20th May 2021

Murder investigation:

Issue 1531

Established: 1987

50p

May 20 2021

southwarknews.co.uk

mystery surrounds death of Bermondsey 78-year-old Page 8

Exclusive

families trapped in unsellable homes

shut out!

See page 6

Day centre for Southwark’s most vulnerable closed ‘without any consultation’ Exclusive

See page 4

MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

youngsters have path to first team Page 31

2 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Contents NEWS Pages 2-17 OPINION Pages 18-19 history Page 21 property Page 22 Jobs & family announcements Page 23 classified Page 24 Public notices Pages 25-27 SPORT Pages 28-32

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Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

nurse who treated Boris Johnson resigns

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk A St Thomas’ nurse, who treated Boris Johnson for Covid-19, has resigned from the NHS over low pay and a lack of “respect”, according to a new documentary.

Jenny McGee was one of the nurses who looked after the Prime Minister in intensive care in April 2020. She said she was later asked to take part in a ‘clap for carers’ event with Mr Johnson.

“Lots of nurses felt that the Government hadn’t led very effectively, the indecisiveness, so many mixed messages,” she said in the upcoming Channel 4 documentary The Year Britain Stopped.

“It was just very upsetting. Yes, we have put ourselves on the line and we have worked so incredibly hard, and there’s a lot of talk about how we’re all heroes and all that sort of stuff.

“But at the same time, I’m just not sure if I can do it. I don’t know how much more I’ve got to give to the NHS. “We’re not getting the respect and now pay that we deserve. I’m just sick of it. So I’ve handed in my resignation.”

The government has recommended that NHS workers in England get a one per cent pay rise. Unions have called for a much higher increase, citing the stress NHS staff have been under in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pay for many other public sector workers has been frozen.

Ms McGee, who is from New Zealand, and her nursing colleague Luis Pitarma were singled out for praise by Mr Johnson after he got out of hospital.

She described seeing the Prime Minister looking “a different colour” in the documentary, out on Monday, May 24.

“All around him there was lots and lots of sick patients, some of whom were dying. I remember seeing him and thinking he looked

very, very unwell. He was a different colour really.

“It’s so surreal, that’s the Prime Minister.

They are very complicated patients to look after and we just didn’t know what was going to happen.”

She also described the “horrendousness” of St Thomas’ in the run-up to the festive period, as coronavirus cases mounted again.

“Leading up to Christmas, I could just not believe what I was seeing, it was just a cesspool of Covid,” she said.

“And then a whole lot of new patients come in. It was an absolute s**tshow to be honest.

“At that point, I don’t know how to describe the horrendousness of what we were going through.”

Ms McGee also released a statement through Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust. She said: “After the toughest year of my nursing career, I’m taking a step back from the NHS but hope to return in the future.

“I’m excited to start a nursing contract in the Caribbean, before a holiday back home in New Zealand later in the year.

“I’m so proud to have worked at St Thomas’ Hospital and to have been part of such a fantastic team.”

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: “Our NHS staff have gone above and beyond over the past year and this Government will do everything in our power to support them.

“We are extremely grateful for the care NHS staff have provided throughout the pandemic in particular.

“That is why they have been exempted from the public sector wide pay freeze implemented as a result of the difficult economic situation created by the pandemic.

“At the same time we have invested £30 million to support staff mental health and are expanding the number of places available for domestic students at medical schools in England to continue expanding our workforce.”

MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

BOSS TRIBUTE TO WILLO

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

Page 31

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!

Issue 1530

Established: 1987

50p

May 13 2021

southwarknews.co.uk

Page 3

Page 6

BERMONDSEY AND ROTHERHITHE ELEPHANT RESIDENTS LOCKED LITTERATI TAKE TO THE STREETS OUT OF THEIR OWN BIN HOUSE

MISSING BABY IS FOUND

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72,000 Londoners’ urgent care records now digitised

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk seventy-two thousand Londoners now have their urgent care plans digitised and available in NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and ambulances across England.

The NHS project, Coordinate My Care, has now gone live, meaning that wherever people travel across the country to see family and friends, if they need help the emergency services can access their care plan and know their wishes, preferences and clinical details and whom to contact in an emergency.

Julia Riley, clinical lead for Coordinate My Care says: “This is the future.

The future is patient-centred care underpinned by digital technology that enables truly seamless, coordinated care wherever you are.

“This development means a great deal to the Coordinate My Care team that has worked tirelessly to coordinate highquality care for patients.

“It is, however, even more important to the patients whom we support, and I would like to thank everyone involved for helping to make this happen.”

For more information visit www.coordinatemycare.co.uk

Tessa’s legacy on cancer care

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk The family of the late Dulwich and West Norwood MP Tessa Jowell marked the third anniversary of her death with news that nine hospitals across the UK are now working with them to transform care for brain cancer patients.

The Tessa Jowell Foundation was set up after the Labour politician passed away from brain cancer in May 2018.

Since her death, the foundation has focused on transforming treatment and care.

Twelve thousand people are diagnosed with a brain tumour in the UK every year. They are often only found at later stages, with only twelve per cent of patients still alive five years after diagnosis.

This week, the charity announced it had launched a flagship network of Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence in hospitals across the UK, with nine trusts awarded the star of excellence for their work after undergoing a ‘rigorous’ monitoring process.

In Southwark and Lambeth King's Health Partners, King's College Hospital & Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals have been selected.

Also taking part in the project in London are St George’s University Hospital, Royal Marsden and Royal Surrey County and University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust.

Jess Mills, co-founder of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission and Tessa’s daughter, said: “Mum's mission throughout 50 years of her political life was to tackle systemic

inequality. So, it was tragic whilst fitting, that her final campaign was a call to arms to create universal equality in access to excellence in cancer care throughout the NHS. “It is with immeasurable pride that just three years later, the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission has begun the real-world translation of that vision into reality.

We are thrilled to have awarded nine centres for their excellent ongoing work for patients and commitment to support other centres in reaching the same level of excellence.

“Shockingly, the UK still has one of the worst cancer survival rates in Europe, but in time, the Tessa Jowell Centres will make the UK a global leader in the treatment and care of brain tumour patients.

“We have a long way to go until the cutting edge of science is delivered to every patient, but this is a huge and transformational first step.”

Tessa Jowell

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

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

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

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

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Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 3

it’s au revoir not goodbye for much loved Bermondsey newsagent Joe

Lesson from 36 years’ work: Money is not everything it’s human love that people need’

Joe and Trish with their son Vishal

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk A married couple are retiring after running a Bermondsey newsagent as “a shop for the community” for 36 years - but have promised to keep a close eye on the new owners.

Joe and Trish Patel have run Vishal Supermarket - named after their son - on Southwark Park Road since 1985 and closed up for the last time on Saturday, May 15.

Speaking to the News from the shop on Friday, Joe said: “When I started it was a different Bermondsey… Our time has gone here, and gradually we came to know the people. We’ve seen so many generations come through.”

The outside of the shop was decorated with balloons celebrating Joe and Trish’s long tenure, while someone else had put bunches of flowers on the wall by the front door. And at least five people came inside to say goodbye to Joe and Trish in the space of about 45 minutes, some with flowers, several in tears.

Trish said: “The people of Bermondsey really embraced us as a family. They seem more like a family now than just customers. They really took us in. It will be very sad to leave.

“We’ve been having tears all week, everyone’s been coming to say bye and hugging and crying.

We never thought that we’d feel so emotional because something you’ve done for so long you take for granted.”

Joe said he had always thought of their newsagent as a service to the community, just as customers had served him.

“Just imagine someone spends £20 every two or three days, they’re spending nearly £100 a week with you. That’s loyalty. And then one day they haven’t got money. I say ‘take whatever you

want and pay me when you can’. You help people because you know them, and they know you and they help you by coming here.

“The shop has given me my whole life. I always thought in my heart to look after the people."

Like with many small businesses, the past year has been hard for Vishal Supermarket but Joe said he always felt he needed to keep the shop open to support local people “I believe in looking after the elderly. Especially the last couple of years, they ring up and say Joe can we have milk, bread, please deliver. My wife goes to deliver. That’s more like service to the community, not only money, not only business.

It’s a community sort of shop. That’s the way I wanted it. If you haven’t got money, you pay me next day or when you have got money.”

Joe and Trish said they are now planning to relax at their home in Clapham, although it seems Joe will still often be in the Bermondsey area. He said he wants to volunteer with the redevelopment of Bermondsey’s Blue market and other local causes - as well as keep an eye on the new shop owners.

“We’re selling on the shop but it will be the same shop,” he added. “I’ve told the new people about the area and I’ve guided them. I’ve said ‘look this is the way you run the shop, you won’t be running it your way.’

“I will be checking in on them. For a few months I will be talking to the customers outside and I will have a word with them and see what kind of response I get from them. If there’s anything [the new owners] need to do, I will come and brief them and guide them [and say] ‘this is the way you need to do it otherwise you will lose your custom.’”

Reflecting on their time running the shop, Joe added: "Money is not everything - it’s human love that people need.”

4 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

Day centre closed ‘without any consultation’ Exclusive

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk A pensioner and full-time carer for her disabled daughter has told of her devastation that Bermondsey’s Riverside day centre is permanently closing ‘due to COVID-19’.

Norma Lawrence’s 56-year-old daughter, Dawn, has been attending day centres in Southwark, including Riverside, for 25 years.

Dawn is profoundly deaf, partially sighted and has a learning disability, caused by congenital Rubella.

When she was exposed to the virus in the womb vaccination was not widely available. She is one of many babies who were affected during large outbreaks of the viral disease in the 1960s.

“At the time no one knew much about the condition, or how long they would live for,” explained Norma.

“Dawn hasn’t had any serious illnesses but she needs full-time care. She can’t go out by herself.

“She went to a special school, the Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate, but as an adult has lived at home with me.

“Riverside is the only thing that gets her out and socialising, and keeps her active and meeting other people. She likes to paint.

“It’s both about her leaving the house and having independence and some form of respite care for me.”

Norma, who is vice-chair of the Walworth Society and well known for her community work, says the two days a week respite she used to have between 10am to 3.30pm was the only time she had to focus on her own interests.

“As you get older you need it more,” she said. “If I want to go to the shops I can’t take her with me now because my eyesight is getting bad. The fact is that she needs a service like Riverside.”

But on April 28 Norma received a letter in the post telling her that the lifeline day centre was closing down for good.

What makes the news even more shocking is that carers like Norma had been left largely on their own throughout the pandemic, with Riverside workers offering just a few hours of one-on-one support instead.

For Dawn this meant a two hour walk to Burgess Park with a carer and picking up some lunch once or twice a week - but no opportunity to see her friends or take part in an activity.

Since the first lockdown families have been eagerly awaiting to hear when it would be back up and running.

Instead, in a bitter blow, they have been told the centre is closing and given no details about what else will be provided in its place.

Most bizarrely, the Camden Society, which runs the day centre, and Southwark Council, which owns the building, appear to now be embroiled in a series of claims and counterclaims disputing who was aware of the decision and when.

Southwark Council has maintained it had no idea that the Camden Society had made the decision not to reopen.

In the letter sent to Norma and other families, the society said it would remain closed because the building was not big enough to accommodate everyone due to COVID rules - even though all restrictions will end this summer - and that they “need to try something new” and promise “we will be keeping you informed as we go along”.

I’ve been doing this for so long - caring for a child is something you have to do from cradle to grave... I don’t always want to be doing it, I want to sit and think by myself - I want to rest.

“There has been no consultation, no discussion, no information,” said Norma.

“I don’t even think the majority of families have received this letter and may not know that in a few short months they will be left without.

“Southwark Council has a duty of care.

They should have been informed so they can start writing to users to tell them what is happening and there should be some form of consultation, but so far we have heard nothing.

“Who have the Camden Society been talking to?”

It is undoubtedly Dawn and others who will suffer the most if another provider does not take over the building and offer a similar care.

“She’ll be at home and be isolated, sitting watching television all day with nothing to do, affecting her mental health,” Norma said, describing the last year as a lonely, difficult time for families who feel abandoned.

In her view the closure is the latest in a long line of services axed or cut beyond recognition.

During her adult life Dawn has visited long-closed centres in Surrey Quays, Braganza Street, Tower Bridge Road and, most recently, Queen’s Road Peckham which was knocked down to make way for an office Southwark Council now says it does not need.

This is not the first time Riverside has been threatened with closure. In 2017 we reported that Southwark Council had u-turned on previous plans to shut the centre down. At that time the Camden Society had been served a notice on its lease, but was then offered new terms after an outcry.

As far as Norma and other parents were concerned that was the end of the matter - until now.

We asked the Camden Society why they had made the decision, why the council was not informed as it claims, and what would replace the centre.

A spokesperson for the Camden Society (London) provided a statement, revealing that the organisation had, as recently as last year, been considering a £100,000 refurbishment. It is also implied that the decision had been tacitly influenced by conversations with the local authority.

“The Camden Society (London) has been supporting up to 90 people with a learning disability in the Riverside Building, which is owned by Southwark Council,” the spokesperson said.

“The building sits at the heart of the community and we were planning on leasing the building and investing over £100k to refurbish it.

“We had been considering ambitious options to enhance it with facilities for the wider community and to broaden the

range of opportunities available for the people we support. We had been working actively with them to understand their ambitions and interests and how those might be supported “But COVID-19 struck. We had to stop using the Riverside Building and instead provided our support to individuals or ‘bubbles’ out in the community, in other local facilities or in people’s homes.

“This forced closure of the Riverside building allowed us to explore more proactively with people what they might want from us and to review the way we were delivering their support in Southwark.

“We were able to go back into the building in September 2020, after the first lockdown, but after a month of cleaning and preparation, we still concluded that it was no longer safe to support large numbers of vulnerable people in a single venue.

“Instead, following discussions with the council about their intentions to review and assess people’s support needs, we have decided to continue delivering our support in the community.

“This will be carried out by the existing Riverside team and others, enabling people to use a wide range of community facilities and a much greater range of opportunities, whilst maintaining the friendships and shared interests that are so important to them.”

On the question of communication with the council, the spokesperson added: “The Camden Society (London) has been in discussions with the council over two years about people’s support needs and about a range of options for their support.”

Councillor Helen Dennis, cabinet member for social support and homelessness, at Southwark Council told the News that the closure was a ‘unilateral’ decision by the society and a ‘surprise’. She fell short of pledging to find another provider to take over the centre’s work.

“As their statement confirms, the decision to close Riverside Day Centre was taken unilaterally by the Camden Society (London), and any questions from families about this decision should be addressed directly to them,” Cllr Dennis said.

“As we understand it, the Camden Society (London) has stated that they intend to

offer a community-based service instead – and we have asked that they share their plans with us.

“It’s fair to say that we were surprised to hear of this decision, but that we, as always, will be here to offer whatever support we can to anyone who approaches us for help individually.

“Ultimately, those who use the service are the people we have most care and concern for and I hope they are not left confused or upset by this decision.”

Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Neil Coyle reiterated that the decision was made without any consultation with parents or those who use the centre.

“It is a massive worry for parents and families and I will be aiming to work with whoever comes forward who may be able to fill that gap,” he said.

The News understands the society had been operating without a lease for a number of years, a situation the council was happy to continue. Although the day centre is not commissioned directly by the council, places are funded through the direct payments it offers to eligible families. They will now have to choose whether to wait and see what else will be offered in place of the centre, or try and find new placements elsewhere whether council-commissioned or otherwise.

For Norma, it is yet another example of how the most vulnerable have all too often been let down and suffered the most during the pandemic.

“I’ve been doing this for so long - caring for a child is something you have to do from cradle to grave,” she said.

“And I don’t always want to be doing it, I want to sit and think by myself - I want to rest.

“I don’t have a choice, that’s what’s been happening all these years.

“I’m still concerned about her mental health and for all the other people including older carers who may not manage.

“They say carers are hidden but actually we are ignored. Southwark Council is the one really that should let us know what is happening “They should take charge - they are responsible for these people.

“The Camden Society don’t realise what harms they are inflicting. How dare they.”

