Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender - June 3rd 2020

Weekender June 3 2020 • www.weekender.co.uk

Greenwich & Lewisham

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

FACE TIME Learning body painting online

PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT

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Making a safe return to your workplace The Government is encouraging people to stay alert as many take their first steps back to their workplace.

Millions of people followed

the initial advice to stay at home, and those who can do their jobs at home are still encouraged to do so.

However, some businesses are re-opening, and many

have never closed. We look at how you can travel safely to work, and how companies have adapted to the challenges coronavirus has put in front of everyone.

‘I’m so proud to be ready for farm’s harvest’

The Government says there are five practical steps that companies can take to ensure everyone is working safely. They are: n Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment in line with the HSE guidance that includes consultations with workers and trade unions, and sharing the results of the risk assessment. n Develop cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures such as increasing the frequency of handwashing and surface cleaning. n Help people to work from home by discussing home working arrangements and ensuring they have the right equipment, including them in all necessary and looking after their physical and mental wellbeing.

n Maintain 2m social distancing, where possible.

This includes putting up signs to remind workers and visitors of social distancing guidance, avoid people sharing workstations, using floor tape to help people keep to a 2m distance n Where people cannot be 2m apart, manage transmission risk by considering whether an activity needs to continue for the business to operate, keeping the activity time involved as short as possible, using screens or barriers to separate people from each other and staggering arrival and departure times.

For more information visit www. gov.uk/guidance/working-safelyduring-coronavirus-covid-19

Consider Keep our distance, hands, Headline towash goourhere walking, think of others and play our part. cycling or driving

CASE STUDY 1 STRAWBERRY FIELDS THERE ARE signs that the country is looking forward to beyond the coronavirus lockdown with a Leedsbased farm all set to harvest its first crop of strawberries.

Annabel Makin Jones is a farmer, mother and businesswoman and said that the run up to “berry season” is hectic at the best of times but this year was one for the record books.

She runs Annabel’s Deliciously British, a brand of premium English strawberries grown on

The five steps that will ensure safer working

HARVEST TIME: Annabel Makin Jones with her daughter at the farm. her family’s farm, Sturton Grange near Garforth, and is preparing the first pick later this month. She said: “The run up to berry season is always hectic, but this season is one for the record books. There have been so many complexities to contend with.

“We’ve adapted, planned, negotiated and coped with

multiple challenges.I am proud to say, we’re ready.”

Annabel has had to balance protecting her staff with managing market demand after lockdown was implemented. She said: “Our teams come to us every year and they work as part of an extended family.

“We devised a meticulous system of keeping our teams

in communities of eight teams of 10 for socialising, laundry and shopping.

“We’ve done their shopping and washing to help keep them shielded safe and healthy.If one team came down with symptoms and needed to isolate, we could rely on the other teams to fill in. Everyone is fit and well and ready to go.”

The Government has issued advice on how people can travel to work safely during the coronavirus outbreak.

You should avoid using public transport where possible. Instead try to walk, cycle, or drive.

If you do travel, thinking carefully about the times, routes and ways you travel will mean we will all have more space to stay safe.

You should not travel if you are experiencing any coronavirus

coronavirus symptoms or sharing a household with somebody with symptoms, are clinically extremely vulnerable Consider if your journey is necessary. This will help keep the transport network running and allow people who need to make essential journeys to travel.

Walking and cycling will reduce pressure on the public transport system and the road network.

Consider walking and cycling Consider all other forms of transport before using public transport If you can, wear a face covering if you need to use public transport.

For advice visit https://www.gov. uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers

symptoms, are self-isolating as a result of

Green light for garden centres CASE STUDY 2 TONG GARDEN CENTRE

GREEN FOR GO: Joe Appleyard, plant supervisor at Tong Garden Centre in Bradford.

WHETHER THEY were hankering for compost, lawn seed or bedding plants, gardeners were keenly anticipating the reopening of the vast majority of the UK’s garden centres.

And after an eight-week lockdown which made a washout of three of their four biggest selling weekends of the year - including Easter and the early May Bank Holiday - garden centres have been furiously busy getting ready to serve customers again.

Customers can now expect supermarket-style social distancing queues, one-way systems and limits on the numbers allowed inside.

Restaurants and children’s

play areas will stay closed and for the time being it will not be a place to while away an afternoon.

Just 90 people at a time are allowed into Bradford’s Tong Garden Centre under rules which allow one person per 1,000 square feet.

Managing director Mark Farnsworth said they were excited, but nervous about “making sure we do everything safely for the team and customers”.

Mr Farnsworth said he expects people to make fewer visits, but buying more when they do, mirroring the way food shopping habits have changed.

Everything has been worked out, so people can get around the garden centre safely.

Keep our distance, wash our hands, think of others and play our part.

