26th March 2020

Page 23

Issue 1472

Established: 1987

50p

March 26 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk

A plague on our elderly: how are carers and care homes coping?

lockdown too late?

Anger as selfish minority flout rules  The true picture behind the local stats  Albins are last keyworkers on frontline

Exclusive: Life’s a pitch - Den plans on hold Goodbye to SE5’s master chair maker Page 10

Classes and food home-delivered in East Dulwich

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Harvey’s disabled badge stolen Page 8

2 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Contents NEWS Pages 2-12

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

Have a free advert on us!

OPINION Pages 12-13 community notices Page 14 arts Page 15 HISTORY Page 16 jobs Page 17 classified Page 18 PROPERTY Page 19 Public notices Pages 20-21 SPORT Pages 22-24

We are a London Living Wage employer Do you have a story

for our news team?

Call 0207 231 5258 You can WhatsApp us on 07494 070 863.

We’ve spent these past ten days trying to respond to the unfolding Coronavirus situation, and working out how to keep people abreast of what’s happening locally.

We’ve set up a live blog at w w w. s o u t hwa r k n e w s . c o . u k / n e w s / coronavirus-live-updates and our hardworking journalists are updating this throughout every day, to bring people in south east London up-to-date information about this frightening pandemic, as well as telling you what local businesses and organisations are doing to survive and help their community.

We also want to do our bit to support local business. So we’ve decided to give you all free digital advertising during this crisis.

For any independent or family-run business in the four boroughs of south east London that we cover – Southwark,

The independent businesses of south London are its lifeblood. We want you to survive and thrive.

Greenwich, Lewisham and Lambeth – we’re going to pay our brilliant designers Dan and Aurelio to create an online advert for you, which we’ll run for a month at no cost.

We have 200,000 local people who look at our sites each month, with some 700,000 page views. We hope that many of you will ask us to do this, and we’ll do our very best to get every one of you on.

And if you’re an independent business in our manor, tell us what you’re doing to keep the doors open, or what you’re doing to help people in our community – we’ll promote it

for free, online and through our social media channels to tens of thousands of followers.

You can call us, email us ads@ southwarknews.co.uk or contact us through social media platforms.

We are also launching an online contribution page for our Southwark News site southwarknews.co.uk/contribute to help us to keep providing news. We would be grateful for any contributions readers may feel able to make.

The Southwark News is the only remaining independent paid-for paper in London, and

we’re very proud of it.

And we’re proud of our vibrant lifestyle titles: Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender, Urban Fox, and the Bermondsey Biscuit & Rotherhithe Docker, and of our online Southwark News and Millwall site, News At Den. But most of all, we’re proud of the people who work for us – we have a fantastic team of south London people, who live and breathe it, pretty much round the clock.

The two of us have lived and worked in south east London for over twenty years, if not longer. We love it. And you, the independent businesses, are the lifeblood.

We want you to survive and thrive.

We think you will. When this crisis is over, whether it takes weeks or months, we want to know we've done everything we could to keep us all going strong.

So get in touch.

Chris and Kev

The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London Editor: Kevin Quinn Deputy Editor: Katherine Johnston Chief Reporter: Josh Salisbury Sports Editor: John Kelly Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Weekender Series Editor: Laura Burgoine Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Sales Manager: Tammy Jukes Advertising: Clarry Frewin, Lorraine Wood, Samantha Ratcliffe Design: Dan Martin, Aurelio Medina Finance: Em Zeki Subscriptions/Announcements: Katie Boyd Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Published weekly on a Thursday at: Unit A302, The Biscuit Factory, Drummond Road, Bermondsey, London SE16 4DG. News and Sport: 020 7231 5258 Advertising: 020 7232 1639 News: news@southwarknews.co.uk Advertising: ads@southwarknews.co.uk Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500 www.iliffeprint.co.uk

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.

Follow our social media to be updated on South London news

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Southwark News is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 0207 231 5258.

If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

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job losses at borough market?

Police: Beware the scammers

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk Southwark police say they have received reports of people pretending to be coronavirus testers to take advantage of the vulnerable.

Reports of people pretending to be police during the coronavirus crisis in a bid to gain access to homes have also been received.

Officers at Southwark Met urged those who are targeted to call 999 if anyone appears on their doorstep claiming to be conducting coronavirus tests.

“We have heard reports that people may be taking advantage of vulnerable by posing as door-to-door coronavirus testers or Police to gain access to people’s properties,” said Southwark officers last week. “Nobody is conducting such tests.”

While thousands of Southwark residents have used this crisis to display only generosity to their neighbours, officials warn: “Fraudsters may well use this unprecedented situation to prey on others.

“They may try to target those assisting vulnerable people or those in self isolation, sending coronavirus-themed phishing emails in an attempt to get them to open malicious attachments or revealing person and financial details.”

Cops have urged those at risk to always check with someone they trust if they are unsure about a person’s credentials, or check with police.

Met advice on fraud can be found on the Met website at met.police.uk.

NEWS 3

Four men attack sainsbury store The supermarkets are under a tremendous amount of pressure

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk Four men were arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage after an incident at the New Kent Road Sainsbury’s last week.

Cops were called at around 10.50pm Wednesday night to the Elephant and Castle supermarket after staff reported six men entering the shop and concealing spirits in their clothes.

When confronted, the men apparently became “hostile and threatening,” said the Met. After they left, one of the men allegedly picked up a sign outside the shop and use it to damage the window.

Police then arrested four men – aged 20, 21, 21 and 22 – near the scene on suspicion of theft and

criminal damage.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, “Our Sainsbury’s Elephant & Castle store is open and we are supporting the police with their enquiries.​" Supermarkets are under tremendous amounts of pressure as the coronavirus crisis continues to rage, with shoppers stockpiling essentials.

The authorities have asked that this be avoided, as it puts foodstuffs out of the reach of those who most need it.

At a press conference last week, the secretary of state responsible for food, George Eustice, reassured shoppers that the food supply chain is robust.

He also queried why shoppers were hoarding supplies of common goods such as toilet roll, when they are made in the UK and there is no shortage of them.

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk A slew of staff ranging from senior management to cleaners have lost their jobs at Borough Market over the coronavirus crisis.

A raft of jobs are threatened as crowds are ordered to stay away from the normally bustling tourist destination.

These job losses are understood to include senior managerial posts but also security guards and cleaning staff, with up to half of market personnel affected.

According to a source, the decision was made last week, only a day before the Chancellor unveiled his coronavirus jobs retention scheme.

This scheme means that the Government will pay up to 80 per cent of salary of workers who have lost their roles over the crisis, as all but the most essential venues have been ordered to close.

Darren Henaghan, the market's managing director, confirmed that job losses were made last week - but said they would now be reviewed following the scheme outlined by the government.

The move does not affect the market's traders, or those the traders employ themselves.

“Like so many other organisations, we are wrestling with the severe impact of the coronavirus outbreak,” said Mr Henaghan.

“Our priority has to be securing a

viable future while still supporting our traders.

“With deep sadness we had to tell some of our marvellous staff – across all levels including senior management – that their roles were at risk.”

Mr Henaghan did not say whether all the market would make an application to the retention jobs scheme for each and every single employee who was told they would lose their job.

In response to follow up questions by the News, a spokesman added that the market is waiting to hear back on the detail of the scheme.

“These discussions took place before the Chancellor’s announcement concerning relief available for employees,” said the market's managing director. “We now have new options to review.”

Last week the market's senior staff vowed that it would survive the coronavirus outbreak, as it had previously withstood wars and the London Bridge terror attack.

Officials at the world-renowned marketplace had also pledged they would roll out deliveries of traders' foodstuffs to anywhere within the M25.

At the time of writing, the market remained open as it supplied foodstuffs. Outdoor food markets are the one exception to the government's order for all markets to close on Monday night.

Other 'non-essential' outlets have also been forced to shut their doors, including electrical shops and beauty salons among others.

4 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

Keep your distance!

Full lockdown comes but selfish minority still ignores rules

coronavirus: the true picture behind the stats

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk Southwark is the at epicentre of the coronavirus crisis – holding an unenviable position of logging among the highest numbers of confirmed cases in the country daily.

The speed at which Covid-19 has developed will have no doubt caught many by surprise.

Just two weeks ago, the number of cases in our borough could have been counted on your fingers, with nine cases.

Now, at the time of writing on Wednesday morning, there are more than twenty times as many cases at 187.

This is the fourth-highest of any local authority area in the country, with neighbouring Lambeth behind only Hampshire with its recording of 188 confirmed cases.

What, then, do these stats tell us about Covid-19 in our area? Firstly, it’s important to note that these are only confirmed cases.

The number of actual cases is thought to be much higher. At the moment, testing is concentrated on those in hospitals.

The majority of people who catch coronavirus are asked to isolate at home and are not tested, and so are not counted in the totals.

It can be tricky to know from the statistics published by government how many of these people logged as having coronavirus in Southwark actually live here.

Responding to questions from the News, a Public Health England

CORONAVIRUS CASES in Southwark in March

spokeswoman said the statistics aimed to show those who lived in Southwark who had coronavirus.

But in some cases, they will be logged by the hospital they are seen at, rather than where they live.

“It intends to show borough of residence for each case, with the caveat that there will be occasions where cases are allocated by the hospital where they were tested rather than home address,” she said.

“The statisticians then ‘clean’ the data over time, ie checking postcodes, so we might see slight shifts in the figures by local authority as time goes by.”

The stats are partly-influenced by the major hospitals serving Southwark, including Guy’s and St Thomas’, which is one of the UK’s specialist infectious disease centres, and was where at the start of the outbreak, many patients were transferred.

Figures too, include not just those who have got the coronavirus now, but also those who have recovered according to council officials.

There are other reasons why coronavirus might have appeared to taken a hold in Southwark compared to other local authorities across the country.

As an inner-city London borough, Southwark is quite dense, meaning people are more likely to come into contact with one another, despite the instruction to socially distance.

“Southwark’s figures appear higher as we began testing earlier than many other boroughs and the figures include patients who have recovered,” said Southwark Council leader Cllr Peter John.

“Social distancing is particularly hard in central London, with so many people tightly packed together.

“It’s also really tough on residents with limited or no outdoor space and where they are already overcrowded and awaiting bigger homes.

“Homelessness has long been a problem in central London and Southwark Council has the largest local authority social housing stock in London with 55,000 homes, the majority made up of flats.

“This was always going to be a challenge in both housing and public health terms.”

There are things that scientists and researchers still do not fully know over the epidemiology of coronavirus, say Tooley Street officials, and we are yet to learn completely what we can do to prevent the spread of viruses in densely populated areas like Southwark.

“We are yet to learn everything about how the virus spreads, and what we should do in the future to mitigate the spread of viruses in densely populated areas,” added Cllr John.

“We are working hard to support residents with social distancing and during isolation and disseminating Government information.

“The council is closely following the advice of the Government on health and safety while officers continue with critical business such as emergency repairs and maintaining lifts and communal areas.

“During the crisis, local authorities still have to fulfil essential front line work to keep residents safe, warm and dry in their homes.”

187

110

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9

11th

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13 13th

28

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33

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16th

58

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70

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134

139

21th

22th

154

82

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23th

24th

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Parks, markets and public spaces were as busy as ever over the weekend, as shoppers and socialisers flouted government calls to avoid all non essential social contact and stand two metres apart at all times.

Council leader Peter John urged the public to stop treating the sunny weather like another bank holiday - but it seemed, for a significant minority, to fall on deaf ears.

Meanwhile markets like East Street and Herne Hill market were bustling, with some traders imposing the two metre rule more strongly than others.

But even by Tuesday, after the

lockdown was announced, appalled residents were still reporting people brazenly contravening the new rules.

One twitter user, writing under the name of Amy, saying she worked in a Sainsbury’s, said: “One woman came in twice today, told me the first time her scratchcard was essential. Second time, her scratchcard purchase was her exercise.”

