Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender - April 29th 2020

Weekender April 29 2020 • www.weekender.co.uk

Greenwich & Lewisham

Cinema / Theatre / Education / Arts / Music / Food & Drink / Family / Property

Keep calm and carry on

Coronavirus Got symptoms – even mild ones?

DO NOT leave the house at all for 7 days.

Still have symptoms after 7 days?

DO NOT leave the house until they go.

EVERYONE else in your household must not leave the house for 14 days.

Do not go out even to buy food or essentials.

Stay at home to exercise. gov.uk/coronavirus

Spotlight

editor

Laura Burgoine

The

Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender is an independent weekly newspaper, covering the boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham.

We publish every Wednesday, covering every postcode sector of the borough, and boasting, by far, the highest weekly circulation in Greenwich.

Each week, we deliver to homes in every Greenwich neighbourhood, with further copies stocked at convenient public stands. We are also the highest distribution newspaper in Lewisham.

You can also view each edition online, as well as daily news and events, on our website: www.weekender.co.uk The Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender covers all aspects of life in the boroughs, including music, theatre, comedy, film, events, and food and drink, as well as all your community events and campaigns.

Weekender The Greenwich and Lewisham Weekender is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 020 7231 5258. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk Weekender Editor: Laura Burgoine Advertising Manager: Tammy Jukes Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising team: Katie Boyd; Clarry Frewin; Lorraine Wood; Sam Ratcliffe Editorial: Michael Holland; Holly O'Mahony News reporters: Katherine Johnston; Josh Salisbury Cover Photography: Matt Austin Design Manager: Dan Martin Design team: Aurelio Medina Finance: Em Zeki Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Offices at: Unit A302, The Biscuit Factory, Drummond Road, SE16 4DG. Printed by Iliffe Print Cambridge Ltd – www.iliffeprint.co.uk News: 020 7231 5258 / news@weekender.co.uk Ads: 020 7232 1639 / ads@weekender.co.uk www.weekender.co.uk @weeknder_life @weeknderSL therealweeknder Issue: GW155

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Can sonic meditation help us stay calm through the coronavirus pandemic?

Judith Quin is an intuitive energy worker and voice-vibration sound healer who ordinarily leads sound circle meditation sessions at Blackheath Complementary Health Centre. The hour-long guided meditations require participants to ‘sound’ their way up the body, exploring its different chakras in order to reach a mentally clear and emotionally calm state of mind. Judith is still teaching on a weekly basis, holding classes online via video communication platform Zoom. Could practices like sonic meditation help us cope with stress and anxiety brought on by the coronavirus pandemic? Holly O’Mahony speaks to Judith to find out…

Holly O’Mahony: How do you believe practices like sonic meditation can help in the face of unprecedented circumstances such as those we're currently living through?

Judith Quin: In any circumstances, sound healing, which is so physical, helps people reconnent their voice with their body – and this in turn shakes up the stuff they’ve been holding onto. The biggest challenges we're actually living with right now are not so much the virus, but the change and uncertainty. Humans don't generally like change but we can put up with it if we know what we're doing or where we're going.

Being in limbo like we are right now makes us feel out of control.

So what we need to create is a sense of stability, focus and calm, and allow ourselves to be okay with being in the here and now.

All meditation is brilliant for that; voice-vibration sonic meditation is even better because as well as focusing on breath, re-centering and grounding (like all meditations do), it is active, not passive.

Sounding allows you to express how you are feeling – even if you www.weekender.co.uk

can't find the words. Because you are actively doing something you feel like you have more control.

And, of course, it reminds you to take a moment and breathe.

HOM: Are there any particular lessons from your own training in sonic meditation that are particularly helpful to you in times like these, that you're bringing into your lessons?

JQ: There are two main lessons for me that I'm implementing daily: the ability to be in the now and the ability to change my state of mind, simply, effectively and quickly. It's so important to remember that we are not the sum of our thoughts and feelings, which often comprise of what we have experienced before, what we imagine might happen, or what we have witnessed others experience. Being able to express what we’re feeling, then letting it go and being able to change our state of mind, is really key.

HOM: How have you found the experience of leading your meditation sessions online?

JQ: I've actually been using online platforms for some parts of my

business for a couple of years now.

The vocal confidence and lifecoaching sessions I run are often online. As for the meditations and sound healing sessions, I have run them online before but people have been resistant, so the new considerations are about allowing participants to experience the practice in their own way. It's also about nurturing people through technology and showing how we can still create a connection even if we're not in the room together.

HOM: When do these online classes happen and what format do they take?

JQ: At the moment, I'm offering free or pay-what-you-can meditation sessions at 7:30am on Monday mornings. That may sound early, but keeping our routines is really important. Having a way to start the week off feeling well is vital – it gives us a good boost and a focus. I’m also trialing evening sessions at 7pm on Thursdays.

HOM: What do you hope participants take away from these classes?

JQ: People have told me that they leave feeling calmer, more grounded, happier, more open and even 'tingly'. If you can take one of those with you then that's a delight – but what I really want people to take away is the knowledge that they don't have to suffer in uncertainty; they don't have to hold on to any challenging feelings and they are not alone. I hope the sessions provide people with tools they can call upon at any time to soothe them from fear, boost

them when they’re feeling low, and raise them into feeling okay about being here and having hope.

