7th October 2021

millwall Exclusive Page 31

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Issue 1551

Established: 1987

50p

October 7 2021

Calls for more recognition after teenage girl helps save man from the Thames Exclusive

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Page 6

Smudge keeps feet on ground

astonishing costs and work needed for council’s heating Page 11

life with 30 epileptic seizures a day Page 8

2 NEWS

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Contents NEWS Pages 2-13 2-16 Education jobs feature Page 17 Pages 14-17 OPINION OPINION Pages 18-19 Pages 18-19 Arts Arts20 Page Page 20 history history Page 21 Page 21 property property Page Page 22 22 family family announcements announcements and and classified classified Page Page 23 23 Public notices Pages 23-26 24-26 SPORT Pages 27- 32 Contact us if you have a story on 07973175511 or email

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Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

Harriet Harman calls for commissioner to resign in wake of Sarah Everard muder

Neil Coyle with Kathy at the food bank

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Harriet Harman has called on the Met Police Commissioner to resign, saying women’s trust in the force has been ‘shattered’ after the horrific rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a police officer.

“Following the heartbreaking and horrifying killing of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer, women’s confidence in the police has been shattered,” she told Dame Cressida Dick in a letter urging her to stand down so trust can be rebuilt, adding: “I think it is not possible for you to lead these necessary actions in the Metropolitan Police.”

The Camberwell and Peckham MP and veteran women’s rights campaigner has called for more background checks on offers entering the force, for any facing allegations of violence against women to be suspended, and anyone convicted of similar crimes or admits their guilt to be immediately dismissed. She has also demanded that kerb-crawling and street harassment of women be outlawed.

MPs and politicians across party divides have been left aghast by how Wayne Couzens was recruited and able to sustain his career - which, it emerges, included working in the Houses of Parliament, despite several allegations being made against him for sexual offences.

He had been allowed to continue working despite having been reported for exposing himself on three separate occasions - including just days prior to her abduction. It has also emerged he was nicknamed 'The Rapist' by his colleagues.

Couzens was told he would die in prison after being handed a whole-life sentence at the Old Bailey on Thursday, September 30.

The court heard how the 48-year-old, who pleaded guilty in July, used his warrant

card and handcuffs to fraudulently arrest the 33-year-old as she walked home from a friend’s house in Clapham, through the South Circular, on the evening of March 3, 2021.

He then drove the marketing executive to Kent, where he raped and killed her, before burning her body in woodland.

Lord Justice Fulford said Couzens had spent weeks planning his attack, and on the night had been driving around London, scouring for a victim to abduct.

In a statement, Sarah’s family said the judge’s decision brought some ‘relief’, and said the world was a 'safer place' with the police officer behind bars.

The Met Commissioner described the harrowing case as “one of the most dreadful events in the 190-year-history of the Metropolitan Police Service”, and said she was “so sorry” but has so far refused to step down.

On Tuesday, home secretary Priti Patel announced there would also be an independent inquiry into the ‘systemic failures’ that allowed Couzens to continue his policing career.

Cressida Dick has also faced criticism after the Met published new guidance stating that women who did not feel safe during an arrest should try to flag down a bus. The bizarre advice was part of an announcement confirming that lone, plainclothes officers would no longer be authorised to stage arrests.

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MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE Page 30

Issue 1550

Editor: Kevin Quinn Deputy Editor: Katherine Johnston Reporters: Kit Heren, Charles Harrison 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: 0792 203 4598 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

Established: 1987

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September 30 2021

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HOW MANY PIES AND MASH DID THIS MAN EAT IN 20 MINUTES?

‘THE ONLY WAY IS INFILLING’ Page 3

Council housing boss claims policy on estates is a necessity as waiting list soars to 16,000

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Page 4

WHY JED DIDN’T JOIN BORO EXCLUSIVE

Page 8

‘BOYS ON E-SCOOTER SLAP PREGNANT WOMAN’ EXCLUSIVE

Page 5

DISTRICT HEATING - WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO FIX IT?

food bank wants bigger premises as Universal Credit drop presages ‘tough winter’

By Kit Heren

kit@southwarknews.co.uk A Bermondsey food bank set up in lockdown wants to find a bigger building, as with furlough ending and universal credit going down this week it could be facing higher demand.

The government temporarily boosted universal credit by £20 per week in lockdown, although it was set to end on Wednesday (October 6). The furlough scheme to support companies through lockdown also came to a close at the end of September. National insurance payments are also set to increase from next April, to help fund the NHS and the care system.

All this means that food banks like Love North Southwark could have a lot more people coming in to get food, said Kathy Heather, who runs the service.

Love North Southwark, which Kathy set up at the start of the first lockdown, is currently running from two rooms in Cherry Garden Hall, where Southwark Park Road meets Jamaica Road. People can come and get fifteen items for £5, including fresh vegetables and fresh fruit, dairy products frozen foods, and cupboard items. The centre also sends out food parcels.

But they have to clear up so other activities can take place in the hall on the days when the food bank isn't running.

Kathy wants to move to a vacant shop nearby so they can operate more easily and also put on bingo nights and dances - but

the cost of refurbishment might be too high.

She is looking to apply for grants that could cover the costs. "It's about community as well as food," she said. "A lot of people come in here partly because they need a human connection, especially with the isolation we've had over the lockdowns."

The drop-off in Universal Credit could mean a "tough winter ahead", Conservative business minister Kwasi Kwarteng warned last month. He told the BBC that the government had spent a huge amount of money on the temporary increase, adding that "there was a debate about how long we could afford this." Charity Citizens Advice said that a third of people on Universal Credit could end up in debt when their benefits decrease.

Labour has called for the cut to be halted, with shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Bridget Phillipson telling Parliament in September that the government has "created an avoidable and unacceptable burden on working people".

Local MP Neil Coyle went for a tour of Love North Southwark's operations with Kathy and said that Labour "exist to try and remove demand for food banks and end the need for food banks."

He added: "Whilst it’s great and brilliant that [the food bank is] here and the model is brilliant, to have this additional support for people who are feeling the squeeze is brilliant - but fundamentally the system is broken. Low incomes need tackling and the benefits system needs to be fixed.”

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 October 7 2021

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NEWS 3

The pearly baby run

By Kit Heren

kit@southwarknews.co.uk The Pearly King and Queen of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe are temporarily stepping down to lowlier positions later this month - but it's all in a good cause.

Michelle Thorpe is going to dress up as a baby and be pushed in a pram from Rotherhithe to Brighton on October 14-15, with Jimmy Jukes MBE as her 'nanny', to raise money for their UK Homes 4 Heroes charity, which helps feed and house homeless ex-service personnel in London.

Michelle will be pushed by the charity's ambassador, veteran Carl Newbold, who will be wearing his camouflage uniform. Jimmy, who was hospitalised with severe Covid-19 earlier this year, will drive alongside in a van.

Asked why they decided on such an unusual fundraising concept, Jimmy said: "She’s a big baby, isn't she!

We wanted to do a different idea, something novel. People get fed up with the normal things.

"It's been tough fundraising in Covid.

It’s been like a coma, we need to liven things up."

Michelle, Jimmy and Carl plan to start from the Sainsbury's at Canada Water on October 14, before going up to the City and through the West End. "On a Thursday, hopefully people will have a bit of money in their pockets," Jimmy said.

Then the three fundraisers will go down the A23, south-west through Clapham and Mitcham and aiming to reach Crawley by Thursday night, where they will stay over. The next day they will make their way down to Brighton. The whole journey should be roughly 100km (about 62 miles), Jimmy said.

Although it sounds like Carl will be doing much of the hard work, he is well-practised, Jimmy said. The Gulf veteran has done several fundraising walks for UK Homes 4 Heroes, including a trek to Lichfield near Birmingham - more than 120 miles from London.

Jimmy, Michelle and Carl want to raise £5,000 for the charity. To donate search online for 'UK Homes 4 Heroes Carl Newbold'.

Marathon effort as Bermondsey and Rotherhithe come out to cheer our runners

By Kit Heren

Watch the video

kit@southwarknews.co.uk

nline

Hundreds of people lined Jamaica Road in Bermondsey on Sunday to watch, cheer and encourage the runners taking on the 2021 London Marathon.

The route comes up Lower Road about a third of the way through the race before taking runners right around the Rotherhithe peninsula, and then coming back west along Jamaica Road, along Tooley Street and across Tower Bridge, close to the halfway mark.

By about 10.15 on Sunday morning, supporters were lining the route and waiting for the first elite male runners to appear, with the men's race starting at 9.30.

The South London Jazz Orchestra were set up just behind the barriers on the north side of the road by the entrance to King's Stairs Gardens, and were keeping supporters' spirits up in the autumnal weather with some jaunty tunes.

By about 10.30, the roar of a helicopter overhead and motorbike escorts on the road signalled the first runners' arrival. A group of nine men, with eventual winner Sisay Lemma lurking at the rear, came around the corner from Brunel Road, past the band and the cheering crowds, and disappeared quickly up Jamaica Road.

After that the more and more groups of runners began to come past, with the band continuing to play. Some people were dancing along to the music, although one woman could be heard repeatedly telling them to "change the tune".

Soon it became clear that we were past the elite athletes, as the running styles became less practised, waves to the crowd became more frequent and the costumes became more outlandish.

Among the many unusual outfits on display were comic book characters the Joker and Harley Quinn, a man in swimming trunks and a beach towel, a woman in a golf outfit complete with clubs in either hand, a man carrying a bicycle, two unicorns and Bender, the robot from the animated TV show Futurama.

southwarknews.co.uk

The men's marathon leaders As well as locals, some of whom were cheering on from their balconies on the Pynfolds Estate, some people had come from far afield to cheer on friends and family running the marathon.

Fiona and Jane had come on the train from Woking in Surrey to support their friends Lynn and Gill taking on the 26-mile race, and were also giving wholehearted encouragement to other runners coming by.

Rebecca Fouche, who was running in aid of Nerve Tumours UK, also had support from two friends dressed as flowers.

Josh Belcher, who is raising money for the Cornwall Air Ambulance, had support from several people who were cheering him on with the help of a large banner.

Of course the race could not go ahead without the many volunteers who give their time to the cause. Rotherhithe man Kevin was one of several on Jamaica Road on Sunday morning.

In between cheering on runners, Kevin said that his job was to stand by the barriers and prevent anyone who was tempted to get a little closer to the action from jumping over.

Kevin, a runner himself with London City Runners, who are based in Bermondsey's Druid Street, has already done the London Marathon in a previous year, finishing in a time of about four hours and fifteen minutes. Asked if he enjoyed it, he said: "It's good when you've finished - I'm glad

to have done it, let's put it like that!"

Among the other essential people on standby were ambulance staff - although a couple were on the receiving end of some jokes about "cheating" when they went past the runners on bikes.

Southwark had many people running the marathon this year, including Millwall fan Kevin Downey in his 32nd year and Dulwich councillor James McAsh in his first, as well as ten more for local charity Time & Talents.

Kevin Downey finished in five hours and 48 minutes, well under his target time of six hours. He also raised more than £4,300 for Children With Cancer, smashing his target of £2,500.

"It was quite hard, I didn’t have much training, and it proper poured down for about 30-40 mins when I was at Canary Wharf about eighteen miles in.

"I'm so chuffed with the fundraising.

It was one of the hardest marathons I've done, because I haven't done too much training."

Cllr James McAsh finished his race in five hours and 41 minutes and raised more than £2,300 for Southwark Asylum, well ahead of his £1,500 target.

He said he found the middle section of the race hardest, and realised towards the end that he had more in the tank - with the final kilometre actually his fastest.

James was cheered on near the end of the race by his partner and his sister, and

Fiona and Jane supporting their friend went for a pint after finishing.

He said: "I was recommended not to have a pint at the end in case I felt sick.

I thought you know what, I’ve forgone many pints in preparing for this race, I'm going to treat myself. And I didn't feel sick."

James is a primary school teacher in Brixton alongside his position as a councillor and will be back in the classroom this week.

"I'm looking forward to telling the kids," he added. "It's hard to explain how long the race is. They can't quite grasp the distance!"

The ten volunteers for Time & Talents raised more than £16,000 between them. Runners included rector of St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey Charlie Moore, who finished in four hours and 43 minutes, and lifelong SE16 resident Amy Glover, who was four minutes behind him.

Charlie said: “It was tough, but worth it for Time & Talents who continue to do great work in the local community helping lonely and vulnerable people from all walks of life, as they have been doing for the last 134 years.”

Amy added: “The marathon was an incredible experience, definitely hard work but there was a real sense of celebration and community throughout!

It was an incredible opportunity to be able to think and pray for all those around

Bermondsey and Rotherhithe supported

by Time & Talents!”

Drama tutor Elizabeth Chambers met her fundraising target of £4,000 for the Camberwell Choir School, and finished the race in five hours 46 minutes - more than an hour improvement on her attempt last year. She said she was 'super chuffed' to have done so well.

Meanwhile, Richard Hart ran the race for his 20-year 'kidney-versary' - marking two decades since he donated his kidney to save his daughter's life.

Richard did so to raise money for Guy's and St Thomas' hospital, as a thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff who looked after his daughter Emily after she was born with kidney failure and transferred to Guy’s Hospital at just five days old.

The marathon dad smashed his fundraising target of £20,000 and is still taking donations - currently sitting at an impressive £24,310.

After crossing Tower Bridge, the runners went east around Canary Wharf before doubling back and finishing on the Mall by Buckingham Palace.

Sisay Lemma, from Ethiopia, won the men's race in two hours and four minutes after finishing third last year. Britain's Josh Sesemann came seventh in his first marathon, with his compatriot Josh Griffiths one place behind. The women's race was won by Joyciline Jepkosgei in two hours and seventeen minutes.

4 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

MP and Council hit out at ‘unsafe’ Residents on verge of picketing over post asyLUM seeker hotel

By Charles Harrison charles@southwarknews.co.uk MP for Bermondsey and Southwark Neil Coyle has slammed the ‘pathetic’ actions of the Home Office in housing hundreds of asylum seekers in a Southwark hostel with poor living conditions.

Southwark Council have raised ‘deep concerns’ about the situation, in which around 500 men have been placed by the Home Office in a hostel that, a year ago, was deemed unsafe for rough house sleepers

by Southwark Council due to the inability to socially distance inside - and which has now seen a COVID-19 outbreak.

The council is yet to receiveda response from Home Secretary Priti Patel to a letter signed by council leader Kieron Williams and neighbourhood and equalities cabinet member Alice Macdonald, in which they lay out their concerns for the health and mental wellbeing of the asylum seekers.

“Pathetic incompetence from the Home Office as usual, delivering costs to councils year after year,” said MP Coyle.

"Southwark will do its bit to make sure people will have more support."

In a statement, Cllr Williams said: “This accommodation has been booked without any consultation with us, and falls short of the minimum standards any person would expect.

“We have repeatedly raised our deep concerns with the Home Office; they urgently need to take responsibility and to ensure the health, wellbeing and safety of everyone in this accommodation.”

The hostel, which is managed by Home

Office contractor Clearsprings Ready Homes, has roughly 100 rooms, only around 70 of which are self-contained.