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6 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

cladding scandal: ‘our home is a prison’ Exclusive

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Two mothers trapped in flats they cannot sell due to the cladding scandal have described how ‘all hope is gone’ after the government’s failure to protect leaseholders from further costs.

Michelle Delgado bought a 35 per cent share of her one-bed flat in Peckham’s Cooperative House in November 2007 through an L&Q shared ownership scheme.

Fourteen years later Michelle, husband Leo, and eleven-year-old son Dexter are now stuck in the small flat, with their dreams of moving to a more affordable, bigger home with a garden in tatters.

Although some cladding on the front of the block has been removed, with L&Q stumping up for the initial costs, there is more cladding on the back of the building and further safety work required.

The cladding in question is, according to documents from L&Q, “an insulated wall system made up of polystyrene in a plastic frame with an air gap behind it and a polymer render over the whole surface.

This type of wall construction only became non-compliant after government guidance was updated”.

But this time there is a question over who pays - and whether the government’s fire safety fund will cover the costs.

While the uncertainty continues, no one in the block - including numerous growing families - is able to sell.

“This is our home but it feels like a prison.

Leo, Dexter and Michelle And we don’t know if it’s a safe prison," Michelle said.

The block, which is over eighteen metres, had a waking watch until heat alarms were fitted in every flat.

“There is a lot of mental stress," she continued. "If we are liable for a £50-100k bill then that’s all the equity we have. We need to move to a bigger property but we don’t have the money. I’ve read about people going bankrupt and having to hand back their flats to the banks but they still can’t sell them. There are days I wake up and feel really upset, and there are angry days, and days I can’t think about it.

“You think you’re doing the right thing and providing for your family but we’re having to move onto a sofa bed in our living room just to give our son his own room.”

Although she says communication from

EWS1 Form: The pain not over even when works are done Even when cladding is removed and a block made safe, the pain is not necessarily over for leaseholders.

One key issue affecting homeowners is the difficulty of being able to sell or remortgage without an EWS1 form.

This document, which can only be completed by a specialist surveyor, confirms that the external wall and any cladding is safe, and that required safety work has been completed.

However, as we have reported before there is not only a huge number of blocks in need of these surveys, but there is also a shortage of people qualified to complete them.

Another key issue is that as building regulations have changed a number of times, some surveyors are reluctant to go ahead due to uncertainty over future amendments.

In some cases leaseholders were told their cladding was safe only for new regulations to mean it had to be removed after all.

Many banks and mortgage providers are now demanding EWS1 forms for blocks even under eighteen metres which could take years to be assessed.

In the meantime surveyors, who are liable, are struggling to get professional insurance.

Rob Glenny thought he was one of the lucky ones after Hyde Housing removed the cladding on the Bermondsey Spa block where he owns a shared ownership leasehold flat.

“As far as I’m aware it has been

completely sorted and we’re not expecting anymore surprises but I think because the building regulations are changing all the time there’s always that possibility that there could be more issues,” he says.

But despite having no cladding and the block being safe, without an EWS1 form he is unable to sell up and unable to remortgage.

He is now paying an extra £900 a month after his provider changed his variable rate - money he can only stump up with help from his family.

Conceding he is fortunate to do so, he says the situation cannot continue long term.

“Some mortgage providers are essentially profiteering from a locked down market,” he said.

“I can’t move onto a better one because I don’t have a choice.

“Banks need to offer flexibility but the main thing is that it’s parliament that needs to fix this.

“Hyde isn’t the problem, they’ve acted well by removing the cladding and sorting it out.

“My partner’s business has been impacted by COVID and we’ve been running on credit cards for six months.

“The frightening thing is that this has been rumbling on for years. We were told the certificate could be completed by January, then April and now September but it could be far longer.

“It is such a scandal that millions of people are trapped.”

L&Q has been limited, they too are in the dark.

In protest at how the government has handled the situation, she and other residents have put up non-flammable banners outside the building to highlight their impossible situation.

“There is nothing anyone can do until the government fixes this,” she said.

Referencing the fire safety bill, which has failed to protect leaseholders from costs, she added: “They had the opportunity to do the right thing. Boris Johnson said leaseholders wouldn’t have to pay but now they’re saying we do. You have more protection when you buy kitchen

appliances than when you buy a flat. If my washing machine was dangerous it would go back to the manufacturer, you wouldn’t have to pay for it to be made safe.”

Her neighbour Eleanor Macnair, a single mum to a three-year-old, said living in the block throughout the pandemic was particularly hard; with no garden and scaffolding up for the majority of the year obscuring her view.

She bought 30 per cent of the one bed property in 2011. Around six months after her son was born in 2018 she decided to sell up and move closer to family and somewhere where she could afford a garden - then the cladding crisis hit.

“The system of shared ownership initially did help me and provided security, I was in my 30s and had been renting for so long with houses with damp, even slug infestations. My son has breathing issues and we are right on a main road with bad pollution and a family history of asthma so I wanted to move.

“Finding out we had cladding was a devastating blow but it was removed, and we are some of the lucky ones. But when I finally got the flat on the market last summer it turned out that we needed the EWS1 form and it’s unmortgageable. And we don’t know if the further work needed will be paid for by the fund or by us.”

On top of childcare costs and her own mortgage, Eleanor described the worry is like a ‘black cloud’. “I work so hard to create security for my son, going back to work and often working until ten or eleven at night,

but what was the point of doing that if all my money will go towards paying for flaws in a building and VAT on top? I sometimes think I should have just spent more time with my son instead of putting everything into paying for this home.

“L&Q didn’t create this problem. I do believe the government is holding things up. There is a narrative that it is done and dusted with five billion in allocated funding.

It’s like the government is gaslighting us.

The hope is gone now the fire safety bill has been passed as it is.”

An L&Q spokesperson said they hoped to provide more clarity to leaseholders in the coming weeks. “We have recently received confirmation from the government that Cooperative House is eligible for their Building Safety Fund," they said.

“However this funding is not yet confirmed, as there are a number of further criteria that must be met first as part of the application process. We’re sorry that this means residents will have to wait longer for a decision - we will provide a full update to them in the coming weeks. The safety of L&Q residents is our number one priority.

“We are carrying out one of the UK’s largest building inspection and remediation programmes and have committed over £350 million to fire safety.

“As part of this we are not recharging residents for temporary fire safety measures such as waking watch or fire alarm and detection systems, protecting leaseholders from over £20 million in costs so far.”

89 blocks in Bermondsey and Old Southwark alone still caught up in the cladding scandal There are now 89 blocks in Bermondsey and Old Southwark alone affected by cladding and fire safety issues, MP Neil Coyle told attendees at an online meeting .

Twenty-nine of those blocks are under eighteen storeys - making them ineligible for current government funding.

Increasingly, he said, the fire safety problems being discovered are not just related to cladding but also poor quality building work that has compromised, or entirely lacks, compartmentalisation - a system that is meant to stop a fire from spreading. And due to the shortage of homes and high housing costs in central London, boroughs like Southwark are particularly affected not only by the number of new builds with cladding in the first place, but also by the unique challenges presented to leaseholders or shared owners. The level of support offered by housing associations, and what they have been willing to pay for, varies.

Summing up the issue, Coyle told the News: “Leaseholders who only own 25 per cent of their home are now facing 100 per cent of the bill - some freeholders are acting in really poor faith.”

Coyle is also campaigning for a VAT exemption on government funding for cladding works, along with a cross-party selection of MPs including several Tory rebels aghast at the Conservative’s lack of support for homeowners. VAT on the costs is at 20 per cent - and will end up back with the treasury.

“The government shouldn’t be charging a ‘luxury tax’ for fire safety,” Coyle added.

He believes alongside more financial support the only long-term solution is

Neil Coyle a huge overhaul of building regulations that will give councils the power to properly investigate what is constructed in their boroughs - and the teeth to take action if they are found to be wanting.

In the meantime, he has warned that without the government backtracking and stumping up more cash and support, many more people could find themselves embodied in the scandal.

In April, a bid to protect leaseholders from shouldering massive fire safety costs failed to pass through parliament, with a majority of MPs voting against the protective measures despite several Conservatives defying the whip to join the cross party campaign.

Leaseholders now face up to ten billion in cladding removal and fire safety remediation bills - rather than developers and freeholders. The number of people finding themselves in financial dire straits is only going to rise, warns Coyle. “Most freeholders did their tallest buildings first, the ones below eighteen metres are being inspected much later

and they may still be found to have problems, may not get funding, and in the meantime mortgage providers and insurers won’t touch them,” he warned.

“It’s absolutely hideous.”

A reminder of what is at stake came earlier this month when a building New Providence Wharf in east London, wrapped in cladding and combustible balconies, caught fire. Forty-two people were treated for smoke inhalation.

Fortunately there were no fatalities.

It was a reminder of the tragedy that brought cladding to national attention, and uncovered the sheer number of death trap homes - Grenfell. Today, four years after, according to an analysis by the Labour Party around 30,000 people in Southwark and Lambeth are living in homes with similar issues, with at least 209 high-rise buildings in both boroughs yet to have their dangerous cladding removed.

These numbers are believed to be conservative estimates, with the true number affected perhaps far higher.

THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF A PAID-FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF A PAID-FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UK GOVERNMENT

Safety first as shops reopen Hairdressers to hotels, cafes to Hairdressers to hotels, cafes to cinemas, pub chains to independent cinemas, pub chains to independent shops ... high streets across the shops ... high streets across the country are opening up again. country are opening up again.

But it is important it happens safely!

But it is important it happens safely!

Businesses are ensuring they Businesses are ensuring they comply with COVID-19 safety comply with COVID-19 safety measures such as social distancing measures such as social distancing signs, PPE and hand sanitisers. signs, PPE and hand sanitisers.

Restaurants, salons and theatres Restaurants, salons and theatres

‘We ‘We ensure ensure measures measures are are effective’ effective’

PAUL BAINES, MANAGER, PAUL BAINES, MANAGER, STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE, STEPHEN JOSEPH THEATRE, SCARBOROUGH SCARBOROUGH

THE CURTAIN goes up again THE CURTAIN goesTheatre up again at Stephen Joseph at Stephen Joseph Theatre on May 17 while Eat Me Cafe, on Maybar 17 while Eat aMe Cafe, in the area, and gift in the bar area, and a gift shop, in the foyer, will also shop, in the foyer, will also reopen. reopen.

“We were open for nearly wereofopen for nearly six“We months last year.

We six months of last year.

We did a huge amount of work did a huge amount of work including introducing a including introducing one-way system, sociala one-way system, social distancing measures and distancing measures andsaid putting down markers,” putting down markers,” said theatre manager Paul Baines. theatre manager Paul Baines.

“One of the biggest “One of the challenges wasbiggest getting challenges wasout getting people in and safely. people in and out safely.

“We have to ensure the “We have to ensure measures are genuinethe measures areand genuine and effective they are and effective and they are

visible. Visible reassurance visible.

Visible is important forreassurance customer is important confidence. for customer confidence.

“It is a juggling act because is a juggling actcreating because you“Ithave to balance you have to balance creating a too clinical atmosphere awith too offering clinical atmosphere a unique with offering a unique theatre experience.” theatre experience.”

The theatre has been The theatre has been awarded the VisitEngland awarded the VisitEngland We’re Good to Go We’re Good to Go mark, industry standard industry standard mark, signifying that it adheres signifying that it adheres to government and public to government and public health COVID-19 guidance, health COVID-19 guidance, also approved by UK Theatre also Seatapproved Safety. by UK Theatre Seat Safety.

‘Trade ‘Trade boost boost from from vaccine vaccine confidence’ confidence’

JOHN LAVERY, OWNER, FISH JOHN LAVERY, OWNER, FISH CITY, BELFAST CITY, BELFAST

INVESTMENT HAS helped INVESTMENT HAScontinue helped Fish City in Belfast Fish City in Belfast continue operating. operating.

The award-winning The award-winning seafood restaurant extended seafood restaurant its seating, installedextended outdoor its seating, heating andinstalled started aoutdoor delivery heating started a delivery service. and Since reopening for service. reopening for outdoorSince dining, it has been outdoor dining, it has been doing a brisk trade bolstered doing a brisk trade by confidence in thebolstered vaccine by confidence programme. in the vaccine programme.

Reopening indoors is Reopening indoors is 24. scheduled to start on May scheduled to start on May “We created a dining room24.

“We created a dining room

upstairs with a completely upstairs completely differentwith feel,”asaid John, who different feel,” said owns the restaurantJohn, withwho his owns the restaurant with his wife Grainne. wife Grainne.

Safety processes include Safety processes include a digital thermometer a digital thermometer

mounted at the door which mounted at the door which all staff and customers are all staff and customers required to pass before are required pass before entering.to Anyone recording a entering.

Anyone high temperaturerecording is refuseda high temperature is refused admission. admission.

Hand sanitisers are also Hand sanitisers are front also available.

Kitchen and available.

Kitchen and front of house staff are required to of house staffand arewash required wear masks theirto wear masks and wash hands regularly. Tablestheir and hands Tables and chairs regularly. are cleaned rigorously chairs are cleaned rigorously after every diner. The after every diner.

The restaurant’s commitment restaurant’s commitment to the safety is also seen in to safety is also seen in itsthe recognition as COVID-19 its recognition as COVID-19 Compliant by Tourism NI. Compliant by Tourism NI.

are among the venues to put in are among the venues to put in place new booking procedures, place new booking procedures, ensuring we can all enjoy meals ensuring we can all enjoy meals or watch shows in relaxed and or watch shows in relaxed and safe environments. It is vital all safe environments. It is vital all

customers also obey the rules ... customers also obey the rules ... hands, face, space and fresh air. hands, face, space and fresh air.

For the latest on government For the latest on government guidance, retailers should visit guidance, retailers should visit gov.uk/workingsafely gov.uk/workingsafely

‘People ‘People need need care care and and pampering’ pampering’

ROSIE FRASER, OWNER, THAT ROSIE FRASER, OWNER, THAT GLOW, EDINBURGH ROSIE GLOW, EDINBURGH ALONGSIDE FAMILIAR ALONGSIDE FAMILIAR COVID-19 safety measures, COVID-19 safety Rosie Fraser has measures, introduced Rosie introduced a newFraser servicehas called “Silent aTreatment”. new service called “Silent Treatment”.

“We love a good chat but a good chat but we“We alsolove understand some we also understand some people prefer not to,” said people preferbeauty not to,”salon said Rosie, whose Rosie, whose beauty salon opened in 2019. opened in 2019.

“Clients can see the “Clients can see the look service as soon as they service as soon as they look at the online booking menu at the online booking menu and add it with whatever and add it with treatments theywhatever are having. treatments they are having.

“We still carry out a full “We still carry consultation and out thena full let consultation and them just relax.” then let them relax.”are bespoke Alsojust in place Also in place arebetween bespoke engraved screens engraved screens between stations, extra time for stations, extra time for

cleaning, screening forms cleaning, screening forms for track and trace, PPE and for track and trace, PPE and sanitising measures. Rosie sanitising measures.

Rosie emphasises that it is safety emphasises with style! that it is safety with style! of the sevenMembers Members of the sevenstrong team are carrying strong team are carrying out rapid COVID-19 tests out rapidthanks COVID-19 tests at home to the UK at home thanks to the UK Government asymptomatic Government asymptomatic testing initiative. testing initiative.

“We have exciting plans “We have plans for this year exciting in expanding. for this year in expanding.

COVID-19 and lockdown has COVID-19 lockdown has reaffirmedand how much people reaffirmed how much people need care and pampering to need care and pampering to feel good.” feel good.”

‘We ‘We worked worked hard hard to to train train all all the the team’ team’

MEURIG JONES, LOCATION MEURIG JONES, LOCATION MANAGER, PORTMEIRION MANAGER, PORTMEIRION VILLAGE, PORTMEIRION VILLAGE, PORTMEIRION

“IF I could do cartwheels, I “IF I could do cartwheels, would” is one retail chief’sI would” is one retail chief’s response to welcoming the response to welcoming the public back. public back.

“When we saw the first “When we sawcoming the first trickle of people trickle of people coming back last month, it was back last month, it was lovely,” enthused village lovely,” enthused village location manager Meurig location Jones. manager Meurig Jones.

