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Issue 1422

Established: 1987

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April 4 2019

Page 4

SHOCKING 478 treated for stab or EXCLUSIVE

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19 YEARS FOR PAEDOPHILE

Page 3

Page 6

gunshot wounds in just one hospital in one year See page 9

CAPTAIN CORELLI HAS LOST HIS MANDOLIN!

MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE: Pages 38- 39

Lions aiming to be south London’s best

2 NEWS

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Contents NEWS Pages 2-19

OPINION Pages 12-13

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS Page 20 ARTS Page 22

HISTORY Page 23

FOOD & DRINK Pages 24-25 PROPERTY Page 26

PUBLIC NOTICES Pages 28-29 CLASSIFIED Page 30

JOBS & COURSES Pages 31-33 SPORT Pages 34-40

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By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

ON MONDAY, MPs again failed to secure a majority for an alternative Brexit plan in a series of indicative votes – but which motions did Southwark’s three Labour MPs back?

The non-binding motions were whittled down from eight that failed to gain a majority last Wednesday, ranging from No Deal to Revoking Article 50. But again, no majority could be found.

However, several options came much closer to passing, including a proposal for a comprehensive customs union, which Labour MPs had been whipped to support.

Neil Coyle, Harriet Harman and Helen Hayes all voted in favour of staying in the customs union, the motion that came closest to passing. Proposed by Ken Clarke, this would avoid a hard border in Ireland.

The Common Market 2.0, or ‘Norway +’, which would keep the UK in the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area, was supported by Coyle and Harman - but Helen Hayes abstained.

The confirmatory public vote, which would mean any withdrawal deal and future trade deal could not be enacted until it was given public approval in a referendum was supported unanimously by all three. This option had received the most support in the first round of votes the previous week.

Joanna Cherry’s parliamentary supremacy motion, which set out a series of steps that should happen next if MPs do not pass a withdrawal deal before April 12 and was on course for no deal, was also backed by Coyle, Harman and Hayes. This option would mean the government could revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit before holding an inquiry to establish what future EU relationship would command support.

As the News reported last week, Southwark is one of the regions with highest levels of support for a ‘people’s vote’ – gaining crossparty support from Labour and the Lib Dems.

A spokesperson from Southwark for Europe, a cross-party group lobbying for a referendum on the final Brexit deal, argued this route was the only way to ‘break the political deadlock’.

"Whilst no option secured a majority, it is important to remember that a People's Vote is not a Brexit option in this crisis, it is a solution to this crisis.

"Only when the House of Commons has chosen a particular form of Brexit will we see the true level of support for a people's vote, because that will expose the strains and contradictions in the pro-Brexit coalition.

"That only a small swing of fourteen MPs is

Brexit landscape in Southwark

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

How did our MPs vote on the raft of deals put to Parliament?

required for a referendum to pass, before we are even close to a deal passing in parliament, means that we are very hopeful that a people's vote is very much on the cards.”

Although the Labour MPs’ positions are clear, Southwark Momentum says it doesn’t have an agreed Brexit stance, with its membership presumably including plenty of ‘Lexiteers’ and those holding out for a general election.

“We're certainly agreed that the Conservative government has created the mother of all omnishambles,” said a spokesperson.

Organised Leave-supporting groups in Southwark are harder to come by. UKIP appears a spent force in the borough. Its local representatives have not responded to requests to comment.

The Conservatives have no foothold in the council and have also failed to respond to comment.

So how do Southwark leave voters feel, given they have no political representation?

Sixty-eight-year-old black cab driver and leave voter Darryl Cox believes the PM’s plan is now the only plan to back.

“We were told the referendum result would be unquestionable - it couldn’t not be followed through. It was binding really, and whatever the result was that was going to be it,” he told the News.

“Before she invoked article 50, it wouldn’t have been a bad idea to have a plan for exactly what they were going to do. One of

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The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London.

Southwark News started life as the Bermondsey News in 1987, as an A-4 photocopied sheet of paper and rapidly grew to cover the entire borough and the surrounding area. As the borough grew, so did the newspaper.

It is owned and run by Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn.

Former reporters for Southwark News, they bought the title in 2002, after the founder Dave Clark died suddenly from cancer four years earlier.

Both directors live in the borough. A dedicated team of staff work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that a community-led, independent newspaper can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.

her biggest mistakes was tying herself down to that timescale,” he argued.

“The buck stops with her really, as the leader, but I don’t think they have a clue what they are doing in parliament.

“They had eight votes the other day and they voted against all eight.

“I don’t think they have ever understood the complexity of being involved with 27 other countries.

“If they had taken her deal, which wasn’t ideal by any means, it would have at least started the process.

“To have a situation where you got Rees Mogg and other people suddenly changing their minds, well, if they’d done that last month we’d have had none of this mess.

“Why are we being held to ransom by the DUP? We have been trading with Ireland long before we were ever in the EU.” Darryl says he has always been Eurosceptic

but the collapse of the Eurozone confirmed his belief Britain would be better out of the bloc.

“What really stuck in my throat was the fact the EU got rid of two democratically elected governments, one in Greece and one in Italy, without an election.

“We are meant to be independent sovereign states and that completely undermines that theory.

“One of the biggest tragedies is that we have actually lost the ability, and this is proven more than ever now, to administrate the running of our country because it involved so much pay out to Brussels it was a lazy way of governing.

“It’s become like a soap opera but the biggest loser out of all of this will be parliament – it could well be the end of the two party system as we know it. It’s hard to see it going back to what we had beforehand.”

“They had eight votes the other day and they voted against all eight.

“I don’t think they have ever understood the complexity of being involved with 27 other countries.”

- Black cab driver and leave voter Darryl Cox

CAPTAIN CORELLI HAS LOST HIS MANDOLIN

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 3

LONDON BRIDGE

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

DISASTER HAS struck an upcoming major production of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – after the actor playing Captain Corelli lost the precious 129-yearold instrument at London Bridge.

Lead actor Alex Mugnaioni was travelling home on Tuesday evening last week on the 18.34 Southeastern service from London Bridge to Sidcup with the mandolin, the star of

the show.

But after leaving the train, he discovered he’d lost the rare instrument – which the show’s actors have faithfully named ‘Antonia’.

“It’s so out of character, it’s not something Corelli would’ve done either! The mandolin is like the main part of the show,” Alex told the News.

“We spent a long time hunting for the perfect Mandolin, it’s devastating to lose it so close to the show.

“I’m playing throughout the show and you create quite a connection with an instrument.

“If anyone has picked it up by mistake we’d be so grateful for its return.”

Alex had taken the tube to London Bridge before boarding the busy train, and placed ‘Antonia’ on the overhead luggage rack.

It was only when he got home that he realised he no longer had the vital instrument.

When he realised his error, the actor immediately called a cab from his Sidcup home to Blackheath, the next stop for the train – but despite searching high-and-low, couldn’t see it anywhere.

The Neopolitan instrument is distinctive, and hard to get hold of in England, which would hamper efforts to find another, he added.

“The thing about a Neapolitan mandolin is they’re quite special and hard to get hold of - especially in England,” he said.

Now the show’s producers are urgently appealing for anyone who may have found Captain Corelli’s missing mandolin to get in touch.

They’ve even said that anyone who reunites the Captain with his precious musical instrument will get free tickets to the show’s opening night at

Rose Theatre, Kingston on April 25.

Anyone who has come across the mandolin should email info@nml.org.uk.

The production is an “epic love story” set on the Greek island of Cephalonia.

It follows the lives of Dr Iannis, his strong-willed daughter Pelagia and the Italian Captain Antonio Corelli, during the Italian and German occupation of the island in World War II. The touring production is due to begin on April 13 at the Curve in Leicester.

Spring stock now in!

4 NEWS

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Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019

Peckham paedophile, who 'assaulted child while on weekend leave from prison' jailed

By Kevin Quinn

kevin@southwarknews.co.uk

A PECKHAM paedophile, who 'sexually abused two children, including one while on weekend leave from prison', was jailed for nineteen years last week.

Fifty-three-year-old Roy McKechnie, of Goldsmith Road, Peckham, appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, 29 March and was sentenced after being convicted in February of sexually abusing two children in the 1990s and 2000s.

He was found guilty of three counts of rape; eight counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and one count of indecent assault. The offences related to two girls who were under the age of sixteen at the time.

The court heard how McKechnie's offending came to light in October 2016 when a woman, then aged in her 30s, came forward to report abuse she had suffered in January 1992 when she was aged in her early teens.

She told officers that McKechnie who was known to the girl - had sexually assaulted her at a house in Sydenham.

As officers began to investigate the incident, a further woman came forward in December 2016. The woman, aged in her 20s but in her early teens at the time of the abuse, alleged McKechnie - who was known to her family - had raped and sexually assaulted her on numerous occasions between 2003 and 2004.

McKechnie was arrested and initially tried to claim he was in prison at the time of the alleged incident in Sydenham. However,

checks revealed that he had been granted leave that weekend.

Although still in denial, McKechnie was charged with multiple offences.

Detective Contable Tony Roper from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command led the investigation. He said: "McKechnie's offending appears to have been both opportunistic and predatory, but has had an equally devastating impact on the lives of two young women.

"However, after a number of years he has finally been made to face to consequences of his actions and will now spend a significant amount of time in prison.

"I would like to thank the two women for having the courage to report their ordeals to police and I hope McKechnie's conviction will finally allow them to move on with their lives."

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

A HISTORIC Borough alleyway which connects two busy roads has been transformed into an eco-friendly walk-through.

The air in Keppel Row, just off Great Guildford Street, is now twentyfive per cent less polluted than it is in Southwark Street.

Cllr Richard Livingstone, Cabinet Member for environment, transport and air quality, and Donald Hyslop, Chair of Better Bankside, officially unveiled the alleyway on Monday.

C o u n c i l l o r Livingstone said: “Keppel Row is an excellent example of how we can all work together to transform uninviting spaces into accessible and welcoming environments for pedestrians; offering cleaner air, sustainable drainage, public art and some welcome greenery, all away from busy A roads.

“I look forward to collaborating on the next phase of this project and taking what we’ve learned here to Borough High Street.”

The alleyway has also been resurfaced with a water permeable treatment that enables rain water to pass through into a tank system below, reducing the risk of surface water flooding.

Also unveiled was a mysterious hooded golden figure overlooking the alleyway from a parapet. The figure, by artist Marian Grolmus, is caped, to reference to the etymology of ‘Keppel’, meaning cape.

The project was delivered in partnership between the council, Better Bankside and the developers of 61 Southwark Street, with funding from the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund and Greener City Fund.

Sentenced to 19 years - Roy McKechnie

‘More choice for new mums’ King’s College Hospital insist EXCLUSIVE

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

NEW MOTHERS will have more choice and not less, says King’s College Hospital, after fears were raised over a maternity services restructure.

FRESH APPROACH FOR KEPPEL ROW

Donald Hyslop and Cllr Richard Livingstone at the openimng of Keppel Row

DO YOU HAVE A STORY for our news team?

Email us at news@southwark news.co.uk or call 0207 231 5258. You can WhatsApp us on 07494 070 863.

As the News reported last week, Camberwell and Peckham MP Harriet Harman had written to the hospital’s CEO praising the muchvalued midwife team at Denmark Hill and pleading for 24 ‘at-risk’ community and caseloading midwife posts not to be ‘cut’.

King’s, which had said no jobs would be lost as part of a possible restructure, repeatedly failed to respond to requests from the News to explain how the changes would impact staff and patients.

This week, a spokesperson confirmed the service would only be ‘adjusted’ rather than completely restructured, after feedback from staff.

“King’s College Hospital midwifery services will continue to provide the same safe, high quality and accessible service for women both in the hospital and within the community,” the spokesperson said.

“None of the alternative models proposed in the consultation have been adopted.

“Instead, comments and feedback from our midwives have been used to adjust the existing service.

“The changes to the service mean that more women see the same midwife during their care and it will

extend its reach to more families.”

Currently, King’s offers a mix of hospital-based and community-based midwives. The hospital is now creating a new team to support women giving birth midwifery-led rooms.

This birthing option is for low-risk women who do not want to give birth on a labour ward, but do not want a home birth. It is hoped it will also mean more women get to know their midwife in the run up to their birth, and would involve a rostered way of working, rather than the on-call shifts worked by existing caseloading teams, also giving staff more flexibility.

The hospital will now hold a staff ballot, to see how many staff want to join the respective teams. Until then, the impact on staffing across the department is unclear, but the hospital expects any changes to be put in place

by May this year.

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 5

6 NEWS

‘ELLO ‘ELLO ‘ELLO - WHAT DO WE HAVE ‘ERE THEN? www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Police declined to go into further detail about how the accident happened despite there being no police chase or emergency EXCLUSIVE

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

A CITY of London police car smashed into the railings on Tower Bridge in an “accident” in the early hours of Saturday morning - despite not pursuing anyone or responding to an emergency call at the time.

No-one was injured during the Tower Bridge collision, City of London police have told the News, which happened shortly before 2am.

Pictures taken at the scene show the wheel arch of the police car torn off and the railings of the footpath bent out of shape.

An eyewitness said: “There were two more armed response vehicle present there, behind the crashed one, and around six, seven police officers were transferring equipment from the crashed vehicle to the one

behind.

“I asked one of the officer whether they were chasing anyone, he replied ‘no, just an accident’.

“The foot bridge leading to Thames path was also cordoned off. I did notice the officers were in a relaxed mode, and one or two of them were joking between themselves about the crash.

“So I reckon it must have been just an accident after all.”

A City of London spokesperson confirmed that an “accident” took place involving one of their officers.

However, police declined to go into further detail about how the accident happened, despite there being no police chase or emergency.

“We can confirm the vehicle involved in this accident was not in pursuit of any other vehicle at the time of the crash, nor was it responding to an emergency call,” the spokesperson said.

“There were no injuries.”

Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019 Photo Niaz Chowdhury

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

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NEWS 7

8 NEWS

THIS COULD BE THE NEW ROTHERHITHE BRIDGE www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

ROTHERHITHE COULD get the world’s longest and tallest vertical lift bridge, reports have stated.

According to leaked TfL documents seen by the trade publication, New Civil Engineer, the transport agency has settled on the vertical lift-bridge design as its preferred option for the Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf crossing.

The 90m tall bridge, spanning 180m, would be 10m longer than the Arthur Kill bridge in New York, which is currently the world’s longest bridge of its type.

However, the plans have not been confirmed by TfL and may change ahead of a public consultation on the crossing due later in the spring.

The documents also reportedly confirm the preferred location of the bridge will be

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

from Durand’s Wharf to Canary Wharf’s Westferry Circus.

A TfL spokesperson refused to be drawn on specific designs for the crossing, saying that the agency was “still working on the designs and plans.”

“Following a public consultation in November 2017, we have been working to develop our proposed plans for a pedestrian and cycling crossing between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf,” said the spokesperson in a statement.

“As part of this, we have been engaging directly with key stakeholders, such as the Port of London Authority and the boroughs on either side of the river,

working through issues such as bridge alignment, landing points, opening mechanism, construction methods and operating procedures.

“This will ensure the final scheme is deliverable and appropriate for all users.”

Images circulating of the life-bridge crossing were artist’s impressions, added the spokesperson, and were subject to revision.

A crossing from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf has strong public support, with 93 per cent of respondents in a 2017 consultation backing a river crossing of some kind.

Eighty five per cent backed a bridge spanning the river, which is also TfL’s preferred option, although the agency has not yet formally ruled out a ferry crossing.

Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019

Free parking is set to end in the borough’s biggest parks

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

FREE PARKING is set to end in some of the borough’s biggest parks, including Burgess Park and Southwark Park.

Town hall bosses have approved recommendations for £2 an hour parking charges in six parks: Belair Park, Burgess Park, Dulwich Park, Honor Oak Recreational Ground, Peckham Rye and Southwark Park.

The move is expected to raise a net £200,000 for the council’s Parks and Leisure division. The parking spaces cost the council an estimated £42,000 a year.

The charges are expected to be introduced after May 13, following an extended consultation process.

They had been due to be introduced the week beginning April 1, but the implementation was pushed back to allow for further consultation.

Cllr Rebecca Lury, cabinet member for culture, leisure, equalities and communities, told the News: “While we aim to maintain high standards in our

parks, ongoing budget pressures mean that it has become necessary to find new ways of covering costs.

“We also hope to prioritise park users over commuters and improve road safety and access to the parks, in particular for vulnerable road users.”

The proposed change would relieve the pressure on budgets to maintain high park standards, said Cllr Lury, and Blue Badge holders would continue to get free access to the parking spaces.

Some changes may be made to the proposals, Cllr Lury added, depending on the outcome of the consultation.

She added: “We are currently consulting on the details with people who live near the parks, the park’s Friends groups and other interested parties.

“I look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts and we are open to making necessary changes to reflect these, at the end of the consultation.”

The plans also include a £50,500 sum to be spent on implementing the changes, including £28,000 for drainage and resurfacing works at Southwark Park, which has 90 car parking spaces.

Southwark NewsThursday April 4 2019

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 9

Nearly 480 treated Help with move to Universal Credit for stab or gunshot wounds in just one year at King’s

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

CITIZENS ADVICE in Southwark is launching a new support service to help people with their move onto Universal Credit.