HOM: For those of us who are fortunate enough to not be ill or suffering because of the pandemic, is there potentially a silver lining to all of this? Is it perhaps good for us mentally to be living slower, more thoughtful, less noisy lives?

JQ: I believe there are brilliant things that will come from all of this. People will become so much more aware of what is really important. Life has got so much quicker, immediate and focused around things that aren't really necessary. This might make us remember what to value. We will hopefully remember to carve out time for us, whatever that looks like, and take the time to breathe. I hope that companies that had previously been resistant to letting people work from home will continue to embrace this practice, so that more people can have time with their family rather than commuting.

The lockdowns taking place across the planet are also allowing her to have a massive rest – she needs to breathe, too.

Judith Quin is an intuitive energy worker and voice-vibration sound healer who usually teaches at Blackheath Complementary Health Centre. Find out more about her online meditation sessions at www. yourwholevoice.com. Judith’s book ‘Stop Should-ing’. Start Wanting.’ is available from her website, Amazon and GoodReads. You can also purchase Judith’s deck of Oracle Cards from her website.

April 29 2020 3

education

What’s it like to look after a public farm when it’s closed to visitors?

While ordinarily enjoyed by the public as a leisure facility similar to a playground or theme park, farms – especially those with livestock – can’t just close amid pandemics like the current coronavirus outbreak. Both the animals and land need tending to on a daily basis. This is no easy task when trying to work in accordance with the government’s restrictions on social distancing, as David Jones, farm manager at Woodlands Farm, has recently found out, writes Holly O’Mahony…

couple of guinea pigs!” No small task at the best of times, one imagines, but David is now managing the farm with a far smaller team than usual.

“We’ve missed having volunteers around as lambing season is the busiest time of the year for us,” he says. Thankfully, David has a couple of allies he can always fall back on for help. “I’ve roped in my wife and son to help out, so thank you Sioned and Dafydd!,” he laughs. “I [feel like I’ve] reverted back to when I ran our small family farm back in Ceredigion.”

Woodlands Farm in Shooters Hill closed its doors to all but key staff in mid-March to comply with the government’s social distancing measures. The move was something David and his team had spent several weeks preparing for. “We had ordered sufficient animal feed to see us through lambing period,” he says. “But we had a lot of school visits booked in which

4 April 29 2020

could no longer take place. I’m sure this would have resulted in a lot of disappointed children.”

Since closing the farm to the public, the priority for David has been the welfare of his animals. “Practically, we have concentrated on animal care over this period,” he says. “We have over 100 sheep, eight cows and calves, three pigs, a few hens and a

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As family members who live together, David, Sioned and Dafydd are safe to work alongside one another without social distancing.

Other staff members are coming in on alternating days and only to perform tasks they can manage at a safe distance from one another.

For now, David’s main concern is what will happen if they need to call out a vet to tend to a poorly animal.

“Fortunately we didn’t need to do this during lambing season as it could have proved difficult – a sheep is only about a metre in length!” www.weekender.co.uk

education While many of David’s daily tasks have proven easier to perform without having to factor in the presence of visitors, the farm itself has felt eerily quiet. “It was quite strange not having any public around the farm during lambing season. This is normally one of our busiest times as families enjoy seeing the lambs,” he says.

“I have to admit, the daily job is a little bit easier with no visitors.

For instance, ewes and lambs can be moved around the farmyard without having to clean up after them as quickly or as much,” he admits. “However, I do miss chatting with people about the farm and sometimes getting a round of applause if I’ve had to help a ewe with a difficult lambing!”

Presumably this unexpected fallow period is doing wonders for the land itself? “Environmentally, there are definitely plusses,” confirms David.

“I’m no expert in birds but there was a pair of buzzards in the field right next to the farmyard, which I haven’t seen so close before, and there have also been some jays, which tend to be very shy birds.”

That said, David has also found some unexpected downsides to areas of the farm being much less closely managed. “One negative is that we’ve been having visits to the hen house from foxes at least three times a day, every day,” he says. “The hens are quite safe but get very alarmed.”

While entry to the farm itself is free, the majority of its income is made up of visitors spending

money on activities and gifts, as well as food and drink when they visit. As such, the lack of footfall is likely to have the largest impact on the farm’s financial situation.

“Our lambing day in April and Open Farm Sunday in June have both been cancelled this year, as were our Easter activities,” says David.

“Looking back at last year’s income over the same time period, nearly 40% of [the money we made] came from these types of activities, so we are being hit very hard,” he says.

“Of course, I understand that everyone is being hit hard these days so we just hope that people will come back to support us when we can reopen. If you do feel you want to support us now, you can do so through our website.”

If he could go back in time, is there anything David would do differently, knowing now that 2020 will be dominated by the virus?

“I think I would have planned lambing to have been a month earlier, so our volunteers could have helped out and the public could enjoy seeing the ewes and especially the lambs racing around the fields. It would have meant an easier lambing for me as well!”

Woodlands Farm, 331 Shooters Hill, Welling DA16 3RP. The farm is currently closed, but you can make a donation to help keep it running at: www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust. org/donate.html

T HE

The

ESSENTIAL guide to EDUCATION PLEASE CONTRIBUTE AND HELP US TO KEEP PROVIDING YOU WITH LOCAL NEWS AND SPORT A message to all our readers: We are continuing to bring you all the latest news on the Coronavirus and other important local issues, news, sport and local life.