“Portmeirion needs “Portmeirion needs people here. people here.

“It’s lovely but it isn’t what “It’s lovely but it isn’t what it should be without people it should be without people

appreciating it. It’s easier appreciating it. It’s easier this year in that it was such a this year in that it was such a new thing when we opened new thing when we opened in July. in July.

“We had to do a lot of “Wetohad tothe do astaff lot of work train into a work to train the staff into a

new way of working. We’re new way ofimproving working. We’re constantly and constantly improving we’re learning as we goand on.” we’re as we go on.”

Applearning orders and one-way App orders and one-way systems will ensure ongoing systems will ensure ongoing safety. safety.

Outside seating, pods Outside seating, pods and marquee are also and marquee are also available. Misting machines, available.

Misting machines, meanwhile, will keep hotels meanwhile, will keep hotels “squeaky clean – safe for staff “squeaky clean – safe for staff and guests”. and guests”.

Meurig added: “There’s Meurig added: “There’s hand sanitiser outside every hand sanitiser outside shop and we ask peopleevery to shop weindoors, ask people wear and masks buttonot wear masks indoors, but not outside.” outside.”

8 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

Mysterious Bermondsey murder

The 78-year-old man, known as Mustafa, died of a head injury

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk

An elderly Bermondsey man whom police think could have been murdered has been described as a “friendly” but “quiet” person who “kept himself to himself”.

The 78-year-old, whom neighbours on the Pynfold Estate said was called Mustafa and originally came from Turkey, died after “sustaining a head injury” last Wednesday, May 12. Police then launched a murder investigation.

Tributes left outside Mustafa's front door

Flowers have been left outside the front door of Mustafa’s ground floor flat on Jamaica Road. The windows looking onto the road have been boarded up by police. Forensic investigators were seen around the flat in the days after his death.

One woman who looks after her daughter’s dog when she is at work said Mustafa “very much kept to himself, but was very friendly”.

“He used to sit outside in nice weather and stroke the dog when we walked past,” said the woman, who declined to be named.

“I don’t think he spoke too much English but you could tell he was a nice man.”

Two other residents agreed that Mustafa seemed a private person but was a friendly presence in the estate’s central courtyard.

family and friends come together in walk for bermondsey’s leigh

Officers were called to Mustafa’s home last Wednesday at 11.55am to reports of an unresponsive man.

Despite the efforts of police and paramedics, Mustafa was pronounced dead at the scene. A postmortem held the next day established the cause of death as a head injury.

Police say they believe they know the victim’s identity and “enquiries continue to inform next of kin” before formal identification in due course.

No arrests have been made as part of the investigation. Enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing.

Officers are urging anyone with information to call the Met’s incident room on 020 8721 4005, call 101 or tweet @Metcc.

To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Man survives shooting in Peckham’s Dalwood Street

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward after a man survived a shooting in Peckham.

The victim admitted himself to hospital at around 10.30pm on Saturday, May 8.

The 21-year-old, who has now been discharged from hospital, had sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.

Officers believe he was attacked at approximately 10pm in Dalwood Street.

A trident investigation has been launched with police calling for any witnesses, or anyone with information, to come forward.

Call 101 or report anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.

The start of the walk by Tower Bridge

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk Dozens of people walked nearly three miles from Tower Bridge to Westminster Bridge last Sunday to celebrate the life of a Bermondsey woman with terminal cancer, and to raise money for her family.

Leigh Nicholls, 60, was diagnosed with colon cancer about six weeks ago after a period of feeling unusually tired.

Sadly the cancer was already at a late stage, meaning Leigh did not have long to live. She is now in St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, having been treated earlier at Guy’s Hospital.

Friends and family on the walk said Leigh had kept her spirits up in the hospice, despite the pain that she has suffered from the disease.

“She’s a very independent person,” her daughter Gemma said. “She was always able to look after herself and the people around her. The turnout today just shows how much people

cared for her, and still do.”

Leigh worked at Morrisons on Walworth Road. Many of her colleagues joined in the day, walking close to another two miles from Walworth to Tower Bridge before joining the rest of the group.

Others on the walk described Leigh’s steadfast approach to her illness. “She really has the right to complain and to feel down, with all the pain she’s been in,” said Chris, the partner of one of Leigh’s relatives. “But as far as I know she’s never complained - it’s amazing.”

Maureen, Leigh’s mother, joined the walking group for the start of the day

by Tower Bridge.

Describing her daughter, she said: “She is a lovely girl, you can just tell from how many people have come out today. Everyone loves her. But she has had a terrible time with the medical side.”

To donate to the fundraiser for Leigh’s family, visit: www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/kerry-naish-1

Leigh’s daughter Gemma with her two children and Leigh’s mother Maureen

Missing baby suspects are bailed by police

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

Two people arrested on suspicion of child cruelty have been bailed, police confirmed this week.

The 43-year-old man and 33-year-old woman were arrested in connection with the case of a missing baby who was in urgent need of medical treatment, as covered by this newspaper.

A huge search for the child and her parents was underway from April 29 until the early hours of Monday, May 10, when the newborn girl was brought to a central London hospital.

They have both now been bailed to return to the police station on a date in early June.

No further details can be shared for legal reasons.

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Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

do you know this man?

Police appeal after series of sexual assaults in Walworth

By Kevin Quinn

kevin@southwarknews.co.uk Detectives are appealing for help to identify a man they wish to speak to in relation to a series of sexual assaults in Walworth last month.

The attacks are said to have happened within minutes of each other on the afternoon of Sunday, 4 April, in East Street, Walworth.

Three women are reported to have been touched by the same man inappropriately, at around 2.40pm.

Police were initially called after a woman in her twenties, who had been walking along East Street, was approached by an unknown man who suddenly lunged towards her and inappropriately touched her, causing her to fall to the ground.

Members of the public quickly intervened and the police were alerted.

The man was then seen to walk off in the direction of Blackwood Street.

Police said CCTV enquiries later revealed that another two women had been assaulted by the same suspect in a similar manner just minutes before the above incident took place. The two earlier victims are yet to be identified.

Officers have released a CCTV image of a man they wish to identify and speak with.

He is described as a black man, aged in his 30s or 40s and of a slim build.

He was wearing a blue hooded jumper, black Puffa jacket and dark-coloured tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe on the outside of the leg.

Detective Constable Jack Bailey, investigating, said: “We are appealing for anyone who recognises the man in the picture, or who has information that would help us to identify him, to contact us.

"We also want to hear from the two other women who were assaulted or from anyone who was in the East Street area at the time and who may have seen this man acting suspiciously or inappropriately.

“Tackling violence against women and girls is an absolute priority for the Met. We want women to feel and be safe on the streets of London."

Anyone who recognises the man pictured is asked to call 101 or tweet @MetCC, providing the reference CAD3953/04APR. Information can also be given anonymously by contacting the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

More people have been stopped and searched for weapons in Southwark than any other London borough Southwark has the third highest knife crime rate in the capital

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk Police have carried out more stopand-search operations for weapons in Southwark over the past year than in any other London borough, according to Met figures.

Officers stopped people 3,596 times in Southwark on suspicion of carrying dangerous weapons from May 2020-April 2021. Neighbouring Lambeth was in second place, with 3,179. North of the river, Westminster, Newham and Hackney made up the rest of the grim top five.

Stop and searches for weapons in the borough went down by nearly a fifth in

Southwark from the same period a year earlier, when police carried out 4,367 searches.

Southwark was third for stop and search overall over the past year, behind Westminster and Newham. Other reasons for searches include anti-social behaviour and suspected drugs crimes.

Meanwhile the borough had the thirdhighest knife crime rate in London over the same period, with 0.48 per 1,000 people - behind Lambeth and Westminster. In raw numbers Southwark was second, with a total of 152 offences from May last year to April this year, behind Lambeth with 177 and equal with Croydon.

Outer boroughs like Bexley, Richmondupon-Thames, Merton and Barnet tended to have lower knife crime rates over the same period.

The figures come after the Met Police ran a targeted operation over the last week of April and the start of May to seize knives and tackle violent crime rates.

Officers recovered 411 knives, including machetes, so-called “Rambo knives”, lock knives and kitchen knives. Some 994 people were arrested, and 31 people were referred to advice programmes to help them change their ways.

Commander Alex Murray, the Met’s lead officer for violent crime, said: “The results from this operation highlight the Met’s dedication and commitment to tackling violent crime, and I’m convinced that with us seizing so many knives, we have prevented further stabbings. As we move forward into the summer months, reducing violence and saving lives will remain our top policing priority.

“The recent incidents of violence we have seen in London reminds us exactly why operations like this are so important.

While this operation may have ended, be assured that our officers will continue to be out on the streets every single day, carrying out these activities and using every tactic available to them to prevent violent crime.”

More violence at Potters Fields

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk A man was bottled on Saturday night, in yet another evening of violence and disorder in Potters Fields Park near Tower Bridge.

Police were called to reports of a man being attacked with a bottle in the early hours of Sunday morning, May 16. They found him with cuts to his ear and head.

The man was taken to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel but police do not consider his injuries life-threatening or life-changing.

Officers arrested another man, aged 24, in connection with the attack. The investigation continues.

This fresh bout of violence comes after about six weekends of anti-

social behaviour on Potters Fields Park, after lockdown started to lift in April. A man was stabbed by City Hall and several other brawls have broken out in the local area.

Officers believe many of the people at the park have been coming from Essex for gatherings organised on Snapchat, the social network where messages disappear after a few seconds or minutes.

Police have stationed up to 40 officers in and near the park on recent weekends in a bid to stop the violence and have put wide dispersal orders in place in order to break up crowds. There was even a tentative plan to fence off parts of the park at night, although the organisation that runs Potters Fields appears to have shelved this.

Seven police officers attacked while breaking up illegal rave

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk Seven police officers were attacked while trying to break up an illegal rave in Kennington on the weekend.

Officers were called to a nightclub on Lambeth Walk that was open despite ongoing Covid-19 restrictions in the early hours of Sunday morning, May 16.

Police said they forced their way into the noisy event, finding 60 illegal revellers inside. Lambeth Council workers from the licensing team also helped in the raid. Seven police officers sustained minor injuries while trying to break up the party.

Officers arrested two men a 31-year-old on suspicion of assault on an emergency worker. He was charged and bailed to appear before Croydon Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 1 June.

A 34-year-old was also arrested for being drunk and disorderly and given a fixed penalty notice.

Inspector Dave Laurie, Partnership & Prevention lead for the Central South Command Unit, which covers Southwark and Lambeth, said: “Though

restrictions are beginning to ease, this type of large gathering remains prohibited. Not only were those present taking unnecessary risks, they were also causing significant nuisance and disruption to the local area.

"Officers should feel safe when going about their work on the frontline. The response they received is unacceptable.

The behaviour of a minority will not be tolerated and we will continue to work in partnership with bodies like the council to keep our communities safe."

Cllr Jacqui Dyer, Lambeth’s Deputy Leader, said: "This is an extraordinary example of the commitment shown by Lambeth Council, the police and our partners to protect our residents.

“Venues such as these are illegal, unlicensed and can pose a serious risk to the safety of neighbouring residents as well as those who attend.

“They often lack fire safety precautions or basic first aid and lack the safeguards required of licensed, legal venues.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has not gone away. Mass gatherings involving 60 people, inside a small space with no social distancing is totally unacceptable."

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Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 13

dulwich schoolgirl eden is a new olympic hopeful

While studying for her A-levels, the Alleyn’s student has been slected for the diving team

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

An Alleyn’s sixth-former will represent Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics in July.

Diver Eden Cheng earned her first major medal in 2018 at just fifteen when she won gold at the European Championships in the 10 metre

Tom appeals for help with surgery

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk A trans man from Peckham is appealing for help to fundraise for top surgery, saying he cannot wait any longer on the NHS.

his income.

“For trans people the system is working against us,” he added.

“We do not have the right mental health and medical support and that’s why so many are forced to go private.” https://uk.gofundme.com/f/87u86y-tomstop-surgery-fundraiser

line extension, due to open this autumn.

Previously the station was in zone 2.

When the new stations open at Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms, anyone travelling to central London will only pay a Zone 1 fare while those who travel between Kennington and central

London wil see single pay-as-you-go fare reduced to £2.40 regardless of time.

Work on commissioning the new escalators and lifts for the stations will also be completed in the coming weeks.

Andy Lord, Managing Director of London Underground, said: “As more

Changes to Northern Line as extension is on its way

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Kennington is now a zone 1-2 tube station with new fares in operation from this week.

The change is part of the Northern

Bakerloo line cutbacks

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk Transport for London (TfL) has cut Bakerloo line trains at off-peak times from Sunday, May 16, to “help improve reliability.”

The new Nine Elms station

through all these years."

Gavin English, director of sport at Alleyn’s, said: “This is a remarkable achievement in any context, but that Eden has accomplished this while continuing to engage in the broader life of the school and rigorous academic study shows just what can be achieved with truly determined effort.

“Her silver medal and selection to the Tokyo team is of course phenomenal, but Eden's journey and the commitment she has shown along the way are simply awe inspiring.”

Alleyn’s head, Jane Lunnon, while conceding that it may not be as exciting as Tokyo, has nevertheless humbly invited Eden to sign the head’s ‘Book for Outstanding Achievement’.

The tube operator is now only running sixteen services an hour from Elephant & Castle to Queen’s Park at off-peak times, down fifteen percent from nineteen an hour. That means a train will come roughly every three minutes and 45 seconds. Previously that would have been every three minutes and ten seconds.

There is also a slight change southbound. Whereas before there

Work on the new Battersea station

people return to the transport network, changing Kennington to a Zone 1-2 station will benefit local residents, ensuring that they get the best value fare no matter which direction they are travelling in. The Northern line extension will provide vital sustainable

were fifteen trains per hour between Queen’s Park and Elephant & Castle on Sunday mornings and eighteen on Sunday afternoons, now there will be sixteen an hour all day.

But on Saturdays there is no change to the twenty trains per hour service between Queen's Park and Elephant & Castle.

Off-peak is any time other than 6.30am-9am and 4pm-7pm on weekdays. Train timetables at peak times will stay as they are, TfL said.

Tfl added: “TfL always keeps its service levels under review, and it will continue to do so as London moves out of the pandemic and any longer-term effects on ridership become clear.”

transport links to thousands of residents and businesses in Battersea and the surrounding areas, helping reduce carbon and improving air quality, and we thank local residents in Kennington, Battersea and Nine Elms for their patience throughout the work.”

Photos by www.johnzammit.co.uk Absolute Photography Ltd

Nineteen-year-old Tom Gilbert has been living as a man for several years after first coming out to close friends aged twelve while at state school in Sydenham.

Despite telling doctors he needed help at fifteen, four years later he has yet to start hormone treatment and has no idea when surgery will be available.

For the full-time pub worker and musician, surgery is hugely expensive and something he will struggle to afford while earning minimum wage.

“The waiting list is so long,” Tom explained.

“The NHS says it’s after a year and a half that you can be expected to be seen.

“In that time you don’t hear from them at all and the mental health support is also limited.

“I’ve heard of people waiting five years,

and in that time there are no gender-focused counsellors through standard NHS support.

“It’s really taxing on my mental health not knowing when I’ll be seen, and even then surgery would be another long wait - it’s too long for me to handle.

“I felt like if I started fundraising I’d get some control back.”

Surgery costs anywhere from £7,000 but Tom also needs to pay bills and rent while recovering and taking time off work.

Last month he set up a GoFundMe page, telling supporters that breast removal surgery is his priority as he still struggles daily with his appearance.

The page already has been backed by 53 donors, with £1,128 raised by this week.

Although many are friends or contacts from school, other donations have come from generous strangers.

“It’s been lovely to see the people who have donated, people who I haven’t heard from in years and people I don’t know,” he said.

For people who cannot afford to donate, streaming his music would also help boost

Platform Synchro with partner Lois Toulson.

She will now compete at the international games while studying for A levels in Maths, Biology and PE. The pair hope to follow up on their latest win - a silver medal at the 10m Synchro at the FINA Diving World Cup. Eden said: "It's been so exciting to have competed on the world stage once again and winning a silver medal.