While the Home Office stated that the maximum number permitted to each room was ten, residents speaking to a national newspaper reported that some rooms had more than fifteen people staying in them.

One resident said: “We are worried. I don’t feel safe. It’s lots of people in a small space. The Home Office doesn’t respond to our calls.”

Another added: “I have no money. I have one pair of trousers, one pair of shoes, one jumper. There’s no one to assist us.”

Asylum seekers facing problems with the accommodation are encouraged to contact Home Office-contracted Migrant Help - however, the News understands that residents have struggled to get their messages through, and say they have not been given help.

The Home Office add that residents are supplied with three meals a day and other amenities, and that there are strict quarantine and self-isolation measures in place.

The building was inspected last week by an Infection Prevention and Control Nurse from the NHS. However, the council argues that the recent COVID-19 outbreak had been exacerbated by the difficulty of social distancing or self-isolation in the hostel, and was, as stated in the council’s letter, “entirely predictable.”

The council’s letter also stated that the building, which the council has requested not be named in order to protect the identities of the asylum seekers involved,

By Charles Harrison

charles@southwarknews.co.uk A road in East Dulwich is on the verge of picketing the Royal Mail as their post is taking weeks to arrive.

is “clearly not suited or designed to sustain this level of occupation.”

It later added: “The mental and physical health of the residents of the building will be deteriorating given the conditions in which they are currently being kept.”

A Home Office spokesperson said its accommodation “must meet relevant health and safety legislation and provide their latest health and safety risk assessment”.

They added: “Due to unprecedented demand we have had to use temporary accommodation to manage demands on the asylum estate and we encourage all local authorities to volunteer their support and work with us.

“We take the welfare of asylum seekers very seriously and work closely with our providers, Public Health England and other relevant authorities to ensure all medical advice is closely followed and people selfisolate where needed.”

Clearsprings Ready Homes declined our request for comment.

One resident of post-deprived Overhill Road, David Brady, says he posted a letter to himself three weeks ago by first class post to test it - and, at time of writing, has yet to receive his letter.

Residents report that they have complained multiple times, but have 'gotten nowhere’, and now say they are considering picketing the local post office to try to get the message through.

“You can’t run a life on email alone,” said David. “You actually do need to physically receive things every now and then. A driving licence, legal documents, bank cards. It’s at a ridiculous level where a visit from a postman gives the same amount of joy as a visit from Santa Claus.”

David reported that there had been problems with the post ever since the East Dulwich branch merged with the Peckham office in 2017.

Letters that should have been delivered within days take weeks to arrive, causing residents to miss key events such as birthdays or the delivery of passports.

“I understand that in any kind of change like that, you’ll get some teething problems,” said David, “but not after four years, and this has been going on for a while. It’s a basic level of expectation for a service that we’re paying for.

“I don’t think it has any reflection

on the actual people doing the work they’re working really hard. But I think they’re being managed poorly and not being given the budget.

“Cynically I would think Royal Mail are prioritising parcels rather than letters, because they’re more profitable.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “In the East Dulwich area, we are experiencing some disruption to service due to high levels sick absences and colleagues on annual leave. We are looking to resolve the situation in the near term by offering colleagues additional overtime and by getting in more resource.

“We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for six days a week. In cases of high sick absences, we typically commit to delivering at least every other day.

“We apologise to customers for any inconvenience they may experience as we work hard to resolve the situation.”

Bermondsey block plagued by repairs and bad behaviour

By Kit Heren

The leaking pipe and Amin, one of the people who has complained of problems in Bourne House on Grange Walk

kit@southwarknews.co.uk Residents of a Bermondsey block have compared their conditions to “living in a refugee camp in a wartorn country”, complaining of damp, flooding and leaky pipes as well as an array of alleged anti-social behaviour problems.

Esmeralda Vieira, who asked for her name to be changed for this article, lives in a one-bed socially rented flat in Bourne House on Grange Walk, owned by the housing association Wandle. A Wandle tenant for more than thirty years, she suffers from an array of serious medical conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia and heart problems that have seen her hospitalised several times in the past year.

Esmeralda and her daughter Alice, who also asked for her name to be changed, and who has a separate flat in the building, have lived in Bourne House for four years.

Over time Esmeralda’s flat has developed serious damp problems that they say Wandle has not dealt with, despite several requests. Wandle says it is aware of the problems and will fix them.

Meanwhile Amin, who lives in the same building with his wife, said that a large pipe carrying an unknown liquid in the basement car park had been leaking on to his car for months in 2019. Emails from Amin to both Wandle and building managers FirstPort appear to show staff at both companies blaming the problem on each other, leaving Amin in despair. A pipe appears to have become a problem again in recent weeks and FirstPort said they had

found a contractor to fix it.

Amin, who is disabled, said: “I have enough things wrong with me that I don’t want to add others.”

As well as problems with the structure of the building, whose flats appear to be spacious, Bourne House is plagued by consistent anti-social behaviour, according to residents.

Pinned to the notice boards in Bourne House on Grange Walk are signs begging fellow residents to stop letting people into the block, adding that “our building is somewhere we should feel safe and secure”. Residents canvassed by the News told stories of fights, attempted arson and loud parties going all through the night, although it was not possible to verify these claims.

Alice said that the alleged anti-social behaviour had got much worse since the

first coronavirus lockdown in March 2020.

“Our physical and mental wellbeing has been seriously impacted. My mother’s health has deteriorated, and so has mine.”

A doctor’s letter from earlier this year recommends that Alice be moved to a new flat because her living conditions and the behaviour of neighbours was seriously affecting her mental health. Alice has tried to get herself and her mother moved to a different property but has not been successful.

“People seem to have gone berserk, they’re taking too many liberties even though we are still in the midst of a pandemic. They’ve made life under lockdown much more difficult. We have thin walls and floors. There’s no real privacy or tranquility, no good night’s sleep.”

She said she had reported the problems to the housing association but the issues

remain unresolved. Wandle say they deal with the problems “robustly”.

Amin said that while Wandle could not be held accountable for the alleged anti-social behaviour itself, they could do more to tackle it. He told a story of a neighbour who was leaving his rubbish in the lift. Amin confronted him about it and the problem stopped.

“You can’t ask for perfect neighbours, but you have to manage the situation properly,” he said. “You have to be proactive.”

A spokesperson for Wandle said they were aware of the damp issues in one of the flats and are working with the resident to resolve this. They also said: “We work closely with FirstPort who look after the communal areas of the block including the car park. All reported issues of antisocial behaviour by our residents have been dealt with robustly. In addition, when FirstPort highlight issues of residents fly tipping in the communal areas we have been quick to respond to these concerns by writing to

residents.

“FirstPort are responsible for ensuring any refuse is removed promptly and apart from some very minor exceptions we have found them to be responsive in this area.

“We have arranged to meet FirstPort urgently this week to review the car park leak issue to see what can be done to prevent any further water leaking onto any vehicles and pick up on any other issues that may need addressing.”

A spokesperson for FirstPort said: “We’re sorry to hear of the issues raised by residents at Grange Walk and will always look to work closely with Wandle to address any concerns quickly.

“We were only made aware of the broken pipe on 23rd September 2021 as part of a regular maintenance inspection.

We immediately appointed a specialist contractor to investigate the leak and expect a full report and recommendations very shortly, which we will of course share with residents.”

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SUZI RUFFELL

DANCE LIKE EVERYONE'S WATCHING SAT 16 OCT 8pm

ANNA STÉPHANY & SHOLTO KYNOCH WED 27 OCT 8pm

OCTOBER 2021

KATHRYN TICKELL & THE DARKENING

ED BYRNE

VIRGINIA WOOLF

GARY DELANEY

OLDILOCKS & THE THREE BEARS

JACK DEE (book Launch)

SUN 17 OCT 8pm

GARY IN PUNDERLAND FRI 29 OCT 5.30pm & 8pm

IF I'M HONEST WED 20 OCT 8pm

SAT 30 OCT 11am & 3pm

KILLING THE ANGEL SUN 24 OCT 3pm

WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM? WED 3 NOV 8.30pm

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Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

Ellie Rose should get more recognition for saving drowning man Exclusive

By Kit Heren

The 18-year-old was friends with Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole and said he was in her head as she rushed to the struggling man’s aid

Ellie with her mother Donna and Kathy Brace from Morrison's

kit@southwarknews.co.uk

A young Walworth woman who helped save a man who jumped into the Thames has been recognised for the bravery she showed in the daring late-night rescue.

Ellie Rose, 18, helped save the man, 29, last month when she saw him jump from the Golden Jubilee footbridge near Embankment tube station in the early hours of the morning.

Kath Brace, community champion at Morrisons on the Walworth Road gave Ellie a bunch of flowers, a certificate, and JD Sports vouchers last Friday afternoon, October 1.

Kath said: "How she saved that young guy, I think she was quite brave. I don’t think she got enough attention and she wasn't brought enough recognition for it.

"In my job at Morrisons I can do things like that for the community. I thing she's a great young girl, and it's a good gesture on behalf of Morrisons to recognise what she did."

It came after Ellie helped haul Nathan, the young man, out of the Thames in the early hours of Saturday, September 4.

Nathan had come to London from Manchester for the day and had left a nightclub in Soho to catch the coach home. As he was crossing the bridge, he said he was accosted by a large group of young men who demanded his money.

He said they threatened him with knives and he felt the only way to survive was to jump into the freezing water of the Thames.

From the bank, Ellie watched Nathan, a strong swimmer, make his way to a pontoon at Embankment Pier by the north bank of the Thames - but she could hear him struggling, she said.

She sprang into action, trying to call the police but she couldn’t get through immediately and her phone was nearly dead. She ran to a bar near Embankment tube station and told the security guards to call the police to tell officers there was someone in the water.

Ellie ran across the road and tried to make her way down to where Nathan was struggling in the water. She had to climb over two gates to make her way down the pontoon, closer to where Nathan was in the water, between a boat and the pier, clearly disoriented.

“I could hear the guy struggling,” she said. “I started shouting out that I was there. I could just see his head.”

Ellie told him to swim around to the side where she would pull him up. But the cold water had taken its toll and the effort was almost too much for Nathan - his head disappeared underwater for a few seconds, Ellie said.

Nathan eventually managed to make his way to a stepladder and stopped at the bottom.

“I told him ‘I need you to come up a bit and I’m going to pull you up’. I’m not a strong swimmer, so I really wasn’t trying to get in the water”.

But Nathan had so little strength left that he couldn’t feel his body and wasn’t able to lift himself up at all, she said. Ellie went down a couple of steps and helped Nathan pull himself to the top of the ladder.

“But then he just froze,” she said. “I said to him ‘come on’. Because he was getting robbed on the bridge, he thought I was with the people that robbed him. He said ‘if you don’t prove to me that you’re trying

Ellie to help me I’m going to jump back in’. I showed him that I called 999 and tried to ring them again but as soon as I clicked on the call my phone died.

“I told him ‘at this stage, if you do jump in I’m going to have to jump in after you and I’m not a strong swimmer.’”

Ellie said she was crying at this point and trying to distract Nathan, who appears to have been in shock, from jumping back in.

“I was telling him the police are going to be here any minute. I was saying ’put your arm around me’ and I had my arm around his waist as well.

“When I pulled him up by the arm I could feel how cold he was. He started throwing up. His back was in so much pain from the impact of hitting the water.”

Police and ambulance crews arrived soon after and Nathan was treated at the scene and taken to hospital. Ellie stayed with him while he was being treated and the two have been in contact since.

Nathan thanked Ellie and called her his “angel for the night” in a post on social media, adding that she motivated him to stay strong and helped get him out.

Ellie was friends from school with Folajimi Olubunmi-Adewole, the young Bermondsey man who died in April after heroically diving into the Thames to rescue someone in the water.

She said that when Nathan went into the water “Jimi was kind of in my head. When I saw that and I thought of Jimi, I knew I had to try and do what I could.”

Ellie’s mother Donna told the News that she was very proud of what her daughter had done. Ellie’s aunt Wendy added that “it’s been quite emotional for us. We could have lost her. She should be recognised as a young hero.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called at 2:20am on 4 September to reports of an incident on Victoria Embankment.

"We sent an ambulance crew, an incident support officer and our hazardous area response teams.

"A man was treated at the scene and taken to hospital."

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: "Police were called at 02:09hrs on Saturday, 4 September to Victoria Embankment, SW1 following reports of a man in the River Thames.

"Officers, including the Marine Policing Unit, and RNLI attended. The 29-year-old man was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service and later discharged.

"The victim told officers that he had been assaulted and robbed, before jumping into the river.

"Detectives from the Central West BCU are investigating. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

"Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 755/04Sep."

is expanding.

Is your area affected?

NORTH CIRCULAR ROAD

Vehicles are not charged for driving on the North Circular Road (A406)

ENFIELD

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WALTHAM FOREST

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RICHMOND UPON THAMES

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BEXLEY

SOUTH CIRCULAR ROAD Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright 2021

Vehicles are not charged for driving on the South Circular Road (A205)

From 25th October it’s expanding from central London up to, but not including, the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205), to help clean up London’s air. The North and South Circular Roads themselves are not in the zone.

If you drive within the zone with an older polluting vehicle that’s petrol or diesel and doesn’t meet the standards, you may be affected. Are you ready?

This is part of the commitment by the Mayor of London and TfL to help Londoners breathe cleaner air.

Search ULEZ Expansion, and check your postcode.

8 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

‘searingly honest’ : life with 30 epileptic seizures a day Exclusive

By Kit Heren kit@southwarknews.co.uk “I wrote the book because I thought it would be cathartic, but it wasn’t cathartic by any stretch of the imagination - it was awful.”

Franziska Thomas, the author of Fits and Starts, a memoir about life with epilepsy, delivers these words surprisingly cheerfully. An East Dulwich native who still lives in the area with her husband and two sons, Franziska has now turned the book into an immersive audiobook - including sections she narrated herself in the moments after a seizure. She says that despite writing the book and recording her sections being tough, "when I start doing something, I refuse to give up."

“There’s loads of people out there with epilepsy who can’t hold a book,” Franziska adds. “After you’ve had a seizure you just want to lie down and chill out - if you’ve got the thing on your phone you can just listen.”

Franziska is seriously affected by her epilepsy: she has as many as 30 smaller seizures every day, as well as ‘tonicclonic’ seizures - the bigger episodes that most people recognise as an epileptic fit. She also normally has about fifteen seizures every night, meaning her sleep is constantly interrupted and she usually wakes up exhausted - “like being on a running machine”.

Her injuries from falling include a fractured skull, broken ribs and a cut that meant she needed 70 stitches across her chin.

“Because of all that we live life on a dayby-day basis,” she says. “We kind of have a completely different life to everyone else.

We can’t plan for things like half-term, we just have to do things when we can.”

Franziska has to take a lot of medication to control her condition. “I take five different anti-convulsants. 70 pills a day - it’s like a full-time job. I have all these reminders on my phone. I’ve been told ‘turn off your bloody alarm!’ - but it keeps me alive!”