The News also heard reports the skate park at Peckham Rye Park was unlocked on Tuesday, and the tennis courts at Southwark Park were in full use.

Resident James Piper told us on Monday lunchtime: “So just went to Burgess Park for a lunch run (one bit of exercise for the day) and there are loads of people having picnics, fishing, in groups of two plus, etc. Why are the Met Police not over there stopping this?”

Herne Hill resident, Corinna, shared on neighbourhood website NextDoor on Monday: “Today I was shocked how many people were standing chatting to each other in groups and not distancing.

“Many groups were blocking the paths so others couldn't walk past at a safe distance. How selfish. I expect the park will have to be closed now, missing the spring beauty, it was the only thing keeping me sane working from home and not seeing friends and family. If you were one of these people, the closing of the park is on you!”

Len ‘the Gent’ passes

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk Emotional tributes have been paid to a Camberwell grandfather who sadly passed away from coronavirus at King's College Hospital last week.

Len Mills, aged 87, was being treated at the hospital in Denmark Hill where he tested positive for the virus – which the family allege would have been contracted on the ward.

He sadly passed away as a result of Covid-19 and underlying health conditions on Thursday.

Family have paid emotional tribute to Len, an ex-painter and decorator, as an "old school gentleman."

"You never saw my grandad unhappy," said grandson Dean, aged 31. "If he wasn't smiling there would've been a major problem.

"He was the life and soul of everything,

he was the backbone of our family – everyone would come to grandad's house to visit."

King's College Hospital has previously told this paper that it follows rigourous disease control and prevention measures after being asked about Len's care.

As a young man, Len had been a promising footballer – playing for Brentford Youth and other local London teams – before becoming a painter and decorator.

Brentford remained his favourite club, but he remained a footie fanatic of all kinds. "He was forever watching it on the telly," Dean said.

He was well-known in Camberwell, where he lived all his life, and he remained active even well into his older years.

"He always lived in Camberwell, everyone knew him. He never wanted to move out of that house," Dean told the News.

"We used to say, 'we'll help you grandad' and he would say, 'No I'll do it.'"

Until about fifteen years ago, he could be seen climbing a ladder to do a spot of his own painting and decorating at his home near Brunswick Park.

Sadly, only nine months ago, Len's wife Shirley also passed away from cancer.

"He was heart-broken from that. Now they're reunited, that's the best way to think about it. said Dean.

"He was an old-school gentleman, that's the best way to describe my grandad."

Len is survived by three sons, a daughter, and more than twenty grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "Too many grandchildren to count!" added Dean.

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

a plague on our elderly

How are carers and care homes coping?

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Southwark’s adult social care system is braced for the crippling knock-on effects of the Coronavirus pandemic as the News is told one care home has already recorded seven cases among staff and residents.

Providers have also warned staff shortages and delays in getting government-promised surgical masks for staff and the workforce’s reliance on public transport all pose threats to an already overburdened sector.

The News has been told by multiple sources that Tower Bridge Care Home could be temporarily closed after seven COVID-19 cases among staff and patients.

Public Health England is not confirming the locations of outbreaks of positive cases, but in response to an enquiry from this paper, a spokesperson for the home said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents and

colleagues are our first priorities, and we are committed to doing everything we can to keep them safe and well.

“To do this we created a comprehensive coronavirus contingency plan which has been put into action.

“As part of this plan, and to minimise the risk of infection, Tower Bridge care home has been closed to non-essential visitors since March 12.”

The spokesperson added staff were doing the best with phone and video calls with residents’ families, and had revisited their infection control training.

Other homes to have gone into lockdown early in the month include Anchor’s sites.

Despite Southwark recording the highest number of confirmed cases in recent days, council contractor London Care told us they were still waiting for government-promised extra supplies of specialist facial masks; due to arrive as the News went to press.

A spokesperson, Max Wurr, said: “Lots of our staff are self-isolating as a precaution following government guidelines, so we are down on our normal staffing level and working on contingency plans including shorter times with clients, and priority focusing.”

Responding to the allegations staff were without hand sanitiser, he explained company policy was that carers should only be going into homes where they can wash their hands with soap rather than relying on less effective hand sanitiser gel.

“We have had outbreaks before in the past but this is an extraordinary situation for the country. We are all

under a lot of pressure and trying to get through this the best we can,” he added, saying most of their staff were travelling to work via buses which did put them at risk.

A family member of a resident in Nunhead’s Lime Tree House, run by London Care, said that on Sunday there were two carers on shift covering the entire building of around 50 flats for part of that afternoon before being relieved by other staff.

The apartment complex provides 24-hour care and includes people with dementia and other disabilities.

Southwark Council is now rapidly scaling up its work as part of the government’s wider plans to ‘shield’ the most vulnerable from the disease including freeing up hospital beds with managed moves into the community and redeploying desk-based officers into frontline work.

All vulnerable residents living in their own homes received government letters this week, and will also be contacted by Southwark Council’s call centre to find out what help they need.

Council leader Peter John said: “It is imperative that we support our colleagues in the NHS while they manage the front line of the illness in hospitals, but outside of the medical work, local authorities are working very hard to continue to provide front line care, support and protection to the thousands of elderly and vulnerable people in care homes and their own homes.”

Visit Southwark Council’s website www.southwark.gov.uk for more information on support available.

Concerns raised after coronavirus takes Ruth, 86, at SE16 care home

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk A relative of a woman who passed away from coronavirus in a Rotherhithe home has spoken of her concern around those in care homes.

Ruth Howes, aged 86, sadly died from the virus at St Thomas’ Hospital last week after contracting it at Rose Court care home, a dementia-friendly facility on Lower Road.

A close relative of Ms Howes, who did not wish to be named, has since contacted the News to raise fears about care homes’ approach to the virus, saying there had been no proper signage prior to the Ruth’s death to let visitors know the risks of coronavirus.

She paid moving tribute to Ruth as a kind woman who loved reading and would do anything for her neighbours.

The care home confirmed that one of its residents had sadly passed away

from coronavirus and said it was taking all necessary staff to protect both residents and carers.

“She was so kind, she would give you her last penny if she could” they said of Ruth, a former resident of the Setchell Estate.

Ruth loved books, was heavily involved on her estate – even sweeping and putting up flags for major occasions and decorations for Christmas - and would readily do the shopping for her neighbours.

In her earlier years, she had been a singer in the local pubs, too.

“Everyone on the estate knew her. She used to read until two o’clock in the morning, she’d be gardening, you name it, she did,” they added.

“I went up on the Saturday, and she didn’t look well at all,” said the family member. “I got a call about mid-morning on the Sunday to say that an ambulance had been called.

“The doctor said she wasn’t really

well, she had pneumonia. They said the prognosis wasn’t good and they’d test her for Covid-19.

“When I went up Monday night, they said the test had come back positive.”

The family member said she had tried to contact the home multiple times since that Monday when Ruth tested positive and did not receive a response for a couple of days.

When they did get through they were apparently told that there had been seven positive cases at Rose Court.

The home would not comment on case numbers or if there had been any before Ruth was confirmed to have Covid-19.

NEWS 5

more stories online Coronavirus

How one school is adapting

Teachers leading lessons from their own homes as no-one takes up key worker provision at Bermondsey's Compass School read online

Fears over domestic abuse

Burgess Park paedophile sentence is increased

Specialist facial surgeons at King's say they can help hospitals identify more victims of domestic abuse - read online

Paedophile who kidnapped and sexually abused boy, 8, in Burgess Park has sentenced raised- read online

Go to: www.southwarknews.co.uk

“I don’t blame the care home for what happened,” the relative told the News.

“But there should have been a sign on the door to let people know.

“My only concern is that there was no notice there [prior to Ruth’s death], putting those visitors at risk as well.

“I’m just concerned now for people now going into any cares homes if they’re still able, or anyone visiting people with underlying health conditions to be extra careful, because who knows?”

“Good hygiene to prevent the potential spread of communicable diseases is standard practice at the home,” said director of care, Jane Darani.

“In addition, we followed Public Health England advice specific to Coronavirus and as soon as the resident exhibited symptoms, we took immediate action.”

Ruth was isolated as soon as symptoms were apparent, said Ms Darani, who added: “We are taking all of the necessary steps to protect people who live and work at the home from Coronavirus.”

“We have updated other residents and colleagues at the home. Deep cleaning and rigorous infection control processes were put in place.

“The wellbeing of our residents and colleagues is paramount.”

Southwark just isn’t Southwark without its EU citizens.

Register for settled status today To avoid missing out, apply by 31 December 2020 at www.gov.uk/eusettledstatus Get help with your application by calling 0300 123 7379 or visiting www.southwark.gov.uk/applyEUsettlement

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 7

last key workers on the frontline

By Kevin Quinn

kevin@southwarknews.co.uk Tragically the last essential workers on the frontline in the coronavirus outbreak are the funeral directors and at Albins in Bermondsey they are already dealing with four deaths due to the disease.

Run by brothers Simon and Jon Dyer, the pair are preparing for the worst and managing the situation on a daily basis.

The world-renowned funeral home is a local institution, but it is known to millions more for bringing soldiers and civilians back from war zones and places of global disaster; it even featured in a 2003 ITV documentary series Don’t Drop The Coffin.

“Albins will do whatever we can to help the NHS trusts and the families of the bereaved,” Simon Dyer told the News. But he admits that guidelines from the National Association of Funeral Directors need to be clearer.

“It has been left to churches and

funeral directors to follow the guidelines as they see fit, but for example next week we have four funerals planned,” he said when talking to the paper last week.

“While public worship has been suspended funerals have not, so we have one church saying no to the funeral, the other restricting it to just 60 mourners and the other two saying go ahead as planned.”

At their main branch on the outskirts of Southwark Park the place is eerily quiet. Usually busy with mourners visiting the memorial garden and attending the chapel of rest, Albins have restricted numbers to both.

For those leaving from the funeral home numbers have also been limited and they have set up webcasts at services and the crematorium.

The crematoriums too have restricted numbers and shortened the services.

“As government has already stated, the elderly and vulnerable should not expose themselves to crowds but those that are young and healthy are fine to attend,” he explained.

Funeral for Alice, 98, was first to be streamed live by Albins

By Kevin Quinn

kevin@southwarknews.co.uk N i n e t y- e i g h t-y e a r - o l d Alice, the oldest Blackfriars Nightingale, was the first to have her service live streamed from the crematorium by Albins funeral directors, as the nation isolates in fear of coronavirus.

Bermondsey born Alice Woodgates was not a victim of the pandemic, but plans for her funeral have had to be dramatically scaled down as older family members and fellow choir members from the Blackfriars Settlement self-isolate.

Up to 80 mourners were expected with a coach load of 50, most of them pensioners, who are now preparing to login and watch her funeral service from a live stream being set up at Honor Oak Crematorium on Tuesday.

For sixty years the popular member of the Blackfriars Nightingale choir lived in Applegarth House on the Nelson Square Gardens estate and sang each Christmas at Borough Market and at Shakespeare’s Globe.

Her daughter-in-law Carol Woodgates called the settlement on Blackfriars Road Alice’s adopted family. “Since her husband Ernie died

in 2002 she spent every Thursday, Friday and Sunday at the community centre. She loved them and enjoyed choir practice, went on countless holidays with them. She was the oldest Blackfriars Nightingale and on her birthday they always got her to wear a crown and called her the Queen of the Blackfriars Settlement.”

Spritely and active, Alice only developed alzheimer's two years ago and until a fall on December 16 outside a local café was doing very well. She passed away from pneumonia. “We always thought that she would get to the 100. That is in huge part due to local people who provide excellent voluntary and support service with people with alzheimer’s,” said Carol.

So touched are Carol and Alice’s son David by the work of the Blackfriars Settlement they asked people not to give flowers but instead to donate to the charity.

Limited to just twenty, the funeral was not followed by a wake and her family accepted that it would not be just as they would have liked it.

