Southwark News - January 5th 2023

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Review Established: 1987

of the year

2022

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How we brought the news to you this year: from the Queen’s death and those we lost, to the fight to save buses and primary schools

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Issue 1567

Established: 1987

‘RAPE DIDN’T HAPPEN IN PECKHAM’ SAY POLICE

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January 27 2022

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PLEA TO GET STAB WOUND KITS INSTALLED WITHOUT DELAY

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Tributes pour in from Millwall after little West Ham fan Isla Caton passes away

stop B us cu t s

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the unexp loded BomB tha elephan t rocked t & castl e

Kingsdale pays tribute to Norma

Issue 1586

Established:

Issue 1588

1987

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June 9 2022

southwarknew

Established: 1987

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June 23 2022

JUMPING FOR JOY AS BMX STAR RETURNS

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MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

SCHOOL CRISIS Page 5

Pages 20-21

EXCLUSIV E

Bereaved claim pol sisters murdered ice failed Brother MILL

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southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

HUTCH MAKES ADMISSION

January 5 2023

REVEALED: 16 primary schools in budget deficit, with more to come as pupil numbers plummet

LIONS READYING THE BIG BUCKS Back page

Issue 1602

Established: 1987

Bermondsey woman invited thousands of Queen’s queuers to use toilet including Dame Kelly Holmes

ROYAL FLUSH 50p

September 29 2022

BILLY BELIEVES THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

southwarknews.co.uk

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SOUTHWARK’S TOP Pages BUSINESS IS? 12-13 Page 4

THANK YOU MA’AM Issue 1600

Established: 1987

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Page 3 EXCLUS IVE

INSI DE:

MAN CHARGED WITH BURGESS PARK RAPE September 15 2022

southwarknews.co.uk

Her Majesty Que OLD en Elizabeth II 31-YEARCHARGED AFTER BED STAB IS TEEN Page 4 21 April 1926 –

Southwark rns with fond and plans tomou memories, trib lay our Queen utes to rest - pages 10-16

Pages 11-19

8 September 2022

New year, new Millwall!

senseless killing in the park UNITED IN GRIEF

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WALL EXCL

Fight plan axe four s to in Southwroutes ark and re duce even more See page

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USIVE:

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Boss ex transferpects moves

EXCLUSIVE

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BERMONDSEY PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED TO 27 YEARS

Back page

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Police hunt after man stabbed sitting in Peckham Rye minding his own business

Photo by Faewik

Issue 1615

2 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Contents NEWS Pages 2-8 review of the year Pages 11-19 OPINION Page 20 Arts Page 21 Public notices Pages 23-24 SPORT Pages 25-32

Contact us if you have a story on 07973175511 or email

editor@southwarknews .co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

Royal Mail’s “appalling level of service”

By Herbie Russell

The letter, co-signed by councillors James McAsh, Maggie Browning, Richard Leeming, Catherine Rose, Portia Mwangangye, Jon Hartley, Margy Newens, Andy Simmons and Charlies smith, urged Royal Mail to negotiate with strikers.

It said: “We are deeply disappointed that Royal Mail has repeatedly chosen to blame any disruption on staff who have worked incredibly hard in recent years to maintain services often without the support or resources they need from management.

“For example in the SE22/SE15 delivery office, there has often been a shortage of vehicles, making it impossible for staff to get to the furthest away parts of SE22 during the course of a shift.

“Staff are now facing a real terms pay cut and the risk of redundancy at a time when Royal Mail is giving over £567m to its shareholders.

“We urge you to remove the threat of job cuts and meaningfully engage with staff and

herbie@southwarknews.co.uk MP Helen Hayes and Dulwich councillors have written to Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson about the “appalling level of service” in SE22.

The letter said residents have been “left waiting weeks” for important documents like legal letters and parking fines.

The politicians claim the delays are because of the closure of the Silvester Road office in 2018 and “cannot be attributed to strike days”.

Sent on Thursday, December 22, the letter said: “Residents in SE22 are often left waiting weeks between postal deliveries.

These delays are for more than just a minor inconvenience, with residents telling us that bank cards, vital legal documents, parking fines and hospital appointments have all been delayed.

“Many gas and electricity companies are now sending vouchers by post to vulnerable customers in need of support which are frequently failing to arrive on time.

“It is clear from the volume of correspondence we receive and the extended period of disruption over the past four years that the current level service cannot be attributed to strike days.

“Your staff have assured us that when there is a strike they are able to clear the backlog within three working days, yet residents tell us that sometimes they receive no post for weeks or more than a month at a time.”

115,000 CWU union members have been striking over pay and conditions and industrial action went ahead on December 23 and Christmas Eve.

the CWU to find a resolution which supports workers and protects future services.”

Speaking before Christmas, a Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Over the next 48 hours we will be doing all we can to deliver Christmas for our customers. Thousands of employees from across the business have swapped their regular day jobs to help sort and deliver the festive mailbag. We are grateful to them and the more than 12,000 posties who returned to work on the last strike day. Their huge efforts will ensure we deliver as many letters and parcels as possible for Christmas.

“The targeting of six days of strike action in December by the CWU is a cynical attempt to hold Christmas to ransom. We apologise for any disruption and uncertainty caused to customers, businesses and families across the country as a result of the CWU’s strike

Residents tell us that sometimes they receive no post for weeks or more than a month at a time action.

“We urge the CWU to seriously consider our pay offer of up to 9 per cent and to work with us to bring the company back to profitability. Royal Mail is not too big to fail. The company’s future and all our employees’ jobs depend on Royal Mail modernising so that we can better serve customers’ changing demands.

That is in the best interests of Royal Mail, its employees and its customers.”

Southwark Council launches energy savers service

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Southwark Council has launched an energy savers service to help residents save money and stay warm.

We are a London Living Wage employer

First announced on November 8, and launched in December, it means people can visit Citizens Advice Southwark or call over the phone, and get bespoke energy-saving advice.

Cllr Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for communities, equalities and finance, visited the scheme to speak to those on the front line

Do you have a story

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

OUR NEXT ISSUE IS OUT ON 31ST DECEMBER Issue 1562

Editor: Kevin Quinn Deputy Editor: Katherine Johnston Reporters: Kit Heren Sports Editor: John Kelly Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Magazine Editor: Laura Burgoine Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Sales Manager: Tammy Jukes Advertising: Clarry Frewin, Sophie Ali 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

VIGIL FOR NURSE ASSISTANT PETRA

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SANTA SEEN IN ELEPHANT

December 23 2021

southwarknews.co.uk

MILLWALL EXCLUSIVE

FAMILIES ‘LEFT WITH NO WATER’ Page 33

MITCH COUNTING DOWN MINUTES

7800 IN A WEEK Page 6

• Southwark third worst in London for new Covid cases • Over 100,000 have now had booster

• Uncertainty over postChristmas measures Page 3

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of supporting people during such difficult times.

She said: “People are in such dire situations right now – there’s a huge wealth divide in Southwark and the number of those who are struggling is increasing – with many people, even those who are paid a decent salary, finding it very hard to afford the bills.

“The support at Citizens Advice Southwark is superb – you can feel the relief that people who come along must feel, that there is someone there to listen and to help.”

Citizens Advice Southwark helped 20,000 clients on 45,000 issues last year across its

three sites and over the phone or online.

Demand for the service has risen this year as energy prices and inflation have increased, more people have struggled to pay the bills and more find themselves edging towards fuel poverty. Energy advice now accounts for 16 per cent of all enquiries dealt with by Citizens Advice Southwark – the third biggest source of demand, where previously that number was just 2 per cent in 2020/21, rising to 4 per cent the year after.

Get energy help with the Southwark Energy Savers Service at www.southwark.gov.uk/ benefits-and-support/cost-of-living-support

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.

Follow our social media to be updated on local news

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Southwark News is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry).

We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint, please contact 0207 231 5258.

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

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 3

Booming into 2023: This juice bar has thrived since Elephant & Castle shopping centre demolition

By Isabel Ramirez

isabel@southwarknews.co.uk One former Elephant and Castle shopping centre business has gone from strength to strength since the demolition, now opening a second branch in Camberwell.

John Parra, originally from Colombia, owns Dr Juice - a juice bar that was based in the Elephant and Castle shopping centre for five years, until it was demolished just over two years ago.

“I opened Dr Juice in March 2015,” he said.

“I was working for Marks and Spencer’s at the time when me and a couple of friends had the idea to open a juice bar.”

He explained that he saw a lack of healthy food businesses in the area, and saw the need to do something about it - “to help the community to become healthier.”

“In Colombia, there was always a glass of natural juice on the table. I wanted to bring that here.”

John had a successful juice bar inside the Elephant and Castle shopping centre.

He said although business was good, he only had a tiny space. “It was very small about 2 metres wide and 3 metres long.”

The shopping centre was eventually demolished in 2020, but plans for its closure started long before that.

The demolition affected many people differently and remains a controversial topic. According to Latin Elephant, some businesses are still waiting to be relocated.

That said, Dr Juice was one of the businesses that was relocated - and who it seems to have worked out for.

“Two years before it was demolished, I was told about the opportunity to move to the Elephant Arcade, where the business is now.”

John noted that not everyone got a fair deal, and it was down to many factors that he has been able to build such a booming business since.

He said because of the developments to the area, a new customer base has been created.

“There is lots of new student accommodation here now, and students

love juices and healthy options. So it does have a lot to do with the product. And the location is perfect too.”

Dr Juice, now right at the front of the Elephant Arcade, is in a prime location for attracting the masses of people passing by every day.

“But the success of the business is also down to adapting to change and taking advice.

John explained that he got help from local business mentors at Tree Shepherd, a service that helps people locally to establish their own enterprises, as well as supporting business-owners through the effects of regeneration.

Sandra Ferguson, CEO of Tree Shepherd said: “The moment I met John at his little unit in the shopping centre I knew Dr Juice was a great business.

“There would always be queues of people lining up at lunchtime to purchase one of his healthy juices. He had a friendly demeanour with his customers and his prices were also reasonable.

“Tree Shepherd helped John to secure a

grant to relocate his business to his new unit in Elephant Arcade. This involved providing business support and advice making sure John had a viable business plan, a new menu, equipment, as well as resources to organise the actual move.”

She added: “He could see the potential and how his business could grow. His quest to get the local community to take care of their health clearly paid off and we are so pleased to see his business go from strength to strength.”

A couple of months ago, he opened a second store in Camberwell.

Dr Juice sells fresh juices, smoothies, fruit salads, and soups made to order, as well as a range of healthy hot dishes too.

“It is a privilege to have served so many happy custumers over the years and hopefully it will continue way into the future.”

You can find Dr Juice in Elephant and Castle: Unit 11b Elephant Arcade, 50 London Rd, SE1 6FY And now in Camberwell: 319 Camberwell New Rd, SE5 0TF

86-88, Bellenden Road, Peckham, London SE15 4RQ.

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By Isabel Ramirez isabel@southwarknews.co.uk A Peckham-based soup kitchen hosted a ‘fantastic’ free Christmas Day feast and a British rapper made a surprise appearance.

Elimhouse Community Association Southwark

Community Day Centre in Peckham that caters for black elderly clients requires an Office Manager to organise and carryout administrative tasks including financial bookkeeping.

The successful person is required to organize and coordinate office administration and procedures, to ensure organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and safety. We require an energetic person who doesn’t mind wearing multiple hats and is experienced in handling a wide range of administrative duties and executive support-related tasks. S/he should be well organized, flexible, and enjoys the administrative challenges of supporting an office of diverse people.

Rapper Giggs stuns soup kitchen with Christmas Day appearance

Potted panto

Arts page 21

On Christmas Day, Peckham Soup Kitchen hosted a free festive feast at St Luke’s Church to lift people’s spirits during what can be a hard time for many across the borough.

The event was well attended, complete with a live DJ, entertainment and a present giveaway.

It was also supported by Brixton Soup Kitchen.

Cllr Natasha Ennin attended and told the News. “The event demonstrated that Southwark residents are fully engaged and resourceful during the cost of living crisis, and in eradicating social isolation and loneliness during the festive season.”

Peckham-born British rapper Giggs initially showed his support for the event, publicising it on his social media. But locals were surprised

when he showed up on the day for the community he grew up in.

Natasha said her daughter was “well impressed” to see him there.

Peckham Soup Kitchen also gave away free turkeys and an additional Christmas dinner a few days before as part of their commitment to locals.

They tweeted: “Blessings to all those who came out on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to make our 1st Christmas Day event magical.

Volunteers, we appreciate you. All the donations - we give thanks.”

4 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

Man stabbed to death while sitting in park minding his own business

By Herbie Russell

herbie@southwarknews.co.uk A man has been stabbed to death in a “brutal and senseless” attack in Peckham Rye Park.

Kalabe Legesse, 29, was “sitting in the park minding, his own business” when he was stabbed in the heart on the evening of Friday, December 30, police said.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses and information as they trace two suspects who fled the scene towards Peckham Rye on pedal bikes.

Officers were called to the scene at 8.24pm where they found Kalabe in the park, close to the cafe off Strakers Road, suffering a fatal stab wound.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 9pm.

A post-mortem examination

confirmed the cause of death to be a hemorrhage and a stab wound to the heart.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Kalabe’s family and friends have been left devastated by his death, which occurred after a brutal and senseless attack when he was simply sitting in the park, minding his own business.

“We have been working tirelessly to identify those responsible and are keen to hear from anyone who was in or around the park, particularly in the area near the café and playground, at about 20:00hrs.

“At this early stage in the investigation we believe we are looking for 2 suspects riding pedal bikes, who fled the scene towards Peckham Rye.” His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist

Photo by Faewik officers.

On social media, people have said a ‘peace vigil’ in memory of Kalabe will take place at the cafe on Strakers Road

at 8.30pm on Friday, January 6.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has information about what happened, is asked to call 101 with

referencing 6165/30DEC. Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800555111

Twelve arrests after stabbing on Dulwich’s Kingswood Estate

Old Kent Road fire claims a woman’s life

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Police have arrested twelve people after a young man was stabbed on a West Dulwich estate.

The eighteen-year-old was wounded near Seeley Drive on the Kingswood Estate, at 11.40pm on Sunday, January 1.

The victim remains in hospital where his condition is considered critical.

The twelve individuals arrested in

In March, police launched an investigation following the attempted murder of a mother and her daughter on the Kingswood Estate on Monday, February 28.

The police said the victims, who were both assaulted in their home, were a mother in her early 50s and her daughter who is in her early 30s. Local charities have previously described the Kingswood Estate as a “pocket of deprivation” in otherwise affluent Dulwich.

The fire near the junction with Dunton Road, at 5pm on Sunday, January 1 saw police, firefighters and paramedics race to the scene.

Tragically a woman, believed to be in her twenties, died at the scene and an investigation is underway to

establish the circumstances.

The area was evacuated and road closures were put in place, forcing eight buses to be diverted between the Bricklayers Arms and New Cross.

Old Kent Road was closed in both directions at the junction of Madron Street.

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Old Kent Road, Dockhead and New Cross fire stations attended the scene. Part of the second floor flat was damaged by fire.

that over a third (43) of social rent homes are three-bedroom or more.

The site is currently home to a parking area, a storage building and a three-storey block owned by a fire safety company. All will be demolished The Roca building, which houses artist studios, a live-work space and a workshop space, is being retained and refurbished.

Some local residents objected to the scheme, arguing that the nineteen-storey building is too high and will block out sunlight.

At Archers Lodge, a residential building opposite the development, sixteen windows will experience light loss exceeding the recommended guidelines.

One objector wrote: “Proposed buildings are too high. Will block out sunlight. Not in-

keeping with local area. Will put a strain on local services such as schools and GPs. “Will increase traffic and pollution, both of which are already big issues. Privacy issue with being overlooked. Completely against this proposal.”

But a council officer at the planning meeting on December 19 said: “While there are some impacts… they’re not considered to be that significant.

“In the majority of cases the windows affected passed guidelines and those that do fail don’t fail by a huge margin.”

The nineteen-storey building does exceed Old Kent Road Area Action Plan’s guidelines but a council officer’s report argued that buildings even higher than this had already been approved nearby and are under

construction.

The development falls within the Old Kent Road Opportunity Area, which will see 20,000 new homes and 10,000 new jobs in the coming

years, according to Southwark Council.

At the planning meeting, councillors unanimously decided to approve the development.

153 flats approved off Old Kent Road

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Councillors have approved plans to build a 153-flat development on St James’s Road, off Old Kent Road.

The development includes three blocks of seven, eight and nineteen storeys, and 1,900sqm of floorspace for commercial and light industrial uses.

35 per cent of the homes will be affordable, with 25 per cent social rent and the other 10 per cent ‘intermediate’ - meaning they will be let at 80 per cent of market rate.

Most of the flats will likely be marketed at couples, given that 110 homes are threebedroom or less.

Families will however benefit from the fact

By Herbie Russell

connection with the incident remain in police custody. Local residents told the News there was a “massive” police presence on the estate that night.

A local mum who lives on the estate told the News: “I’m so scared for my sons because they are young boys who are often walking through the estate and the local area.”

She added that she knows the victim: “I hope he lives. We are all praying. He’s a nice boy and that’s why I’m so shocked.”

herbie@southwarknews.co.uk A woman in her twenties has died after a building caught fire on Old Kent Road.

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 5

This favourite Dulwich shoe shop is closing down

Owners say Brexit and LTNs made it harder to trade

By Isabel Ramirez isabel@southwarknews.co.uk

A Dulwich-based children’s shoe shop is closing down and owners say difficulties they faced due to LTN restrictions and Brexit have made the decision to shut “a great deal easier.”

She said Brexit imposed “added costs and complications” to their supply chains. “This has been very unhelpful as we find ourselves increasingly competing with the online world.

“Each time we fit a shoe in blue but red is preferred, for example, you can order it more easily than we can. These lost sales really add up and threaten the level of service and choice upon which we have

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“many pairs of shoes will be just 10 pounds.”

Julie said that the goodbye is “hard”, adding, “Many of our customers have been with us from first shoes to big shoes, and it has been a joy to watch your children grow.”

Biff’s opening hours this month are normal as of January 3 (9:30am-5pm) Biff, 41 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BN

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crisis - “It’s made it increasingly tough on the High Street for businesses both big and small.”

Julie thanked the Dulwich Estate for their help and support over the years, as well as nearby traders “for helping to create our business community.”

They are having a “Farewell Sale” starting January 7 - with discounts of at least 50% off all shoes and clothes,

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built our reputation.”

She said LTN restrictions hit afterschool trade ‘dramatically.’

