27th February 2020

Exclusive: Council leader steps down

Issue 1468

Established: 1987

50p

February 27 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk

NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN

TWO MEN AND DOG STABBED IN PECKHAM

Page 3

Surgeons accidentally operate on wrong patients or body parts ten times in two years

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BODY FOUND IN BIN Page 9

BENNETT Lions hope to build attacker’s ‘resilience’

EXCLUSIVE

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk SURGEONS AT Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust have operated on the wrong body parts or the wrong patient ten times in the past two years, the News can reveal.

Freedom of information data reveals the number and types of completely preventable patient safety incidents at the Trust which had ‘potential to cause serious harm or death’ in 2018 and 2019.

LATEST NEWS INSIDE full story on page 6

Issue 1468

Established: 1987

50p

February 27 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk

2020/21 season tickets are on sale now Buy now and save Season tickets for Millwall’s 2020/21 campaign are on sale.

Buy between now and the saver period deadline on Friday 10th April, when prices revert to normal, for the best value-for-money on your season ticket.

SAVER PERIOD PRICES START FROM: - £350 for adults Just over £15 per game - £185 for over 62s Just over £8 per game - £185 for armed forces Just over £8 per game - £185 for 18-21s Just over £8 per game - £175 for under 18s Just under £8 per game - £100 for under 16s Just over £4 per game - £50 for under 12s Just over £2 per game - £25 for under 6S Just over £1 per game

TURN OVER FOR MORE INFOrmation Have a query?

Get in touch with Shona Groves - Millwall's supporter liaison officer - with any questions relating to season tickets for 2020/21. Contact Shona by emailing slo@millwallplc.com or on Twitter @MillwallSLO.

Page 43 42

BENEFITS SEASON TICKET HOLDERS RECEIVE 230 LOYALTY POINTS and: - Ticket Priority - Entry into a monthly prize draw - Invitation to an open training session at The Den - Discounted tickets for Cup games played at The Den - 5 TeamCard points for every £1 spent in the Lions Store - 5% discount on matchday hospitality - 20% off non-matchday room hire for events - Junior season ticket holders celebrating their 7th birthday will receive a voucher for a free home* shirt. *Subject to availability

ARMED FORCES Millwall Football Club is proud to once again offer reduced prices for Armed Forces personnel and Veterans, who can purchase a season ticket at the discounted concessionary price.

To secure a season ticket you must supply the Ticket Office with proof of identity as well as a copy of your valid Armed Forces ID or Veteran Card.

Zampa’s Family stand Zampa’s Family Stand is the perfect place for youngsters and their parents to watch Millwall play at The Den. A maximum of two adults can buy a season ticket with an Under 6, Under 12 or Under 16 season ticket. Adults, seniors and 18-21s must be with a child on matchdays. U18 tickets need to be purchased alongside both an adult and an U6/U12/U16 ticket. U18s cannot be seated in the Family Stand alone or in a group which doesn’t meet the above requirements.

Away season tickets You can guarantee your seat for every game on the road by buying an away season ticket. Doing so ensures you never miss out on a high-demand League or Cup away match, and it costs just £20 to register.

Turn to inside back page for saver period prices

You can apply in person at the Ticket Office or by phone 0844 826 2004* - option 1. *Calls to this number will cost 7p per minute from a BT landline. Calls from other networks may vary and from mobiles will be considerably more. Booking fees apply.

The call centre is only operational between the hours of 9.30am-5pm, Monday to Friday.

Issue 1468

Exclusive: Council leader steps down

Established: 1987

50p

February 27 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk

never say never again

Page 3

Surgeons accidentally operate on wrong patients or body parts ten times in two years

TWO men and dog stabbed in Peckham

Page 9

BODY FOUND IN BIN Page 9

Bennett Lions hope to build attacker’s ‘resilience’

Exclusive

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk Surgeons at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust have operated on the wrong body parts or the wrong patient ten times in the past two years, the News can reveal.

Freedom of information data reveals the number and types of completely preventable patient safety incidents at the trust which had ‘potential to cause serious harm or death’ in 2018 and 2019.

full story on page 6

Page 43 42

2 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Contents NEWS Pages 2-19 OPINION Pages 20-21 bereavement guide Pages 22-26 family announcements Page 27 arts Pages 28-29 HISTORY Page 30 PROPERTY Pages 31- 32 Jobs Page 33 classified Page 34 Public notices Pages 35-37 SPORT Pages 38-44

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

‘no reliable data on girls at risk of gang grooming’

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Nearly 100 young people are believed to be at risk of gang exploitation in Southwark, but there is no reliable data on how many of them are women and girls, according to a report from Florence Eshalomi.

Gang Associated Girls was published this month by the Southwark and Lambeth assembly member and Vauxhall MP. It has identified approximately a thousand young women and girls across London who are not recorded in official statistics but are at risk of gang grooming and exploitation, or already involved in gang activity.

“I’ve heard of some atrocious acts, including women being threatened with their life and women being sexually assaulted as part of acts of revenge from rival gangs, and I’m appalled,” Eshalomi said.

“With the risk growing as women are expected to take on bigger roles in gang operations, it’s clear we need to massively upscale our work to help those women who are at risk, or are victims, of gang crime.”

According to City Hall data, between January and September 2019 the Met identified just one female perpetrator who committed a crime as part of a gang, as well as 92 female victims of crimes committed by gangs for the whole of London.

In nine of London’s 32 boroughs, no female victims or perpetrators of gang crime were identified at all.

Meanwhile, the Met’s gangs matrix, which seeks to identify and risk-assess gang members and those at risk of victimisation, only lists six girls – less than one per cent of the total on its books.

After lodging freedom of information requests to authorities across London, Eshalomi found that gang association had been listed as a factor in the cases of 1,049 women and children supported by children’s services in the last year, pointing to a hugely underreported level of female abuse and exploitation.

While Southwark Council says its children’s services’ department lists gang association in 96 young people’s cases from 2018-2019, it was unable to say how many of them were male and how many were female.

Camberwell-based charities, St Giles Trust and Redthread also provided evidence for the report, and called on more intervention services to be targeted at women.

“Programmes for boys that are slightly amended to work for girls will not produce good results; girls suffer different trauma, there are different ways of engaging them,” a St Giles Trust spokesperson said.

Eshalomi is now calling on more prevention work aimed at teaching young girls about healthy relationships, specialist training for police and other agencies to identify and help those at risk, and more gender-specific services.

Lib Dem deputy’s Brexit dilemma

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk A Southwark councillor among those yet to make an application for settled status has told the News how Brexit uncertainty has affected his family.

London Bridge and Bermondsey ward councillor William Houngbo is a dual British and French national, but his fifteen-year-old daughter Ariane only has French citizenship so far.

Neither of her parents had completed their own British citizenship applications at the time of her birth. Ariane was born and raised in London.

Although eligible for a UK passport, the expense to register her as British – over £1,000 – meant they had not proceeded as under EU freedom of movement she had the right to live and work in the UK. They are now worried that even with settled status, which her parents will need to apply for on her behalf, Ariane’s future in the UK could be jeopardised if she chooses to study abroad and travel when she leaves home.

Marina sails in as GLA candidate

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Bromley councillor Marina Ahmad has been chosen as Labour’s Southwark and Lambeth GLA candidate for May’s City Hall elections.

Florence Eshalomi

Cllr Houngbo, from Borough, who is the deputy leader for the Lib Dem opposition at Tooley Street, said: “Emotionally it is a big pressure. We are an ordinary family and it’s a huge financial burden.

“Do we try and save quickly to register her [as a British citizen], or do we just apply for the settlement? As a family we are balancing our needs.

“On paper she has indefinite leave to remain but in pre-settled status she can’t go abroad for more than two years, and if “settled” the maximum is five.

“She doesn’t know what she wants to do yet but sometimes she says she would like to study abroad.

“Our concern is that things could change again and measures could become stricter in future.”

As the News has reported, around half Southwark’s EU national population are yet to apply to the government’s settlement scheme, ensuring their right to remain in the UK at the end of the transition period.

Southwark is believed to be home to 41,000 non-Irish EU citizens. Up until September last year, 23,628 had applied so far.

Ahmad announced she had been selected in a tweet posted last Friday. “Now that it’s officially out I can say thank you to all my supporters in Lambeth and Southwark for electing me as your London Assembly Member candidate,” she said.

“I am delighted. Proud to have been on a shortlist with Maurice McLeod, Taranjit Chana, and Shahina Jaffer, thanks for a great campaign.”

The party’s selection process had proved controversial after complaints from senior party figures that Southwark councillors had been excluded from the shortlist due to a “stitch up” by rival factions.

The trained barrister is a Bromley Labour councillor where she represents Crystal Palace ward and acts as the party’s borough spokesperson for education. She is also chair of GMB Southern’s region race network.

Ahmad was previously selected as a candidate for Croydon and Sutton in the GLA election in 2016, and has stood- as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Beckenham in the 2015, 2017 and 2019 elections.

Those to endorse her include Camberwell and Peckham MP Harriet Harman, who confirmed she had cast her vote in favour of Ahmad.

Marina Ahmad

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

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Council leader steps down after 10 years

NEWS 3 Column inches include spats with developer Meadow, Brexit chaos, Elephant and Castle regen plans and charity fundraising.

From election victories to long-running regeneration disputes and plenty of News headlines, Peter John oversaw one of Tooley Street’s most controversial decades

exclusive

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Peter John is stepping down as Southwark Council’s leader after a decade that saw the borough become one of Labour’s firmest strongholds in London.

A well-placed source told this paper that Cllr John, OBE, announced the news to the Southwark Labour group on Wednesday night. His last day is thought to be March 23.

It is not yet known who is likely to succeed him; though deputy leader Rebecca Lury and housing cabinet member Kieron Williams are likely contenders. Peter John became leader of Southwark Labour in 2004, after being first elected to South Camberwell ward in 2002.

A onetime chief whip, he became council leader after the coalition was ousted in 2010 and is said to have always intended to step down after ten

years if Labour stayed in power.

Since then Southwark has become almost a one-party borough with the Conservatives losing all local seats and the Lib Dems being pushed back to the north.

Bolstered by overwhelmingly proLabour election results in 2015, 2017 and 2019, John leaves Southwark Labour on its strongest electoral footing since the Lib Dem-Tory coalition fell.

In that time John has garnered a reputation as an effective networker.

He’s been a passionate advocate for the borough, often angrily calling up the News on press day to question stories.

He is also chair of London Councils.

His supporters will highlight Labour’s housebuilding programme, huge improvement in schools, flagship free swim and gym programme, and hardto-achieve financial balancing act that has largely protected key social services despite swingeing government cuts since 2010.

His critics have lambasted Labour’s ‘golden goodbye’ scheme and the

council’s reputational damage from the lengthy and costly legal battles with Aylesbury leaseholders.

During his tenure he oversaw the controversial move to Tooley Street, and two council chief executives.

Much of his reputation is tied to the fates of large-scale regeneration projects including Elephant Town Centre and whether they deliver on

housing promises.

John has been a strong critic of Momentum and the left of the party, and has hinted at disappointment in Labour’s lacklustre Remain campaign.

Though that didn’t stop him from removing the whip from two councillors who backed a people’s vote amendment before it was official Labour policy.

After one of them resigned from Labour, John described his actions as ‘regrettable’ and ‘Brexit self-obsession’.

John, a practising barrister, is yet to comment on whether he will return to full-time law.

Given his close working ties with major developers, there is likely to be speculation as to whether he will follow predecessors into the housing sector.

4 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

As a child Aldrin with his mother Grace

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

coroner in tears over Rotherhithe suicide

Teenage artist was found in woodlands

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk A coroner was moved to tears as she recorded a verdict of suicide at Aldrin Carlos’ inquest.

Aldrin Lloyd Carlos, aged nineteen, went missing on July 14 last year and was found seventeen days later in the Stave Hill Ecological Park, part of the Russia Dock Woodland in Rotherhithe.

The artist from Canada Water did not have a known history of suffering from mental health problems and no note was found at the scene, Southwark Coroner's Court heard on Tuesday, February 25.

Police reported no suspicious circumstances or evidence of trauma aside from injuries associated with hanging.

Assistant Coroner Michelle Haste said: “The only conclusion that I believe reflects the evidence is suicide.

“That means it is probable – more likely than not – that the cause of death was a deliberate act by Aldrin to cause his death. I'm satisfied that is the case here.”

To know that my son was a good person, that he touched so many people’s lives, and was so kind, it is the only thing I have that can help me heal

Wiping away tears, she added: “It is entirely understandable the family found it too difficult to attend. My sincerest condolences to them. May he find peace.”

His mother Grace, a nurse, last saw her son on the night of Sunday July 14 when she wished him goodnight and went to bed around 10pm.

The following day she realised he had left the house without his phone and wallet and there was no message, taking only his keys.

On Tuesday, July 16, she filed a missing person report with police. His body was found on July 31, by a passerby.

Ms Haste added: “The family have found it too difficult to provide background information as to Aldrin's immediate past and were too distressed to write a statement on his death.

“They ask us to review an interview with Southwark News where Ms Carlos paid tribute to her beloved son. A lovely tribute to a loving son.”

Grace, 44, had told the News of her devastation and how grateful she was for the love and support shown from the community after the tragedy.

She had moved to the UK from the Philippines to give Aldrin a better life after many years apart.

“To know that my son was a good person, that he touched so many people’s lives, and was so kind, it is the only thing I have that can help me heal,” she had said.

Aldrin, who was studying Fine Art at City and Guilds London Art School in Kennington, lived at home with Grace and was known for his creativity, love of yoga and martial arts, and interest in Buddhism.

The Samaritans free helpline can be called anytime night or day on 116 123

Damilola’s killer is back behind bars coronavirus school fear

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

One of ten-year-old Damilola Taylor’s killers has been jailed again after running over a police officer during a stop.

Ricky Preddie was thirteen and his brother Danny, twelve, when they killed Damilola in Peckham in November 2000 in what became one of the nation’s most infamous crimes.

He was jailed for eight years for manslaughter in 2006.

Now Ricky Preddie – also known as Ricky Johnson – is behind bars once more after pleading guilty to serious injury by dangerous driving; driving whilst disqualified; failing to stop; and driving without insurance. The 32-year-old was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on Thursday and will also be banned from driving for twelve years once released. He was driving an Alfa Romeo in Wembley in November last year when police attempted to stop him, said Scotland Yard.

Preddie initially stopped but then reversed along the pavement and hit a police car. A female PC who was getting out of the car suffered neck and leg injuries as a result. Then he ‘callously’ drove off, leaving the copper needing urgent medical attention.

“In escaping from officers who had pulled him over, Johnson’s driving was extremely reckless and resulted in an officer being seriously injured,” said Detective Superintendent Ray Keating.

“He then drove off from the scene, callously leaving the officer needing urgent medical attention. The officer

Ricky Preddie also known as Ricky Johnson

has since returned to full duties, and I would like to commend her courage and strength since the incident. While she has recovered physically, the incident has taken an emotional and psychological toll. Sadly, officers are injured whilst protecting the public far too often.”

Damilola was stabbed in the thigh with a broken beer bottle as he walked home from Peckham library after school on 27 November, 2000.

He was found bleeding to death in a stairwell close to his home by workmen who tried to save his life.

Ten-year-old schoolboy Damilola Taylor

Do you have a story for our news team?

Email us at editor@southwark news.co.uk or call 0207 231 5258. You can WhatsApp us on 07494 070 863.

bermondsey

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk A Bermondsey school has sought coronavirus advice for some of its staff and students after they went on a skiing trip to northern Italy.

The country has the highest number of coronavirus cases outside of Asia, heavily concentrated in the northern region of Lombardy.

City of London Academy Southwark said the advice was precautionary and that there was no evidence that any of the ski trip attendees had the virus.

Principal Mike Baxter told parents in a letter on Tuesday afternoon that he would not be closing the school as he had been advised it was not medically necessary, despite more than a dozen schools across the country taking the move.