She had her first fit when she was fifteen but says she didn’t fully come to terms with her condition until her midtwenties - even going through years of university without telling anyone that she was epileptic.

Franziska, who did work experience at the News, found work at the Guardian but left despite getting a prestigious fulltime job at the publication. She “cried for two weeks” after quitting but soon found work as a teacher, a job she says she loved.

She worked at the tough North Westminster Community School for seven years (now closed and merged with another school to become Westminster Academy.) Franziska says that the vulnerability her condition gave her made it easier to bond with the children, many of whom came from very difficult backgrounds.

“Having fits put me on their level,

Fond farewell held for popular Bermondsey GP

Dr Campion with receptionist Sandra Bone

because they could see a frailty in me.

I was so open about it, I didn’t hide anything. They thought ‘if she’s going to be open about it there’s no reason for us to hide anything. I was much more aware of things than other teachers were. I was much more aware of things when things went wrong, I became really astute to little things.

“That empathy comes from understanding stuff because you have a chronic illness and you can see really small behaviour changes. These kids trust you implicitly.”

A group of students even saved up and bought Franziska a pillow to carry around the school so there would be something to put under her head if she had a fit. “One of them told me: ‘It’s only because I don’t want to put my coat under your head when you fall over,’” she jokes.

Franziska’s decision to be so open about her condition was also spurred

By Kit Heren

kit@southwarknews.co.uk Dozens of patients and staff queued up last week to thank a "one of a kind" Bermondsey doctor who is retiring after twenty years in the neighbourhood.

Dr Alan Campion of the New Mill Street Surgery is leaving to move to Spain, leaving behind many admiring patients who lined up out the door of the surgery on Wolseley Street to say thank you and goodbye last Thursday (September 30).

Over tea and cake Dr Campion, who ran the surgery on his own for much of his tenure, thanked patients and staff, adding that "it's been an honour and a privilege these last twenty years to know you all."

But he left with a warning about the future of the NHS, saying: "Bear in mind that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find doctors and nurses and we have been blessed over the years with some very good locums.

"Committing to an area, and when you know you’re going to be in that area for twenty years, it’s not just two bottoms on a seat over a table, it’s more than that.

Reflecting on the role of the GP Dr Campion said: "Primary care - I always wanted it to be that. It has its positives

by the arrival of her two sons, Oskar and Kurt, now aged 14 and 11.

“I needed to know that if I had a fit when I was out, there would be someone to hold my children. I never went into big places like Sainsbury’s, I only went into small shops where I knew Oskar and Kurt would be safe. There are so many things that people take for granted. It’s very, very different.”

Oskar and Kurt’s upbringings have been shaped by their mother’s condition, she says. “They have to think about things like ‘Mummy’s fallen over again’.

‘She’s on the floor again’. ‘Can you take off her jewellery again?’

“On the other hand, we have a house which is very empathetic and open. We have extraordinarily loving and generous children.”

Sadly, Oskar and Kurt have sometimes had to defend Franziska when she is having a fit in public or showing other effects of her condition. One of the side effects of her medication is ataxia, a condition that makes it hard to stand up straight.

“A couple of weeks ago, someone in the street told me I shouldn’t have children.

Sometimes because of my ataxia I literally just fall down - you look like you’re drunk.

This woman told me ‘drunks shouldn’t have kids’. My youngest son was helping me along and telling me ‘you’re almost home’.

“You don’t even know the situation, it’s so unnecessary. The next thing I did was even worse because I threw up everywhere [because of the medication].

Another time earlier this year, Franziska fell over in the street. “There was a man who was recording it on his phone saying ‘this is going to look great on my YouTube channel.’ And Oskar chased after him saying ‘don’t you dare put that on YouTube, that’s my mother.’”

Franziska has also had many “lovely” experiences in East Dulwich, including when she collapsed in M&S and a stranger walked her home and carried her shopping.

Franziska says she thinks of her book and the audiobook version as a public service.

“If I can survive epilepsy, then anyone else can as well. There’s no reason that anyone else can’t do it. I’ve had so many messages thanking me since the book came out, and it was really important to realise that I don’t even have the worst epilepsy. Some people have 30 fits an hour.

“I wouldn’t choose epilepsy, but we have to make the most of it.”

The audiobook is the result of a local collaboration: production company Almost Tangible was founded by Sydenham resident Charlotte Melén.

Fits And Starts: A Memoir of Living with Epilepsy is available on commercial audiobook platforms or free via the Royal National Institute of the Blind and Listening Books for people with sight impairments or other health issues that affect their ability to read.

It is also available on Amazon.

and its drawbacks. I’m reminded of [former US president] JFK’s thing on his table - the buck stops here.

"Because you have to know about the baby clinic, you have to know about the vaccination schedules, you have to know a little bit about everything. To be a generalist is, in many ways, a specialism that seems to be taking a battering again."

Dr Campion added that he had moved to the surgery in the years following the rise to power of Tony Blair's New Labour - hence the name 'New Mill Street'. He ended his speech to staff and patients with a reflection on the state of the NHS, adapting the end of Blair's final speech to the House of Commons.

"Although there’s a little bit of skulduggery going on it is really quite the most marvellous institution and full of high ideals. To all my friends and foes I wish them well, and that is that, the end."

Dr Campion, originally from Derby, later told the News that he first got to know Bermondsey because "somebody would show him the smells that would come out of the walls of the wharves. It was fascinating... the next twenty years just seemed to roll by."

He praised the diversity, the warmness and "real sense of community" of the area.

Speaking outside, several of Dr

Campion's patients praised him, with one saying: "He's one of a kind. To be here for twenty years and totally devote himself to the community - it's just amazing."

The New Mill Street Surgery was rated as 'good' in the most recent report by the Care Quality Commission, but was previously called 'inadequate' after a 2017 inspection.

The surgery, which is also served by Dr Amrit Dugala, will still be taking patients after Dr Campion's departure.

Author Franziska Thomas

A couple of weeks ago, someone in the street told me I shouldn’t have children

Dr Campion making his speech

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

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Keep social distancing and avoid crowded areas if possible

To keep ourselves, families, and the community safe: Wear a face covering (unless exempt) in crowded places and on public transport

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If you have symptoms, stay at home and book a test at: nhs.uk/coronavirus

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Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

leaseholders told they cannot disconnect from southwark council’s failing heating networks

NEWS 11

The 20 sites ‘of concern’ where up to £25M a year will be spent to try and put it right

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk As we reported last week, annual district heating costs are set to rise fivefold in just four years to £25 million as Southwark Council struggles to improve its often-obsolete district heating networks. Many are now over 40

years old and experience regular outages.

There are more than 100 heat networks serving 17,000 properties across the council’s overall stock of around 55,000 homes. The following 20 networks have been identified as ‘of concern’ and prioritised for future works - or already have contractors on site.

Network planned engineering work dates

The temporary boiler at Dighton Court, Camberwell image courtesy of Chloe Hill

Exclusive

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Despite admitting its own district heating networks are at the end of their life with unreliable and unacceptable heating and hot water outages plaguing residents every winter, Southwark Council is refusing to let leaseholders try their luck elsewhere.

Although anyone who has managed to purchase the freehold of their property can ask to disconnect from a heating network, the local authority prefers - in some ways understandably - to keep flats linked to the system as every property that disconnects pushes up prices for neighbouring tenants.

But the result is that leaseholders suffer outages just as regularly as tenants, but also have to bear the financial burden of major works costs - often running into tens of thousands - all while unable to extricate themselves from

the poor service. The process around disconnection - who is able to do it and how - has been fairly secretive until now, with the News being told of cases where freeholders have spent in excess of £20,000 and months negotiating with the council to get sign off.

In its newly published policy, the council explains: “The council does not support individual properties (either tenants or leaseholders) disconnecting from its district and communal heating systems for reasons of efficiency, system imbalance, decarbonisation and the increased burden of cost upon remaining connected properties.

“The council cannot prevent freehold properties from disconnecting, however, if the owners bear all costs of disconnection.”

The policy explains that the “current average disconnection fee” is a staggering £39,500. It goes on to confirm: “There is no provision within the council’s lease agreements that entitles leaseholders to disconnect.”

Aberta

2023-24

Aylesbury

2021-22

Brandon

2022-23

Clifton

2023-24

Consort

2023-24

Cossall

2022-23

Deighton Court

Phased delivery from 2021-22

D’Eynsford

2022-23

Gloucester Grove

2022-23

Haddonhall

2024-25

Harfield Gardens

2024-25

Lettsom

2023-24

Newington

2022-23

North Peckham

2022-23

Ospray

2024-25

Sceaux Gardens

2023-24

Setchell

2022-23

Surrey Docks (Downtow)

2023-24

Sydenham Hill

Phased delivery' no further details

Wyndham

2022-23

Watchdog says King’s patients being 'put at risk of catching Covid-19’

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

The care watchdog has said patients visiting King’s College Hospital’s A&E are ‘being put at risk of catching COVID-19’ but highlighted its committed staff and ‘dignified’ care of patients.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out the focused inspection at the Denmark Hill hospital’s emergency department in July this year to check up on the service, after a visit in July 2019 raised concerns about patient care, staff culture, governance and leadership.

They also assessed how the department was coping with the added challenges posed by the pandemic. The hospital is one of England's busiest - with 122,000 patients attending in the last twelve months.

The trust is rated overall as ‘requires improvement’ by the watchdog, and due to its financial circumstances, rated ‘inadequate’ for its use of resources specifically. King's College Hospital is

also rated 'requires improvement'.

The CQC has said the age of the building and its layout has made it difficult for A&E to adequately socially distance patients.

During the latest inspection they discovered that there was no clear signage to indicate which cubicles may have a patient with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inside - “putting people at risk of catching the virus”. Poor hand hygiene from some medical staff was also noted.

The regulator also reported that ‘several areas’ of A&E were ‘cluttered and untidy’ with boxes of equipment ‘left lying around’ posing hazards for patients and staff.

Another key safety concern was found in a room used for checking children’s mental health, where two potential ligature points were identified on the internal door handles, presenting a risk of choking.

Inspectors said at one point the ambulance triage station was unmanned for fifteen minutes with an unlocked computer screen displaying patient

details in a public area.

More positively, inspectors reported that staff were working well with other agencies to recognise and protect patients from abuse; treated patients with ‘compassion and kindness’ as well as taking into account their individual needs, and ‘respected their privacy’.

The department had enough nursing and support staff with the right qualifications, training and experience, and patient records were kept updated with “nationally recognised early warning scores, sepsis reviews and other observations and assessments properly completed”.

Nigel Acheson, CQC’s deputy chief inspector of hospitals, said: “During the recent inspection of King’s College Hospital, we found a workforce that was committed to providing safe, dignified care to its patients.

“However, the age and layout of the building sometimes made it difficult for staff in the emergency department to provide the best possible care for people, as it created issues with access to, and flow within, the emergency department.

“For example, it was difficult to maintain social distancing in the waiting area of the walk-in reception, which put people at risk of catching infections such as COVID-19.

“Although the trust had undertaken work to alleviate this situation where possible, there were limits to the action they were able to take due to the age of the building.

“In addition, some patients from outside the area were being treated at King’s, due to the specialist services the hospital provides.

“Following their treatment, they were sometimes unable to be transferred back to their original hospital due to a lack of beds.

“This meant that other patients in the emergency department who needed to be moved elsewhere in the hospital had to be held in the emergency department for longer than necessary until a bed became free for them.

“To alleviate this problem when it occurs, other regional healthcare systems need to work to support King’s to provide the necessary bed space in

their own hospitals to remove these blockages.

“We have reported our findings to the trust leadership, which knows what needs to be done to bring about further improvements. We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that the improvements are made and fully embedded.”

Professor Clive Kay, Chief Executive, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Firstly, I am proud that staff in the emergency department at King’s were found to treat patients with compassion and kindness – two fundamental elements of good care.

“A number of changes were made in [the department] to improve standards following the CQC’s inspection in 2019.

“These have been reflected in the CQC’s most recent report, but we know there is a lot more work to do.

“Providing safe and effective care for patients is our number one priority.

“We are taking steps to address issues raised in the CQC’s report, and we are committed to delivering further improvements as quickly as possible.”

12 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

southwark angels Helping in crisis

food and laughter 101 year old’s secret to a long life

A woman from Bermondsey and Rotherhithe celebrated her 101st birthday this week, with family, friends, cake and champagne.

Violet Butler, who was born in 1920, had a party at Anchor’s Rose Court care home on Lower Road in Southwark, where she has lived for nearly two years, on Wednesday (September 29).

Mayor of Southwark Cllr Barrie Hargrove and his wife Mary Doherty also wished Violet happy birthday over Zoom.

Mrs Butler said: “What a day, I can’t quite believe I’m 101! Turning 100 was a big event but getting to 101 is

incredible too! I’m so happy that I can celebrate today with my family and friends in person especially after the past eighteen months. For me, the secret to a long life is to eat healthy foods and to always be happy!

“I’d like to say a big thank you to the team at Anchor’s Rose Court care home for organising all the fun and to our lovely Mayor and Mayoress for joining me with a video call. It’s astonishing what you can do with modern technology!”

Violet was born in Bermondsey in 1920 and lived for many years in Rotherhithe with her husband, Ted. During the war, she worked in the

Children on the tour last month

London Docks building ships for the Royal Navy before working at the Peek Freans Biscuit Factory. She moved to Anchor’s Rose Court care home in February 2020.

Sue Maheshwaree, manager of Anchor’s Rose Court care home, said: “Mrs Butler is a lovely person, and we’re delighted to be celebrating her 101st birthday with her and that the Mayor and Mayoress of Southwark could join as well!

“Mrs Butler is a real cornerstone of the community here at Anchor’s Rose Court care home. She loves chatting with every member of the team and is always has lovely stories to tell!”

Guy's and St Thomas' pioneers the uk’s first keyhole heart surgery A team at Guy's and St Thomas' hospital has become the first in the UK, and one of the first in the world, to offer a kind of heart surgery without having to cut open the patient.

Bermondsey kids taken on walk through local history Children from Bermondsey schools have been taken on a trip to learn more about the area's history, from the docks and warehouses to gentrification and art.

The students from St Michael's Catholic College and Compass School were given a tour of the Shad Thames area organised by local group Butler's Wharf Riverside Trust and taught about the history of the warehouses, how cargo was moved and the tough working conditions for women, men and children in the area.

After that they went down to the foreshore, where they were told about ecology and the local environment. Children were also given a series of talks covering everything from the area being home to artists, film makers and punk rockers, to gentrification by the designer Terence Conran and

visits from Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton.

Students also talked about possible future careers and discussed how they would design the public space in the area, for all its users. They were given architects' plans and asked to think of their own ideas.

Dr Emma Sanderson-Nash, who helps run Butler's Wharf Riverside Trust, said: "We encourage local children to care about their surroundings and with funding from St Saviour’s and St Olaves Foundation were delighted to put on these talks as part of the Totally Thames Festival.

"The jetty at Shad Thames, owned

by Petchey Holdings Ltd, is long due an overhaul, and we wanted to share our vision with the wider community, while at the same time introducing the children to potential future careers in design, architecture and landscape architecture."