“During this incredibly tricky time, Southwark introduced their controversial road closures. The LTN time restrictions hit our after school trade dramatically, causing more lost sales,” she added.

Finally she nodded to the cost of living

l p e o ’ e s Pl P a am

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Biff - a popular kids’ shoe shop in Dulwich Village - is closing down after owners surrender to the “increasingly hostile trading environment” made worse by various new restrictions.

Julie Lowe, who lives in Dulwich, is one of the owners of Biff. She recently announced she has made the decision to retire and close the business.

“After 30 years happy and successful trading I am sad to announce that I am closing Biff at the end of February. With my lease up for renewal I have decided to retire and, very sadly, close the business,” she explained.

Biff opened just over thirty years ago, as a joint family business with Julie and her mum.

“This decision is mainly around my family and retirement plans but made easier by the impact of the difficult trading environment, online and the LTN’s in Dulwich Village.”

120 PECKHAM HILL STREET LONDON SE15 5JT ENQUIRIES@MOUNTVIEW.ORG.UK 21/10/2022 12:38

6 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

Guy’s hospital surgeons beat world record with ‘cutting-edge’ robotic prostate treatment

By Isabel Ramirez

isabel@southwarknews.co.uk Surgeons at Guy’s and St Thomas’ beat the world record of successfully treating the most men with enlarged prostates in one day using a cutting-edge robotic technique.

Guy’s Hospital is the first NHS centre in central London to offer a pioneering treatment to help men who have a noncancerous, enlarged prostate.

Aquablation Therapy is an incisionless procedure that uses an imageguided robotic arm. The arm holds a water jet to very precisely remove excess prostate tissue.

While in mild cases this can be treated with medication, bigger prostates may require surgery to manage obstructive urinary symptoms.

A man with an enlarged prostate may feel like they need to urinate more often, and may find it difficult to empty their bladder completely. Some men have to have a catheter inserted into their bladder while waiting for treatment, which can affect their quality of life.

The surgical team at the hospital performed the procedure on ten patients in one day – the most of any hospital in the world.

Conventional surgery for treating this would be using a laser technology, but this procedure can take up to three hours for one patient.

Aquablation can be done more quickly, with the average procedure taking around 40 minutes. As the system is robotic, it is also more precise and the outcomes for patients are more predictable and most patients should be able to leave hospital in the following day or two.

Aquablation also improves the preservation of sexual function and urinary continence.

This new treatment was first used in Guy’s Hospital in July this year, and since then surgeons there have successfully treated more than thirty men with it.

Retired dentist John Wade, 69, was one of the first Aquablation patients at Guy’s Hospital, following previous prostate surgery which didn’t fully resolve his issue.

John, from Norwich in Norfolk, said: “My surgeon was wonderful.

He explained over the phone about Aquablation and said he could get me on the list.

“I turned up on the Sunday, had the treatment and stayed in hospital for 24 hours before I was discharged. My

Samantha Salaver and Dr Joel Meyer

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Two staff members from Guys’ and St Thomas’ Hospital have been made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBEs) in the New Year Honours List.

Intensive care consultant Dr Joel Meyer and Samantha Salaver, head of dental nursing, were recognised for their services to the NHS. Dr Meyer, set up the Life Lines project in March 2020, a virtual visiting platform for families with loved ones in intensive care.

He collaborated with Professor

Louise Rose on the project, a professor of critical care nursing at King’s College London who was also made an MBE. The platform Life Lines has facilitated over 135,000 virtual visits and over one million call minutes since the pandemic began.

It has also provided more than 1,400 4G enabled Android devices to 180 NHS hospitals across the UK. Dr Meyer said: “I feel amazed to have been nominated for this exceptional honour. At the start of the pandemic, when Professor Louise Rose and I came up with Life Lines, a way of keeping families and patients

This procedure was so much kinder to me physically than the one I had had previously.

This is medicine moving forwards - it was first class Patient John Wade recovery has been good and my quality of life has improved.

“This procedure was so much ‘kinder’ to me physically than the one I had had previously. This is medicine moving forwards – it was first class.”

Rick Popert and Jonathan Noël, consultant urological surgeons at

Dental nurse and doctor from Guys’ and St Thomas’ made MBEs connected virtually, we did not anticipate the speed, scale of impact and sustained success of the project.

“This award is an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary efforts, goodwill and ongoing contributions of the whole Life Lines team, partners and collaborators.”

Samantha Salaver, from Enfield, has worked at Guy’s Hospital since 2006 and was recognised for services to dental nursing.

She joined the trust as a sister in the dental directorate before becoming a dental matron and then head of dental nursing.

Salaver has chaired the Association

of Dental Hospitals dental nurses’ group, and worked with NHS England to set up talent management for dental nurses.

She helped set up the Dental Nursing Academy for apprentices at Guy’s and St Thomas’, and is currently developing a specialist dental nursing degree.

Salaver said: “I was overwhelmed and surprised to hear that I was to receive such an honour as this. I work with an amazing team of dental nurses and others and have been privileged to be supported by Guy’s and St Thomas’.

I have had the opportunity to develop the future of dental nursing, and I am very proud to be a dental nurse.”

Guy’s and St Thomas’, along with their surgical teams have been using Aquablation to help tackle a backlog of patients waiting for treatment.

For the latest surgeries, using the efficient High Intensity Theatre (HIT) list technique pioneered at Guy’s and St Thomas’, Mr Popert and Mr Noël’s team operated on ten patients with one Aquabeam robotic system. This was done across two operating theatres and using three teams of theatre staff.

Mr Popert said: “I’m delighted that John has made good progress.

Aquablation offers lots of improvements for people like John who have enlarged prostates.

“Using this technique we can do twice the number of patients we’re able to do with more conventional surgery, and it’s easier and quicker to train more surgeons to be able to do it. This enables us to offer more patients better surgery.

“I am immensely proud of the incredible effort from the whole team.

“These HIT List techniques can be applied to all surgical specialties. They could be used throughout the NHS to help tackle the rising tide of surgical waiting lists.”

This was the 20th HIT list undertaken at Guy’s and St Thomas’. More than 370 patients have been operated on across nine surgical specialties. The system was developed by Dr Imran Ahmad, consultant anaesthetist and deputy clinical director for anaesthesia and theatres at Guy’s and St Thomas’.

Dr Ahmad said: “We were very excited to combine the innovation of HIT lists with the cutting edge technology of Aquablation prostate surgery and operate on a record number of patients in one day.”

Double shooting on New Year’s Eve

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Two men were shot in Camberwell on New Year’s Eve leaving them seriously injured.

Detectives believe the pair, aged 24 and 28, were injured in the Lettsome Estate, on McNeil Road, at around 8.30pm on Saturday, December 31.

Police were first alerted to the incident when medical staff at a south London hospital said two individuals had self-presented with gunshot injuries.

Both men remain in hospital undergoing treatment and are in a serious but stable condition.

Officers want to speak to people who witnessed the incident or noticed anything suspicious around that time.

The Met Police wrote online: “Any piece of information, no matter how irrelevant it may seem, could be crucial in piecing together what took place.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 giving the reference 5962/31DEC22. People can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, online or by calling 0800 555 111.

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Man who cost homeowners £1 million jailed for three year term

By Kevin Quinn kevin@southwarknews.co.uk A man, whom a court heard took over £1 million from homeowners, leaving them with botched home improvements, spent Christmas behind bars after being sentenced to three years on four fraud charges.

The conviction came after an investigation by the borough’s Trading Standards Team with most of his victims coming from Southwark.

Thirty-five-year-old Richard Nicholls, from Hotspur Street in Shrewsbury, was reported to the team at Southwark and is reported to have later told them that he had no formal building qualifications and his background was in fact in sales and real estate.

The court heard that Nicholls had asked his customers to pay him up front for jobs and materials but then left them with unfinished extensions and other incomplete building work, which they had to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds correcting.

The judge called Nicholls’s scheme ‘dishonest’ from ‘the outset’ and said his claim of replying on others was not mitigation as the contract was with him.

Southwark Trading Standards investigation centred around the following: ∙ claiming works could be done to a competent and professional standard ∙ taking payment for goods and services

F.A.A.

that were never provided ∙ claiming to have capacity to take on specific projects ∙ failing to complete projects paid for ∙ claiming the cost of VAT on invoices when not registered for VAT ∙ failing to inform clients of their legal right to cancel contracts made at home It is reported that he cost his eleven victims £1.1 million between 2016 and 2018 and was sentenced on Friday December 23 at Inner London Crown Court.

The court heard that a Camberwell couple were forced to sell their family home and leave London to pay back a loan they had taken out to correct botched building work.

Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle, Southwark Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said:“I am pleased that the Courts recognise the seriousness of the crimes Nicholls committed. The prison sentence also reflects the terrible impact his failures had on his clients. This case highlights how important it is for trading standards to tackle fraudulent behaviour, which too often impacts on vulnerable people. I congratulate our trading standards officers for their determination in bringing this man to justice and thank all involved in the investigation.”

The scale of the investigation was such that Southwark received support and funding from National Trading Standards (NTS), who also helped take witness statements from Nicholls’ many victims.

NEWS 7

Man found on Camberwell street suffering multiple gunshot wounds

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk A man was left in “critical condition” after being found with multiple gunshot wounds in Camberwell.

This is the state of one kitchen that Richard Nicholls left - Image Southwark Council Trish Burls, Chair of the National Trading Standards Tri Regional Investigation Team said: “Nicholls preyed on his victims under a veil of lies, false claims and deceit. He deliberately misled people into agreeing to home improvement works that he was not qualified to carry out, leaving victims distressed and out of pocket by tens of

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thousands of pounds.

“This sentence sends a clear message that, in the long-run, fraudulent trading does not pay - instead, it ends behind bars.

Nicholl’s, who is currently a Director of a Cheshire based estate agency company, promised to pay back all his victims, but has so far failed to do so.”

Police discovered the male, aged twenty, while on patrol, on Camberwell Church Street, at the junction with Grove Lane, at 5.40pm on Wednesday, December 28.

Officers initially thought he’d suffered a road traffic accident but realised he had multiple gunshot wounds while doing first aid.

A second area, Leontine Close, Peckham, where shots were fired a short time before the injured man was found, was also cordoned off.

The man was treated at the scene by London’s Air Ambulance before being rushed to a south London hospital.

According to police, he remains in a critical condition but stable condition.

A crime scene remains in place and enquiries are ongoing. No arrests have been made.

The investigation is being carried out by Specialist Crime Detectives who have informed his next of kin.

Anyone who has information that could help police is asked to call 101 referencing CAD 4464/28 Dec.

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8 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

jailed after Police unearth romance scam that saw one victim cat-fished for 14 years

Fredrick Diji and Racquel Johnson

Conman Fredrick Diji is banged up, as well as Racquel Johnson, for assisting him by money laundering

By Kevin Quinn kevin@southwarknews.co.uk A Camberwell pair spent Christmas behind bars when they were finally caught after five victims were conned out of hundreds of thousands in romance scams, including one victim who had been cat-fished for fourteen years.

Devious Fredrick Diji, 37, and Racquel Johnson, 43, were jailed for a combined total of eleven years and nine months on December 23 at Guildford Crown Court.

Diji’s fraudulent behaviour took place between January 2005 and April 2021.

A review of chats and emails on devices seized revealed the victims. Police said he almost exclusively targeted gay men, though there were some examples of victims who believed they were speaking to a woman.

One victim had been defrauded over a period of fourteen years, during which they paid Diji more than £100,000.

Johnson, the court heard, assisted Diji’s offending by laundering money he had gained from victims through her own bank account between January 2018 and April 2021.

The investigation only began after a Surrey victim came forward in 2020 and officers were able to trace bank transfers made by the victim straight to the pair’s

door in Flaxman Road, Camberwell.

Numerous devices were seized, leading to the discovery of what detectives called “a gold mine of evidence,” which they said “showed the pair plotting, sharing account logins and fabricating stories together to manipulate victims with.”

Surrey Police said that using a variety of fake personas victims would be targeted through online dating sites, gaining their trust over a period of time by making them believe they were in a relationship, before asking for large sums of money under false pretences.

Key to the scams were a series of elaborate and emotive excuses for needing money from the victims, ranging from the persona being held by Dutch customs when trying to return to the UK, all the way to being kidnapped, with money needed to ‘secure their release’.

In order to make the lies more believable, Diji would forge documents including death certificates and airline tickets.

The victims were always falsely reassured that the money would be paid back, often with the promise that the persona was due to inherit hundreds of thousands of pounds and just needed a stop-gap loan until they had the funds.

Working with City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, Surrey police said a further 179 victims of fraud were identified throughout

the course of the investigation, with 80 linked to romance fraud, 22 to investment fraud and 77 who had had their identities or bank details stolen or shared. They are being supported by the City of London Police’s victim care unit.

Officers also uncovered evidence of money laundering by painstakingly tracing bank transfers between multiple accounts, which fraudsters often do to make money as hard as possible to trace. In total, over £400,000 was found to have been laundered through bank accounts.

Fredrick Diji was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud, concealing criminal property and possession of an identity document for improper means.

Racquel Johnson was sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of money laundering.

On sentencing, Judge Fraser commented that both Diji and Johnson carried out a “truly callous conspiracy of significant scale”, adding “the harm you have caused has been devastating to so many”.

Judge Fraser also praised Detective Constable Becky Mason’s ‘tireless’ work in investigating the case, labelling her diligence as ‘quite remarkable and most impressive’.

Detective Constable Becky Mason, who investigated the case, said: “Romance fraud is heartless and cowardly and has a devastating impact on victims, not only financially but emotionally as they find their trust has been exploited in the cruellest of ways.

“Diji had his routine down to a tee, and assisted by Johnson, they would work together using a number of fake personas to target victims online, lovebomb them with promises of meeting in person and declarations of love, before fabricating reasons for desperately needing money, telling the victims that if they really loved them they would help them out.

“It was the ultimate manipulation which preyed on people’s emotions and good nature.

“I am incredibly grateful to each of the victims for supporting our investigation and I hope that today’s result gives them some sense of justice.”

Officers worked closely with online dating site Match where Diji met several of the victims. A Match spokesperson reassured it users saying: “At Match, the safety of our members is our highest priority. We are very sorry to hear about this case. We have a dedicated team monitoring security 24/7, deploying industry-leading technology and human checks to ensure user safety.

We are constantly reviewing our safety

methods and proactively communicate safe dating advice to our members and within our platform.

“We encourage everyone to take the same precautions when meeting people online, as they would if they were meeting through friends or in a pub, bar or public space. It is always best to keep conversations on the Match site, messaging service or app, so that there is an accurate record and any concerns can be quickly reported. We also have a ‘report this profile’ function prominently positioned.

“We strive to create a safe and friendly environment for all users. Match has a zero-tolerance policy for reports of serious offences and encourage anyone who has felt exposed to unsafe behaviour whether through our services or anywhere else, to speak to the police, so that the matter can be investigated and documented.

“We have co-operated with the police on this case, as part of our commitment to work with the wider industry to define standards and share information.”

If you, or someone you know is vulnerable to Romance Fraud please report it online or call us on 101.

If you think you have been the victim of romance fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via www.actionfraud.police.uk

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Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

ADVERTORIAL

STAY WELL THIS With winter just around the corner, taking good care of yourself is even more important. Darker days and a drop in temperature can affect our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. There is lots you can do to help yourself. Eating nutritious food, staying hydrated, exercising regularly, getting plenty of good quality sleep and doing activities that make you happy can all help. Getting your COVID-19 and flu vaccinations can reduce your chances of becoming unwell and needing hospital treatment.

PROTECT YOURSELF TODAY

Dr Nancy Küchemann, GP and Co-Chair Partnership Southwark says, “Unfortunately, COVID-19 has not disappeared; cases are likely to increase as we spend more time together indoors during the cold winter months. The flu vaccine also helps protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu. Both COVID-19 and flu vaccines give high levels of protection, but immunity naturally reduces over time, so it is vital, if you are eligible, to have your COVID-19 booster and flu vaccines to top up your defences and protect yourself and your family this winter.”

Flu isn’t just a heavy cold Flu is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on quickly. The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness. Healthy individuals usually recover within two to seven days, but for some flu can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death.

Flu vaccination provides the best protection. If you are aged 50 and over or have a long-term health condition, get your flu jab before flu starts circulating. Those who are eligible for a free flu vaccine can book an appointment through their GP surgery or local pharmacy. See https://bit.ly/3NwBhRu-fluvaccine for further information and check if you’re eligible.

Sangeeta Leahy, Director of Public Health, Southwark said, “COVID-19 has not gone away so it is important to protect yourself and others. If you are over 50 and have received an invitation from the NHS, please have your vaccination. You may be offered a flu jab on the same day.”

Sangeeta further urges people in Southwark to “Continue to prevent the transfer of COVID-19 and flu with frequent handwashing and wearing a face mask in indoor public spaces such as in shops and on public transport. As we meet more indoors, also try to open doors and windows to let in fresh air.”

COVID-19 booster?

There are 2 booster doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine you may be able to get:

If you’ve not had a 1st booster dose yet, you’re still eligible and can book anytime. If you’re eligible for both, you only need 1 booster during the autumn.

• a 1st booster for everyone aged 16 and over, and some people aged 12 to 15 who are at high risk You can get your vaccination by: from COVID-19, once they have • Visiting the National Booking completed their primary COVID-19 System www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination course vaccination • a seasonal booster (autumn • Calling 119 booster) for some people, including those aged 50 years or over, those • Checking local vaccination at high risk from COVID-19 or who offer in Southwark and across are pregnant, and frontline health SE London at www.nhs.uk/ and social care workers grab-a-jab Please note: You can have your seasonal booster if you’re 50 and over and it has been at least three months since you had your previous dose.

We are visiting all our housebound residents to give them their booster vaccination. Don’t worry if you have not had yours yet – primary care network (PCN) or GP surgery teams will be in touch. Visit www.selondonics.org/icb for more information.

Review 2022

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

NEWS 11

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12 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

Southwark primary schools faced closure and battle to keep them aflOAt continues

By Herbie Russell

herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Parents were left stunned in June this year by the revelation that sixteen Southwark primary schools are at risk of closure due to a £3 million funding gap.

The News hounded Southwark Council for a month before it finally admitted the crisis it faced and showed us previously unseen correspondence with the education secretary.

The financial catastrophe has been caused by plummeting pupil numbers in recent years. Schools get funding on a per pupil basis so as fewer children have enrolled, primary schools have received less funding from central government.

This has resulted in the closure of St Francesca Cabrini Primary School in Honor Oak this year and Townsend Primary School in Walworth is also consulting on whether to shut its doors for good.

