8th April 2021

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Issue 1525

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hISTORY: THE ITALIANS IN SOUTHWARK

April 8 2021

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On the road out of lockdown PUBS, GYMS, THEATRES

£2.5 million in fines In just three months in Dulwich and Walworth Exclusive

See full story on page 4

masked robber terrified bookies in peckham

Page 12

South African variant identified in Bermondsey Page 4

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Contents NEWS Pages 2-15 OPINION Pages 16-17 arts Pages 19-20 History Page 21 property Page 22 Jobs Page 23 family announcements & CLASSIFIED Page 24 Public notices Pages 25-26 SPORT Pages 27-32 During the crisis, contact us if you have a story on 07973175511 or email

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why the delay? ask the climate change activists Exclusive

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Two years after Southwark Council declared a climate emergency its long awaited climate strategy has still not been published.

The climate emergency was first formally declared by the local authority on March 27, 2019, but since then activists have grown frustrated with the pace of change.

The News has been told that the strategy, expected to be published in March, is now unlikely to be made public until May, after going through its final stages of public consultation in early January 2021.

However, given the upcoming mayoral election and the ongoing strain COVID-19 places on its capacity, there could be even further delays.

Extinction Rebellion activists were out across the borough marking the anniversary as part of their ‘why not Southwark?’ campaign, which is pushing the local authority to be more ambitious in its climate targets.

Last month as part of its budget forecasting, Tooley Street pledged £101 million for climate change initiatives across the borough - but activists have blasted the plans as simply not going far enough. Not only is the climate strategy and action plan long-delayed, there are also minimal references to climate action in the New Southwark Plan, one of the key planning documents in the borough which will define regeneration projects, house building and transport for decades to come.

Climate pledges from the council in recent months include a commitment to plant 10,000 trees across the borough by 2022 and to power all communal areas within council housing stock with renewable energy by September this year.

Extinction Rebellion

Historian of black Britain “duped” into taking part in race report

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk A Southwark-based historian of black British heritage has said he was “duped” into taking part in a controversial recent report on race in the UK.

Stephen Bourne, author of Black Poppies: Britain’s Black Community and the Great War, among several other books, told the News he was invited to a “roundtable discussion” of black British history last year by a Number 10 adviser.

Bourne said he arrived in a Downing Street meeting room with another historian and the MP Kwasi Kwarteng. Tony Sewell and several other people - whom Bourne only later worked out were the commissioners of the report - joined via video call, he said.

Bourne said he was asked to give a presentation, for which he had not prepared.

He talked about his books instead, telling people on the call that they should be used in schools.

He said he was surprised to find his name listed as a “stakeholder” who had “given evidence” in the appendix to the report when it was published last week.

“I was duped into it,” Bourne told the News.

“There’s no way I would have taken part if they had told me what I was going to be contributing to.”

Bourne added that he disagreed strongly with the findings of the report, finding it “staggering” that the commissioners could conclude the UK has no institutional racism.

A spokesperson for the Commission on Race & Ethnic Disparities said: "Stephen Bourne participated in a 10 Downing Street MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE Page 29

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Editor: Kevin Quinn Deputy Editor: Katherine Johnston Reporter: Kit Heren 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, Design: Dan Martin, Aurelio Medina Finance: Em Zeki - Tel: 0779 883 3758 Subscriptions/Announcements: Katie Boyd Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Published weekly on a Thursday at: Unit A202, 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 Finance: em@southwarknews.co.uk Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500 www.iliffeprint.co.uk

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event for Black History Month, in which he made a valuable contribution about the curriculum which influenced the thinking of the commissioners on the subject. We thanked him as a courtesy."

The lengthy report was published on Tuesday and said the UK “should be regarded as a model for other white-majority countries” in how it had reduced racial bias in education and the economy.

Sewell, who served as chairman of the commission, said in a foreword to the report: “We no longer see a Britain where the system is deliberately rigged against ethnic minorities."

Nevertheless the report did find that overt racism still existed in the UK, particularly online and on social media. It added that some ethnic minority groups may be “haunted” by historic injustices against them.

The commission has been criticised by

groups like the Runnymede Trust, which said it felt “let down” by the report’s findings.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also said he found the report “disappointing”.

The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London Southwark News started life as the Bermondsey News in 1987, as an A-4 photocopied sheet of paper and rapidly grew to cover the entire borough and the surrounding area. As the borough grew, so did the newspaper.

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

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

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NEWS 3

council’s £370,000 to groups helping out in the pandemic

Sixteen groups have been given a grant

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk £370,000 in Southwark Council funding has been given out to sixteen community groups at the forefront of the borough’s COVID-19 response.

This is the second round of twoyear grants given out in the ‘Common Purpose’ scheme, which focuses on community cohesion, tackling social isolation, and promoting a greener borough.

Beneficiaries include Walworth Golden Oldies, a charity supporting older people from the Windrush Generation.

Russell Profitt MBE, the charity’s chair, said: “This grant is literally a lifesaver for our elderly Black, Asian and minority ethnic users.

“It’s particularly welcome at this time, as it will help us expand our efforts to help improve digital skills of local elderly residents.

“As we all now live in the ‘everything’s online’ era, it’s critically important that elderly people are not

It’s particularly welcome at this time, as it will help us expand our efforts to help improve digital skills

left behind in the relentless rush to make everything digital.”

Funding will also help Opening Doors London, a charity that supports older people from the LGBTQ+ community.

Adrian Beaumont, Opening Doors London’s head of operations and communications, said: “We are able to utilise this funding with LGBTQ+ people over 50 in Southwark to help reduce social isolation and loneliness with specialist support services and access to online groups.”

Another organisation to gain funding is Global Generation and its ‘Paper Garden’ initiative , which encourages local young people to volunteer, learn from nature, and share their ideas about the rapidly changing areas of Canada Water.

Emma Trueman, Paper Garden manager at Global Generation, said: “Thanks to the Common Purpose grant, we’re able to offer 60 free spaces to local young people on our Paper Garden youth programme.

“As a ‘Generator’, young people will look at how they can take positive action to improve their communities, learning about environmental social justice and how to look after their mental and physical health along the way.

“The project gives them the chance to work with local groups and businesses, get creative, and develop important skills to take with them through school and employment.”

Cllr Alice Macdonald, cabinet member for communities, equalities and neighbourhoods at Southwark

Council, said: “Voluntary and community organisations have always played a pivotal role in bringing together communities in Southwark and empowering our residents to lead healthy and fulfilled lives.

“But the pandemic has truly brought home how much of a lifeline their services and activities are for our residents, especially the most vulnerable.

“Most organisations who benefitted from our last grant funding agilely adapted their services as lockdown began.

“I’ve been in awe of how they’ve become key players in the community’s COVID-19 crisis response by delivering food and other essentials, and providing support by

telephone or online.

“After an incredibly difficult year of being cut off from the outside world, connecting with each other, with nature, and with issues that are close to our hearts has never been more important.

“I’m delighted that such welldeserving community organisations have been awarded Common Purpose grants to help achieve these aims for all residents.”

I’ve been in awe of how they’ve become key players in the community’s COVID-19 crisis response

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Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

£2.5 Million: the staggering income generated at new LTNs by three cameras in just three months Exclusive

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Southwark Council raked in £2.5 million in fixed penalty charges from LTN cameras in Dulwich and Walworth in its first three months of issuing fines.

Freedom of Information requests show the staggering income generated by three cameras in the Dulwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood and just one camera in Walworth’s Manor Place-Braganza Street.

Although cameras were welcomed as a ‘smarter’ alternative to road blocks and planters, and supported by emergency services as well as residents, they have now led to an astronomical number of fines being handed out.

In Dulwich Village, between January 11 and February 28, 2021 - when the council first started issuing fines - Southwark Council has issued an incredible 22,424 penalties.

If every single one of these had been paid early at £65, then the council has netted a total of £1,457,560 in just seven weeks.

A spokesperson for the Dulwich Alliance, a coalition of groups representing thousands of residents, some 150 shops and businesses and GP surgeries, described the amount of fines as “eye-watering and clearly not sustainable or acceptable”.

Meanwhile in Walworth, 29,530 penalty charge notices were issued to motorists captured driving through contraventions in Braganza Street from November 25 to the end of January, to a value of £1,018,160 within just two months.

After a report by this newspaper detailing huge three and four figure fines wracked up by unwitting drivers in Walworth, many of whom said they were left on the breadline by COVID-19, Tooley Street later pledged to cap multiple fines

from Manor Place at three; with the first ticket cancelled if a warning notice was not received beforehand.

However, the new data shows that only seventeen per cent of the Walworth fines handed out so far have been successfully appealed, even though ward councillors admitted in January that the signage had ‘not been good enough’.

The fines come at a time when residents have just been informed their council tax is due to rise by 4.99 per cent, and the council’s budget is facing a £43 million black hole in its finances due to COVID-19 and pressure on its services.

In 2019 then-finance chief at Southwark Council, Cllr Victoria Mills, denied the local authority was actively pursuing a roll out of controlled parking zones (CPZs) in order to boost its coffers.

That year’s budget listed five million extra expected to be generated by ‘fees and charges’ - now seeming like a drop in the ocean compared to the millions the council could generate from low emissions zones and low traffic neighbourhoods over the

entire year.

The News asked Southwark Council what was being done to improve signage, why so few appeals had been successful in this period, and whether it had budgeted for this dramatic rise in income.

Cllr Catherine Rose, cabinet member for leisure, environment and roads, told us on Tuesday: “We introduced LTNs to help keep residents safe.

“We want to support social distancing and safe walking and cycling, by reducing through traffic and improving air quality.

“Many of our camera enforced LTNs were introduced in response to conversations with the emergency services and by listening to what local residents wanted.

“All of our LTN signs meet statutory regulations, and in some locations we have gone over and above what is required.

We are continuing to listen and make improvements. Timed restrictions are a key way to manage traffic flows through neighbourhoods. We will consult on all LTNs and invite residents and traders to help us shape safer, greener streets.”

not in the hope that any asymptomatic infections can be quickly contained.

Cllr Evelyn Akoto, cabinet member for community safety and public health said: “There is no cause for alarm.

“We are writing to residents in a defined area as a precaution because this variant of COVID-19 may be more easily passed between people.

“It is important residents in the area have a test if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

“It is also important they continue to follow the current rules on social distancing and meeting with people from outside their household.”

Letters encouraging people to take a test will be delivered to the following postcodes: SE1 3AW, SE1 3BL, SE1 3BW, SE1 5ER, SE1 5HF, SE1 5HN, SE1 5HP, SE1 5PN, SE1 5PP, SE1 5PR, SE1 5PS, SE1 5PT, SE1 5PU, SE1 5PW, SE1 5PX, SE1 5PY, SE1 5PZ, SE1 5QA, SE1 5QB, SE1 5QD, SE1 5QE, SE1 5QF, SE1 5QH, SE1 5QJ, SE1 5QL, SE1 5QQ, SE1 5QR, SE1 5QT, SE1 5QU, SE1 5QX, SE1 5RA, SE1 5RB, SE1 5RE, SE1 5RG, SE1 5RH, SE1 5RL,

SE1 5RN, SE1 5RQ, SE1 5RS, SE1 5RT, SE1 5RU, SE1 5RW, SE1 5RX, SE1 5RY, SE1 5RZ, SE1 5SA, SE1 5SH, SE1 5SJ, SE1 5ST, SE1 5TA, SE1 5TB, SE1 5TD, SE1 5TJ, SE1 5TL, SE1 5TN, SE1 5TW, SE1 5TX, SE1 5TZ, SE1 5XN, SE1 5XU, SE1 5YL, SE16 3RP, SE16 3RS, SE16 3RT Anyone with symptoms (high temperature, new and continuous cough; loss or change of taste of smell; feeling generally unwell and fatigued) can book a free test online at: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test Nearby testing sites include Burgess Park car park, Albany Road, London, SE5 0DG and Walworth Square, Walworth Road, London, , SE17 1GA. People living in those postcodes who do not have symptoms can book a test via www.southwark.gov.uk/rapidtest Test centres nearby include Damilola Taylor Centre, 1 East Surrey Grove, Peckham, SE15 6DR and London Bridge Station, St Thomas Street Exit, SE1 9QU. Residents who are concerned or have any questions can email publichealth@ southwark.gov.uk.

The council has quietly announced an exemption for blue badge holders who live within the Walworth and Dulwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood trial areas.

An update to the council confirmed the change would take effect from April 6, 2021.

It says: “LTNs are designed to make residential streets safer, encourage people to walk and cycle more and reduce air pollution.

“However, in the course of our work listening to the people who live in the Dulwich Village and Walworth LTN trials, we have learned that Blue Badge holders may be disproportionately

impacted by the schemes.

“Blue Badge holders often have reduced mobility, which can make walking and cycling much more difficult.

“In the interest of equality and in response to our residents, we are therefore inviting Blue Badge holders to register for an exemption.

“The exemption is to allow blue badge holders living in the LTN to travel with ease in their local area.

“Access to every property within the LTN remains available at all times for all road users.”

For more information visit: www.southwark.gov.uk/parking/ disabled-parking/

The South African COVID-19 variant has been identified in Bermondsey Residents are being written to as precautionary measure

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk The South African COVID-19 variant has been identified in Bermondsey, Southwark Council confirmed this week.

In a statement published on Tuesday, April 6, the local authority confirmed the new case, discovered in South Bermondsey ward, was not linked to a previous case identified in Faraday ward last month.

In response to the discovery, the council has been delivering letters to 2,000 properties in the immediate area and asking residents in the wider area to take a test if they have symptoms, and consider taking a test even if they do

Firestarters in Rotherhithe Exclusive

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk Local residents were dismayed to find several unexplained fires in a beloved neighbourhood park in Rotherhithe over the Easter weekend.

The fires, which seem to have been lit with newspaper, were discovered by local man Kam Hong Leung at around 11pm in Russia Dock Woodland on Good Friday (April 2).

The fires, which he found near the recently planted wildflower meadow on Waterman’s Way on the east side of the park, appear to have blown themselves out within about ten minutes, according

to Leung.

He added that he also saw a Santander bike that appeared to have been abandoned.

Photos show a heap of charred debris lying next to a sign telling visitors that barbecues are not allowed in the park..

Another Rotherhithe resident said that although this series of fires did not develop into a more serious blaze, people playing with fire in Russia Dock Woodland has been a problem for years.