“However, the best part of it all was being able to secure an Olympic quota spot for Team GB. “It has been a long and challenging journey, but it seems the sacrifices made along the way have all been worthwhile. Thank you, Alleyn's for the support you have given me

14 NEWS

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flooding hell!

Exclusive

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk A Bermondsey man has told of his “disgust” after being advised by a council officer to “put towels down” and call back the next day, as water came pouring through his ceiling when a pipe in his upstairs neighbour’s flat sprang a leak.

Gary Joseph, who lives on Amina Way on the Rouel Road estate, said he found the response of the emergency 24-hour repairs team “shocking”.

“The poor woman upstairs, I felt so sorry for her,” he added. “She was all on her own and she's got water everywhere.

It was coming through my flat too. [The council officer] went ‘just put towels down’ and I said ‘but it’s an emergency!’”

The incident took place on the night of May 10 at about 10.30pm. Joseph said that after he called the emergency number, he and the woman in the upstairs flat were up all night mopping up.

“It’s disgusting, they just left us to fend for ourselves,” he added. “I just don’t get it, I really don’t.” Joseph, who said he helped build the estate as a young man, told the News that he was forced to cut a small hole in his ceiling to divert water away from his chandelier.

He called his housing officer the next

day, but was unable to get through on more than one occasion. “We got nothing back,” Joseph said. “I could get hold of a Nasa engineer easier than getting hold of my housing officer.”

A council engineer was eventually sent out to fix the leak the next evening.

Joseph said he did “a great job”.

“I know things break, I understand all that,” he added. “Nothing lasts forever. I accept that. But when I phoned up the out of hours emergency number, the guy’s attitude just stank. It really did. It seemed like I was bothering him.” “[My neighbour] was up all night, I was up all night. I’ve got towels everywhere.

I was wringing towels out every five minutes. My arm is killing me from wringing these towels out. I’m 64, I’m a carer as well for my disabled partner.”

Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Council Housing, said: “We regret that this repair wasn’t seen to sooner and have spoken to Mr Joseph to apologise and to make appropriate recompense.

“We are reimbursing Mr Joseph for the cost of replacing his towels and completing repairs, including the living room ceiling. We will paint the affected area when it is dry.”

This latest incident comes after a longrunning series of problems with heating and hot water on the Rouel Road estate, with the new communal district heating system appearing to cause frequent outages since late last year.

Over half of Cherry Gardens development for private sale

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk More than half the flats in a new council-led development on the site of a former school in Bermondsey will be for private sale.

Southwark Council is building 26 council homes on the former Cherry Gardens school site between Southwark Park Road, Macks Road and Alexis Road. The other 30 homes in the project will be put up for private sale at market rates by developer Higgins Homes.

At 46% affordable in terms of flats and 53% in terms of habitable rooms this is above minimum policy requirements in the council’s regeneration strategy.

Of the 26 new council homes, eleven will be 3-bed flats, eight will be 2-bed and seven will be one-bed. Six flats will be wheelchair-accessible. Thirteen local council tenants who need new housing will be able to apply for flats in the new development.

The development will range from twostorey terraces to five and six storeys.

The ground floor flats will have private gardens and the development also

includes two children’s playgrounds.

Higgins Homes held three public consultation sessions in January 2020 and an exhibition of the plans a few weeks later. Work on the new building is due to begin this summer and finish in 2023. Planning permission was given in April this year.

Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Council Housing, said, “I’m thrilled that we are partnering with Higgins Homes to provide muchneeded new homes for people in Bermondsey. This varied development will cater to a range of needs and will allow a significant number of local council tenants on our housing register to move into a brand new home.”

Will Higgins, Land Director at Higgins Homes, said, “Higgins Homes are delighted to be working in partnership with Southwark Council to revitalise the former Cherry Garden School site. We will be delivering a quality development that includes muchneeded affordable homes for the local community and we very much look forward to progressing on site now that the planning permission has been issued.”

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

Borough estate ‘plagued by mice’ Exclusive

By Kit Heren

Jacquie Gilmartin

A woman who lives with her disabled young son in Bermondsey said she was told by council officers that she would have to wait more than a month for them to get rid of a rat in her flat.

kit@southwarknews.co.uk A group of residents of a Southwark estate have complained that their homes are “overrun” with mice.

Jacquie Gilmartin, a council tenant who lives on the top floor of a building on the Dodson and Amigo estate in Borough, said she and other residents tried to book pest control appointments through Southwark Council’s website but could not get anywhere.

Separately George Dargan, another council tenant on the estate, said he was told by a council officer on the phone that there were no appointments available.

Residents had more luck with an email address and were able to get pest control officers to come round. But the mice are a recurring problem, they say: often the rodents reappear soon after pest control have got rid of them.

Ms Gilmartin said she has called out pest control five times in the five months since the mice became an issue.

“Mice breed a lot,” she said. “I’ve done my research. If the council aren’t doing anything to control them they will just keep breeding.”

“It’s not just me, people are coming out of the woodwork from all over the estate. There was a woman running round her room chasing the mice.

People shouldn’t have to live like that.

It’s disgusting.”

Now a group of residents including Ms Gilmartin and Mr Dargan are calling on the council to address the problem in the estate as a whole, rather than flatby-flat.

Ratted out!

“They’re not going to go away unless they deal with every flat in the block.

I live right at the top. There’s no point coming to me unless they deal with the lower floors as well.”

Cllr Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Environment and Roads, said: “We have been attending to communal areas such as the space described at the Dodson and Amigo Estate. We will implement full block treatments as needed to tackle infestations and have visited, investigated and scheduled the necessary work”.

Brandi Amiss-Towler, who lives in St Vincent House near Spa Gardens, said she was sitting in her son’s bedroom in late April “and saw a huge rat walk across the floor”. She thinks the rat was flushed up by building work outside as she had never previously had a problem.

Amiss-Towler called the council and asked them to deal with the rat, but was told there were no appointments until June. She is a leaseholder but said her neighbours on either side are council tenants.

Her son has had a tracheotomy after a tumour was found in his throat, which makes him vulnerable to infection. “I explained that my son is disabled,” she added. “He’s afraid of the rat, he can’t play on the floor. The rat is most likely carrying diseases.” Amiss-Towler eventually took matters into her own hands and got rid of the rat with traps. But this took ten days, she said. “Even the presence of the cat was not a deterrent for the rat,” she added. “ It was eating the cat food.”

Cllr Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Environment and Roads said: “We have been working hard to tackle rat and vermin infestations during the pandemic, addressing emergency works such as the rats described at St Vincent House. The restoration of the full reactive service for problems of this nature has now returned, and is available for all council tenants free of charge.

Peckham kids’ boxing club training in carpark hope for their own gym

By Kit Heren

kit@southwarknews.co.uk A Peckham community boxing club that trains in a car park is fundraising for a permanent indoor gym.

Coaches at Peckham ABC, which launched in February this year, currently hold training for more than 20 children and adults in the car park behind the playground on Peckham Rye. “These are all good kids but some of them need a bit of structure,” coach Iain Perriss said, as training went on behind him. “You might see them in their black tracksuits and hoodies and think ‘oh hello’ but they’re mostly good as gold.

“What we can do is give them a positive outlet for all the energy and sometimes aggression that they might have.”

The club needs money for new premises in the local area. Options include the basement of Peckham Levels and other local community halls, but rent and equipment are expensive “If we get in there, we want to be more than just a boxing club,” he said.

“We want to do yoga, AA meetings.

Anything that can help the community.

We did a mentoring thing over the summer. Some of the boys are doing film and photography, we had them using a drone once.

“We want to do a documentary on the club, from where we was, training in the park, to when we do finally get a venue.

Seeing these young kids coming through and then three years later see what’s happened. It will be a documentary done for these kids, by these kids.”

Perriss sometimes takes the boxers to gyms around London to give them sparring practice with fighters from other clubs, like the Limehouse boxing academy in Langdon Park.

“You need to get out of your comfort zone. When you go to another club and get sparring with people there, it gets your confidence up.”

The club is trying to raise £8,000 and currently has more than £1,300. The coaches and children are also planning a charity walk from Peckham Rye to Tower Bridge on May 29.

To donate, visit: https://www.justgiving. com/crowdfunding/peckhamabc?utm_ term=mZPyJ7RmV

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 15

ADVERTORIAL

Important information about COVID Vaccinations in Southwark Getting your first vaccine

If you are due your second dose

If you are eligible for your vaccine and have not had it yet, please book an appointment as soon as you can to help protect you, your loved ones and community. As well as being able to book an appointment at selected pharmacies or vaccination centres across London through the national booking system, (www.nhs.uk or call 119) there are appointments available at Southwark GP vaccination sites. Please check which site covers your GP practice and contact the site to book. Details are below.

The nationally agreed gap between the first and second dose of the vaccine for COVID-19 is between 11 to 12 weeks. Your second dose will be the same vaccine as your first one. Everyone who has had their first vaccine has a second vaccine reserved for them. Appointments for second dose vaccines are being offered to everyone who is due to have one. Please wait to be contacted with your appointment. If it is 11 weeks since your first dose but you have not yet been contacted to book your second appointment, please call the site where you had your first dose. Details are below.

Additional walk-in vaccination slots and ‘pop-up’ clinics are being added regularly. No appointment is needed at these clinics. Please check www.selondonccg.nhs.uk for updates.

If you had your first dose at a hospital please contact them directly about your second dose.

Guy’s and St Thomas’: CovidVaccineBookings@gstt.nhs.uk and King’s: kch-tr.covidvaccine@nhs.net or call 020 3299 6586

Primary Care Networks South Southwark PCN Site

Primary Care Network North Southwark PCN Site Practices Trafalgar Surgery Falmouth Road Surgery Nexus Health Group Old Kent Road Surgery Penrose Surgery Silverlock Medical Centre Park Medical Centre Albion Street Group Practice Bermondsey Spa Medical Centre Villa Street Medical Centre Blackfriars Medical Centre New Mill Street Surgery 301 East Street Surgery

Vaccination Site The Artesian Health Centre SE1 3GF Email: qhs.covidvaccination @nhs.net Tel: 07342 676194

Practices Vaccination Site The Forest Hill Road Tessa Jowell Health Centre Group Practice SE22 8EY The Acorn & Gaumont Email: souccg.epcs.ihl.southwark @nhs.net House Surgery Tel: 020 8194 7570 Camberwell Green Surgery Parkside Medical Centre DMC Healthcare Chadwick Road Queens Road Practice St Giles Surgeries Elm Lodge Surgery 306 Medical Centre Sternhall Lane Surgery Tessa Jowell GP Surgery Lister Primary Care Centre – Dr Aru & Partners Practice The Gardens Surgery The Dulwich Medical Centre The Lordship Lane Surgery The Nunhead Surgery The Lister Practice

16 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

southwark angels Helping in crisis

By Kit Heren

First ever clinic opens for boys and young men with the little know Klinefelter syndrome - where males have not just one x chromosome but two

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS trust has launched the first clinic for boys and young men with a rare genetic disease.

Klinefelter syndrome is still relatively little understood. Men usually have one X chromosome but boys with the condition are born with two.

Tet Yap

This can result in physical, mental and behavioural challenges including muscle development, hair growth and problems with socialising and at school.

Roughly one in every 600 men has the condition but it is still relatively unknown and a diagnosis can take years. People with the condition are given extra testosterone but also need other facilities, like fertility experts and psychological help.

The new centre at Guy’s, which opened this month, brings all these together in one clinic. The hospital opened a Klinefelter syndrome centre for adults in 2019.

Tet Yep, who leads the Klinefelter syndrome clinic at Guy’s and St Thomas said: “We are absolutely delighted to open our Klinefelter syndrome clinic for young people.

“After we launched our adult clinic it became very clear that we needed a service that catered specifically to the needs of young people. Some patients are more aware of their symptoms

during their adolescent years and this can cause distress during what is already a very vulnerable time.

“It can also take young people a long time to get diagnosed and many have difficulties with their education and are often labelled slow and lazy when actually they have an untreated condition. Having good support, especially psychological support, can make a difference between them continuing their education and going to university or not going anywhere at all.”

Alison, a mother from South London, has been attending the clinic with her teenage son, who was diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome when he was four years old.

Alison said: “I was very impressed by the clinic. It’s great to finally get support from healthcare professionals from different disciplines who fully understand Klinefelter syndrome and how it affects my son. Everyone was very supportive and wanted to help as

much as they could.

“Thanks to the clinic my son has been able to get psychological support for the first time ever.

Due to the condition he is very shy, introverted and nervous, especially in social situations, and the psychological support has really helped him to open up and find ways to manage these issues.

“His confidence has improved and he has started attending social events without us. He has become much more engaged in his condition and more amenable to treatments.

We feel very confident he is in a good place and are very hopeful about his future.”

Raj Baksi, a volunteer for the charity Klinefelter’s Syndrome Association, was diagnosed with the condition aged 36. He volunteers at the new clinic to support patients.

Raj said: “The clinic is a very supportive space for young people to understand their condition and to identify what support and care

they need. I have a friendly chat with patients about my experiences of living with it and I often find that it helps them to open up. Their parents also really value speaking to someone who has lived with the condition for a long time.

“I was diagnosed following fertility investigations but prior to that I didn’t have many obvious symptoms.

The main thing I struggled with was my weight, but an earlier diagnosis and access to a clinic like this would have helped me to better understand the condition and how it would affect my life.

“Up to 75 per cent of people with the condition aren’t diagnosed and many are unaware that they have it until they start trying for a family and experience fertility problems.

“People with Klinefelter syndrome can lead very normal lives but it’s really important that we raise awareness of the condition so that they are able to get the support and treatment they need."

Nominate a school hero

Southwark schoolchildren can nominate staff for a new charity prize celebrating their work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Students at the ‘cutting edge’ Southwark students have been getting “cutting edge” work experience with a digital marketing company.

Seven King’s College London students have done a research internship with local company AccuraCast, getting “invaluable real world experience” in the marketing industry.

Naomi Hewston, who advises students on internships at King’s, said: “By taking part in the Business Opportunity Accelerator project, AccuraCast has helped to boost the employability of seven King’s College

London undergraduates. The project allows students to act as consultants to start-ups and SMEs, identifying market trends and areas for growth, analysing market strategies or business competitors.

“At a time when high-quality work experience is hard to come by, this two-week virtual internship is an invaluable opportunity for students.

Equally, it’s a great chance for AccuraCast to benefit from the fresh perspectives of new and upcoming talent. We hope that this student team can bring value to the businesses and make a real change to its future.”

Students aged 11-19 can nominate their teachers or anyone else who works at their school for the prize, run

by London and Essex charity the Jack Petchey foundation.

A spokesperson for the foundation said: “A school staff member can be nominated for any number of reasons; perhaps they are a teacher who has put extra effort into making creative lessons remotely, a school cleaner who has shown exceptional commitment to keeping the school running, a librarian who has helped engage students in reading from home, or simply a member of staff who has gone above and beyond to support their students through this difficult year.”

Winners will get a certificate, a special face mask and a letter from Sir Jack Petchey, a businessman and the charity’s founder.

To nominate someone at your school, visit: jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk/ opportunities/lockdown-school-heroes

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Take a walk for St Christopher's

Anne Nash and her husband Mark Nash at the hospice's fundraising walk in 2017

A sponsored fun walk will raise funds for Sydenham’s St Christopher’s Hospice this September.

It will be one of the first in-person events to take places since the pandemic saw nearly all of the charity’s fundraising activities cancelled and moved online due to COVID-19.

“This past year has been incredibly hard”, says Anne Nash, a consultant nurse who has overseen care for patients from across south London at the hospice for more than 30 years.

She is asking supporters to take part in the walk in Bromley’s Keston Common on September 19,.

“This year has been so tough for the people we care for who haven’t been able to see family, tough for the staff on our wards and visiting homes to look after patients with COVID-19, and tough

Chief nurse at Guy's and St Thomas' Avey Bhatia

Local nurses and midwives scoop the Nightingale award Nurses and midwives at Guy’s and St Thomas’ have been given a “unique” award to celebrate their work.