The charity says its advisors based in Bermondsey and Peckham will now give on-one-one support to people submitting their applications up until receiving their first payment.

Chris Green, Citizens Advice Southwark’s chief officer, said: “We offer free, independent, impartial

EXCLUSIVE

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

THE LAST year saw the highest number of stab victims treated at King's College Hospital since records began, a new study by specialist head and neck surgeons has shown.

According to data collected by maxillofacial surgeons at King's, 478 patients with 'penetrating injuries' - or, stab wounds and gunshot injuries were treated by the Denmark Hill hospital's emergency department between 2016 and 2017.

This is an increase of almost 20 per cent compared to the previous year.

Sixty-five of them needed treatment for head or neck injuries.

In 2010, when comparable records began, the overall number treated was much lower - at 172.

The victims were mostly male (82 per cent) but show a growing number of women affected.

Although cases involved self-harm and injuries caused in the 2017 terror attacks, the majority of cases were categorised as being caused by 'interpersonal violence'.

The study's authors cannot define how many of these are 'gang' related.

However, as a significant minority of those injured are admitted to King's from outer London boroughs and Kent, this appears to back up claims that the 'county lines' drug trade is bringing serious violence to areas outside the capital.

Although the victims' ages ranged from thirteen to a seventy-one-yearold, their average age was 25, and around half the injuries took place within Southwark and Lambeth.

A wide range of weapons were used in the attacks, from knives, guns and bottles, a Samurai sword, and nail guns.

The report author, James Olding, said: "Working on call and overnight in oral and maxillofacial surgery in one of London's busiest trauma centres, I see more and more patients affected by violence trauma, including knife injuries.

"Traumatic injuries to the face are particularly devastating, both physically and psychologically.

"The face is socially the most important and visible part of the body.

"That is why I decided with my consultant Kathy Fan to carry out the study to see if the numbers and facts corresponded with my own experiences and observations."

He hopes a greater understanding of the number of people treated at the trauma unit and the circumstances involved can help other hospitals prepare their staff to deal with

From south London street to the UK best Report’s author James Olding paid Although the victims' ages ranged actor

from thirteen to a 71-year-old, their average age was 25, and around half the injuries took place within Southwark and Lambeth.

A wide range of weapons were used in the attacks, from knives, guns and bottles, a Samurai sword, and nail guns.

growing levels of serious violence especially small hospitals across the UK. Fellow author Kathy Fan said: "It is important to understand the cycle of violence and how to intervene in order to break the cycle, protect children and vulnerable adults, and prevent morbidity and mortality from such crime and violence."

History Page 23

and confidential advice to people in the community every day and have developed an expertise in dealing with Universal Credit.

“We’ve seen first-hand what can happen when people struggle to make a claim and their payments are delayed.”

More than 23,000 people across the country have contacted the charity asking for support moving onto the new system, which combines six benefits into one payment.

As the News has reported, the move onto Universal Credit, first trialled in Southwark, has led to the number of people reliant on

foodbanks surging across the borough, and a growing number falling behind on rent.

A report by Southwark Council showed people who moved onto Universal Credit in 2016 saw their arrears increase by an average of £586.

And rent arrears for tenants on Universal Credit are more than three times higher than for those still claiming housing benefit.

For help and support with your application, call Citizens Advice Southwark on 0800 144 8 444 or visit www.citizensadvicesouthwark.org.uk /helptoclaim

Human rights scandal of children with autism held in mental hospitals 10 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019

“Thousands of vulnerable people are being detained in institutions, often hundreds of miles away from their families, subject to physical restraint, overmedication and being kept in isolation”

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

THE NUMBER of children with autism or other learning difficulties detained in mental health hospitals is a human rights scandal, say Southwark MPs and campaigners, after disturbing new figures show the growing use of physical restraints and solitary isolation on these vulnerable youngsters.

According to disability charity Mencap, almost 2,300 children and adults with a learning disability are still kept in secure in-patient units across the UK. On average, they will spend almost five-and-a-half years away from home, despite evidence showing this type of care is likely to worsen their symptoms.

Evidence collected by Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, which has held an inquiry into the scandal, shows the use of restraints on people with autism, or learning difficulties, placed in

mental health units had risen from 15,065 in 2016, to 22,620 incidents in 2017.

It is believed this figure could be as high as nearly 26,000 for the end of 2018 – based on projections from statistics available for the first five months of the year.

Physical restraints include the prone position, which involves being held facedown; a terrifying ordeal for any child.

Committee chair and Southwark MP Harriet Harman told the News many of the children admitted had seen wider problems with housing, education, and a lack of support for their families put pressure on their diagnosis, building up to what could have been avoidable crises.

While giving evidence, Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC, told the committee children in in-patient units were five times more likely than adults to be held face down in the prone position during their stay. They are also three times more likely to be kept in solitary isolation.

A petition to end the practice now has

more than 34,500 signatures – including the backing of Dulwich and West Norwood MP Helen Hayes.

Dan Scorer, Mencap’s head of policy, said: “Eight years on from the Winterbourne View scandal, where the public were made aware of the shocking abuses happening in an inpatient unit, it is clear that the government has failed to deliver on its promise to ‘transform care’.

“Thousands of vulnerable people are being detained in institutions, often hundreds of miles away from their families, subject to physical restraint, overmedication and being kept in isolation.

“Their families are powerless to get them out. This is a domestic human rights scandal.

“We want to see them back home in their communities, living fulfilling lives with proper support.

“NHS England acknowledged its failures when it pushed back its deadline to 2023/24.

Harriet Harman visitng Cherry Garden special school in Peckham

“We need to know urgently what the government will do differently, having failed over the last eight years to release people unfairly kept in institutions.”

Harman says she has intervened in a number of cases in her Camberwell and Peckham constituency where people with autism were left struggling due to government cuts or a lack of appropriate services.

They include a mother and her severely autistic son facing eviction from a privately rented flat in Camberwell and the concerned siblings of an autistic man living in residential care whose funding

to attend a day care centre on weekdays had been withdrawn.

The day before hearing evidence at the select committee, Harman met parents at Cherry Garden special school in Peckham, where families told her about their fears their care packages would be cut, describing the visit as a ‘vivid example’ of how important this support is for parents.

“It costs more to keep a child in residential care than care in the community, but first and foremost this is about their human rights,” she told News.

Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019

Jailed after 'holding up man with a meat cleaver in terrifying robbery'

BERMONDSEY

By Kevin Quinn

kevin@southwarknews.co.uk

A MAN who arranged an online meet up with someone he thought was a woman was instead 'robbed and threatened with a meat cleaver' - with 20-year-old Sakyle Brown sentenced this week to more than five years in jail for the offence.

Brown, from the Lockyear Estate, off Kipling Street, Bermondsey, was sentenced to five and a half years in jail after pleading guilty to robbery at Inner London Crown Court on Monday, 25 March.

The court heard that the victim, a man in his 20s, had arranged online to meet up with a woman on 3 July 2018.

However, as he arrived at the planned location he was approached by Brown and another man.

The police said Brown then pulled out a meat cleaver from his jacket pocket and threatened the victim, ordering him to “give me everything you’ve got”.

Fearing for his safety, the victim handed over his belongings, a quantity of cash and his debit card, the court was told.

The second suspect took the card and walked to a nearby cashpoint, where a

The court heard that the victim, a man in his 20s, had arranged online to meet up with a woman.

However, as he arrived at the planned location he was approached by Brown and another man.

large amount of cash was withdrawn from the account, following which the victim was allowed to leave the area and called police.

Detectives from the Met’s Central South Area Command Unit began an investigation and Brown was arrested on 3 October 2018.

At a search of his home, detectives said property was found that belonged to the victim, as well as a dark coloured jacket that matched the description given by the victim of the jacket that Brown was wearing. Brown was charged and remanded in custody.

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Council calls for funds in the battle against HIV

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

COUNCILLORS HAVE called on the government to fund a rollout of a vital drug which is highly effective in blocking the transmission of HIV.

Detective Constable Dan Jenkins said: “This was a targeted robbery which has had a significant impact on the victim.

Despite this, he has shown courage and fortitude in coming forward and supporting our investigation.

“We believe that there may be other victims out there who have been subject to a similar type of robbery and we hope that this sentencing encourages them to come forward.

“We are pleased that Brown is now off our streets and we will continue to do all we can to bring those intent on committing these crimes to justice.”

PECKHAM ‘FRAUD GANG MEMBER’

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

A MAN from Peckham has been convicted for his role in a fraud gang responsible for stealing millions of pounds from victims in the UK and abroad - including a business that went bust after being scammed.

Mohammed Rahman (pictured), aged 31, from Garnies Close in Peckham, is one of eleven people found guilty after a trial at Blackfriars Crown Court into a gang led by 41year-old Bonaventure Sunday Chukwaka, from Loughton.

In total, the gang committed 228 scams over a four year period from 2014 until last year, amounting to more than ten million pounds defrauded from their victims in the UK and abroad.

Rahman was convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to steal or transfer criminal property and, along with the rest of the gang, will be sentenced at a later date.

Sixty-nine victims provided evidence during the trial, with many so far unable to recover their losses. One company, a small firm based in the south west of England, was forced to close down after being defrauded of nearly £13,000.

The gang used malware to hack into

email accounts and then send seemingly official banking details to trick their victims into paying cash into their own 'mule' accounts before transferring the money elsewhere.

Rahman - who was arrested on April 11, 2018 - was used to source these mule accounts.

Some of their ill-gotten gains went on to be laundered into Nigeria as exported baby milk products.

Officers are now trying to recover some of the stolen cash.

DC Chris Collins praised the victims who came forward: "I would like to thank the victims in this case for giving evidence. Their accounts undoubtedly helped the jury arrive at their guilty verdicts. "[The gang] have shown themselves to be unscrupulous fraudsters who have not given a second thought to the misery their actions have inflicted.

"I hope this conviction sends a strong message to online fraudsters: even though you think you are committing fraud at your keyboard in privacy, we have the ways and means of tracing you and we will seek to bring you to justice."

He also advised the public to be vigilant when transferring money online.

For more information and advice, visit: www.met.police.uk/advice/adviceand-information/fa/fraud/

Southwark has the second highest level of new diagnoses of HIV in England.

The motion, passed last Wednesday (March 27) called on the government to fund a roll-out of the drug, preexposure prophylaxis (‘PrEP’) across the country and to set a target to end transmissions by 2025.

Cllr Victor Chamberlain (pictured), the Liberal Democrat councilor who proposed the motion said: “It’s great that the number of HIV infections are going down, but Southwark has the second highest level in all of the UK. “PrEP has proven itself to make a real impact as a means of preventing infection and is hugely oversubscribed.

NEWS 11

“The UK government should extend it beyond the trial stage and roll it out across the country as a matter of priority.”

PrEP was made available to 10,000 participants in a trial in England, but in high-demand areas places are oversubscribed.

In a response to an earlier question about the provision of PrEP, leader of the council Peter John said the council was lobbying the department of health and NHS England to fully fund the PrEP trial.

“Our position is therefore to support a phased expansion of the trial in Southwark alongside rapid implementation of cost mitigation measures. However, this position must be agreed across London,” he said.

The Terence Higgins Trust, the UK’s largest sexual health and HIV charity, has also called for NHS England to make the drug available routinely, and for trial places to be expanded in the interim.

Mayor told not to expand district heating system given ‘winter of discontent’ on the Aylesbury and Brandon

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

A FUEL poverty charity has warned Sadiq Khan against expanding district heating systems across London, arguing it could mean even more people are beset by the heating and hot water problems affecting Southwark.

Fuel Poverty Action gave evidence at City Hall on March 29, as part of a London-wide consultation into the Mayor’s draft London Plan, which will finalise the capital’s planning needs for the 20-25 years.

District heating is greener and cheaper, but Southwark Council has said renewing ageing systems is one of its biggest challenges.

Fuel Poverty Action and Southwark Group of Tenants’ Organisations say the council’s 120 heat networks serve 17,000 homes, describing the majority of them as ‘obsolete’.

As the News has reported, residents on the Aylesbury and Brandon estates have been particularly affected by longrunning heating problems, including

a series of outages which left a mother taking home her newborn baby to a flat with no hot water and only fan heaters in January.

Although affected residents will be compensated for having to use expensive-to-run fan heaters, leaseholders are facing bills of thousands to help cover the cost of renewing the outdated boilers, such as those of Southwark’s Gilesmead Estate.

In a letter to the London Mayor, the charity petitioned City Hall to think again before it expanded the systems, arguing that without fixing existing problems: “many homes with district heating will continue to fail the test of being legally habitable, as they are chronically, or frequently, too cold.

“The health effects of cold homes, and damage to residents’ lives and prospects, can be very severe.

“We cannot forget that last winter 17,000 UK residents died when they could not heat their homes.

“If the Greater London Authority is not prepared to take action on cases like this, we are forced to ask how you can promote more District Heating, when the existing systems are not working?“

DO YOU HAVE A STORY for our news team?

Email us at news@southwark news.co.uk or call 0207 231 5258. You can WhatsApp us on 07494 070 863.

12 OPINION

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Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019

VIEW

Mark World Autism Awareness Week by providing proper funding T HIS WEEK we mark World Autism Awareness Week. It is thanks to vital campaigns like this led by the National Autistic Society and Cheryl Gillan MP as Chair of the APPG on Autism, that there is now a growing understanding of what the NAS describes as a lifelong developmental condition.

It is only recently there has been recognition that people on the autistic spectrum have difficulties with communication and social interaction. While we’ve come a long way with public awareness, there’s much to do to ensure that the support that there is there for people with autism and their families fully meets their needs.

We estimate 1,377 people in Camberwell and Peckham are autistic. Taking account of their families, this means autism is part of 5,508 people’s daily life.

The government cutting Southwark

Council’s budget by almost half since 2010 means that they’ve had to cut the services they provide.

Parents I met at Cherry Garden and Tuke Special Schools in Peckham this month told me how they struggle as the cuts hit them.

It takes longer for their children to get the diagnosis they need. Which means a delay in getting the necessary support - without which they and their family suffer. One mother told me that the hours of help she gets for her 12 year old child had been cut from 24 to 16. Another mother told me she couldn’t apply for a primary school until her son’s care plan was in place, but this had been delayed so she feared he would miss out on a school place altogether or start the year without the right support. And Tuke School can no longer afford to run their invaluable after-school and summer holiday clubs that parents used to rely on.

I’m full of admiration of how these parents stoically battle for their child

with autism and their other children, often struggling through complex systems without support.

Parents have got to be fully included in the key decisions about where their child goes to school and the care and support they get.

For some families care at home proves impossible. As chair of Parliament’s Human Rights Committee I’m leading an inquiry into the Assessment and Treatment Units where some autistic young people are detained. We’ve heard from parents whose children have been sent to units which far from helping them have made them worse. We’ve heard when parents raise concerns they are treated as a nuisance by services. But parents are the people with lifelong commitment to that child so we need to make sure that they can help shape the services that support their family. We’re also shortly hearing from MPs who’ve spoken passionately of their own experience, including Anne-Marie

from Westminster HARRIET HARMAN MP for Camberwell & Peckham

One mother told me that the hours of help she gets for her 12 year old child had been cut from 24 to 16

Trevelyan MP and Jonathan Reynolds MP, who have autistic sons.

There is invaluable expertise in our

schools, health and council services but we must never forget that parents are the experts and services must be properly funded.

April is traditionally unsettled moving into spring FLOWER M power ARCH WAS largely overcast with gales but generally mild; although overnight temperatures were cold.

The breezy conditions damaged petals from Magnolia stelata and dispersed the delicate blossom from ornamental Cherry and Almond trees.

April is traditionally unsettled as the season moves into spring. Wintery weather can still be in evidence; bringing cold and windy conditions.

However, the sun can be surprisingly warm at this time of year - with enough strength to cause sun burn in any prolonged exposure.

Grass has required cutting through most of the winter; but lawn care takes centre stage in April. Work needed includes aerating and scarifying (to remove moss and debris).

Weeds are now growing steadily and need to be removed quickly. Areas required for seed sowing, planting annuals and food crops should already be clear; but if not made ready as a priority. Everything is waking up and the growing season has arrived!

If window box and container displays

Flowering Pieris in March and April

have not been changed over to seasonal display there is still time to choose a mix of flowers, fruit and vegetables. Lettuces, tomatoes and strawberries grow well in containers.

Use good quality organic compost and choose compact fruit and vegetable varieties. Little Gem is a medium size and sweet tasting variety of lettuce.

‘Tumbler’ is a popular choice of trailing tomato that produces a prolific crop (best for hanging baskets). Alpine

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BERMONDSEYMPWINSFIGHTTO ENSUREALLCHARITYDONATIONS FORTERRORATTACKVICTIMS WILLNOTINCLUDE5%CHARGE

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

JUSTGIVING has announced that it will no longer take a 5% fee from

donations given to terror attack and disaster victims following a campaign by local MP, Neil Coyle.