According to Southwark Council, the crisis is rooted in the exodus of young families from the borough in recent years. This, it argues, is due to a lack of affordable housing, Brexit, covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis.

But the council has stopped short of

blaming its own regeneration policy, which some local headteachers say has priced families out of Southwark.

Rumours that Southwark schools were on the brink began circulating when a local education authority figure told parents from St Francesca Cabrini that numerous schools were “at risk”.

After repeated enquiries, Southwark Council finally revealed that sixteen primary schools were in a budget deficit, a figure predicted to rise to 37 in 2023.

Southwark’s education chief Cllr Jasmine Ali revealed that, in September 2021, she had written to the thenEducation Secretary Nadhim Zahawi saying that primary schools had “reached a critical stage” and that Southwark needed a £1.2million funding boost.

Nadhim Zahawi replied that 88 per cent of UK schools were breaking even and that government would give schools £7.1 billion in 2022-23.

In June, parents at St Francesca Cabrini Primary School said they were “panicking” and the plight of primary schools was being kept “too hush hush”.

At a council meeting on October 19, Makeda Williams-Pinnock, headteacher at Elephant and Castle’s Victory Primary

Parents from Francesca Cabrini Primary School School, said unaffordable housing was to blame for the loss of pupils.

She pointed out that one-bedroom flats near her school cost as much as £2,500 per month.

“It’s almost been like a deconstruction

The war against the bus cuts won!

of families … they’ve been decanted,” she said.

This paper has submitted Freedom of Information requests to find out which schools are in a budget deficit but, despite appealing the decision, the

request has been rejected.

A council officer said the information would be made available at the end of December but this has not been forthcoming. The News is making renewed enquiries.

By Herbie Russell

This, they argued, was at the expense of their job stability, pay, and the service offered to Southwark residents.

Barristers facing a 28 per cent fall in real earnings since 2006 went on indefinite strike on August 26, hoping to secure an improved pay offer.

They argued the only way of beating the 60,000 case backlog was by encouraging barristers to stay in the profession by paying them more.

Southwark resident and barrister Rachel Law said: “The system is absolutely on its knees. I can’t overemphasise how much of a threat it is under.”

On October 10, the Criminal Bar Association announced that barristers in England and Wales had accepted a pay deal worth 15 per cent from the government.

But there was little respite in November as Abellio bus drivers took days off and railway workers staged a series of 48hour strikes.

During Christmas, Southwark was hit by a flurry of strikes as nurses, paramedics, railway workers and postal workers threw festive plans into disarray.

One Borough restaurant said Christmas had been ruined due to the hundreds of booking cancellations caused by transport disruption.

And there’s no end in sight. All the sectors that went on strike in Christmas are striking again this month, and firefighters could soon join the picket

Mass strike action

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Bus users celebrated in November last week when Mayor of London Sadiq Khan pulled the handbrake on plans to axe 78 London buses, including some major Southwark routes.

Southwark’s transport boss Cllr Catherine Rose, declared Southwark buses “saved” after the 45, 12 and 78 routes all escaped the chop.

The reality is slightly more complicated given the 521 is still being cut. But the Khan’s u-turn on the controversial cuts was still a huge relief for people living in the borough’s most isolated areas.

Why did Khan want to cut buses?

Unlike public transport systems in most Western cities, which usually get over half their funding from central government, 72 per cent of Transport for London’s (TfL) revenue comes from passenger fares.

So when Covid-19 emptied carriages, slashing ridership on some TfL services by 96 per cent, its coffers were left bare.

In August, following ill-tempered negotiations, TfL accepted a £3.6bn government bailout which included a £1.2bn upfront settlement.

But Khan warned of a remaining £400 million shortfall, and the son-of-a-busdriver set out plans to strip London’s bus services.

Public uproar The Mayor’s proposal was met with an outpouring of opposition, with many saying bus cuts would hurt the elderly and disabled disproportionately.

Residents in areas poorly served by tubes, like Nunhead, Old Kent Road, Peckham and Dulwich, were particularly vulnerable.

herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

Both sides of Tooley Street rejected the proposals. The Council’s Labour Leader Kieron Williams described the buses as “lifelines” while his Lib Dem rival Cllr Victor Chamberlain warned the cuts by the Labour Mayor would be “devastating”.

Fears were stoked further when a Lib Dem Freedom of Information request revealed that ridership on several atrisk routes was higher than it was prepandemic.

Even extinction rebellion got in on the act, touring an open-top bus around Southwark in protest against the plans.

In a rare show of political unity, politicians across the spectrum, union members and residents marched from Camberwell Green to Peckham on October 6.

The u-turn On Wednesday, November 23, the plans screeched to a halt. Khan said the consultation, which had received over 20,000 replies, showed “the strength of feeling across the capital”.

He said £25 million would be taken

from City Hall reserves, which could mean cuts to other services, such as policing, education or environment.

Some Tories suggested Khan had never intended to cut services, and he was dangling the cuts to pressurise the government into a better funding settlement. The prime minister’s transport advisor Andrew Gilligan told the BBC the government had “called the mayor’s bluff”.

What’s next?

While the 78, 45 and 12 routes have all escaped the chop, the 521 from Waterloo to London Bridge is being ditched and will be serviced by 133 and 59.

Changes to the 133 from Streatham to Liverpool Street will also affect people travelling north through Southwark, the Lib Dems have warned.

With Sadiq Khan warning that retaining the buses means “tough decisions elsewhere”, major infrastructure projects once touted for Southwark, like the Bakerloo Line extension, are as precarious as ever.

2022 saw an unprecedented wave of industrial action as nurses, paramedics, doctors, postal workers, railway workers and barristers took a stand against their employers.

As inflation soared after the fallout from covid-19, the Ukraine war and Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget, workers across the UK looked to boost their stagnating wages.

The transport union RMT’s announcement, on May 24, that its members would conduct a national strike - the first in three decades - set the tone for summer.

In June, the London overground, tube, and the Southeastern and Thameslink railways frequently ground to a halt.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch described a landscape of “transport austerity” with thousands of jobs being cut and below-inflation pay rises offered to rail workers.

On June 27, the CWU (Communication Workers Union) announced strikes at Southwark delivery offices.

One postal worker told the News that Royal Mail bosses were trying to transform the company into an Amazonlike service by prioritising parcels and using agency staff on zero-hours contracts.

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

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NEWS 13

How Southwark stood in solidarity with Ukraine

By Isabel Ramirez isabel@southwarknews.co.uk On February 24, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The conflict – which has claimed thousands of civilians lives since it began - caused many Ukrainians to flee their homeland, some reaching as far as Southwark.

Here’s how the borough came together to show its support for those affected by the ongoing war…

England’s “most patriotic estate” raised a Ukrainian flag in solidarity, after the country’s invasion by the Russian army.

Residents of the Kirby Estate, on the corner of Southwark Park Road and Jamaica Road, put up the flag – and removed some smaller Russian flags from their collection of bunting. Chris Dowse, who lives on the estate, said: “There’s not much we can physically do and so we’re showing our support any way we can.”

Russian Millwall fans called on both countries to end the conflict following UK sanctions.

Members of Millwall Supporters Club Russia - led by Maxim Prokhorenko, who is half Ukrainian - called for peace between the two countries. “All common people I know in Russia, England, and Ukraine … are against the war,” he said. The UK sanctions on Russia included a travel ban – meaning those in Russia could no longer fly directly to the UK or via EU countries.

The alternative routes were and remain limited, so the group was concerned about being able to come over to watch games, as well as the overall effect of the war on both countries.

members from the Guy’s and St Thomas’ volunteered to find and package up the medical equipment, which was made up of donated and surplus items and some worked at the supply chain hub between shifts.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals shipped vital medical supplies to Ukraine to help with the war effort.

Some 150 pallets of gloves and theatre gowns, as well as bandages, sutures, dressings, sanitisation materials, and other essential items, were sent to Ukrainian hospitals from Southwark. Staff

These individuals across Southwark were especially helpful in supporting victims of the conflict: ∙ A Walworth woman sent a 300kg care package of food, toys, and sweets to support about 50 orphans sheltering in a Ukrainian monastery. In total, Dorota Kowalska, 38, and friends David Pond, Nick Butler, and Markus Butler crowdfunded over £45,000 to support Ukrainian refugees in Germany, Poland, and Ukraine itself. ∙ A Ukrainian woman living in Peckham gave free English lessons to Ukrainians who fled to the UK, to help them integrate into the community. Alisa Masokha-Jones, 33, originally from Kyiv said as she didn’t have space in her home to take in refugees, this was the “next best thing” she could do

in the greatest need. They also promised to ‘tackle the root cause’ of the crisis by providing access to more, better-paid jobs.

They later added three more schemes to the list: Energy Savers - a bespoke energysaving advice service; the Southwark Cost of Living Fund: round two – adding further support worth £2.7m; and Warm Spaces - which saw over thirty venues across the borough open their doors to help locals struggling with their heating bills keep warm this winter.

Food banks across the borough persevered with their work, giving “a lifeline” to people struggling to put food on the table.

Peckham Pantry continued to be a shining example, not only of a source of cheaper groceries for anyone but of the strong community spirit in Southwark.

The pantry hosted the launch of the nationwide campaign with Co-op which will fund hundreds more pantries across the UK.

to help, given her experience in teaching English. ∙ Larysa Moore, a Ukrainian woman living in Southwark, galvanised residents at a demonstration of solidarity on Odessa Street, a road in Rotherhithe named after the Ukrainian Black Sea port, that was attacked by the Russian military. ∙ Former MP Sir Simon Hughes led a ceremony to honour the victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Second World War, at the Peace Garden at the Imperial War Museum. Usually, the Russian ambassador would be invited, but this year saw Sir Simon campaign for him not to be invited and for the date to be changed considering the ongoing conflict.

Several Southwark public figures demanded visa waivers for Ukrainian refugees coming to the UK. This came after Home Secretary at the time, Priti Patel, refused to waive all visa rules for Ukrainians fleeing the violence, citing security concerns.

MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark,

Neil Coyle called this “ridiculous Home Office nonsense” and said bureaucracy was “blocking” many Ukrainians from reaching safety in the UK – including some constituents.

The Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun – called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “shocking act of aggression” which has caused “a humanitarian crisis.”

Peckham and Camberwell MP Harriet Harman called for the government to “widen the categories for Ukrainians fleeing the war” who were able to come to the UK viwa family connections.

Ukrainians still need a visa to come to the UK, but the government later made some changes designed to make the application process easier.

Council leader Cllr Kieron Williams said, “as a borough of sanctuary”, Southwark would support its Ukrainian community in any way possible, as well as welcome those fleeing the conflict.

This was reflected throughout the year, with hundreds of Southwark households signing up to house Ukrainian refugees.

Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Neil Coyle signposted all the help on offer in his Cost-of-Living Support Booklet. Here he explained how to access energy bill support, local mental health services and council funds including the emergency support scheme - which offers direct payment for goods and services for people faced with a personal crisis.

And with some light relief a Walworth family made locals smile again when they covered their house in Christmas lights

for the twenty-fifth year, despite a rise in energy bills.

Every year, the Mustafa family raise money for the charity that saved their son’s life, after he was diagnosed with leukaemia at four years old.

“We debated not putting them up this year, because of the way things are at the moment,” Dad Gunaltay Mustafa said.

“But we can’t stop after twenty-five years.

It’s costing me £70 extra a week, but it’s worth it to see the smile on people’s faces.”

How Southwark responded to the cost-of-living crisis

By Isabel Ramirez isabel@southwarknews.co.uk

In 2022, households saw energy bills skyrocket and prices soar as the rising cost of living plagued the nation. Here’s how Southwark responded…

Southwark Council’s response was detailed in their ten-point plan, which included the Southwark Cost of Living Fund: financial support for households

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Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

2022 Local Elections: Labour tightened its hold on Southwark

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk In May, Southwark residents tore their eyes away from the partygate scandals gripping Westminster to focus on political intrigue closer to home - the 2022 local elections.

Labour were coming into it in a strong position having strengthened its hold on Southwark with 49 elected councillors in the 2018 elections.

But their closest rivals, the Lib Dems, who finally ceded control to Labour in 2010, were hoping for an upset.

They had reason to be optimistic.

Labour had been batting away claims that housing policy had failed the Southwark’s poorest.

Their infilling policy - building new homes on existing estates, often at the expense of green space - was also drawing criticism.

Then there were fears that Neil Coyle’s antics would jeopardise Labour’s position and it. was the first election

since housing chief Cllr Leo Pollak had been exposed as running an anonymous pro-development Twitter account.

Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey stoked the flames when he said Southwark was somewhere his party would be “fighting Labour”.

In the south of the borough, Dulwich Village Tories hoped to capitalise on the controversial LTN scheme, and retake the ward narrowly lost to Labour in 2018.

The Greens were also standing candidates in 20 of the 23 wards, pushing an agenda of tackling climate change and social injustice.

In the weeks before polling day, the parties set out their manifestos. Labour was promising a ‘Cost of Living Fund’ and the launch of a ‘Southwark Energy Savers’ scheme to help residents through the cost-of-living crisis.

The Lib Dems promised to expand the existing hardship fund and establish 5,000 new apprenticeships in the borough.

On housing, Labour vowed to build

1,000 council homes by 2026. The Lib Dems pledged to ensure all new residential developments had 50 per cent affordable housing.

Come election day on May 5, Labour stormed to a resounding victory. The party had 52 councillors elected and even gained London Bridge and West Bermondsey from the Lib Dems.

Southwark Lib Dem Leader Hamish McCallum left his position in the wake of the election defeat and was soon succeeded by Cllr Victor Chamberlain.

While voter turnout dropped across London, it was static in Southwark at 33.9 per cent.

Speaking to the News following his electoral success Council Leader Kieron Williams said: “It’s been a great night for Southwark Labour and a recognition of the work we’ve done over the past four years, supporting people through Covid and delivering on our manifesto promises. We take that responsibility incredibly seriously, and we’ll be working incredibly hard to deliver even more for them over the next four years.”

referendum, reportedly saying: “Are you f**king insane?”

He was suspended from all bars in the House of Commons and Lords but, only the next day, was digging himself a deeper hole.

A month earlier, it had been revealed that Labour MP Barry Gardiner had received £500,000 from a Chinese agent engaged in “political interference activities”.

Referring to the revelations just a day after the Stangers’ Bar incident, Coyle joked that Gardiner had received money from Fu Manchu - a fictional Chinese supervillain.

When Business Insider journalist Henry Dyer told Neil Coyle he was BritishChinese, Coyle reportedly said he could tell “from how you look like you’ve been giving Remnibi to Barry Gardiner”.

Neil Coyle was quickly suspended from the Labour Party pending an ongoing investigation.

Coyle soon apologised for his “insensitive behaviour”, said that his brother was married to a Chinese woman, and that he was proud to represent a “vibrant and diverse” constituency.

The MP has since explained that drinking contributed to his behaviour although admitted that alcohol “in no way excuses bad behaviour”.

He said: “I was routinely drinking a dozen or more pints an evening, five days a week.

The volume meant I could not stop ‘cold turkey’ but had to reduce gradually.

“Health tests done to check for any long-term damage revealed my heart was beating so fast and irregularly I was at significant risk of a stroke.

“The truth is, if I’d continued drinking, I may not have survived and that is a very scary thought with a six-year-old daughter.”

In October, Coyle said the investigation into him would conclude in November but, now in January, he is still awaiting their decision.

Nowadays, Coyle is teetotal but still supports the Bermondsey beer mile and Southwark’s hospitality sector.

“Given our local community, alcohol will always feature somewhere in my work, just not in my system,” he said.

Neil Coyle suspended from the Labour Party

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Public swearing fits, battles with booze and an internal investigation - it’s been a busy year for MP Neil Coyle, albeit not the one he would have expected.

Ten months on from an outburst which saw the MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark accused of racism, Coyle’s political future is on tenterhooks - subject to an internal Labour Party investigation.

In a News exclusive, Coyle would open up about his battle with alcoholism, revealing that he was drinking twelve pints five-daysa-week around the time of the incident.

He said that drinking “undoubtedly affected my demeanour and attitude and contributed to my own suspension from the Labour Party earlier this year”.

Coyle first made headlines with a sweary outburst in February, in Parliament’s Strangers’ Bar, which had only just reopened after the pandemic.

He was accused of a potty-mouthed rant, reportedly shouting “f**k you” at a Labour aide and telling a Tory backbencher to “f**ck off and lose some weight” when he intervened.

A hard-line remainer, Coyle was allegedly enraged by the aide’s suggestion that Labour shouldn’t have backed a second

Southwark Soapbox hit the screen

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk With Westminster politics gripping the public, Southwark News wanted to keep readers’ eyes focussed on the local agenda. And so began Southwark Soapbox local election coverage modelled on the hit Channel 4 programme Gogglebox.

As part of a YouTube show, the News organised debates between politicians from the different local parties and filmed local households’ reactions to what they said.

It was hoped that the project would help people engage with local issues, improve voter turnout and put local residents at the centre of political discussions.

With funding from the media charity the Public News Foundation, debates were organised between candidates for

Newington ward, which had the lowest voter turnout in Southwark’s 2018 elections.

The Conservative Party didn’t offer a politician, leaving Green, Lib Dem and Labour candidates to battle it out over a different topic each week including housing, crime and education, and transport and the environment.

Four different Newington households - all from very different backgrounds were chosen to react to the recorded debates from their living room sofas.

They produced some great moments.

Week one was dominated by hosuing and the continued problems with hearting; week two the enviroment and week three crime.

The Public News Foundation praised Southwark News’ approach for giving a ‘people-like-us’ view of the news.”

You can watch the full Southwark Soapbox Series on our Youtube channel scan out QR code above.

Squabbles over Harriet succession

By Herbie Russell

herbie@southwarknews.co.uk The race to replace Harriet Harman as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Peckham and Camberwell was fraught with controversy.

In November, Miatta Fahnbulleh was pronounced the winner, but only after a gruelling selection process, plagued with internal squabbles, exclusively reported by the News.

The race began in December 2021, when Harman announced plans to stand down at the next election after 40 years in post.

A key party figure who held cabinet positions under Blair and Brown, and seen by many as a trailblazing feminist politician, replacing her was unlikely to be easy.

By September, hopeful candidates’ campaigns were well underway.

Peter Babudu, Evelyn Akoto and Johnson Situ, all current or former Southwark councillors threw their hats in the ring.

The other candidates were former number ten policy advisor and economist, Miatta Fahnbulleh and London Assembly member Marina Ahmad, plus former Lambeth Mayor Neeraj Patil.