Some 41 nurses and two midwives were given the Nightingale award in a virtual ceremony with Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, Rabbi Baroness Julia Neuberger DBE, and Gillian Prager, President of The Nightingale Fellowship. The award winners will now be known

NEWS 17

as Nightingale Nurse’ or ‘Nightingale Midwife’.

The Nightingale award is unique to Guy’s and St Thomas’. It was named after Florence Nightingale, who started her nursing school at St Thomas’ in 1860. More than 250 people have been given the award since it launched in 2017.

Avey Bhatia, Chief Nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “It was wonderful to see so many of our nurses and midwives

recognised for their outstanding work.

They should all feel immensely proud of their achievements during such a challenging year.

“This prestigious award allows us to celebrate and develop our fantastic staff, and build on Florence Nightingale’s legacy of delivering high quality, compassionate care.”

The nurses and midwives who won the awards will be given an engraved badge and certificate later in the year.

for isolated members of our community who were cut off from the world as we went into each lockdown. We have also been caring for more people than ever before.

“However, I’m so proud because the response to these tough times at the hospice has been nothing short of heroic.

“From the nurses and doctors who go above and beyond to ensure we can continue caring for our patients and their families, to our supporters and volunteers who have found creative ways to reach out to those most in need.

“We came together as a community when it mattered most and the response, including messages of support and donations of supplies from the public, was truly overwhelming.

"After this last year, I think everyone has a stronger appreciation of the

importance of first-rate care and support at the end of life, so if you can, please take this opportunity to become a hospice hero too. Help us raise the funds that mean we can be ready to help your family, friends and neighbours whenever they need it.”

St Christopher’s Fun Walk offers four different walking routes (3, 5, 8 or 11 miles) starting and finishing at Keston Common, Bromley on Sunday September 19, 2021.

Registration before June 30 is £10 for adults, £4.99 for young adults, and free for under 12s.

Safety measures will be in place to ensure that the event is safe for everyone, including staggered arrival times and contactless registration.

Visit www.stchristophers.org.uk/ fun21 for further information and to register.

Dementia Action Week Southwark charities are holding a dementia awareness week to get more people talking about the condition.

The Southwark Dementia Action Alliance, a group of about 40 organisations in the borough, is organising a series of events from May 17-23 “to increase the volume on the conversation and ensure that those affected are receiving the best support.”

Events include walking sports - sports played at walking pace rather than running - in Rotherhithe, organised by the

Millwall Community Trust on Friday (May 20) and several information sessions on dementia, held over Zoom.

Other events included a “positive ageing” event held by Blackfriars Settlement, a support service for elderly people, and Denim for Dementia on Friday (May 21), when people are asked to wear jeans and donate money to charities that support people with the condition.

Find more events here: https:// www.communitysouthwark.org/ news/dementia-action-week-isrunning-17-23rd-may

every little helps!

Tesco stores in Southwark will be holding food donation events for families in need this summer.

Large shops will be collecting longlife food for charities FareShare and the Trussell Trust from July 15-17.

Smaller stores will hold similar events from July 12-August 28. Tesco will make a cash donation of 20 per cent of the value of the food donated.

Lindsay Boswell, Chief Executive at FareShare, said: “At FareShare, the demand for food from the communities we serve remains very high and, with the combination of the pandemic and many families struggling to afford to eat during

the school holidays when free school meals are not available, we anticipate this will continue to be the case for many months.

“We are incredibly grateful to Tesco for running this additional summer food collection, which will ensure that we can continue supporting the thousands of charities feeding the most vulnerable children and families across the UK.” Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust, added: “No one should face the indignity of needing emergency food. Yet in the last year, food banks in our network provided record numbers of emergency food parcels to people struggling to afford the essentials. This is

not right but we know we can build a better future.

“Thanks to the incredible ongoing generosity of Tesco, we are thrilled that customers will be able to support food banks during the Summer Food Collection.

“Every donation makes such a difference and helps food banks in our network provide the best possible emergency support while we work together towards building a hunger free future.”

This extra food drive is on top of the usual donation events Tesco organises before Christmas.

18 OPINION

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Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

Comment Opening address from the new leader of Southwark Lib Dems Hamish McCallum

READERS’ VIEWS

Southwark Liberal Democrat opposition leader

t

he positive sounds of mid-spring and of course the joys of lockdownrelease are upon us.

As I walk around our borough, I’m so pleased to see Southwark’s high streets and communities coming back to life. For many of us it is going to take some time to adjust and I encourage everyone to be careful, safe and patient after so much time apart - applying good Southwark common sense in learning to hug cautiously and have fun socialising together again.

I’m immensely honoured and proud to be handed the baton by my colleagues and elected as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Council Group in Southwark. My thanks to Cllr Nick Johnson after all he has done for us as leader, navigating the pandemic this past year – and of course prior to him the decade of leadership under my ward colleague and mentor, Cllr Anood Al-Samerai.

It is never an easy choice to standdown as leader and I know it was an especially difficult choice for Nick. I wish him well with helping his new company emerge from the pandemic as CEO, like businesses across Southwark are doing. You will see Nick around still continuing to serve our residents in Surrey Docks ward.

I’m also proud that in this month’s elections, we have seen successes for the Liberal Democrats across

A

pril was generally cold with exceptionally low night-time temperatures; these conditions continued into early May, then the wind direction changed from north-easterly to south-westerly bringing rain and gale force winds. Difficult conditions for plants emerging into growth from winter dormancy.

Thankfully, most plants survived without too much damage; but the cherry blossom disappeared quicker than it usually would.

May is full of colour and on cue the Rhododendrons and Azaleas join the displays of spring flowering shrubs – the Wisteria, Ceonothus, Lilac, Elder and first flush of Roses. Rhododendrons require acid (ericaceous) soil to thrive; dwarf varieties can be grown in pots where soil conditions can be controlled; rain water must be used for watering.

They prefer dappled shade and sunlight

the country. The party won 17 per cent of the popular vote – meaning we now have nearly 2,600 Councillors across the UK - one third as many as the Conservatives and almost 50 per cent as many as Labour. We also run or have the deputy leadership of 45 councils.

In London, I’m extremely proud that Southwark has helped to reelect the dedicated Caroline Pidgeon (a former councillor in Newington and resident in Dulwich) to the London Assembly and elected our 2nd assembly member, Hina Bokhari (also a councillor in Merton). Both Caroline and Hina will work tirelessly to hold the Mayor of London to account. Hina will also be a strong liberal voice for diversity for all Londoners and in particular Muslims and women at the London Assembly and I look forward to working with her and Caroline in this term. We will be getting them out around Southwark as soon as possible. I congratulate Sadiq Khan on winning a second term as Mayor of London and all other parties on their wins and look forward to holding the Mayor to account on delivering his manifesto.

Which leads to my closing message to Southwark Labour - as the opposition group on Southwark Council, it is our job to scrutinise and hold you accountable for your broken promises. And your record speaks for itself:

On Climate Change, we have seen two years of dither and delay, and are still waiting for the strategy and action plan to tackle this serious threat. Southwark Council still burns £15 Million of fossil fuels annually and cuts down thousands of trees each year.

On housing, under Labour, Southwark has demolished and sold over 3,000 council homes while the housing waiting list grows to record levels of 15,000 people.

Residents are literally being moved out of Southwark, with children sent miles away from their schools.

Meanwhile, one in 24 homes are vacant in Southwark. It’s No1. for the most long term empty homes in London (over 2,300) and over 3,500 second homes as of last year. Over the last year, the council received 6,757 applications for housing but only allocated 687 homes.

This record speaks for itself: Labour is letting residents down.

Southwark Labour has presided over eleven years of failure and undelivered promises. It is time for delivery at Southwark Council and in May 2022, residents will be able to vote to change - I look forward to offering a bold, ambitious and liberal vision for Southwark that puts residents at the heart of everything we do.

For more information please email info@southwark-libdems.org.uk

May’s highs and lows for the garden

and do not thrive in complete shade.

Rhododendron ponticum is considered invasive in the wild; if conditions are right it will take over as a dominant species destroying local habitats.

The Horse Chestnut managed to hold on to its large candle blossoms despite unsettled weather. Many of these trees are now affected by bleeding canker a bacterial infection; it causes lesions and fluid to seep out of areas of bark. This weakens the tree, although some survive for years as the disease goes into remission. According to the Woodland Trust half of all Horse Chestnut have bleeding canker; and this could mean a significant loss of trees over the next few years.

Rosemary, one of my favourite herbs, has been flowering since February. This is a plant with many charms – and many uses. Rosemary is evergreen, providing colour in the garden in the depths of winter and it flowers several times a

year. There are lots of different varieties with distinctive qualities – such as colour of flowers, intensity/type of aroma and habit. Rosemary is a culinary herb, as well as having a long history of use in herbal medicine and Aromatherapy. Herbalists are likely to prescribe Rosemary for a range of conditions including liver detoxification, to ease headaches and depression and to improve circulation.

(Do not self-diagnose or self-medicate; always seek the advice of a health care professional if feeling unwell).

The bees are attracted to Rosemary’s abundance of small flowers. It is a low maintenance shrub, but can be pruned after flowering if need be; or generally to keep in shape. Left alone it grows to a height of about four feet with a similar spread. Never be without a Rosemary plant in the garden – ‘Miss Jessop’s Upright’, Tuscan blue and one for the window box or hanging basket – Rosemary officinalis ‘Prostratus’.

‘Jimi’ Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole

Calls for London Bridge hero Jimi to get George Cross So very, very brave, a real credit to his family . May he rest in peace.

Carol Ann Penfold, via Facebook

Truly inspirational and just heartbreaking, such a wonderful brave young man.

Janie Navarro, via Facebook

Dulwich demonstration as Southwark Council reviews low traffic neighbourhood It seems to me absurd that Southwark Council should have raked in such huge sums from the Dulwich Village scheme. I must admit that I have a personal interest having fallen foul of the traffic cameras nine times in the first few days of January. That may seem like a lot but it was dark and not being a local I was unaware of this change to traffic flow through the area until the letters started dropping through the door a week later. I appealed on the grounds above, accepting responsibility but arguing that a penalty of 9 x £65 was too severe for what was simple human error on my part.

Some clemency was shown and I had to pay only seven out of nine PCNs, a totally random reduction. Anyway to cut a long story short it seems 22,000 other PCNs having been issued indicates to me that Southwark did not do enough to bring these changes in traffic flow to the attention of the motoring public. It appears a review is to take place as to whether the change has been beneficial or not and I resent having had to pay £450 to have been a part of this experiment. Perhaps if Southwark decide to reverse the process they might consider refunding a few of the excessive number of PCNs they have issued and excessively financially benefited from.

Mike Bower, via SN website

Gallipoli hero honoured with commemorative paving stone Our great uncle, what an extraordinarily brave man you were! I will make sure that all the children of our family learn about you and your heroics. You will live on long in our memories and our hearts. We are so proud of you!

The Stubbs family, via SN website

Bermondsey mother forced to wait six days for repairs after builders drill through her ceiling People do not want this type of regeneration. Taking their airspace and totally ruining the appearance of their environment which they were happy with.

Affordable is not affordable. It means 80% of market rent thereby creating a “2 tier” development which is a recipe for disharmony. We will not be fooled.

Leah Jones, via SN website

Memorial to be held for ‘exceptional’ Southwark tennis coaching legend Milton was an integral part of the inner city tennis which functioned to promote tennis in Lambeth. He got a lot of people from the less privileged backgrounds into the game of tennis.

Many minorities who play tennis south of the river would at some point have had dealings with Milton. He played a part in getting people playing and also into coaching. His passing has come as a real shock to most of his students and fellow coaches too. May his soul rest in peace.

Austine Okojie, via SN website

Tony Hudgell: Boy with prosthetic legs raises another £76,000 for Evelina Children’s Hospital What a boy. Well done son.

Matthew Dance, via Facebook

Amazing young man.

Melanie Preston, via Facebook

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters

OPINION 19

Stop passing the buck and reopen Riverside Day Centre for the most vulnerable in our community

T

he closure of Riverside day centre has come as a huge shock to families who rely on the service.

The reasoning - that it is unable to operate due to Coronavirus - seems completely bizarre.

Not only are all social distancing measures soon set to be scrapped, presumably all the vulnerable adults who attend the centre have already been vaccinated.

Although COVID is not going away any time soon, the idea that it could permanently see off any form of long term group gatherings doesn’t stand scrutiny.

After being closed throughout the entire pandemic the centre is now needed all the more. And how the decision came about is an even more confusing story. Southwark Council says it had no idea the Camden Society would not reopen Riverside in the autumn. The society says it did notify the council and it will be discussing ideas for ‘care in the community’ and other activities delivered locally in future.

In a classic case of buck passing the council says it doesn’t commission the service and it was not a council decision to close the centre - implying its hands are tied even though it owns the building and can presumably find someone else to take over. Those with places at Riverside will have to try to find another provider or use a council-commissioned service. How easy will that be when we are talking about around 90 people? Where exactly could accommodate them all?

Southwark Council needs to stop dithering and take a stand. It should commit to keep Riverside open and, if the Camden Society won’t backtrack, it must urgently find another organisation to take over.

Morally the cladding issue needs sorting now

H

elping people achieve the dream of home ownership is at the heart of Conservatism, and yet the party has seen it fitting to abandon the millions now trapped in a cladding nightmare.

The scandal has spread across the country and the extent of fire safety problems go far beyond what materials are used in external walls. There are issues with containment, fire breaks, and other types of insulation all coming to light. The problems you think will never affect you could actually be in your block, and your home. You just don’t know it yet. But if they are uncovered you too could find yourself in a home that is effectively worthless.

In many ways the families we profile in this week’s paper are the lucky ones. In all cases they have not yet had to pay for fire safety work and are yet to see a massive bill land on their doorstep.

But the financial security they thought was buying a home was a temporary illusion.

As confusing and complex as the legal issues are, there is one very simple truth: there is no moral justification for forcing homeowners to shoulder the burden of these costs.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Clues Across

1 Beaten, but hurried round the snare (8) 4 The ones, for example, given to punters (4) 8 Rules to resign from? (6) 10 Emphatic type (6) 11 Find him in the ice without one sound (5) 12 That is after the general spirit (5) 14 Capital fever follows the pair (6) 17 Flirtation for every one in the dance (9) 18 Everything I’ve turned on and consumed will make it easier to ear (9) 22 Sounds like intelligence or one who exercises judgment (6) 23 But the occasion for the first woman was the Old Testament (5) 24 Never the writer to make a world tour (5) 26 Act employed getting soaked (6) 27 Emotional shock due to rum at a rumpus (6) 28 The rush that can make men’s fortunes (4) 29 Peerless ones at rest (8)

Clues Down

1 Look right in it’s full of life (4) 2 Elevated when extolled without a head (6) 3 Write a hundred and fortynine with it (6) 5 The flood that traditionally comes after me in France (6) 6 In this way the range of knowledge of the editor dwindled (8) 7 Hard back (5) 9 Protected what she nearly altered (9) 10 Restless because I’m sick (9) 13 Hammers home the finger guards (5) 15 Shrewd angle (5) 16 Guardian to look at the animal? (8) 18 Book for the garden? (6) 19 Look at the minister coming back as a suitor (5) 20 Opposed to a piece of poetry (6) 21 Provide with the right to last (6) 25 The crowd at the service (4)

QUICK PUZZLE Clues Across

1 Offshoots (8) 4 Rowing team (4) 8 Dirty (6) 10 Musical instruments (6) 11 Award (5) 12 An animal (5) 14 Express regret (6) 17 Schemers (9) 18 Small fishes (9) 22 Pamper (6) 23 Cancer (5)

24 Transactions (5) 26 Was afraid (6) 27 Proper (6) 28 Mislaid (4) 29 Was of importance (8)

Clues Down

1 Sculpture (4) 2 In a foreign country (6) 3 Peals (6) 5 Depends (6) 6 Laundry basins (8)

Solutions to last week’s crossword Cryptic ACROSS: 1 Paperhanger 9 Rum 10 Centipede 11 Impel 13 Sponges 14 Ghosts 16 Veneer 18 Harries 19 Ounce 20 Machinate 21 Oat 22 Asseverates DOWN: 2 Aim 3 Excel 4 Honest 5 Noisome 6 Evergreen 7 Crying shame 8 Seaserpents 12 Protracts 15 Thin ice 17 Estate 19 Opera 21 Ore

Quick Puzzle

ACROSS: 1 Occupations 9 Peg 10 Introduce 11 Class 13 Scarabs 14 Argosy 16 Beggar 18 Imagine 19 Reach 20 Trampling 21 Map 22 Celebrating DOWN: 2 Cog 3 Units 4 Attest 5 Iron age 6 Neuralgia 7 Specialists 8 Censorships 12 Aggravate 15 Stipple 17 Senior 19 Right 21 Men

7 Confusion (5) 9 Pleased (9) 10 Festivities (9) 13 Intends (5) 15 Arrange, as feathers (5) 16 Imaginative (8) 18 Inhabitants of a continent (6) 19 Yields (5) 20 Bug (6) 21 A season (6) 25 Stained (4)

21/OD

I’m happy to be vaccinated and that it’s safe. I’d encourage anyone eligible to get theirs, protect themselves and others.