Violet Butler at her birthday party

The surgery is for an aortic arch aneurysm, which is when a major blood vessel coming from the heart has a bulge in between the heart and the chest, and it is too risky to perform open heart surgery. But without treatment, the aneurysm can expand and eventually rupture possibly killing the patient.

Usually the procedure is done by cutting open the patient's neck to access certain blood vessels, while also removing the aneurysm via keyhole surgery through the groin.

Only two centres in the UK - Guy’s and St Thomas’ and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust - offer the current complex procedure. Now Guy's and St Thomas' can offer the operation with keyhole surgery alone.

Dr Madhusudan Puchakayala, consultant cardiac and vascular anaesthetist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ said: “This new procedure avoids open heart surgery and its associated risks, as well as reducing a stay on the intensive care unit and any further complications. It also allows for a faster recovery time, which helps patients return to their normal daily life.”

Jose Rodrigues, 57, was the first person to undergo this procedure at St Thomas’ Hospital at the end of July.

South London-based Jose said:

“I’m really glad to have been able to take advantage of this new type of surgery, and to be the first person in the UK to have it. I’m still recovering, but already feel better after my operation.”

Jose Rodrigues, who was the first person to undergo this procedure

Said Abisi, consultant vascular and endovascular surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’, added: “This new method will have real benefits for patients such as Jose, and hopefully many others in the future.”

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Address: 181 Southwark Park Rd The Blue, Bermondsey, SE16 3TX Phone: 0207 231 8841 Email: info@DesignPrintShop.co.uk WhatApp: 0793 301 8540 [Receiving files only]

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NEWS 13

Southwark News, Thursday September 9 2021

ADVERTORIAL

SCALING NEW HEIGHTS FOR CHARITY ALMOST 400 brave fundraisers took part in this year’s St Thomas’ Abseil, raising more than £290,000 for charity so far. St Thomas’ Abseil is the flagship fundraising event from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, which sees thrill-seekers abseiling 160 feet from the top of St Thomas’ Hospital.

The event couldn’t take place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year’s spectacle was the most successful yet, with a record number of participants taking part for a good cause.

Taking part this year was 15-yearold Izzie Everest, from St Leonards in East Sussex. Izzie has cerebral palsy and has been cared for by Evelina London Children’s Hospital since she was five years old.

For Izzie, taking on the abseil is a

way for her to challenge herself. She said: “Doing the abseil was such a great experience. It was terrifying but an experience to remember. If I can abseil, I’m not just the girl in the wheelchair.”

Inspirational Izzie even motivated her consultant, Mr Michail Kokkinakis to take part, despite his fear of heights.

He said: “Izzie is a truly inspiring person and someone who I look up to so much.

“Her determination was huge and she did not give up, which gave me the confidence to overcome my own hesitations and go down with her.”

Those looking to take on the challenge in 2022 can register their interest by visiting: www.supportgstt.org.uk/events/stthomas-abseil.

Left to right: family friend Ian Molnar, Izzie Everest and Michail Kokkinakis

Still here for you

Have you had your COVID-19 vaccine?

THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) vaccine is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against coronavirus. Guy’s and St Thomas’ is working hard to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to as many people as possible.

Everyone aged 16 and over is now eligible for the vaccine. People aged 16 and 17 will receive a text inviting them to book an appointment, and walk-in clinics are also available at Guy’s Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital. Anyone over 18 can book a vaccination appointment by visiting www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination or by calling 119, free of charge. You may

also be contacted directly by your hospital or GP. Lyn Wheeler, pictured, who was the first person to get the COVID-19 vaccine in south east London, received her booster jab at Guy’s Hospital from nurse Hannah Richardson.

Lyn, 82 from Bromley in south east London, met the Prime Minister when she received her first dose. She said: “I want to make sure I’m safe and that I’m protecting others. It just seems like the perfect way forward.”

Read more about vaccinations at Guy’s and St Thomas’ by visiting http://bit.ly/ VaccineGSTT.

PATIENTS SHOULD continue to attend their appointments at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Evelina London unless you hear from us. If you or your child need urgent care our emergency department (A&E) at St Thomas’ Hospital is always open.

We are taking lots of extra measures to keep you safe at our hospitals and it is important that you seek medical help if you or your child needs it. If you have an emergency, call 999.

While many appointments are able to happen virtually, if you have been invited to come into any of our sites for a face-to-face appointment or surgery, or if you require urgent care, it is important that you attend.

A staff nurse from Guy’s and St Thomas’

Improving heart and lung care GUY’S AND St Thomas’, including Evelina London and Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, and our partners King’s College Hospital are working together to revolutionise heart and lung care.

We’re working with Playing ON Theatre Company to run online drama and art sessions for 7-25 year olds who use heart or lung services. We

want to hear your stories and opinions on your healthcare.

• Children age 7-11 every Saturday, 9-23 October, from 10am to 11.30am • Children and young people age 11-16 every Saturday, 9-23 October, from 10am to 12 noon

• Young people age 17-25 every Monday, 11-18 October, from 6pm to 8pm • Half-term sessions are also available.

To find out more visit: www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/ improvingcare-heart-lung.

Our students gain the knowledge, build the character and have the experiences that lead them to be the changemakers in their world; living a good life and improving the lives of others.

They will create a better future.

Come see for yourself,

open mornings running up until 14th October

contact admissions@southbankua.org.uk or visit our website at southbankua.org.uk

For more information: Call 0207 277 3000

southbankua.org.uk

@southbankua

PREMISES ASSISTANT

Harris Primary Free School Peckham Grade 3 (Outer London) + Performance and Loyalty Bonus + Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan + Pension Scheme (LGPS) + Additional Harris Benefits JOB PURPOSE To assist/undertake the general maintenance and site security of the Academy premises and site.

Responsible for effective maintenance of the Academy premises to support the continued outstanding operation of this Academy: • Daily site maintenance including planned and preventative maintenance schedules • Delivery distribution and furniture moving, as required • Site Security • Contractor supervision, as and when needed

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSABILITY • Site Maintenance • Staff Development • Quality Assurance • Communications • Marketing and Liaison

PREMISES MANAGER

Harris Primary Academy Peckham Park Harris Primary Free School Peckham Grade 7 (Inner London) + Performance and Loyalty Bonus + Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan + Pension Scheme (LGPS) + Additional Harris Benefits MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSABILITY • Leadership and Management of Premises Team • Building Maintenance • Health and Safety

JOB PURPOSE To manage the Premises across both Harris Primary Academy Peckham Park and Harris Primary Free School Peckham, and be responsible for the upkeep, care, maintenance, health and

For a confidential discussion about this post with the Principal, more information or to arrange a visit, please contact the school on 020 7394 5700 or info@harrisfreeschoolpeckham.org.uk

safety and facilities management of the academy, with the direction and leadership of the Executive Principal.

If you think a career with us is right for you, discover more at: www.harriscareers.org.uk or scan the code

For a confidential discussion about this post with the Principal, more information or to arrange a visit, please contact the school on 020 7639 6091 or info@ harrisprimarypeckhampark.org.uk

If you think a career with us is right for you, discover more at: www.harriscareers.org.uk or scan the code

Part-time Lunchtime Supervisors/Exam Invigilator Responsible to:

Start date: Salary: Hours:

Senior Leadership Team

ASAP £ 10.75 per hour

1 hour per day, five days per week, 13:00 - 14:00

Term time only

Role summary: We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, motivated and committed individual with excellent communication skills to join our team working in a friendly, lively environment to ensure the security, safety and good conduct of our students at lunchtimes and where appropriate, during examinations*. The successful candidates will be responsible for supervising students in an area of the school during the lunch break and will need to have a confident and positive approach when working with our young people.

*There may be exam invigilation opportunities available for the right candidate during examination periods.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview and to experience lunchtimes first hand.

Please visit https://compass-schools.com/recruitment/vacancies/ to download the information pack and application form to apply.

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

or 0203 542 6506 or @compassSE16

Deadline: Friday 1st October 2021 The Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the closing date.

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

18 OPINION

www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

Comment You need to address men’s behaviour towards women at the earliest stage

T

Exclusive: Council housing boss hits back at infilling ‘misinformation’

he horrific murders of Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman have shaken Londoners, especially women.

Since Sarah Everard’s life was taken by a serving police officer seven months ago, at least 80 women have been killed by men.

Last week’s sentencing of the perpetrator has provided another wake-up call to the Met Police, the government and local representatives to work together to take the urgent and comprehensive action needed to make our streets safer for women and girls.

I raised this issue with the Deputy Commissioner of the Met Police, Sir Stephen House, at the most recent London Assembly police and crime committee. In response to my questioning, I was pleased to hear him express support for the police to start recording gender-based hate crime.

This would bolster our understanding of how we can more effectively address misogynistic attitudes and clamp down on sexual harassment, stalking and sexual offences. We now need the Home Office to move forward with their plans to trial this in London.

I agree with the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, that education and an early intervention approach are both vital, but sometimes overlooked, components in tackling violence against women and girls. The core issue is about men’s behaviour

READERS’ VIEWS How about we reduce the eligibility for people on the list. Civic minded, good Samaritans should be prioritised. Criminals and parents of knife wielding minors in gangs should be ineligible or deprioritised. We don’t want criminals in Southwark.

Mark M, via SN website

Bermondsey couple in their 70s with arthritis and heart problems forced to go without hot water for a week

marina ahmed

GLA Member for Southwark & Lambeth towards women and this needs to addressed at the earliest stage, before boys become men. It should be about prevention and not just cure.

One of my focuses at City Hall will be to look at how the government can strengthen the national curriculum and how we can improve public messaging in this area.

On a different matter, the furlough scheme has now come to an end, and since April 2020 it has supported over 62,000 Southwark workers.

The pandemic is still very much with us and I have been urging ministers to extend the scheme for specific industries which have struggled to fully reopen, such as the travel and tourism and arts and culture sectors.

The latest government stats show that there were over 11,000 people in Southwark still on furlough at the end

of June. Whilst this number would have likely dropped considerably in recent months, there is a strong possibility that many thousands in our community might now be at risk of losing their livelihoods.

With the cruel cut to the £20 weekly uplift in Universal Credit payments, the rise in energy bills and the upcoming increase in National Insurance contributions, the pockets of those on the lowest incomes are being hit by a perfect storm of an inability to pay for basic necessities. Nobody should have to make the choice between eating and putting on the heating.

From City Hall, I will continue to stand up and call for a more robust and generous welfare system to ensure our economic recovery from the pandemic is a fair one.

I am so sorry to hear that another resident of Southwark Council has to endure their wrath. I have been without heating and hot water since January 2021 and am disabled. I have had to deal with stomach ulcers this year amongst other things. The council has ignored my request to gain access to the cupboard so that my own workman can gain access to do remedial work to prevent water from the council’s pipes dropping on my boiler electrics. I have requested three times as it was an emergency. I am a leaseholder. I am still waiting.

Anne, via SN website

Water supply cut off for Camberwell housing estate twice in one month Council reaction and response has been poor. If it were their offices that lost water function it would be an emergency response. You have frontline staff living here, and they need to be able to go home, bathe and clean laundry.

Vulnerable tenants live here, bottled water dumped and no assistance to collect buckets to flush toilets. Appalling but typical of Southwark council.

Colette Morighan, via Facebook

Copy Haringey and charge triple council tax on ‘vacant’ properties Hamish McCallum Southwark Liberal Democrat opposition leader

E

mpty homes and moving the homeless out of London show the twisted state housing in Southwark.

Ahead of Action on Empty Homes day on 9th October and World Homeless Day on October 10, it is vital that we take a look at the worrying state of Southwark housing.

This issue is all the more critical following is Southwark Labour’s recent recommended change in homelessness policy to “remove restrictions” that would allow the council to move homeless people outside of London.

Southwark has over 3,000 households living in temporary accommodation, of which around half are already living outside of the borough.

Southwark Labour is now proposing to adapt its Temporary Accommodation Policy and Action Plan in order to place them even further away. It concedes this is likely to mean that more will be

living outside the capital than in.

Yet, data from housing campaigners Action on Empty Homes shows that Southwark has twice as many empty or second homes as households in temporary accommodation.

The organisation reports that there are 7,400 second homes and empty properties in the borough. One Southwark home in every 24 is empty.

There is a clear disconnect in the area we live in if more properties sit idle than people who desperately need homes.

A decade of Labour bending over to big developers will have had their mark, with lack of affordable housing a well-covered topic in Southwark.

However, mistakes already made do not mean we cannot deal with what we have in front of us.

One suggested solution from Action on Empty Homes is copying Haringey Council’s policy to crack down hard on owners who leave their properties empty, taking a strict definition of “vacant” which

can lead to additional properties being charged triple council tax.

In fact, I am proud that the Southwark Liberal Democrats proposed a motion in 2015 that argued for raising tax on empty homes.

Higher taxes for property investors clearly will not end the housing crisis alone. But, along with building genuine affordable housing en masse, it will play a part in doing so.

Unfortunately, there is real harm in not using the solutions we have in front of us.

Shelter warned in September that Universal Credit cuts and the end of the furlough scheme will all spell a disastrous winter for homelessness.

Its chief executive said that families will have to pick between eating, heating and rent this year.

As politicians one of the ways we can avoid this in the future is by acting today to ensure housing becomes available and affordable tomorrow.

Legalise e-scooters everywhere,’ says new report ’Legalising the use of private electric scooters with strict necessary rules (driving licence, a short training road course, insurance, pavement use legal speed for mobility users, etc) would stop morons using them and hopefully reduce accidents.

Tee Huss, via Facebook

I am an 88 year old man who’s only pleasure in life these days is a stroll down to the shops for a few bits and pieces. I have been knocked over a few times by cyclists on the pavement from behind, what happened to the law regarding bells on bicycles?

Patrick Lee, via Facebook

Guy’s & St Thomas’ is one of three trusts in UK where A&E experience is ‘better than expected’ Kings College A and E should also be commended. These workers and staff deal with so much stress daily but still keep you at ease when you are at your most vulnerable. We need to be supporting all our NHS staff not tarnishing them when they fall behind with the lack of resources and staffing they currently have. Even if I have to wait, the care given once seen is great.

Katie Louise, via Facebook

They saved my toddler's life. Amazing team at children's A&E Annie Geo, via Facebook

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters

OPINION 19

Just an excuse, a disaster of Royal Mail’s making

R

oyal Mail has blamed staff sickness and annual leave for its shoddy service in SE22.

The beleaguered company has faced much criticism from Dulwich residents and their constituency MP Helen Hayes. As residents and News readers will know, the issues are nothing new and, frankly, Royal Mail’s response doesn’t cut it.

Hayes has been raising concerns about heavily delayed and missing post since 2018, when Royal Mail announced the closure of its Silvester Road sorting office. Even then it wasn’t exactly providing a stellar service. “There is no excuse for Royal Mail closing it and not providing a replacement collection facility within the SE22 postcode area,” she argued at the time.

Those fears were well-founded. By 2020 she was even speaking on the matter in parliament after a ‘collapse in service’ during the pandemic.