A spokesman for the Met Police said officers did not attend the scene.

Dedicated ward officer for Rotherhithe Carina Tunks told Leung in an email on Monday that although she had not seen the fires, officers would “conduct more patrols over the coming days around the woodland and show more visibility”.

PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT

Enjoy the great outdoors safely as lockdown restrictions ease The relaxation of lockdown rules on March 29 has been welcomed as a breath of fresh air. Up to six people or two families are allowed to meet safely distanced outdoors. Here we explain why remembering hands, face, space and air is vital as we move forward together with cautious confidence.

DR SHAUN Fitzgerald, Director, Centre for Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge.

Member UK Government Science Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).

Q A

: Why is it safer for people to mix outdoors?

: Small winds deliver fresh air that is less virus-laden.

There are also fewer surfaces, especially if you are going for a walk, for you to touch.

Q A

rules?

: Why should we still be strict on hand-washing, masks and distancing

: They’re easy to follow. I would encourage people to get out but be very astute and remember the messaging.

Professor Brooke Rogers OBE, Professor of Behaviour Science and Security at King’s College, London.

Q

: What would you say to people who are scared to go out?

FAMILY LIFE: Enjoy great days out safely once restrictions begin to lift.

LATEST LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS March 29 Step 1 changes allow ... n Outdoor gatherings, including gardens, of six people or two households n Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis, basketball and openair swimming n Formally organised outdoor sports n End of stay at home rule but we should all continue to work from home where possible and minimise journeys

A

: If it feels right to them, in terms of being more cautious, it is sensible, because this isn’t just about the risk of transmission, this is also about how they feel, and anxiety can be incredibly powerful.

Q A

: What would you say to people who have had the vaccine and think it [the virus] is all over? : Hold on a bit longer while we get more vaccinations. It will be safer for everyone.

It’s about that collective response that we’re all making sacrifices for one another and that we’re all cheering one another along.

Reaping benefits of return to safe sporting activities This sporting life plays a big part in the lives of Barrie and Caroline Watson.

The Yorkshire couple, both in their early sixties, welcomed the UK Government’s relaxation of lockdown rules.

Bowling Club secretary Barrie and his wife would normally play in league matches and competitions many of which were cancelled or curtailed during lockdown.

Members were at times allowed to play in specially-devised COVIDsafe club contests and practice sessions; and similar procedures are now back in place.

“Bowlers have to pre-book slots on the green, only allowing four people together at once.

“Bowlers also have to sanitise

bowls and jacks and socially distance. They are not allowed to shake hands. We also had to restrict use of the clubhouse,” explained Barrie.

He is also a committee member of a cliff-top golf club, where similar safety rules and a track and trace policy are in place.

The couple had to cancel foreign holidays and stage a sociallydistanced, outdoor 90th birthday celebration for Barrie’s mum.

Barrie knows the importance of sport to physical and mental health, “it is a massive uplift to be able to mix with friends and enjoy the usual banter that surrounds any sport. We already have many members raring to go, now that rules allow.”

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Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

the crime rate remains high this year in southwark, despite being in a national lockdown

By Kit Heren

kit@southwarknews.co.uk More crimes were committed in Southwark than in almost any London borough in the first two months of the year, Met police figures show.

Some 4,192 crimes were committed in Southwark in January and February - a rate of about thirteen offences per 1,000 people - putting the borough fourth out of 32 in London for the period.

“Violence against the person”, a wide range that includes murder, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm, as well as common assault and harassment, was the most common type of crime, with 1,159 offences. Some 327 of these caused injuries, although none were murders.

The next most common offence over

the first two months of the year was theft, with 934 incidents. There were 498 incidents of vehicle offences, 374 drug crimes, 317 burglaries, 286 public order offences, 276 incidents of arson and criminal damage, 151 robberies, 99 sexual offences and 44 incidents of weapon possession.

There were a further 54 incidents of “miscellaneous crimes against society” - which includes offences like bigamy, soliciting for prostitution, perjury and bail offences.

But crime is down significantly in the borough compared to this time last year.

The police recorded 6,014 offences in January and February 2020, a rate of about eighteen crimes per person across the two months.

Theft was the most common offence, with about 1,600 incidents, although violence against the person was still

higher than in the first two months of this year, with more than 1,400 incidents.

The Met recorded nearly 104,000 crimes in the first two months of 2021 across the 32 London boroughs. There were no figures available for the City of London. The average across all boroughs was about 3,250 crimes - meaning Southwark was about 29% above average.

Croydon recorded the most crimes in January and February, with 4,781 offences - although its crime rate per person was slightly lower than Southwark at about twelve. An east London trio of Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney completed the top five.

The boroughs with the lowest number of crimes were all in the suburbs: Kingston upon Thames with 1,394 offences, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, Merton and Bexley.

Ruskin Park paddling pool to reopen next month

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Ruskin Park paddling pool will open this summer to children and toddlers, with long-term renovations scheduled to begin this autumn.

The volunteer-run paddling pool first opened in the 1920s and was almost closed permanently in 2015 by Lambeth Council due to lack of funds.

After a huge outcry led to a fundraising drive and support from local businesses, £15,000 was raised to help fund new water pumps, paint and chemicals, and the addition of a new mural.

The pool was, however, closed once again in March 2020 due to a broken pump and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The overhaul the pool needs to bring it up to date is estimated to cost £100,000, and fundraisers are about halfway to the target.

Donors include Friends of Ruskin Park, individuals who supported the crowdfunding campaign, and local estate agents Urban Village.

But they say the pool can reopen on a reduced service, on weekends only,

from the end of May Bank Holiday through to September. Weekly safety checks will also be put in place by Lambeth Council.

“It’s great to see the community and the council working in partnership to bring the much loved Ruskin Park paddling pool back to life,’ said Lambeth councillor Jim Dickson.

“We look forward to a weekend summer season this year and then use by families seven days a week in 2022.’

To volunteer to help run the pool or donate to the campaign, email info@ urbanvillagehomes.com or volunteering@ friendsofruskinpark.org.uk.

Do you know the symptoms of bowel cancer to look out for?

Nearly half of Londoners don’t and it remains the UK’s second biggest cancer killer

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Nearly half of adults in London do not know any symptoms of bowel cancer; the UK’s second biggest cancer killer.

The new research from charity Bowel Cancer UK published this month to coincide with Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, highlights an alarming lack of public knowledge about the disease.

Forty-seven per cent of respondents could not name any symptom of the illness.

One key ‘red flag’ is seeing blood after going to the toilet, with other symptoms including abdominal pain, weight loss, change of bowel habits, and unexplained tiredness or fatigue.

Bowel cancer is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed

early. Nearly everyone diagnosed at the earliest stage will survive bowel cancer but this drops significantly as the disease develops.

Currently, only fifteen per cent of people are diagnosed at the earliest stages of the disease in England.

Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK, says: “Bowel cancer remains the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, and it’s shocking that people aren’t aware of the symptoms to look out for.

“If you notice any signs of bowel cancer, or if things just don’t feel quite right, please visit your GP. “While the disease largely affects people over the age of 50, around 2,500 under 50s are diagnosed each year, so it’s really important people seek advice as soon as possible - whatever their age - if they’re worried.”

For more information visit: www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk

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Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

On the road out of lockdown

Climbing the wall

By Kit Heren

kit@southwarknews.co.uk The Arch climbing wall in Bermondsey is reopening from April 12.

Government rules on indoor sports venues mean that the Arch can open from the second full week of April - provided people stick to social distancing rules.

For the Arch’s Building One, on Drummond Road, that means visitors to the climbing centre have to book to

come at the busiest times. This allows staff to clean for half an hour at the end of each slot before new arrivals come in.

The Arch has also put in a one-way system and visitors have to wear masks when they are not climbing.

Anyone over 16 who comes to the centre has to check in on the NHS app.

Gyms and other indoor leisure activities are being opened up from April 12 as part of the gradual lifting of restrictions, provided people stick to household groups when they go.

Outdoor sports centres have been

open from March 29. Scientists think that Covid-19 is much less likely to spread outdoors than indoors.

Book a slot at www.archclimbingwall. com/booking

Southwark leisure centres will re-open Covid-19 lockdown.

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk Southwark Everyone Active leisure centres are due to open their doors next week as part of the government’s plans to reopen the economy after the

Camberwell Leisure Centre, Dulwich Leisure Centre, The Castle Centre, Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre, Seven Islands Leisure Centre, Surrey Docks Fitness and Watersports Centre, and Southwark Athletics Centre, managed

by Everyone Active on behalf of Southwark Council will be open again from Monday, April 12 with coronavirus safety measures in place.

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Sports Facility, which is outdoors, has been open from March 29 in line with government rules.

Mark Basker, Everyone Active’s regional contract manager, said: “We’re very much looking forward to reopening our centres and welcoming back the local community.

“After being closed for three months, the latest step in the Government’s Roadmap is a positive move forward for the leisure industry and gives

people of all ages the opportunity to resume activity and exercise in their leisure centre.

“Ensuring our colleagues and customers remain safe continues to be our number one priority and we have carefully considered the strict measurements to ensure we adhere to the guidance.

“We would also like to thank Southwark Council for their ongoing support, which has proved invaluable during this challenging year.

“We will be contacting all customers directly over the coming days regarding the centres reopening. We look forward to welcoming everyone back and thank them for their patience.”

For a full list of outdoor facilities currently open in Southwark and to make a booking, visit www. everyoneactive.com/centre/ southwark-outdoor-sports-facilities/

Outdoor gym at Muscle Bull

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk Bermondsey's Muscle Bull Gym is reopening its indoor areas on April 12 after allowing people to work out outside from March 29.

The member-only gym, in Gedling Place near Maltby Street, says it is looking to be ultra-cautious and go beyond government safety guidelines for reopening.

Covid-19 restrictions for safe reopening mean that gyms must have 100 square feet per person in the facility, which would give Muscle Bull room for 41. The gym has chosen to cut this further to just 30, it said on a notice on its website.

Some 15 people will be allowed to book each time slot, with the aim of cutting queues. Muscle Bull said this meant numbers in the gym would rarely reach 30 anyway.

Gym staff have spaced out equipment and are asking customers to keep to the two-metre social distancing rule.

Other safety measures include ventilation systems that mean air is not recirculated in the building, regular cleaning, and signs and posters to help people keep to the rules. Changing rooms are shut so customers have to come to the gym in their training kit.

Outdoor space at the gym has been open since March 29, in line with government rules.

Reopening a hairy moment

Over £89k for Brunel Museum

By Kit Heren

kit@southwarknews.co.uk The Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe has been given an £89,628 grant from a government fund that supports cultural centres that have suffered in the Covid-19 pandemic, ahead of museums reopening next month.

The museum, on Railway Avenue near the Thames, said it will use the money from the Culture Recovery Fund to establish new ways of bringing in income, communicate in a “livelier” way and reach more people online.

There will be an open day for local residents to thank them for their ongoing support during the pandemic. The funds will also go towards training for the museum’s volunteers to help them discuss science and technology with visitors.

Museums are due to reopen on May 17 after being shut in London since December. This latest round of support comes to about £300m.

The Culture Recovery Fund has already given more than £800 million in grants and to almost

3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations struck by the pandemic.

Katherine McAlpine said: “The first Cultural Recovery Fund was a lifeline for our small museum, allowing us to continue to engage with our audiences while we are closed and to develop ways of generating income to keep the Museum doors open once its

safe to do so again.

“This second round of funding helps us continue that work, with training our volunteers in STEM-related activities. Above all we want to say thank you to the local community who have continued to support us during this difficult time.”

Meanwhile some local residents have spoken out against plans to cut down two cherry trees to make way for a new visitor centre at the museum, and the alleged lack of communication about the plan.

The new 65 square metre centre would include toilets and visitorfacing facilities, meaning the museum’s Engine House building would have more space “to tell stories that are more relevant to the local community,” McAlpine said.

But nearly 60 people have objected to the proposal - which, along with other plans, would cost £2.6m on Southwark Council’s planning website, arguing against the loss of the two trees and other green space.

McAlpine said the loss of the trees was “regrettable” and pointed to engagement events the museum had carried out.

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk A Bermondsey hairdresser is “nervous” about reopening on April 12.

German Sercovick Hair Salon, a hairdresser on Tower Bridge Road, is opening up as soon as government restrictions allow, its manager has said.

"We're going to be really busy," Santiago Dosal said. "I think we're all a little bit nervous about how to deal with social distancing. We're hoping that everything goes well in the beginning.

"We hope that it's the same thing that happened in first lockdown. Most people are very cooperative, and the customers made it easy to be safe."

German Sercovick, which has been in the area for about five years, is fully booked the first week after reopening and busy for the following weeks too.

But Dosal said the salon had concerns

about business after the first rush has died down.

"After that, we don't know what will happen. I make the comparison with the first lockdown and after the first couple of weeks (customer numbers) dropped a lot.

"There's a lot of uncertainty. Business doesn't work like in the past when you could say May would be busier and June or July would be quieter, for example. We don't know what is going to happen."

Dosal added that he did not want to seem pessimistic.

"After every crisis, like World War Two, the economy has to grow. People want to go out, spend money after not being able to for so long.

"The other thing is people might have less savings, they might have lost their jobs. So we'll have to wait and see."

Book a haircut at German Sercovick Hair Salon go to www.germansercovick. co.uk/booking/

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

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Southwark Playhouse will have a May UK premiere

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk Southwark Playhouse is set to reopen in May with a UK premiere.

The theatre, on Newington Causeway near Elephant & Castle Tube station, is putting on the musical You Are Here on May 17, running to June 12, as its first in-person show of the year.

The theatre has been running performances online in the meantime.

Shows include one-person musical The Fabulist Fox Sister by Luke Bateman and Michael Conley, which runs until May 16; The Sorcerer's Apprentice, based on the same poem that inspired

the Disney film Fantasia, on until April 11; and Fiver, another musical that follows a five pound note as it is passed through London, which runs until May 16.

Southwark Playhouse will host the UK premiere of You Are Here, a US musical set at the time of the first moon landing in 1969 ( see Arts - page 20).

Performances will be socially distanced in line with government guidelines. The theatre will also be live streaming performances on May 22.

Book tickets for You Are Here on the Southwark Playhouse website: www. southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/show-whatson/you-are-here/

NEWS 9

You can bank a drink or two in the Blue

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk The landlord of Bermondsey’s Old Bank pub has urged people to come back to the pub when it reopens its outdoor area on Monday, April 12.