“To get to 98 and not have a proper send-off is not ideal, but this is the time we live in and the way Albins have accommodated us with a live streaming of the service is brilliant.

“This is such a stressful time for families normally and we have encouraged some to have a small funeral while organising a larger celebration of life or memorial service after the crisis is over.

“Most wakes are being cancelled and here we are encouraging social distancing which is obviously not a natural thing between mourners, who are usually hugging each other or at least shaking hands.”

Fortunately, Albins staff are all well and not in self-isolation, all instructions of handing washing and protecting themselves from the virus has been in place for weeks since the beginning of the outbreak. “All our staff are in, keeping clean and every single one of them have agreed to work late and cancel holidays if necessary.”

And the 43-year-old funeral director was adamant that funerals should not be cancelled, saying that it could lead

to a backlog that would be disastrous, especially if predictions of up to a quarter of million across in the UK die from the virus.

Last week the funeral home was dealing with four deaths. Southwark had the highest figure in London of people with coronavirus. Of the four families that Albins is helping, one is in self-isolation and has asked for the funeral arrangements to be postponed until they are all able to attend.

Whoever has a computer can feel like they are part of the service. In the summer we plan a proper celebration of her life with the choir at Blackfriars Settlement and her three-and-a-half year-old great granddaughter singing ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’.”

Another song close to Alice’s heart was Tom Jones ‘My my my Delilah’, which was played at her funeral.

“My mother-in-law was prone to exaggeration,” Carol laughed. “She went away with the Blackfriars Settlement and there was a Tom Jones look-a-like, she took to the mic and later told us all she had sung ‘My my my Delilah’ with the real Tom Jones.”

Alice had two sons and unfortunately outlived Stephen, who passed away in 2017. She has six grandchildren and her seven great-grandchildren are all girls. Born in 1925 she lived just off the Bricklayers Arms, by Old Kent Road in Bermondsey, before moving to Waterloo with her children and husband, and then settling in Blackfriars.

Her early life was tragic, losing her mother when she was just three-and-ahalf years old and father when she was just 21 during the War in 1942. At the time Alice was driving an ambulance for the army.

But her life was largely one of domestic bliss - her milkman husband Ernie, whom the family say was called the ‘fastest in the west’ after the wellknown Benny Hill character, was everything to Alice. The couple just missed out on celebrating the Diamond Wedding anniversary by one year when he died from a sudden stroke.

But singing became her thing after his passing and family hope that this summer her pals from Blackfriars Nightingale will all be able to come together again and raise their voices to their queen.

The family have asked for no flowers but to donate by contactng Tina Jonston at the Blackfriars Settlement via email tina.jonston@blackfriarssettlement.org.uk

8 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

thugs steal Harvey’s disabled badge Family escape burning flat in Bermondsey

By Kevin Quinn kevin@southwarknews.co.uk Firefighters rushed to Pages Walk in Bermondsey last Monday evening (March 16) after a familyof-four fled a fire in a flat.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at a flat at 6.18pm.

Part of a four roomed flat on the ground floor was damaged by fire.

Three adults and two children left the building before the Fire Brigade arrived.

They were treated on scene after suffering from smoke inhalation.

The fire was under control by 7.02pm.

Fire crews from Old Kent Road, Peckham, New Cross and Deptford fire stations attended the scene.

The Fire Brigade say the cause of the fire is believed to have involved an electrical supply.

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk Thugs have stolen little Harvey Brown’s disability badge after smashing into the family car last week – the second time in three years.

Thieves made off with the badge after smashing the window of the Browns’ car in Bermondsey on

Monday night, March 16.

Harvey, 11, is well known to News readers and Millwall fans alike as being a Lions superfan who suffers from the ultra-rare Morquio syndrome.

Alongside having to isolate because of the coronavirus, the footie fanatic has also been staying indoors since last month because of an operation on his knees.

Added to the family’s struggles at this time is the fact the Browns have now had to shell out £50 on the insurance and apply for a new disability badge from Southwark Council.

“It’s disgusting,” said his dad, Dean.

“I’ve heard rumours that people sell them so they could get three hundred quid upwards.

“They are making money off taking stuff from disabled people. They don’t realise the damage they do, not just for us but to do it to anyone.

“I can’t get my head around how people could be so scummy.”

On February 11, Harvey had to have an operation to his knees, meaning his mobility is limited, and the badge came in useful to have priority parking in supermarkets.

Since the outbreak of the virus, the family have been making sure he is staying inside as he is in a high-risk category.

“Harvey’s under isolation because of the virus,” said Dean. “Our main worry now is this virus. We’re doing out best to keep that away from him.

Harvey’s bored, bless him, but he understands why we need to do it.”

However, one thing that has been putting a smile on Millwall-mad Harvey’s face is a signed shirt from the Lions’ very own Aiden O’Brien.

“Harvey was eleven, that was just before his op,” said Dean. “Aidan O’Brien signed a shirt for him for his birthday and we had a party indoors on that Sunday.”

ELITE FISH BAR 020 7237 6409

Burning waste at Abbey flat

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk Three people have escaped a house fire in Bermondsey’s Abbey Street.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to the blaze at a flat on the street at around 8am on Saturday.

There they found that household waste on a fifth floor balcony was alight. Three people left the flat before the brigade was on the scene, it said.

Nobody has been reported as injured.

The Brigade was called shortly after 8am and the fire was under control by 8.51am. Firefighters are still probing the cause of the blaze.

Crews from Dockhead, Old Kent Road, Dowgate, Whitechapel and Shadwell fire stations attended the scene.

Traditional fish & chips

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10 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

Ark pupils GO PLASTIC FREE TO HELP THE SEA

camberwell

master of 140 year family trade passes

By Kit Heren news@southwarknews.co.uk Ark Globe Academy pupils have pledged to go plastic free after all being given reusable water bottles earlier this month.

Bob with his father

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk A funeral was held this week for master upholsterer Bob Fowlds, whose family have traded in Camberwell for over 140 years.

Robert Fowlds, known as Bob, managed the family business A.V. Fowlds & Sons Ltd, based in Camberwell’s Addington Square.

He died on his birthday, on February 19, at the age of 73.

His funeral took place at Beckenham Crematorium on Tuesday, March 24, at 11am. His sister, Barbara, told the News a planned memorial at Fowlds café in Camberwell, in Bob’s workshop, is now postponed until after the Coronavirus pandemic. The News will update readers when more information is available.

The upholstery company was founded

by Bob’s great-grandfather, James Fowlds

Blaze was kept in the closet

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

A fire in an Aylesbury estate cupboard was put out before doing significant damage last week,

The third floor storage cupboard was found alight on Thurday afternoon in the Thurlow Street block.

Four fire engines from Old Kent Road, Peckham, Dockhead and Lambeth River stations were called at 3.47pm and had it under control within the hour.

The cupboard was destroyed but, thankfully, no injuries reported.

(1849-1915), one of fourteen children who became a master chair maker by the age of 21.

Starting with a workshop in East Street, he opened three shops; at 700 Old Kent Road, 122 Old Kent Road, and 333 Garratt Lane in Earlsfield.

After the war, Albert Victor Fowlds (1889-1969) took over manufacturing and moved the business to Addington Square in Camberwell in 1926 – where it has stayed since. In 2014 the premises also became home to Fowlds Café, which occupies the former shopfront. Although the company originally made furniture from scratch, in recent years had focused on reupholstery.

Bob was a fourth generation upholsterer and started working in the Camberwell factory as an apprentice in 1964, at the age of seventeen, and continued working his craft until the beginning of this year.

The company has a roster of important

clients - from the Houses of Parliament to TV shows like The One Show and Big Brother. In a nod to cult film Withnail and I, the cafe serves a ‘Camberwell Carrot’ cake.

Bob’s family described him as proud of the family history, and having a sense of responsibility for keeping it going into the 21st Century. He was also known for taking on complex commissions other people turned down; believing the task too difficult.

His sister told the News: “Bob came across people from all walks of life during his career, and he treated everyone the same. Whether they were from the House of Commons, Westminster Abbey, ambassadors, the doctor in charge of the World Cup football team, or a humble local resident, Bob was always himself, and the factory door was always open for business.”

Robert ‘Bob’ Fowlds - 19/02/1947 19/02/2020

Before the Coronavirus outbreak the News visited the school to find out why it had taken the step.

Ark Globe Academy, near the Elephant and Castle roundabout, has over 1,000 students - and every one has received a free reusable hard water bottle.

The decision was taken by the student council, along with geography teacher Fiona Barrie, to cut the amount of plastic the school wastes.

Ark Globe said it previously used 300 plastic bottles every day, or nearly 60,000 over a school year.

Ms Barrie said that teachers showed students how much plastic ends up in the sea. The kids were shocked about the impact the plastic they use can have on sea creatures.

“The reasons we also have hard plastic bottles is that if we use normal water bottles it will flow around the sea,” said year five student Shia Abunu.

“Animals like ducks or turtles will

think it’s food but it’s not, and then it will go inside their body and they could die,” he added.

The kids are keen that others should follow in their footsteps.

Year Six student Deena Swadi said: “Even if people use plastic bottles, they could at least help us and put more of them in the recycling bin, so they will make more of these hard bottles.”

And word seems to be spreading already.

Shia said his family have been borrowing his bottle - and friends from other schools have been asking where they can get one.

Ms Barrie and the students said they have been inspired by Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Zach Longe, who is in year 7, said: “She stood up for what she believed in… she’s very impressive for going against people who disagree with her.”

But the students added that they are not yet ready to follow Thunberg’s example by going on strike.

Up to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic end up in the seas every year.

This plastic can be very harmful to fish and other sea creatures, as it can entangle or injure them, or poison them if they mistake it for food.

Bermondsey

Cyclist fighting for his life after a collision with an ambulance

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk A cyclist was fighting for his life after a collision with an ambulance on the Old Kent Road late last Friday night.

Cops say they were called to the collision at around 10.40pm to the collision at the junction of Rowcross Street in Bermondsey.

The ambulance stopped at the scene.

The man, in his thirties, was rushed to hospital and remains there at the time of writing in a critical condition.

Nobody was arrested, said the Met. The road was closed eastbound going towards Lewisham and buses placed on diversion as emergency services dealt with the scene.

It had reopened by 5am the following morning.

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Online cooking classes and fresh food home delivered in East Dulwich

By Laura Burgoine news@southwarknews.co.uk Chef Suzanne James, who runs East Dulwich events space and cookery school fifty seven, is hosting online cooking classes, as well as encouraging locals to shop from traders who, forced to shut up shop amidst the Coronavirus regulations, currently have fresh food going to waste.

“Our local traders have asked us to connect them to the community, and are offering box schemes in the short term to ensure they continue to trade and to keep people fed -without having to face the horrific situation at the supermarkets,” Suzanne said. Traders are offering home delivery to East

Dulwich and surrounding areas.

For those looking for inspiration on what to cook, Suzanne is also doing daily Cupboard Cookery Classes on Instagram (via Instagram TV). Follow Suzanne on www.instagram.com/eastdulwichchef/ Local traders offering delivery boxes include: BAKERY: www.rockstarbakers.co.uk/ product-page/family-bakery-box MEAT: Flock & Herd FRUIT & VEG AND DAIRY: Usually these suppliers look after the restaurant trade however given that restaurants are closing and private clients are unable to purchase staples, they have set up a local delivery scheme with dairy boxes for £15, vegetable boxes for £25 and mixed fruit for £25. Call 02036214242 to place orders.

Full steam ahead for Luna Cinema's outdoor film season

By Laura Burgoine

news@southwarknews.co.uk In welcome entertainment news, the Luna Cinema has announced its 2020 season is going ahead this summer.

From May to October, film-lovers across the country can choose from over 150 outdoor screenings in some of the UK’s most prestigious and historically important venues.

Film fans are in for a treat with a line-up of box office greats and award winners, with the Oscar winning Rocketman featuring Golden Globe winner Taron Egerton as Elton John.