As the only independent paid-for newspaper in London, we rely heavily on local businesses advertising with us to provide the revenue that pays our journalists. Understandably, most local businesses are cancelling their advertising in these uncertain times. So we are now offering free digital advertising to all local, independent businesses.

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Best wishes from all of us at the Weekender

ADVERTORIAL

News from the Royal Borough of Greenwich

Celebrating our local heroes

Gre enw ich Co- ope rat ive Develo pment Age ncy get ting foo d parcels ready to go out to res iden ts.

Local business Jazz Trading Ltd has donated 10,000 protective masks for frontline workers.

Daniel, Grace and Evelyn have been clearing up litter outside Plumstead Cemetery.

Ange lin a an d Cla ra usi ng th eir lit ter pic king kit s to tid y up some are as in Ch ar lto n.

We want to take the time to celebrate the amazing people in our borough going above and beyond during the pandemic. As well as our incredible NHS and key workers, many of you at home are doing amazing things to keep spirits high in Royal Greenwich.

There has been an overwhelming sense of community and willingness to help others, with many of you volunteering your skills, hosting virtual events, creating rainbow artwork and looking out for one another. A huge thank you to each and every one of you - let’s take a moment to appreciate our wonderful community in these tough times.

Volunteers

We would like to thank everyone who has volunteered with our Community Hub to help residents in need. More than 1,000 people have been cleared to volunteer and many are already out in the community helping others. Many people have also come forward to donate much-needed items like face masks and food. Our Environment Champions have been out taking care of our open spaces too. We are proud that so many selfless and caring individuals live in our borough and are willing to give up their time and resources to help.

Many of our own staff have been redeployed to different teams within the Council that are under pressure, thank you for keeping services running smoothly.

Angela was ready to start working in General Gordon Square on short notice last weekend.

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Kevin has been redepl oyed to the registrar servic es along with colleag ues in his team.

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Gay nor has bee n help ing to org ani se volu nte ers for the Commun ity Hub after being redeplo yed .

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arts

Virtual lessons, competitions and daily performances: Trinity Laban’s #SelfIsolationCreation campaign The doors to Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance are closed for now, but there’s plenty happening online to ensure the school’s programme of classes, competitions and performances is as rich as ever. The conservatoire has launched a campaign, #SelfIsolationCreation, which has become the umbrella term for its online offering during lockdown.

Holly O’Mahony speaks to Trinity Laban’s head of marketing and communications Tessa Gillett to find out more…

Following the government’s social distancing measures to prevent the further spread of Covid-19, Trinity Laban began teaching online lessons on March 16, officially closing the doors to its buildings a week later.

“We are a highly creative and adaptable community...and we have every confidence that we will successfully continue to deliver the highest quality teaching and learning [online],” says Tessa, on the school’s move to deliver its programme virtually. “It is very unusual not to be in our brilliant buildings and the whole community is missing being together, but we have already discovered new ways of connecting through creativity using digital and social channels.”

The #SelfIsolationCreation campaign Trinity Laban’s #SelfIsolationCreation campaign was inspired by watching how other countries’ creative industries responded to their own lockdown measures. “There was a wealth of creativity springing up in people’s homes,” recalls Tessa. “We knew that we were likely to be locked down too, so started to develop ideas

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about how to keep our community connected to each other and engaged in artistic practice.” The conservatoire began asking its community to share photos and video clips of their artistic practices being conducted at home as an antidote to isolation, using the hashtag #SelfIsolationCreation.

“It’s a broad digital campaign that invites our global community to create, share and enjoy artistic content whilst they stay at home.”

What’s being made available online as part of the campaign?

From musicians recording sessions from home to Trinity Laban’s health practitioners delivering online classes in yoga and pilates, there’s plenty being shared – for free – on the conservatoire’s YouTube and Facebook channels.

Of course, there are highlights. For Tessa, one of these is a performance

by Trinity Laban alumnus and Grammy-nominated percussionist and composer Manu Delago. “Manu had to postpone his concerts in Europe due to Covid-19, so instead performed an intimate concert from www.weekender.co.uk

his living room. [He performed] his own compositions as well as new arrangements of the diverse talents of J. S. Bach and Britney Spears,” she says. “We co-hosted this live stream on our Facebook page.”

The campaign is also being used to signpost the community towards free weekly tutorials, such as Hagit Yakira’s dance classes which are held via [video communication platform] Zoom on Wednesdays (at 6pm) and Fridays (at 5pm). “#SelfIsolationCreation is a movement, so it will keep evolving based on our community’s needs and outputs as we all continue to adapt and create,” says Tessa.

How to make the most of the #SelfIsolationCreation campaign “Our #SelfIsolationCreation campaign is open to anyone who sees themselves as part of the Trinity Laban community: students, staff, alumni, audiences and more,” affirms Tessa. “All you need to do is share your creativity by tagging ‘@trinitylaban’ and using the hashtag #SelfIsolationCreation to be part of the movement.”

Tunes From Home A formal strand of the campaign, Tunes From Home sees a live stream or pre-recorded film made by a student, staff member or alumnus shared on Trinity Laban’s YouTube channel every weekday evening at 8pm.