Moss O’Sullivan, who manages the pub on the corner of the Blue market on Southwark Park Road, said pubs were “the safest place”.

“We always sanitise everything, it’s very safe,” he told the News. We always get blamed for everything but it’s one of the safest places you can go.

We’ve never had any bother.”

The Old Bank has space for about 30 people on its outdoor tables.

O’Sullivan said he is not taking bookings, unlike many other pubs

reopening next week.

Asked whether he was in favour of the controversial “vaccine passport” scheme currently being considered by the government, O’Sullivan said that he supported “anything that would help us open up fully”.

As the News was going to press Health Secretary Matt Hancock had been summoned to the High Court to justify why he is allowing nonessential shops to open before pubs and restaurants.

The legal action has been brought by Pizza Express founder Hugh Osmond and nightclubs operator Sacha Lord, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

The paper says it has seen High Court documents which show the two businessmen are challenging “the Health Protection (Coronavirus,

Which pubs are opening on Monday?

Find out what the pubs are doing

www.southwarknews.co.uk

Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021 to the extent that those Regulations provide for nonessential retail businesses to reopen before indoor hospitality businesses”.

Pubs can open up their outdoor areas from April 12. Find some of the pubs in Southwark that are reopening on our website www.southwarknews.co.uk

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Another man charged with murder of Lavaun Witter

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk A fourth man has been charged with the murder of Peckham’s Lavaun Witter.

Twenty-five-year-old Alex Pasley from Coulsdon’s Paxton Grove was arrested last Monday, March 29, shortly before midnight.

He was taken from an address in Sutton into custody at a south London station and charged the following day with Lavaun’s murder, the attempted murder of a sixteen-year-old boy, and possession of a bladed article.

He was been remanded in custody to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday, March 31.

Lavaun, aged 22, was fatally stabbed outside a block of flats in Croydon’s Wisbeach Road on February 5.

Three other people have been charged in connection with the Peckham man’s murder.

They are Tyreece Riggon, 20, from Armistice Gardens in South Norwood; 22-year-old Julian Russell from Sanfield Road in Thornton Health; and Tyreece Wolfries Parkin, from Rothesay Road

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

over 100 new allotment plots

‘Allotment Expansion Guarantee’ will create new community gardens on council-owned land

in Selhurst. They will appear at the Old Bailey on May 10 this year.

By Katherine Johnston

Southwark Council launched its new ‘Allotment Expansion Guarantee’ on April 1, 2021, saying the scheme will help residents to create new community gardens on council owned land.

Each site will be run by a local group who will be responsible for maintaining the space, setting rents, allocating plots, and supporting individual plot holders.

Whereas existing, larger allotments have a specific planning status, the new informal plots will be managed by the council’s housing department as part of its flagship ‘Great Estates’ programme.

Ian Zanardelli, a resident who enjoys access to a community growing space at the Rockingham Estate, said: “Having access to a community allotment transforms your relationship with where you live.

“It gives you an opportunity to meet your neighbours and allows you to get in touch with nature. I would struggle to live a healthy, well-balanced innercity life without it.”

Councillor Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for council housing, said: “I’m thrilled to launch this new initiative which will help to meet the enormous demand for food-growing plots in the borough.

“Gardening has huge benefits for physical and mental well-being and I’m delighted to be giving Southwark residents the opportunity to grow their own food and nurture a love of outdoor spaces.”

throughout April we hope the rest of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe will find them a gift too."

Cllr Humaira Ali, a Lib Dem councillor for London Bridge and West Bermondsey, added the wider Greener Bermondsey scheme was about tackling the climate crisis.

She told the News: “For me, this is about a community that comes together at a time of crisis. The wider Greener Bermondsey project is about the

climate crisis and the Ada 100 project is about communities coming together on the back of Covid and in celebration of Ada Salter, who 100 years ago, founded the Beautification Committee in order to make Bermondsey a better place.

“To recapture that essence, we would invite every resident, every school, every organisation and every business to come join Greener Bermondsey as we launch the project to reduce the carbon footprint of Bermondsey.”

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk More than 100 new community allotment plots could be created across Southwark by next Spring.

Lavaun Witter

The community group Edible Rotherhithe runs growing schemes in schools across Southwark

Bermondsey welcomes in spring with 10,000 tulips

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk Local residents came together in Bermondsey on a blustery morning last week to celebrate the spring arrival of some of the 10,000 tulips planted last year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of a radical council plan to make the area greener.

The Greener Bermondsey volunteers gathered on Saturday, April 3, at the Bricklayers Arms roundabout just off the New Kent Road and at the Dickens Estate to admire their handiwork.

Among them were the Mayor of Southwark and Labour Peckham councillor Barrie Hargrove, as well as other Southwark councillors from both the Liberal Democrats and Labour, and representatives from local tenants and residents associations.

More than 2,000 Bermondsey and Rotherhithe residents planted over 10,000 tulip bulbs in autumn 2020.

J.Parker’s Bulbs donated the tulips.

The plan was to plant the bulbs in recognition of Ada Salter, the socialist

former Bermondsey mayor who launched the Beautification Committee in 1920, with the aim of making the crowded and heavily industrial area a healthier and happier place to live.

The committee ended up planting 9,000 trees and 60,000 plants, according to Hannah Awcock in her blog Turbulent Londoners. About 70 miles of streets were lined with trees, out of 80 miles in the borough, according to social housing historian John Boughton.

Anna Bayraktar, who led the Greener Bermondsey tulip project, said: “A really huge thankyou from Greener Bermondsey to J. Parker's Bulbs. Their donation of the 10,000 Ada tulip bulbs gave many people a gift: those 1000 people who picked up a bag of five bulbs in the two markets and those who volunteered their groups to plant bigger batches.

“Everyone promised to plant their tulips where others could see, so

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective.

Keep yourself safe and protect the NHS by getting the jab when it’s your turn.

@lb_southwark

facebook.com/southwarkcouncil

@southwarkcouncil

Find out more at www.southwark.gov.uk/covidvaccine

12 NEWS

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‘Man jumped on woman on Jubilee line’

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk Police officers are appealing for help after a man jumped on a woman and stole her phone on a Jubilee line train between Bermondsey and Westminster Tube stations.

A woman was travelling on Sunday, March 28, when a man approached and asked to use her phone to call a friend, British Transport Police officers said.

She gave the man her phone but he refused to hand it back. She told him she needed to get off, at which point he gave the phone back. The woman then moved into a busier part of the carriage and the robber jumped on top of her, grabbed the phone and stuffed it in his bag.

Using CCTV, officers have found a man they believe could help them with their enquiries.

Anyone who recognises him, or has any information, should contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2100020178. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

13 years for teens found guilty of Francois Kablan’s manslaughter

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Two teenagers have each been sentenced to thirteen years for the manslaughter of nineteen-year-old Francois Kablan from Bermondsey.

Francois was found fatally injured in Dover Street on Wednesday, May 13, last year, at around 5.30pm by police officers responding to reports of a group fight.

Despite the efforts of paramedics and London’s Air Ambulance he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem, held two days later, found he had been killed by a stab wound to the chest.

Last Wednesday, March 31. eighteen-year-old Mohamed Kolokoh (23.02.2003) from Elephant and Castle was handed a thirteen year sentence.

He will serve eight years in jail and five on licence after being found guilty of manslaughter at Isleworth Crown Court on February 3.

A sixteen-year-old from Lambeth, who cannot be named for legal

Francois Kablan

reasons, was also sentenced to thirteen years with the same conditions.

The two defendants were arrested near the scene. Their conviction comes after an investigation led

by Detective Chief Inspector Kate Kieran from the Met’s homicide and specialist crime command.

DCI Kieran said: “My thoughts go out today to the family and friends of Francois, whose life was needlessly lost far too soon.

“Whatever instigated this dispute between the two groups quickly led to a situation in which the two defendants – who were both armed with knives - were not prepared to back down.

“Rather they decided to engage, leading to the most tragic of outcomes. It is clear to me that their intention was to cause at least serious harm to Francois, proving them to be dangerous offenders who have no place on our streets” "The result today reflects the seriousness of knife crime and the impact that this has on the victims, their families and their communities.

“I hope that today's verdict can offer them some of the closure that they deserve whilst removing two dangerous criminals from the streets of London” “Tackling violent crime in communities across London is the Met’s top priority. We are working incredibly hard to take weapons off the street, engage and reassure the public, and keep our communities safe.”

Three other people arrested in connection with the incident were later released with no further action.

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

masked peckham robber jailed for bookie hold-ups

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk A man from Peckham has been jailed for a terrifying spate of robberies where he threatened bookies’ staff with an imitation firearm while wearing a prosthetic, rubber mask.

Thirty-seven-year-old Andrae Moncrieffe, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, March 26, to ten years behind bars.

He was found guilty in the same court a day earlier after a trial for three robberies in bookmakers across Southwark in December 2019.

All attacks involved a suspect with a strong Jamaican accent wearing a rubber mask and sunglasses.

The first bookies targeted was in Peckham Rye, where Moncrieffe followed a female staff member into the shop at around 6.20pm on December 15.

He immediately caused alarm after walking in while wearing a rubber face mask and sunglasses and holding a grey pillow case wrapped around a metal item.

But he came face-to-face with a staff member before she could reach the shop’s place of safety.

Realising he was about to try and hold up the shop, staff and customers were screaming and trying to escape.

Montcrieffe quickly ran out of the shop taking a dropped purse as he fled.

The same night, at 9.45pm, a staff member at a bookies in Denmark Hill saw a man walk in wearing a rubber face mark.

The employee immediately shouted for help and began running into the shop’s safe haven.

However, the robber managed to grab him on the shop floor and put him into a headlock as he pointed the imitation firearm - which the victim believed to be real - to his head and shouted ‘Oi come here!’ to another colleague who had managed to run into the staff area.

In fear of his colleague’s life, the staff member came out and handed over as much money as possible, telling the robber that he did not have access to the safe. Eventually Moncrieffe ran away.

A few weeks later on December 27, at around 8.20pm Moncrieffe held up another shop in Peckham, this time in

CCTV image from Denmark Hill shop Kirkwood Road.

The two staff members working in the shop at the time were on alert after being informed of the previous robberies.

One of them, a woman, was behind the till when she saw a man at the door walking past wearing a rubber face mask.

He was also wearing sunglasses, a top hat, and was using a walking stick.

She then shouted to her colleague ‘it’s him’ before running into the safe haven and calling the police.

The robber then pulled the imitation firearm from the waistband of his trousers and pointed it at another member of staff who was still on the shop floor. A customer was also in the shop at the time and he put his hands up and got on his hands and knees.

While the female staff member was in the safe haven she heard Moncrieffe shout ‘just give me the money, just give me the money’ and then words to the effect of 'I’ll kill you if you don’t give me the money'.

Terrified, she ran back to the counter and began to throw money out from the tills.

As Moncrieffe collected the cash, the male staff member ran out the front door and shut it behind him in an attempt to trap the gunman inside the shop - but the suspect managed to flee.

The Met’s flying squad soon took over the investigation and used CCTV and covert surveillance to catch the robber.

The suspect’s home and car were searched on April 14, 2020. In the

Andrae Moncrieffe vehicle officers found disguises and props used in the robberies and the homemade imitation firearm.

It was described as a convincing replica of a revolver with a long barrel and handle with a trigger. A matching fingerprint was also found on one side. The rubber facemark was never recovered.

Moncrieffe was taken to a south London police station where he answered ‘no comment’ to all the questions put to him.

He was charged on April 15, 2020.

Detective Chief Inspector Ann Marie Waller, from the Met's Flying Squad, said: “These robberies were absolutely terrifying ordeals for the staff members and customers involved. They were all in fear for their lives as they truly believed that Moncrieffe was armed.

“Moncrieffe went to great lengths to try and conceal his identity, including wearing a prosthetic rubber face mask that looked like something out of a horror film.

“However, detailed witness accounts and painstaking detective work by the Flying Squad ensured overwhelming evidence was put forward at his trial and the jury found him guilty.

"I am glad that the sentence handed down reflects the danger that Moncrieffe poses to the public.”

Imitation firearm

Prison sentence for spitting at bus driver

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk A man who spat at a 436 bus driver during the peak of the COVID-19 second wave has been sentenced to eighteen weeks in prison.

Michael Aidoo, aged 44 and of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to common assault at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 25, 2021.

The court heard he had boarded the 436 bus at Queen’s Road in Peckham on the morning of Saturday, February 13 and refused to pay the fare, instead trying to walk past the driver.

When challenged, he became abusive, pulled down his mask and spat in the driver’s direction, before disembarking from the back of the bus.

Fortunately the driver was protected by a screen and he was also able to use

a swab to take a sample, which was then given to offers at Lewisham Police Station for analysis.

Police found a direct DNA match with Aidoo, who was arrested at Vauxhall Railway Station on Wednesday, March 24 the next month.

In court he was sentenced to eighteen weeks in prison and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.

Detective Sergeant Ian Beattie, from the Met’s roads and transport policing command, said: “This was a disgusting act against a key worker who was providing an essential service during the lockdown.

“To be spat at is completely unacceptable and it is right that Aidoo has been given a custodial sentence to reflect the seriousness of this offence. Spitting is disgraceful at any time, but it is even more shocking in the middle of a pandemic. We will not tolerate such behaviour.”

Michael Aidoo

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 13

Family fight for compensation after ‘mother was forced to go to a hotel after fire’

By Kit Heren

kit@southwarknews.co.uk The daughter of a woman in her late 70s with Alzheimers is seeking compensation for the cost of her mother’s eleven days in a hotel, after Southwark Council did not find suitable temporary housing following a fire that made her sheltered home unusable.

Maria Lanzalaco said she was forced to shell out about £377 in hotel bills on her mother’s behalf for a Travelodge after a fire from a faulty toaster in Pauline’s flat in sheltered housing near Bermondsey’s Blue market in November last year.

Pauline first moved into her son Frank’s one-bed flat, but this was not a long-term solution because of Frank’s own health conditions and long working hours. She then moved back to her own Bermondsey flat temporarily.

The council offered two alternatives for Pauline, who has multiple physical conditions as well as Alzheimers: Lucy Brown house on Park Street near Waterloo, which did not have a walk-in shower, which Pauline needs in order to wash; and Brook Drive, in the Elephant and Castle area, which did not have cooking facilities and was too far from local shops. Southwark operates twenty sheltered housing facilities in total.

