driveway To Front Unfurnished

Branches across London ELTHAM / MOTTINGHAM 42 Well Hall Road Eltham SE96SF T: 020 8378 5450 E: eltham@conranestates.co.uk

GREENWICH/ BLACKHEATH

CHARLTON / WESTCOMBE

221 Greenwich High Road Greenwich SE10 8NB T: 020 8312 8312 E: greenwich@contranestates.co.uk

46 Charlton Church Lane Charlton SE7 7AB T: 020 8293 0454 E: charlton@conranestates.co.uk

Look out for you neighbour

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37

SEnine

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Contact Tom at 07534 577 299 tjackson.horticulture@gmail.com

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We are local & reliable.

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HERBACEOUS

SEnine

Stoic Approach I

t’s in the sowing season that Herbaceous calls on a lifetime of experience in raising vegetable crops.

Years of wisdom distilled from all those trials and errors of previous seasons go into a husbandry regime which is almost foolproof.

For example, there was the time he put his seedlings out too early only to be nipped by a later frost. Never again.

And the year it came hot and he forgot to pop back to the plot to water them.

Lesson learned.

Then there was the year he forgot to administer slug pellets, leading to skeletal remains of shredded greenery. Sorted.

And the year he forgot to cover them with chicken wire, ending in them being pecked to death by pigeons. Check.

Then he allowed black fly to build up on his broad beans hoping the ladybirds would do the trick. Noted.

And the year he put the sweetcorn in the shade, the same year as he put the tomatoes in the boggy ground and forgot to put fleece over the turnips to stop the grubs getting in. OK. Then there was the year that he did all of the above. In fact, in various combinations, that’s every year without fail.

It sometimes makes him wonder how any of his seedlings actually reach maturity and produce any crops at all and reach the dinner table.

Being a stoic, he is, of course, quite able to take these setbacks on the chin, comfortable in the knowledge that if a triumph hasn’t been carved from rock, it’s hardly worth having.

They put things out too early and get away with it. They leave their crops uncovered and a pigeon never comes close. And they plant them too close together, too far apart, too late with too much water, too little water.

All the mistakes they make and still they get crops. Will they never learn!

What gets his goat, however, is how lucky other gardeners are. Beginners luck, luck of the Irish, the righteous.

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39

ELTHAM CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS OPEN HOUSE FRIDAY 20TH JUNE FROM 2PM & SATURDAY 21ST FROM 10AM AT ROPER STREET, ELTHAM, SE9 1TR

N ATIO C U D OF E M S R EA THA 200 Y IN EL

les ol Ru Scho — ar dren Chil and f s hand to is Hair omb c well hes Clot b are to Pupils and sc d Chil to t Pup bo B d

Relive memories from our school’s 200 year history. A chance to see pictures, photos, children’s work, school log-books and to revisit the school’s building. Our new books, celebrating the bicentenary of Eltham School and illustrated by our pupils, will also be available to buy. Come and be part of the celebrations!

AN ELT THA

M SC CHOO

200

AM L SSTORY Y BY H IN ELTH O LY N LY WEB ATIO LL EBB C U ED S OF YEAR

Support SEnine - Your Community Magazine

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