“We have already seen a range of sounds, from guitar sessions over a glass of wine to someone creating new music from the everyday sounds of their house,” reveals Tessa, adding that both traditional and experimental performances are welcome. “To date, over a thousand people have watched the films and we’d love to see that grow.”

Those interested in contributing can send a two to five-minute video of their music or dance performance to the school’s head of composition Dominic Murcott.

Trinity Laban’s annual composition competition goes online Another strand of the #SelfIsolationCreation campaign is the conservatoire’s ‘Daryl Runswick composition competition’, which has undergone a digital make-over for 2020. The event premiered on March 27, marking the first online competition ever to run in the conservatoire’s history.

of a live concert in an impressive venue; previous years have seen it take place at the National Portrait Gallery and the Southbank Centre.

Still, the event was deemed a success. “All six pieces were of an incredible standard – a testament to the creativity and flair within the Composition Department at Trinity Laban,” says head of composition Dominic Murcott. What’s more, it was watched by hundreds online, reaching many more people than a traditional concert would have had the capacity to do.

Future focus: what’s next?

“Whilst challenging, the pandemic has showcased the talent, adaptability and resourcefulness of our community in new ways,” points out Tessa.

“While we are hoping to get back to face-to-face teaching as soon as possible – reopening our classes and bringing back our amazing performances – it has been great to discover new ways of working digitally and experiment with ways of connecting through creativity.”

To find out more about Trinity Laban’s #SelfIsolationCreation campaign, visit the website or follow the conservatoire on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube via @ TrinityLaban. www.trinitylaban.ac.uk

A platform for showcasing new work and celebrating the creativity of the composition community, the competition usually takes the form

April 29 2020 7

ADVERTORIAL

News from the Royal Borough of Greenwich

Join our virtual VE Day 75 celebrations We might not be able to go ahead as planned with our face-to-face VE Day events, but being stuck inside gives you the perfect opportunity to dig out your old photos from the Second World War. This year marks 75 years since Victory in Europe (VE day) and the surrender of Nazi Germany in Europe in the World War II. We’re inviting you to share your photos, medals and memories of friends and family who saw us through that dark and terrifying period.

With everyone staying at home, keeping fit and staying active can be difficult and Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice is providing you with the opportunity to do something about it, whilst lending them some much-needed charitable support.

You’re invited to sign up to run, walk or jog the equivalent of 2.62 miles (4.22 km) around your home or garden and on Sunday 3 May, the Hospice will host a very special Virtual Mini Marathon live

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stream. Children who sign up will receive a medal, and adults will get a certificate.

Any donation or sponsorship raised will help keep the Hospice open as their frontline doctors and nurses support our NHS during the COVID-19 crisis. You can find out more and register on the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice website: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/ VirtualMarathon

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Over the VE Day Weekend (8-10 May) we’ll share your stories as part of our virtual tribute.

Scan or take a picture of your photos and /or medals then post them with any extra information on social media using #GreenwichVE75 or email your stories to events@royalgreenwich.gov.uk by Monday 4 May.

Coronavirus fraud watch group Sadly, there are scammers who want to cheat people out of their hardearned money and they are using the pandemic as an opportunity to do so.

The Fraud Advisory Panel has set up a coronavirus fraud watch group which includes organisations like the City of London Police and the Cabinet Office. The watch group meets weekly to share information on emerging fraud threats and trends, so that they can warn the public about coronavirus fraud risks and the preventative actions that can be taken.

You can report fraud or cybercrime to the national reporting centre, Action Fraud, any time of the day or night using their online reporting tool.

For more information and links to report fraud and scams, visit: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/covid19scams

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community

New boss for Old Royal Naval College

Matthew Mees has been appointed by the Greenwich Foundation after his role as Interim Chief Executive since October 2019. He was previously Director of Finance and IT, and before joining the Old Royal Naval College he was Director of Finance, HR and Legal for a private-equity backed start-up business in the real estate and flexible office provider sectors. Matthew described the past year as “transformative” for the College.

“I have had the great pleasure of working at the Old Royal Naval College in a truly transformative year with the re-opening of the magnificently conserved Painted Hall, our refreshed visitor offer and the introduction of the 500 Years of History Tours,” Matthew said.

“We are delighted that we had over 1 million visitors over the year who provided us with invaluable feedback that will help us shape our future plans. We celebrated our first year on a high, winning Visitor Attraction of the Year at the London Tourism Awards. I am looking forward to working with our passionate staff, dedicated volunteers, and all our partners to welcome the public back again and engage all in heritage, conservation and an exciting public cultural programme.”

Free parking for nhs workers in Eltham Hill

Mecca Eltham Hill is teaming up with online parking marketplace, YourParkingSpace, to offer free car parking spaces to NHS workers in Eltham Hill.

Nationwide, Mecca Bingo has nearly 2,000 spaces on offer, including at Mecca Eltham Hill, where a number of spaces are available for those working on the front line.

To secure the booking, NHS workers will need to access www. yourparkingspace.co.uk/nhs-parking and enter their NHS staff email address to receive their free parking code. The code can then be added to accounts, where it will be automatically applied at each checkout for as long as it is valid.