Maria, who was in Germany at the time, and Frank turned the council’s offers down for fear of what could happen to their mother in these conditions.

Instead they checked her into the Sidcup

Travelodge and Frank, who lives nearby, cooked for her every day until the council repaired the Bermondsey flat, which Maria said had a considerable impact on his ability to work.

A December email from an NHS occupational therapist to council social workers said: “Due to the dementia diagnosis, and both Mrs Lanzalaco’s cognitive decline, as well as her physical health diagnoses and needs, she required additional support, and a plan, that enabled her to feel safe and her daily living needs met.

“This critical incident, of the fire, has highlighted Mrs Lanzalaco’s vulnerability, as it has meant many changes for her, to her more predictable routine, and an increase in support and care to manage.

The family stepped in at this time to ensure that their mother was in a safe environment, with local support from her son daily, and telephone support from her daughter.”

A council investigation into the issue, seen by the News, says: “It was noted that at this point, there should have been more action from us to ensure the works could take place quickly and other measures should have been implemented getting her temporary accommodation via our Placements Team. It was also noted that you were not communicated with in an appropriate manner.”

Maria said she spent over £377 of her mother’s money on the hotel and wants reimbursement. A council worker offered her about £142, based on the hotel receipts that included her mother’s name

Pauline Lanzalaco and address but Maria turned this down.

Pauline went back to her Bermondsey home after her flat was fixed in early December but Maria said the incident has had a bad effect on her mother’s health.

The email from the NHS worker added: “The progressing Alzheimer’s dementia has impacted upon Mrs Lanzalaco’s decision-making, motivation, initiation, short-term memory, and as a result of this recent incident and its consequences, increased levels of anxiety have been observed, again which impact upon her cognition and abilities to manage her daily living.”

Maria said “I just think it’s absolutely disgusting the way we’ve been treated.

We’ve lived in Southwark for decades and the lack of care and communication from the council is just awful.”

Southwark Council declined to comment.

Four fires in five days across Southwark

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk.

Three fires broke out in Bermondsey and Borough over less than 24 hours last week, while a fourth blaze in Peckham saw a woman saved from the flames by firefighters.

Crews from Dockhead, Lambeth, Deptford and Homerton fire stations battled to put out a blaze that broke out in a hotel near Tower Bridge on the morning of Thursday, April 1.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at the hotel on More London Place, part of the London Bridge City development.

Part of an electrical intake room in the basement of the building was damaged by the fire, the London Fire Brigade said. There were no reports of any injuries.

Firefighters were called out at 11.53am. The blaze was under control by 2.49pm - nearly three hours later.

A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

The only hotel listed on the website of London Bridge City is the Hilton Tower Bridge. A hotel employee reached by the News declined to comment.

The same afternoon 25 firefighters and four fire engines from Dockhead, Old Kent Road, Deptford and Tottenham rushed to put out a fire at a block of flats on Wolseley Street in

Bermondsey.

Half of a ground floor flat in a fourstorey block was damaged by the fire.

There were no reports of any injuries.

The fire was reported at 4.17pm and the fire was under control by 5.18pm, London Fire Brigade said in a statement. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The night before, crews rushed to put out a garden fire on the Lawson Estate in Borough.

The blaze, on Spurgeon Street, destroyed the back gate of a semidetached house and a small pile of rubbish, the London Fire Brigade said.

Part of the rear of the property was also damaged, along with the fascia and guttering.

Firefighters from Old Kent Road and Lambeth fire stations rushed to the scene after fire brigade controllers got ten 999 calls from concerned locals from about 6.25pm. The fire was out by 6.49pm.

Two fire engines and ten firefighters attended the scene in total.

Elsewhere firefighters from Peckham, New Cross and Old Kent Road scrambled to rescue a woman from a first floor bedroom after a fire broke out on a property in Nutbrook Street in the early hours of Easter Monday morning.

London Fire Brigade arrived at the scene at 4.11am and had the blaze under control an hour later with help from three engines and fifteen firefighters, who also led a man to safety from inside the building.

The cause is now under investigation, but station commander Mark Edwards said clutter inside the building made the task at hand particularly difficult for the rescuing team.

“There were a lot of possessions and clutter inside the flat which made it challenging for firefighters,” he said. “Hoarding means exit routes can become blocked, making safe evacuation more difficult. “Fires can also spread much faster, especially when there are flammable items such as newspapers or cardboard.”

Ballot backs demolition and rebuild of all four old kent road towers

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk A ballot into the future of the Ledbury Estate has seen an overwhelming majority back a plan to demolish all four towers.

The agreed proposal will see the towers knocked down and replaced in phases over a period of around eight years. The first block due to be demolished is Bromyard House.

The build will replace all existing council homes, with more homes also added to the wider estate.

Around half of the extra housing built will be for social rent, with the remainder for private sale.

Southwark Council says top priority for the social housing are Ledbury tenants and leaseholders and former tenants with a right to return.

The ballot was run independently by Open Communities, with 86 per cent who voted backing the plan.

Turnout, however, was relatively low with only 56 per cent of eligible voters taking part - including those who no longer live in the towers but have the right to return.

As expected, turnout was much higher among those still living in the estate; at 77 per cent.

Cllr Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for council housing, said: “I would like to thank the residents on the Ledbury estate for their patience and engagement throughout this process.

“I know these have been challenging times since we first became aware of the problems in the towers and I am very happy we are now in a position to move forward and start work on providing quality homes for our residents.

“This proposal will not only offer

better homes for existing residents, with more up to date designs for energy efficiency and space, but increase the number of new council homes on the estate providing more opportunities for local people living in housing need.”

Jeanette Mason, chair of the Ledbury Tenants’ and Residents’ Association said: "I am pleased that following extensive consultation the residents of the Ledbury Towers have had their say on the future of their homes and that they now have a clear way forward and timetable for well deserved new homes.”

Her thoughts were echoed by Ledbury tower resident Thomas Ennis, who said: "I am pleased that we have a clear way forward and can leave all the problems with the original construction of the blocks behind us.”

In 2017, gas supplies to the Peckham Estate’s blocks were turned off and residents moved out, after tests found that historic “strengthening” work to make the towers able to withstand a gas explosion may never have actually happened; leaving the towers a potential death trap for decades.

A year later we reported how residents and the council had worked together on the future of the blocks, finally reaching an agreement on refurbishment.

But after detailed structural and invasive surveys by contractor Arup, it emerged that the towers needed much more work than previously thought and the projected budget of £8m per tower was expected to spiral.

After these revelations, in November 2019, the council conducted a survey of residents which found that a twothirds majority had switched to being in favour of demolishing and rebuilding all four towers.

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Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

southwark angels Helping in crisis

By Kit Heren

Neil is the new man at st christopher’s hospice A south-east London hospice has appointed a new chair of its trustees with experience in the NHS, as well as the housing and gambling industries.

St Christopher’s, which has sites in Sydenham and Orpington, has hired Neil Goulden, who has also been chair of Clarion housing association and various NHS hospital and ambulance trusts, to replace the outgoing Morgan Jones.

Goulden, who is also chair of Nottingham Trent university, has worked across the public and private sectors. Among other positions, he has also been a member of the Low Pay Commission.

He also has considerable experience with betting companies and organisations, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was chairman of Gala Coral Group for fourteen years, as well as chairing the Responsible Gambling Trust and online gaming

Neil Goulden

company GameSys. “I was drawn to working with St Christopher’s because of its reputation for clinical excellence and innovation,” Goulden said.

“As one of the leading providers of education and training in palliative care nationally and internationally, St Christopher’s is already punching above its weight. I’m excited about the opportunity to work with the leadership team and the rest of the trustees to increase the influence of St Christopher’s, positioning the hospice as a major player in conversations about death, dying, palliative care and bereavement support.”

Shaun O’Leary, the hospice’s joint chief executive, welcomed Goulden to the hospice. Heather Richardson, the other joint chief executive, thanked Morgan Jones for his nineteen years of service, seven of which were as chair.

elephant and castle has it all virtually - from a lockdown party to how to make a toe bag An Elephant & Castle community group is holding an online party this weekend to celebrate the end of lockdown.

The Elephant & Castle Virtual Community Hub is hosting the free event on Zoom this Sunday, April 11, from 7pm-8pm to mark “the end of lockdown and a brighter future”.

The party will feature a fashion parade to showcase costumes that best represent lockdown, and a quiz, with winners of both events to get prizes.

Organisers have also promised a series of short films that “celebrate all the hard work of our frontline workers” and other memories of the past year, as well as singing and dancing performances and a “collage of hope”. Anyone who shows up can also expect to learn how to make a tote bag.

The Elephant & Castle Virtual

Community Hub launched in March 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The group hosts free virtual activities, fitness classes and arts and crafts workshops for local people.

The Community Hub is also offering April sessions for children, people who want to start their own business and people with arthritis.

For children, the group is working with local charity Art in the Park to run free creative workshops that include sessions on storytelling, drawing, prop making and working together. Other arts and craft workshops include Easter decoration making and sessions on optical illusions.

People who want to launch a business can go to a workshop by local Apex College this Thursday, April 8 on how to be an entrepreneur. Organisers said the event will focus on coming up with a business idea, as well as asking

what makes a good entrepreneur and running through practical tips on how to start a business.

Arthritis Action is also hosting a free workshop on Thursday April 8 where people can learn how to manage symptoms of arthritis.

Join the party on Zoom here: Meeting ID: 851 1467 5817 Passcode: 966644 Learn how to be an entrepreneur go to www. communityhubse1. co.uk/activities/how-to-become-anentrepreneur/ Take part in the Arthritis workshop gp to www.communityhubse1.co.uk/ activities/a-free-workshop-fromarthritis-action/ Elsewhere in the area, Castle Square behind Elephant & Castle station is hosting free, socially-distanced entertainment on the evening of Thursday April 15.

‘Strong reasons make strong actions’ Shakespeare’s Globe theatre hosted a temporary food bank this week mostly aimed at artists struggling amid the Covid-19 lockdown.

The food bank was the latest edition of Holly’s Angels, a “food distribution hub” set up by theatre marketer Holly Adomah Thompson and a team of volunteers in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Working out of theatres, Holly’s Angels has given food to people who have had difficulties in lockdown.

Local artists who are struggling during the pandemic were particularly encouraged to take part, but the food bank, which ran earlier this week was open to anyone in the local community.

Amrit Maan of Punjab Restaurant in Covent Garden donated 300 frozen curries for people to collect from the Globe. Holly’s Angels also asked for people to give non-perishable food, household items, toiletries and children’s toys.

The Bankside theatre plans to reopen its main outdoor theatre from May 19 for socially distanced performances The Globe will put on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night. King Lear, originally slated for 2021, has been pushed back to next year. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will open the season. Romeo and Juliet opens on June 26 and Twelfth Night on June 29. All of the productions are on through October.

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 15

Bellway helps charity mind give support over the phone A south London mental health charity has been given a "generous" £500 donation from a London housebuilder.

Lambeth and Southwark Mind said it would use the money from developer Bellway to give more support over the phone and online to people suffering from mental health problems.

A fundraiser at the charity said Lambeth and Southwark Mind “truly appreciate” the donation.

Jaimal Patel added: “This donation is helping us to provide phone

support, online group meetings and therapy to support the community during the pandemic. Using Bellway’s generous donation, we have been able to be there for the community in their time of need and helped make a difference for all those going through mental health problems.”

Lambeth and Southwark Mind gets more than 1,200 calls to its main information service each year.

The charity also offers face-to-face support to more than 100 people, although this service has been shut down in the Covid-19 lockdown.

grants of up to £30,000 for projects helping people with mental health The UK’s largest NHS mental health charity is calling for people to apply for grants of up to £30,000 to support projects that help people with mental illnesses in south London.

hundreds of books donated to children in rotherhithe Children from vulnerable families in Rotherhithe have been given hundreds of books.

The donation - worth £1,250 from Surrey Quays shopping centre owner British Land means that local charity Time and Talents Association will be able to give a wide range of books to local families.

The donation is part of an ongoing ten-year programme run by the developer and the National Literacy Programme to encourage kids to enjoy reading at home and develop literacy skills.

“The pandemic has impacted the families we work with in all kinds of ways, and we’re incredibly thankful for all of the support British Land has given to us,” said Sarah Gibb, director of Time and Talents Association.

“These book donations have helped children of all ages across our community who might not have had access to them otherwise.”

Other initiatives as part of the same programme include donating

300 books during the first lockdown last year, as well as installing a Giving Box in Surrey Quays where visitors can make contactless donations to Time & Talents, Surrey Docks Farm, Southwark Young Carers and The Mayor of Southwark’s Common Good Trust.

Ian Moore, centre manager at Surrey Quays, added: “We have a longstanding relationship with the team at Time & Talents and right now it has never been more important to ensure they can continue to support those in need in our local community.”

Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said: “We know that one in eleven disadvantaged children do not have a single book at home and that this can be hugely detrimental to their development. Initiatives like these ensure local families have books to enjoy at home, and children’s imaginations and literacy skills can continue to thrive.”

The Maudsley Charity is asking people interested in its Community and Connections grant to get in touch for a chance to get between £20,000 and £30,000 over one or two years.

Projects must “make a positive contribution” to the lives of mentally ill people in Southwark, Lewisham, Lambeth or Croydon - the boroughs served by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM).

The scheme has a particular focus on funding projects working with people who are or who have been severely unwell. Organisers said they want to support projects that are committed to diversity and inclusion, and help people to be active in their own wellbeing and recovery.

Previous Community and Connection grants projects include support for Southwark, Lewisham, and Greenwich Samaritans to strengthen their outreach.

Get in touch by 4pm on 12th May 2021 via the Maudsley Charity website w w w. m a u d s l e ych a r i t y. o rg / o u rgrants/community-and-connectiongrants/

tennis club holding court in burgess park The Burgess Park Tennis Cafe is changing hands later this month after staff raised £20,000 for local children.

The cafe was launched by local restaurant Louie Louie in July last year on a profit-share model with local group Burgess Park Tennis Club to earn more money during the pandemic and save the jobs of its staff.

Manager Chris Greenwood said

Louie Louie was now handing the Tennis Cafe over to the tennis club and their associated charity Burgess Sports on April 18.