Drama lovers are also set for a thrilling time watching this year’s box office big hitters: Joker and Judy, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger in the respective titular roles. The season also features screenings of the year’s most critically acclaimed releases such

as Parasite, Jojo Rabbit, Knives Out and Tarantino’s award winning Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

Alongside the return of musical smashes Grease, Dirty Dancing and The Greatest Showman, audiences will be able to sing along to their favourite tunes!

Celebrating Hollywood’s golden era will be screenings of some of the films you simply have to experience on a big screen, including Some Like It Hot at Kenwood House and Singin’ in the Rain at Kensington Palace. There are also special anniversary screenings taking place, with the 40th anniversary of The Shining at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, and the 30th anniversary of Pretty Woman at both Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh.

All in all, it has the makings of a vintage summer of cinema under the stars.

Founder of The Luna Cinema,George Wood, said: “We are thrilled to announce

our sparkling new season for 2020 – another summer jam-packed with truly great films shown in some of the UK’s most iconic and beautiful locations. It’s been an incredible year for cinema, with such a varied range of award-winning releases and box office hits. We’re confident we’ve curated a programme that celebrates them all, alongside the films from the last 50 years that we think lend themselves best to a night of cinema under the stars!

"Whilst in the current climate, our thoughts are predominantly concerned with the health of our audiences and staff, we’re all hopeful of being able to deliver a wonderful summer season later in the year, where people can attend our cinema events to enjoy a couple of hours of pure escapism – something that cinema does better than anything else.”

To book tickets and for more information visit www.thelunacinema.com

NEWS 11

Rotherhithe's Sands Films launch live screenings in response to Coronavirus

By Laura Burgoine news@southwarknews.co.uk Amidst the Coronavirus social distancing restrictions, Sands Films, who regularly host film screenings and events and make costumes for stage and screen, are planning to switch their line-up to live streaming events.

Owner Oliver Stockman, who started the Rotherhithe institution in the ‘70s, told the News: “Like everyone else we are suddenly in a very strange space where all our income streams have dried up. And culture itself is the first victim. However, since all theatres, films, concerts and cultural gigs of all types have shut down, we are making plans to make use of the studio facilities to stream live events as a means to survive.”

He continued: "If not economically, at least culturally. We are talking to actors and musicians to explore the possibility of streaming these live events as soon as possible from our stage. If we can find an audience, we may well find an income too.”

The first such event that was cancelled proved a very successful Facebook stream. To keep abreast of live streams from Sands Films check the www.sandsfilms.co.uk See Tansy Hoskins’ book launch via facebook.com/ TansyHoskinsAuthorPage.

Stock local for happy hour at home: where everybody knows your name Host your own Friday night lock-in with our roundup of south London brewers and boozers offering home delivery and takeaway to keep you well stocked through the Coronavirus selfisolating and social distancing period, writes Laura Burgoine…

It’s a small world and thanks to social distancing and self-isolation measures, it just got smaller. But now more than ever, it’s the small pleasures that are keeping us going. At Bermondseybased brewery, the Small Beer Brew Co (specialising in beer styles below 2.8%) neighbours can fill up their own growlers for the price of 2 pints (volume of 4 pints).

For anyone not in walking distance of the Bermondsey beer-mile, there is also a 10% discount on all orders using the code "WORKFROMHOME" from the online site. Enjoy the 'draught experience' in the comfort of your own homes.

70-72 Verney Road, SE16 3DH. www. theoriginalsmallbeer.com Anspach and Hobday is offering 15 percent off all takeaway beer this weekend and at all their venues: the Pigeon in Camberwell, the Croydon taproom, and the Druid St taproom.

Use the code STOCKPILE to redeem the discount. Anspach and Hobday has also

have been pouring in. Thanks all. To keep it up we want to reward everyone who helps us during these times.”

80 Druid St, SE1 2HQ. www.thelondonbeerfactory.com/shop.

For cider fans, Hawkes Cidery and Taproom’s online shop is fully stocked and doing takeaway.

86-92 Druid Street, SE1 2HQ

launched their new range of cans last week!

118 Druid St, SE1 2HH Enjoy Fourpure brews at home with 20% off the web shop by using the code DRINKATHOME Bermondsey Trading Estate, 22 Rotherhithe New Rd, SE16 3LL Southwark Brewing is urging people to support small business, saying: “we have just been notified that not all brewery’s and tap rooms will receive funding from the government. We have 2 litre beer bladders and various

bag in box sizes available to take away.

The Taproom and Brewery will be open until we are told we can’t. We are doing our upmost to protect our staff, customers and beer. Come and collect in time for the weekend.”

46 Druid St, SE1 2EZ At the Barrel Project, spend £25 and get a £10 bar tab (for when this is all over and our cups runneth over again).

There’s also FREE DELIVERY for all London orders, regardless of spend.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the company says: “We're so grateful for all the support and online orders that

Hiver is offering free delivery and has created a special limited edition #stocksmall to be enjoyed at home.

On Instagram, the busy bees at Hiver said: “A big thank you for all the well wishes for Hiver. It might turn out to be a bumpy road ahead BUT we’re in fighting spirits!”

56 Stanworth St, SE1 3NY Brew by Numbers is another brewery offering takeaway with the newest beer release hitting the online shop. The 10|Coffee Porter Espresso Martini collaboration with @ climpsonandsons combines fantastic coffee and the decadence of espresso martinis. Brewed with fresh Fazenda Santissimo coffee beans on both the hot and cold sides of the process as well as cold-infused vanilla beans and rum-soaked cacao, this beer is stacked with flavours of cold brew coffee, subtle vanilla and a dry coffee

finish. It’s available on the webshop, and at the Bermondsey and Peckham taprooms and for trade accounts.

75 Enid St, SE16 3RA At Cloudwater, the second wave of Subbles arrives last week. Due to the sudden decline in draft sales, Cloudwater have more cans coming, live online from midday today. Subbles also launches at both of Cloudwater’s tap rooms today, where it's available for both takeout and home delivery within the local area.

73 Enid St, SE16 3RA Kernel Brewery is still selling takeaway at their taproom Arch 7.

They have delivery available within London, zones 1-3.

Arch 7, Dockley Road Industrial Estate, Dockley Road, SE16 3SF Borough Wines is offering call and collect from their Borough Market (07754 518 109) and Wilton Way (020 7923 2001) shops as well as delivery. If customers are local (within 10 minutes walking distance of the shops) and their order is over £30 - delivery is FREE! They are also offering 20% off for all NHS workers. Check out their e-commerce with different daily wine lists from next week.

Borough Market, SE1 1TL

12 OPINION

www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

Comment

florence eshalomi

GLA Member for Southwark & Lambeth

We all have our part to play

F

irstly, I would like extend my heartfelt concern to my constituents who are having a difficult time during this Coronavirus outbreak.

We are all feeling the brunt of this global outbreak, our most vulnerable feeling it the most, but we all have part to play in fighting the spread of this disease across Southwark.

Right now the most important thing that we can all do is follow the guidance of NHS, by keeping up our personal hygiene, and washing our hands with soap, self-isolating when necessary, but most importantly by practicing social distancing.

I would like to urge all of us to follow the government’s advice to stay home and only leave for shopping for food and necessities (as infrequently as possible), exercise once a day, medical need and commuting to work only if absolutely necessary.

Our immediate focus must be containing the spread of the virus, which is impacting more than our health. As we are all very aware, especially in the Southwark

the outbreak is causing many businesses in the area financial difficulties, especially in the cultural, hospitality and retail sectors.

Last Thursday during mayor’s question time I stood up for the many businesses in the Southwark area that instead of the increased footfall of spring, are now facing financial difficulties due to mandatory closure of restaurants, leisure centres, pubs and gyms.

I asked the mayor to commit to supporting iconic venues along the Southbank such as the London Eye, the National Theatre and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, as well as many other small and independent businesses across the Southwark area.

The mayor understandably has said that City Hall’s resources are focussed on getting London through the outbreak but committed to ensuring that plans will be in place to ensure the capital’s recovery.

The mayor’s commitment to the recovery of London businesses, alongside the Chancellor’s introduction of the job guarantee scheme and the £330 billion of

READERS’ VIEWS

Sadiq Khan criticises the government over Cobra snub and warns Londoners that ‘social interaction leads to people dying’ Perhaps he should have TfL check only key workers are travelling and make travel for them free at this time.

Jackie Millar, via Facebook

Supermarkets are still packed. Sort it out or all us supermarket workers will be the next in your intensive care units or, worse, dead.

Anita Bates, via Facebook

‘Playgrounds will be locked from tonight’ Burgess Park is still full of people. The ice cream man is still coming round.

Southwark has the highest amount of any cases. Wish people would listen and stay safe. At home.

Alicia de Sousa, via Facebook

People need to listen. Our nursery closed and I saw lots of the mums and kids all congregating in the park opposite, all the mums having a good natter while their kids played. None of them observing any type of social distancing!

Jeanette Hopper, via Facebook

Can’t believe the amount of people out and about today. Loads of people in the woods eating and drinking. No wonder Southwark has the highest rate of infection.

Ann Atkins, via Facebook

Concerns grow people are not keeping a safe distance The government need to step up the pace a lot more because they have only put the elderly and people with health conditions in a more dangerous situation. Our safety is being put at risk by the public ignoring these opening times and their actions towards shop staff and ourselves is out of control.

These people are going out everyday if not more than once buying everything off the shelves leaving nothing for anyone else.

I myself have not been able to do a normal food shop due to the ignorance of others.

You only have to watch clips that have been shared on the internet to see what we are up against. This needs to be addressed

economic support for businesses which include loans, grants and the exemption from business rates for a year, mean that there is support in place for us to get through the economic impact of this outbreak.

Nobody should have to choose between their health, employment and financial stability. I am still concerned for the many selfemployed and freelancers within the my constituency who work within the gig economy, their income hasn’t been explicitly secured, by the government’s announcements. The mayor is working with the government on urgent measures to support them.

I would like to repeat Southwark Council’s message of being neighbourly and staying safe; please don’t hoard food and think about the most vulnerable.

Also, stay informed using the government and Southwark’s website for the latest updates. I would like to especially thank all the NHS staff and keyworkers who are at the front-line of getting us though this outbreak.

You all are greatly appreciated! now, so Boris please take note of this.

Julie Fenn, via Facebook

Everyone just stay indoors, it's not hard. And let us key workers do our job. Kids are not off school to be in the parks or on the streets - you’re supposed to stay in. I don’t care if you’re bored we have so much technology to find something to do. This is serious.

Jo Joee, via Facebook

Southwark and Lambeth were super busy yesterday. Like any other ordinary day. People are NOT listening to what’s being asked of them!

Matt Shields, via Facebook

BBQs and picnics banned from Southwark’s parks as playgrounds are locked up This could have been done at least 5 days ago. Much too slow.

Charlie Bubbles, via Twitter

Albins Funeral Directors on the frontline with four deaths Keep safe and well. You always do your best for the people of Bermondsey. X Lisa Mevlit-Green, via Facebook

Madness on the Old Kent Road - Reports of closure after ‘fight over bogroll’ Maybe they were fighting over who is getting the last copy of

Stuck at home? Start planning for the spring

S

pring is within reach as March brings visible changes; leaf buds look ready to open and daffodils are in flowery abundance. The sun is higher in the sky and daylight hours are increasing.

Once the clocks go forward on March 29th winter will be over!

Magnolia Soulangeana was in full bloom at the beginning of March with gorgeous large upright pink flowers clothing every leafless branch. Less common and perhaps more beautiful are the white or purple varieties.

Magnolias are a welcome opening to spring. Cornus mas – the Cornelian cherry has produced clusters of small yellow flowers – that will be followed by red berries; and later in the year – purple leaf colour in autumn. Cornus is versatile – it can be used as a hedging plant or in the borders and beds.