“I spoke to the clinician about other schools outside of London who have imposed quarantines and even shut their gates and she assured me that this wasn’t necessary,” he said.

“I appreciate that some parents and carers may feel that the decision to remain open and not mandate a quarantine may not be appropriate.

“However, I am supporting the medical advice I have been given and, should the advice change, will amend my response.”

The school said on social media: “Following the recent increase in COVID 19 (coronavirus) cases in northern Italy, we have been in contact

with the London coronavirus response cell to ensure we are following the latest advice” around students and staff.

It said that any member of the ski trip who show coronavirus symptoms such as fever or shortness of breath “must self-quarantine for 14 days and contact NHS 111.”

The total number of COVID-19 – the approved name for coronavirus – in the UK was thirteen, as the News went to press.

They caught the virus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, and have now been transferred to specialist treatment centres.

It comes as pupils in a Sidcup school were advised to self-quarantine on Tuesday afternoon after also returning from a skiing trip in northern Italy.

An unconfirmed number of students and staff at Cleeve Park school were told to stay at home after complaining of feeling unwell.

This is in line with government guidance surrounding the virus. Public Health England advises that anyone who has returned from lockdown areas in northern Italy since February 19, should self-isolate.

Those who have visited northern Italy not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini who develop symptoms should also self-isolate.

At least a dozen schools across the country have advised their staff and students to stay at home after recently returning from the affected region.

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 5

Maudsley charity grants up for grabs

Up to £25,000 of funding is available to mental health support groups

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk The Maudsley Charity is urging anyone involved in running mental health support projects to apply for its next round of grant funding.

In the last decade the charity has donated £25 million to research, hospital services and community work. A further £10 million has been committed to children’s and young people’s mental health projects.

The charity is now looking for applicants supporting people within the boroughs served by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham and Croydon.

Applicants should be voluntary and community projects which collaborate with the hospital trust.

Previous organisations to benefit include the Dragon Café in St George the Martyr’s Church in Borough (pictured) , and the Kairos Community Trust, which provides

hostel accommodation and treatment services across the borough, including supported housing for people with alcohol and drug addiction.

Around fifteen grants are up for grabs, with a maximum of £25,000 offered. Any expressions of interest should be made by March 16, this year.

For more information and to apply visit www.maudsleycharity.org/ourgrants/community-and-connectiongrants

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6 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

surgeons accidentally operate on wrong patients or body parts ten times in two years Exclusive

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk Surgeons at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust have operated on the wrong body parts or the wrong patient ten times in the past two years, the News can reveal.

Freedom of information (FOI) data reveals the number and types of completely preventable patient safety incidents at the trust which had “potential to cause serious harm or death” in 2018 and 2019.

The most common type of these so-called ‘never events’ was wrong site surgery, occurring ten times in two years, meaning an invasive procedure was carried out on either the wrong person or wrong body part.

The data also reveals how a ‘never event’ in December last year saw staff give a patient the wrong implant from the one that had been planned.

And in two separate incidents in just one month last year, surgeons left behind objects inside the patients’ body after an operation.

Further details of these ‘retained foreign objects’ were not given, but they can include needles, surgical instruments and swabs.

The trust says it is takes such incidents extremely seriously and that the number of incidents are reflective of growing patient numbers.

‘Never events’ are the highest ranking of patient safety ‘serious incidents’ which all hospitals are required to declare for investigation.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ declared 185 serious incidents in those two years, of which seventeen

were ‘never events’.

The trust did not provide details of which cases took place in which hospitals, despite being asked under FOI law to do so.

Other lapses of patient safety declared in the hospitals was an occasion in which a patient was given an accidental overdose of insulin, and another in which a patient who needed oxygen was instead given medical air.

A trust spokesperson said the hospitals were committed to providing ‘high quality care’ and that it took such incidents ‘extremely seriously’.

“As a trust, we encourage reporting as part of an open and transparent culture and all serious incidents and never events reported in 2018 and 2019 were fully investigated so we can ensure lessons learnt were shared across the trust,” she said.

“Guy’s and St Thomas’ is one of the largest trusts in the country and in the year 2018/19 we had around 2.6 million patient contacts.

“We are treating and seeing more patients than ever before and this is reflected in the number of incidents that are reported.”

The Care Quality Commission, which inspects hospitals, rated Guy’s and St Thomas’ as ‘good’ in its latest inspection last year.

Although the trust was served with a ‘requires improvement’ under the category of ‘are services safe?’ inspectors noted “a well-established system to report, investigate and learn from incidents.”

The trust runs two main hospital sites, Guy’s Hospital in London Bridge and St Thomas’ Hospital, alongside the Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

The News is requesting the same data from all hospitals serving Southwark.

bermondsey

former furniture shop to become three-screen cinema

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk Bermondsey’s thorowgood’s furniture shop is to become a cinema and community space.

The ambitious plans would see the now-vacant store in the Blue Market transformed by summer next year into a three-screen cinema with tickets capped at £6.50 and staff paid a living wage.

An affordable food market is also proposed, alongside a community and exhibition space.

The change was announced by South

Bermondsey ward councillors Leo Pollak and Leanne Werner at a meeting on Monday evening.

However, the move would need to be approved by Southwark Council cabinet and Planning Committee.

It has been welcomed by Bermondsey residents with one saying: “Amazing, well done all, this is exactly what the Blue needs!”

“Great!” added another. “The more cinemas, the better!”

Further updates are expected in the coming days, according to the Blue Bermondsey BID.

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www.southwarkhomeowners.co.uk SOUTHWARK HOMEOWNER COUNCIL IS PLEASED TO INVITE YOU TO

HOMEOWNER SPRING 2020 CONFERENCE Saturday 7th March 2020 William Booth College, Champion Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8BQ The conference, organised by fellow Southwark Homeowners, will give Leaseholders and Freeholders who live in Southwark Council managed properties a chance to find out about their rights and responsibilities. In addition, it will provide an opportunity to hear from various independent organisations about the services and support that are available to them. It will also enable delegates to meet their representatives and peers.

For Homeowners - By Homeowners Please tell your fellow Homeowners 9am Registration 10am Conference Start 4.45pm Conference Finish 5pm Doors Close Morning Coffee & Afternoon Break Lunch Provided 1.30-2.15pm Easily accessible Directly across from Denmark Hill Railway/ Overground Station

Presentations and Panel Discussions from the Council, Independent Professionals and Leasehold Campaigners with opportunities to ask questions.

Council Officers will be also on hand to answer your questions and help with understanding how your bills are calculated.

Information stalls.

One-to-one meetings with Service Charge Staff, Citizens Advice Leasehold Team.

If you are a Southwark Council Homeowner, You should be there: Register for a free place

www.southwarkhomeowners.co.uk/conference-registration

Confirmed guest speakers and experts include: CONFERENCE MODERATOR Martin Boyd Chair of Leasehold Knowledge Partnership.

SPEAKERS Cllr Kieron Williams Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Modernisation Helen Hayes MP Dulwich and West Norwood Michael Scorer Director of Housing & Modernisation Amanda Gourlay Barrister Mari Knowles Solicitor Commonhold and Leasehold Experts Limited Katie Kendrick Founder National Leasehold Campaign Cath Williams Founder National Leasehold Campaign Sebastian O’Kelly CEO Leasehold Knowledge Partnership

www.southwarkhomeowners.co.uk

8 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

Tough cookie: biscuit plans pushed through

By Josh Salisbury

City Hall gives green light for the Bermondsey site despite opposition from Southwark Council

josh@southwarknews.co.uk City Hall overruled Southwark Council last week to approve a £500m development on Bermondsey’s Biscuit Factory despite concern over a ‘shortfall’ of social housing.

The plans, initially thrown out by Southwark’s planning committee over a lack of affordable homes, will see existing buildings owned by Grosvenor in the Biscuit Factory demolished for the creation of 1,548 build-to-rent homes.

Compass School, currently in unsuitable premises on Drummond Road, will get a new “state-of-the-art” school in the development due to open its doors in September 2023.

“The site has the potential to deliver more than 1,500 new homes in an area of London with a high demand for affordable housing,” said deputy mayor Jules Pipe, acting on behalf of Mr Khan, as he approved the decision.

“Overall, it would make a significant contribution towards the regeneration of this part of Bermondsey.”

However, ward councillors and Southwark Council have voiced fears that the ‘affordable’ homes are not truly affordable for Bermondsey residents, and that the 140 social homes fall short of the minimum number demanded by planning policy.

This ‘shortfall’ is despite the fact that Grosvenor, responsible for the application, is headed up by the billionaire Duke of Westminster.

“While we all recognise the housing crisis and the need to build homes, that cannot be pursued at the expense of building the homes that people can actually afford to live in,” said Cllr Hamish McCallum (Lib Dem, North Bermondsey).

“Who will these ‘affordable’ properties be ‘affordable’ to – because it certainly won’t be my constituents?”

“This will obviously be a huge disappointment to hundreds of local residents who will be impacted by the heights and other impacts of this scheme,” he told the News after the decision.

Cllr Leo Pollak (Labour, South Bermondsey) said he recognised the efforts of the mayor in getting more homes secured in this round of the application.

Previously Grosvenor had offered 27.5 per cent ‘affordable’ and no social homes at all.

“While I’m greatly disappointed only ten per cent of the homes delivered on this crucial development will be at social rent, I recognise the work of the Mayor of London in delivering a small council estate’s worth of social homes, 140, on this site where it previously had none,” he said.

He called on the Duke of Westminster to personally intervene adding: “I will be calling on him to start asserting his influence and steering this development towards better meeting the acute housing needs of Bermondsey residents, as well as safeguarding the future of the Blue.”

However, the news was welcomed by some in Bermondsey – most notably Compass School which will get a much needed brand-new school building.

“It’s a fantastic day for our community and those who have fought for our pupils’ rights to have the very best facilities,”

said headteacher Marcus Huntley.

The school has been occupying temporary premises for the past seven years.

Others who spoke in favour of the application being approved include Russell Dryden, chair of the Blue Bermondsey BID and Sheila Taylor, chair of the Cherry Garden TRA. “[Grosvenor’s plans] felt like a 21st century version of the council estate I grew up in as a child,” said Ms Taylor.

And in a riposte to housing campaigners 35 per cent campaign, who spoke in opposition, Mr Dryden, a Blue Market trader, said: “We’ve heard from the 35 per cent campaign … well I’d like to say

that I’m from the 100 per cent campaign – 100 per cent Bermondsey.”

Mr Dryden added that Grosvenor’s vision would complement the regeneration of the Blue Market, which has recently been given a £2m grant for a complete overhaul.

Grosvenor’s executive director of major projects, Simon Harding-Roots, said the firm wanted to “bring lasting social and commercial benefit to the communities where we work.”

“We are committed to the area and will ensure that the transformation of the Biscuit Factory happens quickly and directly supports all those living and working in this part of the borough.”

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

NEWS 9

two men and dog body found in bin lorry Death is being treated as ‘unexplained’ say police Camberwell

By Katherine Johnston

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk A police investigation has launched after a man's body was found in Camberwell on Monday morning.

Officers were called to Bethwin Road at 5.35am on February 24 to reports of a body discovered in the back of a bin lorry. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

He has not been named and no further details have been made public.

Met confirmed it was treating the death as ‘unexplained’.

A London Ambulance Service

Peckham

spokesperson told the News: "We were called at 5:39am, Monday February 24, to reports of an incident on Bethwin Road, Camberwell.

"We dispatched an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic, a medic in a car and an incident response officer to the scene.

"We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance trauma team in a car.

"Sadly, a man was pronounced dead at the scene."

In November 2018 the News reported that Southwark Council had issued a warning to local businesses, urging them to check commercial bins before emptying to prevent rough

sleepers sheltering inside from being crushed to death amid rising street homelessness.

It advised locking bins, making extra checks before tipping, and encouraged refuse collectors to ‘bang on the side’.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, across the country at least seven people have died by being crushed to death and many others have had near misses after finding themselves with no one else to sleep.

Another issue is the number of people who take shelter in bins after a night out – believed to be around one in ten of those found by refuse collectors.

Cyclist injured in Jamaica Road as work continues on the controversial cycleway

Bermondsey

knifed in fight

Police make arrests after brawl

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Two men and a dog were stabbed in a ‘group fight ‘ on Tuesday night in Peckham.

Police confirmed they were called to Commercial Way shortly after 11pm on Tuesday, February 25, to ‘reports of a group of males fighting’.

Two men and a dog were found with stab wounds. The men are

believed to be in their 20s or 30s.

“One of the men’s injuries were assessed as non life-threatening and he refused further medical treatment.

“The other man has been taken to hospital for treatment. His condition is not thought to be life-threatening at this time,” a Met spokesperson said.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of affray.

Nunhead

Nunhead residents defiant over ‘unauthorised‘ CCTV

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Southwark Council won’t back down on its demands to remove CCTV from a communal stairwell in Nunhead’s Tappesfield Estate.

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk A cyclist was injured in a rush hour incident on Bermondsey’s Jamaica Road on Monday morning according to police, which is currently undergoing major works to construct a segregated cycle route.

The man’s injuries were not immediately known, but he was taken to hospital. The road was closed westbound with the junction of Southwark Park Road while emergency services are on the scene.

Both police and ambulance services attended.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident on Monday, police said it appeared the man had fallen

off his bike and no cars were involved.

An air ambulance also reportedly landed nearby in Southwark Park to deal with the incident, which happened at 9.05am.

“London Ambulance Service attended and the cyclist, a man, no further details, has been taken to hospital for treatment; condition awaits,” said a police spokesman.

“At this early stage it appears the cyclist fell off his bike and no other vehicles were involved although enquiries into the circumstances remain ongoing.”

The Bermondsey road is currently undergoing major construction work as part of the Cycleway 4 route, due to be completed in April. The works will see the road become a segregated cycle route.

Paul Rhodes has collected signatures from all affected neighbours in support of the system he paid for and installed himself after being informed by the council that there was no budget for CCTV systems or a door entry system.

As the News reported last week, his CCTV footage is regularly capturing images of drug users taking what appear to be Class A substances and leaving behind paraphernalia including used syringes in his communal stairwell.

Cllr Kieron Williams, responsible for housing at Tooley Street, had told the News resident-run CCTV was not allowed due to privacy concerns.

Government advice says domestic CCTV operators need to inform their neighbours and put up notices telling people that recording is taking place.

Under privacy and data protection laws, anyone captured in images captured “beyond your private domestic property” is legally entitled to request copies of images and photos of themselves. There also has to be a clear reason for why CCTV is necessary

when it films any publicly accessible place.

Paul now has the written support of all five affected flats in his staircase.

The residents have added their signatures to a document explaining how the CCTV system works and how images can be requested.

It explains that the camera is automatically set to capture images of anyone who loiters in the communal area for a set period of time – not those who are coming and going – and only within specific times.

Paul says he refuses to remove the CCTV in the hope the signed document can persuade the council he is a responsible operator – or to fast track funding to install a security door and CCTV themselves.

“With 100 per cent support for the system, what possible reason can Southwark Council now put forward for removing the CCTV?,” Paul asked.

“For my part, I must follow my own conscience and ignore Southwark Council’s instruction to remove the CCTV. “Why Southwark Council wants to increase the likelihood of harm or serious injury to its tenants and lease holders, I do not know, but it would be fundamentally wrong to remove the CCTV when it is the only thing effectively deterring criminal activity on our doorsteps.”

10 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

london bridge is closing down

peckham

‘monster’ council office will not house youth offending service

By Katherine Johnston katherine@southwarknews.co.uk The youth offending service will no longer be moved into new council offices near Queens Road Peckham – but the mega office block will still go ahead despite years of lobbying from residents.

Southwark Council originally planned new office block on Asylum Road to house a range of existing services under one roof, saying current offices were no longer up to scratch.

Particular cause for concern was the council’s plan to relocate the youth offending service from its current base in East Dulwich Road.