Some £20,000 earned at the cafe during the pandemic will go towards free tennis lessons for local children, Greenwood said.

“In some ways it’s a shame to leave because we really enjoyed being a resource for the local community,” he

told the News. “But we are glad that people in the area will still be able to enjoy the cafe in future.”

The Tennis Cafe is found towards the north-west corner of Burgess Park and is open from 8am-6pm. Louie Louie is on the corner of Walworth Road and Liverpool Grove. Last year the cafe raised thousands of pounds that went towards meals for people in need during the first lockdown.

16 OPINION

www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

Comment

READERS’ VIEWS Outrage as Southwark Council leader refuses to rule out golden goodbye payment to ex-housing chief Labour so out of touch on this one.

Gary Glover, via Facebook

Is this the reason why the Council tax has risen? So that golden goodbyes can be paid whilst people are struggling to put food on their tables?

Loveourparks, via Twitter

‘Debris still falling’ from Guinness block landing four years after residents complain

Cllr Leo Pollak

As a former chair of the now defunct Snowsfields TRA, I can confirm that residents have been waiting years for this problem to be resolved. It is an absolute disgrace, but typical of Guinness. How can they say that this is safe? To say works were delayed due to COVID is an outright lie. How is this allowed to happen? There must be measures and systems in place to enforce Guinness to carry out the works on a timely manner. Not FOUR years later!

Maria Lanzalaco, via SN website

Letters to the editor To the Editor In February Cllr Leo Pollak announced at the council assembly he would be reaching out to us to apologise for using an anonymous Twitter account to undermine our community groups. We are fighting harmful Council plans of 'infill' development in council estates. We haven't heard from him.

This kind of anti-democratic, anti- community behaviour has no place in local government. It destroys the trust the people must have in their elected representatives. Leo Pollak must go.

Robert Hutchinson Save Long Lane Ball Court and Protect the Elim Estate Lewis Schaffer Priory Court Campaign

Dear Editor, Many of us are saddened to hear the Peckham area in Southwark is top of the league for BAME people not having any of the available vaccines for tackling the spread

of coronavirus and saving lives. The Black community in Peckham has had better press coverage recently. For example, one of Peckham’s sons hitting the headline on the big screen in Star Wars and BBC Small Axe. The BAME community are stepping forward and are proud to be doing so. I have spoken to black colleagues who have told me they have actually rung up and made appointments to get vaccinated. It is no doubt there are concerns amongst BAME communities about these vaccines; concerns which can be justified. However, all the medical evidence is that the vaccines greatly reduce the risk of ending up in hospital and or dying from coronavirus. I volunteer at Elim House Day Centre and I am in contact with the community every day. The many black people I have spoken to have either had their jab or are wanting to get it. I have had my first jab, because the jab is the best move for keeping safe, saving lives, people getting back out in the community and mingling with our live ones again soon. Go get your Jab. Aubyn Graham Former Mayor of Southwark Chair person of Elim House Day Centre, Peckham.

Correction

In our Green Southwark column by Eleanor Margolies it stated that ‘one third of Southwark’s trees die in the first few years’. We would like to clarify this is a figure relating to many London councils and not Southwark specifically.

Southwark Council has confirmed that in the first three years the amount is nearer to 4 per cent.

Southwark

Green

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters

OPINION 17

Clearly the amount of fines is ridiculous

C

amera operated road restrictions were one of the suggestions put forward by residents both for, against, and on the fence for low traffic and low emissions neighbourhoods. The key benefit is that they improve access for emergency and key services.

Whatever your opinion on the sweeping road changes brought in under emergency COVID-19 legislation, there have obviously been communication difficulties from the offset.

The sheer number of fines handed out for driving through poorly signed zones - around £2.5 million in just a few cameras in Dulwich and Walworth in a few weeks alone - is ridiculous. Something has obviously gone very wrong.

News that there is a new exemption for people living within the zones who are disabled badge holders will be far more welcome to many of our readers.

Importantly, the schemes are still in a trial stage and data on how well they have fared in reducing pollution, congestion and encouraging more active travel will be shared in the coming months.

What residents and motorists will be asking next is how the council plans to reduce the number of fines handed out - and whether it is a real priority.

Amid the ongoing debate about low traffic schemes last week’s front page calling for a tram system in Southwark is a timely reminder why focusing on new public transport the type that actually works for car users - is so important.

If the changes to our streets are here to stay, perhaps a greater focus on accessible, quick to implement, new modes of public transport - like trams - would make a bigger impact and turn the increasingly bitter debate about low traffic schemes into a more positive public discussion.

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ARTS 19

in Southwark

Shane Richie Enjoys Himself in Scaramouche With light appearing at the end of a very long tunnel as Covid restrictions are gradually loosened, Ginger Quiff Media present Shane Richie in Justin Butcher’s oneman show, Scaramouche Jones or the Seven White Masks, for us to enjoy as we get closer to being allowed back into theatres, writes Christopher Peacock.

Photo by Bettina John

Originally played by Pete Postlewaite back in 2002, Mr Richie’s turn is filmed for us from the Union Theatre. In the show’s opening moments we view the action through the gaze of security cameras. That is until Scaramouche sets up a camcorder in video diary fashion for us and leaps into the tale of his life. A couple of other cameras pick up angles to cut between but it is the camcorder to which Richie’s performance is played to.

The life story of the pale-faced clown that is Scaramouche Jones is regaled in seven chapters, with the clown impersonating the various characters that have come in and out

of a nomadic existence that takes him around the world. The clown is the home of tragic comedy and Butcher’s play hits all the right notes, while Ian Talbot’s production has Richie in faded, smudged tragic makeup reminiscent of Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight.

In a time of no live audiences, a video diary presentation has an obvious practical use for delivering theatre but as a dramatic device for Richie to play to, it helps give direction. For a storyteller in a one-man show, starved of an audience, it helps to give a focus to Richie’s performance. The show has moments where the pace dips but then offers moments, especially when multiroling, where you can tell Mr Richie is really enjoying himself.

Scaramouche Jones or The Seven White Masks can be viewed until Sunday 11th April 2021 Tickets are £15 (plus booking fees) per stream, and can be purchased online at www.stream.theatre

Wendi Peters takes off for the Southwark Playhouse You Are Here, by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill, is the UK premiere of an intimate, hilarious and heart-breaking tour-de-force musical that will leave you cheering for the resilience of the human spirit.

July 20, 1969. On the night of the moon landing, Chicago housewife Diana (Wendi Peters) walks out of her comfortable suburban life for no real reason. She sees the astronauts taking that great step and is struck by the realisation that some people lead exciting lives. Suddenly alone in a fast-changing world, she finds a

series of unexpected encounters can turn one small step into a giant, lifechanging leap.

This is a live, in-person performance running for four weeks. There will be two live-streamed performances on Saturday, 22 May at 3pm an 7.30pm (captions available for the matinee performance).

Southwark Playhouse are selling tickets for live, in-person socially distanced performances of You Are Here based on recent government announcements. If government guidance does not allow for live performances to go ahead with social

distancing, then all performances of You Are Here will be live-streamed and ticket holders will be contacted with details on how to watch the alternative production online or obtain a refund.

Southwark Playhouse, 77-85 Newington Causeway, SE1 6BD. Dates: 17 May - 12 June. Times: Mon - Sat 7.30pm; Tues & Sat matinees 3pm.

Tickets: £27.50 (£22).

Streaming tickets: 22 May 3pm & 7.30pm £15.

Booking: www.southwarkplayhouse. co.uk/whats-on/

Bonnie Britain

what’s on

www.southwarknews.co.uk/arts

20 ARTS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/arts

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

Photo by Danny Kaan

Arts The Sorrows of Satan is musical play by Luke Bateman and Michael Conley.

Filmed in the ballroom at the beautiful Brocket Hall, one of England’s finest stately homes, this musical play reimagines the story of Faust at the heart of 1920s London, where the elite are financially and emotionally bankrupt and one man has a big decision to make.

Pretentiously avant-garde musical playwright Geoffrey Tempest has been kicked out of his accommodation with not a penny to his name. He has one chance to prove himself to the theatrical community: a rehearsed reading of his musical play, ‘The Sorrows of Satan’. When his patron, the prodigal Prince Lucio Rimânez, suggests some significant changes, Geoffrey must decide whether to hold on to his artistic integrity (for what it’s worth) or sell out for the promise of fame, money and the love of his leading lady.

‘The Sorrows of Satan’, based on Marie Corelli’s 1895 controversial bestseller, is written by (and stars) Luke Bateman and Michael Conley (the team behind the recent Southwark Playhouse streaming hit, ‘The Fabulist Fox Sister’) and directed by Adam Lenson (‘The Rink’, ‘Public Domain’ and ‘The Fabulist Fox Sister’). Joining the writers in the cast are Stefan Bednarczyk (‘Side By Side By Sondheim’ and ‘Merrily We Roll Along’) and Molly Lynch (Cathy in ‘The Last Five Years’ and Anne Brontë in ‘Wasted’, both at Southwark Playhouse).

Wednesday 5 May at 7.30pm Wednesday 5 May at 7.30pm EST New York Opening Night Thursday 6 May at 7.30pm Friday 7 May at 7.30pm Saturday 8 May at 2.30pm & 7.30pm Sunday 9 May at 2.30pm & 7.30pm Tickets: £13 for Solo Streaming, £23 for Couples Streaming, £33 Group Streaming and £53 for Super Supporter Streaming.

Streaming via www. thesorrowsofsatan.com

Cruising Into Another Life Cruise is the true story of what should have been Michael Spencer’s last night on Earth

When Michael is diagnosed with HIV in 1984, he’s told he’ll have four years to live - at most. So, with the clock ticking, he and his partner, Dave, decide to sell their house, flog the car, spend everything they have and party like it’s the last days of Rome. When Dave dies two years later, Michael doubles down on his hedonistic ways, spending what little he has left and drowning himself in drink and drugs.

On the last night of his four-year countdown - the 29th February, 1988 - Michael decides to go out with a bang. He puts on his favourite jacket, heads for Soho, and embarks on a long night of farewells. He says his goodbyes to friends, enemies and strangers; old haunts, dive bars, cafes, clubs and pubs; his brothers, sisters, allies and exes. He dances, sings, and says yes to everything and everyone.

Then, with all his affairs taken care of, Michael promptly... survives. Michael

got lucky, and he goes on to live to a ripe old age. Michael has been given the gift of life; but what kind of life can he now live?

Written and performed by Jack Holden (War Horse, West End; Ink, Almeida Theatre), Cruise is an urgent, moving and inspirational new play with live music and spoken word. Bringing to life 1980’s Soho, this one-man show is a celebration of queer culture; a kaleidoscopic musical and spoken word tribute to the veterans of the AIDs crisis.

Directed by Bronagh Lagan and filmed at Shoreditch Town Hall, it features an uplifting 80s electronic soundtrack performed live by John Elliott. This new filmed play will be available to watch from 15 April – 25 April at Stream.Theatre with tickets at £12.

Holden said: “Cruise is based on a true story I was told while I was a volunteer for Switchboard, the LGBTQ+ Listening Service. I was in a weird, unstable, self-destructive part of my early 20s. This story, among

others, taught me my gay history, put my life into perspective, and helped me to grow up. The names and a lot of the events have been changed, and a hell of a lot of material has been imagined. This play is a tribute to a generation decimated by HIV and AIDs, a memorial for the old days of Soho, a celebration of electronic music, and an excuse to dance.”

Katy Lipson said: “It is an absolute honour to have the opportunity to present this play, not only on a West End stage but as we are coming out of what has been one of the most difficult and challenging years for all. It is a brave and innovative show which brings us into a world and part of history which we may not be so familiar with. A story which we should hear about; one of survival, loss, rebuilding a life, and looking forward to the future. All on top of the most uplifting and brilliant soundtrack.

After receiving the script during lockdown, I couldn’t have imagined that we’d be presenting it as our first West End play the following year. I

am so looking forward to sharing it with a live audience.”

Lambert Jackson said: “For our first West End run, we are so excited to be bringing this innovative, new, and important piece of theatre to reopen the Duchess Theatre. From the moment we read the script, we knew we had to be involved. This has been a very uncertain time for theatre in the UK, and it feels right to be producing a brilliant new play by a British writer to bring important, queer British stories to audiences at this time.”

Available to book and watch online here: www.stream.theatre Dates: 15 – 25 April 2021 Tickets: £12 plus booking fee Duchess Theatre, 3-5 Catherine Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 5LA. Dates: 18 May – 13 June Times: Tuesday – Friday 8pm; Saturdays at 3pm & 8pm; Sundays at 3pm & 6pm. Admission: £10 - £65.

Phone: 0330 333 4810 Booking: www.booknow. cruisetheplay.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/history

HISTORY 21

History

the Italians in Southwark - a tale of ice cream and of war

Research group is now looking for families to get in touch

By Neil Crossfield news@southwarknews.co.uk

Most Londoners have heard about the ‘Little Italys’ in Clerkenwell or Soho, but did you know that while the centre of the Italian community still existed north of the river, in the latter stages of the 19th century, there was a noticeable shift southward with many Italians setting up home in Southwark.

There had been a small Italian presence in London for many years, but more significant waves of migration had occurred from the 1820s, which continued to grow throughout the 19th century. The reasons why people left Italy were numerous, but poverty was a great driver for many. Britain was not the only destination, as many Italians sought a better standard of living and new opportunities in North and South America, throughout Europe and even in Australia. Yet by 1901 it was estimated that around 20,000 people born in Italy were living in England and Wales, with approximately half of these living in London. Slum clearances, road building projects and overcrowding in the later part of the 19th century in Clerkenwell’s ‘Little Italy’ meant that many Italians began to move to different areas of London as well as to other parts of the UK. Many made the move South and set up home in Lambeth and Southwark, where they may have found cheaper rents and far more opportunities.

Peckham had a significant Italian population around 1900, especially in the area around Green Hundred Road. The famous camera maker, Louis Gandolfi, had set up shop at 252 Old Kent Road in 1893 but just a few hundred yards away, in Bexley Place, other compatriots lived a far more difficult life. This road is marked in dark blue on Charles Booth’s poverty map, indicating that people living there had a ‘the very poor, hand to mouth existence, living in a chronic state of want’. George Arkell, one of Booth’s inspectors, wrote that many of the Italians were hawkers of ice cream in the summer and of baked potatoes in the winter. A study of the 1901 census, shows that of the fourteen houses on this street, nine of them were inhabited by those who were born in Italy. Likewise, another ‘Italian colony’ was noted

by Arkell, located in Rye Dwellings,

Manze’s, Roffo’s, Ferraro’s and Rossi’s ice cream shops as well as Italian-run cafes, hairdressers, fruiterers and greengrocers near Peckham Rye. Police Constable ‘Taffy Jones’ who had escorted Arkell described this as ‘one of the worst blocks in London’.