Despite being touted as an early frontrunner, Corbynista and Wandsworth Councillor Maurice Mcleod was excluded from the longlist by the party hierarchy, even though he’d been backed by two unions.

Rye Lane’s Labour Councillor Chloe Tomlinson said the party elite “intended to… hand the seat” to a Keir Starmer favourite.

High-profile Labour Party politicians who had been prominent under Jeremy Corbyn, such as

Diane Abbot and Dawn Butler, also slammed the decision. It was the first sign that internal party divisions could throw the selection process off-course.

The long-list of candidates had to be whittled down to a shortlist by a selection committee made up of local party members who leaned toward the party’s left.

They chose a shortlist of Evelyn Akoto, Miatta Fahnbulleh and Peter Babudu but party bosses were allegedly set on adding Johnson Situ to the list, seen by many as Starmer’s favourite.

A selection panel source said: “We chose a shortlist of three and the regional official and the National Executive Committee kept us in the meeting for two extra hours trying to argue for Johnson even after the decision had been made and we refused to budge.”

This paper reported the panel’s preferred three candidates and, in an astonishing development, the Labour Party dissolved its own select committee.

Discharged committee members were told the leak had been “a blatant attempt to undermine the process”.

On Saturday, November 19, following a hustings between the four candidates, party members voted for Fahnbulleh as their preferred candidate.

Fresh from her victory, she said: “I’m pretty overwhelmed. It was a massive show of support. I’m so proud and honoured to be selected – it’s an amazing community and the community I want to serve.

“I’m an economist. We need to change the economic system and that’s what I’ll spend the coming months striving to do for the people here.”

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

“I spend my days trying to kick rats to death”: Camberwell Green antirat Instagram account emerges Sightings of “demented pigeonhunting rats” on Camberwell Green prompted an exasperated local resident to set up an antirat Instagram account.

An anonymous person who runs @CamberwellGreenRats said the green off Camberwell New Road has been “surrendered to the rats” and is trying to get Southwark Council to take action.

In one post, they wrote: “I’ve been spending my days conspiring against the rats and the majority of my evenings trying to kick the rats to death – which I’m unfortunately nowhere near agile enough to do. Surely there’s a way @SouthwarkCouncil?”

The account is still active, and its latest post urges for a “24hour armed police presence” until the issue has been resolved.

Local parents were left deflated after waking up to find eco-vigilantes had let down the tyres on their “gas guzzler”” SUVs, by shoving lentils in their valves.

One mum-of-three from Eynella Road, East Dulwich, whose 4×4 was hit, called the perpetrators “absolute a-holes”.

The eco-group didn’t leave without an explanation –leaflets they’d left under drivers’ windscreen wipers said: “SUVs are the second biggest cause of rising carbon emissions in the last decade. This is why we have disarmed your SUV by deflating one or more of its tyres.”

NEWS 15

Car gets stuck on stairs of West Dulwich pub A driver reportedly mistook the steps for the exit of the pub car park and lodged their car on the stairs of The Alleyn’s Head pub in West Dulwich.

Thankfully, no one was injured, and no offences were identified that day.

One passerby, noticing the sticker in the car’s window, joked that it was a “National Trust member gone rogue”.

Maybe they’ll get the bus home next time.

2022 Peckham conkerers: Competition saw hundreds compete for 22-carat gold conker

Fingers on the pulse

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A Peckham-based conker club hosted their annual competition at a local pub which attracted over 300 people to compete for a 22-carat gold conker, known as “The Nugget”.

Winner Harry Phillips, from New Cross, walked away with the unusual trophy and debunked some myths about what makes a ‘winning conker’. He said the age-old trick of putting it in the oven to harden it ‘didn’t work’. Instead, he said ageing it in his garage was the secret to hardening the conker. “Some of them will rot over time, but the ones that don’t will become solid.”

Tarantula was spotted on London Bridge train after being abandoned by owner Commuters were shocked to be sharing their train carriage with a furry, eight-legged companion at London Bridge station.

The pink-toed tarantula - thought to be an abandoned pet - was rescued by Mat Hawkins, an RSPCA officer and taken to an animal hospital in Essex.

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southwark and the Queen

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

Queen Elizabeth II (left) and Ossana von Wiese (right)

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Barry Albin-Dyer meeting the Queen

By Kevin Quinn kevin@southwarknews.co.uk 2022 will go down in the history books as the year we celebrated our longest serving monarch with a Platinum Jubliee weekend in June and just two months later we mourned her passing, with Southwark playing an essential part in the proceedings.

The Queue became a thing of wonder as Southwark Park marked the start of the queue or the end of the queue depending on how you want to look at it; the queue for the queue – or the ‘holding pen’.

Between September 14 and 19 it stretched ten miles westward along the river and over Lambeth Bridge to allow 250,000 people the opportunity see Queen Elizabeth II lying-in-state at Westminster Abbey.

Operating day and night, it had more than eight first-aid stations, multiple water stations and more than 500 portable toilets, but that did not stop some local people from stepping up including Henrietta Onyema. She opened her toilet at her home on Bermondsey Wall East to those filing past, which happened to include British Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes (see page 18) The News marked Her Majesty’s

21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022

Sue Badman was a Brownie at the Palace

passing with a six page tribute feature.

It is said that a third of the nation at one point or other have met the Queen, so we asked local people to tell us about their audiences with their monarch. From the great and good of Southwark including the Bishop, local funeral director the late, great Barry Albin-Dyer and the Pearly King Jimmy Jukes we were told of medals she gave out and charity functions and openings she attended.

Others had a more intimate relationship with Elizabeth. Eager to ensure her daughter Princess Anne could enjoy the company of girls her own age, the Queen set up a Brownies club at Buckingham Palace. Sue Badman, vice-chair of the Dulwich Society was one of its members.

In the late ‘50s, Sue was a member of the Holy Trinity Brompton Brownies in Knightsbridge. Through the club, she met a friend of Princess Anne’s and was invited to the Buckingham Palace Brownies.

Sue remembers how the Queen would regularly attend their nativity plays, meetings and badge ceremonies. She said: “The Queen was very generous on reflection. We had quite the run of the palace and you could walk along corridors freely and see the gifts the Queen had received from world monarchs and leaders.

“The Queen and the Duke were always enthusiastic about our activities just like any parents. During this time, the Queen gave birth to Prince Andrew and I remember him as a baby sitting in his pram in the gardens.

“Anne was an amenable companion and a very pleasant girl. But she stood her ground, especially to her older brother Charles. She certainly knew who she was!”

Princess Anne went to Benenden School aged thirteen and the guide company came to an end. Much later in life, Sue went to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party and met the Queen once more.

Bermondsey’s Russell Dryden never got to meet the Queen but used to feed her horses as a boy. Now a fishmonger and running the Blue Bermondsey business improvement district (BID), he used to go with his father to deliver coal to Buckingham Palace in the early 1960s.

His father worked for Charringtons, a company that was first set up in the 1730s, and which had the contract to deliver coal to Buckingham Palace.

“It seems strange to think of it now but we used to drive right in through the back entrance,” Russell told the News. He never got to meet the Queen, but while he was waiting he

would feed the horses in their stables.

Unsurprisingly, Buckingham Palace is no longer heated with coal, since 1994-95 operating on a combined heat and power system that uses natural gas.

And for others their relationship with Her Majesty went back before she took to the throne over 70 years ago. Liberal Democrat councillor for Borough and Bankside Irina von Wiese told the News the story of her German mother’s unlikely friendship with the Queen, just two years after the war.

Irina’s mother, Ossana von Wiese, was born in Cologne in 1926, the same year as the Queen. After the war, she travelled to Britain to take part in a cultural exchange, an early example of post-war reconcilliation.

Ossana, aged 21, was one of a cohort that flew to Britain to travel around different UK cities meeting academics and students. But just days into her tour, outside St Paul’s Cathedral, a double-decker bus ran over her foot, flattening it.

Ossana would later recount the agony of waiting in a British A&E clinic for hours as British health services still struggled with a post-war backlog.

Ossana couldn’t complete her tour because of the injury. Fortunately, her mother, a Russian refugee, had

met a British woman from Windsor in Germany in the 1920s and formed a life-long friendship. So Ossana stayed at their family home. The father of the family happened to be a forester on the Royal Family’s Windsor estate.

One morning, Ossana attended a chapel in Windsor. But when she went to rise during prayers she couldn’t because her foot hurt so much. The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, 21, the same age as Ossana, asked her why she couldn’t stand and Ossana explained her ordeal outside St Paul’s Cathedral. Princess Elizabeth congratulated Ossana on her English and they spoke in-depth about British-German reconcilliation.

“Through that exchange, my mother ended up contributing a lot to reconcilliation, all be it not in the way she had intended,” said Irina.

Forever thankful for the Queen’s kind words, Ossana remained a staunch royalist for the rest of her life. Irina remembers how every Christmas Day she would rise for the Queen’s speech, which was broadcasted on German television. 69 years later, aged 90, Ossana wrote to the Queen. The Queen replied, saying she remembered Ossana and was happy to hear from her.

“It made my mother so happy”, said Irina.

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

Mum Nikki with West Ham fan Isla

Alfie Nunn and his wife Becky

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 17

George Dyer

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO LEFT US George Vyse

By Kevin Quinn kevin@southwarknews.co.uk Isla Caton: The little angel who broke 100 years of rivalry between Millwall and West Ham fans

In January Millwall and West Ham supporters were united in grief by the news that seven-year-old Isla Caton sadly passed after courageously battling neuroblastoma.

Her mother Nikki thanked the Millwall fans who set aside their rivalry with Isla’s beloved West Ham to pay tribute to her bravery fighting the cancer.

Millwall held a minute’s applause in the seventh minute of their game against West Brom for Isla and a photo of Isla smiling was also put up on the big screen in the Den. “I’m so grateful to everyone at Millwall,” Isla’s mum told the News. “It means so much, and I’m so proud that she meant so much to so many people.”

Isla’s family was told in 2018 that she had just three months to live. After she was treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital, her family took her for specialist treatment in Barcelona. Hope arrived when she was told in March 2019 that she was cancer free, but the disease returned and after even more treatment the family finally had to accept that Isla’s fight would come to an end.

The family decided to spend their last few weeks with their beloved daughter making sure she had the best possible time. Nikki said that they had a “massive Christmas” and did other fun things like hiring out an entire cinema and putting a 30-foot purple dinosaur in their garden.

“We did everything we could to give her a good time,” she added.

Nikki and her family were planning on launching a foundation for research into children’s cancers.

Victor Gardiner

Alfie Nunn: Beloved Rotherhithe footballer who died suddenly in Dubai aged just 35

Tributes and donates poured in for Rotherhithe man Alfie Nunn after died of a heart attack while playing football in Dubai.

The 35-year-old, who used to play for Fisher FC among other clubs, collapsed while playing at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai on January 27.

His wife Becky said in a fundraiser to repatriate Alfie: “I am completely numb and shocked to my very core that this has happened. Not only have I lost Alf as the amazing person that he was but have also lost the rest of my life ahead as planned with him including our wedding celebrations in July and starting our own family...

“He has left such a massive hole that will never be filled and I am beyond heartbroken.”

Midfielder Alfie played for Fisher in the 2015/2016 season, making 21 appearances before moving onto Canterbury City FC. By coincidence the two sides met in the Southern Counties East Football League on Saturday, January 29, and held a minute’s silence for their former team-mate.

Alfie moved out to Dubai with Becky, where he worked as an estate agent, while also keeping up his football. A massive £37,285 was raised on his gofundme page.

George Dyer: Walworth’s most famous tailor

Tributes flooded in for the famous tailor of Walworth after he suddenly died of a heart attack in March.

George Dyer ran Thread Needleman on Walworth Road for nearly 30 years and was well-loved by locals and celebs alike.

His renowned shop has been in business for more than 100 years, and George had cut and measured the likes of Paul Weller,

Albert Wiltshire

Hobbit actor Martin Freeman and the Stereophonics.

A day before his death the 67-year-old tweeted “tape up for a day of rest,” with a photo of his measuring tape dropped around a suit jacket. This was his last public message.

George was the son of a Jamaican immigrant, Oscar Dyer, a trouser maker and a builder. He went to school at Peckham Manor – now Harris Academy - and the first pair of school trousers he wore were stitched on his dad’s old Singer treadle machine.

“I left school before my seventeenth birthday, and my dad told me I had to learn a trade,” said George to the News in 2017.

“He didn’t say to get a job, he said ‘learn a trade.”

He followed in his father’s footsteps and worked for tailors called Dombey and Son, and ended up greeting customers in Fleet Street. “It was when all the newspaper were still there, and all the customers would be barristers and reporters,” George said at the time. “In that place, you had to be immaculately turned out. The men still wore bowler hats and black rolledup umbrellas and black crombies, and everyone addressed each other as Mr.” George said he owed his career, in part, to the generosity of his old boss, Mr Dennis, who paid for George to go to the London College of Fashion.

George Vyse: Funeral Procession of taxis held to commemorate London’s most cherished cabbie

Friends, family and colleagues of the late great taxi driver “Gorgeous George” Vyse gathered for his funeral in June at St George’s Cathedral.

A long procession of taxis followed the hearse to Honor Oak Crematorium. George died on Sunday, May 15, aged 82 days after

a collision with a moped on Kennington Lane.

Known as “Gorgeous George” for his impeccable style and beautiful cabs, he was a taxi driver for over forty years.

George a Kennington resident for most of his life is said to have revolutionised the taxi industry. In 1984, he successfully fought for taxi drivers’ rights to have radios in their taxis. The Public Carriage Office (PCO), then regulating the taxi trade, had previously banned them.

Prior to his death, George had wanted to roll out more electric charge points across the capital, for cabbies making the switch to electric cars.

Members of the taxi trade came from all across London, and even the Midlands, to pay their respects. Many of them were regular visitors to his Southwark Street office, where he would advise hundreds of taxi drivers on everything and anything, usually over a cup of tea and a biscuit.

Victor Gardiner: Bermondsey’s ‘legendary raspberry blower’

Bermondsey personality Victor Gardiner, who was known by generations of locals as a legendary raspberry blower and cuppa tea lover, sadly passed in October.

Seventy-eight-year-old Victor. who had learning difficulties, passed away from cancer and the news of his death hit social media with a whole wave of tributes to the much-loved character.

For anyone growing up in Bermondsey over the last 50 odd years Victor was a regular face in the cafés around The Blue in Southwark Park Road and in Surrey Quays, where he could often be found holding a take-away MacDonald’s paper bag that he randomly blew up and popped.

From a huge Bermondsey family he was the twelfth of sixteen children, his mother Nell having had a mammoth 21

pregnancies. Victor was known for his constant hustling. Wherever he went, he’d be selling bits and bobs, whether it be flowers, cigarettes or beer bottles., always saying “give us a pound.”

When he died, his niece Kelly put his profession down as ‘rag and bone man’ perhaps making him one of the last ever to be listed as such in London.

Albert Wiltshire: Rotherhithe World War Two hero dies aged 99

A Rotherhithe World War II veteran who received France’s highest military decoration and protected London from the Luftwaffe died aged 99 in October.

Albert Wiltshire was a Navy wireman (electrician) who served in the Combined Operations, a group of naval, land and air units that harassed German forces on the European continent after 1940.

His distinguished service was recognised when he was given the French Legion D’honneur at the French Ambassador’s residence in Knightsbridge in 2017.

The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, which takes war heroes on fun days out in black cabs, described Albert as a “jolly man with a wonderful character”.

Seb Philp, said: “It was a pleasure having Albert in my taxi. I picked him up regularly because he lived close to me. He often talked to me about his time in London during the Blitz and how he used to do watches from Saint Paul’s for German planes.

“In Normandy together, on a Taxi Charity trip, he explained about letting Canadian troops who he had got to know very well, off his landing ship on Juno Beach on D Day, but never seeing them again.”

As a member of the Combined Operations, set up by Churchill in 1940, Albert helped plan and undertake offensive operations against the Nazis. These expeditions laid the groundwork for the D-Day landings

18 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

HEADLINES OF THE YEAR

Proper Geyser!

People were stunned at the “extraordinary” sight of a burst water pipe turning roads into rivers on Borough’s Union Street.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Borough and Bankside, David Watson, was heading to the council offices when he stumbled across it at around 10.30am on June 17.

“It was extraordinary. By the time I was leaving the area a small river had formed up Redcross Way,” he said.

He felt Thames Water could have responded quicker given “that’s the sort of emergency that needs to be dealt with immediately”.

Some Twitter users reported taps running dry and Thames Water confirmed that some people “may have had a very short interruption to their water supply”.

Beware: The turd way for lazy owners – Dulwich mum creates dog poo app An East Dulwich mum fed up with dog muck on the streets created an app where Southwark residents report dog poo to the council.

Lawyer Jenifer Swallow, 46, and her sons Thomas, 10, and Jacob, 11, created ‘Turd Alert’ because they were fed up of traipsing through dog mess every time they left home.

She said: “Over lockdown, lots of people got dogs but there was a sense that nobody was watching them… So we thought we’d do something about it.

“Technology has the potential to help us. The app makes it super easy to do something in one or two clicks.”

Shell shock!

Builders working at a Herne Hill property found two WW2 bombs buried in a back garden in May, prompting police to evacuate the road, with one bomb being detonated at the local golf course.

The builders, unearthed the two half-a-metre missiles while digging foundations for a kitchen and diner extension, at a Danecroft Road property.

Mum-of-two and owner of the property, Deborah Gillies, 42, said: “The builders called me saying ‘we’ve got a big problem’. When he said it was bombs I was in disbelief!”

Lilian Miron, a builder from Romania, was first to find the devices. He heaved them out of the ground with his bare hands, even examining and cleaning one “to make sure it was working”.

According to local history buff, Peter Blair, records show that numerous bombing incidents occurred on Danecroft and adjacent Frankfurt Road after a raid on 29 December 1940.

On that night, the Nazis dispatched 136 bombers which dropped 100,000 bombs on London, including St Paul’s Cathedral, a firebombing dubbed ‘The Second Great Fire of London’.

There’s no kirbing their enthusiasm!

Bermondsey’s Kirby Estate residents showed their patriotic support for England’s football teams yet again – by having a mural painted of the estate’s namesake, lioness Fran Kirby.

The estate, famed for its displays of hundreds of England flags strung up for football tournaments, added the permanent wall display shortly before England women’s Euro 2022 success in July.

Chris Dowse, who helped organise the mural, and painted overnight on

Sunday July 10, said: “It’s all about supporting our teams and showing some positivity. Fran is a great player and we thought with the name similarity it’s too good an opportunity to be missed.”