If roses were not pruned last autumn this needs to be done now; excluding rambling roses which are distinct from hybrid and shrub types; ramblers have masses of small, short lived flowers; pruning is done in September. Many plants are waking from their winter sleep, although some – notably Geraniums and Marguerites – flowered all winter long.

Planning for next season is always part of the gardening schedule, the Southwark News!

James Pfc Hunt, via Facebook

‘Canada’s biggest Millwall fan’ has ashes buried at his beloved Den It was lovely to see this article. It is so thoughtful of you to have done this. John would have loved it.

Anne Dugan, via SN website

Climate emergency: Southwark Lost Nearly 2,000 trees in a decade Southwark Council cut down only 1510 trees in the decade? We don’t believe it. They cut down over two acres of trees in our cemeteries in 2016-18. We counted over 100 large trees lost.

It is going to get worse as they are planning on cutting down the remaining 10 (ten) acres of trees in the Lanes of Camberwell Old Cemetery. That is seven football pitches of trees to be destroyed. This is a growing environmental disaster.

Lewis Schaffer, on behalf of Save Southwark Woods, via SN Website

Given a decade of austerity and the litigious times we live in, it’s perhaps not surprising that Southwark Council has cut down more trees than it has planted.

It is to be hoped, following last year’s declaration of a climate emergency, the net loss of 2000 trees over the past decade will be turned around.

to make sure there is something flowering and the vegetable patch is producing crops each season.

This month it is time to think about planting summer flowering bulbs and there are many to choose from. They help to fill in any gaps that occur as main seasonal favourites come and go.

Bulbs to consider are Crocosmia (Monbretia) with their striking red flowers and long sword shaped leaves – they bring some drama to the borders in July. The delicate Summer Hyacinth (Galtonia) is useful planted in beds or containers. It has white flowers and is a slender version of the spring Hyacinth but with a more delicate perfume.

Sparaxis has jolly flowers in a range of colours: pinks, purples, white and orange – all with yellow centres.

The common name is Harlequin flower which suits its multicolour appearance. And finally, Triteleia has mauve star shaped blooms – it looks good anywhere but especially in window boxes and containers.

The cottage garden perennial Lily-of-the-Valley (a type of bulb) is worth introducing for the dainty, white bell flowers which have an intoxicating, sweet perfume, although the flowering period (late spring) is short. Lily-of-the-Valley looks perfect planted against a backdrop of Lilac and pastel coloured roses.

However, with budgets continuing to be tight, loss of canopy cover is only likely to get worse. Replacing one lost mature tree with a sapling doesn’t mitigate the loss of canopy and semi-mature replacements are expensive; so in addition to planting new trees, it is important to retain as many healthy, mature trees as possible and pollard with restraint.

On the subject of Dickens Square, members of our group, Trees For Bermondsey (follow us on Twitter: @BermondseyFor ), met with Southwark Council officials (at their suggestion) in Dickens Square on 11th March and after further consultation, it was decided to retain a further two 40-year-old poplars and the considerable canopy cover they represent.

The lesson here is for the public to get involved (we would happily welcome more members). Expressing anger when the trees are gone is commendable but ultimately, a waste of time. The trees in the streets, parks and open spaces are ours. We have to look after them and look out for them. The developer’s cheque book is a powerful thing, especially when it offers to replace what could be lost, but simply planting new for old is not enough. We are losing our heritage.

It’s time to ‘make room for trees’.

William Pearce, on behalf of Trees For Bermondsey, via SN website

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters

OPINION 13

Dual crossword We need to act fast to help the Cinderella profession in this crisis - the carers

I

n just a matter of days the whole way in which we exist has changed and we do not know for how long. And in times of national and in this case a global emergency, the best and worst in people comes to the fore.

Some of our systems are brought into sharp focus. Problems that already exist increase and this is no more self-evident than in our adult social care services.

Let’s face it, coronavirus to a large extent is a plague on our elderly. The very people who have worked hard throughout their lives to keep treasured institutions like our National Health Service going. It is these people and moreover the people caring for them who need our help.

The government has promised a tremendous amount of cash to keep businesses going, and rightly so, but little to nothing has been said about extra money for adult social care. Before the pandemic it was already on its knees. If we do not act fast to help the carers - often called the Cinderella profession - the knock on effects at the hospitals and so too the country at large will be immense. As more and more doctors and nurses are being found, the same should be done for care workers, who are on the frontline, but are subject to varying contracts.

Southwark Council says it is rapidly scaling up its efforts, even redeploying desk-based officers into frontline work. But, more is needed as old vulnerable people, many of whom have less than adequate times with over-stretched care workers, face even shorter times and other reductions. Those contracted will have fewer staff, many of whom are reliant on buses to get to the people in real need.

We want to hear what more can be done to help the carers, who are the people who are helping our looking after the elderly - those most at risk along with NHS staff.

And it shouldn’t need saying - but STAY AT HOME unless you are following the lockdown guidelines about when and how to go out.

SOUTHWARK NEWS DIARIST

What the Dickens?

Get outta that pub!

Last week the government ordered all pubs to close, after recommendations to stay away weren't enough to keep drinkers from ordering pints at their local boozer.

Most have now heeded the instruction. However, a Rotherhithe priest has noted that one very famous boozer isn't – the Queen Vic in Albert Square.

In a "frivolous note" in an otherwise glum message to parishioners letting them know of the church closures, Father Mark Nicholls of St Mary's Church said: "I am really surprised to see that the pub is still open in Eastenders – absolutely shocking!

"When will they catch up with life in the real world?"

EastEnders has never been realistic – not like Corrie.

Happy birthday from a safe distance

Social distancing and isolation is hard for all of us, especially when it's your birthday.

Foxes keeping two metres Humans have not been too good at keeping their distance from one another lately, as we report in this week’s issue.

But foxes in the borough seem to have taken the instruction to heart.

This snap, taken by Rotherhithe resident Steve Cornish this week, shows two foxes perfectly observing the two metres guideline.

“If they can do it, so can we,” he says.

But one Dulwich Hill resident's special day wasn't left unnoticed despite the measures we're having to follow to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Video shows neighbours serenading the birthday boy or girl with a rendition of Happy Birthday to you outside of their house, alongside cheers.

"Lovely video from yesterday eve of some residents in Dulwich Hill singing Happy Birthday to one of their younger neighbours while observing social distancing!" says local councillor Maggie Browning.

"A very challenging time for Londoners [at the moment] but amazing to see the ways in which communities are supporting each other."

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Clues Across

4 Beetle emerges from broken down sailor’s car (6) 8 Work needed for a church entrance there’s rot in it all over the place (7) 10 This will provide a pardon for many set at variance (7) 11 Stripe worn by a man of rank (5) 12 Pale yellow only in fish? (5) 13 Stomach ailment vigour is set back in bad days (9) 16 Sugar is the reverse of what’s needed after a spring vegetable! (9) 19 The result of an item at the sports day? (5) 20 A light to get smaller and smaller (5) 22 Having a seat, I had a meal to enjoy to the full (7) 23 Here’s quite the opposite of a large book one on the feelings of the Heart (7) 24 Hit out and stop work (6)

Clues Down

1 A wife will get part of the garden furrowed (6) 2 A leading entertainer serving up rubbish (4) 3 Robbing the till in retaliation? (13) 5 Study the standard, allowable amount you receive in a large outbreak of fire (13) 6 Continuing to meditate upside down in a circle! (8) 7 A kind of rum with a mixed gin will get you howling! (6) 9 Weeds of some weight? (5) 14 He will choose the French in a section of the front line (8) 15 Stops putting last of wine in crates (6) 17 This soup is entirely Eastern (5) 18 A saint with a halo and something to tie it on with? (6) 21 Father at home, suffering (4)

QUICK PUZZLE Clues Across

4 Burning (6) 8 Fond (7) 10 Clear glass (7) 11 Bury (5) 12 Calls (5) 13 House (9) 16 General expenses (9) 19 Corn (5) 20 Jury (5)

22 Accumulated savings (4,3) 23 Shouting (7) 24 Property (6)

Clues Down

1 District (6) 2 Struggle (4) 3 Answering (13) 5 Unacceptable (6,3,4) 6 Robots (8)

7 Sign on (6) 9 Ladder (5) 14 Treacle (8) 15 List of business (6) 17 Funeral song (5) 18 Fodder (6) 21 Claw (4)

SOLUTIONS to last week’s Cryptic Crossword

ACROSS: 1 Cerise 7 Release 8 Mammoth 9 Seine 10 Latitudes 12 Eve 13 Golf 15 Arbiter 17 Noon 19 Lit 21 Balladist 22 Erica 23 Notable 24 Brigand 25 Acorns DOWN: 1 Complain 2 Remote 3 Scooter 4 Gloss 5 Casino 6 Mere 7 Rhode Island 11 Ivan 13 Grid 14 Fastness 16 Elastic 18 Origin 20 Timber 21 Banal 22 Elba

Quick Crossword

ACROSS: 1 System 7 Leeward 8 Inertia 9 Least 10 Partially 12 Yen 13 Sent 15 Session 17 Spot 19 Mad 21 Centipede 22 Nicer 23 Stowage 24 Ruinous 25 Aspect DOWN: 1 Slippers 2 Sherry 3 Entwine 4 Belly 5 Vacate 6 Edit 7 Lawlessness 11 Test 13 Snap 14 Tenement 16 Ominous 18 Orchid 20 Debase 21 Crook 22 Norm

14 FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS / COMMUNITY NOTICES

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Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

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.

Please let other people know about us too

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

Registered charity no 208441

www.bedehouse.org , tel: 0207 237 3881

Janet McDonald Telephone: 07538 071 457 89 Worship Street, London EC2A 2BF

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

Follow the fox... urbanfox.london

0207 232 1639 T HE

A MESSAGE TO OUR READERS AND CLIENTS Like many of youThe we are closely monitoring the outbreak of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) and the ESSENTIAL guide to on everyone around the world, as impact it is having EDUCATION well as local businesses.

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE AND HELP US TO KEEP PROVIDING

We are continuing to produce our papers and magazines, along with online stories – to provide YOU WITH LOCAL NEWS SPORT our local readers with updates on AND a rapidly-evolving situation, along with essential information.

We are already seeing many inspirational local businesses taking the initiative by creating online We are continuing to bring you all the latest news on the Coronavirus and other important issues,and news, sporthubs and local courseslocal / services support at thislife. difficult time.

As the only independent paid-for newspaper in London, we rely heavily on local businesses advertising with us to provide the revenue that pays our journalists. Understandably, most local businesses are cancelling their in theseauncertain times.on Soall wedigital are now Weadvertising are also offering 75% discount offering free digital advertising to all local, independent businesses (see page 2). advertising, so that we can help you to reach A message to all our readers:

substantial audience without the We aim to continue publishing in print every week, and will be publishing stories online – including on thenumbers, rolling blog we setbreaking up this week, bank. We are also happy to offer similar discounts to bring you constant live updates. on print options.

We would be very grateful if you would consider supporting us by subscribing online. You can either pay the 50p cover price for weekly Wishing you all well. news, (charged at £2 a month), or make a discounted 6 monthly (£11.00) or Annual (£20) contribution.

Payments are processed by Paypal so you can be sure that they are secure, and you can cancel at any time. You can also send a cheque made out to Southwark Newspaper Ltd. The team at If you feel able to contribute regularly and help keep us bringing you the news and sport, we would Southwark News,really appreciate your support!

Bermondsey Biscuit, Urban Fox Best wishes from all of us at the News. & News At Den.

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/arts

what’s on

ARTS 15

in Southwark

hard times for the theatre

Union Theatre’s Artistic Director talks to the News Sasha Regan started the Union Theatre in 1998 with little money but rich in friends willing to help get the old warehouse under a railway arch up and running as a new arts venue, writes Michael Holland...

Since then the theatre has won awards and accolades and found itself beset by greedy developers. But COVID-19 is a different problem, one with no predictable outcome: a problem that has forced the director and producer to close her beloved Union Theatre.