While at first many of these families conformed to the stereotypical image of the sale of ice cream or street hawking it was not long before they progressed to establish flourishing businesses which became much-loved features of Southwark life.

Giuseppe Manze had arrived in London, from Ravello on the Amalfi coast in the 1870s, first living in Clerkenwell before moving south by 1891 to an address in Bermondsey New Road. According to the 1901

census, he and his now large family were living in East Street, Walworth, and his occupation is shown as an ice cream vendor. Just one year later, one of his sons Michele, now married to an English woman, had left the ice cream business, and opened the now famous M. Manze pie and eel shop at 87 Tower Bridge Road.

However, this was not the only Italian family to become a household name in south London. Many people will have great memories of Roffo’s, Ferraro’s and Rossi’s ice cream shops or of Italian-run cafes and a whole range of other successful businesses from hairdressers to fruiterers and greengrocers.

Within a couple of generations, the children of these Italians had begun to fully integrate into the communities they lived in and became just as much south Londoners as they were Italians.

Yet although it is widely accepted that the story of Italians in London is one of successful immigration, this does not mean that this was without its difficulties. The earlier groups faced

much racism and discrimination, but perhaps the darkest days were around the Second World War when overnight, many respected figures in the community were deemed to be enemy aliens. Men were sent to internment camps on the Isle of Man, while shops and businesses were attacked in anti-Italian rioting. Yet despite these terrible times, many people of Italian descent remained in Southwark and rebuilt their lives and businesses after the war.

The story of the Italians in Southwark is both interesting and complex. This is not a simple tale to tell as there are many facets to the narrative, yet it is certainly deserving of further study.

To start addressing this, the Walworth Society is about to embark on a project researching the history of the Italian families who made their home in SE17.

It will look at both the challenges they faced as well as the significant positive impact that many made on the community.

If you are of Italian heritage and your family lived in Walworth, we would

The darkest days were around the Second World War when overnight, many respected figures in the community were deemed to be enemy aliens love to hear from you. Many of these stories have not been told before and we hope that this research will go some way to rectify this.

The ongoing COVID situation means it is difficult to plan but it is hoped that at some time in the future an event or exhibition may be put on to display the research the group is doing.

If you think you may be able to help or even if you just want to kept informed on what we are planning please contact the Walworth Society at www.walworthsociety.co.uk/ or neilcrossfield40@hotmail.com

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

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Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

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LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (WESTMORELAND ROAD, GRANGE ROAD, OMEARA STREET) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND SUSPENSION OF BUS LANE) 1.

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

by Hill Partnership, Cappagh Contractors and EC1AGroup, it made, an order the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic and the suspension of a bus lane in 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 unload in: (a)Westmoreland Road, between Queens Row and Red Lion Row (b) Grange Road, south side bus lane will be suspended between Pages Walk and Woods Place. (c) Omeara Street, at it’s junction with Union Street in a northern direction for a distance of 48m

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) as indicated by the signs displayed (2b) not applicable (2c) Union Street, Borough High Street, Borough High Street Slip Road, Southwark Street, Thrale Street, Southwark Bridge Road.

4.

The existing one way working in Omeara Street, will be made two way for access and egress purposes.

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.

www.southwarknews.co.uk

PUBLIC NOTICES 25

MARRIAGE/CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS APPROVAL NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT FOR NEW APPLICATIONS/RENEWALS* TO LICENCES Notice is given that Clement Ogbonnaya has applied to the London Borough of Southwark for approval/renewal of approval of premises for marriage/civil partnership ceremonies at Prince of Peckham, 1 Clayton Road, SE15 5JA 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 If anybody wishes to oppose this application, 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 21 days starting the day after the date shown below. http://www.southwark.gov.uk/business/licences/how-to-lodge-a-representation Date of Application: 27th March 2021

Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 Please take notice that I / we Apka Fine Foods Limited Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of Unit 9, Canterbury Industrial Estate, Ilderton Road, London SE15 1NP 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

11:00

23:00

Opening hours:

Monday to Sunday

07:00

23:00

7.

The works will be in operation for (2a) 19th April – 15th July (2b) 16th - 27th April (2c) 16th April – 28th May.

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

8.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network & Parking Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

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.

Dated this 8th April 2021 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Traded Services Environment and Leisure 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 5720/77000742 (2b) 5711/MU026003345SKCH (2c) 5717/LBSCR1197

Date of application: 31st March 2021 LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK GREAT SUFFOLK STREET DEVELOPMENT

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (DUNSTANS ROAD, QUEEN ELIZABETH STREET, COMMERCIAL WAY) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

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

by Agility, Southern Cranes, and Conway, it intends, to make an order the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic in 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 unload in: (a) Dunstans Road, between Dunstans Grove and Forest Hill Road (b) Queen Elizabeth Street, between Shad Thames and Curlew Street (c) Commercial Way, between Peckham Park Road and Naylor Road (d) Commercial Way, between Naylor Road and Bird in Bush Road

The London Borough of Southwark (Great Suffolk Street Development) (Map-based) Order 2021 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 8 April 2021 it has made the above order 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 order are:(a) in GREAT SUFFOLK STREET the north-east side outside Suffolk House Nos. 127-129 Great Suffolk Street, (i) to extend and join two existing permit-holders’ parking places in CPZ ‘C2’ (new total 29.5 metres in length), and (ii) to amend existing waiting restrictions (yellow lines) to accommodate the above changes; and (b) in PICKWICK STREET to extend the ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions (double yellow lines) on both sides.

3. Copies of the order, which will come into force on 12 April 2021, 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, by appointment only. Contact traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or 020 7525 3497 for details.

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Forest Hill Road, Ryedale, Underhill Road.

Forest Hill Road, St Aidans Road, Underhill Road. (2b) as indicated b the signs displayed.

(2c) Buller Close, Peckham Hill Street, Peckham High Street, Meeting House Lane, Naylor Road. Bird in Bush Road, Green Hundred Road, Peckham Park Road.. (2d) Peckham Hill Street, Peckham High Street, Queens Road, Asylum Road, Old Kent Road. Old Kent Road Trafalgar Avenue, Willowbrook Road, Peckham Hill Street.

4.

The existing one way working in Friary Road and Ledbury Street, located between Commercial Way and Bird in Bush Road will be made two way for access and egress purposes.

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) 26th – 30th April. (2b) 26th April with back up dates of the 27th or 28th April. (2c) 27th April (2d) 28th April.

A register of all applications made within the Southwark area is maintained by: The Licensing Service, Hub 1, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH Email: Licensing@southwark.gov.uk

8.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network & Parking Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Opening hours:

Dated this 8th April 2021 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Traded Services Environment and Leisure 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 5658/000809498970205-001 (2b) 5650/ LBSCR11700-1-2 (2c) 5724/05041599 (2d) 5724/05154943

4. Any person desiring to question the validity of the order 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 order may, within six weeks of the date on which the order were made, make application for the purpose to the High Court.

Dated 8 April 2021 Dale Foden Head of Service - Highways, Environment and Leisure NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL TREATMENTS PREMISES LICENCE MADE UNDER PART ll OF THE LONDON LOCAL AUTHORITIES ACT 1991 & 2000 Please take notice that I / we: Beth Kucic, Queens Peckham have made application to Southwark Council for a new Special Treatments Premises Licence in respect of Queens Peckham, 189 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4TP

Days Tuesday - Friday Saturday

Start time 11:00 10:00

Finish time 21:00 19:00

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

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

Date of application: 10.03.21

26 PUBLIC NOTICES

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Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (AS AMENDED) PLANNING (LISTED BUILDING AND CONSERVATION AREAS) ACT 1990 The planning applications listed below can be viewed on the planning register at https://planning.southwark.gov.uk/online-applications/ 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: AFFECT - development affecting character or appearance of a nearby conservation area; OR development affecting setting of a nearby listed building(s); DEP - departure from the development plan; 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); MAJ - major planning application; STDCA - development within a conservation area; STDLB - works to or within the site of a listed building; 220-222 WALWORTH ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE17 1JE (Ref: 21/AP/1032) Construction of two additional floors on top of the existing property to form two additional residential self-contained flats. (Within: Walworth Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Samuel Hepworth 020 7525 5465) 59 ELM GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 5DB (Ref: 21/AP/1063) Three-storey detached new build dwelling facing Elm Grove with a storey and a half studio building at the rear of the property facing Bellenden Road. At the side of 59 Elm Grove.

The proposal remains the same as the previously consented permission 18/AP/0538.

(Within: Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Hajnalka Kurti 020 7525 3701) MARKLYE DULWICH COMMON LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7EU (Ref: 21/AP/1057) Demolition of existing concrete ancillary building and replaced with a new pool ancillary building including the installation of solar pv panels to the flat roof of the new ancillary building and existing annex. Application to include the replacement of 2no. painted timber doors and 3no. painted timber windows with powder-coated aluminium Crittall style profiles with safety glazing to match proposed ancillary building. To replace the existing side hinged timber garage door set with side hinged, powder-coated, metal door set with

insulated panels. (Within: Dulwich Wood CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ewan Lawless 020 7525 1264) 16 DE CRESPIGNY PARK LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8AF (Ref: 21/AP/1072) Advertisement fascia signs on the windows will be visually stimulating. Fascia The Institute of Psychiatry name will appear over the new main entrance. It will be non-illuminted, descaled red lettering (to match RAL 3028), mounted on to an anodised aluminium fascia. This is in keeping with the existing KCL brand guidelines. (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Louise Dinsdale ) 15 DANECROFT ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE24 9PA (Ref: 21/AP/1080) Construction of a single storey rear extension.

(Within: Sunray Estate CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anthony Roberts 020 7525 5458) 114 RYE LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 4RZ (Ref: 21/AP/1066) Three storey rear infill extension and associated alternations to the rear and flank fenestration, installation of rooflight into rear roofslope. Side wall of the existing outrigger will be partially demolished in order to incorporate the new addition into the house and improve the internal layout of first floor kitchen and a second floor shower room. (Within: Rye Lane Peckham CA)

Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ewan Lawless 020 7525 1264) 98 COLLEGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7ND (Ref: 21/AP/1087) Construction of a single storey rear and side extension (Within: Dulwich Wood CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anthony Roberts 020 7525 5458)

comprising 2 x 2 bed flats and 1 x 1 bed flat.

(Within: Walworth Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ewan Lawless 020 7525 1264) Dated: 06 Apr 2021 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date.

SIMON BEVAN - Director of Planning

THE NAGS HEAD 231-235 RYE LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 4TP (Ref: 21/AP/1097) Installation of externally illuminated & non illuminated signage including a retractable awning (Within: Rye Lane Peckham CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Danielle Campbell 020 7525 2427) 88 NUNHEAD GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 3LS (Ref: 21/AP/0942) Conversion of three bedroom dwelling house into two flats including erection of a single storey extension rear extension and a mansard roof extension. (Within: Nunhead Green CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Daniel Cooklin-Smith 020 7525 5471) 401A WALWORTH ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE17 2AW (Ref: 21/AP/0941) Construction of a two storey rear extension above and conversion of existing residential unit on first, second and third floor to provide flat

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

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

Please take notice that I / we Barcade Ltd Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of Corner of Sayer St and Deacon St, SE17 1FY The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are

Please take notice that I / we Winner Cash and Carry Ltd Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of Unit 16/17 Penarth Street, London, SE15 1TR 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 Saturday Sunday

12:00 12:00

21:30 20:30

Opening hours:

Monday to Saturday Sunday

12:00 12:00

22:00 21:00

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: 1st April 2021

Days

Start time

Finish time

The retail sale of alcohol:

Monday to Sunday

09:00

10:00

Opening hours:

Monday to Sunday

09:00

10:00

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: 24th March 2021

To place a notice, please email: em@southwarknews.co.uk or call 07798 833758.

Deadline is 12 noon on Tuesdays

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/sport

SPORT 27

Southwark club summon Olympian spirit to come through lockdown

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk SOUTHWARK BRITISH American Football club, London Olympians, are back in training after a “damaging and prolonged period of stagnation” during lockdowns left them with an “uncertain future” and the difficult challenge of rebuilding.

The Burgess Park-based outfit, who have played Premiership South League games in Peckham Rye, are the most successful British American Football club in the UK but haven’t played since July 2019 as the following season was cancelled with the country responding to Covid-19 with various restrictions around outdoor activities including sport.

But the club didn’t put everything on hold and recently announced that NFL Hall of Fame Rod Woodson had become their official club ambassador.

The British American Football season usually runs from May until September when the Britbowl is played, the biggest prize in the sport in the UK. The club are hoping this season can get under way in June.

“Our very survival now depends on our ability to successfully resurface and re-launch crucial activities, including player recruitment, finding and funding training facilities and investing in a programme of recovery,” the club said.

“There is no question that being part of the London Olympians family through this time has provided a vital level of support to players and coaches as we are all working through the many challenges that the pandemic has brought to everyone in their own family and personal lives.

“Over the last twelve months, we have held webinar and Zoom chats with the team to maintain unity and keep our spirits up – and had to bounce back from a few false dawns, thinking we were getting back to playing, only to have everything lock down once again.

“Despite all this, amateur grassroots clubs like ours are facing an uncertain future. We now seek to re-establish and rebuild both our club and communities and look to overcome one of the most difficult challenges we have ever undertaken as a club - our path to recovery - and give the opportunity for hundreds of

Kevin Cleaver (WAP Photography)

Burgess Park-based British American Football team are back in training and hope for season to start in June

London Olympians young people to compete in a sport that many in the UK have only ever dreamed of playing.”

Olympians head coach Tariq Ayub added: “It goes without saying Covid has really impacted people who use physical activity as a discipline.

“There is nothing better than team sport to give you structure, support and camaraderie. The discipline and challenges of American Football keep you engaged and focused in all aspects of life.

“Sport is therapeutic and a great equaliser in life”.

Meanwhile, the players are eagerly anticipating reengaging with the sport and their team-mates and coaches.