Silvester Road was sold for over seven million to become flats. Last year Hayes told MPs that a ‘golden hello’ of £5.8 million given to a chief executive who left abruptly in May 2020 could have hired 252 postmen and postwomen, “just a few of whom would have been able to sustain reliable services for my constituents in SE22”. Nearly four years later it’s a disaster of Royal Mail’s own making.

Council needs to be more flexible with homeowners

P

ostwar council estates weren’t designed to have a mix of tenures. The economies of scale achieved by having communal heating and other services only works if all the properties are council properties - but right to buy put an end to that.

Homeowners now face a triple whammy. Not only are they suffering the same unreliable or poor service from district heating networks that should have been upgraded decades ago, they are also having to shoulder the burden of the cost - sometimes in the tens of thousands in major works bills.

And, moreover, leaseholders are unable to disconnect and find alternative, reliable energy because in doing so they are pushing up prices for everyone else.

If a homeowner of an ex-council property has the freehold they can disconnect - but to the tune of £40k. This issue is the kind of small print that tenants looking to exercise their right to buy need to be aware of. The council argues it is putting tenants first. But given that so many heating networks are 40 plus years old and in such poor condition it isn’t really an adequate response. After years of outages the council should be acknowledging its failures and offering more flexibility to homeowners who are investing huge sums of cash and, until recently at least, have seen little return on that investment.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Clues Across 1 I try aid for the drought condition (7) 5 Established as in a plot (5) 8 Cream of sounds? (4) 9 1 have water and rum in the goldfish bowl (8) 10 Then drums sort out the atmosphere disturbances (13) 13 Appear from these embarrassing moments (4) 14 Shoot back with one on the peak (4) 17 One who believes in always giving thanks before meals? (7,6) 19 Less usual to find a foreigner (8) 20 Carry the animal (4) 21 But not necessarily a tree that was planted earlier (5) 22 Renew the French sheen (7)

Clues Down 2 Outlines the plans for part of the golf course (6) 3 Disturb the grandee (7) 4 Take back the skill of the French man as a shopkeeper (9) 5 Will the second-rate survive the explosion? (5) 6 Sound pleased it’s mounting the footrest (7) 7 Mad to go back, and inquires for the linens (7) 11 One who always hesitates to speak. (9) 12 I’m too old-fashioned for this deadlock (7) 13 Looked about right, so took the leading role (7) 15 Serving several purposes in public transport (7) 16 1 chatter about the robber (6) 18 The man who is satisfied at five hundred going to the front? (5)

QUICK PUZZLE Clues Across 1 5 8 9 10 13 14 17 19 20 21 22

Orator (7) Anything giving great pleasure (5) Drop (4) Contrary (8) Reluctance (13) Man-eating giant (4) Immense (4) Inquiring into (13) Most spacious (8) Cut off (4) Gloomy (5) Entreaties (7)

Clues Down

2 Tracts of level country (6) 3 Uniting (7) 4 Softening (9) 5 Strip of leather (5) 6 Clear (7) 7 Locks of hair (7) 11 Steersman (9) 12 Mixed (7) 13 Easily understood (7) 15 Convince (7) 16 Reply (6) 18 Slippery (5)

Solutions to last week’s crossword Cryptic Across: 4 Purred 8 Engross 10 Princes 11 These 12 Tides 13 Clearance, l6 Outweighs 19 Depot 20 Taken 22 Crayons 23 Tangent 24 Sateen Down:1 Septic 2 Ogle 3 To be or not to be 5 Uninteresting 6 Receding 7 Disuse 9 Spain 14 Elephant 15 Edicts 17 Trust 18 Sanity 21 Knee QUICK Across:4 Spiced 8 Employs 10 Thought 11 Steep 12 Enter 13 Strangers 16 Abstinent 19 Trust 20 Nasty 22 Reasons 23 Holiest 24 Dressy Down: 1 Beasts 2 Apse 3 Compensations 5 Processionals 6 Cogitate 7 Deters 9 Style 14 Regulate 15 Stared 17 Smash 18 Trysts 21 Seed

20 ARTS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/arts

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

what’s on

Disco lights dance across the writhing male bodies as they twist and turn to Donna Summer’s I Feel Love, but when the lights go out the men are in Dr Emma Brookner’s office wondering why their hedonistic friends are getting ill and dying.

So opens The Normal Heart, Larry Kramer’s groundbreaking play about the early days of the AIDS crisis, writes Michael Holland.

Photo by Steve Gregson

The Normal Heart Still Beating

Photo by Helen Maybanks

A simple circular stage becomes early 80s New York where no one can work out what is killing young, gay men. Brookner, brilliantly played

by Liz Carr, is doing research with her patients, logging all the signs and symptoms and trying different treatments. She also logs their lifestyle.

With no conclusive evidence her advice is for them to stop having sex, which is definitely not an option for the majority: ‘We fought for this,’ says one, ‘so I’m not stopping.’

The death toll rises but the media won’t make it a story. Ned Weeks, who believes the doctor, attempts to stir the gay community and the authorities into action, but they are not interested. He tries to fundraise for more research, but the money merely trickles in. He establishes a group of gay men who want to stop people dying but at that time far too many gay men were in the closet, scared to come out for fear of losing their jobs their friends and their family.

Ned’s anger leads him to publicly abusing the Mayor, harassing journalists and hectoring the media to take up the epidemic story. In California, the Governor gives millions to research, but in New York, government contributions can

in Southwark

be counted in the low thousands.

Potential funders say gays have a bad image, ‘with all the chains and leather and dresses…’, but Ned

can’t get someone else to be the spokesperson for the group, someone less temperamental.

The constant talk is of who’s unwell

and who’s died, and all the while the majority of the gay community continue having sex. Ned’s anger rises.

Eventually, the group feels Ned’s

activism is detrimental to the cause and exclude him from the mission that he began. He loses friends and family and struggles in relationships.

But after some time the message gets through, there are more volunteers to the cause and more exposure worldwide as the virus spreads. The New York Times writes about it, but still too many gays are scared to come out. Civil disobedience erupts, but a cure is said to be years away.

Dr Brookner gives a magnificent anti-government speech about the lack of funding that had the whole theatre clapping, but it was Ben Daniel’s monumental performance as Ned Week’s that stood out. His speech imploring the gay community to have pride and to claim their gay rights was tremendous.

This revival of The Normal Heart is timely as we can look back and see the similarities of the fear and the ignorance that we see with Covid.

There was a glut of conspiracy theories then as there are now, which aid the spreading by deterring people getting the help.

Larry Kramer was an angry activist who was banned from the group he started in his front room. Kramer did upset the very people who could fund the work and The Normal Heart is his way of saying all that he didn’t get to say and was honest enough to portray himself as not a nice person.

The play is overlong and wordy, but it is worthy. At the end, several people around me were quietly sobbing.

Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, South Bank SE1 until November 6th.

Times: Tues - Sat 7.15pm, Thus & Sat matinees 1.15pm.

Admission: £20 - £89. www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

The two worlds of Tokyo Rose After debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival back in 2019, Burnt Lemon Theatre’s musical, Tokyo Rose, with its fullfemale cast is now a fully-fledged two-act piece, writes Christopher Peacock...

Mask-wearing aside, with no social distancing in the audience this was as close to a pre-pandemic theatre experience I have had so far.

Tokyo Rose is based on the true story of Iva Toguri, a Japanese-American citizen who in 1941 finds herself in Tokyo looking after her aunt when war is declared between the two nations.

Ostracised by Imperial Japan because she wouldn’t give up her American citizenship, she leaves her aunt and gets a job on an English-speaking radio station broadcasting to prisoners of war. She ends up presenting ‘The Zero Hour ’where she feels that she can actually entertain the GIs, which is against the intentions of her Japanese paymasters. Drama ensues when trying to get back to America after the war and Iva becomes the attention of American law enforcement. She is

charged with treason for spreading Japanese propaganda.

The show has a blend of Japanese and English script which did make me wonder if the English at times is just repetition of what is being said for the audience’s sake or whether there is more humour and depth to the script for somebody fluent in both languages.

Usage of a small rolling set nimbly helps change scenes as the show jumps around in time and location.

The modern choreography and electro music were certainly not used to place the scene or time and were quite jarring. There was strong singing from all the cast with some harmonies that impressed, while other ensemble numbers became overbearing and screechy.

The second half plays out Iva’s efforts to defend herself and explores feelings of identity and nationality as this woman of Japanese heritage proudly identifies as American. There could be room for much depth and feeling here but the songs let these moments down with rather clichéd lyrics. The moment of drama with emotional weight came

as Japan’s involvement in the war came to an end. The devastating nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki partnered with the loss of lives in internment camps holding innocent Japanese-Americans on US soil highlights that in war there is no real victory, only loss on both sides.

As an ensemble, the cast works well together. The acting at times was caricatured but Maya Britto as Iva Toguri brings a wholesome feel to a character who only ever thinks she is doing her best for her family and country. Another highlight was Lucy Park who makes the best of the male roles she takes on and adds a little comedy to the piece.

Tokyo Rose continues after its stint in London on tour with four more stops around England.

Southwark Playhouse 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD until 16th October.

Times: Mon - Sat 7.30pm; Tues & Sat matinees 3pm.

Admission: £27.50, £22.

Booking: www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/history

HISTORY 21

History

should spy writer len get a blue plaque?

By Kit Heren

kit@southwarknews.co.uk The nominations are open for this year’s Southwark Blue Plaque. We will be detailing the achievements of each nominee on the shortlist over the coming weeks. ______________________________________________

Len Deighton is an author, journalist, cookery book writer, and historian, who is thought to have written the first novel typed on a word processor from his Borough home.

Along with Graham Greene, Ian Fleming and John Le Carré, Mr Deighton, 92, is often ranked among the foremost British authors of spy fiction of the twentieth century.

He wrote the IPCRESS File in 1962, which brought “a more insolent, disillusioned and cynical style to the espionage story”, according to the historian Alan Burton in his recent history of British spy fiction - in contrast with Mr Fleming’s smooth, Etonian James Bond.

Mr Deighton told the BBC’s Desert Island Discs that the novel “is about spies on the surface, but it's also really about a grammar school boy among public school boys and the difficulties he faces.” The book, Mr Deighton’s first, is also perhaps his most famous and was adapted into a film starring Michael Caine. Mr Caine also played the role in three later adaptations of the author’s works.

Mr Deighton was born in 1929 in Marylebone, the son of a chauffeur and mechanic, and a cook. He went to grammar school and did his national service in the RAF. Aged about twenty he won a grant to study at art school and later became an illustrator. Much of his work was in advertising and book covers - and he designed the cover for Jack Kerouac’s novel On the Road in 1957.

He was commissioned to write ‘cookstrips’ - graphic recipe illustrations with minimal wording - for the Observer newspaper for four and a half years from 1962. It was in this period that he wrote the IPCRESS File, which was soon a success and made his name, helping him launch a long literary career. He went on to write another 26 novels over 34 years, including Spy Story and Bomber.

Alongside its literary merit, Bomber, a meticulously researched book about an RAF raid, made history for technical reasons.

The book is thought to have been the first novel written on a word processor.

Mr Deighton typed it on an early IBM computer from his house in Merrick Square, near Great Dover Street, starting in 1968. An IBM technician who worked on his typewriters had suggested that he could use the enormous Magnetic Tape Selectric Typewriter machine to write the book. A window reportedly had to be removed from his house so the 200-pound machine could be lifted in.

He told the magazine Slate in 2013: “Standing in the leafy square in which I lived, watching all this activity, I had a moment of doubt. I was beginning to think that I had chosen a rather unusual way to write books.”

As well as his novels, Mr Deighton has written several cookery books, including

Len Deighton is thought to be have written the first novel typed on a word processor from his Borough home ... a window reportedly had to be removed so the 200-pound machine could be lifted in

Len Deighton’s Action Cook Book, a collection of his cookstrips “aimed at an audience of men unskilled at knowing their way around the kitchen”, and Où est le garlic, a book on French cooking.

Mr Deighton also curated Len Deighton’s London Dossier, a sardonic guidebook to the British capital that played on his reputation as a spy fiction writer and a fixture of the city’s ‘swinging sixties’ scene. Each of the chapters were done by fellow London writers, on broad subjects like ‘the underworld’ and ‘music’. Mr Deighton wrote introductions to the book and to each chapter.

He wrote several history books, including Fighter: The True Story of the Battle of Britain and Blitzkrieg: From the Rise of Hitler to the Fall of Dunkirk. Other work included film and television scripts.

His output has been sparser since the late 1990s and his last book came out in 2012.

Rob Mallows, the creator of the Deighton Dossier, a fan site devoted to Mr Deighton, wrote that “in recent years Deighton's profile in the UK and globally has diminished as he enjoys retirement.”

Indeed Mr Deighton has not given many interviews in recent years and declined through his agent to speak to the News for this piece. He said that he did not enjoy the work of being a writer, telling Desert Island Discs that “the best thing about writing books is being at a party and telling some pretty girl you write books, the worst thing is sitting at a typewriter and actually writing the book.”

To vote for Len Deighton or any of the nominees for a Southwark Blue Plaque, please email kit@southwarknews.co.uk or admin@southwark.org.uk with the name of the person you want to nominate.

Len Deighton (The Deighton Dossier)

www.southwarknews.co.uk FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS / CLASSIFIED / PUBLIC NOTICES 23

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

Memorial

Birthday

Birthdays

public notices

Look who’s 50

In loving memory of

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

Michael Quinn

Mick O’Connell

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (ORMSIDE STREET, SUMNER STREET, CONSORT ROAD, KENNINGTON PARK PLACE, KIRKWOOD ROAD, ST MARYS ROAD, LAVINGTON STREET, REDCROSS WAY) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable various works to be carried out by Thames, UKPN, Conway, Select Plant Hire and Network Rail, it intends, to make an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named roads.

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload in: (a) Ormside Street, at its junction with Penarth Street (b) Sumner Street, between Emerson Street and Great Guildford Street (c) Consort Road, between Queens Road and Harders Road (d) Kennington Park Place, west side lane of carriageway, between De Laune Street and Kennington Park Place (e) Kirkwood Road, between Brayards Road and Lugard Road (f) St Marys Road, between Evelina Road and Dundas Road (g) Lavington Street, between Great Suffolk Street and Ewer Street (h) Redcross Way, at it’s junction with Southwark Street

Whose fourth anniversary occurred on 6th October, sadly missed and always remembered by his loving family.

“Those we love don’t go away They walk beside us every day Unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and forever dear”

Congratulations on your 50th Birthday (12th October).

Wishing you the very best!

Lots of Love Lisa, Amy, George, Amy & Roman xxxxx

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Penarth Street, Hatcham Street. (2b) not applicable (2c) Consort Road, Nunhead Lane, Evelina Road, Belfort Road, Queens Road Clayton Road. Belfort Road, Evelina Road, Nunhead Lane, Peckham Rye, Copeland Road.

(2d) De Laune Street, Braganza Street, Kennington Park Road. (2e) Brayards Road, Caulfield Road, Lugard Road. (2f) Evelina Road, Lausanne Road, Belfort Road, Dundas Road, Hollydale Road. (2g) as indicated by the signs displayed. (2h) as indicated by the signs displayed.