Sasha talks to the News.

Vaults: lost weeK

Make sure it returns next year Unsurprisingly the final week of London’s biggest underground theatre fest is now lost to the coronavirus, writes Kevin Quinn...

VAULT Festival, staged in a warren of tunnels beneath Waterloo Station had been going full steam since January, but following the Prime Minister’s press conference on Monday last week advising audiences to stay away from theatres and pubs, organisers said they could not safely - nor would not want to - encourage people to act against explicit government advice.

Up to 500 shows were planned to perform in fourteen plus venues under and around Waterloo. However, those hoping to get in on the finale week have missed out. The festival organisers say over one hundred visiting companies have had their shows cancelled in what they have dubbed the ‘lost week’.

They are now encouraging fans of the VAULTS Festival to find these companies on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or wherever else to stay up to date with their announcements so you can go and support them as and when their shows are back on their feet.

They have put together a list of all the shows that lost their chance to perform, which you can accessed on their website.

Every year, they also launch a collection of playtexts curated from the festival and published by Nick Hern Books. It's called Plays From VAULT.

They want people who attended or wanted to attend to buy one – maybe a great thing while in self-isolation. They also have beanies, water bottles, and notebook.

Not publicly funded, instead relying on the income from tickets and bar and food sales to cover the costs of making this hugely ambitious project organisers have admitted they are fearful of whether they will ever be able to return.

In a statement to their supporters organisers said: “Those who know us will know we don't have money to play with or a reserve of any significance. The nature of our industry, and our ethicallylead position in that industry, means we take on more risks than most, with a desire to support and provide more and more high quality opportunities for our staff and audience, far, far outweighing profit margins.”

“VAULT Festival has existed since its humble beginnings in 2012 to provide new opportunities for artists thanks to the support of our audiences. As of the 16th March, we don’t know what the future holds and whether there can be a future.”

By making a donation to VAULT Festival you can help make that future a little more likely. If you are in a position to make a donation - however small - it would be sincerely appreciated.”

To donate or support in any way visit vaultfestival.com/the-lost-week

How did you make the decision to close?

I was driving home when Boris came on the radio and by the time I had reached the first set of traffic lights my head was on the steering wheel. There wasn’t a decision to be made because we had to close. We have a responsibility to look after everyone that steps through the doors so we haven’t reopened since that announcement.

How many staff do you have?

On Monday we had the cast of Noel Coward’s Peace In Our Time, a team of Front of House staff, cafe staff , a stage manager a youth theatre, an agent and a musical arranger all working from the theatre. None of us have any work for the foreseeable future.

How did you break the bad news to everyone?

Boris did it for us at 5.30pm on Monday evening.

What plans do you have in place during the closure?

The theatre and hospitality industry just broke. We are trying to stay positive and focus on how to get through closure for the coming months. I don’t think anyone could ever have planned for this, so right now I need to figure out how to keep my kids at home for three months and not all drive each other crazy. I am about to become a stay at home mum for the first time in my life - and I am looking forward to it.

Is your landlord giving you any help during these troubling times?

I have been talking to The Arch Company and they have been reassuring me that help will come.

What is the worst case scenario of this?

That we won’t reopen.

Anything else you'd like to add?

I am worried about the mental health of my friends and family. The theatre industry is an insecure place to work in the best of times but this, as you know, is devastating for all. Actors work in bars, restaurants, gyms and schools that sector has just been closed too. So people who had shows and gigs lined up until Christmas have in essence lost all of their future work in a matter of days.

There is a community spirit of ‘we shall all get through this' but it is really, really hard for the head to cope.’

The Union Theatre is at 229 Union St, SE1 0LR

16 HISTORY

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Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

History

THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE COUNTRY

How a Camberwell librarian helped establish the lifesaving national donor service In England 8,000 people a day require a blood transfusion to stay alive and, aside from the generous donors, they have a Camberwell librarian to thank for establishing a national donor service back in 1921.

Nearly one hundred years on from our present coronavirus where the greatest science minds look for a vacine we dulved into archieve to give you Percy Lane Oliver, who has slipped into relative obscurity since his death in 1944. His actions continue to help save the lives of millions of people worldwide as his pioneering blood donation service went from humble beginnings in south London to a global phenomenon.

Percy’s family moved from St Ives to London in 1883, when he was five years old. As a teenager he won a Science and Art Scholarship. He did well in his exams but was rejected by the Medical Board and the aspiring doctor ended up working as an assistant librarian with Camberwell Borough Council in 1893. In 1901 he was transferred to the Town Hall staff, where he remained until his retirement.

In the years leading up to the First World War, Percy was a founder member for the Camberwell Division of the British Red Cross and became its Honorary Secretary in 1910.

During the war, he served in the Royal Naval Air Service, stationed at Crystal Palace, but his contribution to the local war effort was far greater.

With the help of his wife, Percy set up and managed four refugee hostels in Camberwell for those fleeing persecution.

In 1918 he was summoned to Buckingham Palace to be awarded an OBE

by King George V for his charitable work.

But his greatest contribution was yet to come.

In October 1921, as the Honorary Secretary of the Camberwell branch of the Red Cross, he got a call from the nearby King’s College Hospital in urgent need of a blood donor. He went to the hospital and saw Sister Linstead, a Red Cross worker, become the first voluntary blood donor.

He was so struck by this experience that he and his wife immediately set about organising a panel of blood donors locally, whose health and blood details were checked by the hospital and kept on record cards in his home in Colyton Road.

Someone manned the phones at all times and in the first year they received one call and registered four donors. Five years later there were 400 donors and they took over 700 calls.

Percy had to move house to cope with the exponential growth of the service he set up and he started travelling around London and the rest of the country to petition others to set up similar local blood transfusion volunteer services.

In 1926 the London Blood Transfusion Service got the official support of the British Red Cross Society and ultimately

developed into the National Blood Transfusion Service which is so wellknown today.

Hospitals were never charged for the service and the cost of running the organisation from his home in Nunhead was met by charging private clinics, some grants, and Percy’s own fundraising efforts.

As the service was on the brink of becoming national, not everyone was a fan of the idea, particularly as Percy was not a medical professional. Many donors felt they had to keep their involvement with the service a secret even from their families despite Percy’s unrelenting work giving talks up and down the country to encourage the establishment of more donor services.

In 1940 he gave a talk in his home town of St Ives and the master of ceremonies encouraged the audience “… not to stand in the way of would-be donors, but rather to go out and radiate the wonderful work that had been done and was being done by blood transfusion...”

Percy’s work attracted worldwide attention and many countries sent representatives to meet him and hear him speak who then set up similar organisations.

He did receive some recognition of his work in his lifetime, the highlight of which must have been when he was invited to deliver a talk on the subject at the palace

by King George himself.

Almost 30 years after his death on April 16, 1944, a memorial portrait was unveiled in the entrance hall of the Haematology Department of King’s College Hospital, in 1972 by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester. A framed copy of this is in every Regional Transfusion Centre in Britain, and another is in the Donor Centre in Rome.

In 1979 the Greater London Council provided an appropriate plaque on the house in Colyton Road where so much of his work was undertaken.

With thanks to Tom Richards and his article, Percy Lane Oliver - founder of the voluntary blood donor service

A portrait of Percy Lane Oliver, which hangs at the entrance hall of the Haematology Department of King’s College Hospital (main), and its inscription (left) and a sign to the Oliver Ward, also in King’s (below)

Blood donation now • There are 1,900,000 blood donations each year • Over 8,000 units of blood are collected at golf clubs each year • Only 9% of donors live in Greater London • Each single blood donation can help as many as three people • In England, there around 8,000 blood transfusions a year Visit www.blood.co.uk for more information

Join our Vascular Team Keep your finger on the Pulse

We are recruiting band 5 nurses to join our dedicated and talented workforce. Opportunities are available in Vascular Surgery and Cardiac areas. Our dynamic and experienced team are here to support you. You will benefit from in-house study days, informal training and Personal development opportunities.

For more information please contact: Donna Bradburn at donna.bradburn@gstt.nhs.uk. Meet your team, discover opportunities and interview on the day at our Nursing assessment day on Wednesday 1st April 2020.

To apply visit us online www.bit.ly/GSTTvacancies using 196-NM6799 Closing date 22nd March 2020 at Midnight.

GP surgery close to Bermondsey/Old Kent Road requires a

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Hours are negotiable. Salary A.A.E Please forward application with cv to: The practice manager The Trafalgar Surgery, 10 Trafalgar Avenue London, SE15 6NR or email laura.nagi@nhs.net

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Then so are your future candidates... to place a recruitment advert in the Southwark News please contact

020 7232 1639 or email: clarry@southwarknews.co.uk

18 CLASSIFIED

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20 PUBLIC NOTICES

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Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (SPA ROAD, WHITES GROUNDS)

PECKHAM WEST AREA PARKING ZONE 'PW'

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

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

2.

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 load in: (a) Spa Road, between Ness Street and Rouel Road. (b) Whites Grounds, at it’s junction with Druid Street.

3.

The alternative route for (2a) Rouel Road, Dockley Road, Thurland Road. (2b) as indicated by the signs displayed.

4.

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.

5.

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.

6..

The works will be in operation for (2a) 8th April at 22:00hrs – 9th April at 0600hrs. (2b) 6th April at 22:00hrs – 7th April at 0600hrs

7.

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

Dated this 26th March 2020 Nicky Costin Road Network & Parking Business Manager Southwark Council Environment and Leisure Network Management PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 5197/ XTD-02-60-080420 (2b) 5212/ LBW-00-23-060420 LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (SWAN STREET, STURGE STREET, TREVERIS STREET) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable highway, BT and bridge 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 roads.

2.

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 load in: (a) Swan Street, at its junction with Trinity Street. (b) Sturge Street at it’s junction with Sawyer Street. (c)Treveris Street, between Bear Lane and Chancel Street.

3.

The alternative route for (2a) will be as indicated by the signs displayed. (2b) Sawyer Street, Southwark Bridge Road, Great Suffolk Street. (2c) Chancel Street, Dolben Street, Great Suffolk Street, Southwark Street, Bear Lane.

4.

Treveris Street, between Bear Lane and Chancel Street, will be made two way for access and egress purposes for (2c).

5.

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.

6.

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.

7.

The works will be in operation for (2a) 13th – 24th April. (2b) 14th – 16th April. (2c) 15th April at 22:00hrs – 16th April at 06:00hrs.

8.