The mural was done by the Murwalls street art collective, who also painted men’s stars Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and manager Gareth Southgate in Vinegar Yard by London Bridge after their heroics getting to the Euro Final.

royal flush Bermondsey woman invited thousands of Queen’s queuers to use her toilet – including Dame Kelly Holmes A Bermondsey woman opened her toilet to the public for three days straight to help mourners in the late Queen’s lying-in-state queue.

While the Queen lay in Westminster Hall, Henrietta Onyema, 63, let thousands of people, including Olympic Champion Kelly Holmes, use the bathroom of her Thamesside home on Bermondsey Wall East.

The full-time foster carer had noticed the

lack of toilets when she queued to say goodbye to the Queen.

“When I went, I realised there weren’t a lot of toilets. I felt the least I could do was open my toilet for everyone,” she said.

On December 29, Henrietta appeared on Liverpudlian comedian John Bishop’s endof-year show where Dame Kelly Holmes presented her with a golden B.O.G (Brush of Gold) award.

What the fork is the difference?

Dulwich Village drivers were left bamboozled by two near-identical signs that had totally different meanings.

The sign on the left, on Dulwich Village, meant vehicles were not allowed to turn left onto Calton Avenue and will receive a penalty charge notice if they do so.

But the sign on the right, on Lordship Lane, outside Dulwich Library, meant vehicles couldn’t turn left onto Eynella Road.

Richard Aldwinckle, spokesperson for local campaign group One Dulwich, said: “Not only are they inaccurate

and dangerous, but residents living on streets in this part of Dulwich are now finding that visitors, carers, taxi drivers, tradespeople and others no longer access the area through the Eynella Road junction, in the mistaken belief that they will be fined if they do.”

Local resident Pippa said she couldn’t believe “how daft the flipping signs are” and she “didn’t really understand what it meant” when the signs were erected.

Southwark Council promised to “review concerns raised about the sign” and said it was “investigating other options.”

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

killings in 2022

By Kevin Quinn

kevin@southwarknews.co.uk

Dolet Hill and Denton Burke

Unfortunately every year is marked by violence and people facing the ultimate charge of murder and 2022 was no different.

His family, which includes Mr Kaba’s Dulwich parents, had previously asked

October saw one shooting and traffic collision that claimed the lives of two men

‘Beloved sons’ Guilherme Messias Da Silva, aged 23, and Lemar Rashawan Urqhart, aged 27, both died on a night of shocking violence between Brixton and Herne Hill on October 30.

Mr da Silva was fatally killed in a collision while Mr Urqhart was shot moments later by an armed gunman who fled the scene.

Police understand that two cars were

More shocking stories Exclusive investigation reveals at least 50 killings by SLaM patients At least 50 patients from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) killed someone or were suspected of killing someone between 2003 and 2018, the News revealed.

A mother was found guilty of child cruelty after failing to protect her eighteen-month-old son from being killed by her boyfriend.

Husband and wife Dolet Hill and Denton Burke, and Ms Hill’s daughter Tanysha Okori-Akuffo and granddaughter Samantha Drummonds were all stabbed to death at home on Delaford Road, on Bermondsey’s Bonamy Estate in the early hours of Monday April 25.

Twenty-four-year-old Mr Kaba was unarmed when he was shot and killed following a car chase in Streatham Hill on Monday, September 5.

OPINION 19

Mum who failed to protect 18-month-old son before he was killed found guilty of child cruelty

April saw a quadruple killing in Bermondsey

September saw a Dulwich family mourn the loss of their son after he was shot by police

www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters

In one case, a 55-year-old paranoid schizophrenic beat his 75-yearold mother to death after being released from the hospital.

Julian Hendy, spokesperson for the charity Hundred Families, said the data showed “shocking” failings by the trust.

The numerous amounts of stabbings and shootings that took place across Southwark did not always result in death, but some were not so fortunate.

A man accused of murdering all four has pleaded not guilty, claiming he was not in his right mind.

Called to the scene, officers tasered a 28-year-old Joshua Jacques in the house and arrested him on suspicion of murder.

Appearing at the Old Bailey in September Jacques, from Hither Green instead pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Jacques’ plea was not accepted by the court and the case will go to trial this year.

Tributes poured in for the family. Denton Burke’s sister Juleth Hutchinson spoke of her brother saying he “was a fun-loving and warm-hearted kind man whose laughter would bring joy to anyone in his

The court heard how 25-year-old Tamika Beaton, from Borough, did nothing to stop her 24-year-old partner Scott Coombe abusing baby Andrew.

‘Evicted from the Heygate and ended up sleeping in McDonald’s’

A 64-year-old woman ended up sleeping rough in he Old Kent Road McDonald’s after she was forced to leave the demolished Heygate Estate.

Samantha Drummonds

Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo

presence.

The trained chef and Westminster council sanitation worker “showed his love through food”.

Dolet Hill, his wife of fifteen years “was a loving mother, grandmother, wife and friend who never turned anyone away and her smile will truly brighten anyone’s day.”

A pharmacy assistant at Guy’s Hospital for twenty years, Ms Hill “was a woman

Chris Kaba to see bodycam and aerial footage of the incident.

IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem said: “We have been in further contact

with impeccable strength” who “always welcomed everyone with an open heart.”

Brandon Estate resident Tanysha OkoriAkuffo “was a doting wife, caring mother and a great friend,” Ms Hutchinson said, while her daughter Samantha Drummonds “was an upbeat, fun-loving, bubbly young lady who adored her grandmother Dolet”.

“They had a beautiful relationship,” she said.

with Chris’s family this week to answer a number of questions they have and to offer them privately and confidentially the opportunity to view video footage as soon as it is practicable.”

Explaining that the investigation would take between six and nine months to complete, he added: “As this is a criminal investigation, we will continue to be limited in what details we can release as we can’t risk prejudicing any proceedings that may follow.”

This latest development comes amid mounting frustration about the way the Met and the IOPC have handled the investigation. The IOPC announced it had launched a homicide on Friday, September 9, four days after Mr Kaba was killed.

Amele Getaneh told the News how a saga of mouldy flats, grim hostels and cold nights on the street forced her to seek refuge in the fast food outlet. “I had nowhere to go. I tried to stay warm but my feet and and hands were freezing cold. My body was shaking,” she said.

91,000 waiting for treatment at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals

More than 91,000 people were waiting to start treatment at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in April, including a man who waited so long his teeth fell out.

Terminally ill Bermondsey man John Ryan was still waiting for a dentist appointment first scheduled for 2020. “I’ve lost all the teeth in my head,” he said.

Eight-week-old baby Amina-Faye’s parents jailed for a total of fifteen years after she died with more than 60 broken bones

A “monstrous” Rotherhithe couple, whose eight-week-old baby girl died following their abuse, were jailed in January.

Benjamin O’Shea, 26 and Naomi Johnson, 23, left little AminaFaye with 60 broken bones and tried to blame her injuries on the paramedics who tried to save her life.

Camberwell Bishop’s fake Covid protection kits: How the preacher was convicted of fraud

Camberwell’s Bishop Climate was found guilty of fraud, two years after the News exclusively revealed that he was exploiting the pandemic with £91 coronavirus ‘plague protection kits’ – made of just oil and red string.

Climate Wiseman, who described this paper as the “antichrist”, told his followers they could drop dead from covid if they didn’t buy the kits.

Guilherme Messias Da Silva driving in the Railton Road area when one collided with Mr Messias da Silva, a delivery driver who was finishing his shift and suffered fatal injuries.

Mr Urqhart, who was in a vehicle involved in the collision, left the car and was chased by a man holding a firearm.

The pursuer is believed to have shot Mr

Lemar Rashawan Urqhart Urqhart before returning to his vehicle and leaving the scene.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in November and bailed to return. In December Crimestoppers have put up a £20,000 reward for information on the killings.

Nunhead woman lay undiscovered for two years, inquest hears

An inquest into why a woman who lay dead in her Nunhead flat for over two years without being discovered saw housing association Peabody admit “they didn’t join up the dots”.

The skeletal remains of Sheila Seleoane, 58 at the time of death, were found at her Lord’s Court flat, St Mary’s Road, Nunhead, when police forced entry on February 18, 2022. Giving evidence at the inquest on Thursday, July 21 at Southwark Coroner’s Court, DCI Fisher said her remains were reduced to bones and dust. She was found curled up on the sofa, still wearing her blue pyjamas and white top, the court heard.

20 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

2022 was a year of seismic change and Southwark is never far from the epicentre

W

hen 2021 came to an end, Southwark and the rest of the UK breathed a collective sigh of relief. Although Covid-19 had threatened to disrupt Christmas, there was a sense that the worst was behind us. We looked forward to a year of relative calm and stability.

Instead, it’s been twelve months of seismic change. The longest reigning monarch in British history passed away, war landed in Europe and the UK spiralled into the worst economic turmoil in living memory.

That’s not even mentioning our three prime ministers and the unprecedented waves of industrial action.

As a central London borough, Southwark is never far from the epicentre of political and socio-economic earthquakes. Some places might feel detached from the crises we see in the news. But here in Southwark, they were brought sharply into focus.

When the Queen died, Southwark grabbed international attention. Thousands of people from all over the world passed through Southwark Park on their way to see Her Majesty lying-in-state. Our very own Henrietta Onyema charmed the nation with her considerate decision to let them use her toilet.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, the Russian Millwall Supporters’ Club called for peace between the two countries, and a Ukrainian woman in Peckham organised free English language lessons for her compatriots who fled to Southwark. Then there was Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, which shipped over vital medical supplies to assist the war effort.

Sadly, rising inflation and the government’s economic belt-tightening were also writ large in Southwark’s food banks and residents’ bank accounts. We’ve told personal stories of unimaginable hardship. Things got so bad that a council scheme invited people into libraries and galleries because they couldn’t warm their own homes. Issues like closing schools are a symptom of funding shortfalls and the housing crisis.

Even the victories, like stopping the bus cuts, are somewhat empty when you consider that the idea should never have been touted in the first place.

For all the suffering the pandemic induced, it did at least dispel the myth that there is no community in modern London. Southwark communities, from Bermondsey to Dulwich, from Peckham to Elephant and Castle, have shown solidarity time and time again.

Given recent history, we should probably expect a 2023 of peaks, troughs, surprises and shocks. But when they come, Southwark will know what to do.

cryptic Puzzle Clues Across 4 I leave the dream to worship (6) 8 So do our ingredients become fragrant (7) 10 Placed the cold tea elsewhere . . . (7) 11 . . . and turned over the book to find some inside showing signs of heat (5) 12 Kind of animal with father outside and inside (5) 13 One result of the reproductive system (9) 16 Replied there could be some grass round the southern lake (9) 19 Four immersed in drink, but still breathing (5) 20 Change part of the place of worship, by the sound of it (5) 22 Enquired about part of the Bible that could be reproduced (7) 23 The curve otherwise is round the edge (7) 24 It takes a worker on the land to steer at sea (6)

Clues Down 1 Loose talk of the swine turning back about an unusual call for help (6) 2 Propose to change houses (4) 3 Accommodation for the freshair fiend? (4,2,7) 5 The rule does not apply to a friend in unusual circumstances (13) 6 Enlarged externally, contracted, then finished (8) 7 The last organ to gain affection (6) 9 Incline to a particular angle (5) 14 Person of authority who is off before one secular uprising (8) 15 Projection that sounds as if one should strike it (6) 17 Dig this card (5) 18 Obscure, having taken refuge in study (6) 21 Record the conversation at the finishing post (4)

Quick Puzzle Clues Across 4 Entertains (6) 8 Wildly excited (7) 10 Shorten (7) 11 Distribute (5) 12 Kind of boat (5) 13 Stripping (9) 16 Stars (9) 19 Rule (5) 20 Superior (5) 22 Chewed (7) 23 Provided with (7) 24 Slumbers (6)

Clues Down 1 Frightened (6) 2 Letters (4) 3 Political wisdom (13) 5 Fairground attractions (526) 6 Tempters (8) 7 Perspires (6) 9 Desert plants (5) 14 Discrepancy (8) 15 Vagrants (6) 17 Business (5) 18 Step (6) 21 Pledge (4)

Solutions to last week’s crossword Cryptic Across: 1 Escape 7 Fitness 8 Tractor 9 Amiss 10 Elemental 12 Nun 13 Seas 15 Stirrup 17 Yoke 19 Net 21 Brainwave 22 Radio 23 Lorelei 24 Tragedy 25 Nearer Down: 1 Entreaty 2 Craven 3 Patient 4 Steal 5 Define 6 Asks 7 Fraternally 11 Muse 13 Spew 14 Speedier 16 Unnerve 18 Kidnap 20 Taller 21 Bored 22 Rite

Quick PUZZLE Across: Stairs 7 Tremble 8 Receive 9 Reach 10 Presented 12 Ran 13 Gems 15 Stammer 17 Dash 19 Lie 21 Consented 22 Earth 23 Abashed 24 Hopeful 25 Jersey Down: 1 Stripped 2 Archer 3 Raiment 4 Beard 5 Ablaze 6 Mesh 7 Testimonial 11 Sash 13 Grin 14 Sordidly 16 Elevate 18 Stripe 20 Etches 21 Chafe 22 Echo

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

what’s on

Photo by Monique Carboni

American comic Alex Edelman is a fully-fledged Anglophile. He fell in love with the people - and Great Britain - after coming over as part of an English Literature course and becoming enamoured with the comedy scene here. Then, from not ever doing a standup set, he won The Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2014 and never looked back, writes Michael Holland.

Finding himself based at Kings College London in that auspicious final college semester he frequented the capital’s comedy clubs and remembers, ‘All these British comedians kinda looked after me.’

Alex’s love affair with Britain had begun. ’It’s where the whole thing started for me,’ he says. ‘I don’t think I’d have a career if it wasn’t for the UK… I wasn’t working as a comedian before the Edinburgh award, I was just scraping by doing freelance

Photo by Geraint Lewis

Potted Panto

writing and advertising until the award made me go full-time as a comic… I thought, well, I really love it here so why don’t I have a go and see if I can make it work, and if I can, well, lucky me.’

The logic behind this massive leap of faith was, Alex recalls, ‘I might as well try something that I love and see if it goes any sort of way and if it does, then hey-ho, and if not I’ve had a good go at it.’

But once Alex did make his decision he had the full support from his family, which really is a household of doers, doers that include a lawyer, a biomedical engineer who was nominated for a Nobel Prize, and an Olympian, and that support was for Alex to live out his passion for comedy.

His family, in fact, turn up in a sketch he does on being ‘the least interesting person in my family’.

Alex always wanted to write, hence the literature studies; one of his first jobs was writing the kids’ newsletter for the

Once upon a time we were going to potted panto! Oh no weren’t!.. Such was our tale of woe over the last two years when the pandemic put a stop to seasonal merriment. Now the past is behind us, sort of - number one child reviewer is absent with the lurgy - and Panto season is before us once more and the smiles on the faces of the theatre staff are as glowing as the ones in the Stalls, write Ed and Woody Gray.

According to the Theatre Trust, pantomimes account for 30% of a theatre’s income, they are therefore the lifeblood of British theatre, and we are all pumped up to be taking our

Menier Chocolate Factory: 53 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RU from 11th January - 26th February. Times: 7.30pm, 3pm matinees. Admission: £29.50 - £39.50.

Booking: 020 7378 1713 (£2.50 transaction fee per booking) www.menierchocolatefactory.com (£1.50 transaction fee per booking)

seats in the plush red velvet interior of Shaftesbury Avenue’s Apollo Theatre.

The Apollo first opened its doors in 1901 and is named appropriately enough after the Greek god of the arts and leader of the muses.

Our muses today are Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner and this is Dan and Jeff’s 12th outing as the stars of Oliviernominated Potted Panto. They lost out on their Olivier award to mind-wizard Derren Brown and in an ironic twist that no one could have foreseen - well almost no one - Derren is also currently enjoying a run of shows at The Apollo.

The pair have lost none of their sparkle as they rattle energetically through six

ARTS 21

in Southwark

I Had My Elf Check

Photo by Mark Senior

AwardWinning Comic For Southwark

Boston Red Sox, the baseball team he has supported since boyhood. Now he writes for television and, of course, his awardwinning comedy shows that sell out wherever he performs them. But whereas writing is what Alex loves, it is performing that is now his main job and already this year he has done around 200 solo shows.

The show he will bringing to London is Just For Us which is based around his urge to seek out those internet trolls with their anti-Semitic abuse and how he found himself at a White Nationalist meeting in New York City. “It was illuminating,’ he says, though I would have thought it rather scary at the thought of being caught out.

Alex went on to say how he gets trolled online for being Jewish and that it is worse now since Kanye West praised Hitler recently. And even here at the Vaults at Waterloo someone threw a beer at him after a show, so racism is still a blight on society.

An earlier version of Just For Us got nominated for Best Show at Edinburgh in 2018, so this is now the fine-tuned, sleeker and slicker model that has already had good reviews in New York and Washington, DC. A highlight of this tour is that his comedy heroes have been along to see it: Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin, and Billy Crystal were the biggest name-drops in a long list of legends. ’It’s going rather well, thank God,’ says Alex modestly.

Getting back to Alex’s Anglophilia, he says the best comedy clubs are here and when I asked for his comedy influences he ran off several British comedians: Stephen Fry, Stewart Lee, Josie Long, and Bridget Christie before he got to our contemporary comic playwrights Alan Ayckbourn and Alan Bennett, plus the mighty Jez Butterworth was added. Alex Edelman is fast becoming more British than most Brits I know.

Just For Us is directed by Adam Brace who directed his previous shows, so they know each other well and know they can make good work together, which bodes well for us.

I asked for a final word: ’I love doing this… it’s such a great job.’ I think we are going to love Alex Edelman doing it.

www.southwarknews.co.uk/arts

I’ve never seen Elf, the Christmas film that everyone raves about and watches religiously every year, only because I have an illogical aversion to Will Ferrell who made the part his own. But he is not involved in this musical version, so here I am, writes Michael Holland.

The curtains go up and there is a very funny dance routine from the team of Santa’s little elves who work hard throughout the year making toys for the world’s children.

Then Buddy, the eponymous Elf, turns up for work and it is obvious that he is different. Buddy is twice the size of the other elves and works twice as slowly. But he smiles a lot and tries hard, and they love him.

He has also been made to look Will Ferrell to obviously stir up all that irrational dislike in me. Why has Simon Lipkin - who absolutely throws himself into the role - had to shave his beard off? Elves have beards. Why the ginger wig? Who knows any ginger elves? I had been dragged down into a mire of melancholy and the show was only three minutes old.