FULL STORY - PAGE 6

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String theory

Vivaldi’s works for women musicians at Blackheath International Chamber Music Festival

strawberries are compact and make an attractive display - producing tiny vanilla-like tasting berries throughout the summer months. About six plants should be enough to provide a reasonable crop.

The secret of successful container gardening - whether growing edible crops or ornamentals is watering needed twice a day during hot weather.

As plants produce flowers and set fruit they easily exhaust nutrients (within

April is the last month for planting up summer flowering bulbs (or corms).

If there is space in the garden - try the tall perfumed Lilies and Crinums.

the small amount of compost) in containers, and so regular feeding is also vital throughout the main growing season (April - July). The Organic Gardening Catalogue has a range of liquid feeds suitable for all types of plants. Contact 0844 967 0330 or visit www.OrganicCatalogue.com April is the last month for planting up

summer flowering bulbs (or corms). If there is space in the garden - try the tall perfumed Lilies and Crinums. The latter will grow into large robust plants with strappy leaves (like an Agapanthus) and produce showy pink or white flowers. Crinums tolerate damp conditions and once established - will come back each year.

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Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

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OPINION 13

Dual crossword WE ALL WANT VIOLENT CRIME TO STOP. UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, HOPEFULLY KING’S REPORT CAN HELP OUR HOSPITALS BE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE

S

IXTY-FIVE OF the 478 patients treated for stab, slash or gunshot injuries at King’s between 2016 and 2017 had injuries to the head and neck. The specialist surgeons who treated them – who work in a field called oral maxillofacial surgery – have published a new report that lays bare the severity of these violent injuries.

Their skill is incredible – and honed from having both a medicine and dentistry degree before even completing their surgical training.

In some cases, they are quite literally putting someone’s face back together.

There is no set way for the doctors and nurses treating often catastrophic injuries like these to be sure whether or not they are the result of a ‘gang’ injury.

At the mention of a possible weapon involved, or the police, patients can abscond.

And – as the study’s authors point out – it is likely that the true scale of injuries is much higher as not everyone will visit A&E. When someone is slashed in the face, and maimed in such a visible way, it is particularly traumatic and can serve as a permanent reminder, making it hard to escape the past.

The study’s authors say some of these attacks point to ‘Glasgow smile’ style incidents, a deliberate ‘marking’ to send a message.

Other cases, such as during the 2017 terror attacks, are indicative of deep, frenzied attacks – stabbing to kill.

There are also incidents of domestic violence, robberies, and self-harm in the group.

Admissions from the outer reaches of London, and far into Kent are also rising, which the study’s authors say is likely due to ‘country lines’ drug dealing.

Whereas King’s is a major trauma unit, smaller towns, for example coastal regions, can be less well-placed to cope with a surge in injuries of this nature and the complexities of their treatment.

Although we all want violent crime to stop, until that happens, hopefully this report can help our hospitals be as prepared as possible.

What the Dickens?

Southwark News diarist

Cllr’s daytime telly review

WE ASKED a Southwark councillor who’s recovering from an operation how they’ve been filling the long hours needed for recuperation.

Daytime telly, came the answer – but much of it isn’t worth watching, she says.

The news bulletins are always full of Brexit doom-and-gloom, she tells us, while the antique shows which fill many a TV slot are “really dull watching.”

Other daytime TV staples are just “people shouting at other people about various infidelities,” she adds.

Cooking programmes were also a little onthe-nose as well, because she had been on a liquid diet.

She’s been holding out for some animal rescue shows, but the programming powersthat-be never seem to put on any during the day.

“Thank heavens for visiting friends!” she laments.

By George he is at Hamlet!

DULWICH HAMLET has a loyal following in the borough, and an almostas-strong cult following outside of it.

Now the Hamlet can add another unexpected supporter to that number: the controversial former MP, George Galloway.

Outside of presenting his weekly Sputnik

show on RT, Galloway seemingly spends his downtime watching the National League South club play at Champion Hill.

He reposted a recommendation to his 300,000 followers that “anybody with a spare Saturday afternoon in London get yourself along to Dulwich Hamlet FC. “Cracking set up there and extremely friendly/welcoming.”

Conversations firmly to be avoided if you spot the outspoken politician-turnedbroadcaster on the terraces could include former PM Tony Blair, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and Brexit.

Mermaids fundraiser

LAST WEEK we reported that a Facebook event had invited Piers Morgan for a punch-up at the back of the Tesco Express on Kennington Park Road on Sunday.

Alas, Piers did not turn up to ‘fight’ the over seven thousand people who had taken umbrage with his comments on gender issues.

However, instead of putting their hands into boxing gloves, people put their hands into their pockets.

Nearly £130 was raised for the charity Mermaids, which works with transgender children.

DO YOU HAVE A TIP FOR OUR DIARIST? Email news@southwarknews.co.uk

You can WhatsApp on 07494 070 863.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Clues Across

1 Those with least to say throw mud back best (7) 5 Lose heart when the doctor gives nothing before the operation (5) 8 Girl who's failed? (4) 9 Mention a confused name (8) 10 Sympathy of inferior grade? (13) 13 Footwear for the gambler? (4) 14 It's clear there's nothing to write (4) 17 Discern region which could be having fresh thoughts (13) 19 Unfinished lust in a lion an indirect reference (8) 20 Hold the case tightly (4) 21 Delay it's sticky (5) 22 Pointers are almost unnecessary (7)

QUICK PUZZLE Clues Across

1 Makes good (7) 5 Short stockings (5) 8 Restless desire (4) 9 Fastened (8) 10 Untiring (13)

Clues Down

2 Change in us on making associations (6) 3 Almost set in tree to pray (7) 4 Birds' tunes disturb rest (9) 5 Sounds as if the Scandinavian will condescend (5) 6 The applause of an egghead? (7) 7 Promises security? (7) 11 A vacancy can upset eastern evasion (9) 12 Fruit sounds uptodate (7) 13 Not religious: it could make us clear (7) 15 Annoyed to be the right age in the end (7) 16 Fashionable team within (6) 18 Can a style contain something horrid? (5)

13 Remaining (4) 14 witticism (4) 17 Intense glow (13) 19 Bits of paper thrown at celebrations (8) 20 Long and heroic (4) 21 Religious divisions (5) 22 Causes (7)

Clues Down 2 Stretch (6)

Solutions to last week’s crossword

3 Games player (7) 4 Began again (9) 5 Idiomatic speech (5) 6 Efficient (7) 7 Makes unhappy (7) 11 Unfairness (9) 12 Appleshaped fruits used in preserving (7) 13 Of few words (7) 15 Guards (7) 16 Movement (6) 18 Wants (5)

CRYPTIC ACROSS: 4 Lopped 8 Records 10 Creator 11 Costs 12 Solid 13 Dependent 16 Irritates 19 Cream 20 Morse 22 Intoned 23 Sunrise 24 Gayest DOWN: 1 Traced 2 Aces 3 Presentiments 5 Overstatement 6 Petulant 7 Deride 9 Scare 14 Priestly 15 Acting 17 Reads 18 Sieves 21 Ruin QUICK ACROSS: 4 Number 8 Ripping 10 Indulge 11 Tonic 12 Range 13 Outsmarts 16 Commanded 19 Chair 20 Devil 22 Friable 23 Singing 24 Spends DOWN: 1 Grotto 2 Span 3 Circumscribed 5 Understanding 6 Balanced 7 Reeked 9 Giver 14 Treatise 15 Scoffs 17 Makes 18 Deluge 21 Void

14 NEWS

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Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

www.southwarknews.co.uk

NEWS 15

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

TWO PREMATURE baby girls have defeated the odds to spend Mother’s Day with their mum after doctors warned they might not survive.

Non-identical twins, Bella and Ruby, were born fourteen weeks early on the Guy’s and St Thomas’ neo-natal ward, weighing only 910 and 900 grams each – only slightly heavier than a loaf of bread.

Doting mum Ella-Mae spent three months of her pregnancy in the hospital or on bed rest to give her fighting girls the best chance, as they have chronic lung disease requiring 24-hour oxygen.

Despite doctors warning Ella-Mae at her 12-week and 20-week scans that the twins would “probably” not make it, against all the odds they survived.

The twins moved out of the neo-natal ward in mid-January and are now back in their Westminster home.

“The whole time I was worried they would not survive at all or that they would remain in hospital for months longer. I did not think I would have them home for Mother’s Day,” said relived mum EllaMae. She and fiancé Giovanni were hoping to take Bella and Ruby to a hotel to celebrate Mother’s Day, which was last Sunday.

The fighting twins, who were born on October 31, are being weaned off oxygen and aren’t expected to have any long-term health issues. They had been due on Feb 2.

The family are being supported by Fiona, a family support worker with the Rainbow Trust, which helps families with children who have life-threatening or terminal illnesses.

Ella Mae paid tribute to the charity, saying their help felt like “coming out of deep water and being able to breathe again.”

“I couldn’t do it without Fiona and Rainbow Trust,” she added.

‘The Angel of London Bridge’ remembered with honour

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

A GUY’S Hospital nurse who died after running to help others during the London Bridge terror attack has been posthumously awarded one of her country’s highest honours.

BACK HOME FOR MOTHER’S DAY Ella-Mae (Mum) Bella (left), Ruby (right)

Former Eastenders star appeal to mums

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

FORMER EASTENDERS actor Kellie Shirley is encouraging other new mothers to donate their babies' cord blood at King's College Hospital.

On March 12, blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan celebrated its 50,000th donation of blood cord donated by new mums since the programme began in 2008.

Umbilical cord blood can play a vital role in helping patients with blood cancer or blood disorders who are urgently in need of a stem cell transplant but - as yet - have not found a match on the Anthony Nolan register.

Cord blood is rich in stem cells, immediately available, and does not need to be an exact match for patients.

This is especially important for patients from minority ethnic backgrounds who are less likely to find a match.

The Croydon-born actor, who played Carly Wicks on the BBC soap, explained: "It didn't hurt me or my babies and otherwise would have been chucked

away.

"Cord blood is collected and goes to someone who is fighting blood cancer where it can literally give someone a second chance of life.

"Our babies became life-savers at birth.

I recommend any mothers-to-be to look into doing the same. It's a gorgeous thing to do for a stranger in need."

Around 2,000 people in the UK need a stem cell transplant from a stranger every year, with blood cancer accounting for nine per cent of all new cases of cancer diagnosed in the UK. Linda Moss, a clinical midwife adviser at the charity, says: "Blood cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma and blood disorders such as aplastic anaemia stop the immune system working properly.

"If a patient has a condition that affects their bone marrow or blood, then a stem cell transplant may be their best chance of survival.

"Doctors will give new, healthy stem cells to the patient via their bloodstream, where they begin to grow and create healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

"But it is harder for people from ethnic

minority backgrounds to find stem cell donors. Patients from black, Asian or other minority backgrounds have a twenty per cent chance of finding the best possible stem cell donor match, compare to 69 per cent for northern European backgrounds.

"That means a cord blood match is often their own chance of survival as umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells which can be used in transplants.

"Cord blood is also invaluable for immunotherapy research we are currently undertaking at the Anthony Nolan Research Institute, to make stem cell transplants more successful."

The charity collects cord blood from new mothers at four hospitals chosen for their high birth rate and ethnically diverse populations - St Mary's in Manchester, Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General, and King's College in Camberwell.

"By donating their cord, women in those areas can help save lives," Ms Moss added.

To find out more about Anthony Nolan, and to join its register, visit: www.anthonynolan.org

Kirsty Boden, originally of South Australia, had been having a drink with friends in Borough Market when she heard a crash on London Bridge on June 3 2017.

Without hesitation, Ms Boden – who has been dubbed ‘The Angel of London Bridge’ for her heroism - ran in the direction of the crash to see if she could help anyone who was injured.

During the melee she was attacked by the terrorists who had deliberately driven their van into pedestrians, and she tragically died of her wounds.

Last Thursday she was posthumously awarded the Australian Bravery Medal for her act of extreme heroism.

“The area turned to a scene of mass

chaos and panic as people began screaming and running from the bridge into Borough Market,” reads her award citation.

“Ms Boden's two friends lost sight of her in the melee. Pulled along with the crowd, they fled their seats and were swept around a corner away from the bridge.

“As soon as they were able, they made their way back to where they thought Ms Boden would be. They located her on the pavement about 50 metres away from the restaurant.

“She had been attacked and severely wounded by terrorists who had been in the van, and a police officer was performing CPR on her.”

It adds: “By her actions, Ms Boden displayed considerable bravery.”

Ms Boden was one of two Australians killed in the terrorist atrocity, which claimed the lives of eight innocent people and wounded many more.

Last year the nurse was also awarded a bravery honour by the Queen as part of the UK’s Civil Gallantry awards.

Kellie Shirley with new born twins and now they are older

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16 NEWS www.southwarknews.co.uk

Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019

ROTHERHITHE

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

A ROTHERHITHE secondary school has played host to women’s football legend Kelly Smith for a major announcement about investment in the sport.

Bacon’s College, on Timber Pond Road, hosted representatives from the FA and Barclays alongside Ms Smith, as Barclays unveiled a multimillion pound sponsorship of the FA Women’s Super League.

Pupils on the girl’s football team at the school marked the announcement on March 20 by testing their footie skills against Ms Smith – who is the England women’s football team’s record goal-scorer.

Fiona Morris, the school’s associate principal, said: “It was brilliant to welcome representatives from Barclays and the FA and the inspirational Kelly Smith to our school to make such an importance announcement for the future of women’s football – both for the elite game and at the grassroots.

“We were delighted that as part of the day our girls were able to show off their footwork too – their enthusiasm on the pitch was proof of the positive impact that community and school sport can have on young people.”

Ms Smith, who used her time with the girls to coach them on the skills and ambition needed to make it in professional football, added that the sponsorship was “a landmark moment” for the FA Women’s Super League and girls’ grassroots football.

The number of girl’s teams at the College have been increased, said the school, which has also led to an

Bacon’s girls team welcomes legend

increase in the number of girls attending after school clubs and training sessions.

“It was an absolute privilege to see

our girls playing such a key part in the launch of the biggest investment ever in women’s sport and a huge step forward in promoting sport and

physical activity for girls and women across the UK,” said PE teacher Ali Partridge, whom was there on the day.

“We are extremely proud of how well

our students represented the College and continue to be excited to watch the next generation of young sportswomen develop here at Bacon’s!”

children recover and live healthier, happier and more productive lives.

In 2018, seven-year-old Liam Hills was diagnosed with liver cancer. Doctors at other hospitals told his mother, Sarah, nothing more could be done for him - until they came to King's.

“To find out that your child has cancer, to see him get really poorly and then to be told that nothing further can be done for him is unimaginable but King’s were different," she said.

"They said they were going to try to fight for Liam and as soon as we got here we felt instantly reassured.

"We felt we were treated like real people, not numbers. Everyone took time out of their day to talk to us, explain everything to us, even finding us somewhere to stay.

"It’s never easy being far from home and they know that.

"People really went out of their way to do nice things for Liam; to make him feel happy.

"We really feel like we’ve been treated with love.

"When we realised that Liam was going to need a full transplant I was really scared.

"It’s a big deal but I trusted the surgeons.

They all wanted to do Liam’s operation – they all wanted to help my son.

"To me that speaks volumes. It just goes to show what a special place King’s is and what a massive difference a hospital like King’s can make.”

Liam was given a successful transplant, and after just two days was transferred from the high dependency unit and looking forward to getting home in time for his eighth birthday.

Corporate medical director for Paediatrics at King’s and head of the Children’s Liver Centre, Professor Anil Dhawan, said: “The service we provide in

the King’s Paediatric Liver Centre is the largest comprehensive service of its kind.

"We treat 3,000 children from across the UK and have the best long-term survival rates, thanks to the incredible work that’s carried out.

"However, there’s still more that can be

done and this campaign will help fund ground-breaking research, buy essential equipment and improve the environment for patients and their families.”

For more information and to support the appeal, visit: www.supportkings.org.uk/tlc

£1.5 million drive to care for children with liver disease

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

CARE FOR children with liver disease is set to be transformed if a new fundraising drive raises one and a half million for King's College Hospital.

King's College Hospital Charity launched the Transforming Liver Care (TLC) appeal last week to raise funds for cutting-edge equipment, improve care, and provide support for children and their families.

Today, more children than ever are surviving serious liver disorders - 94 per cent - in part due to the specialist care given at King's Paediatric Liver Centre.

Children with chronic liver disease face physical challenges but can also be affected with long-term mental health and educational needs.

Some experience mental health problems, lower IQ, and a higher rate of learning disabilities. More than thirty per cent will need specialist education support.

The charity hopes funds can be used to help overcome these problems and help

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

www.southwarknews.co.uk

NEWS 17

CAMBERWELL

ARE WE LOOKING AT THE NEXT MISS UNIVERSE?

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

AN ACTOR and NHS consultant from Camberwell has been shortlisted to compete in this year's Miss Universe Great Britain.

Twenty-four-year old Gemma Gordon will be up against forty other women at the pageant held in South Wales this July.

The vicar and piano teacher's daughter will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of current title-holder 25-year-old DeeAnn Kentish Rogers, a barrister and former Commonwealth Games athlete from Birmingham, who won the 2018 crown.