The News understands schools in the area were wary of the plans and their potential to have rival gang members crossing paths.

As the News has reported, the initial design from 2018 ignited an outcry from residents who feared being

waterloo

overshadowed during the day and brightly lit at night by the office, and the security issues presented by planting a busy office with frontline services on a residential street.

Two years later residents and the council are still locked in a stalemate over revised proposals and fears over security, crime, and a “monster” sized building.

Directly next to the current building site is the “dream home” self-built by two architects, John O’Shea and Richa Mukhia – now plastered with graffiti on one side.

They told the News back in 2018: “We are not against a council development on the site, but we are very much against overdevelopment and the design which is being proposed.”

The council has promised black-out blinds will be used in the evenings to avoid excess light pollution, and believes as people will likely to be travelling to the area “against the flow”

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk

during rush hour there will not be a significant impact at Queens Road Peckham.

Kieron Williams, Tooley Street’s cabinet member for housing and modernisation, said: “The council has consulted with the local community and partner organisations over several years on the proposals, and although we completely understand some residents’ concerns, we are confident that the carefully designed building will bring advantages for the local area, for Southwark residents, and for our staff.

“The design has evolved over time to take on board local concerns, resulting in a smaller, more sympathetic building that impacts far less on neighbouring homes.

“It is really important to us to get this right, so that we deliver a building that local people can be proud of, as well as providing a modern and welcoming environment for residents needing to access vital frontline services.”

London Bridge will be closed to general traffic from March for essential maintenance in the latest headache for the Southwark’s motorists.

The City of London Corporation revealed last week that the bridge will close to cars and lorries from March 16 for a seven-month schedule of waterproofing and bearing replacement.

Works will take place to the northern side of the bridge between March and May, while the southbound side will see work from June to October.

Diversions will be in place for general traffic via Tower, Southwark and Blackfriars Bridges, while bus stops on the bridge will be suspended.

“These river crossings will be extremely busy,” states TfL advice.

“Seek alternative routes across the river if possible.” Roads on the approaches to London Bridge are also expected to be busy.

Pedestrians will still be able to use the crossing, although they are

expected to be busier than normal.

Buses and licensed taxis will still be able to use the bridge.

The Corporation said the works on London Bridge, opened in 1973, are needed to make the bridge safe for years to come.

“The waterproofing protects the concrete bridge deck and reinforcement from water,” it states.

“The bearings support the bridge deck, allowing it to move.”

This is the latest in a string of headaches for motorists in Southwark, who are battling disruption as construction of Cycleway 4 continues.

This schedule of work is seeing disruption along Tooley Street and Jamaica Road as a major segregated cycle route is constructed, which will ultimately run from Tower Bridge to Greenwich.

The first phase of the route is expected to be completed in April.

For more information about the improvement works to London Bridge, visit the City of London Corporation website.

Travel advice can also be found on the TfL website.

Free bereavement counselling at Tommies

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk Parents who suffer the tragedy of losing a baby during pregnancy or birth are being offered specialist support from a bereavement counsellor at St Thomas’ Hospital.

The hospital has become the eighth in the country to partner with the baby loss counselling charity, Petals, to provide free counselling to help parents come to terms with the grief they have experienced.

Among those who have benefited from the counselling sessions is Emily Dent, who sadly lost her son Erik at just

21-weeks-old in 2018.

Ms Dent, from Kennington, was offered the sessions when she became pregnant with her daughter, Astrid, who is now four-months-old.

“Flora from Petals was amazing and got me through some pretty tough times,” she said.

“Having someone there to talk to who was totally disconnected from my life really helped me to process something pretty traumatic.”

The 37-year-old also paid tribute to the work of bereavement midwives at the hospital who helped her through her grief. “When you’re in that moment, knowing strangers are on your side

goes a long way,” she said.

Debbie Bridgewater, matron for the high risk team at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said the service would help the hospital provide even better care for bereaved patients.

“Losing a baby can have a devastating psychological impact on parents,” she said.

“Our bereavement midwives are there to support families going through this difficult time, and the new Petals counselling service will help us to provide even better care.”

The service has been given funding to continue operating over the next two years thanks to donations.

Mass queues for Lidl’s 800th opening

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk A new Lidl store opened on the Old Kent Road last week, marking the supermarket giant’s 800th outlet in the UK.

Shoppers were pictured queuing out of the door of the newly-opened supermarket, which had a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8am.

The Lidl has opened in the site of the former Toys R Us – and a very short distance away from its main rival Aldi.

“We’re excited to have reached

this milestone, which simply means that we’re bringing affordable, high quality food to even more households across Britain,” said Lidl GB chief exec, Christian Härtnagel.

The store pledged offers for its first week of opening and said its staff would be paid £10.75 per hour from March 1, “amongst the highest paid in the supermarket sector.”

The store opening will create up to forty new jobs, said Lidl.

Three other stores also opened across the country on the same day in Cambridge, Boston and Dumbarton.

Southwark just isn’t Southwark without its EU citizens.

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

12 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

100 homes on the former heygate ELEPHANT AND CASTLE

By Kit Heren news@southwarknews.co.uk Over one hundred new “build-torent” homes are to go up on the site of the former Heygate estate near Elephant and Castle.

The eighteen-storey building is part of the new £2.5 billion development in the area being led by Lendlease and Southwark Council.

Lendlease and Canadian pension fund CPP Investments are investing an added £40 million each in the project, and plan to start building in the first half of this year.

They will then be let directly to private tenants.

Build-to-rent homes often come with perks, like a property manager and longer tenancies, but rent tends to be higher accordingly.

The National House Building Council (NHBC) released figures this week showing that build-to-rent development increased by 57 per cent last year, with nearly 4,800 homes built across the country.

Tom Mackellar, chief financial officer for Lendlease Europe, said: “This deal demonstrates the strength of our partnership with CPP Investments, and our partnership is already set to bring hundreds of high-quality new build-to-rent homes to Elephant Park in south London.

“The sector is rapidly expanding in the UK and we look forward to helping meet the demand for that type of property.”

The Heygate estate, which was home to around 3,000 people, was demolished in 2014. Most flats built in the first phase of the regeneration sold to foreign investors, according to a 2017 Transparency International report.

“This will have an impact on the viability of the Elephant Park scheme,” said Jerry Flynn, who runs the 35 percent campaign which has lobbied for more social housing in the development.

“How much more money is Lendlease making? This should increase the amount of socially rented property in the development."

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

goodbye bill - final whistle for the oldest rabble rouser

Camberwell

dulwich

news@southwarknews.co.uk Dulwich Hamlet’s oldest supporter has died aged 100 – two months after celebrating his birthday at the ground.

Bill Kirby, who passed away on Monday last week, had been following the nonleague side since the 1930s.

The club said in a statement: “Bill was a regular fan both home and away, in good weather and bad, over many years and was often found at the front of the team coach directing the driver to difficult to locate away grounds.

“He recently celebrated his 100th birthday and was presented with a shirt to commemorate the occasion.”

The Hamlet supporters paid tribute on social media to Bill after the club’s announcement, with fan podcast Forward the Hamlet tweeting: “We lose another Hamlet legend. Rest in Peace, Bill.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan added his condolences in a tweet, sharing a picture

England and Scotland at Champion Hill, Dulwich Hamlet’s ground, in 1937, talked about travelling to away games all over London and praised the work of current manager Gavin Rose, who he said had lifted standards at the club and got the team playing fluid, attractive football

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk Southwark police have urged anyone with information about an “aggressive” and “threatening” man seen in Peckham and East Dulwich to contact them saying they are concerned worrying incidents are not being reported.

katherine@southwarknews.co.uk

again.

Dulwich Hamlet’s men’s team is currently in National League South, the seventh tier of English football. The women’s team plays in the fifth level, the London and South East Regional Women’s Premier.

More details of a planned memorial for members of an RAF crew who died in an air accident in World War Two have been shared.

As the News reported last week, a group of volunteers is hoping to find the descendants of ten fatalities from the crash near Marham RAF base during a wartime training exercise.

One of the men who died is a Sergeant Percy George Crosbie whose parents, John and Hilda, are believed to have hailed from Camberwell and lived at 107 Sumner Road.

The site of the crash is now a nature reserve near Norfolk’s border with Cambridgeshire. Ten saplings have been planted in memory of those who died, with a memorial plaque planned.

It is hoped any relatives traced can attend a memorial service later in the year organised with the RAF. Do you know Sgt Crosbie’s family?

Email editor@ southwarknews.co.uk

What the memorial may look like

and they believe it may be the same man responsible.

Neighbourhood Inspector, Owen Pyle, (pictured) urged any witnesses to come forward, and encouraged residents to call 999 if they see an incident taking place.

“Police attended Peckham Rye Park in the morning of February 2 following a report of a male behaving in an aggressive manner,” he confirmed.

Peckham

J.K. Rowling publisher backs Holly

By Kit Heren news@southwarknews.co.uk

“The male left prior to police arrival and could not be located. No victims made themselves known to police. I am unable to say whether or not this is linked to any other incidents across the borough as they appear not to have been reported. I would encourage anyone who witnesses this kind of behaviour not to intervene but to call police on 999 and provide a description. It is very important that these incidents are reported immediately so we can respond appropriately and deploy resources where required.”

Photo by Google map

As the News has reported, parkgoers and residents have reported a series of worrying incidents in recent weeks in Peckham Rye Park and areas of East Dulwich.

A woman is alleged to have been pushed over, and another alleges she had coffee thrown in her face, just days apart.

The News was told by the police’s press bureau that it could not provide information o n “non-serious” crimes.

Residents say the reported attacks bear the hallmarks of other alleged incidents –

By Katherine Johnston

Bill Kirby with London mayor Sadiq Khan

Police urge people to report incidents after residents complain of a ‘series of attacks in Peckham and East Dulwich’

By Katherine Johnston

Stg Crosbie search continues for RAF memorial

Photo by Sadiq Khan

By Kit Heren

of him and Bill wearing club scarves.

Local MP Helen Hayes joined the tributes, saying that Bill would be “much missed.”

Kirby revealed in a wide-ranging 2018 interview with Dulwich Hamlet’s YouTube channel that he remembered seeing the Hamlet’s legendary amateur pre-war forward Edgar Kail play.

He said: “He was outstanding. He was as good as any professional footballer in those days.”

Kirby also reminisced about going to watch in the 1937 FA Amateur Cup Final at West Ham’s stadium, where the Hamlet ran out 2-0 winners against Leyton.

Around 33,000 were in attendance at the Boleyn Ground, and Kirby remembered getting his programme autographed by club representatives.

Among other highlights from the interview, he looked back on an amateur international between

NEWS 13

A Peckham author has published her first children’s book, about a young girl who loves making inventions.

The novel, called Demelza and the Spectre Detectors, will be the first in a series by new author Holly Rivers. The cover illustration is by Alex T. Smith, creator of the children’s series Claude.

Rivers, originally from south Wales, also played Drusilla Paddock in the ITV television series The Worst Witch, which ran from 1998-2001. She now writes alongside acting and running wild survival skills workshops.

Holly Rivers said: “I’ve been a storyteller in various guises all my life — I’ve worked as an actor, film-maker and drama facilitator— so writing a book seemed like a wonderful new challenge.

“I’d never written children’s fiction before, but in 2016 a stubborn young inventor called Demelza arrived in my mind, fully-formed in her lab coat and thinking cap, and I knew I needed to start penning her story at once.

“It took me a year to write the first draft of the book, after which I spent another

year working on it with The Golden Egg Academy, before signing with my agent Kate Shaw.”

The series’ publisher Chicken House was founded by Barry Cunningham, who discovered Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

Cunningham said: “Demelza and Holly Rivers are a perfect team – sometimes I forget which is the brilliant author and which is the crazily inventive, sparky and brave heroine!

“If you’re after spooks, inventions, surprises and a stonking sense of humour then you’re in the right place – Demelza and Holly have all of those in bags.

“There are also plenty of twists and turns.

I promise, it’s dead surprising.”

Demelza and the Spectre Detectors was published on 6 February.

14 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

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health related issues, including: • General health advice • Contraception and maternity services • Vaccinations • Prescriptions and managing long term conditions • Concerns about your own, or your children’s health GPs are also able to refer you on to a specialist or community services if you need further tests or treatment.

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that GPs and their practices are being held to a high standard in Southwark, as well as in the rest of the country.

If you are one of the people randomly chosen to receive the survey, please do take the time to respond. Your feedback is important to us, and we are grateful for the time spent giving it.

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16 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

southwark’s social care crisis?

Government grant only provides a ‘sticking-plaster’ to the problem

By Katherine Johnston & Josh Salisbury katherine@southwarknews.co.uk josh@southwarknews.co.uk A £7.3 million ‘sticking-plaster’ social care grant from the government only represents three per cent of Southwark Council’s total expenditure on the vital service.

In papers published ahead of a budget and council tax setting meeting, figures show how the lack of long-term certainty is compounding a reliance on business rate income to continue providing support for the most vulnerable people in the borough.

In a foreword to the latest budget papers, finance boss Cllr Victoria Mills described the tide-over funding from Boris Johnson as “simply the latest instalment in a piecemeal funding saga littered with ‘oneoffs’ and ring-fences’” from a government yet to publish its long-awaited social care funding plan. Council tax will duly have to rise by 3.99 per cent to close the gap.

“Whilst 2020-21 provides some relief from the enormous funding cuts the council has faced over the last ten years, general government funding for the council remains inadequate to cope with the growing demands and pressures on our services,” Cllr Mills explains.

The £5.1 million in special educational needs funding from the government has also been criticised as falling short of what is needed. The council’s accumulated deficit in this area is expected to stand at £18 million by the end of March.

Another area at risk of overspend is temporary accommodation costs. £3.2 million expenditure was approved for 2019-20 with an “ambitious” savings

Law centre cuts ‘target people below the poverty line’

Southwark Council is proposing a £160,000 cut to the yearly budget of two advice services which help some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents.

A yearly loss of £33,000 is proposed for the Southwark Law Centre, while the Citizens Advice Bureau stands to lose the remaining £130,000. The changes would come into force in April.

However, the council said it was not changing the total amount it was spending on advice services, but that it would be offering some of the advice in-house, and that it already spends a high amount compared to other boroughs.

The Southwark Law Centre, which takes on complex cases in areas like benefits, employment, and immigration said the funding cut would mean turning away an additional 40 to 50 cases a year.

“We target the people who’re most disadvantaged, lot of our clients are literally destitute,” said Sally Causer, the centre’s executive director.

Cllr Victoria Mills target of £2million.

“The position will be kept under close review, but at this juncture there remains a material risk that the cost pressure will continue to exceed the resources available in 2020-21,” papers explain.

Between 2010-11, and 2019-20, the council lost £146 million in government cash. In the same period, its lost spending power exceeded £85 million.

In the next year it is aiming to make £5.964 million in savings and efficiencies - but most of this will go on funding increased pay for long-suffering public sector workers whose real-term income is now ten-fifteen per cent less than before austerity. Just 0.42 million is set to benefit services directly.

Cllr Hamish McCallum “They might not have any recourse to public funds, they might be living on the streets, people who’re living below the poverty line.”

Ms Causer said that the service’s advice helps the local authority save money in the long run because it deals with the problem at the root.

“It’s short-term thinking. We understand the budget is under pressure, but this isn’t the way to go about it,” she said.

Christopher Green, the chief executive officer at Citizens Advice Southwark, said he was not aware of the council bringing advice in-house and that the funding loss would mean a loss of additional provision.

“We want to reassure people that we’re doing the best we can to mitigate the cut,” he said, estimating it as an eighteen per cent reduction. He stressed that core services would still continue as before.

Councillor Victoria Mills, cabinet member for finance, performance and Brexit, responded it was a case of targeting money to areas where it could

And Cllr Mills is hoping Southwark can generate £2.36 million in income from controversial schemes including more parking charges and ‘commercial’ opportunities on council land. There is even the suggestion CPZs could go borough-wide. Other savings are less controversial – such as replacing annual flowers in park beds with perennials.