4.

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

5.

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

6.

The works will be in operation for (2a) 25th – 29th October (2b) 25th October – 12th November (2c) 25th October (2d) 25th – 28th October (2e) 26th October (2f) 27th October (2g) 23rd – 24th October, with back up dates of 30th – 31st October (2h) 25th – 26th October.

7.

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

Classified and community notices

WANTED

CARS + VANS 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

CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH / CASH

Dated this 7th October 2021

Part Time Assistant

For busy Coin Op Launderette Based in New Cross area Experience preferred Text or Call

07955 824 419

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

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) 000810045120110-002 (2b) 44782838 (2c) 92071762 (2d) DM04621 (2e) 51504772 (2f) 83709035 (2g) LBSCR11943-2/3 (2h) CBM-00-08-251021

LPs AND SINGLES - WHOLE COLLECTIONS WELCOME

DON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

Call: 07956 832314 / 020 8677 6907 Or Email: vinylwanted@aol.com

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (RUSKIN WALK AND WARMINGTON ROAD)

ALSO INTERESTED IN NON CHART CD COLLECTIONS

(TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTION

Call 020 7232 1639 to advertise in Classified

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that, it intends, to make an order, to implement the following restrictions in part of the above named roads. This is to allow for the continuation of the previous experimental order: TMO1920-EXP06_Ruskin Walk.

2.

The effect of the order:(a) in the full length of RUSKIN WALK to introduce ‘one-way’ north-westbound traffic and a complimentary ‘no entry’ for vehicles, except pedal-cycles, travelling in either direction in Herne Hill at its junction with Ruskin Walk; and (b) in WARMINGTON ROAD at its junction with Ruskin Walk, to introduce a ‘right turn only’ restriction for all vehicles, except pedal-cycles, which will reinforce the north-westbound traffic movement in Ruskin Walk.

3.

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.

4.

The restriction will come into force between the 22nd October 2021 – 7th March 2022

5.

For information relating to this notice please contact Tobias Allen - Transport Project Engineer of the Council’s Highways Team Highways@southwark.gov.uk

Dated this 7th October 2021

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

www.bedehouse.org , tel: 0207 237 3881

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: TTO/Planned/permit/3001041

24 PUBLIC NOTICES

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LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (GREAT SUFFOLK STREET, GIBBONS RENTS, ROLLS ROAD)

RYE LANE TRIAL

(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC) 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable various works to be carried out by Network Rail, Thames Water, Lanes, it made, an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named roads.

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload in: (a) Great Suffolk Street, at it’s junction of Ewer Street for 15m north (b) Gibbons Rents, between Holyrood Street and Magdalen Street. (c) Rolls Road, at it’s junction of St James Road and No’s 76.

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) as indicated by the signs displayed. (2b) Holyrood Street, Magdalen Street (2c) Marlborough Grove, Old Kent Road, St James Road.

St James Road, Old Kent Road, Coopers Road. St James Road, Southwark Park Road, Dunton Road, Mandela Road, Humphrey Street, Old Kent Road, Rowcross 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 for (2a) 15th – 16th October (2b) 18th – 20th October (2c) 18th October – 4th November

7.

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

Dated this 7th October 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) 5901/XTD-01-06-151021 (2b) 000809226850090-002 (2c) 5885/003345KDQF

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

2.

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable a crane operation operation to be carried out by J & G traffic, it made, an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named roads.

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 Deverell Street, located between Middleton House, (No’s 1 – 25) and Nashe House, (No’s 1 – 42)

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Bartholomew Street, Great Dover 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 16th – 17th October.

7.

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

Dated this 7th October 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: 5790/LBSCR11928-2

The London Borough of Southwark (Prescribed routes) (Rye Lane) Experimental Traffic Order 2021 The London Borough of Southwark (Waiting, loading and stopping restrictions) (Rye Lane) Experimental Traffic Order 2021 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 7 October 2021 it has made the above experimental orders under sections 9 and 10 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended.

2. The effects of the experimental orders are, to:(a) prohibit motor vehicles from entering into or proceeding in that part of RYE LANE which lies between its junction with Hanover Park and the north-westernmost point of the Rye Lane island site, except for buses and taxis and except for the purposes of loading which may only be permitted between the hours of 7 am to 10 am (henceforth referred to as the ‘permitted hours’); (b) prohibit motor vehicles from entering into Rye Lane from its junctions with HANOVER PARK, HIGHSHORE ROAD, ELM GROVE, BOURNEMOUTH ROAD, and BLENHEIM GROVE except for buses (where relevant) and taxis and except for the purposes of loading during the permitted hours only; (c) in ELM GROVE (i) suspend existing ‘one-way’ operation, and (ii) prohibit motor vehicles from entering into the carriageway linking Elm Grove and Holly Grove (to the rear of Nos. 72-74 Rye Lane), except for taxis and except for the purposes of loading during the permitted hours only; (d) suspend the ‘bus and cycle only’ bus route northbound only in RYE LANE at its junction with Copeland Road; (e)convert all waiting and loading restrictions in RYE LANE, which lie between its junction with Hanover Park and its junction with Copeland Road, to operate (i) ‘at any time’ (double yellow lines and double kerb blips) on the east and north-east side, between the southern kerb-line of Hanover Park and a point 31 metres north-west of the north-western kerb-line of Copeland Road, and (ii) ‘at any time’ (double yellow lines) with timed loading permitted between the hours of 7 am to 10 am only (single kerb blips) on the south and south-west side, between point 5.5 metres north of a point opposite the southern kerb-line of Hanover Park and a point 3 metres south of the north-western wall of No. 206 Rye Lane; and (f) in BOURNEMOUTH ROAD (i) suspend all existing ‘at any time’ loading restrictions on both sides north-east of its junction with Rye Lane, (ii) suspend existing ‘one-way’ south-eastbound operation between its junctions with Rye Lane and Bournemouth Close, and suspend the corresponding ‘no-entry’ from Rye Lane into Bournemouth Road.

3. For more information on the background and implementation of this trial please contact Malcolm Harris of the council's Highways, Transport Projects team Highways@southwark.gov.uk 4. Copies of the orders, which will come into force on 14 October 2021 (and can remain in force for up to 18 months from that date), this notice, plans and a statement of the council's reasons for making the orders may be found online at www.southwark.gov.uk/trafficorders. Paper copies may be obtained from or viewed at Highways, Environment and Leisure, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH by appointment only - for booking details contact traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or 020 7525 3497.

5. The council will in due course be considering whether the provisions of the experimental order/s should be continued in force indefinitely, by means of a permanent order made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. Anyone wishing to object to the making of the permanent orders or make any other representation regarding the scheme would have 6 months to do so, from the date the experimental order comes into force (or, if the order is varied by a subsequent order or modified pursuant to section 10(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, from the date that variation order or modification comes into force), and may send a statement to traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or to: Traffic Order consultations, Highways, Southwark Council, Environment and Leisure, P.O. Box 64529, London SE1P 5LX; or use the form labelled 'Parking - Road traffic and highway schemes - responding to statutory consultation notices' at www.southwark.gov.uk/statutoryconsultationnotices quoting the reference ‘TMO2122-EXP12_Rye Lane’. Please note that if you wish to object to the scheme you must state the grounds on which your objection is made.

6. Under requirements of current access to information legislation, any letter or e-mail sent to the Council in response to this Notice may be subject to publication or disclosure, or both, including communication to other persons affected.

7. Anyone wishing to question the validity of the order/s or of any provision therein on the grounds that it is not within the relevant powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or that any of the relevant requirements thereof or of any relevant regulations made thereunder have not been complied with in relation to the order/s may, within 6 weeks of the date on which the order was made, make application for the purpose to the High Court.

Dated 7 October 2021 Dale Foden Head of Service - Highways, Environment and Leisure 1. The name of the applicant or club - Immersive Group Gaming LTD 2. The address of the premises - 82 Scoresby Street, Southwark, London, SE1 0XN 3.The address (including website) of the licensing authority - Southwark Council Licensing at Licensing Team | 3rd Floor, Hub 1 | PO Box 64529 | London | SE1P 5LX and email address: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/ 4. The date by which an interested party or responsible authority may make representation - within the next 10 days starting today 22.9.21 5. That representations shall be made in writing 6. That it is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the offence STATUTORY CONSULTATION FOR ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM COLLEGE The Governors of St Thomas the Apostle School would welcome your views on the admissions arrangements for 2022/2023.

Please visit www.stac.uk.com to view the policy.

Any comments or queries should be emailed to Miss C. Eels at c.eels@stac.southwark.sch.uk.

Please respond by 31st January 2022 when the consultation period will end.

What happens next?

The Governors will consider all the responses to the consultation. They will then decide whether to implement any changes and if approved the changes will be introduced for September 2022 entry.

To place a notice, please email em@southwarknews.co.uk or call 07798 833758. Deadline is 2pm on Tuesdays

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk

PUBLIC NOTICES 25

Public Notice - London Borough of Lambeth - DESIGNATION OF AN AREA FOR ADDITIONAL LICENSING Section 56, Housing Act 2004 The London Borough of Lambeth (“the Council”) in exercise of powers under section 56 of the Housing Act 2004 (“the Act”) hereby designates for additional licensing the whole of the area in its district, as delineated in red on Map 1. The designation falls within a description of designations for which the Secretary of State has issued a General Approval dated 26 March 2015 and was approved by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness in a decision taken on the 4 August 2021. The designation applies to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (“HMOs’’) that are privately rented and occupied by three or more persons forming two or more households under one or more tenancies or licences unless it is an HMO that is subject to mandatory licensing under section 55(2)(a) of the Act or is subject to any statutory exemption.

This designation may be cited as the London Borough of Lambeth Designation of an Area for Additional Licensing and shall come into force on 9 December 2021 and shall cease to have effect on 8 December 2026 or earlier if the Council revokes the scheme under section 60 of the Act. This Designation is made by the London Borough of Lambeth, Town Hall, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1RW; tel. 020 7926 4444 or by email to HMOLicensing@lambeth.gov.uk .The designation may be inspected by appointment at the following address during office hours: Public Protection, Assurance and Regulatory Services, Town Hall, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1RW. Applications for licences under the designation can be made at: https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/housing/landlordsand-licensing/houses-multiple-occupationhmos/renew-or-apply-hmo If you are a landlord, managing agent or a tenant and wish to enquire whether your property is affected by this designation you are advised to seek advice from the Council’s Property Licensing Team.

If you require further information regarding this designation or to apply for a licence, further assistance and advice is available from the Council’s Property Licensing Team: Website: https://beta.lambeth.gov.uk/housing/landlordsand-licensing/houses-multiple-occupation-hmos Email: HMOLicensing@lambeth.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7926 4444 By writing to: Public Protection, Assurance and Regulatory Services, Town Hall, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1RW. Consequences of failing to licence a HMO that is required to be licensed – upon the designation coming into force a person commits an offence if they are a person having control or managing a HMO which is required to be licensed under this Additional Licensing Designation but is not so licensed and will be liable to prosecution. On conviction, a Court may impose an unlimited fine. The Council may, as an alternative to prosecution, impose a financial penalty of up to £30,000. The tenant(s) and/or the Council may also apply to the FirstTier Tribunal (Residential Tribunal) for a rent repayment order. No section 21 notice (Housing Act 1988 (recovery of possession on termination of shorthold tenancy)) may be given in relation to a shorthold tenancy of a part of an unlicensed HMO so long as it remains such an HMO. The Council may also make an Interim Management Order, whereby the Council would take management control of the unlicensed HMO. Signed Bayo Dosunmu: Strategic Director for Resident Services, London Borough of Lambeth Date 8 September 2021 Map of Designated Area

26 PUBLIC NOTICES

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Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended) PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS) ACT 1990 (as amended) The planning applications listed below can be viewed on the planning register at 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;

1 MALTINGS PLACE 169 TOWER BRIDGE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 3JB (Ref: 21/AP/3323) Exterior door replacement with a new canopy hood, change of ground floor door system to the building atrium and draught lobbying to the north and south atrium entrances (Within: Bermondsey Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Eleanor Heagney ) 11 HAMBLEDON PLACE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7EY (Ref: 21/AP/3320) Construction of a single storey rear infill extension and a new hipped roof with two rear dormer windows, two traditional front dormer windows and 4x rooflights. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Louise Dinsdale ) FLAT 9 RANKIN HOUSE 139-143 BERMONDSEY STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 3UW (Ref: 21/AP/2933) Construction of roof extension at third floor level with terrace; removal of PVC conservatory to second floor. (Within: Bermondsey Street CA)

Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA STDCA (Contact: Glenn Ruane 020 7525 5447) 120 WOODWARDE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8UT (Ref: 21/AP/3406) Ground floor extension to rear and side, with new patio & associated landscaping works. Loft conversion with projecting dormer window to rear, insertion of skylight to hipped roof slope & into rear outrigger roof slope. New boundary treatment to front garden & new landscaping to front garden. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Louise Dinsdale ) 72 WOODWARDE ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8UL (Ref: 21/AP/3404) Single storey rear and part side extension, together with internal alterations and refurbishments. (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anthony Roberts 020 7525 5458) 55 STRADELLA ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE24 9HL (Ref: 21/AP/3416)

Reinstate the original sash window to the first floor rear elevation of the property (Within: Road CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Winnie Wing Tse ) ST GEORGES METHODIST CHURCH OAKLEY PLACE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 5AD (Ref: 21/AP/3431) Repair and replacement of external windows and doors (Within: Peckham Hill Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Agneta Kabele ) 61 DOVERCOURT ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 8UW (Ref: 21/AP/3461) Front/side/rear ground and first floor extensions, second floor loft conversion, and construction of outbuilding in rear garden (Within: Dulwich Village CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Rose Sharkey ) Dated: 05 Oct 2021 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date.

STEPHEN PLATTS Director of Planning and Growth

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

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

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1)

Please take notice that I / we Sourcing Wines Ltd Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of 184 Bellenden Road, London, SE15 4BW

(ROBERTS CLOSE) TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC

The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that in order to enable development works by McAleer and Rushe, it intends to make an order, the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit vehicular traffic on a section of Roberts Close.

22:00 17:00

2.

The effect of the order is to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering a section of Roberts Close, from the dead end at the junction of Russia Walk for 35 metres into Roberts Close.

22:00 17:00

3.

Vehicular access to Roberts Close will be maintained from the junction of Quebec Way up to the area of the closure. Pedestrian access through to Russia Walk will be maintained.

4.

The restriction will be in place from the 15th October 2021 and will continue for 18 months.

5.

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

Days

Start time

Finish time

The retail sale of alcohol:

Monday to Satuday Sunday

11:00 11:00

Opening hours:

Monday to Satuday Sunday

11:00 11:00

A register of all applications made within the Southwark area is maintained by: The Licensing Service, Hub 1, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH A record of this application may be inspected by visiting the office during normal office hours by appointment on 020 7525 2000; details are also available on our website at http://app.southwark.gov.uk/licensing/licenseregister.asp It is open to any interested party to make representations about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Service at the office address given above (or by email via licensing@southwark.gov.uk) and be received by the Service within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date shown below.