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: GW160

From group violin classes to adult art lessons: Blackheath Conservatoire is fully up and running online Blackheath Conservatoire has been an arts centre for nearly 140 years. In that time, it’s weathered two world wars, bouncing back both times to maintain its presence as one of London’s most prominent arts schools. Now, 2020’s invisible coronavirus has forced the conservatoire to close the physical school,, but its presence is alive and well online. Fifty per cent of individual classes are now being held on Zoom – and the number of group classes is gradually increasing, too.

Three hundred students are carrying on their music tuition online, while drama students are embracing making radio plays, and adult classes in everything from drawing and colouring to music theory and violin are taking place in the virtual sphere. Holly O’Mahony speaks to interim CEO of Blackheath Conservatoire Clare Cornwell to find out more…

Holly O’Mahony: Several months have passed since you had to close the physical doors to Blackheath Conservatoire, but what was that experience like for you and your colleagues?

More practically speaking, and from a financial perspective, as we don’t receive public funding and rely on selling our classes to fund us, we had no option but to do whatever we could to keep our classes going.

Our tutors are all freelance artists and musicians, and it has been a massive loss of income for them as well, so they are keen to keep working. The public have embraced the online space, so necessity really has been the mother of invention!

Clare Cornwell: It was a big shock to everyone. We are so lucky to have these historic buildings to work in, and it is strange not to hear music and children’s voices coming from the conservatoire and its garden.

But we rather feel we have put our ‘Sleeping Beauty’ into a deep slumber ready to emerge when the crisis has passed and we can open the doors again to our students.

HOM: You've swiftly pulled together an extensive programme of online classes for your existing learners – and new learners – during lockdown. Can you tell us a bit about this decision and how you went about making it happen?

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lockdown and in this stressful time, we wanted to keep offering our classes where we could.

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CC: This is all down to our tremendous administrative team and incredible tutors. It has been a massive effort from everyone.

The core of the conservatoire’s vision has always been to provide

opportunities for people of all ages to develop their creative potential. We know that to create and learn is a fundamental human need and important for our mental health. So particularly in

HOM: The Conservatoire is offering a varied range of courses – for all experiences and age groups.

How did you go about putting the programme together and deciding what could be offered online?

CC: This has been a collaborative effort between our tutors and staff

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Spotlight

to work out the most appropriate form of delivery of each class on an educational and practical level.

Some have transferred straight to live delivery on platforms such as Zoom, but our big innovation has been the use of the conservatoire’s YouTube channel. We’ve moved a number of our early years and children’s music classes onto YouTube, delivering pre-recorded videos each week. This means the videos can be watched at time that suits the student or their parent – a godsend for those who are homeschooling.

We’ve retained the personal element of our classes by tutors beginning each recording with a personalised hello to the children enrolled, and answering questions from parents in the next video if needed. Another benefit is that those enrolled can repeat the videos if needed, and you can pick up the course at any time of term and start from the beginning.

HOM: What has the uptake been like for the online classes so far and how are your tutors finding leading lessons over Zoom?

CC: Over half of our music students taking one-to-one classes have moved online, which is great. The group classes are growing a little more slowly – some students are yet to realise the benefits of our online group video – so we still have space for those who want to join. For tutors, it has been an enormous amount of work preparing a new lesson and video each week, but they are getting fantastic feedback from their students.

HOM: Financially speaking, you'll presumably be losing a fair bit of money over this period without the footfall. Are there ways people can support the Conservatoire

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beyond paying for online classes?

CC: There is no getting away from the fact that, like many other arts organisations, we are taking a big financial hit. We aren’t eligible for the government’s grants, our café and the LEYF nursery that rent from us have had to close, and we are having to go back to our bank for a large new loan to get us through this worrying situation. Anyone can make donations to help the conservatoire at this tricky time (all the details about how to donate are on our website), and we are hugely grateful to everyone who is

HOM: In terms of the conservatoire, has any good come from this unprecedented and deeply worrying experience?

tuition in music, art and drama, can in many cases be adapted to work online, which means we can offer our lessons to people who can’t physically get to our building.

This could be parents with young children who don’t want to drag siblings along, or who want to use videos at different times of day, or indeed our first customer from California who enrolled a couple of weeks ago. This is a new opportunity for us and we intend to build on it as we go forward.

CC: The silver lining is the realisation that our high quality and creative

HOM: Finally, is there anything you wish you could go back in time and

supporting us. With the difficulties of social distancing for individual music lessons and for classes aimed at small children, we are going to have to think very carefully before opening the building for physical lessons again. This is why we are particularly thrilled to be able to offer our classes remotely.

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do differently, knowing now that 2020 will be dominated by the virus?

CC: It would have been lovely to have had the foresight and time to build our online offer without the rush, but there we are. I also think many of the staff who are now working from home or on furlough are missing the Brockley Deli’s amazing brownies and wish they had stocked up!

Blackheath Conservatoire, Lee Road, Kidbrooke, London SE3 9RQ. To find out more about the conservatoire’s online classes, visit: www.conservatoire.org.uk www.weekender.co.uk

CORONAVIRUS

GOT SYMPTOMS? GET TESTED NOW PLAY YOUR PART. PROTECT YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Do not leave home, except to get a test.