“These proposals could generate over £1m for the years 2021-22 and 202223, subject to policy, consultation and statutory process, although the financial impact could be short-lived if policy objectives were realised,” papers state.

Other money making schemes include price increases for bulky waste collection (up to £25 per collection of up to ten items, be best spent.

“We currently fund voluntary sector organisations like Citizens Advice Bureau and SLC £936,000 each year to provide information and advice for local residents.

“These organisations do vital work and that’s why we continue to spend such a high amount compared with other boroughs.

“We have also not changed the total amount we spend on advice services, just where some of the money goes and who it supports.

“In direct response to the increased number of Universal Credit recipients requiring advice, help and assistance we decided we urgently needed to spend more in this area, and also for a number of programmes elsewhere within the council, such as older people’s hub and disability hub.

“We looked at all the options and decided that this support would be best offered in-house, by the council, rather than by the charity or voluntary sector and is now done by the council.”

Lib Dem councillor Hamish McCallum has called on the council to reconsider, saying his party would find the cash by scrapping Southwark Life magazine and making savings in its PR and communications team.

“Demand for legal advice, advocacy and support in Southwark is likely to increase, rather than decrease, following the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, in particularly in view of the changes to the rights and status of EU citizens,” his budget amendment explains.

and £7.80 per item after) and reducing its in-house publication Southwark Life from four to three editions a year, saving approximately 27k per annum.

Speaking to the News on Tuesday, before the Wednesday night meeting Cllr Mills described it as a “steady continuity budget” but warned of the challenges of an on-going housing crisis, Brexit uncertainty, and lack of long-term funding commitments from Westminster.

“It is time for the government to step up and decide what a good local government settlement looks like. There is a real risk that we could lose the next ten years.

It is very difficult for us to take radical decisions when we don’t know what we’re getting from one year to the next.”

Budget winners • £1.25 million will be targeted to ‘sure start’ style support for teenagers and parents • £1.5 million is being put toward preventative mental health support for children and young people • A £2 million fund has been set up to help the borough become carbon neutral by 2030 • £3 million a year will help give public sector staff a 2.3 per cent pay increase

Stop pushing costs onto residents and tax tourists, say Lib Dems The Liberal Democrats acknowledge that some increases in council tax, fees and charges are ‘unavoidable’, but say the council should be “proactive in generating income rather than simply passing costs directly onto residents.

An amendment proposed

by Cllr Humaira Ali calls for a voluntary ‘tourist tax’ of £1 per hotel night stay in Southwark and reiterated the long-running demand for ‘golden goodbyes’ to be scrapped – raising £160,000.

A key demand is a small cabinet in the council, with money saved on salaries spent on an innovation team responsibly for finding ways to generate cash for services.

The formal opposition claims ditching two cabinet members and deputy posts could net nearly £80k.

Cllr Humaira

A MESSAGE FROM THE CANADA WATER MASTERPLAN TEAM The Canada Water Masterplan is a partnership between British Land, Southwark Council and the local community to create an outstanding new town centre for Southwark and make a positive long-term contribution to local life.

Incorporating Surrey Quays Shopping Centre and Leisure Park, the Printworks, and former Police Station, it will provide jobs, homes (with a minimum of 35% affordable, of which 70% will be at social rent), offices, public spaces and facilities, including the first new High Street in London for a hundred years and a new leisure centre.

Southwark Council’s Planning Committee resolved to grant planning permission for the Masterplan in September 2019, and we continue to work with the council to achieve an implementable planning permission, with the aim of then starting construction of the first phase later this year.

You can find out more about the plans on our website www.canadawatermasterplan.com. In the meantime, we wanted to share a round-up of just some of the exciting activities and programmes that are coming up in the local area in the next few months that we are delighted to be a part of.

Bacon’s College students enjoy a host of arts activities

Notebook created at one of the recent Bacon’s College workshops

We believe art is a great way to connect with local schools and support students’ education, providing the opportunity to encourage and discover young emerging, creative talent. We’re pleased to work with Bacon’s College to support students in their art education and over the past four years this has included lending art from prominent artists to the school as well as providing exhibition spaces for GCSE and end of year displays. This academic year, we are thrilled to be loaning art from artists including Tom Philips and Tracey Bush, as well as supporting a number of creative events organised by our fantastic Art Curator, Rosie Glenn. Rosie is organising lots of workshops and art tours for the students, including a Life Drawing class with artist Charlotte Steel and a Walking Tour which will focus on British Land’s public art collection at Broadgate and Paddington Central.

Over 4,400 Southwark young people discover careers through the Shaping Southwark’s Future programme

Students taking part in Shaping Southwark’s Future

It’s vitally important that local residents can benefit directly from the changes to their area, and it’s also well publicised that construction-based professions are facing skills shortages. That’s why we helped to launch the Shaping Southwark’s Future programme across North Southwark together with Construction Youth Trust, United St Saviour’s Charity and Southwark Construction Skills Centre. An important aim of the education and employment partnership is to make young people aware of the numerous employment, skills and career development opportunities that construction works will generate over the next decade in their local area, in order to tackle head-on some of the employment issues we are facing.

Over the past year, Shaping Southwark’s Future has seen construction and built environment professionals volunteer a total of 371 hours across seven schools to help inspire young people into careers in the sector, with 13 of these beginning their career journey by embarking on construction related apprenticeships. In total, over 4,400 young people in Southwark have now found careers through this programme.

The partnership also supports young people who aren’t in Education, Employment or Training to gain skills and experience to begin to build a career in the built environment sector through a free 8 day Budding Builders course. To find out more, visit www.constructionyouth.org.uk/budding-builders

Get your entries in for the 2020 Southwark Business Awards

The Southwark Business Awards are back again in 2020 to celebrate Southwark’s thriving business community.

The awards are free to enter, and there’s a vast array of categories to suit businesses of all sizes in every sector across the borough. We are delighted to be sponsoring the Women in Business Award this year.

There are many hard-working and successful local businesses and it would be fantastic to see them recognised again after the local wins last year, including Ballers Football Academy for Contribution to the Community and Bodytonic Clinic for Entrepreneur of the Year.

Businesses can enter up to three categories for free, with the exception of Business of the Year which is chosen by the judges. Award submissions must be entered by Friday 13 March. For full details about entering the 2020 awards, visit www.southwarkawards.co.uk

To get in touch with the Canada Water Masterplan team, you can: Check out the website:

www.canadawatermasterplan.com Email us on:

team@canadawatermasterplan.com Freephone:

0800 470 4593

18 NEWS

www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

There are Just 2 weeks left to enter

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Register for free today or nominate There are just two weeks left to enter the Southwark Business Excellence Awards in association with London South Bank University.

Entries are being accepted in 14 categories ahead of the March 13 deadline.

Entrepreneur of the Year 2019, James Gill of Bodytonic Clinic, urged businesses considering entering to go for it. “It’s about recognising your team and the people around you,” he said. “It’s an evaluation of where the business has got to. It’s a good process to go through.

“Marketing-wise it’s been fantastic recognition and the awards night was great. The X-Factor man calling out my name was definitely a highlight!”

“It’s definitely, definitely worth it,” Dean Lavender of Hiver, Independent Retailer of the Year 2019, added: “The process is robust and very fair.

Whether you win or not, it will shine a light on the great things you have done and with a fresh pair of eyes, on what you can achieve.”

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

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inquest: ‘my son was so loved’

NEWS 19

Court hears from family of actor found in Thames

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk Fears of “unchecked bullying” at Central Saint Martins have been raised by the family of a young man who was found deceased in the Thames near to Bankside.

An inquest on Thursday heard heartbreaking evidence from the mother of popular Menelik Mimano, a 26-year-old MA acting student who tragically died on July 25 last year.

The court heard how the Bromley-

based student had experienced mental health difficulties, which became apparent to family after a course trip to a Moscow drama college in April.

“The university arranged a trip to Russia in 2019 and that’s when Menelik’s problems seemed to start,” his mother told the court in an emotional statement.

“One day in July 2019 he said he was having a difficult time at university. He began coming into my room every night to talk about his feelings.

“He told me that while he was in Russia some of the students had made noises outside his window to stop him sleeping at night.”

This had a “racial element”, the court heard.

“I was surprised and saddened to hear of his racist experiences which had never been a part of his life before,” said his mother.

The court was told that Mr Mimano had seen a GP in September 2017 for feelings of sadness, paranoia and difficulty sleeping, but that he had not declared mental health problems to University Arts London prior to starting his postgraduate degree.

Episodes of paranoia also occurred in

the days prior to his death, including an incident in which he is said to have told family members that another student was planning on killing him.

On the evening of his death, he told family of an intent to take his own life, Southwark Coroner’s Court heard.

“I didn’t know my son had any mental health difficulties until he came back from Russia,” the court was told. “He thought another student was going to kill him.”

The 26-year-old, who was the subject of a missing person’s appeal at the time of his death, feared seeking medical attention because he did not want to be sectioned, Southwark Coroner’s Court heard.

He had however self-referred to a counselling service at the university and was seeing a counsellor one-to-one including a session in the days prior to his untimely death.

“But now I’m wondering if they could have done more. Did the university do anything at all about the racist bullying on his course?” Mr Mimano’s mother asked.

“I wonder how far the unchecked bullying at Central Saint Martins

contributed to my son’s mental health.”

University staff expressed concerns at how the MA acting course was run at the college in a formal review following the student’s death, the court was told in a submission by the University of Arts London.

“It’s noted that ‘concerns have been raised’ over the ‘current model of actor training’ at Central Saint Martins,” the review found.

The institution’s Dean of Students Mark Crawley also told the coroner in a statement that there were no indications at these counselling sessions that Mr Mimano was a risk to himself or others.

“I want the coroner to know just how loved my son was,” said Menelik’s mother of her “extremely intelligent” and “gifted” son.

“Hundreds of people came to my son’s funeral. I carry the order of service with me everywhere I go.”

Coroner Xavier Mooyart adjourned the hearing so that more evidence could be gathered into the circumstances of Mr Mimano’s death. The inquest continues at a later date.

The Samaritans free helpline can be called anytime night or day on 116 123

blackfriars road reopens but others remain closed

By Josh Salisbury

josh@southwarknews.co.uk

Blackfriars Road reopened last Saturday – a month after a burst water main forced its closure.

However, the Cut and Union Street remain closed at Blackfriars Road as repair work continues.

Bus routes 40, 63 and N89 have gone back their normal routes.

The closure came after a water main burst on January 21, forcing Southwark tube to close and houses across Southwark to lose their water.

Witnesses reported seeing an eight foot sinkhole as the pipe burst, and hundreds of homes from as far away as Camberwell were affected.

Divorce ‘easier than ending a mobile contract’

A Dulwich peer has spoken out against liberalising divorce laws, saying it would make leaving a marriage easier than quitting a phone contract, writes Josh Salisbury...

Speaking in a House of Lords debate this month, Baron Ian McColl of Dulwich (Cons) said that the health benefits of marriage was so high that researchers suggest “if marriage were a drug it would be hailed as a miracle cure.”

The former Guy’s surgeon added that he feared couples who have begun divorce proceedings would be “put on a conveyor belt to certain divorce.”

The proposed would keep the current ‘irretrievable breakdown’ grounds for divorce but liberalise the evidence couples would have to provide in favour.

It would also remove the possibility of contesting a decision to divorce.

“How will it seem if we propose that people have a general right to expect that they can exit a lifelong commitment in 26 weeks, when we are tied to our mobile phone contracts for 12 months?” he said.

“If we can exit a lifelong commitment in less than a year, we are crossing a line and making what has been a lifelong commitment a much weaker, indefinite commitment.”

However, Baron Keen of Elie (Cons) responded that the comparison was “less than entirely convincing.”

“The noble Lord, Lord McColl of Dulwich, alluded to mobile phone contracts and their length—but, of course, one is able to proceed with what is termed pay-and-go,” he said.

“We do not wish to introduce that in the context of marriage or divorce, but it just shows that such comparatives can sometimes be a little less than entirely convincing.”

homes for heroes

By Kit Heren news@southwarknews.co.uk A series of free events including guided history walks are being held in Dulwich to celebrate the centenary of “homes for heroes”.

The UK faced a major housing shortage after the First World War. Then-prime minister David Lloyd George said that the government would build “habitations fit for the heroes who have won the war”. The phrase that eventually stuck was “homes for heroes”.

The 1919 Housing Act gave local authorities government subsidies to

build hundreds of thousands of new houses over three years. Camberwell was among the councils to take advantage, building the Casino and Sunray cottage estates (pictured) in Herne Hill and Dulwich.

An exhibition celebrating Southwark’s social housing will be on display in Dulwich’s Bell House throughout selected dates in March, and the Dulwich Society is hosting free guided walks on Sunday, March 22, at 2pm and 3.30pm. A talk on the history of the two estates will be held on Sunday, March 29, at 2.30pm.

For more information and to register your place, visit www.bellhouse.co.uk

20 OPINION

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

Comment It is now the time to get pruning in your garden

F

ebruary can be a cold month with sleet and biting easterly winds.

However, this year there has been a mix of milder weather – with gales and torrential rain; and occasional cold bright days. There are welcome signs of growth in the garden – daffodils have suddenly appeared, Prunus (Cherry plum) is in flower; and the birds are becoming more active as light levels slowly increase.

Weather permitting, routine tasks can be carried out; prune fruit trees and other deciduous trees if needed.

This can be done until mid March.

When carrying out any form of pruning it is vital to have the correct tools – use secateurs for the thinner stems and a pruning saw for larger branches. Blunt tools can damage

SOUTHWARK NEWS DIARIST

stems which then attract disease.

It is worth reading about pruning techniques before attempting this work. Wear appropriate protective clothing (including gardening gloves, proper foot wear and goggles); if using ladders make sure there is someone to help.

Fruit bushes are planted during the winter months; it is worth finding space to include one or two Raspberry canes or current bushes. Blackcurrant, Red and White currents also Cranberry can be kept pruned to a compact habit.

Fruit bushes and trees are available at Ken Muir www.kenmuir.co.uk or www.victoriananursery.co.uk Tidy window box and container displays; add seasonal favourites (hybrid primroses and miniature narcissus (daffodils)) which are available as pot plants in markets and nurseries. Or buy a flowering house-plant to brighten up February days. Orchids - the Cymbidiums are easy to grow. They need cool conditions, good light (but not direct sunlight in summer); water every two weeks or weekly if they are in a warmer environment (and during the summer months). The Cymbidiums produce showy flowers on long stems and bloom for weeks.

February sees the beautiful Acacia

dealbata or Mimosa tree in bloom.

Acacia has feathery evergreen leaves and a profusion of yellow flowers; it is quick growing reaching its maximum height of about 10m within twenty to thirty years. If there is space for a new tree – choose this one. Garrya elliptica or Silk Tassel Bush is an evergreen shrub; it produces eye catching long silvery catkins during January and February, it is evergreen and tolerant of a range of conditions including semi shaded areas. Another talented tree - the Witch hazel - is also in bloom, depending on the variety they start to flower from December through to March; the spidery, mostly scented flowers are a joy.

What the Dickens?

Photo by Gage Skidmore

replaces Donald Trump as US President.

However, his dearest life ambition is a little more pedestrian and closer to home.

More than being president, Bloomberg wants to exercise his right to drive sheep over London Bridge as a freeman of the City.

“If a guy told me I was going to die on Tuesday, on Monday I would do it, at rush hour,” he told The Sunday Times in 2018.

Despite spending more than a half-a-billion in the presidential race so far, Mike’s chances at the White House have plummeted since a bruising Democratic nominee debate last week.

Could he be driving livestock over Southwark’s crossings sooner than expected?

Greg James ‘kidnapped’

Southwark played host to a bizarre ‘kidnapping’ of Radio 1 breakfast host Greg James last week.