Ms Gordon is a series regular in Amazon Prime's 'Dark Ditties', and will join the cast of a new World War Two series, KLINES, filming this summer.

She acts alongside holding a job as a senior consultant in NHS recruitment where she places mental health

practitioners across the UK. She said: "I am really excited to have been chosen as a finalist for Miss Universe Great Britain this year and will be doing all that I can in the next few months to prepare.

"Miss Universe is one of the biggest pageants in the world and I think it’s going to be a huge adventure as well as a lot of fun.”

The competition includes a heavy focus on fundraising for good causes including a homeless charity in Wales, South Africa's first all-female anti-poaching unit, The Black Mambas, Stop Acid Attacks, which help survivors of acid violence in India, and the National Centre for Female Genital Mutilation, which hopes to stop the practice within the next eleven years.

National director of Miss Universe Great Britain, Paula Abbandonato, who interviewed Gemma and put her through to the next round, said: “Pageantry in the UK is more popular than ever before and we have the most amazing line-up of

young women from England, Scotland and Wales vying for the crown this year.

"It’s going to be an excellent competition and I wish them all the very best of luck.”

The final will be held from July 11-13.

For more information, visit: www.missuniversegb.co.uk

PECKHAM

NURSE OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR FIONA

A GUY’S and St Thomas’ nurse has won a national award in recognition of her outstanding care for her patients.

Fiona Hibberts, a colorectal consultant nurse, was named as the Gastrointestinal/IBD Nurse of the Year at the 2019 British Journal of Nursing Awards for her work with patients suffering from conditions like Crohn’s disease.

She was commended for setting up iniatives to help patients suffering from colorectal conditions get a speedier diagnosis and reduce the time they spend in hospital.

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

Fiona, who has worked at Guy’s and St Thomas’ for more than nineteen years, said it was a “real honour” to be recognised. “I’m really thankful to my team as I wouldn’t be able to do my job without their brilliant support and encouragement,” she said.

“I absolutely love my job and I’m really passionate about supporting patients with colorectal disorders as they can be very difficult conditions to manage.”

Antonia Lynch, deputy chief nurse at the Trust which manages the two

hospitals, said Fiona’s colleagues were all “extremely proud” of her achievements.

“She is a truly exceptional nurse and has made a huge contribution to our Trust and our patients’ lives,” said Ms Lynch.

“Fiona has been instrumental in establishing new projects that have made our colorectal services even better.

“She constantly goes above and beyond for our patients and is a great role model to our nurses.”

Farinaz Noorzad, a clinical nurse specialist at the Trust, was also recognised, landing third place for the Respiratory Nurse of the Year Award.

ELEPHANT & CASTLE

Royal approval for man on a mission to stop the cycle of crime

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

THE CHIEF executive of a charity working within Southwark Youth Offending Service has been commended by Princess Anne for his work helping young people break a cycle of crime and reoffending.

Mifta Choudhury, CEO of Youth Ink, founded it in June 2016 as a way to help children and young people who have found themselves in the criminal justice system who may have experienced trauma and difficult starts in life.

The charity's staff all have lived experience of criminal justice and use this to forge a bond with vulnerable youngsters and help them move forward with their lives.

A key aspect of the charity's work is training young people to become mentors, helping them deal with difficult emotions in a healthy way and preparing them to move into the working world.

One man, Craig (not his real name), who was referred to Youth Ink and the Peer Navigator programme said of the scheme: "I would be in jail now without Mifta’s support, he helped me realise that I’m better than I thought."

Mifta thanked Southwark Youth Offending Service, and the charity's staff and volunteers for their work, saying: "We believe that the responsibility offered to young people, through the Peer Support Navigator Network and the acquisition of skills and responsibility, together with the assets of self-esteem and self-worth, are crucial in breaking the cycle of exclusion,

offending and re-offending.

"We believe that by highlighting the positives that can be drawn from user inclusion, positive change can occur throughout the criminal justice system.

“Youth Ink is charity led and run by and for people with experience of disadvantage.

"By working with the most marginalised young people we seek to create a feeling of community and empowerment of young people.

"Our trauma informed Peer Support Navigators who have broken the cycle of offending, recognising that people can only give to others what they have experienced themselves.”

The head of Southwark Youth Offending Service, Andrew Hills, praised Mifta's dedication, said: "This has not been a quick or easy achievement. Mifta has built a natural rapport with the young people he works with.

“None of his Peer Navigators have reoffended, demonstrating his ability to assist them to develop and maintain crime free lifestyles, characterised by their developing pro-social attitudes and views.”

Southwark councillor Jasmine Ali, the cabinet member for children, schools and adult care, said Southwark was lucky to have someone like Mifta working with its vulnerable young people.

"We are extremely lucky to have someone like Mifta working within our Youth Offending Service, his passion to improve the lives of the young people he works with is evident and clear to everyone who works with him.”

GRANTS OF UP TO £10,000 FOR CHARITIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

GRANTS OF up to £10,000 are now available for charities and community projects in Elephant and Castle.

The Elephant and Castle Community Fund, set up by Southwark Council and Lendlease, launched in 2012 and has now given out £200,000 to more than 40 groups within the area.

Winners last year included My First 1,000 Days, a group that started off

helping vulnerable pregnant women but has now grown to help a wider range of people. Funding was put towards extra yoga and zumba classes for young carers in the Elephant and Castle area.

Other winners included Disability Sports Coach, which helps get disabled

children involved in sport, and Business Launchpad, which helped young people aged sixteen to thirty set up their own business.

Applications must related to further education, skill-building, training and entrepreneurship, arts and culture,

environment, older residents and wellbeing.

The deadline for submissions is noon, Monday, April 8. For more info and to apply, visit londoncf.org.uk/grants/elephant-castlecommunity-fund

DO YOU HAVE A STORY for our news team?

Email us at news@southwark news.co.uk or call 0207 231 5258. You can WhatsApp us on 07494 070 863.

Sellar has major plans for a little known site called Vinegar Yard

18 NEWS www.southwarknews.co.uk

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

THE DEVELOPER Sellar has unveiled major plans for Bermondsey’s Vinegar Yard, which would see a 160,000 sq ft office and retail scheme across two sites.

The scheme would be built on land the company has owned since 2008, 40-44 Bermondsey Street and 9-17 Vinegar Yard. Full plans have been submitted to the council.

A ‘linked’ development fronting Bermondsey Street would be similar in scale to the warehouses that it has traditionally seen, said the company, with a height of four storeys, while elements towards the Snowsfields area of the site would be up to nine storeys high.

And on the Vinegar Yard site – where the Vinegar Yard Warehouse stands – the development would be up to sixteen storeys high.

The façade of the warehouse building would be retained while the interiors would be refurbished, said Sellar, to “recreate the warehouse feel.”

James Sellar, chief executive of the company, said: “Our proposals are designed to create an elegant and measured transition from the intimate scale and character of Bermondsey Street to the city scale of London Bridge.”

Also featured in the plans are the creation of a new pedestrian route from Bermondsey Street to the top of Weston Street, linking the refurbished warehouse in Vinegar Yard via the Horseshoe Inn. Staff at the Horseshoe Inn reacted positively to the plans, saying it would draw people to the area and would be good for business.

“It will be amazing when it’s all done but we do expect a lot of disruption in the coming years,” said Peter, who owns the inn.

“The only thing that might not be good would be the construction because that disturbs businesses, but once it’s done, it will be really good,” added Aga, who also works at the pub.

“It’s going to be really good at bringing more and more people in.”

The developer estimates that its proposals will attract up to 1,500 jobs to the area.

Further details and the full planning application can be found under the reference ‘19/AP/0404’ on the Southwark Council website.

Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019

TOP: Computer generated image of the development and (above) the warehouse that will remain taken from street view

Computer generated images of two new passages (above right) White Lion Court towards Snowsfields and (left) Bermondsey Passage - and above a satellite picture of the whole site

DO YOU HAVE A STORY for our news team?

Email us at news@southwark news.co.uk or call 0207 231 5258. You can WhatsApp us on 07494 070 863.

NEWS 19

NEXUS GROUP OF GPs STILL FAILING TO PROVIDE ‘SAFE TREATMENT AND CARE’

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

EXCLUSIVE

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

NEXUS HEALTH Group is still failing to provide ‘safe treatment and care’, a further Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection has found.

The visit, held on February 13 this year, checked whether the group had acted on concerns raised in November’s series of inspections where a series of safety failings had led to the Southwark primary care provider being rated ‘inadequate’.

The group had been handed two warning notices for breaches of the Health and Social Care Act. In particular, training and skills gaps, and a backlog of tasks including test results left in limbo, were highlighted by inspectors.

In an update published on March 27, inspectors found a backlog of patients who needed their medication reviewed, including some people taking ‘high risk’ medication.

According to the report, although the group had set up systems to ensure treatment was reviewed, this only involved intervention around two or three months after a missed appointment, and did not address how to manage people who routinely failed to attend.

www.southwarknews.co.uk

There was one instance where a long-term locum GP had not completed basic life support training in the last year.

As a result the group has been ordered to continue to review its systems and improve locum staff training – and remains ‘inadequate’.

The inspectors said progress had been made in many areas, noting an improvement in general administration including patients’ correspondence and clinical tasks.

Nexus has set up an improved twoweek wait referral system, and implemented fire safety and legionella training. There is also improved oversight of emergency equipment.

Inspectors also said prescriptions were now secure and routinely monitored, with a review process set up to check uncollected prescriptions on a regular basis.

However, inspectors say Nexus is still in breach of regulations around its safety of treatment and care, and systems and processes are not in accordance with ‘fundamental standards of care’.

There was one instance where a longterm locum GP had not completed basic

life support training in the last year.

As a result the group has been ordered to continue to review its systems and improve locum staff training – and remains ‘inadequate’.

A spokesperson for NHS Southwark CCG said: “The CCG is working with Nexus Health Group to ensure all the issues highlighted by the Care Quality Commission are addressed quickly and comprehensively.

“Nexus has a clear action plan for delivering the necessary improvements and we welcome the progress made thus far.

“We recognise that challenges still exist and are working with the practice to make sure these are rectified, so that patients can be fully assured of high quality, safe, effective and timely care.

“We will continue to monitor these improvements closely.”

The ‘true’ number of Elephant traders left o u t i n t h e co l d

Aylesbury Health Centre

A spokesperson for Nexus Health Group said: “The partners of Nexus Health Group are pleased of the recognition of improvement received in the latest CQC report, which has been echoed by other organisations such as Health Education England.

“Partners are aware that patients may continue to have concerns regarding the few outstanding issues raised in the report, and hence our continuous engagement through our various patient groups.

“As previously, we are taking the necessary steps to resolve any

Princess Street GP

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

LATIN ELEPHANT has disputed Delancey’s claims that 28 traders have been left out of its relocation plans – arguing the true figure is over 40.

The campaign group believes the developer’s figures do not show the true scale of those left in limbo, arguing its representatives appear to have lumped multiple businesses with the same owner together, rather than counting them as separate units.

The group believes 28 could tally with the formal shops inside the centre, but says it appears market traders have also been left out the calculations, along with ten tenants in arch seven, the kiosks near the tube station, and traders under the bridge on New Kent Road.

The charity has campaigned for a better deal for traders, saying even those who have accepted offers in Castle Square, Perronet House or One Elephant are still forced to downsize, with a net loss overall of 4,000 square metres of trading space.

The debate is indicative of a series of disputed figures bandied back and forth between campaigners, Southwark Council and Delancey.

Estimates of the number of traders on the site have differed wildly, with a Freedom of Information request response from Southwark Council showing the local authority lists 79, down from

outstanding issues.

“An action plan has been implemented to address the areas highlighted and we will continue to review these actions to make sure any issues are rectified.

“We are working together with the CQC and Southwark CCG to build on the changes that have already been delivered to offer our patients and service users the highest level of care.

The CQC will undertake a further inspection visit within six months and we are confident that we will receive an improved rating following that inspection.”

130 in 2017, but Latin Elephant counting 100 at the end of last year, arguing more than 90 still operate in the development’s red line.

And although 36 have been successful in their applications, this is still short of what was presented to the council’s planning committee in January, when around 80 units were promised for traders.

One trader, Aliriza Garsp, who runs a food and drinks stall in the lower ground floor, told the News their application to Castle Square had been successful.

He said the move was a ‘big risk’ given all the uncertainty, but relocation in the area was the best option compared with moving away from Elephant and Castle: “We have to choose the customers we know we have here,” he said.

This week, Delancey would not elaborate on how its figures had been calculated. A spokesperson told the News: “We are working with the traders to find suitable relocation options and are doing all we can to support with the process.

“Our main priority is finalising the offers so that we can give traders the certainty they need to plan for the future.

“As each tenant has its own individual needs, it’s important we work this through properly to ensure we can provide bespoke support.

“We are looking forward to updating the community once these conversations have been finalised with the traders.”

DO YOU HAVE A STORY for our news team?

Email us at news@southwark news.co.uk or call 0207 231 5258. You can WhatsApp us on 07494 070 863.

20 FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS www.southwarknews.co.uk

Birthdays

look who’s 16

James Pocknell

Happy 16th Birthday to our Big brother, you’re the best in the world, love you always.

Louie & Lyla xxx

Happy 16th Birthday Nephew (SJP) & Cousin, love always, Billy, Kirsty, Ronnie, Dottie & Archie xxx

Nephew & Cuz Happy16th Birthday, love always Jade, Hallie & Riley xxx

Happy 16th Birthday to a wonderful Grandson, lots of love, Tracey & Marcus xxx

If you are a charitable or community-oriented organisation and want to let people know about your services, please call 0207 232 1639

CAMBERWELL CONSOLIDATED CHARITIES

THE TRUST COULD PROVIDE YOU WITH FINANCIAL HELP IF YOU:

Are over 65 years old Have lived in the Old Parish of Camberwell (which includes Dulwich and Peckham) for more than 2 years • Receive only a state pension

Please ask the Hon Clerk for an application form.

Janet McDonald

Telephone: 07538 071 457

89 Worship Street, London EC2A 2BF Please let other people know about us too

Registered charity no 208441

Happy Birthday Boy, love uncle Danny & Jay xxx

To our wonderful son James, Happy 16th Birthday, hope your day is a special as you, love you forever and always, Mum & Luke xxxxx

Community notices

• •

17-04-1950 - 07-04-2018

Happy 16th Birthday to our nephew & Cousin James, we hope you have a lovely day, love Zoe, Oliver, Ethen & Will xxx

Happy 16th Birthday to our handsome grandson, have a wicked day.

Love always, Nan & Grandad xxx

Happy 16th Birthday Nephew, have a good one, love from David & Ava-Marie xxx

Arthur Walker

Memorials

Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019

Shirley Reading Nee Maguire

They say there is a reason, they say that time will heal, but neither time nor reason, will change the way we feel.

For no one knows the heartache, that lies behind our smiles, no one knows how many times we’ve broken down and cried.

We want to tell you something, so there won’t be any doubt, you’re so wonderful to think of, but so hard to be without.

We cannot bring the old days back, when we were all together, the family chain is broken now, but memories live forever.

Lots of Love from your loving daughter Lorraine & all your family and friends. xxx

Thinking of you and missing you more than words could ever say, life changed forever on the day you went away.

Love Jackie Cookie Parrott

Our key activities helping local people make life better: Bede Learning Disabilities Service, Bede Youth Adventure Project, Bede Starfish Domestic Violence Project.

www.bedehouse.org , tel: 0207 237 3881

Dockland Settlements Centre Rotherhithe

Dockland Settlements Community Centre Astroturf pitch for hire £30/hour Fridays and weekends Sports hall, dance studio, meeting room available for hire info@docklandsettlements.org.uk

0207 2317108

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

www.southwarknews.co.uk

NEWS 21

what ’s on

22 ARTS www.southwarknews.co.uk

Southwark News,Thursday April 4 2019

in Southwark

D

ownstate is a coproduction between Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where it premiered, and the Pulitzer winning playwright Bruce Norris, who now turns our focus to sex offenders and particularly paedophiles. The programme notes warn of graphic descriptions of child abuse and rape, which readies you for a heavy and uncomfortable watch as you take your seat, writes Chris Peacock...

It is set in a group home for sex offenders in downstate Illinois, which houses four offenders as they try to reintegrate into society. The play opens with the visit of Andy (Tim Hopper), a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of the wheelchair bound former piano instructor Fred (Francis Guinan).

We then meet their parole officer Ivy (Cecilia Noble) and the other housemates as they go about their day doing their chores and going to work. The action turns on the news that the offenders can no longer go to their favourite grocery store, as a law changes the proximity people on the sex register can be to a school. We see that sex offenders have little chance to reintegrate into society as fear about potential future crimes drives policy around sex registers and reducing the liberty of those on it. The USA is a country that publishes its sex offenders register, detailing where offenders live and the crimes they’ve committed.

There is comedy in the coming and goings of the inhabitants and

The setting for the story is in fact a very long way from sunny Nice.

Instead the action takes place in a mothballed room of the Hermitage museum in Leningrad in 1956. An understandably anxious museum curator has brought in an expert to verify a possible Matisse painting.