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

Dated this 26th March 2020 Nicky Costin Road Network & Parking Business Manager Southwark Council Environment and Leisure Network Management PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 5216/ 77000648 (2b) 5246/TI001LC500289744602 (2c) 5196/ TI001LC500289744602

The London Borough of Southwark (Parking places) (Parking zone 'PW') (No. 1) Order 2020 The London Borough of Southwark (Free parking places) (No. 25) Order 2020 The London Borough of Southwark (Waiting and loading restrictions) (Amendment No. 101) Order 2020 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 26 March 2020 it has made the above orders under sections 6, 45, 46, 49, 124 and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The effects of the orders, as part of the provision of a new parking zone ‘PW’ in the Peckham West area are:(a) to provide permit holders' parking places, by converting existing free or free limited stay parking places at some locations, in which vehicles in respect of which has been granted either a valid residents' permit, a valid business permit or a valid visitors' permit may be left Mon-Fri between 9 am and 11 am inclusive, in:- ADYS ROAD, AMOTT ROAD, AVONDALE RISE, BELLENDEN ROAD, BESANT PLACE, CHOUMERT ROAD, COPLESTON ROAD, DANBY STREET, EAST DULWICH ROAD, EVERTHORPE ROAD, FENWICK GROVE, FENWICK ROAD, GOWLETT ROAD, HAYES GROVE, HINCKLEY ROAD, HOWDEN STREET, KESTON ROAD, MARSDEN ROAD, MAXTED ROAD, MUSCHAMP ROAD, NUTBROOK STREET, OGLANDER ROAD, ONDINE ROAD, OXENFORD STREET, REEDHAM STREET, SOAMES STREET, VALE END, WAGHORN STREET and WINGFIELD STREET; (b) to provide ‘stop and shop’ parking places, converting existing free ‘short stay’ parking places at some locations, in which either:- (i) vehicles may be left free of charge for up to 30 minutes, or (ii) vehicles which have paid the parking charge may be left for up to 2 hours, the first 30 minutes of which parking session would be free of charge; provided no vehicle may return to a parking place within 2 hours, Mon-Sat between 8.30 am and 6.30 pm inclusive, in:- EAST DULWICH ROAD and GROVE VALE; NOTE: a parking session must be registered with the Council’s ‘Pay by Phone’ provider to obtain the 30 minutes free of charge parking in addition to a longer charged-for stay. The ‘Pay by Phone’ provider will calculate the total parking charge for the parking session payable automatically upon registering. (c) to provide 'shared-use' parking places, converting existing free limited stay parking places at some locations, in which either:- (i) vehicles which have paid the parking charge using 'Pay by Phone' may be left for up to 2 hours, provided no vehicle may return to a parking place within 2 hours, or (ii) vehicles in respect of which has been granted either a valid residents' permit, a valid business permit or a valid visitors' permit may be left Mon-Fri between 9 am and 11 am inclusive, in:- ADYS ROAD, AMOTT ROAD, AVONDALE RISE, CHOUMERT ROAD, DANBY ROAD, EAST DULWICH ROAD, FENWICK GROVE, FENWICK ROAD, GOWLETT ROAD, HOWDEN STREET, KESTON ROAD, MARSDEN ROAD, MUSCHAMP ROAD, NUTBROOK STREET, OGLANDER ROAD, ONDINE ROAD, OXENFORD STREET and SOAMES STREET; (d) to introduce 'at any time' (AAT) waiting restrictions - double yellow lines – at road junctions, footway and vehicle crossovers between kerbside designated as parking places in the above-mentioned streets. Loading or unloading to or from attended vehicles would be permitted for a maximum of 40 minutes at any single location on AAT waiting restrictions; and (e) to introduce AAT loading restrictions on which vehicles would be prohibited from waiting, including for the purpose of loading or unloading, in the following length of street:- ADYS ROAD (both sides, on all kerbside not designated as parking or ‘school keep clear’ restrictions between the common boundary of Nos. 59 and 61 Adys Road and the common boundary of Nos. 90 and 92 Adys Road).

Existing car club parking places, disabled persons’ parking places, electric vehicle recharging places and loading bays located in the above streets would not be affected by the proposals.

3. Copies of the orders, which will come into force on 30 March 2020, and of all other relevant documents are available for inspection at Highways, Southwark Council, Environment and Leisure, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH during office hours. E-mail traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 3497 or for details.

4.Any person desiring to question the validity of the orders or of any provision contained therein on the grounds that it is not within the relevant powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 or that any of the relevant requirements thereof or of any relevant regulations made thereunder has not been complied with in relation to the orders may, within six weeks of the date on which the orders were made, make application for the purpose to the High Court.

Dated 26 March 2020 Nicky Costin - Parking and Network Management Business Unit Manager, Regulatory Services Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 13 OF APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION Proposed development at 25 Lavington Street, Southwark SE1 0NZ. We give notice that LS Lavington Street Limited is applying to the London Borough of Southwark for planning permission for: ‘Demolition of an existing office building and the erection of a basement, plus ground, plus 14-storey building, and partial demolition of an existing office building and the erection of a basement, plus ground, plus 10-storey building to provide (Class B1) office use, (Class A1) retail use, flexible (A1/A3, A3/A4, D2/A3/A4) retail and leisure use, landscaping, public realm, highway works, disabled car parking, cycle parking, plant and associated works.’

Any owner* of the land or tenant** who wishes to make representations about this application should write to Southwark Council at Southwark Council, Planning Services, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH by 17 April 2020. * “owner” means a person having a freehold interest or a leasehold interest the unexpired term of which is not less than 7 years, or, in the case of development consisting of the winning or working of minerals, a person entitled to an interest in a mineral in the land (other than oil, gas, coal, gold or silver). ** “tenant” means a tenant of an agricultural holding any part of which is comprised in the land.

Signed: JLL On behalf of: LS Lavington Street Limited Date: 27/03/2020 Statement of owners’ rights The grant of planning permission does not affect owners’ rights to retain or dispose of their property, unless there is some provision to the contrary in an agreement or in a lease.

Statement of agricultural tenants’ rights The grant of planning permission for non-agricultural development may affect agricultural tenants’ security of tenure.

To place a public notice, please email em@southwarknews.co.uk Cut off is Tuesdays at 3pm

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

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PUBLIC NOTICES 21

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).

TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT OUTSIDE LONDON BRIDGE STATION LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2TF (Ref: 20/AP/0772) Telecommunications installation of 1No 10m Alpha26 Monopole to be installed on D9 root foundation with AW3359 Tri-sector antenna at 9.00m and assocaited works. (Within: Tooley Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Daniel Cooklin-Smith 020 7525 5471) 145 SYDENHAM HILL LONDON SOUTHWARK SE23 3PH (Ref: 20/AP/0501) Construction of 2 storey and single storey rear extension. Proposed new second floor and new entrance porch. Removal of existing roof and replace with a pitched roof. (Within: Dulwich Wood CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Samuel Hepworth 020 7525 5465) 61 LINNELL ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8NJ (Ref: 20/AP/0751) Construction of a rear roof extension with 1x rooflight to the front of the property. (Within: Sceaux Gardens CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anthony Roberts 020 7525 5458) 271 CAMBERWELL NEW ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 0TF (Ref: 20/AP/0740) Proposed internal and external alterations.

(Within: Camberwell New Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Tracy Chapman 020 7525 1948) 48 WILLOWBROOK ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 6BW (Ref: 20/AP/0754) Construction of a ground floor side extension and roof terrace. In addition, the erection of a lower ground floor extension/conversion of outbuildings. (Within: Peckham Hill Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Lisa Jordan 020 7525 3463) GOLDINGS HOUSE 2 HAYS LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 20/AP/0755) Internal and external refurbishment works to the ground floor reception area of Goldings House including: replacement curtain walling and

removal of wall and fire doors to extend the reception area within the arcade, replacement reception entrance doors, new internal flooring, new internal lighting, replacement ceilings and replacement internal flooring (Within: Tooley Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Gemma Williams 07926087097) GOLDINGS HOUSE 2 HAYS LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 20/AP/0756) Internal and external refurbishment works to the ground floor reception area of Goldings House including: replacement curtain walling and removal of wall and fire doors to extend the reception area within the arcade, replacement reception entrance doors, new internal flooring, new internal lighting, replacement ceilings and replacement internal flooring (Within: Tooley Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Gemma Williams 07926087097) 46B BRANDON STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 20/AP/0837) Minor material amendment to planning permission 19/AP/6014 (Construction of an extension to both buildings, creating an additional storey for accommodation: 3 x onebedroom apartments. The replacement of the existing windows and replacement of the existing Trespa cladding panels.) to create an additional structure above the existing second floor roof to support the proposed new storey, resulting in a change in the overall height of the building (Within: Larcom Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ewan Lawless 020 7525 1264) 9 TANNER STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 20/AP/0801) Minor alterations to windows at ground floor.

Installation of escape stair to internal courtyard and associated escape doors. Installation of small scale louvers to serve new internal plant installation (Within: Bermondsey Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Louise Dinsdale ) STUDIO FLAT GROUND FLOOR 77 BLACKFRIARS ROAD LONDON

Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003

SOUTHWARK SE1 8HA (Ref: 20/AP/0797) Refurbish and extend existing rear extension.

Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Jessica Potter 020 7525 0036) 2-16 AMELIA STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 20/AP/0808) Display of a logo sign, 2 wall mounted information signs, 1 fascia sign and 1 projecting sign. (Within: Walworth Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Zaib Khan 0207 525 0311) 52 CHOUMERT ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 4AX (Ref: 20/AP/0804) Construction of a double storey lower ground and upper ground rear extension, an an extension to the existing raised ground floor entrance vestible. The replacement of two existing side windows at first floor. A rear sunken courtyard garden connecting the lower ground floor with the garden and the removal of two garden trees to the rear. (Within: Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anthony Roberts 020 7525 5458) 51 BOROUGH HIGH STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 20/AP/0835) Retention of the ground floor commercial unit and alterations to top floor residential unit, change of use of the existing first - third floor offices to self-contained residential dwellings, rear extensions including the erection of a stair core, plus alterations to the basement to provide cycle storage and waste storage. (Within: Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Abrar Sharif 020 7525 3992)

83 GROVE LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8SP (Ref: 20/AP/0846) Demolition and the construction of a new conservatory. The construction of an ancillary building that will join the existing curtilage listed out-building to provide an additional toilet and cloak room for ground floor use. (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Jessica Potter 020 7525 0036) ALL SAINTS ANNEXE AUSTRAL STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE11 4SJ (Ref: 20/AP/0779) Refurbishment and extension of the All Saints Annexe, with all internal floorspace to be mixed Class B1/D1 use, involving the demolition of existing rear extensions and the construction of new two-storey rear extensions, resulting in 91 square metres GIA net additional floorspace.

The development would include hard and soft landscaping improvements, the provision of rooftop plant and the creation of an associated waste storage area. (Within: West Square CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Patrick Cronin 020 7525 5535) Dated: 24 Mar 2020 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date.

SIMON BEVAN - Director of Planning

83 GROVE LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8SP (Ref: 20/AP/0845) The demolition and construction of a conservatory. The construction of an ancillary building that will join the existing curtilage listed out-building to provide an additional toilet and cloak room for ground floor use. (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Jessica Potter 020 7525 0036)

READ IT HERE FIRST

Please take notice that I / we Oliver Sechi / Peachy Goat Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of 16 Half Moon Lane, SE24 9HU The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are Days

Start time

Finish time

The retail sale of alcohol:

Monday to Sunday

10:00

03:00

The provision of regulated entertainment:

Monday to Sunday

09:00

03:00

Opening hours:

Monday to Sunday

09:00

03:30

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 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 It is open to any interested party to make representations about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. 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: 17th March 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk

Dave Anderson

22 SPORT Robert Brown, in action for Fisher last season

www.southwarknews.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

Fish out of water

But now former skipper is back at St Paul’s – and outlines ambition when football resumes

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk FORMER FISHER captain Robert Brown has opened up on what he believes was behind Fisher’s slump this season – citing a lack of discipline as one major reason.

The Fish, under former manager Dean Harrison, unexpectedly launched an exciting promotion challenge in 2018-19 on one of the smallest budgets in the SCEFL Premier Division.

The Rotherhithe club just fell short, finishing six points off Cray Valley who claimed the only promotion place in the 20-team league.

Harrison left last summer and was replaced with Allan Fenn, a former manager of Ilford who brought in Tower Hamlets boss Ajay Ashanike as his assistant.

Fenn didn’t have a budget and was left with only three of the previous season’s squad, with key players such as Richie Hamill departing.

Brown stayed but left a month into the season for Welling Town as Fisher were on a run of ten games without a win in all competitions. He had a spell with Punjab, before he re-joined Fisher earlier this month.

“I think I was so used to the team last year and how it was run with the staff and players, that I came back expecting it to just carry on,” Brown said. “We had a very tight ship, strict fines in place which I was on the committee for with other senior members. There was no lateness for games or training.

“When someone spoke everyone listened, we had discussions prior to every game in team meetings and discussions before training - it was as professional as it got at this level under Dean, Neil [Hunter], Rich [White] and Jason [Birchill].

“No player spoke back to the manager and I remember being in shock when I heard it numerous times [early this season] as that was a big no-no last year.

“I realise how good we had it last year and how grateful anyone should be if they are in a winning team, most of all if they’re playing with friends.