Bloomberg’s big dream Former New York Mayor and billionaire Mike Bloomberg is in the running to be the person who

Speculation was sparked when James failed to make his post-BRITS show last Wednesday morning. Adele Roberts filled in for James, while his wife revealed he had never made it home.

This it turned out was an elaborate kidnapping prank, with the DJ encouraging listeners to guess both where he was held and who had orchestrated the plot.

Both Alan Carr and Mollie King were revealed to be behind the ‘kidnap’, while James was eventually shown to have been kept in the Shard. “‘I am actually shaking because I had no idea I was up this high in the world, I don’t remember anything. I came from the Brits drunk,” he said.

Do you have a story for our news team?

Email us at editor@southwark news.co.uk or call 0207 231 5258.

READERS’ VIEWS City Hall overrules Southwark Council to approve £500m Bermondsey Biscuit Factory scheme despite social housing ‘shortfall’ Do we need all these vacant shops when more and more people shop from home re Internet etc

And what about public transport? People queue to get on Jubilee line during rush hour, even at stations like Bermondsey, something hitherto unknown, we are in a loop of the river, the cycling Bridge from Rotherhithe to city side, Canary Wharf, has been scrapped.

How is it all going to work? Are people with money going to want to travel by bus! Already to get to appointments early in London by public transport, means leaving several hours earlier before the big surge on London by commuters materialises. How much worse is all this going to get?

- Wendy Burgess, via SN website

Take it to parliament, the man is useless. Southwark is a Labour council, Khan is a Labour mayor. Thought they would at least sing from the same hymn sheet on this subject. The social cleansing goes on.

- Stephen Mills, via Facebook

About time this affordable housing nonsense stopped and only social housing rent be built.

- Dave Williams, via Facebook

The puzzle why Millwall seem to perform to perform better against top sides – boss gives opinion I have supported Millwall since the 1960’s and they have always struggled against the lower half of the table and exceeded against the top half. This is nothing new. I dread us playing the likes of Charlton and Luton because of the high chance of failure.

Anyway, you are doing a great job with the resources at your disposal Gary, please keep it up.

- Clive Watson, via SN website

Campaign to save art by Polish sculptor from Camberwell Magistrates’ Court The concrete coat of arms above the main entrance should also be saved and perhaps erected on Camberwell Green.

- Eric Camfield, via SN website

Fire Brigade staff ‘missing emergency calls’ because they have no mobile phone signal in their SE1 basement office How about they install this new invention called the landline?

- Bobby Cooper, via Facebook

Unauthorised CCTV must go says Southwark Council – despite years of addicts taking drugs on Nunhead resident’s open stairwell Same issue in Montague Square. Asked Southwark Council several times to provide a secure door entry system but they refuse it.

- Stewie Brachi via Facebook

Read our latest stories online southwarknews.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters

OPINION 21

Dual crossword They are called ‘never events’ for a reason but we do salute the hard-work being done at our hospitals

O

perating on the wrong body parts, putting in the wrong implants and leaving things behind after an operation are some of the mishaps at Guy’s and St Thomas’ that we report this week.

They are attention-grabbing howlers – but they are rare ones. The trust is right to point out that it is a large organisation which sees millions of patients of year.

Of those many patients, there was only seventeen ‘never event’ cases in the past two years.

However, these incidents are called ‘never events’ for a reason: they are not supposed to happen.

They are defined as wholly avoidable patient safety incidents which have potential to cause serious harm or death. So any occurrence of such incidents is worthy of scrutiny and highlighting.

But we would not want readers to come away from our story with the impression that care is somehow unsafe at two major local hospitals. It is not. Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust is rated ‘good’ for a reason. Inspectors praise staff for recognising and learning from mistakes when they happen.

This is the thing to focus on. Everyone makes mistakes at work – and as readers will know, the NHS is under tremendous amounts of pressure, particularly in inner-city London.

So we salute hard-working doctors, nurses and surgeons working in the trust; and recognise that they, like the rest of us, are only human.

Consultations come under increasing pressure

T

wo years after a consultation into a new council office in Queen’s Road Peckham launched residents say they feel it was nothing more than a ‘tick box’ exercise and are still unhappy with the plans.

Not many people would be happy with a new office block coming to their residential street, but much of their anger appears to be due to their expectations of how feedback and objections would be considered and implemented In an already over-crowded borough where land is at a premium, and the council is under huge pressure to build more housing, it is not a huge stretch to presume that future consultations will also be coming under increased pressures.

As it is, without architects and people in the know on hand, the array of documents affected residents have to decipher can be confusing.

Addressing communications issues is going to be critical if the council wants to avoid lengthy delays and growing frustration.

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cryptic Puzzle Clues Across

4 No charge for soldiers imprisoning a deserter (6) 8 A ruthless lawyer will be prominent in mass hysteria (7) 9 He tries to get a corner right (6) 10 There are complications in entering a country (9) 11 Dispose of what sounds like a very small room (4) 13 A bit of a fight? (5) 14 Buses won’t set off in this run late, at random (7) 16 Appearance of a press article (7) 18 Literally, what you need to get by give and take (5) 19 Expedition ship and freight with no leader (4) 21 Mother doesn’t hurry, and avoids work (9) 22 Restrain a revolutionary having row after row (6) 23 Book in stock (7) 24 Right to take a plate for a vegetable (6)

Quick Puzzle Clues Across

4 Engineless aircraft (6) 8 Weapon (7) 9 Omits (6) 10 Kind of sailing boat (9) 11 Prune (4) 13 Cares for (5) 14 Bright red (7) 16 Conciliate (7)

18 Nose (5) 19 In this place (4) 21 Ancient times (9) 22 Come out (6) 23 Voter (7) 24 Substance (6)

Clues Down 1 A trifle (9) 2 Timidity (9) 3 Allowed (5)

Clues Down

1 Eccentric figure (9) 2 An invention in communication, internationally speaking (9) 3 A goddess in love, starryeyed (5) 5 Ancient symbol an excavator unearthed in part (4) 6 Steerage aid for a ploughman (6) 7 Walk the street with a swagger (6) 9 Nancy gets a kiss appropriate (5) 11 This murderer is a foreigner, about fifty (9) 12 Real estate important for a German count (9) 15 Trade is unsettled it makes an impression (5) 16 An agent will get the truth with gold (6) 17 Settled a yearning (6) 20 A rich man’s unsavoury retreats? (5) 21 A street to ponder on, so it’s said (4)

5 Part of an animal (4) 6 Miserable (6) 7 Reddishbrown (6) 9 A month (5) 11 Declare (9) 12 Demotion (9) 15 Rock (5) 16 Calmness (6) 17 Apprehend (6) 20 Type of house (5) 21 Fever (4)

SOLUTIONS to last week’s Cryptic Crossword

Across: 1 Renovate 4 Spar 8 Direct 10 Relays 11 Texan 12 Minim 14 Issued 17 Component 18 Territory 22 Portia 23 Opted 24 Start 26 Apogee 27 Millet 28 Hose 29 Consider Down: 1 Ride 2 Nordic 3 Victim 5 Peanut 6 Residual 7 Dense 9 Temperate 10 Rainstorm 13 Nonet 15 Snort 16 Slapdash 18 Troops 19 Risen 20 Optics 21 Yelled 25 Star

Quick Crossword

Across: 1 Attested 4 Hoop 8 Shrimp 10 Copper 11 Metal 12 Widen 14 Voyage 17 Parthenon 18 Scrounger 22 Gateau 23 Order 24 Issue 26 Stable 27 Serial 28 Step 29 Playmate Down: 1 Apse 2 Turnip 3 Simmer 5 Orphan 6 Parmesan 7 Colon 9 Penthouse 10 Cavernous 13 Dance 15 Yoked 16 Congests 18 Strafe 19 Rails 20 Greedy 21 Retina 25 Glee

22 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

Life after loss A guide to bereavement services in south London

1) Arranging a funeral?

Know your options Gone are the days when a funeral service followed by a burial is the norm.

Seventy seven per cent of all UK funerals are in fact cremations.

What’s more, alternative options such as eco-funerals, woodland burials and humanist ceremonies are on the rise.

If you’re in charge of arranging a funeral for a loved one, the first thing to take into account is the wishes of the deceased. Were they religious?

Did they leave specific instructions or requests for their funeral?

These days, wearing black to a funeral is no longer protocol, with many requesting guests come dressed colourfully – or wearing something meaningful to the deceased – in a celebration of their life. Colourful coffins, exotic flowers and alternative hearses are also becoming more common.

Hester Brown, a Lewisham-based celebrant with Southeast London Humanist Celebrants’ Group agrees: “Funerals are for those left behind too,” she says, “but we usually have a strong sense of what is an appropriate send-off for our loved one.”

With this in mind, here are some of the different types of funerals on offer.

Burial services

In the UK, a funeral held in a church, followed by a graveyard burial, is still the most traditional type of service. It’s up to you, the organiser, who attends the actual, in which the coffin is lowered into the ground and further readings and prayers are read.

Burials are usually more expensive

than their alternatives, what with a headstone, the burial plot, the opening and closing the plot, and the coffin or casket all needing to be bought. Research from life insurance company SunLife found the average burial cost £4,975 in 2019, compared to £3,858 for cremations.

Cremation

Cremation ceremonies, whereby the body is disposed of through burning instead of burial, take place after the funeral service in a crematorium and usually last 45 minutes.

Typically, the coffin remains on the catafalque whilst the service takes place, and is then lowered or hidden by curtains for the committal.

It’s then a decision of whether the ashes are scattered or buried in the crematorium garden.

Direct cremation

Favoured as a low-cost, fuss-free alternative to traditional funeral practices, direct cremations place all aspects of organising the farewell ceremony or memorial event in the hands of the family or friends of the deceased.

Neither a minister or funeral director’s services are required, nor will there be a formal procession, limousines or pallbearers to carry the coffin.

Instead, it’s down to you to organise a doctor to complete the necessary paperwork, collect your loved one’s body from the hospital or morgue, sort transport to and from the crematorium, and make arrangements for the safe return of the ashes following the ceremony.

According to SunLife, the average cost of a direct cremation in the UK in 2019 was £1,626.

Woodland burials & eco-funerals

Our growing concerns for the welfare of the planet, coupled with our becoming more secular as a nation, has seen a rise in the number of woodland burials and eco-funerals in the UK. These ‘green’ alternatives typically take place in a designated woodland burial site and see graves marked with plants or trees instead of gravestones.

Coffins, too, are made with biodegradable materials, such as cardboard, bamboo or willow, and you might choose to wrap your loved one’s body in an eco-friendly burial shroud.

If possible, people may wish to make travel arrangements to the site that also helps reduce carbon footprint, such as walking or cycling, rather than driving a vehicle.

If you’ve chosen to cremate the body, you might choose to bury the ashes in a biodegradable urn. Or perhaps you’ll opt for a tree pod burial, whereby the body is placed in the ground in the foetal position to represent rebirth, with a tree planted above them.

The cost of eco-funerals and woodland burials varies significantly depending on the site and can cost anywhere between a few hundred pounds to several thousand.

Humanist funerals

Humanist funerals are non-religious services that can be tailor-made to say goodbye to a loved one in whatever

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

Life after loss

preparations need to be made while you, their loved ones, are still in the early stages of grieving your loss.

Here is a breakdown of the types of considerations that need to be taken into account.

First things first: the will

You will need to locate the will of the deceased, if they made one, and take into account any wishes they expressed for their funeral. For example, is there a particular hymn they want sung? Did they want to be buried or cremated?

Costing up a funeral

way feels right.

“The celebrant will help the family or friends responsible for organising the funeral to put together things like tributes and music, to create the best possible farewell,” says Hester.

Humanist funeral ceremonies centre around a tribute section, which typically lasts up to fifteen minutes, and can be held at a cemetary, a woodland burial site or crematorium, depending on preferences.

While often conducted by celebrants like Hester, humanist funeral services can also be led by a family member or close friend of the deceased.

“People who have not been to a humanist funeral before often say

how much they liked it because it was about the person who died, it focused on what was special about them and allowed family and friends to speak, to choose favourite music, to dress the coffin if they like, and to express their feelings in their own way,” says Hester. “Ultimately, the goal with humanist funerals is to respect the views of the person who has died.”

2) How to plan a funeral

Planning a funeral is often an emotional process.

Regardless of whether or not the deceased passed away suddenly,

Next, it’s a case of looking into costs for the funeral. If this is your first time organising one, it might come as a surprise to learn that the average cost of a funeral in the UK is over £4,400 (with burials costing slightly more than cremations) according to Guardian article published in January 2020.

You will need to look into whether the deceased had a life insurance plan and if so, whether it covered funeral expenses. If not, and you think you might struggle with the costs, you might want to look into the Government’s Funeral Expenses Payment: a scheme established to help those on low income cover the essential expenses associated with a funeral. On average, the government pays out £1,400 to those who apply, covering burial or cremation fees, travel costs for transporting the body and up to £700 of funeral expenses.

It’s worth noting, though, that your Funeral Expenses Payment will be deducted from any money left to you from the deceased’s estate.

Choosing a funeral director

The next task is choosing a funeral director to organise and oversee the funeral.

It’ll be their job to coordinate with whoever is conducting the service and ensure everything runs smoothly on the day.

Making decisions for the ceremony itself

Once you’ve chosen a funeral director, you will need to decide on several important things: the coffin, type of burial, music for the service, a dress code for the funeral, transport to and from the venue (for the body of the deceased as well as friends and family members), and the venue for both the service (if not your local church or other place of worship) and reception.

The content included in the ceremony is entirely up to you, the organisers. Music, hymns, poems and readings are all things to think about, as well as whether you would like religious readings.

In addition to the ceremony, you will need to make plans for the committal service (the rituals held at the graveside or in the cremation chapel), and whether you will be holding a wake before the funeral and/or a reception afterwards, both of which are a less formal chance to celebrate

the life of the deceased. Whether you opt for a wake, a reception, or both, you will need to think about refreshments (sandwiches, cakes and drinks), and you might decide you want to outsource this responsibility to a close friend or family member to take the pressure off.

Preparations on the day

By the day itself, you will already have decided on a dress code for the funeral. You’ll want to pack tissues, an umbrella (if there’s a chance of rain), and think about whether you want to take a guestbook for people to write down their thoughts and memories.

The funeral procession typically begins at the home of the deceased, however you can make alternative arrangements if you wish.

Following the funeral

Your funeral director will be in contact the day after the funeral to ensure everything went smoothly and to return any flowers, and, if your loved one was cremated, the urn with their ashes.

It’s important to remember that, having been swept up in making funeral arrangements in the immediate aftermath of losing your loved one, your feelings of loss and grief might only kick in after the ceremony.

If you’re feeling low or struggling to cope in the days or weeks after the funeral, it might be worth looking into options for counselling, or speaking to your GP for further options for support.

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

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NEWS 25

Life after loss Alternative Funerals -Hester Brown

3) What you need to do in times of sudden death

Experiencing the sudden death of someone you love can be deeply upsetting and traumatic.

If you’re the next of kin, a sudden passing also carries a wealth of responsibilities – all of which need taking care of while you’re in the early stages of grieving.

Any and every death is always an incredibly sad occasion, but when someone’s passing is sudden or tragic, it is so much harder for the families involved.

With this in mind, here are some things to take into account…

First things first: who to tell As with any death, once you’ve alerted a doctor and the body is in the care of professionals for the time being, you’ll want to inform those closest to your loved one of their passing.

If you’re still

in shock, you might find it easier to have a trusted friend or relative make these calls.

“Talk to any other relatives, friends, colleagues or neighbours who you know were important [to the deceased] and would like to be involved,” advises Hester Brown.

“You can share some of the emotional strain and the tasks with them.”

If there is any uncertainty over the cause of death, or the death was sudden or unnatural (such as a road accident or unexplained death when the person was presumed fit and healthy), the doctor will need to contact a coroner, who may request a post mortem examination or inquest.