Find out how to get a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119

Arts

Colourful escapism: could online face and body painting classes be the most uplifting lockdown activity?

6 June 3 2020

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CORONAVIRUS

SELF-ISOLATE

WHEN ALERTED If you’re told you have been exposed to an infected person you must self-isolate for 14 days.

PLAY YOUR PART. PROTECT YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119

Arts

While work meetings, quizzes and even singing lessons have all proved relatively easy things to shift online, some activities are potentially harder to undertake in the digital sphere. Face and body painting for example – how could that work without someone directly touching you? Here to prove it’s not only possible but a great skill to acquire in lockdown is Liz Bylett, founder of south-east London-based face and body painting company Follies, writes Holly O’Mahony…

Ordinarily, Liz and her Follies team split their time between the likes of festivals, hen dos, children’s parties, one-off tutorials and running longer courses teaching others the art of face and body painting. Previously, they could be found covering their clients in head-to-toe neon body paint, exaggerating their eyes with sweeps of glitter or transforming little ones into tigers, fairies or ghouls. All of which requires a steady hand and an artistic vision. Liz, for example, has been in the business and honing her skills for 30 years.

Due to the spread of the virus, the business had to cancel all classes and bookings, including its regular sessions at Mycenae House in Blackheath. This left Liz with a decision: to temporarily close down Follies until social distancing measures lifted, or to work out a way of offering face and body painting classes online, not only keeping her regular learners engaged but providing a fun, colourful and uplifting activity to brighten up lockdown. Liz knew she had to at least try to do the latter.

Prior to the virus, Follies’ online offering was largely limited to pre-recorded video tutorials. “We did previously offer online training in both face painting and glitter for festivals,” says Liz, who decided upon a career in face and body painting after being mesmerised by street revellers providing face painting at festivals. “However, we have now moved all of our classes onto Zoom and are delivering these to groups or individuals as the need arises,” she says. “We’re currently running regular classes each week, covering all aspects of face painting, glitter and henna body art.”

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The uptake for Follies’ Zoom classes has so far been broad. “Our clients have been varied: mums with children, teachers currently off work, teenagers wanting new skills and a granny keen to learn how to paint her children’s faces once she is out of lockdown,” says Liz, adding that she still hopes more will look to face and body painting as an activity or skill to acquire before lockdown lifts.

Taking part in an online face or body painting class with Follies is relatively simple. Once you and your party have signed up, Liz or a member of her team will provide you with everything you need. “We provide the learners with all of the information they need to log into Zoom, and they receive a free step-by-step introduction to face painting book, The Face Painters’ Blueprint [penned by Liz], with their pack when they book with us.”

Practically speaking, how do you demonstrate techniques without a willing participant to practice on? “We work on our arms to learn the techniques, then we use dummy heads or people paint their own faces – again, it's a personal choice,” explains Liz. Crucially, those taking part in training courses will still be awarded with an industry-recognised certificate at the end of the training sessions.

Meanwhile, face or body painting remains a great activity for a birthday party or hen do, thanks to its potential to bring the group together – albeit over the internet.

The Follies Face Painting Academy is also offering free Facebook live streams during the week, focusing on different areas of face and body

art. These can be accessed by registering for #FoliesFreebies via the company website, a scheme open to everyone, and designed to keep people feeling creative and inspired through these potentially isolating times.

“The silver lining in this has been

that we have learned that we can access a wider community using these new methods, and we have been able to build some wonderful relationships and an even bigger new community online,” says Claire, who’s excited to be reunited with her fellow painters at The Living

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Art Show Body Painting Festival – a celebration of body art, which Follies also runs – when the social distancing restrictions eventually lift.

To book an online class or training course with Follies, visit www.follies. co.uk/ or email mail@follies.co.uk. www.weekender.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL

News from the Royal Borough of Greenwich

Greenwich Greenwich in Bloom in Bloom is back Title We know that spending such a long time at home hasn’t been easy, but if you’re a budding gardener it might have given you more time to tend to your gardens or window boxes. Are you a green fingered resident with fantastic flowers to prove it?

Now’s the time to celebrate all your hard work!

This year we’ve included an exciting new category, which is just for our young gardeners out there!

The children’s category is to showcase the talents of our younger residents and there’s even a £15 voucher for the winner! Every child that enters will also get a packet of seeds.

We want anyone who loves to garden to enter the Greenwich in Bloom competition and showcase their brilliant blooms.

Winners of the other four categories will win £100 for first place, £50 for second and £25 for third in garden centre vouchers.

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The competition runs until 28 June and you can enter at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/greenwichinbloom If you have an issue applying online then please email parks@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or call 020 8856 0100, and the team will try and find an alternative way for you to enter.