Now, the dancing seemed, at times, pedestrian; just a string of clichéd steps strung together. The simplicity and innocence of Buddy lost any endearing qualities and, instead, got on my nerves.

But, just as much as the Elf did of the best pantos in 70 minutes to the delight of an audience much in need of traditional British mirth-making.

Double entendre, cross-dressing men in fancy frocks, jokes about the costof-living crisis, the Prince’s balls, oui oui and the John Lewis ad fill the auditorium as we marvel at the speed of their costume changes. Huzzah! we all sighed internally as hapless audience member ‘Princess’ Harry was plucked from the front row and made to dance seductively for Prince Charming.

The puppetry was a highlight for our youngest reviewer, especially the fairies and the monosyllabic ugly sister, that and the 3D experience with the sweet

grate, after a while he grows on you. The energy he puts into making people happy on stage also has an effect on the audience.

He skates, he juggles, he sings, he dances and he gets Jovie, the prettiest girl in New York, to go on a date with him. What’s not to like?

Well, I would have liked to have had more of the dancing elves, and for the relationship between Buddy and Jovie to have been more credible, and if it wasn’t for Lipkin’s outstanding performance the show would have been stolen by Kim Ismay, the office PA. Nevertheless, the big, no-surprise finish, brings this production round the last bend and over the line.

Elf the Musical suffers, I believe, by its pale comparison to the muchloved film but by the end I was clapping along and tapping my feet to the songs, and I smiled heartily at the Happy Ever After finale. And while the fake snow fell on us, like all the adults there, I wished that there was a Santa Claus and that all our dreams of White Christmases came true.

Dominion Theatre, 268-269 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7AQ until January 7th. Times: Mon - Sat 7.30pm; Thur & Sat matinees 2.30pm. Admission: £25 £195.

Booking: www.nederlander.co.uk

factory, Santa armed with a water gun and an inflatable dinosaur. We ended with the A Christmas Carol/Aladdin mash-up and as we stepped into a drizzly grey Soho afternoon it was as if we had been struck squarely in the face by the Magic Pie of Wakefulness. We longed to be back in the arms of Apollo, just so long as he was sporting frilly bloomers.

Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7EZ until 8th January.

Times: Varied. See website for details.

Admission: Admission: £20 - £35.

Booking: 0330 333 4809 www.nimaxtheatres.com

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

www.southwarknews.co.uk

PUBLIC NOTICES 23

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (UPPER GROUND, PARK STREET, FARQUHAR ROAD, POCOCK STREET, GAZA STREET, WEAVERS LANE, LOMAN STREET,PENARTH STREET, RYE LANE, GREAT SUFFOLK STREET )

(UNDERHILL ROAD, RYE HILL PARK, STONES END STREET, CORBETTS LANE, WOODFARRS) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

(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, 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/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in: (a) Upper Ground, between Barge House Street and No’s 69/71 and No’s 32 (b) Park Street, between No’s 62 – No’s 76 (c) Farquhar Road, between, Bowley Close and Dulwich wood Avenue (d) Farquhar Road, between No’s 11 and Crystal Palace Parade (e) Pocock Street, between Great Suffolk Street and Glasshill Street (f) Gaza Street, at it’s junction with Braganza Street (g) Weavers Lane, at it’s junction with Tooley Street (h) Loman Street, between Great Suffolk Street and Sawyer Street (i) Penarth Street, between Hatcham Road and Ilderton Road (j) Rye Lane, between No’s 176 and No’s 178 (k) Great Suffolk Street,(north) at it’s junction with Union Street, by the side of No’s 200 skyline House, (the existing LTN will be removed to allow for Thames Water works)

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) & (2b) Upper Ground, Hatfields, Stamford Street, Cornwall Road. (2c) Emerson Street, Sumner Street, Southwark Bridge Road, Southwark Street, Sumner street (2d) Dulwich Wood Avenue, Dulwich Wood Park, Gypsy Hill, Westow Hill, Crystal Palace Parade. Church Road, Westow Hill, Gypsy Hill, Dulwich Wood Avenue. Crystal Palace Parade, College Road, Dulwich Wood Park. Farquhar Road, Dulwich Wood Park, College Road, Crystal Palace Parade (2e) Crystal Palace Parade, College Road, Dulwich Wood Park, Farquhar Road, Jasper Road, Westow Hill. (2f) as indicated by the signs displayed (2g) not applicable (2h) not applicable (2i) Loman Street, Sawyer Street, Pocock Street, Great Suffolk Street (2j) Ilderton Road, Manor Grove, Hatcham, Road (2k) Copeland Road, Clayton Road. Clayton Road, Consort Road, Heaton Road (2l) not applicable

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) & (2b) 7th January with back up dates of the 14 January (2c) 9th – 13th January (2d) 9th – 12th January (2e) 16th January – 10th February (2f) 10th – 11th January (2g) 11th – 13th January (2h) 11th January (2i) 14th – 15th December (2j) 14th – 15th January, with back up dates of the 28th – 29th January (2k) 15th January (2l) 16th – 20th January

7.

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

1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable various works to be carried out, 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/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in: (a) Underhill Road, outside No’s 329, located between Landells Road and Hindmans Road (b) Rye Hill Park, between Peckham Rye and No’s 243 (c) Stones End Street, between Great Suffolk Street and Borough Road (d) Corbetts Lane, at it’s junction with Silwood Street and it’s blocked end (e) Corbetts Lane, at it’s junction with Silwood Street and it’s blocked end ‘at any time’ waiting and loading restrictions will be introduced on the north and south side (f) Woodfarrs, south side of carriageway at its junction with Basingdon Way and Dylways

3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Landells Road, Silvester Road, Barry Road.

Hindmans Road, Upland Road, Darrell Road (2b) Peckham Rye, Rye Hill Park (2c) Borough Road, Borough High Street, Southwark Bridge Road. (2d) & (2e) not applicable (2f) Woodfarrs Phase 1 - Crossthwaite Avenue, Dylways, Blanchedowne, Basingdon Way, Woodfarrs. Woodfarrs Phase 2 - Dylways, Crossthwaite Avenue, Woodfarrs

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) 16th – 19th January (2b) 16th – 17th January (2c) 16th January – 3rd February (2d) & (2e) 17th January (2f) 9th January – 17th July

7.

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

Dated this 5th January 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Regulatory Services Environment and Leisure 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 31622662 (2b) NMSI012521 (2c) P101705TBCR3 (2d) & (2e) 00169571-00000002 (2f) 5159-01

Dated this 5th January 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Regulatory Services Environment and Leisure 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) LBSCR12625-1 (2b) TTO/CRANE (2c) SEC50/PARKSTJAN23 (2d) 61407385 (2e) 17079230 (2f) HHH-00-78-230622 (2g) 000811918590045-002 (2h) LBSCR12799 (2i) LBSCR12739/1 (2j) LBSCR12651 (2k) 00161630-00000004 (2l) DM04466-02

Kingsdale Foundation School Statutory Admissions Consultation Arrangements for 2023-24 Entry

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark PUBLIC NOTICE: ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 – SECTION 16a THE (RESTRICTION OF TRAFFIC) SPECIAL EVENTS ORDER 2023 1.

The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that it has made the above named Traffic Order under section 16a of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose specified in paragraph 2. The effect of the Order is summarised in paragraph 3.

2.

The purpose of the Order is to facilitate filming, as indicated in the schedule to this notice.

3.

The effect of the Order is to prohibit any vehicle or cyclist from:(a) entering or proceeding in the length of street specified in the schedule to this notice on the date and between the hours specified in that schedule;. (b) waiting (including waiting for the purpose of delivering or collecting goods or loading or unloading a vehicle) in the length of street specified in the schedule to this notice.

4.

The prohibitions will not apply in respect of: (a) any vehicle being used for the purposes of that event or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes; (b) anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform or a person authorised by the Council of the London Borough of Southwark.

5.

The alternative route will be Limesford Road, Lanbury Road For information regarding this notice, please contact Network & Parking at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk

Kingsdale Foundation School Admission Authority is currently consulting on admission arrangements for the school for September 2024 entry. We would welcome your views on proposed changes to our Admission Policy.

An explanatory letter, draft proposed policy and relevant supporting documents can be accessed via our website at www.kingsdalefoundationschool.org.uk or by contacting the school's Admissions Office Tel: 020 8670 7575 Email: info@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk Please send all comments or queries for the attention of Ms E. Otubu, Admissions Officer, by email via admissions@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk by 31st January 2023 when this consultation exercise will close.

Dated this 5th January 2023 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: filming/TTO 6397/65003529/LBSCR12831 Schedule

Access all published notices: w w w. s o u t h w a r k n e w s . c o . u k / public-notices

Road

Extent

Date of event and Prohibited Hours

Harlescott Road

Between, Inverton Road to No’s 49

12th – 13th January 2023 – between 16:30hrs and 21:00hrs (each day)

To place a notice, please email: em@southwarknews.co.uk

24 PUBLIC NOTICES

www.southwarknews.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (GLASSHILL STREET, OVERHILL ROAD, PECKHAM GROVE, UPPER GROUND, BOXALL ROAD, COLBY ROAD, UNION STREET, WAVENEY AVENUE, LITTLE BORNES) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC)

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.

1.

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

2.

Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in:

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 alisted building; 127-143 BOROUGH HIGH STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 1NP (Ref: 22/AP/4373) Proposed Rooftop Telecommunications Installation: Proposed installation of 9No Antennas & 3No future Antennas, 2No. GPS and 3No. 300 Dishes. Together with proposed installation of 1No. Percy Cabinet, 1No. CSC Cabinet, 2No. FPF?s, 2No. ERS Racks and associated ancillary works. (Within: Borough High Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Hajnalka Kurti 020 7525 3701) FLAT 24 43 SEARLES ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 4YL (Ref: 22/AP/4174) Installation of a skylight in sloped roof facing the street to enable access to the roof gutter. (Within: Yates Estate And Victory CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anna Poulose )

Dated: 03 Jan 2023 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date.

STEPHEN PLATTS - Director of Planning and Growth

(a) Glasshill Street, No’s 7, located between Pocock Street and Webber Street (b) Overhill Road, between No’s 59 – 61a, located between Belvior Road and Overhill Road (c) Peckham Grove, between Ferdinand Drive and Blakes Road (d) Upper Ground, between Hatfields and Broadwall (e) Boxall Road, outside and opposite No’s 18 (f) Colby Road, between Dulwich Wood Avenue and Gipsy Hill (g) Union Street, between Blackfriars Road and Great Suffolk Street (h) Waveney Avenue, between Peckham Rye and No’s 189 (i) Little Bornes, between Alleyn Park and Rouse Gardens 3.

The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Pocock Street, Great Suffolk Street, Webber Street. Pocock Street, Rushworth Street, Webber Street. (2b) Belvior Road, Underhill Road. Underhill Road, Melford Road, Lordship Lane (2c) Diamond Street, Blakes Road (2d) Hatfields, Stamford Street, Cornwall Road, Upper Ground (2e) Turney Road, Dulwich Village (2f) Gipsy Hill, Dulwich Wood Avenue (2g) as indicated by the signs displayed (2h) Peckham Rye, Somerton Road, Waveney Avenue (2i) Alleyn Park, Rouse Gardens

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) 23rd January – 3rd February (2b) 23rd January (2c) 24th January (2d) 24th January (2e) 25th January – 1st February (2f) 25th January (2g) 25th January (2h) 26th – 27th January (2i) 26th January

7.

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

Dated this 5th January 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Regulatory Services Environment and Leisure 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 00020797-00000002-lanes (2b) 23884910-conway (2c) 4167260-conway (2d) 14863559-conway (2e) W118976909-00307-SGN (2f) 70090336-conway (2g) 96674161conway (2h) NMSI012518-2-thames (2i) 35011372-conway

To place a no tice, please email: em@southwark news.co.uk

To place a notice, please email em@southwarknews.co.uk.

Cut off is 2pm ever y Tuesday

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

www.southwarknews.co.uk

CLASSIFIED, ANNOUNCEMENTS & SPORT 25 dulwich hamlet fc

Hamlet see in new year with style

Striker nets landmark goal in comeback win Danny Mills has scored 50 goals for his side

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk JOE FELIX got a goal and an assist and Danny Mills hit a milestone as Dulwich Hamlet came from behind at Dover Athletic on New Year’s Day to start 2023 in fine style.

Paul Barnes’s side dominated for most of the game and deservedly stretched their unbeaten run to six games in all competitions.

Former Millwall striker Alfie Pavey gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute, but the visitors hit back through Mills with his 50th goal for the club just before half-time.

The sides looked set to earn a point apiece again after their 1-1 draw at Champion Hill on Boxing Day, but six minutes from time, Felix netted the winner at the Crabble Stadium as the Hamlet climbed above Dover into fourteenth place in the National League South table.

The Hamlet could have been in front inside ten minutes. They were denied a penalty after it appeared Andre Blackman had been fouled by Myles Judd. George Porter then tested Dover goalkeeper Stuart Nelson after he had latched on to a long ball to go through.

Jayden Clarke was next to threaten but Nelson again kept the score level.

Dulwich defender Ronnie Vint headed wide in the 21st minute when perhaps he should have scored and the chances kept coming as Judd blocked Porter’s effort.

Jack Holland headed into the side-

Photo by Rob Avis

By John Kelly

Dover Athletic: Nelson; Judd (Carney 87mins), Paxman, Goodman, Sterling, Brundle (Wilkinson, 69), Higgs, Martin, Baptiste (Kandi, 62), Wanadio, Pavey.

Subs not used: Moses, Agbebi. netting from Clarke’s cross before the Whites went in front completely against the run of play. Goalkeeper Charlie Grainger initially denied Mitch Brundle only for the ball to land at the feet of Pavey who finished for his eighth goal of the season.

Felix fired just over in the 41st minute but the Hamlet weren’t denied for long as Mills scored at the back post just before half-time.

Dover almost went ahead again before the half was out as another ex-Millwall player, Lee Martin, saw his

corner hit the crossbar.

Clarke shot over in the 53rd minute and Felix was thwarted by Nelson as the away side picked up where they had left off before the break.

In an attempt to change things, Dover boss brought on former

South games without victory after winning on the opening day, and were bottom of the table.

But since Paul Barnes was appointed permanent manager last October, Dulwich have won six of their ten league games.

With Dulwich putting distance between themselves and the relegation zone, Clasper is confident the club can start planning for another season in the sixth tier.

“We have committed to moving the club forward in terms of our sporting

provision and implementing the plans that are a critical part of the new stadium,” Clasper said in his final message to supporters of 2022. “We hope that physical progress will be made with the stadium development before the end of this season, not just legal progress, and the board are starting to take proactive decisions to build for the future, not just reactive ones to deal with the latest emergencies.

“So I would predict another rollercoaster on and off the pitch in the second half of the 2022-23 season, but

if Paul Barnes can continue delivering a 50 per cent win rate we will not be looking over our shoulder much longer and we can start our planning early for next season.”

Meanwhile, Clasper also took time to pay tribute to a club stalwart.

“Our vice-president, programme editor and ever-present supporter John Lawrence celebrates his 75th birthday this week and his support is something we should all aspire to,” Clasper said.

“It is total and it will endure come what may but it is not blinding or

Dulwich hope for stadium progress this year

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk DULWICH HAMLET chairman Ben Clasper has said he hopes to see progress on plans for a new stadium before the end of the season.

The club received planning permission from Southwark Council in July 2020 for a new 4,000 capacity ground.

The Hamlet appeared set for a relegation battle earlier this season when they went eight National League

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Dulwich forward Chike Kandi and he went close from Martin’s pass.

Kandi’s introduction had sparked the home side and he crossed for Pavey who couldn’t bring Grainger into action.

Despite the hosts’ improvement, it was Dulwich who took the lead when Felix – who had scored in that 1-1 draw – held off a challenge before beating Nelson.

There was one more chance when Dover defender Jake Goodman headed Martin’s free-kick towards goal but Grainger saved to ensure his side deservedly took the points.

Dulwich are eleven points off the play-offs but have four games in hand on Eastbourne Borough in seventh and Worthing in sixth.

The Hamlet will play their first game at Champion Hill of 2023 this Saturday when Farnborough are the visitors.

Kick-off is 3pm.

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Dulwich Hamlet: Grainger; Ming, Holland, Raymond, Mills (Owusu, 69), Taylor, Blackman (Krasniqi, 85), Porter, Clarke (Smith, 94), Felix, Vint.

Subs not used: Jones, Powell.

Attendance: 827

unconditional.

“John was invaluable when I joined the club in standing up for what needed preserving in a time of extraordinary change. He holds us to high standards and represents us in board rooms up and down the country when other board members have only known the terraces.

“John shows how the new and old can work together to be greater than the sum of their parts and that is a foundation on which we can preserve the club for many more years to come.”

26 SPORT

www.southwarknews.co.uk/sport

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

‘Midnight Train’ faces ‘massive step-up’ against Pole

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk RICHARD RIAKPORHE knows he faces a “massive step-up” as he continues his bid for a world title shot this year with a bout this month against a former WBO cruiserweight champion.

Photo by Dave Anderson

Walworth’s Riakporhe, 32, will step into the ring at the AO Arena in Manchester on January 21 to take on Krzysztof Głowacki.

Poland’s Glowacki, 36, has serious credentials, with one of his only three defeats coming against Oleksandr

Usyk, the multiple world champion across two weights whose last two fights were wins against Anthony Joshua. Glowacki, who took Usyk all the way to a points’ decision, has won 32 of his 35 professional bouts, his other two defeats coming against Mairis Briedis and Hackney’s Lawrence Okolie.

Riakporhe and Glowacki will feature on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith’s all-British showdown.

“It’s a massive step-up,” Riakporhe told Sky Sports News. “Głowacki has been the two-time cruiserweight world champion and he’s no mug at

all. He’s Polish, very strong, durable, intelligent and experienced, so I have to come with my A-game.

“I plan to put on a spectacle where I can show my speed, my power, my boxing IQ, my willingness to win and my determination. It’s going to be a great fight, so make sure you all tune in.”

Riakporhe has explained the approach to the most important fight of his career.

He said: “The plan is simple: To win by any means necessary, to land the right shots and punish any mistakes he makes. The fans can expect an amazing

performance from the ‘Midnight Train’, very explosive and just brute hunger and devastation.

“You can look into my eyes and see I’m fully focused on the mission. I just want to be a star of the show and I want put on the best performance on the night. Everybody around the world is going to be speaking about Riakporhe.”

Riakporhe, whose professional record stands at 15-0 (11 KOs), spoke before Christmas about the sacrifices he would be making over the festive period.