General Manager at Mecca Bingo Eltham Hill, Alex Cook, said: “The NHS workers are doing a phenomenal job and we want to show our gratitude and thanks to them by opening up our car parks to those who need it most right now. We hope this news will make their journeys both safer and easier over the coming weeks.”

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April 29 2020 9

Food & DRINK

Five of the best restaurants delivering takeaways in Deptford

Isla Ray At the time of writing, Deptford High Street’s colourful independent café Isla Ray is getting its home delivery service up and running on Deliveroo. As well as coffees and lazy weekend morning treats, check out its selection of salads, healthy specials, smoothies and pantry essentials including sourdough loaves and eggs. The café’s popular programme of community projects (featuring art exhibitions and DJ nights) might be on hold, but support (and enjoy) this small business’s produce through lockdown and there’s all the more chance it’ll bounce back once we’re out and about again.

Isla Ray, 37 Deptford High Street, Deptford, London SE8 4AD. Available on Deliveroo and via pick-up. www.islaray.co.uk

Mama’s Jerk Hurrah! Deptford Market Yard’s family-run Caribbean restaurant Mama’s Jerk is still operating a home delivery service. I reviewed the restaurant back in December 2018 and can heartily recommend the fried plantain (the slightly more savoury doppelgänger of the banana). The main event, though, is the biriyardi – a take on biryani that sees fragrant bits of dry-spiced jerk chicken chopped on top of similarly seasoned rice and kidney beans, served with a side of tropical salad – shredded lettuce, carrot, sweetcorn, baby tomatoes and a dusting of coconut.

There’s jerk-spiced wraps, burgers and salads too, but perhaps most excitingly – for those feeling thirsty in lockdown – is the fact you can order the restaurant’s signature rum punch to accompany your meal. If you’re looking for a no-fuss spot serving decently-priced and delectably-spiced food, Mama’s Jerk is worth a whirl.

Mama’s Jerk, 133 Deptford High Street, Deptford, London SE8 4NS. Available on Deliveroo and Just Eat. www.mamasjerk.com

Paranhodu Korean Restaurant New Cross Korean joint Paranhodu is another acclaimed restaurant delivering to the Deptford area.

Look forward to dumplings or bug-busting, kimchi-laden stews and pancakes to start. For mains, a highlight is the sizzling bowl of bibimbap: rice topped with namul (sautéed and seasoned vegetables), a choice of meat of tofu, a fried egg and Gochujang sauce. Korea’s traditional bulgogi – marinated beef – is popular here too, and there’s also a selection of udong or glass noodle dishes.

As an added sweetener, orders over £20 receive 10% off.

Paranhodu Korean Restaurant, 125 Lewisham Way, New Cross, London SE14 6QJ. Available on Deliveroo, Just Eat and Ubereats. www.facebook.com/paranhodu

10 April 29 2020

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Food & DRINK

Papa’s Benito Pitta House While a week of sunning yourself and swimming in crystal clear waters on a Greek island is impossible right now, you can still transport yourself there via your palate when you order a takeaway from New Cross’s hip Greek restaurant Pitta House. Look forward to gyros or souvlaki wraps, pittas (of course) and chef’s specials in the form of a mix grill meat platter (a terror-inducing tower of succulent meats – for a minimum of two mouths – served with salad, chips, pittas and house sauces); and a koto-bacon platter (chicken pieces wrapped in bacon served with similar sides to the meat platter). And while we wouldn’t recommend it, you could finish off your meal by smashing your own plates to complete that Greek holiday experience.

Pitta House, 333 New Cross Road, New Cross, London SE14 6AT. Available on Deliveroo, Just Eat and Ubereats. www.pittahouse.co.uk

F.A.A.

F A ALBIN & SONS Family Run Funeral Directors

Sometimes, we find ourselves craving very specific dishes we’re probably never going to make at home. If, for you, this dish is a ‘pinsa’ – a roman-style flatbread that’s less heavy than your typical pizza – you’re in luck: because New Crossbased pinsa specialist Papa’s Benito is still making and delivering its goods through lockdown. Before browsing its 13-strong pinsa menu – including three gourmet specials of which the ‘Buffalo’ (a pinsa topped with tomato, fresh buffalo mozzarella, parma ham and black pepper) looks particularly appetising – there’s starters to consider. Those with an insatiable capacity for dough might look to the garlic bread, while others craving different textures to begin the meal may opt for the parmigiana or sumptuous-sounding arancini balls. Those who like to round off their meal with a bit of something sweet will find it in the form of traditional Italian desserts – tiramisu and Sicilian cannoli among them.

Papa’s Benito, 149 New Cross Road, London SE14 5DJ. Available on Deliveroo, Just Eat and Ubereats. www.instagram.com/papa_benito/?hl=en

020 8857 0330 MOTTINGHAM 65 Mottingham Road, London, SE9 4QZ Our Other branch addresses are:

Serving the local community for over 200 years editorial@weekender.co.uk

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wellING 4 Weeling Way, Welling, KENT, DA16 2Rj

eAsT lONdON 378 Barking Road, Plaistow LoNDoN, E13 8HL

sIdcup 163 Station Road, Sidcup, KENT, DA15 7AA

wAlwOrTH 88 Brandon Street, LoNDoN, SE17 1ND

depTfOrd 164 Deptford High Street, LoNDoN, SE8 3DP

rOTHerHITHe 52 Culling Road, LoNDoN, SE16 2TN

www.albins.co.uk April 29 2020 11

History

Into the marshland

Mary Mills Previous articles have taken us along the riverside to Ballast Quay.