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Five of the best restaurants delivering takeaways in Catford

Food & DRINK

BOnA Sourdough Pizza Here to satisfy your doughy cravings is BOnA Sourdough, a top-notch pizzeria based in Forest Hill that delivers to Catford. The restaurant specialises in wood-fired, Neapolitan-style sourdough bases commended for their airy, chewy texture. The menu is short and sweet – just nine pizzas long – and includes a weekly special veg pizza, two white pizzas (topped either with truffle or Sardinian fennel sausage), and buildyour-own options for vegans. The salads here are a cut above; if you’re staving off bread, try the chilli and cinnamon roast squash salad with rocket, sun-blushed tomatoes, pine nuts, ricotta and basil.

BOnA Sourdough Pizza, 25 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3HN. Available on Deliveroo. www.bona-sourdough.co.uk

Saigon Foods Craving the freshness of a Vietnamese spring roll? Or a steaming, soul-fuelling bowl of broth (pho)? You’ll find both and more Saigon Foods, a humble slice of Vietnam in Catford.

The Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguettes) make a great alternative to a sandwich when you fancy changing up your usual lunch, while the Bun dishes (a sweet-and-sour noodle salad topped with marinated, grilled meats) are essentially bowls of heaven on earth.

Most dietary requirements are naturally catered for between the various dishes, making Saigon Foods an excellent option if you’re eating with vegans or those who are gluten-free or lactose intolerant.

Saigon Foods, 24 Catford Broadway, Catford, London SE6 4SN. Available on Deliveroo and Ubereats. www.saigonfoods.co.uk

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June 3 2020 11

ADVERTORIAL

News from the Royal Borough of Greenwich

Big cheer for volunteers Volunteers’ Week takes place each year from 1-7 June and is an annual celebration of the contribution people make through volunteering.

This year it is more important than ever to say thank you to the vital volunteers that have been helping communities in all corners of the borough get through a national crisis.

Not only do volunteers help organisations to provide more to the people or services they serve, but volunteering is also invaluable to individuals themselves. It brings health benefits, opportunities for positive social interaction and friendships, and provides new skills or experiences beneficial for future employment.

The Mayor of Royal Greenwich, Cllr Linda Bird said: “Volunteers make such a significant contribution to our borough, and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who is volunteering their time and skills to helping the community. Whether you are helping an organisation, you’re a COVID-19 volunteer or you are helping neighbours in your local community, everything you are doing is making a big difference to people’s lives.”

Working closely with partners including Charlton Athletic Community Trust, Volunteer Centre Greenwich and Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA), we launched the Royal Greenwich Community Hub in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 2,000 people came forward to volunteer through the Hub and between them have provided almost 32,000 hours of voluntary time in just seven weeks.

Three Sikh organisations, South London Sikh Youth, Guru Nanak Darbar Street Seva and Gurdwara Sahib Woolwich, have also come together to help NHS workers, homeless, elderly and vulnerable people across Royal Greenwich and south London during the pandemic.

This work is known as ‘seva’ (selfless service) and is a key part of Sikhism.

It is something these organisations will continue through, and beyond, the pandemic.

While places of worship are closed, Gurdwara Sahib Woolwich has provided a separated, sanitised facility, for members of the Sikh community to continue making and distributing Langar (blessed, free hot meals), across the borough and beyond.

More than 100 volunteers have been providing the seven-day-a-week service from 8am to 9pm, and they have now served more than 8,000 hot meals to residents in need.

Woolwich resident Esther Díaz has been volunteering with the Community Hub since it launched. She has been collecting shopping and walking dogs for residents who need support during this time. She said: “I wanted to help fight the sadness induced by the news and show our community spirit by supporting people who are more in-need than myself. I’ve helped around 10 people now and it’s been an absolute joy.

Connor (left) and Conrad, volunteer chefs GCDA

Conrad Dsouza, a professional chef from Woolwich, started volunteering with GCDA two days a week after approaching the Community Hub for volunteering opportunities. He has been part of a team who have been cooking and freezing up to 300 meals per day to support those residents who need it most.

He said: “I have a much-needed skill that is of benefit to a lot of people in our community right now - especially those who may otherwise struggle to support themselves. As I’ve been furloughed from my company, and being a healthy person myself, I wanted to give back to the community.

“I have to say, chefs like Shara and Connor who are part of my volunteering team, have made this experience great. They have been so supportive and share the same positive attitude for helping our community.

“It’s been a wonderful challenge to look at the ingredients we get donated

by Fareshare and create meals that are delicious, satisfying and fulfilling for whoever eats them.”

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“Magzi is one of the dogs I’ve been walking and I’ve loved speaking with her owner Norma each day. She has more knowledge of the local area and has been telling me all about her childhood growing up in London. I’m from Barcelona originally so have no idea and have found these conversations so interesting!”

Volunteer Centre Greenwich helps potential volunteers to find suitable opportunities in a wide range of organisations in the borough. If you are interested in volunteering visit vcgreenwich.org.uk

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Food & DRINK Babur Babur has been dishing up its boundary-pushing, taste-bud challenging take on Indian cuisine for over 30 years. Loved for its creativity and fresh twists on firm favourites, the restaurant specialises in premium meat and fish dishes, offering a shorter menu than your typical Indian restaurant but with an emphasis on quality.