In a totalitarian regime, professional embarrassment has potentially lethal consequences. Valentina Nrovka studied under Matisse and the hope is that she can identify the painting by familiarity with its style and ‘feel’.

of criminals and crime. These four men who have committed a range of sex offences are vastly different in their mannerisms, temperaments and personal relationships to their crimes.

The production as a whole is superb, and the cast do a fantastic job of drawing you into their world,

which through their own actions has now been taken out of their control.

Downstate leaves you with many questions about society and the role that abusers can have in it. It also highlights how many perpetrators were victims of abuse themselves.

It is certainly a play that will live

The Bay at Nice

The visit to the museum provides a reunion between Valentina and her adult estranged daughter Sophia.

The daughter is there to seek both her mother’s approval and financial support for a divorce from a stifling teacher husband, so that she can

long in the memory.

Downstate is on the Dorfman Theatre, National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 9PX until 27th April.

Times: Mon - Sat 7.30pm; Thur & Sat matinees 2.30pm. Admission: £15 - £55. Phone: 0207 452 3000 www.nationaltheatre.org.uk disappointment. Valentina chose to return from the freedom of the West and raise her daughter in her native Russia which, amongst other things, appears to have ended her nascent career as an artist. In a world where the issue of refugees fleeing political terror is in our news every day, it is interesting to see a portrayal of someone who has made the journey in reverse, the motivations and consequences of that unusual decision.

The Menier has a restaurant and for many people, eating there before the performance is an integral part of the experience. At only 75 minutes long, The Bay of Nice finishes in time for those who wish to discuss the ideas it explores in the bar afterwards as well.

pursue a relationship with an older man.

Valentina is then cast in the role of judge not only of a painting’s authenticity but also the love life of her daughter. As both mother and art critic, Valentina is brusque, haughty

and acerbic. When she reminisces about her time in France, studying to be an artist, a more passionate side of her emerges. The various characters explore issues of will versus feeling in a variety of ways, in art, in love, in making the best of

Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU until 4 May. Times: Tues - Sat 8pm.

Sat & Sun 3.30pm.

Admission: £35 - £42.50 Phone: 020 7378 1713 www.menierchocolatefactory.com

Photo by Catherine Ashmore

THE MENIER chocolate factory has the ‘pulling power’ of a much larger theatre, due in part to its ability to produce shows that make very successful transfers to the West End. It offers an opportunity to see big name actors in an intimate setting and David Hare’s ‘The Bay at Nice’ is one of these chances, with Penelope Wilton leading a cast of established actors in a gently paced exploration of ideas, writes Katie Kelly.

especially the camp sass of Dee (K Todd Freeman), but when the details of their crimes are mentioned the laughter stops. The grave nature of the abuse hits hard.

Norris humanises the perpetrators of the most monstrous crimes; the humanity in these men raises questions on the non-binary nature

Photo by Michael Brosilow

Downstate questions rehabilitation and society

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

www.southwarknews.co.uk

HISTORY 23

history

From south London to Hollywood

H

E WAS the child of an impoverished actor who left school with a lisp, stammer and no qualifications but went on become a Hollywood star and the first British actor to bag a one million dollar pay cheque, writes Katherine Johnston...

Although he was disqualified as a contender for this year’s blue plaque competition by virtue of actually being born in Lambeth, Rains is certainly one of the titans of south London’s cinematic history.

William Claude Rains, known as Willie to his family, was born November 10, 1889 to Frederick and Emily Eliza Cox at 26 Tregothnan Road in Clapham, or, as he described it, ‘the wrong side of the River Thames’.

In their poverty the Rains family suffered much hardship. Emily gave birth to twelve children, but only three survived into adulthood. She was profoundly affected by these tragedies and would spend years in later life in and out of hospitals and care homes with failing mental health.

The frequently out-of-work Frederick flitted from job to job, including boxing instructor to boiler maker, but eventually became an actor and director.

Rains would remember his father as a disciplinarian who would beat him for the most minor misdemeanours.

At boarding school in Parsons Green there was no respite either. He was taunted by other children for his short stature, lisp and stammer; cruelly nicknamed ‘Willie Wains’.

Rains’ first brush with acting - and opportunity to escape - came in 1900, when he, and other singers from a local church choir, were offered the chance to appear at the Theatre Royal playing street urchins in a production of Sweet Nell of Old Drury.

Soon, Rains had quit school for good to become a call-boy – giving actors their cues – at the Duke of York’s Theatre on St Martin’s Lane. But it was at his next job at His majesty’s Theatres where Rains really came into his own.

Mentored by renowned actor and stage manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who saw a spark of talent, Rains was coached to lose his strong accent and overcome his speech difficulties.

Slowly, Rains began to appear on stage and get bigger and better parts, eventually becoming assistant stage manager and travelling with the company all over the world.

After returning to the UK from America in 1915, the First World War curtailed but didn’t cut short his career.

In 1916 he was deployed to Vimy Ridge as a lieutenant with the London Scottish regiment where he survived a mustard gas attack that left him partially blind in the right eye. Damage from the gas also added a trademark huskiness to the rich timbre of his voice.

After the end of the war Rains picked up where he left off, and was cast in his first film, Build Thy House, released in 1920.

From there, he went on to appear in a range of critically acclaimed film and stage productions and earn a reputation as a leading drama teacher at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he

Claude Rains in the trailer for Notorious

26 Tregothnan Road (end of terrace, left)

helped train John Gielgud and Charles Laughton.

But the peak of Rains’ career came in middle age as a character actor with the ability to play suave, charming upperclass characters, or calculating villains throughout Hollywood’s golden age.

His defining role came in HG Wells’ The Invisible Man, in 1933, with Rains chosen for his mellifluous voice.

Despite playing the titular role he only appeared in sight in its final frame, but carried the film with aplomb.

Three years later he signed a contract with Warner Brothers and The Prince and the Pauper (1937) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and Juarez, (1939) followed. That year he gained his first of four Oscar nominations for his portrayal of a corrupt senator in Mr Smith Goes to Washington.

Juarez was the beginning of a long-

running on-screen partnerships with the sharp-tonged Bette Davis, with whom he went on to star in Now Voyager (1942) as her psychiatrist, 1944’s Mr Skeffington as her husband and patient, and in 1946’s Deception.

Davis was famously critical of many of her co-stars, but reserved nothing but the highest praise for Rains. His daughter would say of Davis: “She was crazy about him and he was crazy about her, although according to both of them, she wanted more than he was willing to give.

“But the relationship went on for a very long time. And whenever she had trouble with a husband she would come and stay on the farm, sometimes for weeks.”

Another nominations came for his role in Casablanca, as Captain Renault, in 1942, and 1946’s Hitchcock classic Notorious, as a Nazi who falls in love

with co-star Ingrid Bergman.

Before his contracted ended in 1947, Rains appeared in David Lean’s The Passionate Friends (1948) and Gabriel Pascal’s 1945 Caesar and Cleopatra. As Caesar, his $1million pay check was the highest ever for a British actor.

By the 1950s Rains’ star had faded, but he continued to act, including a turn in David Lean’s 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia as a British diplomat.

When not working, Rains lived on a Pennsylvania farm, shunning Hollywood society. Throughout the decades, he remained a private man, whose true loves remained acting, his farm, friends, and most importantly of all his daughter, born in 1938, who followed him into the profession.

His love life was colourful, racking up six wives in total – five of whom he divorced – and allegations of cruelty, alcoholism and cheating on both sides.

Claude-Rains shot early in his career

Rains died on 30 May 1967 at 77, from an abdominal haemorrhage, after years of deteriorating health and heavy drinking.

Writing in 1998, his daughter Jessica said of his extraordinary life: “He remade himself, and, I assure you, the makeover was genuine.

“His past was relegated to the past although he never forgot it. He was frugal to a fault and always managed the books for the farm I grew up on.”

She went on to say: “Claude was a great storyteller. I hear these stories, and many more – often.

“He’d settle in a large armchair with a drink, and, once he’d get started, the tales just kept coming.

“He was an avid American, a faithful husband, and he drank with the best of them.

“And, like most actors, he died waiting for his agent to call.”

24 FOOD & DRINK

food & drink

www.southwarknews.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

Deptford makes room for tapas THE TAPAS ROOM

2, Indiana Building, Deals Gateway London SE13 7QD www.thetapasroom.co.uk/

M

By Holly O’Mahony

news@southwarknews.co.uk

any tapas-loving Brixtonites were left aghast when Donostia Social Club (DSC) in Pop Brixton closed its doors last spring.

Brixton’s loss was Deptford’s gain, though, as DSC owners Paul Belcher and Adrain Copperstone made the decision to focus on their second venture – The Tapas Room, which already had a base in Tooting’s Broadway Market – opening a second branch in Deptford Market Yard.

Nine months on and the Basque-inspired tapas restaurant has settled in well to the polished (if a little gentrified) complex that feels like a slice of central London in SE8.

We visit The Tapas Room on a Wednesday evening and find it both lively and almost full – unlike its neighbouring restaurants which were also open yet virtually dormant. Seating ourselves on the one unpeopled high wooden bench, we discover that on Wednesday nights, the restaurant offers free wine tasting, and suddenly the mid-week merry-making makes sense.

Getting straight to it, we order a glass of the Sumarroca Pinot Noir Rosado, a sparkling rosé the restaurant’s managercum-waiter Max describes as ‘banging’.

It certainly is; Ribena-like in colour, the wine is sweet and fruity with a full-bodied energy that suits the environment.

Clinking then swirling out glasses, we browse the one-page food menu stuffed with intensely thought-through tapas (the wine menu, incidentally, is triple the length of the food one and dedicated to Spanish wines). Decisions like these will make you

THE DAMAGE

glad tapas is a notoriously social cuisine, and the more diners you come with, the more you’ll get to try (although be warned: tables won’t comfortably sit more than four of you).

We began with padron peppers which came oily, grilled and speckled with large flecks of sea salt. They were extremely morish, but before we had time to finish the bowl, a plate of salt cod croquettes – dressed in what we think was micro coriander – arrived and out attention was diverted. I ordered these having had them recently at popular Soho tapas joint Barrafina and they were every bit as good at The Tapas Room, but could have done with a dipping sauce – perhaps an aioli or romesco.

The fizz had put us in a celebratory mood and we decided to treat ourselves to a seared scallop each. What arrived looked a picture and tasted every bit as good: giant

shells plated the almost raw scallops which were drenched in a herby, buttery sauce, and dressed with purply-green leaves and crunchy almonds. The seabass was another winner, the white hunks of meaty fish dressed in a nutty, smoky romesco sauce, and scattered prettily with micro coriander and spring onion.

A plate of wild mushrooms seemed a little oily and heavy on the garlic unless careful attention was paid to ensuring each forkful included the accompanying sunblushed tomatoes (which lent it a tang) and green apple slivers (which provided a sweet crunch). Those who prize a dish on its size will appreciate that of the lamb cutlets, which came atop a watery white bean stew and with a spoonful of slightly flavourless tapenade. Never mind though, the lamb itself had flavour enough – you could smell the mint before the plate arrived on the table.

We couldn’t resist the temptation to share a portion of churros to round the meal off.

As the only dessert on the menu, the stakes were high and fortunately they delivered: thin, crispy swirls of doughnutty deliciousness arrived still sizzling from the fryer, dusted in cinnamon sugar and with a watery chocolate sauce waiting tantalisingly on the side. We made light work of them.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about The Tapas Room was watching Paul – who is the restaurant’s chef as well as its co-owner – and Max running the ship seamlessly between them. It’s a tight space with a tiny open kitchen. It would be hard enough to fry burgers in it, let alone make intricately-designed, prettily-presented tapas. But the pair pull it off, delivering a steady ream of dishes to the room of 15 or so diners from when we arrive until we leave. What’s more, they do it with a cool-

Padron peppers £5.50 Salt cod croquettes £5 Sea bass with romesco & spring onions £7 Wild mushrooms with sun-blushed tomatoes & green apple £6 Lamb cutlets with white bean stew & tapenade £8 Two seared scallop, pisto, green chilli sauce & almonds £9 (£4.50 each) Churros with chocolate & cinnamon sugar £5.50 Two glasses of Sumarroca Pinot Noir Rosado (Penedes) £15 (£7.50 each) TOTAL: £61

FOOD (1-5) AMBIENCE (1-5) VALUE (1-5) DISABLED ACCESS DISABLED TOILET BOOKING

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 YES YES YES

headed enthusiasm – each taking the time to talk to us about the various dishes and wines, and Paul’s journey with Spanish cuisine.

It’s because of this, and the fact the offering here is truly first-rate, that you can’t help feeling glad for Paul and Adrain that their gamble has paid off – and that the second branch of The Tapas Room is clearly a success. Brixtonites will just have to travel a little further for their tapas now.

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27

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Let’s get cracking!

April 2019 www.weekender.co.uk

Our guide to Easter in south London

Your guide to what’s happening around the borough www.weekender.co.uk read the free digital version at

LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE

PUBLIC NOTICES

Plane Tree Hospitality Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Mikos, 441 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8LN which would authorise the following licensable activities:

Supply of alcohol:

Late night refreshments:

Play Recorded Music: 11:00 - 24:00

The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG, or via the licensing authority’s website, at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing

A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application. Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 29th April 2019

It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with a licensing application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for that offence shall not exceed level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000)

Licensing Act 2003

Notice is given that on the 27 March 2019, the Council Assembly adopted the Southwark Statement of Licensing Policy 2019-2021. The policy will take effect on 3 May 2019.

The statement of policy The Licensing Act 2003 requires every licensing authority to approve a statement of licensing policy and to keep this under review. The statement of policy sets out the principles the council will apply when carrying out its functions as licensing authority under the Act.

A copy of the policy document may be viewed by visiting the Council’s website using the link provided.

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/assets/attach/7473/StatementofLicensingPolicy%20201921.pdf

The policy may also be inspected by appointment at the Council Offices, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH

Any enquiries can be made to the Licensing Team either by email at licensing@southwark.gov.uk

April 2019

28 PUBLIC NOTICES

www.southwarknews.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (ROTHERHITHE STREET) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable works to be carried out by Morrisons Utility Services/Agility Alliance, it made an order the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

Whilst works are in progress, and whilst the authorised traffic signs are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload in Rotherhithe Street, between Tunnel Road and St Marychurch Street.

The alternative route will be via Rotherhithe Street, Tunnel Road, St Marychurch Street.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

Works will take place between the 4th – 10th June 2019.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network & Parking Management on 0207 525 2014.

Dated this 4th April 2019.

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (ASYLUM ROAD) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

TEMPORARY WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that, because of works

by Thames Water, it intends to make an order the effect of which would be to prohibit vehicular traffic from waiting and loading at any time in part of Asylum Road.

Whilst the restriction is in place, and whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to wait, including waiting for the purpose of loading and unloading at any time in Asylum Road, between Old Kent Road and Gervase Street.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, insofar as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

The restriction will come into force between the 23rd – 29th April 2019.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network & Parking Management on 0207 525 2014.

Dated this 4th April 2019

Nicky Costin Road Network & Parking Business Manager

Nicky Costin Road Network & Parking Business Manager

Southwark Council Environment and Leisure Network Management PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref 4686/000031110958-003

Southwark Council Environment & Leisure PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: 4680/000807964590045-001 LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (OMEARA STREET) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable bridge inspection works to be carried out by Centurion Site Services, it made an order the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (QUEEN ELIZABETH STREET, SHAD THAMES) 1.

Whilst works are in progress, and whilst the authorised traffic signs are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload in Omeara Street, between Southwark Street and Union Street.

2.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

3.

The alternative route will be via Southwark Street, Union Street, Borough High Street as applicable.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

Works will take place between the 21st May at 22:00hrs – 22nd May at 06:00hrs.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network & Parking Management on 0207 525 2014.

Dated this 4th April 2019.

Nicky Costin

4.

5.

6.

7.

Road Network & Parking Business Manager Southwark Council

TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable highway works to be carried out, it intends to make an order the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

Whilst the works are in progress, and whilst the authorised traffic signs are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload in: (a) Queen Elizabeth Street, between Shad Thames to the side entrance to Chatsworth House. (b) Shad Thames, between Tooley Street and Jamaica Road to No’s 9 Shad Thames.

The alternative route for affected traffic will be via, Tanner Street, Tower Bridge Road, Queen Elizabeth Street, Tooley Street. Gainsford Street, Curlew Street, Queen Elizabeth Street, Lafone Street as applicable.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

The works will take place in 3 phases and will be carried out between the 23rd April – 28th June 2019.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network & Parking Management on 0207 525 2014.