As we leave there we move into a different area. We leave Ballast Quay at the end of Pelton Road and at one time there would have been a gate here – a gate into Greenwich Marsh. The Marsh was set up with special marshland rules in the early 17th century. It had its own ruling body, the Wallscot Court, which levied is own rates – double for the west side and single payments for the east.

The Court which handled this money and managed the Marsh was made up of landowners and tenants. The largest landowner on the marsh was Morden College and they owned a long stretch of the west bank – and that is where the path will take us first.

The riverside here was well used by watermen and the others. Inland was the 'Great Meadow'. To the south of this was 'Willow Walk' which ran along a dyke. Willow Walk became Pelton Road and this is where we begin along the river bank here on what was called Greenwich Marsh until around the 1970s and now is Greenwich Peninsula.

In the mid 19th century Morden College began to develop their marshland sites for industry. They divided the river bank area up into parcels of land and appointed head leaseholders who were expected to sub-let to respectable and well behaved tenant industries.

The first parcel to be let was the first area we come to after Ballast Quay.

Until 2012 or so it was called ‘Lovell’s Wharf’ but now the new flats there are known as Riverside Gardens, a name,

12 April 29 2020

I was told, the developer’s publicity department insisted on. In the 1840s it was called Greenwich Wharf and the head leaseholder was Mr. Coles Child.

William Coles Child was a young man who had taken over his family's coal trade business near Waterloo. They were 'Coal Merchants, Coke Burners and Wharfingers'. The coal came from ports on the North East coast and its transport to London was a massive industry. He also owned gravel pits, and a brick works in Bromley and lived in what had been the Bishops Palace (now Bromley Civic Centre). In Greenwich he worked with Morden College to build the housing estate which stands here along Pelton Road and surrounding roads.

In 1838 Coles Child signed an 80-year lease with Morden College for six acres

of the Great Meadow to 'form wharves and erect manufactories'. He was to call this Greenwich Wharf. In 1839 he built new road to the river along the line of Willow Walk and called it Pelton Road after a Durham colliery. By 1840 coke ovens, a limekiln, storehouse and stable and been built and were in operation but a soap boiler who applied for a site was turned down. By 1841 'Grey Stone and other limes’ were being produced.

Coles Child advertised that he could supply coal and coke 'at a considerable reduction in price' compared to others.

He boasted of facilities for the discharge of coal from ships 'of any tonnage' at Greenwich Wharf. He also claimed that he was the 'largest manufacturer of Oven Coke in England' - and could service 'Directors of Railways, Maltsters, Ironfounders and Consumers’. . Local people seem to have been glad to see this development which brought jobs and prosperity to the area.

ice merchant, John Ashby, rented part of the site. From the 1890s onwards there was an ice well there.

Commercial ice suppliers brought ice from Norway by boat, stored and sold to provide domestic and commercial refrigeration. It was still there in the 2010 when the developers moved in – but no archaeologists recorded it, so you only have my say-so.

Eventually the wharf passed into the hands of two managers and became known as Whiteway's Wharf. They advertised 'Caradoc's Wallsend' and Jonasshon's Wallsend' coal. They also operated a cement works and bricks were made on site. Coles Child died in the 1870s and parts of the wharf were then leased to others. One of these was a John Waddell, who was another coal merchant who supplied domestic customers and had a local office in one of the nicer parts of Blackheath

Until around 2002 people walking along the river here from Ballast Quay were confronted with two giant cranes –'Scotch derricks'. The name 'Lovell’s' was written in large white lettering on the wharf wall, and also on the gable of the buildings. Things changed in the 1920s when the coal business on the wharf’ declined.

For a short time in the 1880s an

By 1918 the riverside along this frontage was silting up rapidly and all round the wharf were houses and shops. Most of the surrounding housing had been built

by Coles Child to the direction of Morden College’s surveyor George Smith. Many of the streets and terrace are named after the Durham collieries from which the coal came – Pelton Main colliery, for example, was near Chester-le-Street and the site is now a golf course; Bradyll is the name of a colliery locomotive now in the railway museum at Shildon.

The site was Lovell’s from the late 1920s. They were a Bristol based family business dating from 1869. Charles Shaw Lovell had an office in the City of London office for his work as a 'Shipping

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and Forwarding Agent' and he was in effective charge of the Bristol Navigation Company. In 1908 the business became ‘Shaw Lovell & Sons Ltd.’ and in 1911 they leased Greenwich Wharf Lovell’s used the wharf to handle non-ferrous metals. In the 1920s they dealt with the scrap metal from Great War battlefields and no doubt the odd unexploded shell was only one of the hazards. There was also a sideline in the export of stone for war grave headstones. Lovell's purchased ships of their own to carry on the trade Innisulva, Innishannan, Tower Bridge and Eiffel Tower. They also owned a tug and two lighters. At Greenwich Wharf they had a London Metals Exchange approved warehouse for the storage of copper, zinc and lead.