A death cannot be officially registered until the coroner’s investigation is complete, nor can a funeral take place before the cause of death has been established. That said, a coroner can provide an interim death certificate to allow you to notify relevant organisations, such as your chosen funeral directors, and apply for probate.

Register the death

Once the cause of death has been established, you’ll need to register the death of your loved one. You will need several documents to do this, including the deceased’s passport, proof of address, marriage certificate (if applicable), birth certificate and medical certificate of cause of death. You’ll also need to bring a valid form of identification for yourself, too.

Inform any relevant organisations

While it might be the last thing you

feel like doing when you’re grieving, it’s important you inform any organisations closely associated with your loved one of their death. This includes their employer, utility providers, banks, HMRC, mortgage provider, gym and these days, even social media organisations. The last thing you want is to receive a call, email or letter through the post from any of the above, assuming your loved one is still alive and well.

Find a funeral director and plan the funeral

Once the death has been registered, you’ll want to find a funeral director – or celebrant, if you’re planning on having a humanist ceremony – to look after the funeral arrangements. It’s important that you find a funeral director that you feel happy with and confident they will care for your loved one, Hester points out: “Professionals are there to help, if you would like help. Celebrants and funeral directors can provide a lot of practical advice and support,” she says.

“I would also advise that there is a family discussion before any commitments are made so that the following things can be agreed: is it to be a burial or cremation, what is a suitable date for the funeral, is there to be any religious content, what music would you like to include, are flowers to be sent or do you wish to invite donations to a charity, and finally, choosing a venue for the wake or reception.”

The aftermath: coping with the

shock of an unexpected death Once the funeral is over, there’s still plenty to think about: from dealing with the estate of the deceased and sorting through their finances to coping with your grief.

“Allow yourself to feel whatever you are feeling, don’t judge yourself and remember that feelings can emerge quickly or slowly” says Hester, adding that seeking help from a professional, such as a counsellor, can also help you on the road to recovery.

Those who are closest to the person who has died will need the comforting and support of their family and friends, and it’s so important that we all communicate, if only to reassure the bereaved that we are here when they need us.

As a final, cautionary note, Hester points out that while talk of death and funerals is usually a taboo among people who are fit and healthy, having the chat can make decisions like funeral arrangements easier if someone suddenly passes. “It’s good to talk about these things with your loved ones now, not wait till they, or you, have died,” she says. “Each one of us is important and special, and deserves a decent send-off.”

26 NEWS

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

ADVERTORIAL

HELP!? I CANT FIND A WILL

F

acing the loss of a loved one is hard enough to deal with, without the added complication of realising that they have passed away without a Will.

Unfortunately, many people find themselves in this situation every day. The mistaken belief that “when I die everything will go to my children” or “my family will sort it all out” often leads to loved ones inevitably either missing out completely on a share of an estate, or not receiving as much as the deceased would have wanted.

Having a Will in place ensures that those who are left behind, have a set of instructions available to them setting out how an estate should be dealt with.

But, what happens when there is no Will and therefore no instructions setting out what must be done?

DYING INTESTATE

In the event that a loved one passes away without a Will, they are said to have died ‘intestate’.

If someone dies intestate, this means that everything they own

(often referred to as their assets) will be distributed according to the law in the UK, specifically the intestacy rules.

THE INTESTACY RULES

The intestacy rules determine how someone’s assets are to be distributed when there is no Will in place. This therefore means that there is a set order of priority of who will inherit.

ORDER OF PRIORITY

Married (no children) If there are no children (whether shared or from a previous relationship) then the surviving spouse will inherit everything. This may not be what you want.

Married (with children) The surviving spouse will inherit up to the value of £250,000. If the estate is worth more than £250,000, then the excess value will be divided into two and the surviving spouse will be entitled to one half and the surviving child/children will be entitled to the other half, shared equally between

them.

“Children” means birth or adopted children. This does not include stepchildren.

Contrary to popular belief, this is not the most tax efficient way to leave your estate and can lead to Inheritance Tax implications. It can also cause complications between your spouse and children.

If the estate is worth £250,000 or less, then the children will inherit nothing as the surviving spouse inherits all assets.

This poses problems for a spouse who passes away with children from a previous marriage/relationship with an estate below the £250,000 threshold. In such a scenario the new spouse would inherit everything, including any jointly held assets.

Unmarried Partner (with children) Regardless of how long the surviving partner has lived with the deceased, they will not be entitled to anything. Everything will be split equally between the surviving children.

This could leave your partner

without any security on your death.

Unmarried Partner (no children) Once again, the surviving partner will not be entitled to anything and the estate will be shared equally in the order of priority listed below: • Parents • Brother/Sister • Grandparents • Aunts and Uncles • Cousins Therefore if parents are still alive, they will inherit everything. This may not be tax efficient if your parents already have a large estate of their own.

If parents are not alive, then the next in order of priority, i.e. brothers and sisters, will inherit everything in equal shares. It may, in this scenario, be sensible to “skip generations” and leave the estate directly to nieces and nephews.

It is always recommended to be prepared and have a Will which is up to date and suits your current circumstances. Having a Will in place ensures that an estate will be distributed exactly how you would

want it to be.

However, if you do find yourself in a situation where you are dealing with the estate of someone who has passed away without a Will, all is not lost and we can help. Please do not hesitate to contact Blessing Ikemefuna who is a specialist solicitor in the Private Client Department at Grant Saw Solicitors LLP: Email: bi@grantsaw.co.uk Telephone: 020 8305 4231

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

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FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS / COMMUNITY NOTICES 27

Thank you

Memorial

Funeral Announcements

Engagement Lee & Claire

Congratulations on your engagement… Bring on the wedding party Love from everyone at Southwark News xxx

28 ARTS

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

what’s on

Clubland Founder Jimmy Butterworth Immortalised in ‘The Temple of Youth’ John and Mary Butterworth grew up in what some might say was the idyllic atmosphere for young children, writes Michael Holland...

They were surrounded by other children, plus regularly visited and adored by stars of stage and screen, as well as the odd royal dropping by.

John and Mary were the children of the legendary Methodist Minister Jimmy Butterworth who created Clubland, a youth club in Camberwell that began life in a church basement with a handful of boys.

Now, John and his co-author Jenny Waine have researched and written The Temple of Youth – Jimmy Butterworth and Clubland, which will undoubtedly be the definitive version of his father and the famous club that he built from nothing.

This book is the first complete biography of the Reverend James Butterworth (1897-1977) and an authoritative history of Clubland – the most celebrated and controversial venture in church youth work of the 20th Century.

I asked John why he is writing the book of his father’s life and work now?

“Partly because no one else has. It should have been written sooner, and it was always a puzzle why professional biographers weren’t queuing up to do it, given how famous and controversial Clubland was in its day, and what a character Jimmy Butterworth was.

“We decided to write to it because we felt his life story had to be recorded: it is a tribute book first and foremost, and he deserves it for all that he did for others, how many lives he changed for the better, for the rich environment he created. To be honest it was Jenny who drove it: she never knew my father but was intrigued by his story, and she was the chief researcher for the book.”

Growing up in Clubland must have been quite exciting with all the different stars visiting. Who stood out for you from those times?

“Throughout its history Clubland attracted attention from politicians, stars of stage and screen, writers, artists, sportspeople, and so on. And of course Royalty: Queen Mary, The Queen Mother, Princess Alexandra… After JB’s American fundraising tours began in the Fifties the volume of celebrity interest increased.

Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Gracie Fields, Sybil Thorndyke, Richard Attenborough, John Mills and family, the Oliviers, Douglas Fairbanks. Players and directors from Arsenal and Chelsea visited often; so did the American boxer Gene Tunney.

Some helped Clubland financially, but that was not all: a few really participated.

In that respect Richard Attenborough stands out. He was a genuine friend of both JB and many of the club members.

“In terms of financial generosity in the rebuilding, Bob Hope’s four visits

and benefit performances in the 50s obviously stand out. So too does the huge contribution of Lord (J. Arthur) Rank, and before him his father Joseph.”

Is the book your memory of those times or a more researched piece that covers the times and areas that you weren't privy to?

“The book is heavily reliant on research, and especially from primary sources. My father was over half way through his life before I was even born.

“Luckily for us the Southwark Local History Library has a wonderful Clubland archive going back to 1922, but the historical content required help from many other libraries and archives. We were also assisted by a local historian in Lancashire regarding JB’s early life and family history.

“I grew up at Clubland – and there is a short section on this in the book. I was a member both of the Juniors and Seniors, and later as an officer. I have great memories of those years, but they were never more than a part of its 55 year history. The book could not have been based only on personal memories.”

“The story of Clubland also belongs to the social history of the twentieth century, and more particularly the changing face of youth work and education, and is set very much in that historical context.”

What did you find out about your dad that you didn't know before?

in Southwark

“Well I knew how determined and single minded he was from personal experience. What I learned from researching was that he had always been like that – from childhood. Nothing was going to stand in his way. Even as a young probationary minister coming to London from Lancashire, he stood up to big-wigs in the Church and local community, and fought for what he knew was right and necessary. He had amazing powers of persuasion even then. In the end his opponents and critics – and there were plenty of them – never stood a chance!”

How much of an influence on your own life has Clubland been? ‘“As a teacher I tried to put to use what I had learnt from my father: the importance of self-expression, independent thinking, debate and discussion, that he developed through the Clubland Parliament. The education curriculum still gives too little time to developing these empowering skills. JB was leading the way a century ago, even before secondary education was available to all.”

John Butterworth paints a vivid picture of the extraordinary man his father was, but the book will add much, much more to a story that many people know just bits of. Jimmy Butterworth transformed the lives of thousands in the Camberwell area and the work he did has now been documented for all time, for all to read.

John added, “If there are any exmembers reading this who might like an invitation to the book launch in March, in Clubland, can they get in touch through the contacts page of the JB Clubland website and encourage any others they know to do the same.”

Contact via the website: www.jb-clubland.co.uk or email press@jb-clubland.co.uk The Temple of Youth – Jimmy Butterworth and Clubland by John Butterworth and Jenny Waine (Foreword by Sir Michael Caine) Hardback 416 pages, 120 b&w photographs JB Club Press, 2019. £20 Available from www.jb-clubland.co.uk

Indecent had its world première production at Yale Repertory Theatre in October 2015. The play had its New York première Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in May 2016, and transferred to Broadway in April 2017. It was nominated for the Tony Award for Best New Play received the Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play for Taichman and Best Lighting Design of a Play for Christopher Akerlind (who will also light the Menier production).

Paula Vogel is a Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright whose other plays include How I Learned to Drive a Broadway production to be staged this

spring set for spring 2020; Pulitzer Prize,The Long Christmas Ride Home, The Mineola Twins, The Baltimore Waltz, Hot’n’Throbbing, Desdemona, And Baby Makes Seven, The Oldest Profession and A Civil War Christmas.

Her plays have been produced across the US and worldwide.

Pulitzer Winner Gets Indecent at Menier chocolate factory

Indecent comes to the Menier Chocolate Factory in the Borough after receiving Tony Awards state-side.

A seminal work of Jewish culture or an act of traitorous libel? Paula Vogel’s Indecent explores the origins of the highly controversial play The God of Vengeance by Sholem Asch.

We follow the path of the artists who risked their careers and lives to perform it in this deeply moving play accompanied by a small live klezmer band.

Indecent reunites Vogel and director Rebecca Taichman who co-created and directed the original production.

Indecent is on at Menier Chocolate Factory, 53 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RU from 13 March – 9 May. Times: Tues - Sat 8pm; weekend matinees 3.30pm. Admission: £37.50 - £47.50.

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

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/arts

Arts

ARTS 29

Arts

Andy Warhol’s largest uk exhibition Opening soon at the Tate Modern it will include his final works of the 80s, such as the poignant Sixty Last Suppers

Andy Warhol (1928–87) was one of the most recognisable artists of the late 20th century, yet his life and work continue to fascinate and be interpreted anew, writes Michael Holland...

A shy, gay man from a religious, migrant, low income household, he forged his own distinct path to emerge as the epitome of the pop art movement.

Launching next spring, this major new exhibition at Tate Modern – the first at the gallery for almost 20 years – offers visitors a rare personal insight into how Warhol and his work marked a period of cultural transformation. Drawing upon recent scholarship, it will provide a new lens through which to view this American icon.

Featuring over 100 works from across his remarkable career, the show will shed light on how Warhol’s experiences shaped his unique take on 20th century culture, positioning him within the shifting creative and political landscape in which he worked. While he is best known for his iconic paintings of CocaCola bottles and Marilyn Monroe that held up a mirror to American culture, this exhibition will emphasise recurring

themes around desire, identity and belief that emerge from his biography.

It will show how this innovative artist reimagined what art could be in an age of immense social, political and technological change.

Key works from the pop period, such as Marilyn Diptych 1962, Elvis I and II 1963/1964 and Race Riot 1964, will be examined in relation to contemporary issues around American culture and politics, while Warhol’s drive and limitless ambition to push the traditional boundaries of media will be represented via his famous Screen Tests 1964–6 and a recreation of the psychedelic multimedia environment of Exploding Plastic Inevitable 1966, originally produced for the Velvet Underground rock shows.

Visitors will also be able to experience Warhol’s floating Silver Clouds 1966 installation, initially meant to signal his ‘retirement’ from painting in favour of moviemaking. He famously stated that ‘good business is the best art’: the exhibition will look at how Warhol’s forays into publishing and TV, as well as his interest in club culture, can be viewed as an attempt to bring the

stars of the underground into the mainstream.

Following his shooting by Valerie Solanas in 1968, Warhol returned to large-scale painting projects and the exhibition will emphasise his skill as a painter and colourist with a room dedicated to the largest grouping of his 1975 Ladies and Gentlemen series ever shown in the UK. These striking portraits depict figures from New York’s transgender community, including iconic performer and activist, Marsha 'Pay it no mind' Johnson - a prominent figure in the Stonewall uprising of 1969.

Warhol’s final works of the 80s, such as the poignant Sixty Last Suppers 1986 – on view at Tate Modern for the first time in this country – will be considered in relation to the artist’s untimely death as well as the unfolding HIV/AIDS epidemic, which ultimately went on to impact the lives of many in his close circle.

Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG from March 12th - September 6th. Times: Open daily 10.00 – 18.00 and until 22.00 on Friday and Saturday. Admission: £22, £20. Phone: 0207 887 8888. www.tate.org.uk

30 HISTORY

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

History

gay marriage in the 1800s

Performed by the appropriately-named Rev John Church from the Borough

Rev John Church

By Josh Salisbury josh@southwarknews.co.uk Where now there might exist Heaven or XXL, the early nineteenth century equivalent were ‘molly houses’, boozers where gay men would gather to enjoy themselves.

These pubs would have ‘marrying rooms’ or ‘chapels’. Often, what took place was less of a ‘marriage’ so much as a coupling, often in plain sight of others inside the tavern.

But formal bonding did take place in these spaces, with couples staying together in partnership afterwards.

And the first ordained minister to officiate at these ceremonies is thought to be the appropriately-named Rev John Church, the regular preacher at Obelisk Chapel in St George’s Fields. This would stood near the current obelisk at St George’s Circus, between Waterloo and Elephant & Castle, at the top of London Road.

Church’s origin story is murky. He was left on the doorstep of either St John’s Church in Clerkenwell or St Andrew’s Church in Holborn sometime in the 1780s.

With no idea who his parents were, parish elders sent Church to the Foundling Hospital, where he got his name.

His sexual orientation first became apparent here, too. Aged only nineyears-old, he was discovered by the nurses playing “forbidden games” with

the other boys.

The governors of the hospital undertook to apprentice him at an early age “to obviate the possibility of the contagion spreading among the rest of the boys who partook of that charity.”

He was indentured to a gilder’s in Blackfriars Road (some accounts say Great Portland Street), where he lived virtually as a domestic servant.

In his teens, Church fell in love with a younger girl who served the same family; when they discovered he was having relations with her, he was locked in a coal bin.