Among the most enticing-sounding dishes on the menu are baby monkfish tail caldeen with samba rice; seared Gressingham duck; and coastal mutton masala. The usual array of breads, sides and poppadoms are available too, and there’s a special children’s menu for those who want to bestow a love of Indian cuisine upon their little ones. The dessert menu consists of just three puds, of which the spiced apricot and fig crumble with saffron custard sounds particularly appealing.

Babur, 119 Brockley Rise, Forest Hill, London SE23 1JP. Available via the website. www.babur.info

Jerk Off BBQ @ Catford Food Market While Catford Food Market remains closed, its popular, family-run trader Jerk Off BBQ still has its grills sizzling, bringing its authentic Caribbean dishes to your door as a range of meals to heat at home.

Dishes include the jerk chicken box (with or without rice and peas, depending on your preference), jerk halloumi, fried plantain and – for those feeling virtuous – crunchy cabbage salad. Delivery is contact free and heating instructions can be found on the stall’s website. Born and bred in south-east London, Jerk Off BBQ is also a great local business to support right now.

Jerk Off BBQ @ Catford Food Market, Catford Shopping Centre, London SE6 4JU. Available on website. www.jerkoffbbq.com

Mr Bao Taiwanese restaurant Mr Bao achieved city-wide acclaim shortly after opening in 2016. So successful was the original branch in Peckham, the team were able to open a second restaurant, Daddy Bao, in Tooting Broadway two years later. And it’s good news for Catford residents, because the original site delivers to our neck of the woods. Mr Bao offers modern takes on Taiwan’s lauded fluffy buns (bao), filled with the likes of pork belly, beef brisket, tofu and shitake mushroom. Sides are of the trendy, sharing plate variety and include smacked cucumber, golden kimchi and stuffed dumplings. And while a Mr Bao takeaway makes for exciting lockdown fodder, the achingly hip restaurant is worth a visit in the flesh when it reopens. After all, you can’t sample its innovative cocktails at home.

Mr Bao, 293 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4UA. Available on Deliveroo. www.mrbao.co.uk

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June 3 2020 13

History

The river people

Mary Mills Continuing along the river walk in Riverside Gardens we are on the area leased in the 1840s by Morden College to Coles Child and known as Greenwich Wharf. The final section was Piper's Wharf and Pipers were premier builders of Thames Sailing barges. Until very very recently there was a boat repair business here that moved off the site so that the flats could be built and are now downriver at what was Bay Wharf.

began in the 1890s and lasted into the 1970s. However it has not been easy to find out much about the background to this firm – despite many ex-employees and family members being around. I learnt as a girl in Gravesend that ‘river people’ only talk to other ‘river people’ and I am painfully aware that they all have a vast knowledge of the barge trade and I am bound to get things wrong.

All along the riverside there were once many barge builders and repairers and there is very little information about the vast majority of them. On the site which is now Riverside Gardens there were wharves with names like Badcocks, Dawsons, Scholey – all reflecting the owners of these businesses. They have left little in the way of records.

James R. Piper was apparently apprenticed to William Bromley who lived in Gravesend where he was a JP but he was really a Greenwich ship owner ‘known from Windsor to the Yantlet’.. Piper later went to work for Mowlem’s at their East Greenwich Yard – which I described in a previous article. After being with them for ten years he opened a small yard on the next door site and went on to become one of the largest barge builders on the Thames. He built some racing barges and also worked as a marine damage surveyor. Pipers specialist barges were sophisticated vessels – nothing haphazardly built up on the riverside. They won a number of speculator races at a time when barge races – which of course still take place – attracted large sums in prize money. Piper built many other vessels – lighters and, latterly refrigerated barges, and doubtless much more.

The Thames Sailing Barge was heavy haulage – the goods carrier of the river, up until the end of the Second World War. Such sailing vessels had been around for many years, but the design was refined in an age of steam and petrol engines. The barges were cheap to run, by one, or two, men and a boy and the wind as fuel. They could go over estuary mud flats and up the Essex Creeks, and many of them could cross the Channel and go up continental canals. With the right wind they could really shift too. Why ever did we let the lorries take over?

The most famous of the Greenwich barge builders was James Piper whose champion barge building business

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His most famous racing barge was Giralda – although she had been preceded by others. 'James Piper' for instance was a wooden barge www.weekender.co.uk

History books had been moved out into the garden and I took them to the Poplar archive of the Museum in Docklands

of 56 tons which won a number of races in the 1890s and was eventually broken up in the 1950s, having been used as a house boat in Chelsea.