Dated this 4th April 2019

Nicky Costin Road Network & Parking Business Manager

Environment & Leisure PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: 4678/ BMJ-01-16-210519

Public notice cut off is 2pm on Tuesdays

Please email em@southwarknews.co.uk or call 0207 232 1639

Office opening hours: Mon - Fri - 09:00 - 17:30 Tel: 020 7232 1639

Southwark Council Environment and Leisure Network Management PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (a) 4641/354028 (b) 4640/354023

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL TREATMENTS PREMISES LICENCE MADE UNDER PART ll OF THE LONDON LOCAL AUTHORITIES ACT 1991 & 2000

Please take notice that we: Design Sight Ltd have made application to Southwark Council for a new Special Treatments Premises Licence in respect of Oolong Hair t/a Design Sight Ltd, 30c Shad Thames, SE1 2YG. A register of all applications made within the Southwark area is maintained by: The Licensing Service, Hub 1, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH Email: Licensing@southwark.gov.uk

Opening hours: 10:00 - 21:00

Days Start time Finish time Mon to Fri 10:00 21:00 Saturday 09:00 19:00 Sunday 10:00 18:00 A record of this application may be inspected by visiting the office during normal office hours by appointment on 020 7525 2000; details are also available on our website at http://app.southwark.gov.uk/licensing/licenseregister.asp For applications for Special Treatments Licences, there are no set objectives. However, the grounds for the objection must be relevant to the application and reasons for the objection must be given.

Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Service at the office address given above and be received by the Service within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date shown below. http://www.southwark.gov.uk/business/licences/how-to-lodge-a-representation Note: it is an offence to knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. Date of application: 26th March 19

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

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PUBLIC NOTICES 29

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended)

PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS) ACT 1990 (as amended)

The planning applications listed below can be viewed on the planning register at http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk You can use facilities at your local library or ‘My Southwark Service Points’ to access the website.

How to comment on this application: You should submit your comments via the above link. Comments received will be made available for public viewing on the website. All personal information will be removed except your postal address. Online comments submitted without an email address will not be acknowledged and those marked ‘confidential’ will not be considered. Written comments can be submitted to; Southwark Council, Chief executive's department, Planning division, Development management, PO Box 64529, London SE1 5LX. Reason for publicity. The applications are advertised for the reasons identified by the following codes: ACA-development affecting character or appearance of a nearby conservation area; ALB-development affecting setting of a nearby listed building(s); CNA-development within a conservation area; DDPdeparture from the development plan; LBA-works to or within the site of a listed building; MPA-major planning application; EIA-environmental impact assessment (these applications are accompanied by an environmental statement a copy of which may be obtained from the Council – there will be a charge for the copy).

40-44 BERMONDSEY STREET VINEGAR YARD WAREHOUSE 9-17 VINEGAR YARD AND LAND ADJACENT TO 1-7 SNOWSFIELDS SE1 (Ref. 19/AP/0404 ) Demolition of existing buildings at 40-44 Bermondsey Street including partial demolition, rebuilding and refurbishment of existing Vinegar Yard Warehouse and erection of three new buildings (two linked) with up to two levels of basement and heights ranging from five storeys (24.2m AOD) to 17 storeys (67m AOD) to provide office space (Class B1); flexible retail space (Classes A1/A2/A3/A4/A5); new landscaping and public realm; reconfigured pedestrian and vehicular access; associated works to public highway; ancillary servicing; plant; storage and associated works.

A hard copy of the application documents is available for inspection by prior appointment at Southwark Council's offices, 160 Tooley Street, SE1 2QH (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).

Copies of the Non-Technical Summary are available free of charge, CD copies of the full ES are available for purchase for £10 and printed copies of the ES can be provided on request for sale at a cost of £300 by contacting: RPS, 140 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5DN (Tel: 0207 280 3300 Email: LondonPlanning@rpsgroup.com). (within Bermondsey Street C.A.) This proposal affects the character or setting of nearby listed building(s):Grade II listed buildings at Nos 55; 59; 61; 63; 68-76; and 78 Bermondsey Street.

This proposal affects the character or setting of the nearby Bermondsey Street Conservation Area; Borough High Street Conservation Area; and Tooley Street Conservation Area.

Reason(s) for publicity: ACA, ALB, CNA, MPA (Contact: Terence McLellan 020 7525 5365) 274 CAMBERWELL NEW ROAD, LONDON, SE5 0RP (Ref. 19/AP/0071 ) (Householder Application) Build stone ramp to outside of property, in order to link pavement to existing lower level storage

unit and lower ground floor doorway. (within Camberwell New Road C.A.) (Grade II listed building) Reason(s) for publicity: CNA, LBA (Contact: Michael Gozo 0207 525 5447) 274 CAMBERWELL NEW ROAD, LONDON, SE5 0RP (Ref. 19/AP/0072 ) Build stone ramp to outside of property, in order to link pavement to existing lower level storage unit and lower ground floor doorway. (within Camberwell New Road C.A.) (Grade II listed building) Reason(s) for publicity: CNA, LBA (Contact: Jessica Potter 02075250036) 31 LYNDHURST WAY, LONDON, SE15 5AG (Ref. 19/AP/0828 ) (Householder Application) Listed Building - Construction of a single storey rear extension (within Holly Grove C.A.) (Grade II listed building) Reason(s) for publicity: CNA, LBA (Contact: Catherine Jeater 0207 525 5375) 35 LYNDHURST WAY, LONDON, SE15 5AG (Ref. 19/AP/0877 ) Listed Building Concent for cleaning of brickwork (within Holly Grove C.A.) (Grade II listed building) Reason(s) for publicity: CNA, LBA (Contact: Jessica Potter 02075250036) 31 LYNDHURST WAY, LONDON, SE15 5AG (Ref. 19/AP/0829 ) Construction of a single storey rear extension (within Holly Grove C.A.) (Grade II listed building) Reason(s) for publicity: CNA, LBA (Contact: Catherine Jeater 0207 525 5375) LANDMARK COURT, LAND BOUNDED BY SOUTHWARK STREET, REDCROSS WAY AND CROSS BONES GRAVEYARD, LONDON SE1 (Ref. 19/AP/0830 ) Phased mixed-use development comprising demolition of Nos 25-33 Southwark Street, restoration of 15 Southwark Street for residential use and erection of new buildings comprising: Part 6/9/10 storey office building (plus single level basement) and 3 storey workshop building (Use Class B1), flexible ground floor uses (Use Classes B1/A1/A2/A3/A4 and D2), a marketplace with up to 9 permanent stalls (Use Class A1), 35 residential units (new build 8 storey block and

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

refurbishment of 15 Southwark Street) together with associated areas of new public realm, enhancements to Crossbones Graveyard, hard and soft landscaping, means of access and enclosure and installation of ancillary plant and equipment. (within Borough High Street C.A.) Reason(s) for publicity: CNA, MPA (Contact: Gemma Usher 020 7525 5397) 189 RYE LANE, LONDON, SE15 4TP (Ref. 19/AP/0320 ) Variation of Condition 2 - approved drawings to increase area of flat A, Alteration to first to second floor staircase and omission of second to third floor spiral stairs pursuant to planning permission of 18AP2792 for: (Construction of a mansard extension to Rye Lane facing building and construction of a two storey extension to face Bournemouth Close to provide three flats (1xstudio, 1x1-bedroom and 1x2-bedroom units) together with alterations at ground floor level to provide cycle and refuse storage accessible from Bournemouth Close) (within Rye Lane C.A.) Reason(s) for publicity: CNA (Contact: Christopher Kirby 0207 525 0952) 50 STRADELLA ROAD, LONDON, SE24 9HA (Ref. 19/AP/0770 ) (Householder Application) Remodelling of existing annex with a basement extension. (within Stradella Road C.A.) Reason(s) for publicity: CNA (Contact: Glenn Ruane 0207 525 5840) THE HARTLEY, 64 TOWER BRIDGE ROAD, LONDON, SE1 4TR (Ref. 19/AP/0694 ) Variation to Condition 2, Approved Plans, pursuant to planning permission 16/AP/2462.

(Change of use of Public House (Use Class A4) to a 17-bed Hotel (Use Class C1) while retaining a Public Bar (Use Class A4) on the ground-floor.

Extensions and external alterations proposed in association with the change of use comprise the erection of a three-storey side/rear extension from first-floor upwards, the insertion of six rooflights in south slope of existing roof and alterations to the frontage at street-level) amendments to include:

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (MALTBY STREET) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable the operation of a street market, it intends to make an order the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named roads.

Whilst the market is in progress, and whilst the authorised traffic signs are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload in (a) Maltby Street, from the junction of Tanner Street to outside 18.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said market.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

The alternative route for local traffic will be indicated by the signs displayed.

The restriction will be in place from 8am to 7pm each Saturday and 8am to 6pm on each Sunday between the 13th of April 2019 to 11th October 2020.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network & Parking Management on 0207 525 2014.

Dated this 4th April 2019

Nicky Costin Road Network & Parking Business Manager

Southwark Council, Regulatory Services, Road Network Management, PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: 4705

The ground floor pub fenestration has been redesigned to emphasise an aesthetic of large windows, rather than the curtain walling which was approved under the current application.

Solid sections of rendered masonry are retained and the windows have been designed as large square openings with smaller divisions above and timber spandrel panels below.

The existing timber screens of the ground floor windows on the main building are now proposed to be retained, refurbished and extended down with new timber spandrel panels with profiled panelling detail.

A number of awnings are now proposed above the ground floor windows.

Three windows on the east elevation have been moved slightly to allow for a better internal arrangement.

The plant at roof level has been moved southeast to allow for easier access and maintenance. (within Bermondsey Street C.A.) Reason(s) for publicity: CNA (Contact: Craig Newton 020 7525 4004) Dated 04 April 2019 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date SIMON BEVAN - Director of Planning

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (CROWN STREET) 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable works

by Cenna Construction, it intends to make an order the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named road.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload in Crown Street, between Bowyer Street and Sultan Street.

The alternative route for affected traffic will be Sultan Street, Thompson Avenue, Bethwin Road, John Ruskin Street, Camberwell New Road, Wyndham Road, as applicable.

Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.

The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.

The works will be in operation between the 23rd – 26th April 2019.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network & Parking Management on 0207 525 2014.

Dated this 4th April 2019

Nicky Costin Road Network & Parking Business Manager

Southwark Council Environment and Leisure Network Management PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: 4700/ SEC50/CROWNSTWATER

30 CLASSIFIED

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Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

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RECRUITMENT 31

32 RECRUITMENT www.jobsort.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

140 Wyndham Road, London SE5 0UB VACANCIES

Ark All Saints Academy aims for all scholars to leave equipped with the skills necessary for success at university or to pursue a career of their choice.

There are no excuses; we wish nothing less for our scholars than we would for our own children.

Kitchen Porter 20 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (term time only) Salary: ÂŁ9,516.40 per annum

Facilities Officer 25 hours per week, all year round 06.30am to 12.00 including a 30 minute break Salary: ÂŁ14,881.94 per annum Ideal candidates Good people skills Able to work as part of a team Good communication skills A 'Can do' attitude

To apply please visit our website at www.arkallsaintsacademy.org or call 020 7450 5959 for an application form and job description These posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Closing date for applications is 22nd April 2019

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

Lunchtime Supervisor

Responsible to:

Pastoral Support Leader

Salary:

London Living Wage

Start date: Hours:

Role summary:

ASAP

www.jobsort.co.uk

RECRUITMENT 33

BETHWIN YOUTH & COMMUNITY HUB

In Camberwell is a long-established and successful community adventure playground and after school service. We are looking to appoint people with energy, enthusiasm, imagination and commitment.

13:00 - 14:30 Monday - Friday (term time only)

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, motivated and committed individual with excellent communication skills to join our team working in a friendly, lively environment to ensure the security, safety and good conduct of our students. The successful candidate will be responsible for supervising students in an area of the school grounds during the lunch break and will need to have a confident and positive approach to dealing with students of secondary school age.

To apply: please visit http://compassschools.com/recruitment/vacancies/ to download the information pack and application form.

If you have any questions, contact us at recruitment@compass-schools.com or 0203 542 6506.

Closing date: Monday 22nd April (midnight)

The Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the closing date.

Compass Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding children and all appointments will require an enhanced DBS check.

SENIOR PLAY & YOUTH WORKER:

• £11.25 ph: Up to 25 hours a week after school in school term time plus Saturdays and 33 hours during the school holidays.

• Organisational, planning and computer skills needed, plus interests and skills which can be shared with young people. eg. sports, fitness, IT, music.

• Face to face work with young people plus deputising as required for the Project Director.

• NVQ2/3 relevant qualification with 2 years experience including some management/ organisational experience.

PLAY & YOUTH WORKER

• £10.55 ph: Up to 25 hours a week after school in term time plus Saturdays and 33 hours in school holidays.

• Skills to share with young people. Eg. sports, fitness,music.

• Relevant NVQ2 qualification with minimum1 year’s relevant experience or significant experience working with young people.

These posts are initially for a 2 year contract after probationary period and require strong interpersonal and communication skills for face to face work with young people aged 6-16 and the availability to cover day/residential trips outside of your normal working hours as required, for which additional hours/time off in lieu is available.

For an application pack , further information or if you would like to arrange a visit to the playground, please email: h.rimington@hotmail.co.uk Closing Date: 5pm - Thursday 25/04/19

34 SPORT www.southwarknews.co.uk

Ben Henderson

Our Dulwich Hamlet reporter, Ben Henderson, takes a close look at the league run-in with DHFC TV commentator Tom Bale.

APRIL HAS arrived, which means crunch time in National League South as the season enters its final month.

Dulwich Hamlet currently lie fifteenth in the League, hovering just four points above the relegation zone, with five games remaining to determine the club’s destiny.

Hamlet fan and DHFC TV commentator Tom Bale, recommended to me as one of Non-League’s most knowledgeable ‘anoraks’, gave his expert opinion on Dulwich’s run-in, the importance of the next month to the club’s future, and his hopes for next season.

Tom was on a high after Hamlet’s dramatic 95th-minute equaliser secured them a draw from two goals down against Billericay Town last weekend.

“I was doing the commentary and at half-time and I wasn’t sure they’d be able to come back but they showed great resilience, full credit to them,” he said.

“Gavin asked them to leave nothing on the pitch and they duly delivered. They deserved it for that second-half performance.”

Positive results at Champion Hill are becoming increasingly familiar to Hamlet fans. However, it is on their travels where serious troubles lie.

Tom said: “We’ve taken eleven points from our last five home games, we’ve made it a bit of a fortress again and beaten strong teams like Welling and Dartford as well as the Billericay result. Big results like these are made very important by the fact that we haven’t won away in eleven matches, taking four points from 33 available, which is shocking. If we didn’t have that home form we’d well and truly be struggling.

“I think we need to win at least one of our away games. I’m positive that we’ll win this weekend against Chippenham.

With the greatest respect they’re not one of the biggest teams in the league. They’re not challenging for the play-offs nor fighting relegation so they’ve got nothing really to play for, they’re in ‘end of season mode’ now, which is shown by one point from their last five games. It’s a chance for us to end that barren run away from home.”

The fixture against Hungerford Town on Saturday, April 13 appears to be the most crucial in Hamlet’s run-in.

Hungerford sit a few places below the south Londoners in eighteenth, with just two points fewer. However, having recorded three wins on the bounce, including the scalp of Billericay, and no losses in their last five matches, they are undoubtedly the team in form at the bottom of the table. No doubt the thirteenth will be a momentous day in East Dulwich.

Tom had a positive outlook, and pointed to a couple of areas that could take Dulwich safely across the finish line come the end of the month.

He continued: “I think a big bonus from this weekend was having Magnus Okuonghae back from injury. When he plays he adds that leadership that we lack sometimes. He’s a talker on the pitch and he makes the defence look more assured.”

“Up front, Dipo [Akinyemi]has started to find goal-scoring form again. He’s scored in his last three and he looks to be

enjoying his football. I think he’s struggled at times this season being in and out of the side but if he starts every game between now and the end of the season then we’ve got goals in the team.”

The outcome of this month’s relegation battle will have ramifications that go further than the football pitch. Hamlet’s attendance on Saturday was 3,243, a Champion Hill record. However, relegation will surely mean a smaller gate.

Even attendances of 1,500, highly respectable in the Isthmian League, would be difficult to take for the club, when the corresponding reduction of revenue from the bar and merchandise sales is added to loss of ticket earnings.

Tom worried that relegation could “burst the bubble” of optimism that has surrounded the club in recent years.

However, he was firm that Hamlet’s future lies in the hands of the club’s longserving manager, Gavin Rose.

“Gavin’s been in charge for ten years and every year we’ve finished higher than the previous,” Tom said. “Him and [assistant manager] Junior Kadi have worked very hard to get the club into National League South and if it was his last season it would be very disheartening.

“There’s often a kneejerk reaction when clubs are struggling at the bottom of the table. But it’d be wrong for Gavin to be sacked. He deserves his chance.”

Looking back over the club’s first season in the sixth tier, Tom expressed his frustration at some aspects of Dulwich’s play, and even admitted that he had expected a higher finish, but insisted that the year must be seen as a success.

“I think the Truro game was our season in a nutshell,” he explained. “We’ve failed to kill teams off when we’ve been presented with chances to do so, struggled to come back from losing positions when gifted the opportunity, and been equally unable to win by a handsome margin when we should have. There were a lot of people who weren’t happy with that performance at all.

“Maybe I was a bit naïve at the beginning of the season but I thought we’d be top half.

“But I suppose the first objective of any team that gets promoted in the summer is to stay up and establish yourself in that division before having a proper crack at it in the years to come.