This led to a quarrel with his master, and Church broke off his apprenticeship practise preaching the gospel.

He married in 1801 to the daughter of a Mr Elliott of Hampshire, and was a travelling preacher. But his loves were men, including a William Webster whom he met at Tottenham Court Road chapel.

Church eventually became friendly with Rev J L Garrett, a natural philosophy professor whom contemporaries labelled a “notorious Sodomite,” writes academic Rictor Norton.

With Garrett’s help, Church was ordained into a permanent position at an independent chapel in Banbury, Oxfordshire in 1807.

This did not last long. In August 1808, Church had his office curtailed when rumours began to spread of him ‘sodomising’ young men in the congregation.

“I had some scandal while at Banbury,”

he writes in his autobiography, The Foundling. “I shrunk from investigation, because I was conscious of having acted imprudently,” he admits.

An anonymous contemporary, who in 1817 republished love-letters of Church’s in a tome called The Infamous Life of John Church, accused him of “several violent attempts upon some young men while at that place.”

Church always denied that. “I am not conscious of having done the actual crime,” he wrote in a letter. “If anything of that nature has been of which they speak, it must have been without my knowledge.”

A string of short-term preaching placements followed, before he eventually wound up as the regular minister at the Obelisk Chapel in Borough, living on Great Dover Street.

Here Church struck up a four-month relationship with an assistant called Edward – but the feelings weren’t fully reciprocated, it seems.

“I wish I had the honour of being loved by you as much and in as great a degree as I do you,” wrote Church to Edward on March 3, 1809.

“I find dear Ned many are using all their power to part us but I hope it will prove in vain on your side the effect that all this has upon me is to make me love you ten times more than ever.”

Only weeks later, the letters took an even more despairing tone. “I thank you for your company hitherto, I have enjoyed it four months exactly, but this is over for ever,” wrote Church. “I am miserable, nor can I surmount the shock at all.”

This change in tone was perhaps because Ned had turned ‘informer’ to those who were trying to discredit Church, writes Norton; but in any event the Reverend kept his position at the Obelisk Chapel.

In the summer of the following year, two men named Yardley and James Cook set up the White Swan molly house in Vere Street in the City.

A man who went by the name of Kitty Cambric persuaded Church to officiate as the chaplain at the molly house marrying room.

“Some of these wretches assume the names of women, and that they are absolutely married together … Church [being the] parson who performed the blasphemous mock ceremony of joining them in the ties of ‘Holy Matrimony,’” wrote an observer in their account of Church’s role at Vere Street.

Church was in “constant attendance” at the bar, and was nominated by the White Swan’s “miscreants” to be their chaplain.

Less than ten months into operating, the Vere Street Coterie was raided by the Bow Street Runners. Eight men were convicted under sodomy laws.

Six of those were violently pilloried by crowds in the Haymarket; two of the convicted were hanged at Newgate

prison the following year.

Church was not implicated in the Vere Street Coterie until April 1813, when articles in the Weekly Dispatch linked him to the White Swan, alleging he had performed same-sex marriages to its clientele.

The Reverend took legal action against the Dispatch, which would later merge with the Express newspaper. Eventually it was ordered to cease publishing libellous material – but this was not without cost to Church.

He would write of seeing banners proclaiming him the “incarnate devil”, who had “filthy frolics in the temple of Sodom.”

Eventually the rumours died down – until a trial in 1816 which would catapult him to even greater levels of notoriety.

This concerned Adam Foreman, a nineteen-year-old apprentice potter in Vauxhall.

Foreman alleged that Church came into his room at night, faked his mistress’s voice, and grabbing his genitals. Then, said Foreman, Church fled out of the room after being rejected by him.

In defence, Church’s lawyers told the court that it would have been too dark for Foreman to know it was the Reverend in his room that night.

Church denied attempted ‘buggery’ and common assault but was found guilty as charged. The case hit the headlines.

The preacher was jailed for 730 days in 1817 for his ‘unnatural offences’ which he spent in Horsemonger Lane Gaol, in modern-day Walworth.

Here the documentary trail goes cold.

After being released from prison, he continued to preach at the chapel for another five years.

His last published sermon appeared in 1824 – when he would have been around 45-years-old. It is not known when he died.

“All the evidence indicates that John Church was a sincere, perhaps even pious, man who believed that gay love was congruent with the Christian way of life,” writes Norton.

“Once we objectively examine the blatantly prejudiced attacks upon his virtue, we find little indication that he was ever "vicious" in spite of his ‘vice.’”

Eight men were convicted after gay bar the White Swan on Vere Street was raided

“Are you ready for a new and exciting challenge?”

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SPORT 39

Cold Bath leaves Hamlet in peril Dulwich are just two points dulwich hamlet fc

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk

above the relegation zone Photo by Ollie Jarman

DULWICH HAMLET lost 3-2 at Bath City last weekend to drop to within two points of the relegation places in National League South.

Danny Mills loops home a header

The Hamlet fought their way back into the contest as they twice levelled at Twerton Park through Shamir Mullings and Danny Mills with eleven minutes left, but Tom Smith completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute to give second-placed Bath the points.

Gavin Rose’s side had their chances to get something from the game. They were first to register an effort on goal as Dominic Vose forced goalkeeper Ryan Clarke into a save.

Mullings then shot wide and Mills headed over from Jack Connors’ throw-in.

But despite that positive start, Dulwich found themselves behind in the fourteenth minute as Smith took advantage to sweep in the loose ball past Charlie Grainger after Jesse Debrah had challenged Sam Pearson.

The Hamlet had their own long-throw specialist in Marvin McCoy, and they almost equalised through that route as Clarke failed to collect the ball and with Mullings and Mills closing in Bath just managed to scramble the ball off the line.

Clarke denied Vose again but six minutes before halftime it was 1-1 as Jeffrey Monakana crossed from the right and Mullings lashed the ball high into the net.

That lead however lasted less than two minutes with Dan Martin crossing from the right and Smith arriving at the far post to claim his second.

Mills almost forced the ball past Clarke at the far post in the 50th minute before Smith and Joe Raynes went close to extending the hosts’ lead only to be denied by Grainger.

The visitors missed an excellent chance to make it 2-2 with 22 minutes left when another long throw-in from Connors was too much for Clarke to claim under pressure from Mills, but with an open goal in front of him Monakana scooped over from six yards.

Grainger saved Dan Bowry’s long-range effort and in the 79th minute Dulwich levelled for the second time when Mills headed in from Monakana’s corner.

But again the Hamlet’s lead didn’t last long and it was Smith who claimed the match ball with a spectacular strike past Grainger from 30 yards into the top corner.

Dulwich had the chance to equalise for the third time in the first minute of stoppage time after a move started by Dylan Kearney who found Lionel Ainsworth on the right. Ainsworth crossed first time for Mills but the striker couldn’t beat Clarke from a good position.

Dulwich have 34 points from 32 games and sit sixteenth in the table. There are just two points separating six teams, and with Hungerford Town cut seven points adrift at the bottom it’s a desperate scrap to avoid the second and last relegation place with fourteen games left.

Dulwich have a crucial fixture against 20th-placed Tonbridge Wells this Saturday. They can extend their advantage over their relegation rivals to five points with a win.

Kick-off is 3pm at Champion Hill.

fisher fc • bermondsey Photo by Dave Anderson

Louie, Louie as Fish get drop boost

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk FISHER’S BATTLE to beat the drop got a major boost as Ajay Ashanike’s side defeated Bearsted 4-1 at St Paul’s last weekend.

Louie Clarke completes his hat-trick

Louie Clarke fired home a hat-trick and Elias Armah-Tackie got a fourth to keep the Fish seven points above bottom side Crowborough.

It’s now five games unbeaten at a crucial time in the season as the Rotherhithe side aim to secure their safety in the SCEFL Premier Division.

Fisher travel to eleventh-placed K Sports this Saturday for a 3pm kick-off.

Meanwhile, former captain Rob Brown has returned to the club from Welling Town.

40 SPORT

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Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

By Kit Heren at Champion Hill sport@southwarknews.co.uk

Brittany Saylor in possession

DULWICH HAMLET Women’s captain Brittany Saylor praised a cohesive team performance after her side’s 1-0 Capital Senior Cup quarter-final win over Leyton Orient on a sunny Saturday at Champion Hill last weekend.

Midfielder Jo Gibson arrived late in the box to head home the only goal from an in-swinging cross from the left wing in the nineteenth minute, following good work from Saylor and Rhea Gall.

Up to that point, the game had been scrappy, with neither side creating many openings, perhaps understandable given the stormenforced break of recent weeks.

If anything, the O’s, who play a division higher than Dulwich, had shaded the start of the game. Cheryl Anderson steered a shot wide after sloppy defence from the home side, while Danielle Griffith struck the crossbar direct from a corner.

The sides had met before in preseason, with Orient running out 2-1 winners. But Dulwich gradually made their home advantage count in this game, settling into a good rhythm and looking much more comfortable playing the ball out from the back.

The goal was practically the Hamlet’s first attempt but afterwards they looked assured, with the midfield trio of Saylor, Gall and Gibson setting the tempo for long stretches.

And with 20 minutes to go, Dulwich should have doubled their lead when substitute Raki Arran, in her first appearance for three months, was through on goal after intercepting a poor defensive pass. Perhaps rusty after her lay-off, she dithered and was forced wide, eventually floating a weak shot past the post.

The away side, who were missing star forward Otesha Charles, struggled to keep possession in the final third.

However, as the game drew to a close, the O’s began to press harder for the equaliser, building pressure and sending in some clever through balls behind the defence. Substitute Hayley Barton fired in a low shot, which Marie

Dulwich knock out higher-tier Orient The team pose after the game

Seventh heaven as Mecca leads the way to semis

LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL RESULT:

Louis saved well, ensuring the Hamlet’s progress to the semi-finals.

Saylor said: “It was a really good team performance from everybody, we all came together really well and played as a unit.”

Gall was also pleased to take the scalp of a National League Division One South East side. “Leyton are in the league above us, so we knew it was going to be a tough game. We lost to them in pre-season as well, so that gave us a little bit of doubt and we knew we had to dig deep.

“But [manager] Ryan [Dempsey] has been amazing with tactics and we played really well as a team.

“Another thing that made us worried was that we hadn’t played in such a long time, so training was really

intense to make sure we didn’t lose our momentum.

“We were wary of our legs being heavy, not having played in such a long time. I think we showed that we are definitely a contender for the league and we want to get promoted.”

The team posed with rainbow flags on the pitch after the match in support of LGBT history month.

Saylor praised the initiative: “The club as a whole embraces the LGBTQ community and is just letting everybody know in that community that they’re welcome here.

“Football sees no colour, football sees no gender, sexual orientation and it’s really important that we keep getting the word out there so that other clubs pick it up.”

since their formation in 2019.

Coach Charlie Pearce said: “For the boys to go out and play the way they did was brilliant to watch, as the conditions weren’t the greatest. But it didn’t faze the boys in any way as they took it in their stride and got on with the job in hand.”

Eaves started the scoring early on and the result never looked in doubt after that.

Pearce added: “We would also like to congratulate Mecca Maxime-Samuels on his man-of-the-match performance as he continuously posed a threat to the opposition. They couldn’t contain him and at times he was unplayable.

“The work rate shown by him and the team was phenomenal as each player fought for everything, wining the majority of their battles. Towards the end of the game the boys did start to tire but that was to be expected with the amount of effort already put into

the game.

“The opposition did play some good football at times but didn’t really cause our defence any real problems as everything that was thrown at them they dealt with. They got themselves a well-earned clean sheet and well done to the goalkeepers who didn’t have much to do but when called upon did their jobs.

“Going forward the boys now look to get back into training this week focusing on the next league game.

It which will be another tough test against a tricky opponent in Dulwich Village Black.

“In the cup we look forward to playing the winners of the other quarterfinal and we know from here on out it will be tough as each team left in the competition has a chance of winning.

“So the boys will need to stay focused and work even harder as games at this stage are decided by the odd goal.”

Ballers FA Youth 7-0 Junior Reds Titans

By Sports Reporter sport@southwarknews.co.uk MECCA MAXIME-Samuels scored a hat-trick as Rotherhithe’s Ballers FA Youth emphatically reached the last four of the League Cup with a 7-0 win over Junior Reds Titans last weekend.

Milo Eaves’ brace and a goal each from Freddie Doublet and Issa SulaiymanMatthews saw Ballers comfortably go through.

After the disruption of Storms Ciara and Dennis, the Ballers team were back in action and created a storm of their own against a Junior Reds side who had ended their unbeaten run away in the league.

The Ballers were out for revenge and they didn’t disappoint as from the first minute to the last the team worked hard to run out deserving winners to reach the semi-finals for the first time

Photo by Ollie Jarman

Jo strikes as Hamlet Sayl through

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

www.southwarknews.co.uk/sport

SPORT 41

Photos by Brian Tonks

Northern lights out Jed Wallace is stopped in his tracks

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP WIGAN - 1 Hutchinson (57’ og) MILLWALL - 0 Date: Saturday 22 February, 2020 Attendance: 9,639 Man of the match: Anthony Pilkington Referee: Jeremy Simpson

THE LINE-UPS 1 Marshall 21 Kipre

2 Byrne

4-2-3-1 37 Balogun

20 Williams

5 Morsy 9 Lowe

7 Pilkington

17 Jacobs

(Evans, 86’)

(Gelhardt, 76’)

33 Naismith

19 Moore 23 Bödvarsson (Smith, 64’)

(Mahoney, 78’)

19 Woods 3 M Wallace

5-2-3

7 J Wallace

9 Bradshaw

5 Cooper

16 Molumby

15 Pearce

(Bennett, 64’)

4 Hutchinson

12 Romeo

33 Bialkowski

Head to Head 53% 16 2 6 10

Possession Shots Shots on target Corners Fouls

47% 12 1 5 14

No excuses as poor Lions limp to defeat John Kelly at the DW Stadium johnk@southwarknews.co.uk IT’S THE hope that kills you.

The hope that Huddersfield at The Den on May 2 won’t be the last competitive action for three months.

The hope that on those sunny evenings there is something else to look forward to, to talk about, to be nervous about.

The planning, the dreaming...

But then a result like a bucket of water over the head to drench you back to reality.

It was appropriate it came in the rain at Wigan. Such a miserable venue, fewer then 10,000 people in an atmosphereless stadium, and Millwall clearly playing below par from the opening moments.

We should have known what was to come. In the second minute Jed Wallace clumsily went over the top of the ball and caught Sam Morsy. Lions skipper Alex Pearce immediately recognised it was urgent to reach Jeremy Simpson to plead leniency. Wallace was booked but was lucky he didn’t receive the third straight dismissal of his Millwall career.

Your best player doing that so early was like a portent of what was to come.

On the train on the way to Wigan, a father and son sat opposite us. The dad explained how he had spent a couple of futile years trying to get his boy into football. Then, on that bright sunny Saturday back in August, after a summer

of squad rebuilding, when there was so much optimism in the air around The Den, the father made a breakthrough. He took the boy along and they saw Wallace score the only goal against Preston. The kid was hooked.

Three personally signed jerseys later, one from his new hero Wallace, a new manager, a formation that finally saw some joy on the road, and Millwall were in a promotion race.

On the journey talk inevitably turned to England and Gareth Southgate’s goalkeeper and striker conundrum. The kid was listening intently. “Who’s Dean Henderson?” “Goalkeeper for Sheffield United,” dad responded, “on loan from Man U.” “Who does Jamie Vardy play for?” “Leicester striker. If I were Southgate I’d be on the phone to him before the Euros.”

Maybe the young lad would get to see them up close next season.

A few hours later that seemed a more distant dream. If he was old enough to swear – and going by his old man’s tongue he won’t be long learning anyway – then he might have cursed him for afflicting Millwall on him.

Then again where would be the fun following some winning machine juggernauting its way towards glory?