'Haughty Belle' was also built in wood in a design said to have been ‘astonishing’. She won the 1896 race Giralda is said to be the most famous barge ever launched – watch out for pictures of her on calendars, picture books and much else – I once found myself in a Somerset B&B eating off a table mat with Giralda pictured on it. Not that those who print her picture have any idea about Giralda or that she had anything to do with Greenwich. She was named after the tower in Seville – which in itself is another amazing structure –look it up! Giralda, the barge, was built with the purpose of winning the gold cup in Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee year and designed by Piper's foreman, Jack Currell - who was the ‘genius of her building’ ,for £1,350. It is said that ‘everyone’ laughed when she was launched because she was ‘straight and flat and ugly’ – although the boat builders who copy her today describe here ‘lovely lines’. She went ahead and won the Cup and then continued to be raced, winning - Champion of the Thames six times and Champion of the Medway four times. However after the races she had to be sent back to the barge yard be strengthened so she could be used for haulage. Pipers used her as a structure other vessels could be moored to from 1928. Today a modern Northamptonshire boat builder announces on the front page of his web site “Our design is based

F.A.A.

More recently the old established boat repair yard moved from Badocks and Pipers Wharf site down to Bay Wharf.

Once they had gone the Environment Agency pounced, declared the area unsafe and set about clearing and rebuilding the foreshore. Away went the parallel timber barge slips running down to the river and away went the old masts and decking which were holding up the river wall. I am very sure that all those bits and pieces had a tale to tell, but they were gone before you could find out who knew what was what. I am not sure that the old mast they chucked out wasn’t the main mast from Genesta – put there on purpose to remember her.

on the lines of Giralda built by Pipers of Greenwich in 1897; reputedly the fastest Thames barge ever built”.

I am aware of only one remaining Piper barge. This is Wilfred built in 1926. She is a steel barge - ‘the last word I modern sail barges’. For many years now she has been a wine bar and restaurant on the Victoria Embankment moored off Temple Pier.

I had hoped to say that Leonard Piper

built in 1910 was moored at Chiswick Mall where I visited her in the 1990s and was very impressed with her vast size below. Sadly it turns out she was broken up in the early 2000s– there is a dramatic video on YouTube of her last moments. https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=vqp03pwG4Vo&t=2s A half model was made of Giralda and preserved by Pipers and from 1943 a piece of her timber was kept

F A ALBIN & SONS Family Run Funeral Directors

at Greenwich with an inscription on it – I would love to know what has happened to these.

Much else has gone of what once a flourishing industry was employing many Greenwich people. I was told how in the 1950s there would be a queue of bargemen outside to the Woolwich Road Labour Party offices waiting to pay their union dues. In the 1980s abandoned boxes full of their minute

There are many sailing barge enthusiasts today – and many web sites for you to read and many experts. Some modern barge owners advertise trips out and they are very much to be recommended. In the 1970s I spent an amazing week on Xylonite – and will never forget her speed under sail between Faversham and Harwich one afternoon. It’s only too easy to be sentimental about them – but still, they were, and are, beautiful vessels built to do the rough work of the river – and many of them built on the Greenwich riverside.

When I was writing ‘Greenwich Marsh’ in 1998 I was given a great deal of help and some contacts by the late David Wood - and so thanks to him.

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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

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depTfOrd 164 Deptford High Street, LoNDoN, SE8 3DP

rOTHerHITHe 52 Culling Road, LoNDoN, SE16 2TN

www.albins.co.uk June 3 2020 15

community trust At The Heart Of The Community

news from charlton athletic community trust

Move in June with CACT

The campaign encourages cycling, running or walking 50 miles in June to raise money for CACT

“We’re asking as many people as possible to take on the challenge of walking, running or cycling 50 miles – or more – in June.

Funds raised will help support residents like Mahala, who participated in mental health residentials

Emile Allen has attended Bereavement Walks, Extra Time sessions & Men’s Health Social Evenings with CACT

16 June 3 2020

All money raised will help run health & wellbeing programmes, and support people affected by coronavirus

Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) has launched a new fundraising campaign for the month of June.

The Move in June campaign is encouraging people to run, walk or cycle 50 miles during June and raise £50 for CACT’s work improving health in the community.

health and wellbeing during the coronavirus crisis and in the future, helping local residents who are self isolating and participants who benefit from CACT’s programmes.

A Facebook group has been launched for those taking part, where encouragement will be given by CACT staff and others who are taking part in the challenge, and participants can share their experiences.

Lorna Taylor, CACT’s Head of Fundraising & Communications, said:

Participants are encouraged to follow government guidelines around social distancing and where exercise can be undertaken.

Appropriate footwear is encouraged and helmets for cyclists. It is also important to stay hydrated and seek medical advice if exercising with a pre-existing medical condition or returning from injury.

“We’re asking as many people as possible to take on the challenge of walking, running or cycling 50 miles – or more – in June.

One Royal Borough of Greenwich resident who the Community Hub CACT is involved in running on behalf of RBG has been able to help said:

“All the money raised in sponsorship will help us continue to run lifechanging health and wellbeing programmes, and support people affected by the coronavirus, in our local community.”

"I can't express my gratitude enough for the help during this time while having to self-isolate due to my son's health issues. The service that CACT is delivering is huge."