In the 1960s Lovell House was built in Pelton Road as the head office for Lovell's Sea Container Trade and a large computer system was installed there. When Lovell’s left Lovell House was taken over by the Greater London Council and used by Greenwich Council for their educational social work service. It was demolished along with the rest of the site and sadly a number of commemorative plaques were not kept – this included an enormous carpet with the words ‘Lovell’s Wharf’ woven into it as well as various commemorative plaques. The site was drawn and painted by many artists and I am aware that there may be collections of art works in private houses – many of them the www.weekender.co.uk

History homes of people who worked on site.

As the container revolution diminished the amount of work available for the wharf, Shaw Lovell retreated to their Bristol base. However, in the early 1980s the two 'Butters' canes –more properly called ‘Scotch derricks - which had been brought here from Dublin in the 1970s were moved to a central position on the wharf. In 1982 the wharf handled 118,000 tons of cargo - steel, aluminium, galvanised sheeting and gas pipes as well as timber and some other items. Lovell's workers were proud of their experience and the techniques developed to handle specialist cargoes and the cranes played a key role.

In 1999 the wharf had been unused for some years. Lovell’s surrendered their lease but the wharf was occasionally used for the storage and transshipment of building materials to development sites. The two cranes were a dramatic local feature - much photographed and the subject of many paintings and drawings. Such equipment was once very common around the Port of London but has now completely disappeared.

After Shaw Lovell left the wharf there was a strong local campaign to keep the cranes. It proved surprisingly difficult to find anything very much out about them and even Shaw Lovell's records did not reveal very much. It emerged that the brass number plates had been removed by persons unknown – and thus their manufacturers, however helpful, could not identify them.

In due course the site was bought by developers and flats were planned.

The Council said that the river must be used for removal of waste and deliveries. I was really cheered up at a public meeting when the developers said it was not possible to do this and Lovell’s ex-site foreman stood up to say that he and his old team would be happy to show them how to do it! .

The site is now all flats and the fight of local residents to keep the height of the blocks down so as not to block out their light is another story – better told by them. It was then briefly called Greenwich Wharf again but this name was changed to 'Riverside Gardens'. The riverside has been all tidied up and you can no longer walk by the river but have to go several yards inland competing with the cyclists. There is a children’s playground, which, at least to start with, children were too scared to use. A

In 2000 the cranes were removed

by Morden College very early one morning and with no consultation

hundred and seventy years of industry here has come and gone leaving no trace Sources Eric Jorden. 'The story of Lovell's Shipping' Eric Jorden 1992

I have written a number of articles on Lovell’s Wharf and Coles Child including a booklet in 2016 called ‘Lovell's Wharf’ and a series in Bygone Kent.

The story of the housing on the Morden College estate and the Durham colliery street names are interesting but not really relevant here. It is covered in an article in Greenwich and Lewisham, Antiquarian Transactions Vol IX No.6 1984 by Michael Kerney

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community trust At The Heart Of The Community

news from charlton athletic community trust

Charlton fans walk 1 mile to support Down’s syndrome project

Charlton Athletic Community Trust’s (CACT’s) annual Upbeats Walk took place on Saturday 25 April, in slightly different circumstances.

CACT’s Charlton Upbeats programme for young people and adults with Down’s syndrome has been running since 2008 and is entirely funded by voluntary donations.

Keith Wisdom has taken part in every Upbeats Walk to date

A group fundraising walk from the club’s training ground in New Eltham to The Valley in time for a home match had taken place every year since 2015. And this year’s walk was scheduled to take place ahead of Charlton’s last home game of the season against Wigan Athletic.

Due to the government’s advice on mass gatherings, the usual event was not possible, but dozens of supporters walked 1 mile on Saturday in their gardens and local parks, as part of their daily exercise as advised by the government.

Keith Wisdom, a lifelong Charlton fan and supporter of the Upbeats, has taken part in every Upbeats walk to date, and didn’t let the lockdown prevent him from supporting the project.

Speaking about the importance of keeping the

14 April 29 2020

The Upbeats project is entirely run on voluntary donations

programme going, Keith said: “It’s great that it brings the Charlton family together. It’s magical seeing what a difference it makes to those individuals in the Upbeats and their families as well as the respite it must give them that they can put their children – or young adults – somewhere that they’re safe, looked after and taught various life skills.”

Carl Krauhaus, CACT’s Head of Early Help & Prevention, said: “We all know that the Upbeats run on fundraising. There are no funds attached, so it’s always been owned by the fans and their support.

“We set a realistic target of £10,000 which matches up with us envisaging to be able to get back to it about August or September time and it keeps things ticking over to keep the project going until next April.

“Win, lose, or draw, the Upbeats are always something positive for the Charlton fans.”

There is still time to donate to the Upbeats project at cact.org.uk/upbeats2020

The Upbeats Walk has been an event since 2015

Win, lose, or draw, the Upbeats are always something positive for the Charlton fans editorial@weekender.co.uk

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public notices ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH The Greenwich (Free Parking Places, Loading Places and Waiting, Loading and Stopping Restrictions) (Amendment No. 41) Order 2020 The Greenwich (Charged-For Parking Places) (Amendment No. 42) Order 2020 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the Royal Borough of Greenwich on 29th April 2020 made the above-mentioned Orders under section 6, 45, 46, 49 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended. The Orders will come into operation on 6th May 2020.