“At the start of the season we were struggling to make ends meet. And summer signings didn’t work out the way Gavin would have wanted. Taking everything into account, it is a success if we stay up.”

Given Tom’s deep knowledge of the workings of the club, Dulwich hearts will be warmed by his predictions for the future.

“Come the summer, hopefully Gavin will be given a bigger budget to work with and he’ll be able to bring in players that he wouldn’t have been able to get last summer with the restricted budget that he had.

“I think there’ll be a lot of changes and we can target a top-eight finish and really fight for the playoffs.”

However, those aspirations will have to be put on hold until the end of the month.

It truly is Squeaky Bum Time for Hamlet.

And it all starts this Saturday at 3pm in Chippenham.

Dulwich Hamlet players celebrate their 95th-minute equaliser

Photo: Duncan Palmer Photography

Ra bb l e Ro u s e r

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

Hamlet grab dramatic late goal for crucial point

By Mark Caswell

news@southwarknews.co.uk

IN FRONT of a record crowd at Champion Hill on Saturday, Dulwich Hamlet came from two goals down with ten minutes left against Billericay Town to gain what could prove a crucial point in their bid to beat the drop.

Hamlet were 2-0 down by the 28th minute after goals from Billericay pair Joe Kizzi and Moses Emmanuel.

But the big-spending visitors, with loftier ambitions in seventh place in the table, saw their lead halved when Dipo Akinyemi scored from the penalty spot in the 80th minute.

And then Billericay paid for their

time-wasting tactics when they conceded in the seventh minute of added-time.

Billericay had gone in front through defender Kizzi’s header from Jamar Loza’s corner.

Harry Wheeler’s side got their second when Hamlet defender Anthony Cook’s defensive header back towards goalkeeper Preston Edwards found its way to Emmanuel, who gratefully tucked the ball home.

With Billericay looking like they would see the game out, Nyren Clunis was brought down in the box

by Michee Efete, when there appeared little danger, and impressive top scorer Akinyemi slotted home his fifteenth goal of the season from twelve yards.

The visitors defended deep, inviting Dulwich to launch an aerial bombardment into their penalty box, and finally in the 97th minute a Nathan Green cross was headed into his own net by Adam Cunnington, sending the majority of the 3,243 crowd into a frenzy.

Dulwich captain Michael Chambers was pleased with his side’s comeback. He said: “This was a point gained. The players enjoy the lift given to them by the enthusiastic fans, and the return back to Champion Hill has seen improved performances.”

The result leaves Hamlet four points above the bottom three with five games left. Gavin Rose’s side travel to Chippenham Town this Saturday.

Jodie Hutton in the seventh minute.

Beth Lumsden almost levelled two minutes later but her effort hit the woodwork.

The Lionesses found an equaliser on 20 minutes when Lumsden lifted a free-kick into the Villa box and Alice Hassall put through her own net.

Hutton and then the Lionesses’ Evie Clarke were next to strike the

woodwork, before Villa regained the lead just before half-time with Tanisha Smith tapping home beyond goalkeeper Rhiannon Stewart.

Villa wrapped up the points in the 69th minute when Aoife Hurley headed in.

Chris Phillips’ Lionesses are still bottom of the table, ahead of their next game against Durham on April 21.

Lionesses beaten by Aston Villa

IT WAS a Mother’s Day special at Dartford last Sunday – but it was Aston Villa who took the points back to Birmingham after their Women’s Championship clash.

After Millwall Lionesses players walked onto the pitch with their mums before the game, and flowers were handed out to those in attendance, it was a frantic start with Villa taking the lead through

Fish give Becks Norway back

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

FISHER THUMPED Beckenham 4-0 at St Paul’s in front of the eighth biggest Step 5 crowd of the weekend to remain just a point

behind Corinthian at the top of the SCEFL Premier Division table.

A fourth consecutive league win also extended their lead over third-place Cray Valley to four points, though the Rotherhithe side have played two games more as four teams chase the one

Lancers cash in against HSBC with thumping win

By Daniel Nolan

news@southwarknews.co.uk

SOUTHWARK LANCERS coach Joe Brace hailed a “complete performance” after his side defeated HSBC 40-14 in their Shepherd Neame Kent 1 clash.

The club put on an end-of-season festival for their last home match of the season, with a barbecue and drinks enjoyed by a bumper crowd, complemented by a hot spring afternoon, and a perfect result.

Lancers’Aaron Redgrave kicked off the scoring early with the first of many wellexecuted penalty kicks, before HSBC forced their way back up to the Lancers line to nip the ball over for a try at the ruck’s blind-side for a 7-3 lead.

Lancers responded with a penalty and two tries, the second scored by Sam Porter which put them 18-7 in front.

Inspired by sniping runs from deep by Peter Horan, the hosts attacked the visitors’ line and another penalty extended their lead to 21-7.

That became 26-7 when Lancers prop Owain James ripped the ball from a HSBC ruck before going over and touching down.

Winger Dave Glanville then stormed over for a solo try on 50 minutes, before Redgrave fired over two more penalties for a 30-point lead.

Alhough HSBC responded with a late try against the run of play, a final Southwark try courtesy of a Jonny Adams break capped an impressive win.

Speaking afterwards, Brace said: “Even though we went behind early on I felt we were always in total control of the game and our defence was superb.

“Our set-piece was rock solid all day and the back-line made plenty of breaks. This forced HSBC to defend for long periods and have to play from deep to try and challenge us.”

Looking towards the end of the season, Brace added: “We are looking forward to a great game down at Cranbrook next week, with third place and a cup final up for grabs for the winner.”

promotion spot.

Mathieu Ramsamy gave the Fish the lead in the 22nd minute and then doubled the advantage from Andrew Mott’s pass.

Fisher scored a third two minutes before the break through Trey Small and

then added a final flourish when Robert Brown finished after Ramsamy’s shot had been saved.

There were exuberant celebrations after the final whistle, with the home crowd boosted by visitors from the club’s Norwegian Supporters Club.

SPORT 35

Fisher will aim to keep up their promotion charge this Saturday when they travel to Canterbury City, who are in eleventh in the table.

Photo: Robert Brown (10) celebrates after scoring Fisher’s fourth

Bermondsey club claim England Open bronze

TOKEI JUDO Club has claimed its best result for 31 years at the English Open championships in Thetford.

This event was a national ranking event for players seeking a spot in the national team, ensuring a high turn-out and standard.

The Bermondsey club’s top two competitors, Svetlana Purisova and Peter Yeo, made the journey and stepped onto the mat to compete with the best in the country including some prospective

Svetlana Purisova (far right)

British Olympians for 2020.

Peter, fighting in the under-81kg category, had a tough draw and was unfortunate to lose to a player he had previously beaten and was eliminated early on.

Svetlana, however, despite being one of the handful of competitors not wearing a black belt, produced an exceptional performance. She fought in the women's under-57kg category, won in the pools and progressed through to the semi-final

where she faced the UK’s No.5 ranked competitor.

Svetlana looked set to finish with a strangle, but her opponent managed to wriggle free and then responded with a pin to clinch the fight.

Svetlana claimed a bronze medal, the last of her points needed for her black belt and enough to catapult her to No.28 in the national ranking tables due to the weighting of the event.

Svetlana also received a warm welcome and congratulations when she returned to her club, where she was ceremonially presented with a black belt by head coach Toby Prescott.

Tokei Judo Club train in a purposebuilt dojo in Tooley Street on Tuesdays and Saturdays with Brazilian Ju Jitsu (BJJ) training on Thursdays and Saturdays. They are a club with a significant proportion of more mature players returning to the sport. New players are always very welcome.

Seventh Heaven as Cani leads Menace rout against Bexley

By William Clunas

news@southwarknews.co.uk

PECKHAM TOWN marked their final home game of the 2018-19 season with a resounding 7-1 victory over struggling Bexley in their Kent County League Premier Division clash at the Menace Arena last Saturday.

As Dulwich Hamlet and Billericay Town faced off up the road at Champion Hill, Peckham Town striker Klajdi Cani -

formerly on the books of both National League South clubs - stole the show with a personal haul of five goals. Although Cani only joined the Menace in October following a spell in Essex, this outstanding feat took him to 27 goals this season and made him the division’s top scorer.

The early exchanges were fairly even, before Peckham were awarded a penalty.

Cani drilled the spot-kick into the Bexley net and from then on the hosts had their tails up.

Photo: Dave Anderson

By John Kelly

www.southwarknews.co.uk

Cani twice lobbed the visiting goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick before half-time and lead the Menace into the break with a three-goal cushion.

Peckham didn’t take their foot off the gas and scored almost immediately after the restart, Cani with a dribble and drive placed past the goalkeeper. He would have to wait only a quarter of an hour for his fifth, beating the ‘keeper at his near post.

Town were flying, and Kevin Dance got in on the scoring act, firing a shot across

goal that found its way inside the upright.

Bexley scored a consolation goal through Billy Peck, but the rout was completed by Peckham Town substitute Herve Mbongue.

Peckham head coach Mary Philip was pleased with the result and performance but remains focused on the big picture.

She said: “The sands of time are fast running out and we need to keep the pressure up on those above us if we are to achieve our target.”

Peckham Town lie fourth in the table,

with three games left to play, all of which are away from the Menace Arena.

They visit eighth-placed Tudor Sports this Saturday, April 6.

Peckham Town: Tommy Hobson; Youssef Bouimane, Hiram LaudAnderson, Alfie Ball, Benson Aderibigbe; Kevin Dance, Ali Amisu, Lukmon Mojeed, Saheed Sadiq, Nicky Meta; Klajdi Cani.

Substitutes: Herve Mbongue, Larry McArdle, Lewis McIntyre, Hady Traore, Jay Virgo.

36 SPORT www.southwarknews.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

Millwall fight like Lions – but relentless Leeds take points

By John Kelly at Elland Road

CH A M P I O N S H I P

LEEDS UTD- 3 MILLWALL - 2

Hernández 34', 83', Ayling 71' Thompson 10', Marshall 55'

Date: Saturday March 30, 2019 Attendance: 34,910 Man of the match: Luke Ayling Referee: Darren Bond

THE LINE-UPS 1 Peacock-Farrell

2 Ayling

18 Jansson

19 Hernandez

11 Roberts

Clarke 67

6 Cooper

23 Phillips

9 Bamford

Forshaw 75

9 Gregory 44 Marshall 3 Meredith O’Brien 84’

4-1-3-1-1

43 Klich

8 Thompson Elliot 87’

18 Tunnicliffe Morison 86’

5 Cooper

28 Leonard 16 Martin

15 Pearce

4-1-4-1

10 Alioski

Douglas 45’

22 Harrison

7 Wallace 12 Romeo

Head to Head 69%

1815

8

7

151

Possession Shots

Shots on target Corners Fouls

Main photo: Ben Marshall wheels away to celebrate his penalty Inset: Pablo Hernandez fires in Leeds' first equaliser

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

31% 7

3

2

11

IF MILLWALL are to go down this season it won’t be difficult to identify what their Achilles heel was.

Drawing 2-2 at Elland Road with ten minutes left, the Lions were in familiar territory, only for the all-too familiar ending to follow.

They conceded again, seven minutes from time, to drop a crucial point, leaving them just one point above Rotherham with eight games left.

Pablo Hernandez’ goal was the seventeenth Millwall have conceded after the 80th minute of league games this season, costing them fifteen points.

For comparison, last season Neil Harris’ side conceded five goals after the 80th minute of Championship games.

Some of it is easy to identify and goes all the way back to the opening game, when Millwall conceded in the 87th and 97th minutes against Middlesbrough. For the first, Mahlon Romeo failed to make a routine clearance, was robbed of possession in the box, and was punished.

Unfortunately for Romeo, his poor kick last Saturday rebounded off Barry Douglas to Jack Harrison, who returned it to the full-back to cross for Luke Ayling to head in Leeds’ second. It gave Marcelo Bielsa’s side unstoppable momentum, in front of a sold-out and deafening Elland Road, and Hernandez scored his second to bag his side three points.

We’re not singling out Romeo for criticism – especially after he assisted Ben Thompson’s opener and instigated the move for the second – it’s just that in this particular bookended example he’s the common denominator.

Plenty of other players have made individual errors leading to the concession of those late goals, from giving possession away cheaply, to just simply not doing the basic things like marking in the penalty area. The 4-3 defeat to Norwich at Carrow

Road springs to mind there.

Some of it could be down to mental and physical fatigue. Millwall have averaged less than 44 per cent possession in the league this season. They’ve had less possession than their opponents in 30 out of 38 Championship games.

That’s a lot of chasing after the ball, a lot of maintaining concentration, tracking opposition runners and keeping defensive shape. Romeo looked exhausted when he swung his leg at the ball before Leeds’ second.

Millwall have already conceded thirteen more goals than in all of last season, though at least their defensive record is far better than the three sides below them in the table.

Based on a performance like Saturday’s, Millwall will stay up. Whereas defeats for the sides around them tend to be moraledamaging, that’s not the case for Harris’ players. There were lots of positives to take home from Yorkshire.

In a hostile, howling ground, they took the game to opponents chasing automatic promotion. They immediately created chances, Ben Marshall seeing an early shot blocked.

And Millwall produced some delightful

football, with Thompson, playing with so much confidence and style, at the heart of one early move. Lee Gregory chested down to the midfielder who quickly changed direction and found Wallace. The winger cut in from the right, and Bailey Peacock-Farrell had to dive low to his left to save.

In the tenth minute Wallace swept a pass out to Romeo on the right. The defender had a lot to do but chipped a cross into the box and Thompson stormed in to head home his fourth goal in six games.

Thompson, despite playing just nine games, is Millwall’s fifth-top scorer this season. An indicator of his improved scoring prowess, but also of the struggles of Millwall’s forwards. If he hits the same levels over the last eight games of the season and helps keep Millwall up, Thompson could genuinely be in contention for the club’s player of the year.

Then came David Martin’s deserved, redemptive moment. Wallace was the villain, fouling Ezgjan Alioski. Patrick Bamford stepped up, but Martin’s trailing right leg as he dived left knocked the ball clear.

Frustratingly, Millwall were the authors of their own downfall in the 34th minute

when Wallace gave away the ball on a promising counter-attack. Leeds broke rapidly, Ayling surging into the box and Hernandez fired home the right-back’s low cross.

It was a relentlessly compelling game.

Bielsa’s side threatened to overwhelm the visitors early in the second half, Douglas on to add fresh attacking energy down Leeds’ left. Not what Romeo or Wallace wanted to see.

But ten minutes after the break, Romeo brilliantly sprung forward from right-back with the ball, Wallace took over and Leeds had left Marshall free to charge into the box to collect the pass. He cut inside, Liam Cooper’s trailing leg took him down, and Marshall sent Peacock-Farrell the wrong way from the spot for his first goal since his return from Norwich.

Some Leeds fans reacted by firing objects towards the celebrating Lions players, and there was more controversy when Pontus Jansson took out Wallace. The defender was lucky not to see red for using his elbow.

It summed up Millwall’s luck this season.

Bielsa took off the frothing Jansson, sent on winger Jack Clarke and with midfielder Kalvin Phillips dropping into defence they had even more attacking dynamism.

Millwall held out until nineteen minutes from time, but tiredness had set in and Leeds refused to relent. Tyler Roberts attacked on the left and crossed for Hernandez to slide in the winner that returned them to second in the Championship.

The Lions have a different objective.

After promotion in 2017 Steve Morison said he would take fourth-last the next season in the Championship. They would certainly take it now.

TUNLUCKY

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

www.newsatden.co.uk

Ryan Tunnicliffe in action against Everton in Millwall's FA Cup fourth-round win

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

RYAN TUNNICLIFFE has admitted he has felt “unlucky” to be left out of the Millwall side so often this season – believing he has performed well whenever he has worn the shirt.

Tunnicliffe has started fourteen of Millwall’s 38 league games this season, a number boosted by a suspension for Ryan Leonard and injury to Shaun Williams.

Tunnicliffe’s standing this campaign was perhaps best summed up when he started in the epic 3-2 FA Cup fourthround win over Everton, but was back on the bench for the next Championship game, a 0-0 draw at home to Rotherham.

Many Lions fans felt he was harddone-by, and after the win over the Toffees he didn’t start another game for a month.

But he has started Millwall’s last two league games, impressing in the win against Birmingham and despite the Lions’ 3-2 loss at Leeds last Saturday.

Tunnicliffe respects his boss Neil Harris’ selection calls, even if he doesn’t always agree with them.

“Personally I would feel like I’ve been unlucky this year,” Tunnicliffe told the News. “When I’ve had the chance I’ve played well.

“It’s not my decision to make. The gaffer doesn’t make a decision against me or anything like that, he makes a decision based on what he thinks is best for the team to win a game.

“When a manager tells you you’re not playing you can’t do anything, you just have to accept it. I can understand it. I might not agree with it but I’ve got to

keep my head down and keep working.

“He saw fit to put me in the team against Birmingham and we won that game. Then again against Leeds, we lost but I think I did alright.

“That’s all I can do when I get the shirt – perform.”

Tunnicliffe enjoyed the added freedom against Birmingham, when he and Ben Thompson were asked to get up in support of lone striker Lee Gregory, with Ryan Leonard playing in a holding midfield role.