All the funds raised will help CACT continue its work improving

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To sign up to Move in June, visit cact.org.uk/get-involved www.weekender.co.uk

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public notices ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 – SECTION 247 STOPPING UP OF THE HIGHWAY – HENLEY CROSS, KIDBROOKE 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the Royal Borough of Greenwich on 2nd June 2020 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.18) (Henley Cross, Kidbrooke) Order 2020.

2. The general effect of the Order will be to authorise the stopping up of the following routes in order to facilitate development: a) Henley Cross from its junction at Kidbrooke Park Road for its full length. b) The ramp for pedestrian and cycle access from the south exit of the subway under Kidbrooke Park Road to where it meets Henley Cross.

The term “stopping up” means that this area of highway would cease to be public highway.

[Note: The bus-interchange facilities will be re-provided as part of this development] 3. The stopping up has been authorised in order to enable the provision of the development referred to in paragraph (2) above to be carried out in accordance with the planning permission granted under Part III of the Act to Kidbrooke Partnership LLP on the 31st October 2019, reference 18/4187/F 4. Further information may be obtained by emailing Traffic.Team@royalgreenwich.gov.uk 5. To view the Order, and other documents giving more detailed particulars of the Order, please email Traffic.Team@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or, if this is not possible, write to Traffic Team, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ, within six weeks from the date on which the Order was made.

6. 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

ROYAL BOROUGH of GREENWICH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 14(1) WESTHORNE AVENUE (SERVICE ROAD, EAST BOUND) 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 SGN who need to carry out replacement works.

2. The Order will come into operation on 15th June 2020 and would continue to be valid for 18 months. However, the works are expected to take 11 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 Westhorne Avenue Service Road, East Bound at the junction of Sidcup Road (A20).

4. Whilst the Order is in operation traffic will be diverted via West Bound - Sidcup Road, Abergeldie Road, and Horn Park Lane. East Bound – Horn Park Lane, Abergeldie Road. 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 15/05/20 (INTERNAL REF: PL/COVID19/LA388838)

Dated 03 June 2020

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Town & Country Planning Act 1990 (AS AMENDED) Town & Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (AS AMENDED) Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990 (AS AMENDED) Notice is hereby given that application(s) have been made to The Royal Borough of Greenwich in respect of the under mentioned premises/sites. You can see the submissions and any plans at http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/planning.

If development proposals affect Conservation Areas and/or Statutorily Listed Buildings under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 (As Amended) this will be shown within the item below.

Anyone who wishes to comment on these applications should be made in writing to Development Planning within 21 days of the date of this notice.

Please quote the appropriate reference number.

Date: 03/06/2020

Victoria Geoghegan Assistant Director - Planning and Building Control List of Press Advertisements - 03/06/2020 Publicity for Planning Applications.

Applicant: Site Address:

Development:

Mr Ngo 20/0108/HD 10 ARSENAL ROAD, ELTHAM, LONDON, SE9 1JS Planning permission is sought for the replacement of front door (Amended Proposal).

Conservation Area: PROGRESS ESTATE Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Mr Lennon 20/0609/HD 8 HOSKINS STREET, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 9NZ Construction of a single storey side and rear wrap around extension.

Conservation Area: EAST GREENWICH Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Royal Borough of Greenwich 20/0694/MA

Buildings 17, 18 & 19, Woolwich Creative District, Duke of Wellington Avenue, Woolwich, SE18 6FR An application submitted under Section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 for a minor material amendment in connection with planning permission 18/1339/F, dated 09/08/2018 for the change of use of three Grade II Listed Buildings (Buildings 17, 18 and 19) from Non-residential institutions (Class D1) and Storage and Distribution

18 June 3 2020

(Class B8) to performance and creative arts (Class Sui Generis), building repairs, shell and core upgrades, installation parameters and associated works to allow: B18 only: Change from window to louvre B19 only: Existing large external doors removed, stored and replaced with fixed replicas Fanlights installed to new doors New internal and external ramps Amendment to layout of WCs and showers New partition wall between annexe and main ranges extended Temporary black-out film applied to the interior of roof lights Soffit temporarily painted black Location of lift and level change on the first floor of the annexe altered New M&E equipment and new UKPN substations Conditions: Variation of condition 1 (Approved Plans) Revisions to conditions 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 16, 18, 22, 23, 26 & 27

Conservation Area: ROYAL ARSENAL WOOLWICH Applicant: Site Address:

Mrs Jackson 20/0800/HD FLAT B, 14 LANGDALE ROAD, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 8UA Development: Construction of a single storey rear extension with bi-folding doors and two rooflights.

Conservation Area: ASHBURNHAM TRIANGLE Applicant: Site Address:

J Hervey 20/0974/F FLAT 4, GRETA HOUSE, 60 HARDY ROAD, BLACKHEATH, LONDON, SE3 7PA Development: Replacement of existing uPVC windows with energy efficient uPVC windows.

Conservation Area: WESTCOMBE PARK Applicant: Architecture & Partners llp 20/0997/HD Site Address: 5 NEVADA STREET, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 9JL Development: Single storey rear extension.