2. The general effect of the Orders will be: (a) provide double yellow line ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions in White Hart Road: (i) west side, between 80.5 metres north of the northern kerb-line of North Road and 86.5 metres south of that kerb-line; and (ii) east side, for 78.5 metres south of North Road; and (b) update the map tiles attached to The Greenwich (Free Parking Places, Loading Places and Waiting, Loading and Stopping Restrictions) Consolidation Order 2018 and The Greenwich (Charged-For Parking Places) Consolidation Order 2018 so as to reflect the provisions referred to in sub-paragraph (a) above.

3. Further information about the Orders may be obtained by telephoning Strategic Transportation on 020 8921 2773.

4. The Orders and other documents giving more detailed particulars of the Orders are available for inspection during normal office hours until the end of six weeks from the date on which the Orders were made, at the Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise and Skills, Strategic Transportation, Royal Borough of Greenwich, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ. 5. If any person wishes to question the validity of the Orders or of any of the provisions contained therein on the grounds that they are not within the powers conferred by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or that any requirement of that Act or of any instrument made under that Act has not been complied with, that person may, within six weeks from the date on which the Orders were made, apply for that purpose to the High Court.

Assistant Director, Strategic Transportation The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ

ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 – SECTION 247 STOPPING UP OF THE HIGHWAY - QUILTER STREET

1.

2.

3.

5.

6.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the Royal Borough of Greenwich has Made an Order under section 247 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (“the Act”), entitled the Royal Borough of Greenwich (Stopping Up of Highways) (No. 17) (Quilter Street) Order 2019.

The general effect of the Order will be to authorise the stopping up of an area located on the westernmost part of the footway on the west side of Quilter Street and immediately north of Speranza Street, having a length of 10.09 metres and width at its southern end of 1.09 metres and at its northern end of 1.52 metres. The term “stopping-up” means that this area of highway will cease to be public highway.

The stopping-up has been authorised in order to enable the provision of the development described in the Schedule to this Notice to be carried out in accordance with the planning permission granted under Part III of the Act to the developer, on 8th December 2015, reference 15/0716/O and the approval of reserved matters dated 22nd June 2017, reference 16/4183/R.4. Further information may be obtained by telephoning Strategic Transportation on 020 8921 2397.

The Order and other documents giving more detailed particulars of the Order are available for inspection during normal office hours until the end of six weeks from the date on which the Order was made, at the Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise and Skills, Strategic Transportation, Royal Borough of Greenwich, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ. If any person wishes to question the validity of the Order or of any of the provisions contained therein on the grounds that they are not within the powers conferred by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or that any requirement of that Act or of any instrument made under that Act has not been complied with, that person may, within six weeks from the date on which the Order was made, apply for that purpose to the High Court.

Assistant Director, Strategic Transportation The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ

Dated 29th April 2020

ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1) [Abbey Wood Road] PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER) 1. The Royal Borough of Greenwich intends to makes this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Thames Water who need to carry out water mains repair.

2. The Order will come into operation on 6th May 2020 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However the works are expected to take 3 days. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.

3. The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering, exiting, proceeding or waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading) in, Abbey Wood Road outside number 9.

4. Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via Bostall Lane, McLeod Road, Owenite Street and vice versa. Prohibitions remain in force, pedestrians are not affected and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.

5. Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.

6. The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.

7. Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.

Assistant Director, Strategic Transportation The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ

Dated 29th April 2020 SCHEDULE

(DESCRIPTION OF DEVELOPMENT – see paragraph 3 above) Works to existing Grade II listed Plumstead Library to facilitate increased floor space for additional library and community services (Class A3/B1/D1/D2 uses). Works include demolition of existing building to the rear; and construction of a 2-storey extension for new library spaces, sports hall, amenities and gym; refurbishment works to the listed library building, and public realm improvement works including improved access, cycle parking, and new on-street parking space.

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Dated 24th April 2020 (INTERNAL REF: PL/TBC/LA382045)

ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1) [Charlton Park Lane] PLANNED ROAD CLOSURE (ORDER) 1. The Royal Borough of Greenwich makes this Order in exercise of powers under section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is to facilitate works by Compass who need to carry out electrical ducting works.

2. The Order will come into operation on 29th April 2020 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However the works are expected to take 4 months. The duration of the Order can be extended with the approval of the Secretary of State for Transport.

3. The effect of the Order would be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from waiting (including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading) in, Charlton Park Lane (from the Junction of Charlton Dene to Junction of Cemetery Lane), Charlton Dene (from Charlton Park Lane to Grenada Road) and Grenada Road (whole length).

4. Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will not be diverted. Prohibitions remain in force, pedestrians are not affected and vehicle access will be maintained wherever possible.

5. Nothing in this Notice will apply to anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or traffic warden, to emergency service vehicles, or to vehicles being used in connection with the works.

6. The restrictions described above will apply only during such times and to such extent as shall be indicated by traffic signs as prescribed by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.

7. Queries concerning these works should be directed to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Directorate of Regeneration, Enterprise & Skills on 020 8921 6340.

Assistant Director, Strategic Transportation The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ Dated 24th April 2020 (INTERNAL REF: PL//LATBC)

To place a statutory notice, please email: notices@weekender.co.uk editorial@weekender.co.uk

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