It’s in Millwall’s DNA to create hope, tug on your heartstrings and then when expectation is high to balls it all up.

They even managed to be their

Mahlon Romeo in possession

own enemy last Saturday. That young fan would only have seen Murray Wallace and Shaun Hutchinson in superhero mode this season up until last weekend. But no hero is infallible.

In the 57th minute Wallace was beaten on the left by Jamal Lowe to cross for Anthony Pilkington, whose cross-shot Hutchinson inadvertently diverted into his own net.

All Millwall had to show for the afternoon was one measly shot on target from Jed Wallace’s free-kick. It should have been a penalty, after Ryan Woods had been fouled in the area

by Nathan Byrne. This time Simpson did not give the decision in the Lions’ favour, instead pointing to the edge of

the box. Goalkeeper David Marshall held Wallace’s strike.

The only promise in this game for Millwall came with the introduction of Mason Bennett. The on-loan Derby forward gave the side something they’ve lacked for most of the season on the left: someone who can take on and beat players with close control and pace.

He had two attempts at goal, in front of father and son sat in the away end. But as the rain fell one effort skewed wide off his right boot, and the other off his left. But Bennett showed enough that perhaps his jersey will be in demand soon.

All that was left for Millwall supporters was to head to Wigan North Western station and hope there weren’t any train delays.

There were, of course.

At the time of writing this, Gary Rowett’s side were preparing to play Birmingham on Wednesday night.

Maybe they’ll have won that and fresh hope will accompany them to The Den this Saturday.

Or maybe they won’t. Doesn’t matter.

You and the football gods know you’ll be back next week, and the week after that and the season after that. And then one day your son or daughter will experience their first game, and then their son or daughter.

And maybe not blind hope, but a promise. “Stick with it, son, today will be our day.”

42 MILLWALL

www.newsatden.co.uk

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

Barr set for Adam Coach not burnt by hot-seat experience

Adam Barrett got the better of Marcelo Bielsa in his first match as caretaker boss

EXCLUSIVE

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk ADAM BARRETT insisted he wasn’t disappointed not to land the Millwall manager’s job – and instead embraced the chance to learn under Gary Rowett.

Barrett was handed the caretaker job after the resignation of Neil Harris last October, and impressed those inside the club with the way he took on the hugely increased responsibility, including meetings with the board and media duties.

On the pitch Barrett got the better of the legendary Marcelo Bielsa as the Lions defeated Leeds 2-1 at The Den in his first match. But Millwall then squandered a 2-0 lead at Brentford to lose 3-2 before a 2-2 draw at home to Cardiff.

Barrett, 40, was interviewed for the full-time job, along with Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth, and Rowett.

Millwall went with the experience of Rowett, who brought with him assistant manager Callum Davidson and technical coach Joe Carnall.

Rowett also wanted to keep Barrett, with the former Southend captain popular with the playing squad.

Barrett insisted that missing out on the top job wasn’t a setback.

“No, not really. It was such a whirlwind 48 hours [after Harris’ departure], it was completely unexpected,” Barrett told the News this week. “I thoroughly enjoyed stepping up.

“I enjoyed taking the team for a few weeks, it was a great challenge for me.

“But it was a great appointment for

the football club to get Gary and I was delighted to stay and be a part of it.

“I looked at it as a fresh challenge and an exciting chapter. I’m only three years into my coaching career since I retired so I’ve a lot to learn.

“This is just part of the process, part of the next step. I’m working with an experienced manager who’s been at some big clubs, and new coaches.

“I’ve got my own ideas, I know what I like, but you’re always learning.

Everyone does things differently, so you pick up new ideas, new ways of training, and new ways of preparing.

“The gaffer’s been really good in getting everyone together, we’ve got a great staff behind the scenes here. Everyone pulls together and tries to help one another.

“My role’s very similar. The gaffer, Callum and Joe have come in and been great with me. They’re really inclusive and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

“Obviously I was close with Neil and Dave [Livermore], but the new manager and his staff came in and have been brilliant. I’m there to support the work that the manager does and help in any way that I can.

“It’s been a good working environment, we’re a close-knit team. I’m really enjoying learning from someone new, an experienced manager. Cal is an experienced coach as well.

“The club were excellent. The chairman, the directors, everyone was very supportive of me and wanted me to stay.

“More importantly Gary came in and he was happy to have me here. We had a good chat and he wanted me to be a part of the set-up. I was delighted with that, I really wanted to be part of something

The former Southend defender is enjoying working with Gary Rowett new, work with someone different with new ideas.

“It’s been a good learning curve for me. Hopefully I’m helping them as well with my input here. It was all quite smooth in the end. Sometimes there is that uncertainty but from day one I felt comfortable in it and it’s worked out really well. Long may it continue.”

Far from being put off by that “whirlwind” spin in the boss’s hot seat, and the disappointment of that late collapse at Griffin Park, Barrett’s appetite was whetted.

He will eventually want to step into a permanent manager position, despite the stresses it entails.

He continued: “I felt very comfortable in the role and one day down the line I see myself managing somewhere.

It wasn’t a case that I stepped up and thought, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing, this isn’t what I want’.

“It’s a great football club with a lot

of support behind it. Learning off new people is only going to be a benefit for me. It’s been excellent.

“Of course there’s stress, it’s the nature of the beast. You had stress as a player. I don’t think I’m a stressful type of guy, and I’ve got a great family behind me as well.

“It’s part and parcel of it, I wouldn’t be in this job if I was worried about the stress. It’s a fantastic job, a fantastic industry to be in.

“Yes, it’s hard, of course it is at times. It’s no more different to other jobs, except you’re in the spotlight a little bit more.

“Bu that doesn’t concern me at all.”

Barrett was linked with the job at Southend before the Shrimpers appointed former England defender Sol Campbell.

“People always talk about it because of my links with the club,” Barrett added.

“I’ve been favourite for the job with the bookmakers the last two or three times it’s come around.

“But I’m fully focused here. We’ve had some really good moments, and I’m not looking at anything else. I want to be successful here and help build something.

“The club’s moving forward on and off the pitch. Even in my three years here it’s moved forward a hell of a long way and things are improving all the time.

“It’s quite exciting at the moment to be involved with this football club.”

Following Rowett’s appointment, Millwall rose from fourteenth in the Championship and were sixth at the turn of the year after beating Luton 3-1.

Barrett dismisses the notion that, after raising expectations so much, it will be anti-climactic if they’re not still in the play-off running in the last few weeks of the season.

“When you’ve been on a good run and things are going well expectation rises, of course it does,” he said. “We’re taking each game as it comes.

“We went on a good run and there have been improvements, that’s the most important thing. We’ve not got carried away with ourselves at any point. There are some big clubs in this division with big budgets and you’ve got no given right to be beating anyone.

“The main thing is the club keeps moving forward and keeps improving.

That’s what we’re doing. We want to give it everything we’ve got to finish the season as strongly as possible.

“Do we set any targets or think about expectations? No, we can’t look at that. If you start worrying about outside factors that’s not going to help anyone.

“We’ll take each challenge as it comes and see where we are at the end of the season.”

Southwark News, Thursday February 27 2020

Championship preview

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL MANAGER Gary Rowett hopes a run of games in the first team can build Mason Bennett’s “resilience” to help him be the consistent attacking threat that the Lions need.

Bennett, despite making his debut more than eight years ago aged just 15, had started just 28 league career games before his switch to the Lions.

Last season was Bennett’s most consistent run of regular first-team football. The 23-year-old attacker made 38 appearances in all competitions, including starting in Derby’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.

Rowett feels that his physical makeup, and a number of years of the Rams chopping and changing managers – eleven including Nigel Clough who gave Bennet his debut, through Rowett to current boss Phillip Cocu – has all contributed to the forward’s relatively low number of career appearances.

“The way he is he’s a very powerful boy, he’s so strong. When you’re like that at 16, 17 there’s an awful lot of pressure on your body at those ages,” Rowett said.

“Then he’s been available for a season and only played seven or eight games maybe due to managers changing.

Derby’s been a difficult club for stability because there’s been a lot of change over that period.

“But certainly for Mason he’s got to continue to do the right things. He needs a little bit of fortune to get through a period of games, as he did last season when he played something like 35 games.

“Sometimes it’s the stop-start nature of coming into a team, going out, coming in. If you can build that resilience by playing games and being involved all the time, that certainly helps.

“I think a club like ours where if you’re fit you’re going to play plenty of football might just help him get that continuity.

“The challenge with Mason is how quick do we put him in from the start of a game because of course as soon as you start, depending on certain variables, you might have to finish the game.

“That’s the challenge and we’ll assess it as we go. We’re trying to do what’s right for Mason and what’s right for us, what’s right to win a game.

“Sometimes you have to take that

VS

www.newsatden.co.uk

Robin red test

Millwall

Bristol City

Lions face tough challenge against one of best away sides

risk and not worry too much about the consequences.”

The Lions take on Bristol City at The Den this weekend. Lee Johnson’s Robins have the third-best away league record this season, and have struggled at home where they lost 2-1 to Millwall last December.

City have lost their last two away games, but won their previous three on their travels without conceding.

Rowett continued: “I think they’ve been a counter-attacking side more so this season and I think when you go away from home that helps.

“We went there earlier in the season and made it difficult for them to play into the positions they wanted. Some

teams want space to go and play, some teams are better at manipulating that space themselves.

“Bristol are like a lot of teams in this division, they can perform to a very high level but perhaps their results have been a touch inconsistent at times.

“But they’re still in a fabulous position and it will be a really, really tough game.”

Shaun Williams and Ben Thompson have returned to training this week , but neither is likely to feature at The Den this weekend. Another midfielder, Ryan Leonard, is a doubt with a hamstring problem.

matCh details

Possible Millwall starting XI: 5-2-3:

Bialkowski; Romeo, Hutchinson, Pearce, Cooper, M Wallace; Woods, Molumby; J Wallace, Bradshaw, Mahoney.

Match odds:

Millwall 7/4 Draw 12/5 Bristol City 6/5

Last meeting:

Championship (December 10, 2019): Bristol City 1-2 Millwall (O’Dowda 84; J Wallace, 11, Cooper 70).

MILLWALL 43

The Den, Saturday, February 29 Kick-off: 3pm Mason Bennett will hope for a run of games

Table before Wednesday night’s games # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Team West Bromwich Albion Leeds United Nottingham Forest Fulham Brentford Preston North End Bristol City Blackburn Rovers Swansea City Cardiff City Millwall Queens Park Rangers Sheffield Wednesday Derby County Birmingham City Reading Hull City Charlton Athletic Huddersfield Town Stoke City Middlesbrough Wigan Athletic Luton Town Barnsley

Pl 35 34 35 34 35 35 35 34 34 35 34 35 34 35 34 34 34 34 35 34 34 34 35 34

W 19 18 16 16 16 16 15 14 13 12 12 13 12 11 12 11 11 10 10 11 8 8 10 7

D 12 8 11 9 8 8 8 9 12 14 13 7 9 12 9 9 8 9 9 4 13 10 3 10

L 4 8 8 9 11 11 12 11 9 9 9 15 13 12 13 14 15 15 16 19 13 16 22 17

F 64 49 46 48 57 49 49 50 44 48 40 53 44 43 45 41 48 44 41 43 34 34 42 41

A 36 30 33 37 31 40 51 40 42 48 39 59 41 48 52 38 53 48 56 53 44 50 70 58

GD 28 19 13 11 26 9 -2 10 2 0 1 -6 3 -5 -7 3 -5 -4 -15 -10 -10 -16 -28 -17

Pts 69 62 59 57 56 56 53 51 51 50 49 46 45 45 45 42 41 39 39 37 37 34 33 31

Young Lions face daunting Chelsea tie with senior boss on watching brief

By John Kelly

johnk@southwarknews.co.uk GARY ROWETT says he has been impressed by Millwall’s under-18 side ahead of a “big challenge” against Chelsea on Thursday (Ferbruary 27).

Larry McAvoy and Chris Perry’s youngsters face a daunting task to reach the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup when they face the nine-times’ winners at Stamford Bridge.

The Lions, champions in 1979 and 1991, and finalists in 1994, defeated AFC Bournemouth 3-2 at the Vitality Stadium in the last round.

The Blues won the competition five times in a row between 2014 and 2018, before that run was stopped by Liverpool last year, with players from those sides making up a significant chunk of Frank Lampard’s current Champions League

challengers.

Millwill won 7-0 at Bolton in the third round before a 3-1 victory at home to Fleetwood.

Chelsea have an even more impressive goal record in this season’s competition, defeating Huddersfield 4-0, Bradford City 5-0 and then Wolves 7-0, all at home.

Rowett and his backroom team were at the win over Fleetwood and will be in west London to see how the side fare against one of the best in youth football in England.

If the Lions upset the odds, then they will face Manchester United or Wigan at home in the semi-finals.

“We went to the home game and watched the away game on a live feed, all the staff. If we can get to games we’ll always go, I think that’s important,” Rowett said.

“If there’s an under-23 game to watch we will, if there’s an under-18 game to watch

we’ll watch it. It’s important we try and show that support and solidarity within the club.

“That’s the challenge always but the Championship is a busy division, sometimes you can go to underage games but if it’s at the other end of the country you can’t. As it’s at Chelsea it will be a good opportunity to go.

“It’s a great opportunity for the players.

I’ve been very impressed with the team, some of the football they’ve played and the resilience they showed against Bournemouth.

“I think this one will be a slightly bigger test for them. Chelsea are probably one of the best young teams in the country.

“It is a really big challenge.”

Go to newsatden.co.uk for the report and reaction after Millwall's Stamford Bridge clash.

Sean O'Brien, left, was one of the goal-scorers against Bournemouth

inside

Sport Southwark

Out with the Bath water another defeat for Hamlet Page 39

Boss seeks squad re-balance

Lions set to seek more defensive depth in transfer window

exclusive

By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk GARY ROWETT won’t divulge which positions will be targeted for strengthening in next summer’s transfer window – but hinted the club will seek more depth in defensive areas.

Rowett feels the squad is top-heavy with attacking players. In a 5-2-3 formation the Lions’ squad currently contains only six players with senior league experience who can fill those

defensive positions, seven if James Brown is included.

But there are nine players for the front three positions in that setup, including Shane Ferguson as an attacking option as well as a defensive one.

Murray Wallace and Mahlon Romeo have played 33 and 34 out of Millwall’s 35 games this season, respectively.

Asked if the wing-back positions would be priorities for more depth in the summer, Rowett said: “I don’t want to go into what position we might want to improve. What you’re looking for is a balance.”

Rowett added: “There have been games when Muzza’s [Wallace] defended fantastically well. I think back on the Reading game when he was up against [Yakou] Meite, he played him as well as anyone I’ve seen.

There have also been games when he’s been very good going forward.

“Sometimes what you get, with all of our players, is a little bit of inconsistency, and when players are inconsistent then sometimes you see what players can’t do and people focus on that.

“After the Bristol game [this Saturday] we’ll have played half a

season. It’s not like a ten-game spell or the first five games, it’s half a season of football in the Championship and at the minute we’d be on for top-five, top-six form.

“A lot of what we’ve been doing has been quite good. We started from a lower position in the league which means we’re in a situation where we can’t afford to drop points now.

“When you look at a window, it’s about whether you can just tweak some of those positions, whether we can add a little bit of competition.

“For example, at the moment if we lose a centre-back again we have

to change formation. You want that balance within the squad to be able to play different ways in different games.

“The squad’s probably heavily weighted in terms of those forward areas, and less weighted in terms of that back five if that’s what we play.

“It’s something definitely down the line where we have to look at the balance of the squad and make sure that we have that flexibility within there to be able to change systems.

“But, of course, the squad was built to play a different system, I understand that. It’s about us putting our stamp on it as we go along.”

Millwall VS Birmingham Go to NewsAtDen for the report and all the reaction after Millwalls Wednesday night clash with Birmingham City www.newsatden.co.uk

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