Conservation Area: WEST GREENWICH Applicant: Site Address: Development:

glazed windows to be replaced with timber double glazed windows to match existing at 20A, 20B & 20C Glenluce Road.

Conservation Area: WESTCOMBE PARK Applicant: Site Address:

Mr Schaub-Jones 20/1197/HD 71 MAIDENSTONE HILL, GREENWICH, LONDON, SE10 8SY Development: Demolition of existing extension and construction of a single storey rear extension.

Conservation Area: WEST GREENWICH Applicant: Site Address: Development:

Greenwich Millennium Village Ltd 20/1240/F Building 104, 105 and 106 (Swiftstone Tower, Barquentine Heights and Landmann Point) Parcel 1, GMV, Peartree Way, Greenwich SE10 The replacement of existing external cladding materials on buildings 104, 105 and 106 (Swiftstone Tower, Barquentine Heights and Landmann Point) of Parcel 1 of Greenwich Millennium Village, Phases 3, 4 and 5.

L & Q Housing Association 20/1100/F 20A, 20B & 20C GLENLUCE ROAD, BLACKHEATH, LONDON SE3 7SB New front, side and rear timber doors to match existing with double glazing and all existing single

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ROYAL BOROUGH OF GREENWICH Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 And Highways Act 1980 Colepits Wood Area The Greenwich (20mph Zone) (Colepits Wood Area) Order 202* 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the Royal Borough of Greenwich (hereinafter referred to as “the Council”) proposes to make the above-mentioned Order under sections 84, 124 and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The general effect of the Order would be to impose a 20 miles per hour speed limit on motor vehicles for the entire length of the roads specified in Schedule 1 to this Notice.

3. NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that the Council proposes, under section 90A of the Highways Act 1980: (a) to construct sinusoidal speed humps at the locations specified in Schedule 2 to this Notice; Each sinusoidal speed hump would be an elevated section of carriageway with a round top, 75 millimetres higher at its highest point than the surrounding carriageway, extending across the full width of the carriageway and measuring approximately 3.7 metres in length, including the gradients. (b) to construct the type of road humps known as "speed cushions" two abreast across the carriageway at the locations specified in Schedule 3 to this Notice; (c) to construct "speed cushions", either side of newly constructed traffic islands in the centre of the carriageway, at the locations specified in Schedule 4 to this Notice; (d) to remove the “speed cushions” outside No.37 Riefield Road; (e) to reconstruct the current "speed cushions" in locations specified in Schedule 5 to this Notice in tarmac; and (f) to reconstruct the current road hump known as a "speed table” on Riefield Road at its junction with Colepits Wood Road, in tarmac, to the same dimensions.

Each speed cushion would be an elevated section of carriageway with a flat top, a maximum of 75 millimetres higher at its highest point than the surrounding carriageway and measuring approximately 2.5 metres in length and a maximum of 1.7 metres in width, including the gradients 4. A copy of the proposed Order and other documents giving more detailed particulars of the Orders and road humps, including maps and drawings, can be viewed by emailing Traffic.Team@royalgreenwich.gov.uk (quoting reference 20-06 CWA) 5. Further information may be obtained by emailing Traffic.Team@royalgreenwich.gov.uk.

6. Any person who wishes to object to or make other representations about the proposed Order or road humps should send a statement in writing by 24th June 2020, specifying the grounds on which any objection is made by email to Traffic.Team@royalgreenwich.gov.uk (quoting reference 20-06 CWA) 7. Persons objecting to the proposed Order or road humps should be aware that in view of current access to information legislation, this Council would be legally obliged to make any comments received in response to this notice, open to public inspection.

Assistant Director, Strategic Transportation, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, SE18 6HQ Dated 3rd June 2020

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SCHEDULE 1 Roads subject to a 20mph speed limit Riefield Road; Colepits Wood Road; Crown Woods Way; Rennets Wood Road; Packmores Road; Rennets Close and Fairoak Drive

SCHEDULE 2 Locations of proposed new sinusoidal speed humps

Colepits Wood Road: outside the shared boundary of No.1 and No.3 Colepits Wood Road; outside No.16, No.32, No.43 and No.59 Colepits Wood Road; and at a point approximately 10.9m southeast from the southeastern boundary of No.64 Colepits Wood Road. Rennets Wood Road: approximately 9.5m south of the southern boundary of No.2 Rennets Wood Road; outside No.15, No.24 and No.56 Rennets Wood Road; and at a point approximately 13.4m northwest from the northwestern boundary of No.79 Rennets Wood Road

SCHEDULE 3 Locations of proposed new speed cushions

Crown Woods Way, outside No.10, No.47 and No.79 Crown Woods Way

SCHEDULE 4 Locations of proposed new speed cushions on either side of a central traffic island

Riefield Road, outside No.31, No.43, No.114 and No.109 Riefield Road

SCHEDULE 5 Locations of speed cushions to be reconstructed in tarmac

Riefield Road, outside No. 6, No.26, No.59, No.69, No.77, the shared boundary of No.97 and No.99 and the shared boundary of No.121 and

No.123 Riefield Road

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