Note: It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Date of application: 24th September 2021

Dated this 7th October 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: Ref 5850

READ IT HERE FIRST www.southwarknews.co.uk 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...

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

www.southwarknews.co.uk/sport

SPORT 27

Peckham Town host refugee group

By Sport Reporter

First family from Syria welcomed to Peckham under government scheme

sport@southwarknews.co.uk PECKHAM TOWN will welcome Peckham Sponsors Refugees to their London FA Trophy match against Croydon FC at the Menace Arena this Saturday.

Peckham Sponsors Refugees (PSR) is a local voluntary organisation that has recently reformed to sponsor a second refugee family to live in Peckham.

The club will host them for the cup tie, which also coincides with FARE’s Football People Week. PSR will have a stand at the match with details about their plans and how to support a second family settle in Peckham.

Bryan Hall, chairman of Peckham Town, said: “When I heard about the aims of the PSR, it was a no-brainer for me. We are an inclusive football club, and an inclusive community.

It’s only natural that we want to help a family improve their lives in Peckham, and hopefully become part of the Menace family, too.”

Simon Canter, chair of PSR, added: “An estimated 2.6 million people live in refugee camps, often in appalling conditions.

“It’s easy to feel helpless about the refugee crisis but the Community Sponsorship scheme is an amazing opportunity to really make a difference by providing a home and new life to one of these families.

“We want to spread the word that our incredible, diverse and generous Peckham community welcomes refugees. That’s why we’re so grateful to Peckham Town FC for the event with the mighty Menace, which is such a brilliant gesture.”

In March 2019, PSR welcomed its first family – from Syria – to Peckham under the government’s Community Sponsorship Scheme.

Hassan, his wife, five children and daughter-in-law were forced to leave Syria during the civil war after

The club is hoping to break its attendance record airstrikes damaged their home. They fled to Jordan where they applied to the United Nations Refugee Agency to be resettled in another country.

With support from the local community, PSR found a home for the family and helped them sign up to health care services, enrol the children into local schools and improve their English language skills.

Hassan said: “We were so happy

when we came to Britain. In Europe, we have rights and a future. We encourage volunteers to bring another family here in the same way they brought us.”

The club added: “We hope that the Peckham community will turn out in numbers to support the team in the LFA Trophy first-round match versus Croydon FC, and also show solidarity to PSR’s Refugees fundraising efforts.

“The match will kick off at 12.30, and we ask you to arrive a little early by 12.15 to hear from PSR and learn more about their campaign.

“We hope that the early kick off will allow supporters of other teams in the local area to visit our match, and also attend their 3pm kick offs, such as Dulwich Hamlet, Fisher and Charlton Athletic fans.

“It’s also the international break,

so we hope that Premier League and Championship football fans may venture to the Menace, too.

“The attendance record at the Menace is 275, and it would be great to beat that. So please encourage your friends and family to come to the match.”

Entrance is £3 for adults and free for under-16s. Programmes are £1 and a raffle ticket is also £1.

Hamlet take Big Step in gambling campaign

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk DULWICH HAMLET have announced they have joined the campaign to end all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football.

The Hamlet will support The Big Step, which is a grassroots campaign aimed at tacking football’s relationship with gambling. It is part of Gambling with Lives, a charity set up by family members and friends who have lost loved ones to gamblingrelated suicide.

The campaign has been supported by clubs such as Forest Green Rovers, Edinburgh City, Billericay Town, Lewes FC and Headingley FC. And last month Bolton Wanderers said they would stop providing on-site betting at the University of Bolton Stadium or enter into any new commercial partnerships with firms from the gambling industry.

Rob Hyneman, community lead at Dulwich Hamlet FC, said: “Dulwich Hamlet FC is delighted to be partnering with The Big Step.

“Responsible advertising in the

sports industry is something we are keen to widen the conversation about.

Whether it’s junk food or betting, neither have a place in a sports arena where thousands come to watch their

heroes each week.

“DHFC has already had a strong antigambling stance and this partnership fits perfectly with the club’s ethos.”

Founder of The Big Step, James

Grimes, a former gambling addict, added: “We are thrilled to have the support of a progressive and community-driven club like Dulwich Hamlet.

“This is further acceptance of the harm caused by gambling ads in football and if reports are to be believed it’s looking like shirt sponsorship will be banned.

“But we must go further, and this is why this support from DHFC is pivotal and timely.

“For most of us involved with The Big Step, the harmful relationship between gambling and football was the gateway for years of addiction – if only our clubs had taken this stance, things may have been different for us.”

The club will mark the new partnership this Saturday when they return to National League South action at Champion Hill.

Gavin Rose’s side host Billericay Town. Kick-off in Dulwich is at 3pm.

28 SPORT

www.southwarknews.co.uk/sport

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

New funding drive for boxer

By John Kelly

Bermondsey’s Charlie Wynn was seriously injured in sparring in 2018

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk THE FAMILY and friends of Charlie Wynn are pushing to raise more money to support the Bermondsey boxer’s rehabilitation at a private care home.

Charlie suffered a bleed to the brain and required life-saving surgery at Kings College Hospital after a sparring session in March 2018.

His friend, Kent fighter Sean Phillips, was running the London Marathon for Charlie last weekend to push forward the funding drive.

On Charlie’s crowd-funding page, Sean explained: “As you all know I was due to run the London Marathon in 2019 to raise money for a good friend and gym mate, Charlie Wynn.

Due to fight commitments and Covid restrictions this was sadly put on hold.

“After a long three years Charlie and his family are still battling with his condition and the funding behind it.

“Charlie has now been moved from a hospital to a private care home where he continues to make steady progress, however there is still a long road ahead.

“At the hospital he was receiving daily treatment which allowed him to make steady progress. Now that he is in the care home he does still receive full funding, however his physio allotment has been reduced to just two hours a week “Although he is receiving two hours a week of physio, this is simply not enough and can only be increased with his family’s personal funding.

As you can imagine this is very costly for the amount of physio he needs and therefore it is vital that Charlie receives additional funding so that he is able to have consistent and frequent treatment.

“The aim is to receive enough

Charlie Wynn funding that we can give Charlie one hour a day of physio/rehabilitation.

This could potentially have a massive impact on Charlie’s progress and of course his closest family and loved ones.

“We want to get Charlie walking

again and we know this is possible with your help.

“To end the story, I wasn’t due to be running the marathon at all. This was until I saw my good friend Charlie and his family and it made me understand that Charlie still needs everyone’s

help and what better way to do it than to fulfil my promise.

“This is for you Charlie, mate.”

Donations have poured in for Millwall fan Charlie, with £7,815 of a £10,000 target raised by Wednesday morning. That was after a previous

funding drive at the time of Charlie’s accident went well past the £10,000 target.

You can support Charlie’s rehabilitation by going to this link: https://www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/charlie-wynn

Dulwich suffer FA Cup penalty heartbreak johnk@southwarknews.co.uk DULWICH HAMLET Women are out of the FA Cup after losing 3-2 on penalties to Herne Bay in second round qualifying at Champion Hill last weekend.

Sophie Manzi’s late goal looked like it would be enough to put the Hamlet through, only for Gemma Shepherd’s equaliser to send the game to penalties and a heart-breaking outcome for the hosts.

Herne Bay’s preparations had suffered a major disruption when their bus broke down on the M20.

They eventually arrived in East Dulwich for the delayed kick-off.

It was little surprise then that it was the hosts that started better.

Saskia Philp headed narrowly over the crossbar from Zoe Elmore’s cross.

Manzi had seven goals in seven cup appearances for Dulwich and thought she had added another from Asia

Photo by Liam Asman

By John Kelly

The Hamlet were edged out in the shootout

Harbour’s set-up. But the effort was ruled out by a questionable offside call.

Hamlet manager Ryan Dempsey made two substitutions after the

break, bringing on Hannah Baptiste and Rosie Stone for Jo Gibson and Elmore.

Baptiste was at the heart of much of Dulwich’s good play in the second

half, and had a shot deflected wide in the 66th minute.

Dulwich eventually made the breakthrough, almost inevitably through Manzi, following a well-

worked short corner as Lucy Monkman picked out the forward in the box.

But if the 283 in attendance thought that was going to be it, the visitors had other ideas, Shepherd finishing after a counter-attack.

Home goalkeeper Mia North saved Herne Bay’s second penalty. But it wasn’t enough. Despite Manzi and Monkman scoring their spot-kicks for Dulwich, Herne Bay kept their composure to edge it 3-2.

Dulwich are next in action on Sunday, October 17, when they take on Ashford Town (Middlesex) at Champion Hill.

Dulwich Hamlet: 1 Mia North; 2 Madi Parsonson, 4 Chana Hinds, 6 Sarah Walters, 18 Asia Harbour Brown; 7 Sas Philp, 11 Zoe Elmore, 14 Lucy Monkman, 16 Ella Wales-Bonner, 22 Jo Gibson; 9 Sophie Manzi.

Subs: 5 Rosie Stone, 13 Ceylon Hickman, 15 Hannah Baptiste, Jazmine Lacrette.

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

www.newsatden.co.uk

MILLWALL 29

Murray’s mint

Lions taste sweet success at Oakwell Championship report Barnsley - 0 Millwall - 1 M Wallace 89’ Date: Saturday 2 October, 2021 Attendance: 11,888 Referee: David Webb Man of the match: Murray Wallace

By Alex Grace at Oakwell sport@southwarknews.co.uk OAKWELL HAS certainly been a cursed ground for Millwall down the years.

Forget a cold Tuesday night in Stoke.

It’s any fixture on any day at Oakwell that causes Millwall problems.

Not the likeliest place you would have predicted Gary Rowett to celebrate his century of games as Lions boss with a victory.

Indeed, anytime Millwall fans see it’s a fixture in Yorkshire their muscles tense at the prospect of a defeat and a long journey home.

But it is Oakwell and Barnsley in particular that have caused the Lions so many headaches down the years.

Of their four trips to Yorkshire last season, it was only the game in S71

that ended in defeat.

Last Saturday’s victory was only the third time the Lions have tasted success on Barnsley soil since 1994, and only their eighth-ever victory at the ground since 1925.

This was one of the strongest matchday squads Rowett had available this season, with only Scott Malone, Mason Bennett and Connor Mahoney absent. Malone is first-choice but the latter two are arguably behind Sheyi Ojo in the pecking order.

Shaun Hutchinson, Jed Wallace and Ojo had managed to get through the Bristol City game the previous Wednesday unscathed after coming back from injury and illness.

Jake Cooper came in for Malone and Benik Afobe started in place of Matt Smith in a dynamic front three.

It was a lively game from the start.

Bartosz Bialkowski was called into action in just the second minute when he turned Aaron Leya Iseka’s shot past the far post.

It was an end-to-end game as the Lions started to threaten. First, Afobe was denied by Brad Collins, before the Barnsley stopper kept out Murray Wallace’s effort from six yards out.

George Evans worked his way into

Murray Wallace and his team-mates celebrate

a shooting position from 25 yards on twelve minutes but his effort skimmed the post.

Millwall’s defence has undoubtedly improved since Hutchinson’s return to the side but the captain had his goalkeeper to thank for getting him out of jail in the nineteenth minute. Hutchinson’s poor pass was intercepted by Devante Cole who broke away from the defender but Bialkowksi made the save to deny Barnsley an opening goal.

The second half was scrappier with both sides struggling to create any real openings as the rain fell.

Jed Walllace was found by Afobe after breaking free of the home defence but his shot was blocked.

It was clear which side was pushing more to win the game when Rowett introduced Tom Bradshaw in the 70th minute. Millwall’s recruit from Barnsley was denied by Collins seven minutes later, the keeper parrying his drive out for a corner.

Bradshaw then combined with fellow Lions substitute Smith to set up Jed Wallace but he fired over the bar.

After the Lions’ victory over Blackpool before the first international break when Jed scored

and assisted Cooper’s winner days after Murray had scored twice against Cambridge, Rowett joked he was only going to sign players called ‘Wallace’ from then on.

And Rowett was toasting Millwall’s Wallaces again in the 89th minute when Jed’s corner was headed home by the defender right in front of the 511 Lions supporters in the away end. It meant between them Jed and Murray have scored just under 44 per cent of Millwall’s goals this season.

The victory was the Lions’ first away from home this campaign and their second in a week to go into the international break eleventh the table. Back-to-back victories was exactly what the Lions needed as they started the week with just one win and sat in nineteenth in the league.

The few extra days off Rowett gave them going into the break were welldeserved.

After a slow start, performances have improved and the defensive setpiece stability restored.

In 2021, Millwall have taken a total of 57 points from their 37 games. Only four current Championship teams – QPR, Bournemouth, Coventry and Barnsley – have accumulated more. If

they can back that up for the rest of this year and into 2022 then there is no reason why the top six can’t be in their sights.

There are six games to come before November’s international break, against Luton, Sheffield United, Stoke, Huddersfield, Reading and Derby.

That is a clutch of games that of course will not be easy but all are winnable.

Indeed, the Lions beat five of those teams last season, the only exception the Blades, who were in the Premier League.

A decent points’ return from those games will lift the Lions to in and around where they want to be ahead of the packed December and festive period.

Barnsley: 3-4-2-1: 40 Collins; 15 Moon, 30 Helik, 5 Kitching; 7 Brittain, 21 Palmer (Sibbick, 55), 4 Styles, 3 Williams; 11 Leya Iseka (Frieser, 70), 9 Woodrow; 44 Cole (Adeboyejo, 67).

Millwall: 3-4-3: 33 Bialkowski; 26 Ballard, 4 Hutchinson, 5 Cooper; 2 McNamara, 28 Evans (Mitchell, 69), 17 Saville, 3 M Wallace; 7 J Wallace, 23 Afobe (Smith, 77), 14 Ojo (Bradshaw, 70).

30 MILLWALL

www.newsatden.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

Millwall confirm Kent plans

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL chief executive Steve Kavanagh has confirmed the club have bought a “significant area of land” in Kent with a view to developing a new “high-end training complex”.

News of the proposed facility emerged last week when a letter to residents from Kavanagh about the purchase and a consultation meeting surfaced online.

The Lions have appointed architects with the planning application process expected to take up to a year.

Kavanagh said the completion of a new training facility would be a “huge step forward” for the club.

Millwall sold their Bromley base in 2006 to St John’s College for £1.85million when Peter de Savary was chairman and have been leasing the land since.

Then-CEO Andy Ambler told the News in 2014: “In an ideal world we would own our training ground rather than lease it.

“To move forward as a club, we need to be able to invest in our facilities and it therefore makes sense to own the land.”

Kavanagh has now confirmed plans are in place for a new training base.

“I’m delighted to be able to write to all of you firstly to formally confirm that we have purchased a significant area of land in West Kingsdown, Kent, with a view to building a new highend training complex for the club,” Kavanagh said in his newsletter to fans on millwallfc.co.uk.