Ivo De Greef, a linebacker for London Olympians who lives in Canada Water, said: “I’m really looking forward to getting back to playing and training

with my team-mates again.

“The great thing about American Football as a team sport is how unifying it is. No matter how many differences players may have, we’re all the same on the football field. We go through the emotional highs and the emotional lows together. You get to know the other players on a deeper level and as people, not just athletes.”

David Simon, another linebacker from Surrey Quays, believes the club will emerge stronger from the lockdowns.

“The team started on a new process in January last year, but the lockdowns and the previous season’s cancellation found us in a difficult situation,” he said. “But I feel we are coming out of lockdown as a much stronger team due to the hard work every Olympian put in during these

months.

“I really look forward to meeting my old and new team-mates and coaches in person again, continuing to make progress as an organisation and just play some ball.”

James Watson, who is also based near Canada Water, is a new recruit as an offensive lineman.

“I can’t wait to back on the pitch be it training or game-day,” he said.

“Having had my uni-bowl career cut short I can’t wait to not only train with a brand new team, who I know will become like family, but to compete in the top league in the country.”

The club want more people to get involved. They can be reached at recruitment@olympiansfootball. org or through their website, londonolympians.com.

Surrey snap up Aussie international Abbott

By Sports Reporter sport@southwarknews.co.uk SURREY COUNTY Cricket Club have confirmed the signing of Australia international Sean Abbott for three LV= County Championship fixtures and the entirety of the Vitality Blast group stage this summer.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to go over and play. I’ve had the pleasure of playing with a few of the Surrey guys who played at the Sydney 6ers who have done very well.

“Obviously I’m keen to pull on the Surrey colours and be involved in the set-up over there, and continue to learn and get better as a cricketer, while hoping to help Surrey win the Vitality Blast and the LV= County Championship.

“I know they’ve got an amazing set up and a great bunch of lads so I’m looking forward to getting to London, playing some great cricket, and making new friends.”

Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart added: “I’m delighted to have secured the services of Sean for three LV= County Championship matches and all of our T20 group games.

“His all-round skills and the experience of having won backto-back BBL trophies will add real strength to our group.”

Roach, meanwhile, has arrived in the UK and is expected to be available for Surrey’s match with Leicestershire starting on April 15.

He will remain with the club until the end of their Kia Oval London derby with Middlesex between May 20 and 23.

Alec Stewart is delighted to have the all-rounder on board

Photo by Surrey CCC

Abbott, 29, will replace West Indies seamer Kemar Roach as the second overseas player in the Surrey squad when Roach returns to the Caribbean.

He will join the squad in time for the visit of Gloucestershire to The Kia Oval between May 27 and 30.

The Australian will stay in south London for Surrey’s Vitality Blast South Group matches and final two LV= County Championship Group 2 matches against Hampshire and

Somerset.

As well as his nine white-ball appearances for Australia, Abbott has enjoyed recent success in domestic cricket winning consecutive Big Bash League titles with Sydney Sixers in 2020 and 2021.

The seam bowling all-rounder has also been a key figure in New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield and Marsh One-Day Cup campaigns, helping them to the final of both competitions.

In seven appearances in the fourday Sheffield Shield he has amassed seventeen wickets and scored his maiden first-class century. A further six wickets have come in the 50-over competition.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Surrey, one of the biggest counties in England,” Abbott told the club’s official website.

28 SPORT

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Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

Photo by Millwall Lionesses

Lionesses back with a bang Manager pleased with application after months away from the pitch

The Lionesses were finally back at St Paul’s

By Sports Reporter sport@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL LIONESSES manager Katie Whitmore was pleased with the implementation of training ground plans which then allowed her team to enjoy being back in action after such a long lay-off as the hosts defeated Hackney Lionesses in their Easter Sunday friendly at St Paul’s.

Speaking after the win, which included goals from Abbey Dell, Molly Hawkins, Kira Wealls, Amy Nash and Libby Stubbs, as well as clean sheets for Millie Carter and second-half goalkeeper Larissa Miller, Whitmore explained the approach.

The Lionesses were able to plan for a friendly schedule as outdoor sport

resumes across the country.

“The key messages for the girls were, ‘can we implement what we tried at training on Monday and Wednesday, and then could we have fun? You’ve been off for so long, so go out and enjoy it.’ Make the most of it, show Alex [Russell, Millwall Lionesses assistant manager] and I how much they’ve missed the game, and I think they did that.

“In this nicest possible way, it could have been a much higher score-line.

It could have been a lot more if their goalkeeper hadn’t made some superb saves for them. I think they had good work rate, and our girls need to make sure they turn up to a game regardless of what tier a team is in and treat it like a cup game or it’s the most important game they are going to play this season.

“We had Lily Slater step up from the under-16s within the pathway and she had her debut with the first team. I think that’s a big achievement for her and you have new characters who hadn’t been able to play as much previously, so Amy Nash hadn’t got much time to play because of other commitments and she was able to play and show us what she can contribute to the team.

“We asked individuals to step up and play in positions that they hadn’t played before – Amy, Millie Connell – and they all did it.”

Whitmore also had a message for her squad ahead of this weekend’s friendly fixture with Upton Park Ladies at St Paul’s.

“Turn up wanting the fixture. Enjoying it, playing for and covering each other and playing the football that we are

trying to implement in training,” she said.

“As long as they do that and they show that they are trying. All that me and Alex can ask is that next week they do the exact same and put the same amount of hard work in.”

The opposition management team, Jamie Gardner and Mark Addison Tweed, were pleased their newlyestablished side had the opportunity to play a team with the history of Millwall Lionesses.

“We always knew it was going to be tough playing Millwall Lionesses, as we kept mentioning, the ‘powerhouse’ of women’s football. But, it was a good experience for us all and I think that we tried to play football at times.

When we did try to play, we got through on occasions, but it was just a lack of

By Sports Reporter

“I usually play as a CAM, an attacking midfielder. I’d like to think I can bring a bit of creativity to the team.”

Full-back Berkeley signed from AFC Wimbledon and reunites with former team-mate Sophie Manzi at Dulwich.

Previously, she played for Crystal Palace and Whyteleafe. At Palace, she was part of the team that won the 2015-16 FA Women’s Premier League Division One in an unbeaten season. “[Sophie Manzi] was in my ear quite a lot, saying it was a good club,” Berkeley said. “Obviously I’ve seen a lot about the club and since I’ve come over to Dulwich I’ve been

fitness and that cost us, we think.

“But other than that, it was a good game of football.

“I think trying to play football instead of trying to go long is certainly an area we can improve on. But when we tried to play we looked better instead of trying to go route one, as I felt it was too easy for Millwall to get in and attack us when we tried to go long.”

The duo hope for more opportunities to play the Lionesses at St Paul’s as the clubs forge a link-up.

“Certainly some of the squad have said that they want to improve their game and get better, so I think coming to somewhere like Millwall is definitely worth doing on a more consistent basis to test yourself. Hopefully some of them will stand out and get the opportunity to play at a good level.”

Photo by Ollie Jarman

Dulwich Hamlet Women announce double signing sport@southwarknews.co.uk DULWICH HAMLET Women have confirmed the signings of Daniella Tyson and Liz Berkeley.

Daniella Tyson and Liz Berkeley

Tyson, a midfielder, has joined from Exeter City and brings experience from the National League. At Exeter she helped the team to a league title in 2019 and was named player’s player of the season in 2019-20.

“I’m excited to get to know the team and play with them.” Tyson said. “I’ve heard a lot about how good the fans are here and the amount of people that you get, so that will be incredible when all the fans are here eventually.

really impressed with the set-up.

That’s helped me make the decision.”

“The position I play is full-back.

I’ve played on the right, the left, sometimes I’ve played in a back three as well. My attributes are probably speed and my one-v-one defending.

“I’m really excited to make my debut here at the club. Manzi’s told me how exciting it is to play in front of all these people.”

With the return of organised sport as the UK exits the latest lockdown, Tyson and Berkeley were able to meet their new team-mates for the first time and join in with a full training session at Champion Hill last week.

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

www.newsatden.co.uk

Double-century for warrior Coops who ‘epitomises’ spirit

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk JAKE COOPER completed a double-century of games in his Millwall career against Stoke City on Monday – with his boss Gary Rowett saying the defender “epitomises” the team spirit at the club.

Despite suffering two dislocated shoulder injuries this season, Cooper has remarkably missed just four league games.

Cooper, 26, had been on a run lasting almost three years – 136 games – without missing a minute of Championship action before he popped his shoulder for the first time against Birmingham last November.

He dislocated the same shoulder against the same opponents in February, but was back just two weeks later.

And he reached game number 200 against the Potters.

“It’s fantastic. Coops epitomises the team spirit, as soon as he dislocated his shoulder the first thing he does is says he wants to play,” Rowett said.

“He’s missed four games this season with two dislocations and we had to hold him back for two of those games.

“He wanted to play and we had to say, ‘Coops, for your own sake we’re going to have to leave you for another week to give you a chance’.

“You want players like that, with that

spirit and attitude. He’s been a huge part of our form and success this season.”

Cooper added: “I’m proud to play 200, it’s quite a lot in the short time I’ve been here. I’m really happy just to get out there every week. I got a bit of perspective this season missing a few games, which was difficult.

“It’s really enjoyable being back out there racking up those appearances.

Especially with wins like this, it makes it more enjoyable.

“Any game at the moment is difficult.

You play teams at the bottom and they’re fighting for their lives.

“You play against teams in the middle with little to play for and they can relax, sometimes it’s harder to play against teams like that.

“We’ve got four games [in April] against big clubs and it’s going to be difficult. But we’ll back ourselves, we like playing teams like that, we’re really looking forward to it.

“We’re really happy. It’s three wins on the bounce which is not easy to do.

It’s massive for us and we want to just carry that on now for the remainder of the season.”

Cooper was pleased with how the side responded at Stoke last Monday after he felt they didn’t do themselves justice before the break.

“It was a disappointing first half. We were a bit off it coming off the back of a good result on Friday,” Cooper said.

“It took us a bit of time to settle and

we needed that half-time. It was great, the gaffer made that change [Maikel Kieftenbeld for Kenneth Zohore] and it changed the game.

“Second half I thought we were brilliant, it was one of our best 45 minutes for the last month or two. It was really refreshing to play like that and get a goal off the back of it.”

Millwall were once again indebted to Jed Wallace and Mason Bennett up

MILLWALL 29

Millwall’s No.5 played game 200 against Stoke

front. Wallace set up his strike partner for the winner.

“It’s really exciting, you can see their goal contributions over the last four or five games,” Cooper added. “They’re really benefitting from playing with each other. Jed really helps Benno and Benno really helps with Jed’s game.

“It’s great to see and the likes of Ken coming back in as well adds to the fold.

We look strong in those positions, it’s

exciting going into games knowing those guys that we’ve got can grab us a goal.

“Our home form has picked up again and we’re coming to places like this, Stoke City, with the budget they’ve got and the players they’ve got, to beat them like we did just shows what a squad we’ve got and what we’re building at this football club.

“It’s good times.”

Chopper back at Den as his signings decide game

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Millwall - 1 J Wallace 64’ Rotherham - 0

referee John Brooks awarded the Millers a late penalty following a coming together between Michael Smith and Lions pair Alex Pearce and Murray Wallace.

Luckily for Millwall, another one of their most consistent performers in Bartosz Bialkowski – another Harris signing – who had earlier made a superb one-handed stop to keep out Wood’s header, came to their rescue with a second strong righthand save to preserve his sixteenth clean sheet of the league campaign.

This was far from vintage Millwall, but at this stage of the season it’s all about getting over the line, and while the performance wouldn’t have left Gary Rowett best pleased, the result did.

Date: Friday 2 April 2021 Referee: John Brooks Man of the match: Bartosz Bialkowski

By Jake Sanders at The Den sport@southwarknews.co.uk WHEN JED Wallace eventually leaves Millwall, he’ll one day have the pleasure of putting his feet up and enjoying an incredible reel of his stunning goals in a Lions shirt.

From that thunderous effort against Northampton back in League One to those two wonderful free-kicks in South Wales against Swansea and Cardiff last season, the Lions winger has a habit of scoring goals out of the ordinary.

And on a blustery Good Friday at The Den, this one was a moment that Millwall desperately needed.

Because despite having a man advantage for almost the entire second

Bartosz Bialkowski saves Michael Smith’s penalty half, a moment of individual brilliance always appeared their most likely source of a breakthrough against a stubborn Rotherham outfit that played the best part of 40 minutes with ten men following the dismissal of their captain Richard Wood.

Wallace also scored the only goal during the reverse fixture in South Yorkshire back in September, but while that came

courtesy of a defensive error from Michael Ihiekwe, this was anything but fortunate.

Less than ten minutes after Wood had been given his marching orders for hauling back Wallace, Millwall’s number seven – who’s now just one shy of reaching double-figures for goals for the second consecutive season – peeled off the back of a Scott Malone corner and hit a

quite brilliant half-volley into the top-right corner.

Even the watching Neil Harris, who was back in SE16 for the first time since his departure eighteen months ago, would have been proud of that one.

But if Harris was left impressed by that strike, he, and the rest of those few inside The Den, were surely confused when

Millwall: 5-3-2: Bialkowski; McNamara, Hutchinson (Pearce, 32), M Wallace, Cooper, Malone; Evans, Woods (Kieftenbeld, 88), Mitchell (Mahoney, 74); Bennett (Zohore.

73), J Wallace (Bodvarsson, 74).

Rotherham: 3-1-4-2: Johansson; Ihiekwe, Wood, MacDonald; Barlaser (Jozefzoon, 78); Harding, Wing (Clarke, 78), Crooks (Hirst, 78), Giles (Wiles, 58); Smith, Ladapo (Lindsay, 59).