“It’s going to be a pretty lonely

and painful Christmas in regards to training,” Riakporhe said. “I could [have a mince pie] but I would prefer to wait until after the fight, once I’ve got the W and the victory, and then I can enjoy myself as much as I like.

“I planned to stuff my face with loads of food and probably go on holiday to the Caribbean for New Year’s Eve to celebrate the countdown over there, but unfortunately things got pushed back.

“We can celebrate vacations after we do what we need to do and the most important thing is the fight game right now. That’s the No.1 priority.”

Fish cleaned out

And defeats for Stansfeld and Bermondsey in disappointing start to New Year

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk FISHER ENDURED a disappointing start to 2023 as they lost 4-0 at Holmesdale in their SCEFL Premier Division clash last Monday.

The hosts scored all their goals in the first half, with a double from Fred Obasa in the fourth and 34th minutes either side of Joe Nwoko’s effort. Cian McCarthy made it four in the 41st minute.

The Fish had ended last year in style with a 5-1 win against Glebe at St Paul’s. Ajay Ashanike’s side raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Joseph Adewunmi and Jacob Katonia in the third and sixth minutes.

Isaac Thompson made it 3-0 in the 38th minute and it was four when Cedric Nganga scored nine minutes after the break. Reece Barrett got one back in the 70th minute before Osemen Usifoh completed the rout three minutes later.

Also in the Premier Division, Stansfeld were beaten 4-2 away to

Fisher couldn’t make a breakthrough

‘Dream come true’ for Surrey’s Jacks Photo by Mark Sandom

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk SURREY’S WILL Jacks said it was a “dream come true” to take six wickets in England’s recordbreaking tour in Pakistan last month.

Will Jacks in action for Surrey last season

England won all three Tests, while Jacks’ 6-161 were the highest numbers by a debutant since 2003.

England’s victories were more than they had achieved in their previous history in Pakistan.

Jacks admitted his debut took him a little bit by surprise.

“It was a strange feeling, it wasn’t how I expected to make my Test debut,” Jacks said. “It kind of all came from nothing.

I understood the guys were ill one or two days beforehand and there was the possibility in the morning there might be changes. But I didn’t expect one of those to be myself coming in.

“Luckily we won the toss and had to bat first so I was able to sit around for the first day and just watch it and take it all in which probably enabled me to soak it in a little bit more.

“At 25 overs I’d taken one wicket so it wasn’t like they came easily, I had to work hard on a pretty docile and easy pitch for batting.

“To pick up all six (wickets) was a dream come true. It was a great feeling walking off holding the ball up with the Barmy Army there. All my team-mates were really happy for me. It was an incredible feeling.

“It was pretty amazing to be part of it.

There were a couple of occasions when stats and records were read out by the coaching staff about what we’d achieved.

We made sure we celebrated that and we really appreciated what we’d done.

We’d won two Test matches in Pakistan before and then we won three in three weeks.”

Erith Town. Billy Shinners gave the Stans the lead in the second minute, but the hosts hit back through Steadman Callender, Jamie Humphris and Harry Taylor. Ross Morley reduced the deficit in the 64th minute before Erith sealed the points in the last minute with Ladic Melconian’s goal.

The Stans drew 1-1 at home to Holmesdale on Boxing Day. Harry Day put the hosts in front in the 78th minute only for Louie Reid-Newth to rescue a point for his side three minutes from time.

Fisher are sixteenth in the table and host Bearsted this Saturday.

Fourth-place Stansfeld are at home to Kennington. Both games kick off at 3pm.

In the First Division, Bermondsey Town were beaten 4-0 at Meridian VP. Darrell Thompson (43), Troy Copeland (62, 68) and Keanan Allassani (90) were on target for the home side.

Bermondsey are bottom of the table with just one win from seventeen games and travel to Snodland Town this Saturday for a 3pm kick-off.

World Champs participant among Southwark darts entries

By Sports Reporter sport@southwarknews.co.uk HOT ON the heels of the World Championship final last Tuesday night, the new darts season kicks off in earnest with the Southwark Open, at the Spots and Stripes this Friday night (January 6).

World Championship participant Martin Lukeman is amongst the preregistered entries, along with IDL champions Ricky Martin, Ben West and Oisin Coyle, as well as Modus Super Series participants David Wawrzewski and Cam Crabtree.

The competition is open to anyone.

More information and free preregistration is available via Darts Atlas: dartsatlas.com/tournaments/ OOzVMwuFroD4/entries

The IDL new seasons begin on Monday, January 9. Visit www.theidl. co.uk for more information and how to get involved.

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

www.southwarknews.co.uk/sport

SPORT 27

A Millwall Christmas cracker!

Lions stun Watford at Vicarage Road as Vogi bags his first Championship goal

Millwall became the first team to do the double over Watford this season.

championship report Millwall - 3 Voglsammer 22’, Fleming 83 Watford - 0 Date: Sunday December 26, 2023 Referee: Joshua Smith Man of the match: Andreas Voglsammer Attendance: 20,204

By Alex Jones at Vicarage Road alexj@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL KICKED off the festive football period with a huge win away at Watford.

The Lions faced a tough task away to one of their strongest promotion rivals, but confidence was high given their incredible 3-0 win in the reverse fixture at The Den. There was no post-Christmas hesitation from Millwall, who rushed out of the blocks inside the opening minute of the game. Zian Flemming’s throw-in landed at the feet of Billy Mitchell, who rolled the ball into the

box before it was sliced clear towards the Dutchman. He flashed a ball across the face of goal, but Jake Cooper couldn’t connect with it.

Flemming had the first shot on target of the game as he took aim from distance, but it was a tame effort that didn’t test Daniel Bachmann in the Watford net. However, the goalkeeper almost had a nightmare moment minutes later when he beat Andreas Voglsammer to Flemming’s lobbed ball. He cleared it as far as Tom Bradshaw, who wasn’t able to capitalise on the mistake.

Aside from a penalty shout in the ninth minute where Ken Sema went to ground, the Hornets had little to no chances as they were penned back by Millwall, who continued to threaten with a number of corners. George Saville came the closest when he forced Bachmann into a good save from the edge of the area in the 18th minute, and it was clear that the first goal was coming.

Four minutes later, the visitors had their breakthrough as Flemming chipped a

lobbed ball into the box for Bradshaw.

Before being closed down, the striker squeezed the ball through to Voglsammer, who calmly tucked the ball into the bottom corner to score his first Millwall goal.

The German was gifted another chance to find the back of the net in the 27th minute as the Lions won a free-kick. Murray Wallace played it short to Shaun Hutchinson, who chipped the ball into the box for Bradshaw. The striker once again flicked it on to Voglsammer, but he smashed his shot straight into Bachmann.

A crunching tackle from George Saville on Joao Pedro saw the Millwall midfielder booked shortly before half-time. The Brazilian tried to play through the main after receiving treatment, but had to be withdrawn for Yaser Asprilla just seconds later.

The drama was far from over as everything kicked off with seven minutes remaining in the first-half. Hassane Kamara was clipped

by McNamara in the Millwall box, prompting the Watford defender to turn around and

with a low block, packing the penalty area and sitting deep in order to leave with a positive result. Hull’s response felt natural given that they had a man sent off in the first half and that it was Liam Rosenior’s first game in charge of the Tigers, but fans became concerned when Wigan and Bristol City took the same approach in order to frustrate Millwall.

It left some supporters fearful ahead of Sunday’s match against Rotherham, with the Millers desperately needing a result to maintain their healthy cushion on the bottom three. However, the

Lions adopted a different style of play by using their width to exploit gaps between the visitors’ wing-backs and centre-backs, giving them countless opportunities to test goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.

The Swede’s incredible performance, which included nine saves, saw him face eleven shots on target from a total of 27, while Millwall managed to record an xG [expected goals] of 3.20.

Although they could have won by more than three goals, it shows that Rowett’s men have what it takes to break down stubborn, defensive

shove him in the face. Referee Josh Smith immediately showed Kamara a red card, while McNamara was booked as well.

Millwall started the second half as strong as the first, with Bradshaw forcing a save from Bachmann in the first few seconds before the offside flag went up. They maintained the pressure with a number of set pieces, practically camping in the final third and forcing Watford to defend for their lives to deny Tyler Burey and Saville.

Their clear-cut chance finally came in the 63rd minute as Voglsammer was played into the box, chipping the ball over Bachmann and clipping the crossbar before the Hornets were able to clear.

Watford started to turn the screw soon after. Ismaila Sarr missed a golden opportunity in the 65th minute when Hutchinson and Jake Cooper were able to close him down in the box, leading to cries for a penalty from the home fans and players. Three minutes later, Keinan Davis had his first chance of the game after shrugging past Cooper and firing narrowly

over the bar.

The 72nd minute saw Voglsammer miss another chance at the far post, scooping his shot narrowly wide of the post. However, ten minutes later, Millwall wrapped up the win with a superb strike from their talisman.

The Lions won a free-kick down the left flank, which Flemming delivered into the box. It deceived everyone, dipping just in front of Bachmann and bouncing into the back of the net to make it 2-0 and hand the visitors all three points over Watford once again.

Watford: 4-2-3-1: Bachmann; Ngakia (Gaspar 61’), Kabasele (Kalu 71’), Cathcart, Kamara; Bacuna (Troost-Ekong 46’), DeleBashiru; Sema, Pedro (Asprilla 35’), Sarr; Davis

Millwall: 4-2-3-1: Long; McNamara, Hutchinson, Cooper, Wallace; Mitchell, Saville (Esse 90’); Voglsammer (Shackleton 81’), Fleming, Burey (Shackleton 75’); Bradshaw

Millwall find the key to unlocking a low block

By Alex Jones

alexj@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL’S DIP in home form hasn’t been helped by the opponents that they faced in the last few weeks.

The Lions drew each of their three previous matches at The Den before Rotherham United visited SE16 on New Year’s Day. In that time, they scored just once, failing to beat ten-man Hull City, Wigan Athletic and Bristol City.

The key issue that Gary Rowett’s side faced is that all three teams set up

opponents, something which will be crucial if they are to claim a space in the top six at the end of the season.

“You see it up and down the country all the time,” the Millwall boss said after the game.

“You watch Premier League games, I watched a game earlier, [Aston] Villa vs. Tottenham. Tottenham had a lot of the ball and Villa made it very difficult.

“Sometimes you can break teams down, sometimes you can’t, it’s like we said before. If you tune in afterwards and see a 0-0 at Millwall, you just think we’ve not played well enough.

“Sometimes you have to credit the opposition. Sometimes they come and they make it very, very difficult. Some teams come and play, some teams come and sit in and defend, and make it hard.

“We’ve got to find a solution to win both styles of games. That’s what good teams do.

“I was pleased we did that today.

After three home draws in a row, I think it was important that we won today’s game, but I think the way we did it was even more impressive.”

28 SPORT

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Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

Lions rue missed chances Millwall end 2022 with disappointment as Bristol City earn a point at The Den

Millwall didn’t manage a shot on target in their final game of the calendar year

championship report Millwall - 0 Bristol CIty - 0 Date: Thursday December 29, 2022 Referee: Dean Whitestone Man of the match: Murray Wallace Attendance: 14,814

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL STARTED 2022 in the same way that they finished it, with a Championship clash against Bristol City.

However, the Lions narrowly avoided defeat this time by playing out a goalless draw at The Den that temporarily dropped them out of the top six.

As the ball bounced between the two penalty boxes in the opening stages of

the game, the first chance fell Millwall’s way through a free-kick when George Saville was brought down around 30 yards out in the sixth minute. Zian Flemming stepped up, looking to score his second free-kick goal of the campaign, but his knuckleball effort fizzed well over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

The visitors started to come to life after a cagey start, with Tommy Conway and Antoine Semenyo firing wide of the target inside the opening 20 minutes. One minute later, Murray Wallace looked to line up a repeat of his deflected effort against Brondby, cutting inside and ultimately blasting a shot over the bar.

Millwall turned the tide and forced some great chances shortly before the half-hour mark. The first of which saw Tom Bradshaw heading Tyler Burey’s powerful cross miles off the target, the

second ended with George Saville firing a rebounded effort over the bar to end the move.

Bristol City, on the other hand, started going direct, winning a corner from a long ball towards Semenyo which Bradshaw cleared out of the box. However, the best chance of the entire half came four minutes before the break, when Andreas Voglsammer volleyed a powerful, deflected effort at goal from Flemming’s long throw, cracking the crossbar.

The second half played out similar to the first, with few chances for either side. Five minutes in, following a period of sustained possession for the visitors, Andreas Weimann was played into the box down the right side, but his low shot was easily held by George Long.

The Robins came again, this time with Semenyo, who continued to terrorise the Millwall back line. He turned and

fired his first effort well over the bar in the 54th minute, while Jake Cooper had to deny him a clear goalscoring opportunity with a superb tackle just ten minutes later.

They had to defend down the other end soon after as the Lions caught them out with a short corner routine. Billy Mitchell’s lobbed ball was met by the head of Wallace, who flicked an effort at goal that was deflected out for a second corner, which they failed to capitalise on.

With so few chances, Alex Scott had a big chance to possibly win the game with 18 minutes left to play. He wriggled through on goal before curling a tame effort into the palms of Long, keeping the scores level.

If that was a big chance, Semenyo’s was simply colossal. A mix-up at the back played the striker clean through on goal, but Long rushed out just in

time to push the ball away.

With ten minutes to play, the Austrian was in the spotlight once again after he picked up a free-kick in the box. With the whole goal to aim at, he somehow fired wide of the post, easing the pressure on Rowett’s men.

It was the last real chance of the game despite both sides pushing forwards late on, much to the frustration of the Millwall fans inside The Den on a cold Thursday evening.

Millwall 4-2-3-1: Long; McNamara, Hutchinson, Cooper, Wallace; Mitchell, Saville (Shackleton 79’); Voglsammer (Honeyman 79’), Flemming, Burey (Styles 60’); Bradshaw (Afobe 78’)

Bristol City: 3-5-2: O’Leary; Vyner, Naismith, Atkinson; Tanner; Weimann, James, Scott, Pring; Conway (Wells 69’), Semenyo

Millwall boss focused on form amid play-off charge

Strong home record keeps Lions in the hunt to fulfil Premier League dream

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk GARY ROWETT praised Millwall for their impressive form in the Championship, but admitted that he still isn’t looking at the league table with just under half of the season left to play.

The Lions moved back into the play-off places and up to fourth before Watford [vs. Norwich City] and Middlesbrough [vs. Birmingham City] both won to leapfrog them, moving them down to sixth ahead of the break for the FA Cup weekend.

Regardless of the other results, Rowett’s men have done incredibly well so far this season as they look to finally secure a place in the top six and challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

Picking up consistent results is obviously a big part of that, and Rowett is purely focused on taking each game as it comes instead of getting too far ahead of himself.

“Our home form this season has been fantastic,” he said after Millwall’s win on New Year’s Day. “We’ve had a couple of little blips recently, but our blips are draws that we didn’t feel we did quite enough to win, but again, we’re not getting beaten here.

“I don’t think there’s much in the performances. Today we were a little more clinical, we could’ve been a lot more clinical, and it’s been a good week.

“I spoke about it, it’s about being fairly calm as a team and as a club in these situations. We could be all ‘we beat Watford, fantastic’, and then we all get a little bit edgy because we don’t then win our next game, but that’s the

Championship.

“Teams don’t just come and roll over.

Bristol City are a good side, Rotherham beat Sheffield United away from home about five games ago.

“Every team is capable of taking points and you’ve got to do it right. To take seven points in a week, to have three clean sheets, to score goals, I think it’s a testament to the character of the players.

“We’re working hard, we’re in a position where we want to continue to get more out of the players, continue to find those sorts of performances and continue to try and add to the group in January.

“It’s been a good week but the Championship is a funny old beast. You can have a good week and then have a not so good week, so you’ve got to keep working hard, get your head down and plough on really.”

Gary Rowett believes that Millwall’s results at The Den can keep them in the top six this season

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023 championship report Millwall - 3 Bradshaw 4’, 81’, Humphreys OG 66’ Rotherham United - 0 Date: Sunday January 1, 2023 Referee: Gavin Ward Man of the match: Tom Bradshaw Attendance: 12,889

By Alex Jones at The Den alexj@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL STARTED 2023 in style with an emphatic win at home to Rotherham United.

The Lions knew that a win on Sunday would move them back into the top six, and the Millers travelled to South London with a threadbare squad amidst a horrendous injury crisis. In fact, Matt Taylor’s side had only won three out of their fourteen Championship matches between the reverse fixture at the New York Stadium and their clash at The Den on New Year’s Day. Millwall’s players clearly weren’t on the lash for New Year’s Eve as they threatened inside the opening minute when Shaun Hutchinson narrowly missed the target with a powerful header from close range.

However, just three minutes later, Tom Bradshaw gave them the lead with his fifth goal of the campaign.

The Lions won a free-kick down the right flank which Callum Styles delivered onto the head of the striker, allowing him to flick it past Viktor Johansson and into the back of the net to give his side an early lead.

They weren’t done there, clearly sensing the chance to put Rotherham to the sword in the first half. In the eleventh minute, George Honeyman’s corner was delivered to Styles on the edge of the box, allowing him to run in and volley a powerful effort at goal. However, the unique set-piece routine came to an end when his shot bounced off Voglsammer in an offside position, prompting the linesman to raise his flag.

Zian Flemming clearly saw an opportunity to catch up with Chuba Akpom and Viktor Gyokeres at the top of the goalscoring charts, with the Dutchman failing to really test Johansson with a couple of tame efforts.

The biggest chance to double the lead in the first half came in the 24th minute when Styles’ deflected shot bounced back to him on the left side of the box, allowing him a second bite of the cherry. It ended up fizzing into the path of Bradshaw, who had a simple tap-in for his sixth of the campaign, but he somehow fired over the bar from pointblank range.

An unmarked George Honeyman was

FA Cup preview

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL HAVE the chance to avenge their Championship defeat to Sheffield United by knocking them out of this year’s FA Cup.

The Lions travelled up to Bramall Lane in their second league game of the season, fresh off the back of their opening day win against Stoke City and their Carabao Cup defeat at the hands of League One outfit Cambridge United.

Despite their disappointing performance against the U’s, confidence was high going into their clash against the Blades, but Iliman Ndiaye’s early goal set the tone for what would be a tough afternoon in South Yorkshire.

Sander Berge capitalised on another error to give the hosts a two-goal cushion before Oliver Norwood missed the chance to wrap up the win before half-time when his penalty was saved by Bartosz Bialkowski.