Former Fulham midfielder Tunnicliffe had to rein in his attacking instincts at Elland Road, where Millwall led 2-1 against the automatic promotion-chasers with just nineteen minutes left.

“We changed it a bit against Leeds because we were away from home, I was tasked with a bit more of a disciplined role rather than trying to get beyond Greggs at every opportunity,” Tunnicliffe continued. “That was left to Thommo and it paid off with the goal that he scored.

“It’s trying to get that balance between supporting Jed [Wallace], Marshy [Ben Marshall] and the front man and not leaving Lenny isolated.

“That suits me to a tee, running box to box and using my energy to make things happen going forward while making sure to get back and help out defensively.

“It was part of the game plan to slow it down in patches if they were on top, quieten the crowd. We knew they were going to be up for it but we quietened them with an early goal.

“They didn’t strike back straightaway so they got a bit edgy. We were still in it with fifteen minutes to go but unfortunately we’ve managed to lose it.

“The gaffer has said it many times, at this level playing against teams of that quality all you’ve got to do is switch off

once in 90 minutes and they’ll punish you.

“Fair play to them, they capitalised on it.”

Tunnicliffe has enjoyed seeing Thompson flourish since his return from his loan spell at Portsmouth.

“I’m really impressed with him since he came back,” Tunnicliffe said. “I don’t think he’s improved as a player, as in he wasn’t very good last year and now he’s a good player. Last year he didn’t play many games, but he went out, played for a good team in Portsmouth at the top end of the league and it’s just confidence with him.

“He’s brought that back here and scored some really good goals, he’s flying.”

Thompson missed the FA Cup quarterfinal against Brighton, when Tunnicliffe scored from the penalty spot but Millwall lost 5-4 in the shootout.

As a former Manchester United player, he doesn’t quite buy the idea that the Lions are better off not facing Manchester City at Wembley this weekend.

He said: “It was probably a once-in-alifetime opportunity to get the chance to play such a good team like City at Wembley in an FA Cup semi-final. They don’t come around too often.

“We would have preferred to go through but it didn’t happen so we focus solely on staying in the league.

“The FA Cup’s a one-off and then going to Leeds to score two goals, it was a very good performance. Unfortunately we had some sloppy defending and switched off at key moments and we end up conceding three goals to lose the game.

“You can be slightly happy with the performances, but I’d take a scruffy 1-0 win. Performance isn’t everything. The

SPORT 37

Midfielder feels his performances have merited more starts points are all we need from now on to stay in the league.”

Had the Lions held on for those last few seconds against the Seagulls, their league fixture against West Brom would have been moved to this midweek.

Instead, the clash against the Baggies is on its scheduled date, this Saturday at The Den, and Tunnicliffe believes home form will determine whether the Lions survive.

“You do look at the fixture list, see who we’ve got at home, who away. We’ve got five at home and I think that’s where we’re going to pick up the majority of our points.

“We’ve got Sheffield United and Villa away, they’re going to be tough games against good teams. With five games at The Den we’ve got to be looking to pick up a lot of points there and get enough to keep us in the league.”

Ryan recalls ‘surreal’ Ole days

THERE IS one Millwall player with a keen interest in the fortunes of the new full-time Manchester United manager – after he once hung on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s every word.

Ryan Tunnicliffe played for Solskjaer when the Norwegian was manager of United’s reserves from 2008 to 2011.

Tunnicliffe then graduated to United’s first team when he made his debut against Newcastle United in 2012 – earning his dad, Mick, £10,000 from a 100/1 bet made ten years previously, when his son was nine.

Tunnicliffe won the FA Youth Cup with the Red Devils, when his teammates included Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba.

He believes United are in safe hands.

“It was madness for me from growing up being a United fan and seeing the stuff that he did, and to then turn up one day and see he was our new reserves manager was surreal,” Tunnicliffe said.

“As a young lad there you just listen to every word that he says and try and take everything in because he was such a great player.

“He’s someone you trust, and being so young you look up to him. Pogba was in the same reserve team, so was Jesse, so they’ve had that relationship prior. He knows how to manage them, how to speak to them and how to get the best out of them. Pogba certainly played well under him in the reserves.

“He’s a fresh face, a club legend who gave everyone a lift. You get those first wins and then momentum keeps it going. Look where they are now, and he’s got the job.”

FOUNTAIN OF YO

38 MILLWALL www.newsatden.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

LAST WEEK, a club-record eight young players signed their first professional deals with Millwall.

George Alexander, Reuben Duncan, Billy Mitchell, Sam Skeffington, Besart Topalloj, Joe Wright, Junior Tiensia and Rob Strachan were all offered their first professional contracts, with hopes high they can progress to Neil Harris’ first team.

But it wasn’t all celebration, as two young players, Harry Taylor and Lewis West, were told they were not being offered professional deals.

That news was delivered to each player individually by Scott Fitzgerald, who started his career at

Wimbledon before playing for Millwall between 1997 and 2000. He became Lions youth team manager in December 2007 and is currently the club’s head of academy.

In 2012, Fitzgerald oversaw the club moving to Category Two status under the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP).

Millwall fans have had glimpses this season of the results of the work being done underage at the club, from the under18s’ FA Youth Cup extra-time loss to a Tottenham side that had just beaten Barcelona, to 14-year-old Darko Gyabi’s £1million-plus move to Manchester City.

This week, the News spoke to Fitzgerald about that move, the process of finding players, Harris’ input, and the importance that young players can see a pathway to the first team.

Southwark News: You delivered good news to eight players last week – but what happens now for the other two?

Scott Fitzgerald: We get to the decision straightaway. We offer them exit routes.

So we invite the boys back in the following week.

They get the decision on the day and then the following week they come back and get feedback from all the departments, the technical and tactical side. We put video clips together for them, there’s the sports science programme – where they came in at, where they finished at – and then we send it all out to the other 91 league clubs.

It’s emotional for everybody because some of those guys have been with us since they were nine. You get to know the parents, the siblings. It’s a tough day.

SN: Can you remember when you were told by Wimbledon you had earned a p ro f e s s i o n a l deal?

SF: Yes, I can remember the money I was offered! For me, when I sat in my meeting with

Millwall's head of academy, Scott Fitzgerald

the manager (Bobby Gould) it wasn’t a negotiation, it was: “This is the offer.”

I didn’t even bat an eyelid, it wasn’t, “I could do with another £25.” I was just delighted to be offered a professional contract.

I was living with my parents at the time.

It was £75 a week – but it was a long time ago! But it wasn’t about the money, it was about carving out a professional career for myself.

The money will come if you’re good enough and you get the opportunity.

SN: How many people at Millwall are involved in making decisions over young players?

SF: For the professional contracts, what I do is hold meetings with all the relevant staff. That would be all the disciplines: education, sports science and medicine, and coaching.

We would all get together, we’ve got all the data from the time they came into us. How high they jumped when they were twelve to how high they’re jumping now. We have all the physical data, all the football data, video clips.

It’s not just one meeting, it’s a series of meetings over the year. I’ll meet with the first-team staff as well and the under-23s coaches. The way our club works, it’s very inclusive.

The manager [Harris] and the firstteam staff will know every one of those boys and will have watched them a number of times. So they’ll have their opinions.

SN: What areas do you look for players, and what is the competition to sign them like?

SF: We predominantly look in south London, London and we do look outside London. But when I first came in I wanted us to be the best in south London.

Within south London you’ve got Palace and Charlton. Not only that, I think everybody knows south London is a hotbed of talent – Ruben LoftusCheek at Chelsea, for example, and I’m sure you could name quite a few more.

So the big clubs are active in south London.

We’re trying to battle the two other clubs but everybody is here.

We have eight scouts who are paid and about ten to twelves scouts who are voluntary. About 20 scouts in total.

SN: How old are the youngest players scouted?

SF: From seven to 23. They can’t officially sign for us until they’re nine.

We would approach the parents and the

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OUTH Southwark News, Thursday April 4 2019

club to seek permission for them to come in. We’ve got lots of links with local Sunday teams and schools.

They can still play for their Sunday teams but come in to train with us once a week.

Because they can’t sign for anyone they can train for us, Palace and Charlton at the same time, but when they get to nine they have to make a decision or we have to make a decision.

SN: How do young players acquire agents?

SF: Through a variety of avenues.

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Millwall aim to be the best in south London

Through social media, which is quite sad. Through other players in the team.

It’s not supposed to happen [under the age of sixteen], it’s illegal. Does it happen? Of course it does. It’s a terrible thing that’s in football. The authorities need to be better.

But promises are made, and some parents fall for that. I can only see it getting worse.

It’s up to the FA but it’s difficult to enforce. There’s the destabilising of kids that are happy at a club, then the promise of being able to get them to another club.

Ultimately agents don’t earn money without moving someone on at the younger age groups.

SN: Does the money from Darko Gyabi’s transfer to Manchester City all go back into the youth set-up?

SF: When that happens you need to invest again in recruitment to find the next one.

If we were to just sell and put it all back into the club coffers it’s going to dry up pretty quickly.

There’s a long-term vision and strategy here of how we’re going to do it and everyone buys into it.

It was one of the scouts who found him. He’d been in with us three years and did really well, progressed really quickly. Some boys pick it up really quickly, some don’t, there’s not just one pathway for everybody.

He did really well for us.

SN: Is it frustrating when you lose a player like that? Is it too young for a player to move?

SF: I think it’s too young. I think there’s a wider issue than just football.

There’s a lot to be said for growing up in the area you’re from with your friends and socialising with your friends. It is an issue.

I think there’s an issue with bigger clubs hoovering up the best talent, but they can only play eleven players at any one time.

You look at a couple of clubs – I won’t name them – that have 30, 40 players out on loan. I don’t think that’s healthy for English football.

I think players should be identified and play at their clubs until they’re a certain age, and then if they want to move on they can move on.

For me, yes, it’s frustrating. When I first came in there seemed to an appetite to sell players, but the chairman now doesn’t want that.

As a staff we’re really keen to get our players into the first team, that’s our main goal.

Billy Mitchell (right) celebrates his goal against Tottenham in the FA Youth Cup with George Alexander

MILLWALL 39

SN: Are there any changes you’d like to see made to help clubs like Millwall?

SF: The academies are basically governed by the Premier League, and the Premier League want the best players there.

Rule changes when they come in are most probably from the Premier League, so I don’t see wholesale changes in what they do.

Compensation would be, for me, higher to make it more difficult for

clubs to take players, to make them think twice about taking a player.

I think the way it’s currently set is a drop in the ocean for them.

SN: Is there a target for a percentage of the first-team squad to be home-grown?

SF: We’ve got KPIs [key performance indicators] for the academy set by Steve [Kavanagh, Lions chief executive] and the board. They’re assessed every six months, where we’re at. We have longterm goals and short-term goals.

We assess them at the end of each season and set new targets.

SN: Neil Harris has been first-team manager for almost four years - how important is that stability for the youth set-up?

SF: For me, it’s so important that there’s stability at the club. We are a very stable club. We had Kenny Jackett for a number of years – a couple of managers in between – and now Neil’s been in the post a few years.

The first-team staff are settled, so we know what it looks like at the top and we can work backwards from there.

That’s really, really important.

SN: What are you looking for in nine-year-old players?

SF: As it gets closer to Neil’s side it gets tighter. Really at the beginning we’re looking for talent, attitude.

The attitude will always be the thing, even at a young age. We’re looking for the players that when the chips are down they’re still out there trying to be the best.

SN: At what age group do they start mirroring the formation, style of the first team?

SF: It’s not so much about systems, it’s about principles. The manager can play 4-4-2, but at the younger age groups we give the players a flavour of a number of systems because the next manager, or five managers down the line, they might want to do something slightly different.

But I don’t think the principles will ever change in terms of the effort, the attitude. That’s what we try to instil in them.

SN: How important is it for those young players to see someone like Ben Thompson breaking through?

SF: It’s massive. If the parents and players can’t see what we call a ‘poster boy’, someone who’s come through the system, then they’ll question whether

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there is a pathway.

We hadn’t had a pathway for a number of years previously, and now we’ve got two or three players in the first-team squad. Those guys are brilliant because they come back and talk to the players.

That’s really, really important.

SN: Millwall discontinued the academy some years ago, then started it up again. What was behind both?

SF: When I came in it was called an academy or a centre of excellence. We were running as an academy and I wasn’t involved in those decisions.

They felt they weren’t getting value for money so decided to drop from an academy to a centre of excellence.

And then EPPP came in six, seven years ago and you had a decision to make which way you were going to go, whether it was Category One, Two, Three or Four.

Most probably the equivalent would have been Category Three, but the club decided to go Category Two. The club have committed money to the academy over the last six, seven years.

It’s a substantial amount of money and the club want a return on that.

SN: When he became manager, Harris said he wanted to restore the club’s identity. How much does that permeate down through the youth system?

SF: I’ve known Neil a long time. I know the type of person he is. For me, everything he stands for is what the club stand for but also what I stand for.

It fitted really nicely between the three parties. We knew that he was going to be open to young players. For everybody in the academy it was great that he was getting the job.

But ultimately the players have to be good enough. It doesn’t matter about relationships, if the players aren’t good enough Neil won’t play them.

SN: What’s the next step for these eight players, are there continued conversations?

SF: It never stops. Aiden O’Brien, Ben Thompson, we still speak to them, see them once or twice every week. We still have conversations about life, playing, if they’re not doing so well maybe they’ll come over and speak to us, speak to me. We’ll have a conversation and reassure them.

If they’re doing well, pat them on the back but say, ‘keep going, you can do better’. The care never stops.

INSIDE

Sport Southwark

The run-in: Hamlet have five games to save season

Page 34

Millwall boss issues rallying call to supporters

CLIFFE EDGE

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

NEIL HARRIS is calling on fans to give his side a “big push” over the final weeks of the season and play their part in helping Millwall avoid relegation.

Millwall have eight games left starting with West Brom at home this Saturday when Harris wants supporters to create a cup atmosphere at The Den. Five of the Lions’ remaining fixtures are in south Bermondsey.

“I understand, at this stage of the

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

RYAN TUNNICLIFFE has had talks with Neil Harris over his future – but the midfielder doesn’t know if he will be a Millwall player next season.

Tunnicliffe, 26, has recently regained his place in the side, making his 50th Lions appearance against Brighton in the FA Cup. Former Manchester United player

season, it’s been expensive watching Championship football up and down the country,” Harris said.

“But we need a big push now with four weeks left of the season. We need the support, we need the spectators to come and lift us.

“We’re in a period when we’re playing well but haven’t necessarily got the results we’ve deserved. When you’re in spells like this at Millwall you need everybody in it together. We need the fans to get behind us when there are spells in the game when we haven’t got the ball or we’re under the cosh or looking a bit leggy, the fans need to help

us through.

“I know I regularly ask for the fans’ support but that’s what this football club is. It’s their club and there will be no stone left unturned, no energy left on that pitch on Saturday from the staff and the players.

“We need to make it a Millwall occasion, a Millwall atmosphere. It was enough to see off Everton, almost enough to see off Brighton. It’s been enough to see us beat Derby, Villa, outperform Boro and Leeds.

“West Brom is

See the full frank interview with Ryan Tunnicliffe on page 37

Midfielder Ryan is out of contract this summer

Tunnicliffe joined after leaving Fulham in the summer of 2017, signing a twoyear contract.

He found himself behind Shaun Williams and George Saville in Harris’ plans last season, and this season didn’t start a league game after the signing of Ryan Leonard until December against Bristol City, when Leonard was suspended.

An injury to Williams then gave him a chance to cement his first-team place, and

he scored the only goal of the game against Nottingham Forest on December 29.

Tunnicliffe lost his place in the side again when Williams returned, but he has kept Millwall’s third-choice captain out of the team for the last two league games.

Tunnicliffe is one of a number of Lions players out of contract this summer, and admits the uncertainty over which division the club will be in next season could affect whether he is

another one and then we go into London derbies with QPR and Brentford.

They’re the games that we’ve performed well in.

“Are we the underdogs against West Brom? Yeah, we are, definitely. That’s when we’re at our best, we showed it Saturday at Leeds, we had no fear and took the game to them.

“Against West Brom it’ll be the same and my message to the fans is: Come and support us Saturday, get behind the team.

“We’re playing Championship football against some good players and great clubs, and we’ll be having a right go.”

offered a new deal.

Millwall are just a point above the drop zone.

“I’ve always said I’ve got to get into the team, try to do as well as I can to keep my place and then stuff like that comes,” Tunnicliffe said.

“Regarding a contract, I don’t know what the manager is thinking. I spoke to him a few weeks back but the club is trying to stay in the league so I guess he doesn’t want to make any decisions at the

moment when the future is not clear.

“Hopefully I’ll stay in the team, do well and force him to make a decision to offer me a new deal.”

Tunnicliffe admits he wants to continue playing in the Championship.

He added: “It’s where I’ve played all my career. Everyone wants to be playing at the highest level they can but, honestly, I’m not really thinking about going down.

“We need to win however many games to keep Millwall in the league, that’s the priority at the moment. Hopefully I’ll have played well enough to earn a new deal.”

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