Bamidele, Southwark care manager @lb_southwark

facebook.com/southwarkcouncil

@southwarkcouncil

southwark.gov.uk/covidvaccine

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/history

HISTORY 21

History Photo by Wellcome Collection

Courtesy of her nephew Derek Yelland

Winne as a child

We are used to seeing the nuptials of famous celebrities being splashed across the media, whether it be Posh and Becks, Harry and Meghan or Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, yet this is nothing new in Walworth, writes Southwark historian Neil Crossfield.

On a wet Wednesday afternoon on 6 August 1930, a crowd estimated to be thousands strong crowded into Liverpool Grove, eagerly wanting to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds leaving St. Peter’s church. Such was the excitement, police officers had to force a way through the horde of people so that the wedding cars could move along the road.

This however was no usual couple, as both bride and groom were well known figures on the British Variety scene and were obviously adored by the many who had turned out and braved the rain. The 24-year-old bride, a Miss Winnifred ‘Winnie’ Yelland, had lived in the Walworth area since childhood.

The groom was a well-known Scottish comedian, James Campbell McCleod, also known as ‘Jimmy Mac’. Whilst a wedding between two entertainers was nothing new, what made this union remarkable was that Winnie Yelland stood at only 3ft 7in high, whilst her husband was reported as being 6ft tall!

The marriage registers at St. Peters reveal that at the time of the wedding, both bride and groom were residing at 357 Walworth Road, just around the corner from the church. Winnie was born in Exeter, Devon, in August 1906 but by 1911, the family had moved to London and lived in Meadow Row, just off the New Kent Road. This was just across the road from the old

Elephant and Castle Theatre (later the Coronet cinema) and perhaps it was after watching shows there that she developed her passion for performing?

Studies of census records around this time reveals that several music hall artists and musicians lived in this part of Walworth, perhaps due to its proximity to the West End and the multitude of theatres and music halls in south London. Winnie had begun her stage career at the age of fifteen and soon became an accomplished singer and dancer, performing all over the UK. Newspaper reports of the time note that the romantic bond between the couple had been cemented when Jimmy Mac had saved Winnie from drowning after she fell into a tank of water while they were performing together at Blackpool. After this, Winnie learnt to swim herself and in turn, rescued a fellow performer from drowning whilst they were on tour in Guernsey. The stage name of this girl was ‘Little Lady Godiva’, who stood at 2ft 10inches tall and was once reported as the ‘smallest English Lady in the world’. They must have remained friends, as she was the chief bridesmaid at the wedding.

Using language which would rightly not be accepted today, newspapers reported this as a ‘midgets’ marriage’ and that the wedding was attended by many fellow little persons. Performers from both ‘Fred Ropers Tiny Town Follies’ and ‘Charles Dudley’s Midget Gladiators’ companies formed a guard of honour as the couple left the church.

Though it seems strange in these more progressive times, ‘midget shows’ were still hugely popular in theatres and music halls in Britain, Europe,

Courtesy of her nephew Derek Yelland

Walworth’s Celebrity Wedding

South Africa and the United States in the interwar period. These types of acts had their roots in the Victorian freak show, sadly demonstrating that attitudes to small people were still largely unenlightened in the early 20th century.

Many of the performers would no doubt have been hugely talented, yet attitudes towards their disability during this period may have meant that opportunities of finding employment in regular theatrical troupes might have been restricted and so they found themselves limited to performing in one of these troupes. Historians have

suggested that these perpetuated the myth that happy communities of short people were a naturally occurring phenomena rather than being the invention of exploitative impresarios and managers.

In 1925 ‘Ropers Midget’s’ spent the season in residence at the Dreamland Amusement Park in Margate, a muchloved destination for many a Londoner.

These troupes included singers like Winnie but also acrobats, cyclists, comedians, and orchestras. Roper went on to take over the management of a famous American act, ‘Morris Gests Midgets’ who had occupied ‘Little

Miracle Town’ at the 1939 Worlds Fair at Flushing Meadows New York.

The bride had worn a dress of ivory satin designed by the wardrobe mistress of the theatrical company and around her neck she wore ‘a massive necklace of mummies heads, with a scarab taken from the sarcophagus of an Egyptian King, thousands of years old’. Whether or not this piece of jewelry had received a pharaoh’s curse is not known but the 1939 Register indicates that Winnie was now divorced from Jimmy Mac, so perhaps it was not so lucky for her.

After the marriage ceremony in the packed church, the wedding party retired to the nearby South London Palace Theatre in London Road where the wedding cake was reported as being as tall as Winnie, with photographs showing her standing on a table to cut it.

It would seem that much of the spectacle around the wedding was purposely designed to generate publicity for Fred Roper, a showman of the highest order.

Theatrical reviews show that Winnie continued to perform well into the 1950s now performing with ‘Burton Lester’s Midgets’. She was good friends and worked with Jimmie Clitheroe who was another well-known entertainer of short stature. Eventually moving back to south London, she lived in Lewisham for many years. Family members fondly remember her telling funny stories and having an infectious laugh. She passed away in November 1983.

Jimmy Mac also remained in show business both as a comedian and manager until at least the 1970s. He died in 1984 in north London. Winnie may have only been short in stature but the affection in which she was held by her fans was huge.

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk

FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS / RECRUITMENT 23

Birthday

Redriff Primary School Salter Road, London SE16 5LQ www.redriff.southwark.sch.uk 020 7237 4272 Are you an enthusiastic and energetic individual who has a passion for working with children?

Midday Supervisor Wanted!

11.25 hours per week, Term Time only

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated Midday Supervisor with the skills, experience and passion to work as part of a dynamic team who provide the best lunchtime offer for children at Redriff. This includes ensuring the success and smooth running of family service lunches and enabling children to feel happy, engaged and safe in their play.

Redriff is an aspirational, outstanding Academy, sponsored by the prestigious Corporation of London. We are committed to giving the children a safe, inspiring environment in which they can flourish. The success of lunchtimes play a crucial role in this commitment.

Starting salary will be on City of London Academies Trust JE2, scale points 1-5. Full time equivalent salary £21814-£23427. Actual salary will be between £6103 - £6555 on an 11.25 hour working week basis, term time only.

Redriff Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

If you are interested in an informal discussion about the post, please email Maddy Street via vacancies@redriff.southwark.sch.uk For more information about the school and to download an application pack, please see our website www.redriff.southwark.sch.co.uk

Closing date for applications: 28th May 2021 Interviews will take place during week of 7th June 2021 Start date: Upon successful appointment, once statutory checks are complete and cleared

Redriff Primary School Salter Road, London SE16 5LQ www.redriff.southwark.sch.uk 020 7237 4272

Send in your FREE

Father’s Day messages To be included in the June 17th edition of the Southwark News.

One message per email (no photos).

Deadline 14th June 12pm

Breakfast Club Play Worker Would you like to join an exciting and enthusiastic primary school and Breakfast Club, providing support and leading activities before school?

Would you like to work with a highly skilled team that provides outstanding education to its children and invests in their staff?

This role will provide support and assistance in the day to day operation of the Breakfast Club, delivering programmes of activities and contributing to the smooth running of our wrap-around care.

We are looking for someone with experience in:

• Working with 3 to 11 year olds • Delivering equal opportunities in a play setting • Understanding the varied needs of children and families

• Providing and facilitating safe, stimulating play • Working in a childcare or play-based situation

Redriff Primary School (City of London Academy) is an outstanding school and as such we are looking to ensure our Breakfast Club provision is interesting, valuable and appropriate to the children using the facility. This role will provide a variety of play, sports and learning opportunities and a key responsibility will be to maximise the learning value of the activities through planning and evaluation. The role also requires some food preparation and cleaning of equipment.

You will work closely in a collaborative team led by the Breakfast Club Manager and receive a full induction. We are an enthusiastic and friendly team and part of an outstanding school. This post is suitable for those pursuing a career in working with children and families, aspiring teachers or future school direct candidates.

Starting salary will be on City of London Academies Trust JE2, scale points 1-5. Full time equivalent salary £21814-£23427. Actual salary will be between £4069-£4370 on a 7.5 hour working week basis, term time only.

The successful candidate will have a minimum of a C grade in GCSE Maths and English and good IT skills. Training in Food Hygiene is desirable, although not essential.

Closing date for applications: 28th May 2021

Send to dan@southwarknews.co.uk

Interviews will take place during week commencing 7th June 2021

24 CLASSIFIED / PUBLIC NOTICES

www.southwarknews.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

Classified

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (LINDEN GROVE)

Wanted Records

TEMPORARY WAITING AND LOADING RESTRICTIONS

ROCK, POP, PUNK, INDIE, REGGAE, SOUL...

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice, that to facilitate Thames Water works, it intends, to make an order, the effect of which would be to prohibit vehicular traffic from waiting and loading/unloading at any time in part of the above named road.

2.

Whilst the restriction is in place, and whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to wait, including waiting for the purpose of loading/unloading “at any time” in:

LPs AND SINGLES - WHOLE COLLECTIONS WELCOME

(a) Linden Grove, (east side) corner or Chabot Drive to No’s 19a (b) Linden Grove, (west side) between No’s 50 and No’s 36

Call: 07956 832314 / 020 8677 6907 Or Email: vinylwanted@aol.com ALSO INTERESTED IN NON CHART CD COLLECTIONS

ROOMS AVAILABLE We provide single room accommodation and an English breakfast with tea or coffee every morning of the week.

please visit our website

www.batterseaboot.com for pitch bookings & details of our new opening times

CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH

Harris Academy, SW11 5AP

ANY CONDITION ANY AREA PROMPT & POLITE SERVICE TELEPHONE

020 8659 8988 ANY DAY, ANY TIME, 7 DAYS MOBILE

07850 323 508 CLASSIC & UNSUAL CARS ALSO WANTED

CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH

every Sunday

CARS + VANS

Painter & Decorator Coverage: Anywhere in / around London.

Contact

0779 8833 758 for a quotation.

Call Lorraine on 020 7232 1639 to advertise in Classified

5.

The restriction will come into force on (2a) 28th – 29th June

6.

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

Dated this 20th May 2021

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

47 Ridley Road, Dalston E8 2NP

WANTED

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.

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (BERMONDSEY STREET, RECORD STREET, SURREY ROW, POCOCK STREET, SALTER ROAD

If you are 35 years or older and receiving Universal Credit we can provide you with temporary or longer term acommodation.

BATTERSEA BOOT IS BACK!

4.

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

Hot showers and other communal facilities are available.

020 7275 7852

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

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) 5709/MV7040700

Ridley Villas and Cape House have been providing services to the Hackney Community and surrounding areas over the last 20 years.

Please contact us and let us help you

3.

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable works Thame Water, UKPN, 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) Bermondsey Street, between Newhams Row and No’s 171 (b) Record Street, adjacent to No’s 140 (c) Surrey Row, at its junction with Blackfriars Road (d) Pocock Street, east side of carriageway at it’s junction with Blackfriars road (e) Salter Road, (Surrey Water) at it’s junction with Smith Close for a distance of 93m in a southerly direction

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) (residents only) Newhams Row, Bell Yard Mews.

Abbey Street, Jamaica Road, Tanner Street, Druid Street, Crucifix Lane. (2b) Penarth Street, Hatcham Road. (2c) as indicated by the signs displayed (2d) Blackfriars Road, Union Street, Great Suffolk Street (2e) Rotherhithe Street, Redriff Road, Surrey Quays Road, Lower Road.

Brunel Road, Lower Road, Redriff Road, Salter Road.

4.

The existing one way working in Surrey Row, will be made two way for access and egress purposes for (2c)

5.

The existing one way working in Bermondsey Street, between Long Lane and Newhams Row, will be made two way for access and egress purposes.

6.

The effect of the order would also ban the left turn by vehicles from Blackfriars Road into Pocock Street for (2d)

7.

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.

8.

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.

9.

The works will be in operation (2a) 7th – 11th June (2b) 7th – 10th June (2c) 7th – 11th June (2d) 12th – 18th June (2e) 7th – 18th June

10.

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

Dated this 20th May 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) 5565/000809996100045-003 (2b) 5710/000809628970045-001 (2c)5752/ 78313381 (2d) 5753/21086365 (2e) 5767/87733611

T o p l ace a n o ti c e, p le a s e e ma il e m @ s o u th w a rk n ew s .co .u k o r c al l 0 7 7 9 8 8 3 3 75 8.D e a dl i ne i s 3 p m e v er y Tue s da y

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (BONAR ROAD) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

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

by SGN, it made, 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 Bonar Road, at any time, between Peckham Hill Street and Commercial Way.

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Commercial Way, Peckham Hill Street.

4.

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

5.

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

6.

The works will be in operation between the 31st May – 5th June.

7.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network & Parking Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk Dated this 20th May 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk

PUBLIC NOTICES 25

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 Miss Mayowa Omolara Otakoya 110/112 Peckham Rye Lane, London, SE15 4RZ have made application to Southwark Council for a new Special Treatments Premises Licence in respect of Mayor Beauty Place, 110/112 Peckham Rye Lane, London, SE15 4RZ A register of all applications made within the Southwark area is maintained by: The Licensing Service, Hub 1, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH Email: Licensing@southwark.gov.uk Opening hours:

Days

Start time

Finish time

Monday to Saturday

10:00

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: 6th May 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) 5673/W117730430-00280

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (WARNDON STREET, COURT LANE, FOUNTAIN DRIVE, HOLLINGBOURNE ROAD (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (KENNINGTON PARK PLACE)

1.

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

by SGN 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:

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

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

by NLE/Laing O Rourke, it made, 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 Kennington Park Road, between No’s 5 (Bishops Day Nursery) and No’s 10.

3.

(a) Warndon Street, at it’s junction with Rotherhithe New Road (b) Court Lane, between Desenfans Road and Druce Road (c) Fountain Drive, between No’s 8 (d) Hollingbourne Road, between Herne Hill and Warmington Road 3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Rotherhithe new Road, Luxford Street, St Helena Road. (2b) Druce Road, Woodwarde Road, Desenfans Road. (2c) Kingswood Drive, Dulwich Wood Park, Crystal Palace Parade. (2d) Herne Hill, Holmdene Avenue, Half Moon Lane, Warmington Road, Ruskin Walk, Herne Hill. Herne Hill, Half Moon Lane, Warmington Road.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Kennington Park Place, De Laune Street, Harmsworth Street, Doddington Place.

4.

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

4.

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

5.

5.

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

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

6.

The works will be in operation (2a) 14th June – 1st July (2b) 14th June (2c) 14th – 26th June (2d) 15th – 16th June

6.

The works will be in operation between the 28th May – 25th June.

7.

7.

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

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

Dated this 20th May 2021

Dated this 20th May 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) 5705/ W117816473-02653 (2b) 5700/91150218 (2c) 5754/29618168 (2d) 5764/ 09743206

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) 5765/SEC50KENPARKPL

BREAKING NEWS Check out our website for the latest breaking news, and the chance to see more photos and videos of the stories you have read in your Southwark News...