“Some days I think about giving Fenny a call and saying I hope he is well. He backed me at the club, and me

The midfielder is delighted to be back at St Paul’s leaving was nothing personal against him though I’m sure it came off like that.”

Fenn left in October and was replaced

by Ashanike.

Brown continued: “The good thing that came from all of this and me leaving was playing against Fisher, it made me realise I wanted to come back. I realised it was home.

“Even though the fans might have felt annoyed or disappointed when they saw me leaving, I still missed the fans, the feel and the buzz around the club - it’s everything I wanted in a football club in terms of kindness and support.

“People need to remember that Fisher went under a tremendous amount of change after Deano left in the summer. The whole squad left with him, basically, and at one point I was the only player left from the previous year’s squad.

“The Fisher squad last year had been together for two seasons. We got promoted out of the SCEFL Division One, signed two or three players and kept the boys to then finish third in the Premier.

“Everyone knew everyone closely, we knew each person’s positions, their personalities, and the squad got better every game. A certain bond forms when you get promoted together and stick together. In non-league football, you’re lucky to get the same squad together for more than half a season, I’m starting to realise.

“I’m not sure if I could put my finger on one thing that went wrong [this season], things were different for sure, but I think it would be normal for any squad to take time to adjust after losing a number of core players.”

Football at all levels in England is currently suspended, with no real certainty over when it will resume.

Brown works in social media and is currently doing that from home.

He’s missing the training sessions and the excitement of the SaturdayTuesday fixture schedule.

“Football means everything to me,” Brown said. “It’s always been a part of my life and when football isn’t right, I’m not right mentally and I look for ways to fix it.

“I know Fisher long-term is right for me. I want to give back to Fisher in any way I can. With Covid-19, the uncertainty of football and the season, I miss it, of course I do. I have the rest of my life after I retire to sit around on Saturdays and go for walks to feel active.

“I’m going for runs every other day and walking every day to stay fit, but I want to be back on the pitch pinging through-balls and doing one-twos. I want to set my mate up for a goal again like I did last game. That feeling beats any other feeling. Staying at home and doing it on the PS4 just doesn’t have the same feeling to it!

“At the end of the game [against Punjab at St Paul’s, before the suspension], we couldn’t shake the supporters’ hands due to Coronavirus and I remember we all clapped them longer than usual.

“When I got subbed, the fans started chanting my song and name, and it meant the world to me, it felt like for the first time in a long time that football was normal again for me.

“I will never take the people who watch us play at St. Paul’s for granted and who clap me when I score a goal or play well.

“Being captain of Fisher was an honour for me. Hopefully one day it will happen again, and this time I don’t plan on ending that journey early. Hopefully one day I can celebrate a trophy with Fisher. That would be the dream.” *If anyone needs social media expertise to raise awareness about their brand, you can contact Robert Brown on Twitter @10Brown10.

www.newsatden.co.uk

MILLWALL 23 Photos by Stephen Chalk

Life’s a pitch

Southwark News, Thursday March 26 2020

Den plans on hold – but grass will be greener on the other side EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL COULD have to shelve plans for a complete reconstruction of the pitch at The Den – but if football returns in the spring or summer it will have benefitted from a well-deserved rest.

The six-figure job got the sign-off from the Lions board in May last year and work was being planned to commence this summer.

But the Coronavirus crisis has thrown football as it has every area of society into chaos and given it’s a fourteenweek project it is unlikely to go ahead.

Millwall will also be hit financially by the effects of the pandemic so may have to put non-essential plans on the back burner.

The Den still has the same under-pitch architecture it was fitted with when it was built in 1993.

Drainage has been an issue, and the stadium’s head groundsman, Steven Chalk, revealed that there have been occasions when games have been in threat of postponement.

Chalk used cameras to detect where some of the clay drainage system had collapsed in order to put together a report and presentation for the Millwall board.

Lions executives examined Chalk’s assessment and agreed a full reconstruction of the pitch was needed.

Chalk and his assistant, Charlie Burrage, and the five grounds staff that maintain the training pitches, are the only non-essential staff who are going to work at The Den and to Calmont Road.

Chalk will have a new modern pitch to manage at some stage, but it looks like that won’t be until at least the summer of 2021.

“The actual undersoil heating, the

irrigation, the drainage, is the same construction as what was put in in May 1993,” Chalk told the News this week. “Yes, we take off the top 25 mil [millimetres] every year like most clubs do.

“I put together a presentation in November 2018 and said I’d got drainage experts in, people from different areas to do loads of testing so I could put something together and present it to the board to say: ‘These are the problems we have, if we don’t do something soon we’re going to start getting games called off, potentially.’

“This season’s been horrendous weather-wise, how we got through some games I don’t know. The board are fully aware of what’s going on, and so is the manager [Gary Rowett]. When he came in he was briefed that it was a very, very old surface and come winter it struggles, there’s no denying that.

“We do everything we can to try to get that water off the surface. We use all different kinds of aeration machines on a monthly basis. We’re not just sitting back doing nothing, that’s not the case at all.

“We were meant to get a new pitch this summer: new drains, new irrigation, new undersoil heating – the full works. The way things are looking right now with what’s happening in the world, that’s looking very slim. It’s a fourteen-week project, digging up half a metre and going from the very beginning again, like most clubs have done. It’s the norm for a pitch of 27 years.

“It’s looking like we’re going to have to postpone that for another year because we just don’t know when we’re going to start the season again.

“But we have got the backing for a new pitch. It’s not like the board are saying you can’t have this or that, it’s not like that at all. They know the concerns, they know this is where you get the

This season took its toll three points, and it has to be in tip-top condition because you can’t afford to lose games.”

The pitch has been showing signs of the effects of the weather and usage in recent months. Bristol City boss Lee Johnson spoke about the “boggy” surface after the 1-1 draw in February.

Chalk – who will be ten years with the club next October – also knows fans can be critical on social media.

But he explained there are multiple factors that affect the quality of the playing area.

He continued: “From the beginning of December to the end of January we had nine games in seven weeks. That’s with under-23s, the FA Youth Cup and the FA Cup. “People just do need to realise this is a very, very old surface and the actual foundations have not been touched. We had cameras down there and there are clay drains, that’s unheard of now. It’s all MDPE pipework these days.

“The board are fully aware of what lays underneath. They’ve backed us, they’re not criticising us. I can’t emphasise how good they have been.

“We don’t have to explain it to 18,000

people, like anything people just hone in on the negatives.

“Even the players know, the manager’s briefed them. Our hardest point was, they’re going to the likes of Aston Villa, Fulham, Cardiff. They’re on all these million-pound pitches that are part hybrid; five per cent is fake, basically.

“I think nineteen teams in the Championship have those pitches.

They’ve upgraded irrigation, undersoil heating and drainage. We are one of four or five that haven’t. In the Premier League they’ve all got a state-of-the-art pitches.

“Going forward, if we do get into the Premier League, we’d have to have one of them.

“We’re on social media, and it’s a great tool, but we’ve come across people moaning and groaning. Some people don’t know the true facts. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is entitled to an opinion, we all have one, but when people just start randomly shouting, ‘it’s bad,’ or it’s this or that, if they want to know information we’re happy to tell them.

“We don’t want to see [the pitch adversely affecting games] because we

How the surface looked this week after a break since the last game on February 29 know when that happens and the game finishes we’re the first in the firing line.

It’s like, ‘what’s happened here?’”

So, if and when the league resumes, can we expect a beautiful lush green surface?

Chalk insisted: “We’re working on it!

It’s come at quite a good time for the pitch. It’s getting a well-deserved break.

At the moment it’s recovering well, there have been no games for a good couple of weeks now.

“When we get that phone call to say the game’s on we want to be ahead and know with these remaining five home games, if they’re Saturday-Tuesday, if they’re crammed in, that we’ll be able to take that.

“We’re keeping it ticking over, basically not letting it get out of hand.

We’re keeping to a reasonably decent level so when we get the call that things are going ahead it’s in decent nick.

“We don’t want to just let it go off for two weeks, let it get out of hand and then the games are back on in so many weeks and the pitch is in not great condition.

“For us we’re coming in maintaining it the way we would do if we had games.”

Battle plans

inside

Sport Southwark

Former skipper opens up Gary Rowett at the City Ground on March 6

Complications over contracts due to crisis?

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk THE UNCERTAINTY over when the football season can recommence could be a complication for the contract situation at Millwall.

Lions could face crammed end-of-season schedule EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL ARE planning for a scenario where they might need to play three or four games a week to complete the season, as the squad continues to train at home with football suspended until at least April 30.

The Lions had planned to return to training last Monday but that changed after the football authorities announced an extended suspension of fixtures and the government advised on various new restrictive public gathering measures.

Millwall boss Gary Rowett was earlier this week at his family home in the Midlands, while his players were following their own fitness programmes away from Calmont Road, which is shut to all nonessential staff.

Rowett highlighted the immense work of the country’s health staff in the fight against Coronavirus, but also gave an update how the club are planning in the case of the resumption of the campaign.

“I’m back home in Derbyshire, all the family are here at the house and we’re just trying to do what everyone else is doing which is to just bide our time,” Rowett told the News on Tuesday.

“Thankfully the sun’s out and at least you can spend a bit of time tidying up the garden. It seems a bit pathetic saying that when people are battling all sorts of things in NHS hospitals.

Ultimately we’re trying to self-isolate, like everyone else, in between doing bits of work.

“From my point of view there’s still planning that can be done. All the staff are doing lots of planning in terms of what we’ve done this season and how we can get an overview statistically on what we’ve done.

page 22

“And there’s also how we might plan for the last nine games, because of course we might be coming back into a scenario where we’re playing every two or three days. We’ve got to plan for that even though of course we don’t know what’s going to happen.

“The club have been brilliant, they’ve allowed staff to help the elderly in their area on the club’s time.

The club’s sports science team have also produced a little bit of a keep-fit work-out for all the staff so they’ve got that as an option.

“Because you’re talking about not just the players, but also the staff at the ground as well that are not working and are at home doing exactly the same as the players.

“From a mental perspective it’s important for everyone to make sure they get out and stay as active as they possibly can.

“I understand that everyone who loves football is in a position where something is not around and you do

miss it. But at the same time, when you hear all the stories of the NHS hospitals, the likes of Lewisham Hospital, all of those places, it’s difficult to complain too much.

“Anything you can do to help would be fantastic. There are people far more selfless than us.

“There’s plenty for our staff to do at home. We’ll be looking at different scenarios of what we need to plan for next season. How long will the off-season be? Will we even get a preseason? Of course there’s a lot to do there.

“The players just need to keep themselves active. It’s different to a summer when you’re on holiday or have loads of time to spend with your friends and maybe let yourself go a little bit physically and mentally.

Maybe that’s not a bad thing in the offseason, but at the moment I think it’s really good for people to get out there and exercise for their own mental health and well-being.”

Professional football is currently suspended until April 30 but as of now there are no guarantees that leagues will resume then with the country in the grip of the Coronavirus crisis.

Millwall have stopped training, with their scheduled return on April 3 at the earliest. That changed from last week when the Lions were due in on Monday, after the football authorities extended the suspension of games and the government ordered pubs, restaurants and leisure facilities to shut.

Millwall had been in negotiations with players over new deals, and confirmed contracts for Shaun Hutchinson and Mahlon Romeo before the outbreak of the pandemic.

There are various clauses in players’ contracts that activate automatic extensions or give the club the option of extending deals. Millwall also have options to sign on-loan pair Mason Bennett and Ryan Woods in the summer.

But all of that is now up in the air as Millwall like all clubs try to assess the financial ramifications that this crisis will have.

“It’s all to be discussed and everyone is aware of those situations,” Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh told the News. “There’s a whole host of issues around that.

“Those matters are being discussed and considered and between us we will all come up with something that is fair and reasonable and is right to recognise this is an unprecedented situation.”

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