“The process is still in its infancy but on Monday night I was fortunate to meet with local residents as a very early engagement exercise to outline our plans, what we hope to achieve and also what we feel we could bring to their community, while also better understanding any queries or concerns they had about the proposals.

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE P W D L GD

Pts

1 Bournemouth 11 7 4 0 10 25 2 WBA 11 6 4 1 11 22 3 Coventry City 11 7 1 3 4 22 4 Stoke City 11 6 3 2 4 21 5 Fulham 11 6 2 3 10 20 6 QPR 11 5 3 3 6 18 7 Huddersfield T 11 5 2 4 2 17 8 Blackburn Rovers 11 4 4 3 5 16 9 Bristol City 11 4 4 3 1 16 10 Reading 11 5 1 5 -2 16 11 Millwall 11 3 6 2 0 15 12 Blackpool 11 4 3 4 -3 15 13 Luton Town 11 3 5 3 2 14 14 Sheffield United 11 3 3 5 -2 12 15 Middlesbrough 11 3 3 5 -2 12 16 Birmingham City 11 3 3 5 -5 12 17 Nottingham F 11 3 2 6 0 11 18 Preston NE 11 2 5 4 -3 11 19 Swansea City 11 2 5 4 -5 11 20 Cardiff City 11 3 2 6 -7 11 21 Hull City 11 2 3 6 -7 9 22 Barnsley 11 1 5 5 -7 8 23 Peterborough U 11 2 2 7 -11 8 24 Derby County 11 3 5 3 -1 2 * *Derby County deducted 12 pts

Club appoint architects as they aim to build ‘high-end training complex’

Millwall CEO Steve Kavanagh “We have appointed architects and will submit a full planning application as soon as possible. That process, which is likely to take at least a year, will include regular consultation with residents so as to ensure we can incorporate their ideas and find ways of overcoming any problems, alongside

other key stakeholders including Sevenoaks Council, the Highways Agency and more.

“Should our hope of building this new training complex become a reality then it will be a huge step forward for the football club on and off the pitch.

“Greater synergy between our

Orient hopeful on defender

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk ALEX MITCHELL’S absence through injury coincided with Leyton Orient’s first league defeat in six games but boss Kenny Jacket hopes the defender will be available to face Barrow this weekend.

Mitchell missed Orient’s 3-2 reverse at Port Vale last Saturday but Jackett believes it’s only a minor setback.

He said: “We think he’ll be okay for next week. He had a tight hamstring.

No more than that but it’s not something you can risk. He has a chance of training this week.”

Meanwhile, Mahlon Romeo experience the winning feeling at the seventh time of asking as Portsmouth thumped Sunderland 4-0 at Fratton Park at the weekend.

Former Millwall striker John Marquis scored twice after goals from Marcus Harness and captain Lee Brown to earn Pompey a first

win since August 17.

Romeo played right wing-back in a game featuring four ex-Lions.

Ryan Tunnicliffe was in midfield for Danny Cowley’s side while Shaun Williams has a new role as a leftsided centre-back.

Aiden O’Brien played on the left side of the attack for Lee Johnson’s Sunderland.

In League Two, Isaac Olaofe also missed out through as Sutton won 2-0 away to Northampton Town. It was a first away win in the Football League in Sutton’s history.

In National League, Junior Tiensia wasn’t involved in Dover Athletic’s 6-0 defeat away to Grimsby.

And in the Scottish Premiership, Hayden Muller came on in the 80th minute to help St Johnstone see out a 3-1 win over Dundee for their first home league victory of the season.

Chris Kane scored twice and Stevie May got the other for Callum Davidson’s side.

The Saints moved up to eighth in the table.

first team and academy set-ups is an imperative objective, as is the enhancing links between the football and business sides of the club.

“More generally the aim is to build and maintain training facilities which are amongst the best in the country.

This will enable us to improve our own

players to maximise their individual and collective potential and to become a more attractive proposition to new recruits across all departments.

“It is very important to stress, however, that this is not just about us and doing what we can to grow as a club. We want to make a real impact within the area of West Kingsdown and as such, will look to widen the outstanding work of the Millwall Community Trust so that residents of all ages and backgrounds can benefit from their varying programmes, projects, and funding.

“What we need to do is better understand the challenges of the area and the problems faced by those who live nearby so that the Community Trust’s efforts can be tailored to best suit those objectives.

“The obvious question is, ‘how long will this all take?’. The truth is it is impossible to say at this stage, but we are conscious that the lease on the site at Calmont Road doesn’t have too many years left to run. I liken this to buying a house; once it all goes through you want to move in as soon as you can. This is no different and it’s never straightforward.

“What we cannot afford to do is be complacent about any of this and it is crucial to take one step at a time.

Next up is the task of submitting a full planning application and then following the formal process necessary within that.

“We will be as open and transparent as we can be throughout the months and years ahead while also maintaining the confidentiality required at varying stages.

“It remains important to focus on the here and now also, and this week we’ll be taking delivery of a new unit to house the gym and physiotherapy and sports science offices at Calmont Road. The installation of this large unit is part of a wider rearrangement of facilities there designed to improve the working areas of the management and the players.”

Out of favour duo on mark for Development side

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

BEN THOMPSON and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson were on target as Millwall defeated Queens Park Rangers 3-1 in the Professional Development League at The Den last Friday.

Besart Topalloj also scored as Kevin Nugent’s side maintained their 100 per cent home record this season.

Thompson has only played a minute of Championship action this season, while Bodvarsson’s last league appearance was against Bristol City last May. Thompson put the Lions ahead with a thumping effort from the edge of the area in the ninth minute, before Ody Alfa levelled in the 25th minute.

Millwall went back in front seven minutes later when Bodvarsson fired an effort in off the post.

It was 3-1 three minutes into the second half as Topalloj headed home Sean O’Brien’s cross.

Lions goalkeeper Jordan Gillmore also caught the eye with a number of outstanding saves.

“We’re really pleased with the first-half performance, especially after the Cardiff

game, in which we were all disappointed the team, my staff and myself,” Nugent said.

“We bounced back, the two goals in the first half from Thommo and Jon Dadi were fantastic, but then we scored early in the second half and our mentality seemed to change a little bit.

“Although we’re pleased with the win, it’s not going to paper over the cracks of parts of the second half when QPR were maybe unfortunate to not get anything out of it at the end.

“Jordan made some fantastic saves. He kept us in the game early on against Cardiff, too. We’re pleased with his progress, but the rest of the team should be patting him on the back. They’ve got to learn a bit about game management.

“We don’t often play two games a week, you could tell by the players’ tiredness come the end of the game, but the reality is that’s first-team experience.”

Millwall host Swansea on Tuesday, October 19.

Millwall: Gillmore, Walker, Topalloj, Allen (Briscoe 74’), Okoli, Penney, Davis, Thompson, Bodvarsson, O’Brien, Boateng (Drozd 65’). Subs not used: Evans, Abdulmalik, Smith.

Southwark News, Thursday October 7 2021

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MATT SMITH has had praise ringing in his ears recently – but he has explained why he pays little attention to it.

Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper admitted his side’s plan to stop Smith failed after the striker scored in the 1-1 draw at the City Ground late last month.

And last Saturday, Barnsley manager Markus Schopp said “made the difference” with his set-piece presence after coming on in the 77th minute before Murray Wallace headed the winner from Jed Wallace’s corner with a minute left.

But Smith prefers to keep “levelheaded” rather than take on board any praise of criticism.

“I’m not one to read into any hype or anything like that,” Smith told the News. “I’m obviously not oblivious to what goes on, I’ve got a Twitter account that sometimes I’ll look at.

“But in general terms I’m not one to read too much. Because, listen, it goes both ways. You’re quick to be praised when it goes well and quick to be criticised when you’re not doing well.

“So it’s important to remain levelheaded. If you get wrapped up too much in what’s written about you it just takes the focus away from the controllables which is what you can do on the pitch, really.

“At the same time any praise is always nice and can only give you confidence, which is a good thing.

“I think you can get ten tweets telling you you’re doing great and one telling you you’re doing badly and you’ll probably look at the negative one.

That’s human nature.

“But I think that comes with experience and age and being in the game for a period of time, you naturally develop a mental toughness and resilience to these things because, Christ, if you were to really endure these things you probably wouldn’t get out of bed.

“It’s important to stay grounded and level-headed, compose yourself and play with humility.”

That approach of remaining levelheaded and not getting too up or down has served Millwall well again this season.

Before they faced Bristol City last Wednesday week, they were nineteenth in the table and boss Gary Rowett didn’t shy away from the fact that his side faced two big games before the international break.

Two 1-0 victories later, after four consecutive draws, and the table tells a very different story, with the Lions eleventh, three points off sixth and on a seven-game unbeaten run.

Smith said: “That’s what wins do. To go unbeaten for a long period of time was a real positive but those results can look totally different if you then put losses on the end of those draws or wins on the end of those draws.

“Fortunately it went the way it deserved to go because I think we’d had a couple of unjust results in and amongst those draws.

“Our league position now, while it’s a lot healthier, is a lot more reflective of how we’ve performed in that time.

“The lads would say it was probably a bit unjust to only have that points total going into the Bristol game.

“I don’t want to put undue pressure

Matt keeps feet on the ground

www.newsatden.co.uk

MILLWALL 31 Matt Smith celebrates his goal against Nottingham Forest

Why striker doesn’t pay too much attention to praise or criticism on us by publicly making all these declarations. But my observation was that we had a really good group of lads that fell short by narrow margins but we’ve only added quality to that narrow equation now.

“Hopefully they can be the ingredients that take us one step further. But all those clichés abut one game at a time and not getting too ahead of ourselves are relevant because if you start looking too far forward you miss what’s right in front of you.

“Every game’s important so we’ve got to look at this next batch of games, try to keep this unbeaten run going and hopefully that can keep us going in the right direction and take us that little bit further than in the last two seasons.”

Smith was out of contract at the start of the summer before signing a new

deal in July. He watched with interest what the club did in the transfer market.

He has two new attacking teammates this season. Benik Afobe is a rival for the central striking position but can also play wide.

And Sheyi Ojo has already assisted Smith, supplying the cross at Forest for the centre-forward to head home.

“Benik’s a really good guy, I get on very well with him,” Smith said. “He brings a real air of positivity wherever he goes, that’s just his nature and it’s infectious. That can only be good for the squad.

“On top of that positivity he’s a really, really good player. I thought against Bristol he was the best player on the pitch. His quality was there for all to see.

“He also brings a different skillset to what we’ve got. It’s all well and good having players that like each other but it’s also nice to have different qualities and skillsets among the group.

“Benik has got that ability to get on the ball and turn in tight areas and make something happen in central positions and wide positions which is maybe something that we didn’t have.

“It’s going to be of much need and importance to the group. “[Ojo] a direct winger, wants to put balls in the box which he showed in the game against Forest which I benefitted from.

“He’s someone who’s wellestablished in the league. My mates at Fulham said he was a brilliant addition to them. Likewise a couple of pals at Cardiff said the same.

“It’s obvious to see and he’s been a great addition. He’s hit the ground running so hopefully he can continue to impact and contribute to the side.

“Naturally you look to see how the club is going to improve the squad. The signings have been a real statement of intent, from John [Berylson] and the board and from the manager to show we’re trying to add quality to a squad that finished eighth and eleventh.

“It’s probably that next little bit of quality that can get us to that next stage. Hopefully that can be the case but from the outside looking in it was clear that the owner and the manager had really looked to strengthen.

“And they absolutely have because the signings that have come through the door have all been quality and will improve us.”

inside

Sport Southwark

Boss: There’s more to come

Murray’s mint as Lions taste sweetheadline success

Page 27

here to complete

Page 29 Millwall boss Gary Rowett celebrates with the away support at Barnsley last Saturday

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL STRIKER Matt Smith is in the familiar position of most players in their 30s as they again enter the final year of their contract – his aim is to show that he’s worth another deal.

Lions have room for improvement after top-half move EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk GARY ROWETT hailed a “massive” week after two wins in pressure games – and believes there is further improvement to come from his side.

Millwall moved from nineteenth to eleventh in the table after 1-0 wins against Bristol City and Barnsley before the second international break of the season.

Rowett said before the fixtures there was pressure on his side to deliver, and they didn’t falter as they moved to within three points of the play-offs almost a quarter of the way into the league season.

“We’ve always had the belief and we knew we weren’t as far away as the table

looked. But then going and actually getting the results is massive,” Rowett said.

“They were two big efforts. We played well for many parts of both games and I think we all feel the same way, it was a good way to finish this period before the international break.

“But we all feel that there is a lot more improvement to come. And that’s the nice thing, we feel we’ll get better when we’ve got more options available to us. The players knew that was important, getting players back from injury.

“We’re now [getting players back] from a better position in the league.”

Millwall have also improved defensively, with three clean sheets in their last five league games after none in their first six.

One issue that still persists for Millwall is a lack of goals, with only eleven in eleven games so far.

Smudge has clear goal

Against Barnsley last weekend, the Lions regularly got five or six players into the opposition box, though had to wait until the 89th minute for the breakthrough when Murray Wallace headed home Jed Wallace’s corner.

Millwall are becoming more difficult to break down with five at the back, a system that Rowett pointed out has worked for sides previously in the Championship.

“When people think five defenders they naturally think of it that way [defensive],” Rowett said. “But I can think about Sheffield United getting out of this division playing that way, Wolves got out of this division playing that way, West Brom are near the top of this division playing that way.

“You look at Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Juventus - there are so many teams that play that way.

Visit www.newsatden.co.uk for all the latest Millwall news online

“It’s not about the formation, it’s how you play it. If you lack creativity it’s because you’re not getting enough players forward or there’s not enough quality when you do get those bodies forward.

“There was a moment first half away from home [against Barnsley] when Coops [Jake Cooper] goes and joins in on the overlap with Murray and one of the forwards with two or three in the box.

“You’ve got to try and do that. Sav’s [George Saville] given us that from midfield where he’s always in the box.

We always encourage our opposite wingbacks to try to make the back post as well.

“It’s how you play and it’s about taking your chances. In a lot of these games had we taken more of our chances we would be scoring two or three goals.

“We’ve found that’s probably our biggest challenge.”

Smith, 32, signed a new one-year contract in the summer and he is determined to impact Gary Rowett’s side to earn another.

Former Leeds and Fulham striker Smith has already made fourteen appearances in this campaign and his influence of the team shows no signs of waning.

After two of the last three games – against Nottingham Forest when he scored in the 1-1 draw and the 1-0 win at Barnsley – the opposition managers have picked him out as a player their sides struggled to deal with.

Smith is highly valued by manager Gary Rowett for his influence on and off the pitch hence why the club were so keen to offer him a contract when his previous terms expired last July.

“My aim is to continue to play at the highest level for the longest time possible,” Smith said when asked if one of his main motivations this season is to get another deal.

“Luckily I’ve got no pace to lose!

Hopefully I can just add to my experience, my nous and my knowhow in this division.

“I’m coming up to ten seasons in the Championship. Hopefully I can stay at this level for some time to come.

“I aim to do so by working hard and scoring goals and contributing to the side.

“As long as I’m doing that then hopefully the rest takes care of itself.”

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