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26 PUBLIC NOTICES

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Southwark News, Thursday May 20 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; 25 LYNDHURST WAY LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 5AG (Ref: 21/AP/1524) Listed building consent: second floor rear extension (Within: Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Catherine Jeater 020 7525 5375) JAMES ALLENS LOWER SCHOOL 2 DULWICH VILLAGE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7AL (Ref: 21/AP/1547) A new 50m2 outdoor Eco classroom. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Gemma Perry ) 70 CAMBERWELL GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8RF (Ref: 21/AP/1508) Construction of a rear ground floor infill extension. Modifications to the front steps and vaults and lightwell to improve access. (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Martin McKay 020 7525 1818) 1 MILO ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8LX (Ref: 21/AP/1592) Single storey side/rear extension. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ibrahim Azam ) 9 DULWICH VILLAGE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7BU (Ref: 21/AP/1598) Construction of basement plant room within footprint of existing building. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anthony Roberts 020 7525 5458) 6 BALDWIN CRESCENT LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 9LQ (Ref: 21/AP/1597) Construction of a two storey side and ground floor rear extension, and extension of existing rear dormer with roof terrace (Within: Camberwell New Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Samuel Hepworth 020 7525 5465) 15 DESENFANS ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7DN (Ref: 21/AP/1545) Demolition of existing single storey lean-to to the rear; construction of a single storey extension to the side and rear; construction of a dormer extension over the rear outrigger to the side elevation roof slope; replacement of existing timber framed windows; proposed bike store to the front garden. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Agneta Kabele ) 51 BOROUGH HIGH STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 21/AP/1620) Alerations to the commercial unit on the ground and basement floor and alterations to the top floor residential unit, change of use of the existing first - third floor offices to self-contained residential dwellings, rear extensions including the erection of a stair core, plus cycle storage and waste storage. (Within: Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Michèle Sterry 020 7525 5453)

89 DE LAUNE STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE17 3UT (Ref: 21/AP/1611) Construction of a single storey side extension, photo-voltaic cells on main roof (Solar Together London Scheme) (Within: Kennington Park Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Rose Sharkey ) 103 STRADELLA ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE24 9HL (Ref: 21/AP/1461) Construction of single storey rear extension (Within: Stradella Road Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Ibrahim Azam ) 32 HALF MOON LANE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE24 9HU (Ref: 21/AP/1625) Construction of a single-storey rear extension, 3x rooflights into existing single storey side wing. Modifications to rear and side facades (Within: Stradella Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Agneta Kabele ) 17 NEW CONCORDIA WHARF MILL STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2BB (Ref: 21/AP/1640) Change of use of 2nd floor office to residential (C3) studio flat. (Within: St Saviours Dock CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Hajnalka Kurti 020 7525 3701) 80 LYNDHURST GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 5AH (Ref: 21/AP/1644) Installation of double glazed window to flank wall. Replacement of 3 x existing sash windows on front elevation with new conservation style slim line double glazed windows. In addition, erection of an out house to rear of the property.

(Within: Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Danielle Campbell 020 7525 2427) 310-330 ST JAMESS ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 5JX (Ref: 21/AP/1667) Redevelopment of the site comprising demolition of existing buildings and erection of three buildings to provide new residential development and the provision of flexible Class E floorspace with public realm improvements, amenity space, cycle parking spaces, disabled car parking spaces and refuse/recycling stores and other associated works Reason(s) for publicity: MAJ (Contact: Wing Lau 020 7525 5729) 17 VOGANS MILL WHARF MILL STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2BZ (Ref: 21/AP/1517) LISTED BUILDING CONSENT: Removal of the non-load bearing, thin, stud partition walls that currently separate the kitchen and sitting room to create an open plan kitchen and living area and enhance the usability of the space.

Installation of industrial style glazed partition wall between the hallway and kitchen/living area. (Within: St Saviours Dock CA) Reason(s)

for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Tracy Chapman 020 7525 1948)

and cycle parking and associated hard and soft landscaping and public realm improvements.

10A LOVE WALK LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8AD (Ref: 21/AP/1606) Mansard roof extension and terrace (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Kerri Simpson 020 7525 3487)

This application represents a departure from strategic policy 10 'Jobs and businesses' of the Core Strategy (2011) and saved policy 1.2 'strategic and local preferred industrial locations' of the Southwark Plan (2007) by virtue of proposing residential and community uses in a preferred industrial location. In the Council's opinion the proposal may affect the setting of the following grade II listed buildings and conservation areas:

52 GRANGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 3BH (Ref: 21/AP/1459) Construction of a rear terrace at ground floor level on top of existing lower ground floor extension. (Within: Bermondsey Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Glenn Ruane 020 7525 5447) BURGESS INDUSTRIAL PARK PARKHOUSE STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK (Ref: 21/AP/1342) Demolition of the existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to provide 386 residential units (Class C3), up to 4,410sqm of flexible commercial floorspace (Class E) and 112sqm of community floorspace (Class F) within 12 blocks of between 2-12 storeys (max AOD height 48.25m), with car and cycle parking and associated hard and soft landscaping and public realm improvements. This application represents a departure from strategic policy 10 'Jobs and businesses' of the Core Strategy (2011) and saved policy 1.2 'strategic and local preferred industrial locations' of the Southwark Plan (2007) by virtue of proposing residential and community uses in a preferred industrial location. In the Council's opinion the proposal may affect the setting of the following grade II listed buildings and conservation areas: 73, 75 and 77 Southampton Way Collingwood House, 1, 2 and 3 Cottage Green 113 Wells Way Former Church of St George, Wells Way Ground trust offices and attached chimney, Wells Way Addington Square Conservation Area and grade II listed buildings therein (nos 13-20 and 33-42) The application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement submitted pursuant to the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) regulations 2017. The ES can be viewed on the Council's website. Copies of the ES may be obtained from Trium Environmental Consulting LLP, 69-85 Tabernacle Street London EC2A 4BD at a charge of £900 (printed) or £20 (USB stick).

THIS CONSULTATION ENDS 37 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE Reason(s) for publicity: MAJ (Contact: Victoria Lewis 020 7525 5410)

73, 75 and 77 Southampton Way Collingwood House, 1, 2 and 3 Cottage Green 113 Wells Way Former Church of St George, Wells Way Ground trust offices and attached chimney, Wells Way Addington Square Conservation Area and grade II listed buildings therein (nos 13-20 and 33-42) The application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement submitted pursuant to the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) regulations 2017. The ES can be viewed on the Council's website. Copies of the ES may be obtained from Trium Environmental Consulting LLP, 69-85 Tabernacle Street London EC2A 4BD at a charge of £900 (printed) or £20 (USB stick).

THIS CONSULTATION ENDS 37 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE Dated: 18 May 2021 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date.

STEPHEN PLATTS - Director of Planning and Growth

Burgess Industrial Park, Parkhouse Street, London SE5 7TJ - 21/AP/1342 - Demolition of the existing buildings and redevelopment of the site to provide 386 residential units (Class C3), up to 4,410sqm of flexible commercial floorspace (Class E) and 112sqm of community floorspace (Class F) within 12 blocks of between 2-12 storeys (max AOD height 48.25m), with car

To p lace a n otic e, ple ase email em@ so uth wark ne ws .co.u k or call 07798 833 758 Deadline is 1 2 no on on Tuesda ys

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

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SPORT 27

28 SPORT

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Surrey’s Ollie Pope

sport@southwarknews.co.uk SURREY HEAD coach Vikram Solanki praised the groundstaff for getting their LV=Insurance County Championship game on with Somerset last weekend – though no play was possible on the final day as the match was drawn.

Only nine overs were bowled on the third day at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton.

Play began on time with Surrey 191 for four and they were able to add 15 to their total before the rain started falling.

An early lunch was taken at 12.45am, but by then a heavy downpour had left many areas of the outfield under water.

Umpires Nick Cook and Russell Warren called off play for the day at 1.30pm with Surrey on 206 for four, and Ben Foakes unbeaten on 16 and Jamie Smith 27 not out.

A Rory Burns half-century had laid the foundation on the second day.

After the first-day washout, Burns, looking to reclaim an England place, had to fight hard for his runs in bowlerfriendly conditions before falling for 55.

Ollie Pope contributed 33 and Hashim Amla 29, while Lewis Gregory claimed his 300th first class wicket in taking two for 60 from 18 overs before bad light ended proceedings eight overs early.

The match finally got underway at 2pm after a major mopping-up operation and Somerset elected to bowl first on a green looking pitch.

In the absence of the rested Craig Overton, Josh Davey took the new ball with Gregory and both went past the bat on numerous occasions.

The Surrey openers also survived a run-out scare in the opening over when, with Mark Stoneman stranded in mid-pitch after calling for a quick single, George Bartlett missed the stumps at the wicketkeeper’s end, running in from cover.

Tom Banton was behind the stumps in place of Steve Davies, who is facing a minor operation. He was kept busy as the ball beat both batsmen without finding an edge.

Stoneman had moved to 18 in a stand of 43 with Burns when failing to cope with a seaming delivery from Gregory and being taken at third slip by the diving Roelof van der Merwe.

Amla was tested by the Somerset pace attack at the beginning of his innings, but gradually he and Burns became more assured.

Burns demonstrated growing confidence with a glorious cover drive

Final-day wash-out as Surrey draw

Photo by Mark Sandom

By Richard Latham

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

for four off Marchant de Lange and moved to a half-century off 90 balls, with six boundaries.

By tea, he and Amla had taken the score to 116 for one. But both departed soon after the interval, crestfallen at the manner of their dismissals.

Amla had passed 18,000 runs in first class cricket when carelessly pulling a short ball from Gregory to fine leg where Eddie Byrom held a comfortable

catch above his head.

Burns was equally frustrated to play a back-foot defensive shot off de Lange and squeeze the ball onto his stumps off an angled bat.

Suddenly Surrey were 119 for three.

But the ball was no longer going past the bat as Ben Foakes and Ollie Pope set about rebuilding.

Pope looked assured in facing 59 balls, but then went to pull a delivery

from Tom Abell and top-edged the ball to the back-pedalling Banton, who judged it well looking up into the floodlights.

From 168 for four, Ben Foakes and Jamie Smith saw Surrey through to the close.

Solanki said: “The groundstaff did a tremendous job to get the game underway and I thought both Rory Burns and Mark Stoneman played well

to overcome the new ball.”

The outcome means Group 2 leaders Gloucestershire are clear by four points, with a game in hand on secondplaced Somerset, who visit the Bristol County Ground for their next group match, starting on Thursday.

Surrey are in fourth place ahead of Middlesex, who they face at The Kia Oval this weekend, with Leicestershire in sixth.

skipper Jon Lodwick and Simon Harwood each took a wicket in his first over to remove both openers.

The score had advanced to 15-2 in the sixth over when the first rain shower drove the players from the field for 50 minutes, to reduce the match from 50 to 43 overs per side.

On the resumption the two opening bowlers each took another wicket and left arm spinner Frankie Brown picked up the next three to reduce Epsom to 50-7 after 23 overs.

An eighth wicket partnership of 34 in 11.3 overs offered some resistance, but Harwood returned to break the stand, and Sam Ellison needed only nine balls to take the last two wickets and dismiss Epsom for 99 in the 39th over. Harwood took 3-16 off his nine overs to give him nine wickets in two matches for just 31 runs. Brown finished with 3-20 off his nine overs, while Lodwick had 2-19 off seven and Ellison 2-6 off 1.3.

Rain during the tea interval delayed the start of the second innings and reduced it to 30 overs, for which Messrs Duckworth and Lewis (via the PlayCricket app) gave a revised target of 80. Paul Selvey-Clinton fell for a single, bringing in Brown to join Chris Purshouse.

A further rain break in the tenth over with the score on 25-1 knocked off two more overs, and revised the D/L target to 75 off 28. Purshouse fell in the 19th over having faced 58

balls in making 37 out of the total of 51. Ollie Steele joined Brown, and the pair comfortably knocked off the runs with three overs to spare.

Dulwich have thus beaten both of the promoted sides in their first two games. This weekend they visit old rivals Bank of England, who are the only other club in the division to have won both their opening matches.

Dulwich weather storm to defeat Epsom

By John Lewis

sport@southwarknews.co.uk ON A showery day with several interruptions, Dulwich overcame the weather and their opponents to secure victory by eight wickets in their AJ Fordham Surrey Championship Division 2 clash with Epsom last weekend.

Dulwich put their opponents into bat, and got off to an ideal start when

Result: Dulwich 75-2 (25) beat Epsom 99 (38.3) by 8 wickets (D/L)

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

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MILLWALL 29

Avis Action Images

Peckham on Ropes as cup run ends London Senior Trophy quarter-final

Bridon Ropes 0-0 Peckham Town Bridon win 4-2 on penalties

By Sam Boyle sport@southwarknews.co.uk HAVING WON the London Senior Trophy in a dramatic penalty shootout last year, perhaps it was fate that the Menace would crash out of the cup in the same fashion this season.

Town boss Mary Phillip felt her side ran out of luck as they couldn’t take their chances in 90 minutes before losing 4-2 on spot-kicks.

Peckham were convinced they had taken the lead in the fifteenth minute when Bryan Villalba found David Gabor who rolled the ball past the goalkeeper only to be denied by a last-ditch clearance off the line.

Just before half-time, Kevin Dance went through on goal but was denied by a brilliant challenge as the Menace rued their missed opportunities having been the better side before the break.

Peckham almost had a dream start to the second half. After struggling to break down the hosts in the first, some exceptional movement in the penalty area had the Bridon defence in disarray. A wicked cross into the box found Villalba, who turned and accelerated past his man to unleash a stinging shot that the goalkeeper did exceptionally well to save and

Peckham’s David Gabor tries to get clear the visitors couldn’t force home the rebound.

Despite the missed chance, it wasn’t long before the Menace came knocking again. A stinging shot from Nicky Meta was spilled by the Bridon

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk IT’S A local football club that has produced former Millwall player and current Premier League star Ebere Eze – but Bermondsey’s Bruin JFC could be playing one of the last games in their existence this Sunday.

Eze, who joined Crystal Palace from QPR for £20 million last summer, and Tammy Abraham, the £40million rated Chelsea striker, are two that came through the ranks at Bruin who have recently seen players join the Lions and Charlton.

Despite having no facilities of their own – they train twice a week in Southwark Park and play ‘home’ games in Shooter’s Hill – Bruin have still managed to fight their way to the final

of the Selkent Cup this Sunday (May 23).

Coach Peter Farrell – who works fulltime – is over the team in his spare time and organises fundraising for equipment and kits.

The club used to have several teams but now have just one, the under-13s who will contest this weekend’s decider.

Awaiting them is Crayford Arrows, a club that can boast 50 teams through their age groups.

Bruin are in the last two of a competition that was contested by clubs like Farnborough and Welling United, the latter who are just one tier below National League.

Bruin are set to be absorbed into Fisher from next season with Farrell coaching them when they are an under-14 side.

“We can’t really afford to use pitches around the area because of the cost

A tactical change saw Marcus Black come on for Tidian Barry and captain Meta being replaced by new signing Kieran Dowding.

Bridon defended well and with five minutes left were handed an

Peckham Town FC: George Legg, Youssef Bouimane, Adam Carrick, Charlie Egleton, Mustafa Hashemi, Tidian Barry, Norman Hong, Kevin Dance, Nicky Meta (C), David Gabor, Bryan Villabla.

Substitutes: Marcus Black, Kieran Dowding, Joshua Montella (unused), Jay Virgo, Herve Mbongue (unused).

Millwall FC

Bermondsey youngsters battle odds to reach major final

keeper, who was able to regain his composure and prevent the away side from taking the lead.

Peckham nearly paid the price for their profligacy when a powerful shot from long range tested George Legg.

advantage when a quick break stretched the Menace defence and last man Adam Carrick was forced to make a mistimed, last-ditch tackle just outside the Peckham penalty area and was sent off.

But Peckham held on as the tie went to spot-kicks.

The hosts scored their first before Jay Virgo hit the post. Bridon increased the pressure by making it 2-0 but Marcus Black reduced the deficit.

But after Bridon made it three from three, Youssef Bouimane’s penalty was saved.