30 MILLWALL

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Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

Mason breaks Potters’ resistance

Play-offs a long shot, but boss shows he must be backed in transfer window

Mason Bennett scores the winner against Stoke

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Stoke - 1 Brown 41’ Millwall - 2 M Wallace 35’, Bennett 71’ Date: Monday 5 April 2021 Attendance: 0 Referee: Gavin Ward Man of the match: Danny McNamara

THE LINE-UPS 16 Davies 12 Chester 14 Smith

Vokes 86’

3-4-1-2

36 Souttar

13 Obi

25 Powell

6 Batth

Matondo 76’

34 Thompson

Rea 64’

18 Brown

Clucas 70’

20 Bennett

24 Mitchell 5 Cooper

3-4-1-2

McClean 7’

21 Fletcher 84’

13 Zohore

Bodvarsson 82’

14 Malone

46 Norrington - Davies

7 J Wallace Bradshaw 90’

Kieftenbeld 45’

28 23 Evans McNamara Romeo 90+2

15 Pearce 33 Bialkowski

3 M Wallace

By Lucas Ball at Bet365 Stadium sport@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL ARE clinging on to their Championship play-off hopes after their 2-1 win away at Stoke City on Easter Monday.

Murray Wallace and Mason Bennett netted either side of Jacob Brown’s equaliser to earn the Lions their eighth away victory in the league this season, and fifteenth under Gary Rowett.

The Potters were the better side in the first half but the introduction of Maikel Kieftenbeld for Kenneth Zohore at halftime was key as the Lions gained control of midfield in the second period.

Although Millwall weren’t at their best in the first half they did manage to take the lead in scrappy fashion.

A George Evans free-kick was first headed down into the path of Jed Wallace, who saw his well-struck effort deflected wide before, from the resulting corner, Murray Wallace capitalised to prod home from Jake Cooper’s dinked ball into the sixyard box as Stoke failed to clear their lines.

Another dangerous free-kick was headed away for a corner moments later but Cooper could only nod over from the setpiece.

The hosts were behind for only five minutes, with a number of poor moments in the lead up to the goal frustrating Rowett.

Scott Malone lost the ball cheaply in a promising position before no one moved to close down Nick Powell, who launched

a superb pass over the top for Steven Fletcher to square for Brown.

Alex Pearce – who started in place of the injured Shaun Hutchinson – perhaps could have intercepted, but Brown took his chance as he struck a low effort underneath Bialkowski, the Pole also maybe feeling disappointed he didn’t make the save as he aimed for a seventeenth clean sheet in the league this season.

Powell headed wide from a corner in the last action before the break, before Kieftenbeld’s introduction turned the tide in the Lions’ favour.

Both sides struggled to create for the first 20 minutes of the second period, until a slick Lions counter-attack saw Wallace find the once-again excellent Danny McNamara in the box, only for the wing-back to hit a tame effort straight at goalkeeper Adam Davies.

Two minutes later, though, Millwall retook the lead after another good move.

Billy Mitchell found Wallace running at Stoke’s defence and Danny Batth should have made an easy clearance but missed the ball, allowing Wallace to square for Bennett, taking Davies out of the equation, and it was an easy finish.

It was Bennett’s fifth goal in 2021, to go with Wallace’s four, a fine return for the unconventional front pairing.

Michael O’Neill’s side never looked like equalising and failed to build up any sort of pressure going forward late on as the Lions held on to further Rowett’s impressive record against his former clubs.

Rowett has now won five, drawn five

and lost two against Stoke, Derby and Birmingham since taking the Lions hotseat, with both defeats coming against the Rams at The Den. It was a former Blues man, Kieftenbeld, that made the crucial difference on Easter Monday as he showed how important he could be in the run-in after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Evans and Mitchell are both good players but neither was sitting in front of the back three to offer protection and to win second balls in the first period, with Powell and Brown often dropping into those spaces and causing issues.

Kieftenbeld quickly fixed that, fouling Powell early on in the half to remind him this would be a fight, and then the Dutchman dominated the battle from that point on.

Kieftenbeld’s energy also helped to drive the Lions forward and he executed a number of quality passes to open up the play as Millwall looked like the only team who were going to grab a winner.

The gap to the play-offs – eight points – is the biggest it has been for the Lions when they’ve still been in the chasing pack after this number of games since their return to the Championship. It was one point in 2017-18 and five points last season. It will be ten points if Bournemouth win their game in hand.

But to still be in the mix with no fans in attendance, a Covid-hit budget and injury crises throughout the season is a remarkable effort from Rowett and his players.

If Zohore and Connor Mahoney had been fit all season to boost the attack then Millwall would surely have a few more points on the board now. Then again, most clubs could point to the absence of key players this season.

What is clear to see is that Millwall have the foundations of a side capable of challenging at the top end of the Championship with very good players heading into their primes and a number of good young players stepping up into the first team.

The challenge now is whether they can add more depth to reduce the reliance on certain players and allow for more rotation - and bring in a striker capable of scoring more goals and creating more for his teammates.

Rowett has done an immense job so far, and needs to be backed in the summer with fans set to return from next season.

Head to Head 56% 14 5 5 11

Possession Shots Shots on target Corners Fouls

44% 10 3 4 17

Southwark News, Thursday April 8 2021

www.newsatden.co.uk

Millwall

Championship preview

VS

Swansea

MILLWALL 31

Saturday, April 10 2021. Kick-off: 12.30pm , The Den

Lions not ready for Swan song matCh details

Possible Millwall starting XI: 5-3-2

Bialkowski; McNamara, Evans, M Wallace, Cooper, Malone; Kieftenbeld, Woods, Mitchell; J Wallace, Bennett.

Match odds:

Millwall 6/5 Draw 12/5 Swansea 7/4

Last meeting:

Championship (October 3, 2020): Swansea 2-1 Millwall (Bidwell 46, Cabango, 68; Bradshaw 51).

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL BOSS Gary Rowett has praised his “humble” and “brilliant” group who continue “impressing” him as they defy expectations to keep their top-six chances alive.

Despite injuries taking their toll all season – and now previous ever-present Shaun Hutchinson ruled out – the Lions still have an outside shot at the play-offs.

They have won three league games in a row for just the second time under Rowett and are eight points off sixth with six games left.

It’s a tall order, but Nottingham Forest were six points clear of Swansea with two games to go last season before a remarkable collapse allowed the Swans to sneak into the play-offs as Forest dropped out.

Rowett has stressed that the only focus is on the next game rather than setting any targets. Despite a run of just one win in fifteen Championship games earlier this campaign, Millwall are only thirteen points off their tally last season

The players celebrate Jed Wallace’s winner against Rotherham on Good Friday when they had a chance of finishing sixth with two games left.

The Lions host Swansea in SE16 this weekend and ironically it is Steve Cooper’s side that are now experiencing a major wobble as their automatic promotion chances fade.

The Welsh side were level on points with second-place Watford – with a game in hand – just five fixtures ago, but four consecutive defeats have left them

Millwall pair set to be out for season

Shaun Hutchinson got injured against Rotherham

trailing the Hornet by ten points.

While the Swans were expected to compete for the top two, there is little pressure on Millwall as they bid for consecutive top-ten finishes at this level for the first time since 2005.

“Listen, full credit to the squad and the players,” Rowett said. “All I can say is they’re just a great groups to work with because they want to win every game.

“You don’t have to really try and

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL ARE set to have to do without two totems at either end of the pitch for the final six games this season.

Lions boss Gary Rowett doesn’t expect either Shaun Hutchinson or Matt Smith to play again in 202021 as Millwall bid to keep their campaign alive as long as they can.

Ben Thompson is also set to be unavailable for this Saturday’s game against Swansea at The Den, and Ryan Leonard is still absent.

It means that Rowett will not have had a full squad to choose from all season due to injuries, with ten firstteam players missing a month or more.

Smith is out with a broken foot, and Hutchinson pulled up in the 1-0 win against Rotherham on Good Friday.

“His calf was tight at the start of the game,” Rowett explained. “I don’t know whether it’s the grounds getting hard around now, the training pitches. It’s a different surface that players are on.

“Hutchy’s calf felt tight and when

motivate them to work hard and want to put all their energy out on to the pitch.

“In lots of ways as well there have been some really good performances in there, to keep going, to go to places like Stoke, Derby, Reading, just winning games.

“Some games we’ve been behind, some games we get pegged back to be level and then they just always seem to he went to play the ball forward he felt a bit of a pop.

“We’ve just got to wait and see [the scan] with that one but I’m sort of preparing for the worst in him not featuring again this season, but who knows.

“Matt’s more or less been ruled out as well because of the nature of his injury, the length of time needed to recover.

“Even if he came back tomorrow he’d probably need a couple of weeks of fitness work. Therefore we’re really running out of time.

“Ben came back [after illness] but he’s got a knock at the minute. He’s unavailable as well.

“It seems every time one of the injured players comes back when one of the fit ones gets injured.

“Ryan Leonard is still a couple of weeks away.

“I managed to get Maikel [Kieftenbeld] out there [on Monday against Stoke], I didn’t feel I could start him because of his fitness level.

“But again we’ll keep patching up and seeing if we can keep coming to places like this and winning.

“We’ll keep going to see how long we can keep the season alive.”

find or at least try to find an answer.

“So I’ve been mightily impressed with the players since I’ve come in and they just keep impressing me.

“They’re so humble, they just want to work, they’re such a good group.

They’ve been brilliant.”

Danny McNamara, 22, and Billy Mitchell, 20, have emerged as firstteam regulars this year. Both played twice in four days over Easter despite their relatively little experience of the physical demands of the Championship.

Rowett added: “I think sometimes it works the other way for some players, physically they can just keep going.

They’ve got that natural energy.

“Sometimes what you find with the younger players is that mentally it’s hard to keep focusing in the Championship because it’s so relentless.

“That’s their challenge. Danny switched off a couple of times first half [against Stoke], second half he was much better. Those little bits are the things that challenge you in games, different opponents. It’s the same with Billy.

“But with the games and experience they’re getting all the time they’ll be so much better for it next season.

“What both of them have shown is that they can be a fixture in the team rather than just a young player that comes through the odd game.

“They’ve both shown quality and real consistency so I’ve been impressed with both of them.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Woods returns after being unavailable against parent club Stoke.

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE P W D L GD Pts

1 Norwich City 40 26 9 5 36 87 2 Watford 40 23 10 7 30 79 3 Brentford 39 19 13 7 26 70 4 Swansea City 39 20 9 10 14 69 5 Barnsley 40 20 8 12 8 68 6 Reading 40 19 9 12 13 66 7 Bournemouth 39 18 11 10 22 65 8 Cardiff City 40 16 10 14 12 58 9 Millwall 40 14 16 10 4 58 10 Middlesbrough 40 16 9 15 5 57 11 Stoke City 40 14 13 13 1 55 12 QPR 39 14 11 14 -3 53 13 Luton Town 39 14 8 17 -13 50 14 Bristol City 40 15 4 21 -15 49 15 Nottingham F 40 12 12 16 -5 48 16 Preston NE 40 14 6 20 -9 48 17 Blackburn Rovers 40 12 10 18 5 46 18 Derby County 40 11 10 19 -15 43 19 Huddersfield T 39 11 10 18 -18 43 20 Coventry City 39 10 12 17 -17 42 21 Birmingham City 40 10 12 18 -21 42 22 Rotherham U 36 10 5 21 -13 35 23 Sheffield W 39 11 8 20 -15 35 * 24 Wycombe W 40 8 9 23 -32 33 * Sheffield Wednesday deducted 6 points

inside

Sport Southwark

Lionesses headline here make about the promo successful return

New line of attack

Page 28

Fans rush for 2021-22 season tickets

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL’S SEASON-ticket sales crashed through the 2,000-mark last week just three days after they went on sale as Lions fans got behind the club ahead of 2021-22.

Form of current front pair could alter transfer plans Mason Bennett, centre, and Jed Wallace, right, have been a revelation together in attack

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk THE SUCCESS of the forward partnership of Jed Wallace and Mason Bennett could alter Millwall’s transfer plans this summer, according to Lions boss Gary Rowett.

Wallace and Bennett started the season as midfield attackers – and have played most of their football for the club on the wing – but injuries to central strikers resulted in Rowett pairing them together this year.

And the results have been spectacular, with nine goals between them in the league since January, the same as the

combined total of strikers Matt Smith, Kenneth Zohore, Tom Bradshaw and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson this season.

In the six games they have started as the front two in 2021, Wallace and Bennett have been directly involved – scoring or assisting – in seven goals.

Rowett is prioritising strengthening Millwall’s attack in the summer, as well as trying to add a goal-scoring midfielder.

The Lions activated a one-year extension in Bradshaw’s contract this season, but the club would ideally like to find a buyer for Bodvarsson this summer.

Bodvarsson, who will be 29 in May, also has one year left to run on his deal but he has only scored one goal in 37 club games this season.

Rowett hasn’t ruled out trying to sign

Zohore permanently from West Brom, but his loan spell has been mixed. The 27-yearold has played in only fourteen games out of 36 since he joined from the Baggies, as he has been laid off with two injuries.

Rowett admitted the impact Wallace and Bennett have made in tandem could give pause for thought over summer plans for the attack.

“Yeah, possibly. It’s interesting because Mason early on after he arrived I spoke about how he might be better down the middle, more effective,” Rowett said.

“With Jed, he always benefits from just being able to go and use his energy without too many constraints on him.

“When you’re a winger and you’re constantly having to chase someone back into your own half if you haven’t got the

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ball, those things just take away your energy in and around the top end of the pitch.

“At the minute, to give Jed that little bit of freedom has really, really suited him.

“Both him and Mason have struck up an understanding. They actually complement each other well with that little bit of physicality and Mason being able to hold the ball up and win headers and fight and be strong.

“Jed provides the energy off that.

“So they’ve been good, but we’re still essentially after the same thing. We still need more goals next season, we need more forward options.

“But how that might look in terms of numbers might possibly change because of those two’s form.”

Millwall made tickets and memberships available last week despite uncertainty over the return of fans, but plenty of Lions supporters have shown their confidence that next season will see grounds operating at full capacity.

It was confirmed this week that the League Cup final between Tottenham and Manchester City at Wembley this month would host 8,000 fans as the UK continues on the ‘roadmap’ out of the third lockdown.

Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh didn’t shy away from saying “we need money” but stressed he understood if fans wanted to wait until there was more certainty over the opening of stadiums.

Millwall fans can buy in three windows and the club are currently offering a ‘Super Saver’ period which runs until May 17.

The last time The Den was at full capacity was February 29, 2020.

Lions boss Gary Rowett is buoyed by the backing of the supporters.

“It shows what our fans are all about,” Rowett said. “What’s important is we get our fans back and our atmospheres back at The Den. “We’ll need it. It’s a big factor for us and if more people can buy season tickets and we can start to get crowds back next year then it will be an exciting season.”

The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2014 was 83.5%