Nonetheless, Millwall offered next to

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New year, new Millwall!

Lions end threematch winless run at The Den by thrashing struggling Rotherham

presented with a golden opportunity to send Millwall 2-0 up at the break when he evaded the offside trap to head Murray Wallace’s cross straight at Johansson, while Andreas Voglsammer couldn’t flick on any of the resulting corners into the back of the net.

Rotherham’s chances came right at the end of the half, first when Hakeem Odoffin headed straight into the gloves of Bartosz Bialkowski, and then again when Conor Washington rounded the Polish goalkeeper before totally missing an empty net and firing miles over the bar.

Having witnessed the Millers’ improvement, Millwall realised that they

Millwall

needed to end the match early in the second half and pushed to double their lead. It didn’t quite click for them, however, with Bradshaw failing to pull the trigger on Flemming’s lobbed pass in the box in the 55th minute.

The Dutchman was given a chance to score from a free-kick a few seconds later, but he clipped the wall.

Rotherham were defending for their lives, which was far from ideal for them when 1-0 down. Johansson was called into action again to deny Hutchinson’s header, but his side failed to clear the danger, almost leading to the concession of a penalty. Soon after, Bradshaw headed narrowly past the post

VS

Sheffield United

Tom Bradshaw scored for the first time since the Lions’ 3-0 home win against Watford in mid-October from yet another free-kick, providing a big let-off for the visitors.

There was to be no let-off in the 66th minute, however, as Millwall finally doubled their lead. Flemming drove forward with the ball but was closed down, forcing him to play a lobbed pass over to Bradshaw on the right.

The striker didn’t hesitate this time, firing a powerful effort that cannoned into the net off Cameron Humphreys for an own-goal.

The Lions striker was clearly frustrated by that, but he was right on the spot to make it 3-0 with nine minutes to play.

Flemming started a quick counter to set up Voglsammer to his left, allowing the German

Millwall face tough home test as they target cup run alongside play-off push which may give them an extra incentive to go on a run in this year’s FA Cup as well.

It remains to be seen how seriously they want to approach the competition.

Heckingbottom has hinted that some of his injured players may be fit to return, including striker Oli McBurnie, but the Sheffield United boss admitted: “you know how vague I am going to be because I am not going to tell Gary if he’s playing against him next week.”

Millwall, on the other hand, will be making changes from the side that beat Rotherham United 3-0 on New Year’s Day. Rowett refused to confirm just how different his team will look against the Blades this weekend, but told the News that he wanted a run in this season’s FA Cup. “We’ve got a home draw. I’m sure that

to fire a powerful effort at Johansson. The Rotherham ‘keeper made the save but couldn’t hold it, allowing Bradshaw to rush in and tap the ball into the net to seal the win.

Millwall: 4-2-3-1: Białkowski; McNamara, Hutchinson, Cooper, Wallace; Mitchell, Styles (Saville 72’); Honeyman (Esse 83’), Flemming (Shackleton 88’), Voglsammer (Burey 83’); Bradshaw (Afobe 83’)

Rotherham: 3-4-2-1: Johansson; Harding, Wood, Humphreys; Kioso (Norton-Cuffy 67’), Barlaser, Odoffin, Ferguson (Baramall 68’); Lindsay, Rathbone; Washington

The Den. Saturday, January 7th. Kick-off: 3pm

Lions out for revenge in the FA Cup nothing for the rest of the match, and they were lucky that Sheffield United took their foot off the gas in the second half. It was a result that clearly knocked the Lions’ confidence, as they went on to win just one of their six league games in August, sinking them towards the bottom end of the table.

Things have changed for Gary Rowett’s side, who now find themselves in the playoff places heading into a short break from Championship action while the FA Cup fixtures take place. The Blades, on the other hand, have joined Burnley by racing into a colossal lead at the top of the table, with their gap on third-place Blackburn Rovers already sitting at nine points.

It looks inevitable that Paul Heckingbottom’s side will return to the Premier League after a two-year absence,

MILLWALL 29

both Sheffield United and ourselves were probably both hoping for a nonChampionship tie that feels like another Championship game, but it’s an opportunity for both teams to try and advance,” he added.

“I think when you set out for the draw and people ask the players what they want, it’s like anything, they all want a Premier League team, they all want a top four side. I think all players are the same, they all want something that’s different to the norm.

“So of course, playing a team that’s in your division isn’t what either team wants, but ultimately they’re a good side, a really good side, and it’ll be a good tie.

“They were in the Premier League two seasons and ultimately it’s up to us to go out there and put a good performance in, but

we’re a way away from that.

“It’d be nice to really try and get a run in the cup this year. It’s a tough third round for us, but it’d be nice. I know the club has got a big history in it and it would be nice to try and see if we can advance, but I’m sure Paul Heckingbottom and his players will probably be looking at it in the exact same way.”

Millwall could have a fully fit squad for Saturday’s game, with Mason Bennett [calf], Ryan Leonard [hamstring] and Scott Malone [illness] all working towards returning in the next few days.

matCh details

Possible Millwall starting XI: 4-2-3-1 Bialkowski; McNamara, Cresswell, Cooper, Malone; Shackleton, Evans; Esse, Honeyman, Burey; Afobe

Match odds:

Millwall 9/5 Draw 2/1 Sheffield United 29/20

Last meeting:

Championship (August 6th, 2022): Sheffield United 2-0 Millwall (Ndiaye 7’, Berge 22’)

30 MILLWALL

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Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

Muzza wants Millwall to become unpredictable EXCLUSIVE

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL’S SQUAD haven’t had time to breathe over the festive period.

The festive fixtures have come thick and fast for every Championship club, with the Lions playing three matches between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. For Murray Wallace, a relative veteran of the team, this is no longer the same problem as it was when he started his career.

“To be honest, I’m not that fussed about New Year’s Eve anymore!” he told the News.

“It’s quite a big thing up in Scotland, but because we’ve always had games and stuff, I’ve never been able to celebrate it.

“It’s our busiest time of the year. I think you learn early on when you’re a young lad in your first seasons as a pro, you realise that the schedule around Christmas is the busiest time of the year.

It’s just part of it.”

Of course, it was a near-perfect period for Millwall, who picked up seven points and three clean sheets from their matches against Watford, Bristol City and Rotherham United.

The win against the Millers was truly the cherry on the icing on the cake, a result that moved them up to fourth in the Championship table at the time “It would’ve been nice to get a couple of extra goals but it was perfect,” Wallace admitted.

“Three goals, I thought we controlled the game, three points, a clean sheet.

Happy days!

“When you look at the amount of chances that we had and the quality of them, obviously I can say that we were disappointed not to get a few more, but 3-0 was an excellent result.”

It was especially good for Tom Bradshaw, who came inches away from bagging a brace on Sunday afternoon.

The striker, who had not scored since Millwall’s 3-0 win at home to Watford in mid-October, scored in the fourth minute and 81st minute to help seal the points.

The Lions’ second goal has gone down as an own-goal from Cameron Humphreys, although Wallace believes that Bradshaw will try to claim it as his second hat-trick of the season despite the ball taking a wicked deflection before flying into the back of the net.

“He’ll claim for that third, you’ve got to as a striker!” the Scotsman laughed.

“I don’t mind it, he’s hungry to claim everything. It’s another couple of goals for him, which is excellent.

“I think a lot of his work in the team goes unnoticed. It’s easy to give the plaudits to Zian [Flemming] when he’s going so well - don’t get me wrong, he’s a top quality player who scores goals in big moments and stuff like that - but there’s a lot of players like Bradders who

Defender admits to changing his style to keep things fresh Murray Wallace is still looking for his first goal contribution of the season work exceptionally hard for the team.

“I’m buzzing for him when he gets a goal, he deserves it.”

Wallace has also tried to improve his output in the final third, with the defender finishing as one of the top scorers in the team last season.

He is yet to score or assist for Millwall this season, however, although that isn’t for want of trying.

His energetic runs from left-back created countless chances against Rotherham over the weekend, something which he is keen to develop and add to his game.

“It depends on who’s playing in front of me. You’ve got Tyler [Burey], where you just want to give him the ball and let him do his thing because he’s such a talented player who’s so hard to defend against.

“Then you can play with other players like Vogi [Voglsammer] who will hold it up and allow me to get around him and run off him.

“It’s part of the game I’m trying to improve, attacking, and hopefully I can keep helping the team out.

“I like to think I’m quite versatile. If you’ve got more strings to pull, it makes you a more valuable player.”

Collectively, Wallace understands that Gary Rowett has had to change things up after their home performances turned stale in December. Millwall were frustrated against Wigan Athletic and Bristol City, who both sat deep and escaped The Den with a point.

Against Rotherham, the Lions had to try something new, using their wide thread to exploit the gap in the visitors’ back line between the centre-backs and the wing-backs.

“Our home record is so good, we win a lot of games here because it’s really hard to break us down,” Wallace argued.

“Teams are obviously going to come here and be looking at a point as a good result. A lot of teams will come here, sit deep and try to grind out a 0-0.

“It’s important that, when we get an early goal, we keep pushing on, because a lot of teams struggle to get back into it when they come with that game plan and concede.”

The same can be said for Millwall’s set

pieces, which have been crucial to their attacking output so far this season. In fact, the Lions have more set-piece goals than goals from open play, more than anyone else in the division.

However, against the Millers, they tried to use different routines, such as George Honeyman’s first-half corner that was met by a powerful volley from Callum Styles on the edge of the area, fizzing just wide of the target.

“We don’t want to become predictable,” Wallace said.

“We’ve got such a threat, obviously with the height of me, Hutch [Hutchinson] and Coops [Cooper]. Savs [Saville] and Flem [Flemming] are also great in the air, a lot of players who can attack the ball well.

“As good as the delivery and as well as we attack it, we need to change it up and sometimes teams aren’t expecting it, so it can work in our favour.”

Of course, while Millwall fans are delighted to be in the top six with a game in hand, the players are focused on the task at hand, which isn’t a surprise given that they have an internal fine in

place for looking at or talking about the league table.

Wallace is also aware that they have an incredibly tough month coming up, one which could define their season and provide a real litmus test for their playoff credentials.

“We’re only just over half way through the season.

“We’ve had a couple of home games, we get good results at home, but we’ve got quite a few tough away games coming up in a difficult month.

“It’s important not to get ahead of ourselves and remember what has gotten us to where we are.

“We tend to perform better and raise our standards against the better teams, so we’re obviously looking forward to them.

“The Sheffield United game is so important to us because we’ve got such a strong squad and there are lads who are disappointed by not playing week in, week out.

“It’s a good opportunity to use the full squad and make sure that everyone is ready to go when they’re called upon.”

Southwark News, Thursday January 5 2023

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MILLWALL 31

GEORGE harks back to Millwall’s start

Millwall midfielder sees defensive improvement as the biggest reason for recent success EXCLUSIVE

By Alex Jones sport@southwarknews.co.uk GEORGE HONEYMAN’S time out of the starting lineup has given him time to reflect on Millwall’s season so far.

The midfielder has been in and out of the team in recent weeks. Despite starting in a 3-0 defeat against boyhood club Sunderland, Honeyman dropped out of the side that went unbeaten against Wigan Athletic, Watford and Bristol City, limiting him to cameo appearances late on in the games.

He returned in place of Tyler Burey to face Rotherham United on New Year’s Day, playing a crucial part in his side’s 3-0 win that lifted them back into the play-off places.

It was a fantastic way for the Lions to start 2023, and the 28-year-old believes that they can carry their form on into the second half of the campaign in order to push for promotion to the Premier League.

“I think the start [of the season] has been really solid,” he told the News.

“We’ve obviously had really good home form and it’s a really good platform for us to be successful for the rest of the season.

“We’re taking it month by month, game by game. I think anyone would’ve taken our position by the time we’re at now, and everyone tells me that Millwall usually have a good run after Christmas and in the second half of the season.

“Hopefully that continues and we’ll be rewarded.”

There has been a clear improvement in Millwall’s performances. The start of the season was a nightmare for supporters, who saw their side win just one of their six Championship games in August and suffer elimination from the Carabao Cup at the hands of League One strugglers Cambridge United.

Gary Rowett’s switch from a back five to a 4-2-3-1 formation was the catalyst for a significant change which has seen them move from the bottom end of the division to the play-off places in a matter of weeks.

Honeyman sees a number of ways in which they have developed in that time, but pinpoints their defensive resilience as the main reason for why they are now able to challenge for promotion against some of the top teams in the league.

“I think there are things that we got better at,” he explained.

“After the first game of the season, we didn’t keep a clean sheet for a while, which is something that Millwall have been really good at over the past few years, especially when I’ve played against them. They were always really hard to break down.

“I feel like we’ve got back to that a little bit. As a team, we’ve defended really well.

I think the manager is a big pusher on that in terms of, if we’re solid and keep as many clean sheets as possible, we’ve got the quality at the top end of the pitch to win quite a few games.

“I think that’s been a really good second half of the first part of the season and long may that continue. We’ll be right there at the end of the season if we can continue that form.”

The Lions have kept clean sheets in each of their last three matches

Millwall defender is up for the FA Cup

Jake Cooper out to haunt Sheffield United once again as Lions target fourth round place EXCLUSIVE

By Alex Jones

alexj@southwarknews.co.uk MANY SHEFFIELD United fans are traumatised by the idea of facing Millwall because of defender Jake Cooper.

The 27-year-old has haunted the Blades in recent years, scoring a last minute equaliser at Bramall Lane in 2019. Last season, he scored the winner in both matches, including a stoppage-time strike in the away match to cut the gap to the top six.

His overall record against Sheffield United has seen him score four goals in their last six meetings despite playing at centre-back.

As a result, while many players and supporters were underwhelmed by the prospect of facing Paul Heckingbottom’s side once again, Cooper is raring to go with the aim of building on his tally of two goals and one assist so far this season.

“We played them in the cup a few years ago,” he told the News.

“It’s going to be a difficult game, it’ll be a tough one. We’ll have to see whether both teams make changes and stuff like that.

“The FA Cup is an exciting competition to look forward to as the season goes on, and being at home is a major factor for us.

“It’s one that we really look forward to.”

However, manager Gary Rowett has already said that he will use the match to rotate his side, meaning that there is a chance that Cooper may not be involved at all after playing the full 90 minutes in Millwall’s last 20 league matches.

It creates a difficult balance, where the Lions want a run in this year’s competition while also fighting for a place in the play-offs as their number

one priority.

Cooper believes that the team have what it takes to compete in both tournaments, and that a win against Sheffield United would help them in their bid to win promotion this season.

“I think momentum can really work,” he explained.

“If you’re winning games, it doesn’t matter what competition it’s in, it breeds confidence.

“We’ll go into the game with the aim to win and get into the next round.

We’ve had a few tough games that we’ve had to concentrate on, but now Millwall are looking to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2020 our focus turns to the cup.”

Tom Bradshaw’s two assists this season have been for Zian Flemming and Andreas Voglsammer

inside

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Page 26

‘Dream come true’ for Surrey’s Jacks

Bradders wants more foreign signings Lions striker craves international additions after backing Zian Flemming to challenge for the Golden Boot

EXCLUSIVE

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk TOM BRADSHAW is keen for Millwall to explore international signings this month after the success of Zian Flemming and Andreas Voglsammer.

The Lions have rarely looked abroad when it comes to new additions, but ended up bringing in the former from Fortuna Sittard and the latter from Union Berlin during the summer transfer window.

Both players have offered something different to the current squad, who narrowly missed out on a place in the playoffs last season. Bradshaw believes that the club’s new approach to the transfer

market could make the difference, and that further international additions may help them to finally achieve a top-six finish.

“Obviously you’ve got the slight added risk of it being a different league, so you’re not sure how that player is going to adapt,” he told the News.

“If you get it right, you’ve seen with the lads that we’ve brought in, it can be a massive coup for the club.

“Flem is one of the top scorers in the league and he’s hit the ground running, he’s been a brilliant asset. It’s the same with Vogs as well, obviously he hasn’t got that many goals yet but his performances have been top notch. His work ethic and performances fit the club perfectly.

“Like I said, there’s obviously the slight added risk where you don’t know how

the player will adapt to the Championship being a very physical and demanding league, but when it pays off, it can pay off big, so it’s a great thing for the club.”

Flemming has already scored ten league goals this season, putting him tied-fourth in the race for the Golden Boot behind Chuba Akpom [Middlesbrough], Viktor Gyökeres [Coventry City] and Óscar Estupiñán [Hull City].

It’s clear that Millwall rely on him a lot, possibly more than they did on Jed Wallace last season, but his consistent performances have guided them into the play-off places with a game in hand on almost every other team in the division.

As a result, Bradshaw believes that the Dutchman is in with a real chance of ending the campaign as the top scorer in the Championship, which would be a

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remarkable accomplishment for his debut season in English football.

“If he keeps putting in performances like he has been and keeps getting in the box, I’m sure he will be competing for it.

“Flem is great technically, so he likes to drop deep sometimes to get on the ball.

I think myself and the management have been encouraging him to try and stay high, which is what he’s been doing in the last three or four games.

“You saw his goals against Preston where crosses are coming into the box and he’s either on the back post or in the box. He’s a great finisher as well, so when he gets those chances he’s normally clinical as well.

“There’s no reason why he can’t be there at the end of the season challenging for the Golden Boot.”

Millwall man pinpoints key characteristic for January recruits EXCLUSIVE

By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk MURRAY WALLACE believes that Millwall’s January signings will need the right personality to fit in with the current squad.

Manager Gary Rowett has already said that he is looking to add two new faces to the team ahead of their promotion push in the second half of the season.

The Lions have already moved on striker Isaac Olaofe, who joined Stockport County on a permanent deal for a six-figure fee last week. The News understands that Hayden Muller will also be allowed to leave The Den, although another loan move has not been ruled out for the defender.

As for incomings, Millwall have already announced the signing of Irish youngster Aidomo Emakhu from Shamrock Rovers, while Hibernian’s Ryan Porteous and Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi [on loan at Charlton Athletic] continue to be linked.

While their physical attributes will obviously be key to the Lions’ success this season, Wallace believes that the club’s new additions will need the right mental characteristics to become a success in South Bermondsey.

“I think we’ve got a really good squad,” he explained.

“It‘s not huge, it’s a good size. We’ve got everyone back fit at the moment so it’s really competitive.

“We’ve got such a tight-knit squad, everyone is on the same wavelength with what we want to do.

“We’ve worked so hard, and that’s half of the battle with any sort of recruitment.

“The type of player that you bring in is as important as their ability.”

The Lions are expecting to bring in a couple of new faces in the transfer window The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2014 was 83.5%