Peckham were given a lifeline when Bridon hit the post with their next effort and then Kevin Dance made it 3-2 after four penalties each.

But Bridon held their nerve to score the clinching penalty to reach the last four.

Phillip said: “The heart was there, it was a hard pill to swallow.

“If you don’t do the job in 90 minutes, when you have the majority of the game and you don’t put your chances away and you put it down to penalties, then you’re relying on luck and faith.

“The luck wasn’t with us today. We are ready to look forward to a new season.”

Former Millwall and QPR player Ebere Eze, right, came through the ranks at Bruin but we just do our best with what we’ve got,” Farrell said. “Right now, as it stands, because we are the only team we’re planning to go to Fisher.

“So Bruin might not have another team for a while unless someone takes it on. I‘ll take the boys over and they’ll become under-14s and Fisher players.

“Hopefully we’ll be going out with a bang.”

Bruin are also on the verge of another cup final in June, in the Red Shield which is contested by the top eight under-13 teams.

“This has been my team since under-7s,” Farrell, 37, continued.

“We play our games at Shooter’s Hill Marathon Grounds which isn’t even in Bermondsey.

“That’s basically grounds for team like us that don’t have their own pitches.

“Crayford are a huge club, they’ll have at least two teams at each age group from under-7s up until under-18s.

“I‘ve still got three or four kids that have been with me from the start, under-7s. There’s another five or six who have been with us since 8s and 9s.

“The core group have been with us a while and this is their first final in seven years. One of the boys at the moment is training with Millwall, I‘m very proud.

“We’ve had one boy signed by Millwall and one by Charlton in the last couple of years so there is talent coming through.

“The parents are excited, they probably didn’t expect us to get this far.”

The final will kick off at 2pm this Sunday at the home of Long Lane Football club. Supporters can attend the game, but masks and social distancing will be required inside the ground.

30 MILLWALL

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Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

Potent ingredients Alex Pearce leads the team out

Blend of old and new can take Millwall forward EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk ALEX PEARCE believes Millwall have a “really good mix” of experience, keen youngsters and the right attitude to build on consecutive tophalf Championship finishes.

The Lions’ placing of eleventh n 202021 was their third top-half finish in four seasons that also included two play-off challenges.

The only real struggle was in 2018-19 when Millwall only guaranteed their safety on the second-last day and Neil Harris admitted there had been problems in the dressing room.

But a number of the players that Harris brought to the club – Bart Bialkowski, Mahlon Romeo, Shaun Hutchinson, Jake Cooper, Murray Wallace and Jed Wallace – are set to form the core again in the next campaign.

At the time of writing Millwall were hoping that Pearce, 32, and Matt Smith –

who will be 32 at the start of next season – would sign new deals.

Boss Gary Rowett doesn’t want to lose too many experienced players this summer after Frank Fielding, Shaun Williams and Shane Ferguson were informed they could leave at the end of their contracts in June.

Danny McNamara and Billy Mitchell were handed senior friendly and competitive debuts respectively by Harris, and both became regulars in the side in 2021.

Pearce also praised those players who got little rest in a season that had to be crammed in between the middle of September and the start of May. “I could go through a lot of the team – Jed, Coops – fantastic how they keep churning out these performances week-in, weekout, Hutchy before he got injured playing every minute of every game. Bart playing every minute of every game.

“Woodsy [Ryan Woods] in midfield, Scott Malone, each and every one of us has played our part. The lads have got through some big numbers in terms of physical outputs so it’s an absolute credit to them.

“It’s a really good group and it just shows you how far that kind of thing can take you.

“I noticed it [a higher level in training] straightway when Danny Mac came back from his loan spell. Straightaway you could see he’s got the club in his heart, he’s desperate to do well.

“It’s the same with Billy. They’ve both got fantastic attitudes. They’re still learning every day but they’re doing really well, they just need to keep it going and keep their standards high.”

Pearce has been impressed with the performances of Mason Bennett, who joined Millwall initially on loan from Derby in January 2020 before a permanent move in the summer.

Bennett scored six goals last season, five of them in seventeen games in 2021 after he had been moved up front with Wallace.

“Mason’s been brilliant,” Pearce said. “I think he’s had a real standout season in his career. It’s the most he’s ever scored in a season.

“He really stepped up to the plate. He’s a senior player in our dressing room

now, he’s played a lot of games, he’s been around a long time.

“He feels really part of it here and he’s a key player for us. He’s been a key player for us, him and Jed have formed a great partnership up front. They both seem to dovetail off each other really, really well.

“That seems to be a positive thing to come out of it after we had some injuries up there, the likes of Ken [Zohore].”

Sutton have two games left – at home to third-place Hartlepool next Saturday and then at bottom-of-the-table Barnet the following weekend – and a threepoint as well as plus-six better goal difference advantage.

Torquay are the only side that can deny Sutton automatic promotion. They host Barnet on Saturday before going to Altrincham on the final weekend.

Also in National League, Alex Mitchell recovered from injury to play the full game for Bromley but the visitors couldn’t overtake Notts County and climb into the play-offs as the sides drew 2-2.

An own goal from Mark Ellis had Bromley in front in the 27th minute, before Kyle Wootton and Ruben

Rodrigues scored two goals in nine minutes in the second half to put the hosts in the driving seat.

Tate Campbell’s leveller in the 75th minute rescued a point for Andy Woodman’s side.

Bromley are eighth, level on points with Chesterfield who are in the last play-off spot but have a plus-seven better goal difference with two games left.

Halifax, Eastleigh and Dagenham & Redbridge can also still reach the playoffs.

Bromley’s last two games are at Aldershot and at home against Notts County.

Midfielder Sam Skeffington got 90 more minutes of senior action under

his belt in Barnet’s 3-0 defeat at Eastleigh.

In the Scottish Premiership, James Brown played right wing-back as Callum Davidson’s St Johnstone ended their league season by securing a Uefa Conference League place by finishing fifth after their 0-0 draw at home to Livingston.

The Uefa Conference League will start next season and is the third tier of European football after the Champions League and Europa League.

The Saints and Livi went into the game level on points but the hosts had a plus-two better goal difference and they comfortably claimed the draw they needed.

St Johnstone will go into the play-offs

“We’ve got four or five senior lads, maybe more, that drive the standards in training. You’ve then got a younger group of players that are willing to learn from the senior pros.

“It’s a really good mix, the ideal blend and one that I think can take the club forward.

“Overall you’ve got to be appreciative of how well this group has done this year again.”

Billy Mitchell and Danny McNamara will be fighting to be regulars next season

Lions striker nets fifteenth of season as Sutton close in on history

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL FORWARD Isaac Olaofe scored his fifteenth goal in all competitions as Sutton United closed in on an historic first-ever promotion to the Football League.

‘Tanto’ put the south London side 2-0 ahead in the 79th minute at Maidenhead United last Saturday after David Ajiboye’s 65th-minute goal.

Louis John scored from his own half in the 93rd minute as Sutton went four points ahead of Torquay at the top of the table.

The Gulls then dropped two vital points on Sunday as they drew 2-2 away against Stockport County.

for the Europa League if they complete the domestic cup double by beating Hibernian at Hampden Park next weekend.

“It was an unbelievable achievement today,” former Millwall assistant Davidson said.

“Putting into perspective the week we’ve had - training, games, the semifinal, carrying very few players.

“It’s probably been overshadowed by the Scottish Cup and what’s gone on here behind the scenes in the last couple of weeks here.

“For me, it’s huge. I remember when we qualified with [former boss] Tommy [Wright], it was a great atmosphere here with 10,000 people. Hopefully we can get back to something like that.”

Southwark News, Thursday May 20 2021

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Youngsters can follow path

MILLWALL 31 Abdul Abdulmalik (main) and Tyrese Briscoe (inset) are two of six players who have been offered pro contracts

Millwall confirm several first professional contract offers EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL MANAGER Gary Rowett said the club’s young players can see a “clear pathway” to the first team and they will be given a chance if they show they are good enough.

The Lions released their retained list this week and also confirmed they had offered first professional contracts to Jordan Gillmore, Arthur Penney, Alfie Allen, Nana Boateng, Tyrese Briscoe and Abdul Abdulmalik.

But there was disappointment for under-23s Rob Strachan, Harry Ransom, Reuben Duncan, Sam Skeffington – who is currently on loan at Barnet - and George Alexander who

were told they could leave the club.

Under-18s Ollie Bate and Ezekiel Miller have also been released.

Of Millwall’s current first-team squad, four players – Ben Thompson, Danny McNamara, Billy Mitchell and Hayden Muller – came through the academy. Mahlon Romeo and Tyler Burey progressed to the first team after initially being signed to the under-23s.

Rowett praised under-23 manager Kevin Nugent and his assistant Paul Robinson for their work in a season disrupted by Covid-19 and the consequent restrictions.

Rowett is determined to give young players the chance to impress.

“What they’ve seen is a pathway can open up for the likes of Danny Mac, Hayden Muller, Billy Mitchell, Tyler

Burey. They can see that pathway,” Rowett sad.

“Nuge and Robbo have done some really good work in some difficult circumstances this year.

“The hard work starts when they come back in and I think we’ve proved now that if a player is good enough then there’s every chance they might get an opportunity.

“So let’s see.”

It’s the responsibility of head of academy Scott Fitzgerald, along with Nugent and Robinson, as well as under-18 bosses Larry McAvoy and Chris Perry, to assess the players and decide if they are being retained or released.

Rowett said he almost got bad news at the start of his career.

He explained: “I was very close to

Euro vision: Boss casts net overseas

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk GARY ROWETT has revealed Millwall have transfer targets in European leagues – and is “excited to see” whether the club can complete any deals from abroad.

In the post-Brexit market, foreign signings will need a Governing Body Endorsement, a work permit based on points accumulated through club appearances and the league the club play in, among other requirements.

The last player Millwall signed from an overseas league was Stefan Maierhofer from Austrian Bundesliga club SC Wiener Neustadt in January 2015.

“When you first come into a club like you Millwall you appreciate the values, the values of the fans, the

values of the club, the history, the context of what the club’s all about,” Rowett said.

“You have to retain those elements.

You look at those core elements, do we want to be a nicey nicey technical-based side? Not really.

We want to be a tough, aggressive, athletic team, but we want to add the right qualities in the right areas to complement some of those things that we all want to see in a Millwall team.

“So you have look everywhere to find that. We’re looking in lower leagues, we’re looking in leagues above, foreign leagues.

“The European points system dictates to a certain degree which players you can and can’t get. But I think it’s an interesting market.

“Do I want four or five European players into the club this summer?

Probably not. But we’ve certainly got some very good targets that are not on our shores and I‘m excited to see if we can get one or two of those.

“The club, and John [Berylson] in particular, really see an opportunity to push after two solid, competitive seasons. We’ve got a really nice platform, a really nice base to build from.

“And we’ve got a really good core group in the squad.

“I‘m excited. It’s probably the most excited I‘ve been for many summers because, a): I might be able to go on holidays for the first time in two years – though that doesn’t look that likely! And, b): because I genuinely feel we’re very, very close with three of four additions to being a very, very good side.

“As a manager that’s all you’re looking for.”

being released after my first year apprenticeship at Cambridge. But then the next year I got into the team, I was seventeen.

“And sometimes that shapes my thinking. I think that by the time you’re 20 if you’re not playing regular firstteam football you need the opportunity to go and find that somewhere.

“The under-23 guys have been with them all season and built those relationships up so they manage that process.

“All the first-team lads are the ones we’ve chatted with and given reasons why [they are being released] and are there to support them moving forwards as well.

“Because of course clubs will ring us about players, I‘ve already had quite a few clubs ringing me about individuals

that have been released. Obviously you want to feed that back to the lads and let them know who’s been enquiring.”

Meanwhile, Muller, Dan Moss, Jayden Davis, Alex Mitchell, Sean O’Brien, Junior Tiensia and Isaac Olaofe will remain with the club next season.

Olaofe and Mitchell are on loan at Sutton and Bromley, respectively, and could be sent out again next season.

Tiensia is also at Sutton but hasn’t featured recently.

Rowett said: There are clubs that will enquire about those players. You can look at [Olaofe’s] scenario and at Junior Tiensia who’s gone to the same club and had little game-time. We’ll asses that moving forward.

“There’s been interest in the likes of Alex Mitchell and Tanto [Olaofe]. We’ll make decisions on those players.”

Lions eye Zlatan’s boys

By John Kelly

Johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL ARE hoping to play a summer friendly against topflight Swedish side Hammarby – who are partly owned

by AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The link between the Lions and the Stockholm-based club are Huski Chocolate who are the main shirt sponsors of both.

Millwall will return to pre-season training at the end of June.

“We’re looking at the moment at coming back around the 28th or 29th, something around there,” Rowett said in an interview on the Millwall’s official YouTube channel.

“Tours are quite difficult at the moment because of the rules and

knowing what you can and can’t do.

“What we’d like to do is maybe see if we can get out to Sweden and play against Huski’s team out there Hammarby, so that would be fantastic.

“Then the rest will take care of itself.”

Gary Rowett

inside

Sport Southwark

Pen heartbreak for Peckham Page 29

Power play

Gary Rowett

Lions boss wants more speed in his team next season

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL BOSS Gary Rowett wants to add more pace and power to his squad this summer – and is hoping he has a “horrendously difficult problem” picking his team on the opening day of next season.

Rowett has already started to address those deficits. He signed Mason Bennett and Scott Malone – the latter whom the Lions hope to complete a permanent deal for in this window – and recalled Danny McNamara from St Johnstone.

Those three all added more speed to the side last season though the signing of Kenneth Zohore – recruited to give the team more power in attack – didn’t work

out.

But there isn’t an abundance of pace in the squad and ideally that will be one of the attributes the Lions look for in a striker this closed season.

Rowett noted Bournemouth’s “athleticism” with players such as Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke when the Cherries won 4-1 at The Den in April.

Millwall are again being linked with Allan Campbell who is set to leave Motherwell this summer. Campbell is a 22-year-old midfielder who can dart forward to be a goal threat, and the Lions have watched him a number of times.

“You’re always trying to get the blend between quality, drive, mentality, physicality, speed,” Rowett said. “It’s no good having eleven lightning-quick players if they don’t read the game well and don’t use the ball well.

“It is about balance and the balance in the modern day is moving more towards speed, athleticism, power.

“You look at the Premier League and see teams with such great mobility and that’s because the game’s getting faster and faster all the time.

“That’s just the state of affairs and that’s something we’ll try to increase.”

One area where Rowett will need to get the balance right is in midfield.

If the regular formation is 5-3-2 then Millwall would want six central midfielders competing for those places.

Rowett said: “We have to look at every single scenario within the team. I have to look at my preferred formation, which way that might go and what if that doesn’t work.

“We have to cover every base. I think it’s more about getting players in that

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can give us something a little bit different than what we’ve got.

“That’s more the balance.

“Next season if I have a horrendously difficult problem with who I pick because everyone’s playing well then I will be a well-worked, happy manager.”

Mason Bennett and Scott Malone added more dynamism to the squad

Millwall set to clinch deal for ‘keeper

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

George Long MILLWALL ARE set to sign goalkeeper George Long on a free transfer from Hull City when his contract expires at the end of June.

The Lions have identified Long (above) as a replacement for Frank Fielding, who is being released after two seasons with the club.

Long started his career at Sheffield United and had loan spells at Oxford, Motherwell and AFC Wimbledon.

He joined Hull for an undisclosed fee in July 2018 and played 45 games as they were relegated from the Championship in 2019-20.

Long made eight appearances in League One last season as Hull bounced straight back up as champions under Grant McCann.

Mllwall have offered new deals to young goalkeepers Ryan Sandford and Joe Wright but they aren’t ready to challenge Bart Bialkowski for the No.1 shirt. They could be sent out on loan next season to continue their development.

Sheffield-born Long made one appearance for England under-18s and one for the under-20s.

Despite being just 27 years old, Long has eleven seasons of professional football under his belt.

He made his debut as a seventeenyear-old in May 2011 and was part of the Blades’ League One promotion-winning side in 2016-17 under Chris Wilder.

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